New Garbage Truck + Vaccines In The Plaza + 55 Gallon Limit?

Good to see you again, Healdsburg. Pardon my extra-long weekend! I've got a jam-packed lineup for you today to make up for it. Here's everything you need to know about what's going on around town this fine Tuesday. We've got COVID news, water news, fire news — all the regulars — and much more.

First, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy, with a small chance of showers and thunderstorms (!). Sun should shine through later in the day. High: 93 Low: 57.

Here are the 5 top stories in Healdsburg today:

1. Local drought regulations are going into overdrive. Lake Mendocino water levels are now so low that the state water board is officially intervening, the PD reports. By the end of next week, state officials plan to order the more than 2,400 rights holders along the upper and lower Russian River to stop diverting water — including the City of Healdsburg. For Healdsburg residents, this could reportedly mean a new 55 gallon limit per day per person. And it's still unclear how restaurants, hotels and other businesses — as well as public utilities like sports fields — will be affected. Once the state orders come down, Healdsburg's city utilities director says, "Certainly I think outdoor irrigation would be further restricted if not off the table entirely." (Press Democrat; paywall)
2. There's gonna be a free COVID-19 vaccine pop-up clinic at today's Healdsburg Farmers’ Market from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. You can find it "behind the Information Booth, facing into the plaza," market organizers say. "No hospitals, or high school gyms, here you'll sit under beautiful trees, listening to great music, munching on something yummy, while joining in the movement to keep yourself, your neighbors, friends and family safe from this terrible virus," they say. Meanwhile, case numbers continue to climb across Sonoma County. We're now at a reported seven-day average of 63 new cases per day — a rate we haven't seen since early March. (Facebook & New York Times; paywall)
3. PG&E has agreed to come take care of any trees on your property that the utility company chopped down last summer — but never fully removed — because the trees posed a safety risk after the Glass and LNU Lightning Complex fires. Here's how to put in your request. (Healdsburg Patch)
4. Sonoma Mag has some interesting renderings we hadn't seen yet of what the Mill District will look like once the construction of low-income rental units, luxury condos, some shops, "community garden space for residents, and a redwood-lined park for visitors" is complete. Developers are reportedly shooting to wrap up the whole project by September 2022. (Sonoma Magazine)
5. The City of Healdsburg just got its hands on a sleek new all-electric garbage truck to service the downtown route. "I had a chance to check it out this afternoon and it’s VERY quiet," City Councilmember David Hagele writes on Facebook. The truck was reportedly on display in the plaza last night for the townspeople to ogle a little before it gets down to business. (Facebook)

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Today in Healdsburg

• Healdsburg Tuesday Farmers Market (9AM-12:30PM)
• "Bump, Set, Spike" Volleyball Camp at Healdsburg Junior High School (July 26-30, 9AM-3PM)
• New Exhibit at Upstairs Art Gallery: "People Who Need People" (July 26-August 29, 11AM-6PM)
• Virtual Cunamacué Family Dance Class at Sonoma County Library (2-3PM)
• Live at Duke's Spirited Cocktails: Clay Bell (4:30-7:30PM)
• Sonoma County Library BIPOC Book Club: "Go Tell it on the Mountain" (6-7PM)
• Tuesdays in the Plaza: Con Brio (6-8PM)
• Prune Packers Baseball Game at Rec Park (6-8PM)

Healdsburg Patch Notebook

• Sonoma and Marin counties are coming together to host a local "Saving Water Challenge" as this historic drought drags on. The premise is to "see how many of the 31 water-saving tips" on a checklist provided by contest organizers that "you can adopt to reduce water use inside and outside your home." Conservation-friendly prizes include a high-efficiency laundry machine and toilet; a "smart" irrigation controller and home water monitor; and a cool rain barrel. Enter the challenge here. (Facebook)
• Good news for anyone who didn't pay their property taxes on time this year: A new state law sponsored by Healdsburg's own Sen. Mike McGuire will ease your penalty fees if you can prove you were late due to "hardship based on the shelter-in-place orders of the coronavirus pandemic." (Press Democrat; paywall)
• Healdsburg FFA leaders say five local kids will be showing their farm animals at this year's pared-down version of the Sonoma County Fair. Competitors include "Healdsburg FFA sweetheart" Alexis Biasotti, who "shows swine year round with her little brother." You can stop by the fairgrounds starting tomorrow to "support these great kids." (Facebook)
• Neighbors on Nextdoor are suspicious about potential water thieves hacking into their tanks and hoses at night. Some claim their water meter often dips dramatically between the time they go to bed and the time they check their meter again in the morning. Others suspect the culprit may be the "faulty" Flume meters themselves. Mysterious! (Nextdoor)
• Another hot Nextdoor debate: Are local regulators enforcing the 30-day Airbnb rule? Should they be? (Nextdoor)
• Vaccines may be on the menu at today's Farmers Market, but "we're missing two important vendors," organizers say — local bakeries Red Bird and Marla. However, Patisserie Angelica from the Saturday market will be "filling in," they say. And John Youngblood, "Healdsburg's favorite bluesman, will be our entertainer tomorrow on the gazebo stage." (Facebook)
• A soon-to-be-released app will attempt to fill the glaring market void of good, reliable fire maps in Sonoma, Lake and Napa counties. It will reportedly send real-time updates on "fire movement and firefighting efforts." Sign up here to get notified when it launches. (Facebook)
• Consider nominating your favorite Healdsburg librarian for this year's national "I Love My Librarian" awards. (Facebook)
• Another local thing to vote on, if you wish: USA Today is whittling down the list of finalists for "best wine tasting room in the USA." Two Healdsburg tasting rooms are on the list. (Facebook)
• A couple former members of Healdsburg's amateur collegiate Prune Packers baseball team, Cal Conley and Ian Villers, reportedly just got drafted and signed in the major leagues. Congrats! (Facebook)
• Five adorable spotted rabbits were recently found on Foss Creek Circle. They're now waiting at the Healdsburg animal shelter. (Nextdoor)
• An equally adorable gray bunny has gone missing near Lincoln Street and Prince Avenue. (Nextdoor)
• In last Friday's newsletter, when announcing Healdsburg's newest performing arts venue, I misprinted the address of their website. Oops. It's THE222.org! Check it out — pretty awesome.
• The "What's Happening Healdsburg" Facebook group has crowd-solved the mystery of the disappearing parklet at Valette. (Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door! See you all tomorrow for another update. If you're feeling these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to follow along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Simone Wilson

About me: I was born and raised in Healdsburg, CA, where I was the editor of the Healdsburg High School Hound's Bark. I have since worked as a local journalist for publications in San Diego, Los Angeles, New York City and the Middle East. I'm currently a senior product manager for Patch.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Healdsburg Daily? Reach out anytime to simone.wilson@patch.com.