🌱 New Healdsburg Health Leader + I-5 Crash Victim + Frog Fire

Hello, my people! I'm back in your inbox this fine summer Thursday to go over everything you need to know about what's happening in Healdsburg. Follow along for the latest...

First, your daily weather:

• Thursday: Sunny and warm. High: 91 Low: 53.
• Friday: More of the same. High: 92 Low: 55.

Shoutout to the awesome local businesses who keep this newsletter running:

• Considering a fire-safe metal roof or siding for your home? Metal Roof Company has specialized in metal roofing and wall panels in the North Bay area for nearly 30 years. They work with homeowners, architects and general contractors on everything from single-family homes to commercial installations — and take pride in getting the job done right. To see a gallery of projects or to learn more, visit Metal Roof Company today or email metalroofcompany.com@gmail.com.

• Looking to rent in the Healdsburg area? Stacey Bernd at Healdsburg & Artisan Sotheby's International has lived in Sonoma Co. for 48 years and been in real estate for 30. She knows the market the way only a local can. Thinking of listing a property for rent? She can help with that too. Contact Stacey and work with Healdsburg's best.

• Looking to buy or sell a luxury property in Sonoma County? Healdsburg’s Sotheby’s International Realty is a local firm with global reach that specializes in luxury real estate, vineyards, wineries and land in Sonoma County. Healdsburg's Sotheby's: local expertise, deep market knowledge, and a passion for the community. Whether buying or selling, it pays to work with the best. Call Healdsburg’s Sotheby’s at 707-433-4800.

• Have you stopped by Amy's Wicked Slush near Memorial Bridge lately? Amy's has Slush in glorious flavors like root beer, mango, and orange cream and soft serve in flavors like Cupcake, Blueberry and Brown Sugar Cinnamon. Can’t decide? Get the Split — half-slush, half-soft serve layered up like a parfait! Do yourself a favor and stop by ASAP.

Click here to get your business featured in this spot.

Air over Healdsburg:

Here are the top 3 stories today in Healdsburg:

1. The man from Healdsburg who died in a "head-on big rig crash" on the I-5 down in the Lost Hills area earlier this week has been identified as 54-year-old Ricardo Gomez Perez. The guy driving the big rig, 44-year-old Montclair resident Manuel Velasquez Garcia, died too. Here's what investigators know so far, according to the Press Democrat: "Garcia, who was driving north in a 2014 Freightliner truck, crossed the dirt center median onto the southbound side of the interstate and collided with Perez, who was driving a 2009 Kenworth truck, according to a report from the California Highway Patrol. Both drivers were pronounced dead at the site of the crash. Nobody else was in either vehicle, according to the CHP report. Investigators had not determined what caused Garcia to cross over the median, according to authorities." May they both rest in peace. (Press Democrat; paywall)
2. Alliance Medical Center, Healdsburg's very own "community-oriented health care clinic" on University Avenue near the hospital, has a new CEO. Her name is Sue Labbe, and she's a "highly experienced, passionate primary care leader who has been a leading force for Alliance over the past four years," according to the center's board of directors. “She has built a strong clinical team that has been both nationally and locally recognized as leaders in the delivery of high-quality healthcare services,” the board says. Some more background from the Healdsburg Tribune: "Labbe joined Alliance in January of 2017 and has served as the medical director and chief medical officer since 2018. She led Alliance’s critically important COVID-19 response, including working with numerous local community organizations to equitably deliver over 38,000 doses of COVID vaccines to community members. ... Previously, Alex Armstrong held the executive officer position from 2017 to 2020. He was followed by Joan Churchill, who took over in 2020 just as the COVID pandemic struck the community, and left in March of this year." (Healdsburg Tribune)
3. A music festival focusing on the art of songwriting is making its debut in Healdsburg next week. The Songwriters in Paradise fest, or "SIP" for short, has previously been hosted in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and Hopetown, South Africa. The new Healdsburg version will feature four nights of intimate acoustic performances at four local wineries — Robert Young Estate Winery in Geyserville; Bella Vineyards & Wine Caves out Dry Creek; Comstock Wines, also out Dry Creek; and La Crema Estate at Saralee’s Vineyard in Windsor — next Wednesday, July 20 through Saturday, July 23. Ticket prices are steep: Attendees pay $425 for one night, $1,250 for three nights, $1,650 for four nights or $5,000 for a "VIP all access" pass featuring special dinners and events. The money will go in part toward the Healdsburg Education Foundation, one of the foundation's board members tells me over email. You can see a full list of the songwriters on the lineup and browse ticket options on the SIP website. (Inbox & SIP Healdsburg & Napa Valley Register & Press Democrat; paywall)

From our sponsor:

Interested in insanely high-paying cash back cards with no annual fee? A long-time credit card writer says these are some of the best deals he's seen in his years of writing for top financial websites.

You can pocket a $200 bonus with these high-paying cash back credit cards. Plus, enjoy high ongoing cash back rates, no annual fee, or 0% interest for 15 months on purchases. Start racking up huge cash back rewards. Visit here to learn more.

Healdsburg pic of the day:

Note from Simone: I love to feature local photos! Submit yours whenever. Please just confirm in your email that you own the rights to the photo, and that Patch has permission to republish it. 📸

Today and tomorrow in Healdsburg:

Thursday, July 14

• Wine Grower BBQ, Seminar & Trade Show at the Luther Burbank Center (7:30AM-2PM)
• "Shifting the Lens" Culinary Series at J Vineyards & Winery, Featuring Chef Jenny Dorsey (July 14-17, 11AM-6:30PM)
• Healdsburg Prune Packers Baseball Game Vs. the Walnut Creek Crawdads at Rec Park (6PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company Magnolia Loop Run, Ending at Tongue Dancer Winery & Full Moon After Party at Duke's Spirited Cocktails (6PM)
• Baile Folclórico at Corazón Healdsburg (6:30PM)
• Karaoke at Coyote Sonoma (7:30-11PM)

Friday, July 15

• Healdsburg Running Company Bike Path Loop Relays for Kids, Ending With Ice Cream at Colores (5PM)
• Bubbly Hour at Breathless Wines, Feat. Live Latin Music by Sebastian Link & Mundo Rio Trio (5-7PM)
• Friday Evening Wine & Song at Hudson Street Wineries (5-8PM)
• Healdsburg Prune Packers Game Vs. the Sonoma Stompers at Rec Park (6PM)
• Live Music Upstairs at Little Saint: Valley Queen & Cooper Kenward (7-10PM)
• Live at the Elephant at the Room: Caitlin Jemma & Opener Joshua James Jackson III (8-11PM)
• Live at Coyote Sonoma: The ILLEAGLES, Eagles Cover Band (8-11PM)

From my notebook:

• The Trib notes that the feds are offering a series of "five free online one-hour information sessions" for California residents next week on the process of becoming a U.S. citizen and seeking asylum, "including one in Spanish." Here's how to register. (Healdsburg Tribune)
• Also, a reminder that you can always reach out to Healdsburg nonprofit Corazón Healdsburg with any questions about immigration — including "DACA renewals, naturalization, lawful permanent residence, work authorization" and more. (Corazón Healdsburg via Facebook)
• There was a one-acre wildfire just to the north of us yesterday afternoon: The Frog fire on Geyers Road in Geyserville. It was apparently sparked by a vehicle fire, and was put out within an hour. (CAL FIRE via Facebook & Sonoma County Scanner Updates via Facebook)
• On that note, a cheeky announcement about the fire from the Northern Sonoma County Fire District, which protects Healdsburg's rural parts: "For those who are wondering about how fires get their name. Today's fire was not started by a frog. We are not aware of any frogs that were displaced by this fire. Sometimes there are just rocks painted like a frog along the road." (Northern Sonoma County Fire District via Facebook)

Now you're in the loop! See you soon...

— 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? Contact me at simone.wilson@patch.com