New Healdsburg Venue + County Fair Comeback + Water Usage Flex

Hey, everybody. I come to you this morning with your weekend edition of the Healdsburg Daily — aka, everything you need to know to get through another summer weekend in this beautiful town of ours.

First, the weekend weather:

• Friday: Sunny and clear all day. High: 95 Low: 50.
• Saturday: Clear again, and kinda windy. High: 92 Low: 50.
• Sunday: Some clouds but mostly sunny. High: 87 Low: 47.

Here are the top 5 stories today in Healdsburg:

1. As of yesterday, the traffic lights at the intersection of Healdsburg and Powell avenues were on flash mode because of a pole issue, according to the city. "Signals will be returned to normal operation when repair work is complete and it is safe for motorists and workers," a city official said. This comes after a dramatic car crash in front of 7-Eleven on Wednesday night that shut off power for the northern half of town. (Healdsburg Patch)
2. Exciting news for Sonoma County Fair enthusiasts: A slightly pared-down version of the fair called the "Summer Fun Fest" will take place this year at the fairgrounds, with a max cap of 10,000 visitors per day. Off the table: horse racing, the Hall of Flowers and "all of the competitive exhibits." Still on the table: carnival rides like the zipper, gondola and drop tower; fair food like cinnamon rolls, corn dogs, funnel cakes and turkey legs (but not the Pasta King stand); rodeo events; the Scotty and Trink comedy and juggling duo; and "the traditional livestock judging and auction for young exhibitors." New this year: camel rides, a quinceañera expo and the Peggy Sue Classic Car Exhibition. All this is happening next weekend and the weekend after. (Press Democrat; paywall)
3. Beloved local nonprofit Corazón Healdsburg raised $500,000 at a fancy-looking fundraiser event held last weekend at Healdsburg's newest wine-tasting collective and event venue, Bacchus Landing. "I was so moved by the incredible interest and willingness to create change for our community," the nonprofit's new CEO says. Corazón has reportedly grown its team to 15 staff members within the last year, and "is ready to be the catalyst of this transformation bringing the community together." (SoCoNews Healdsburg)
4. A petition is officially now in circulation for the "PAUSE" campaign, an initiative created by Healdsburg water activists to pressure the city into more proactive drought planning. It asks that the city "prioritize the water needs of CURRENT residents and city businesses" and "immediately postpone all non essential building until a viable, accurate 2021 Urban Water Management Plan is filed and accepted by the State of California." You can sign the petition electronically here. (Facebook)
5. A new performing arts venue is opening inside the Paul Mahder Gallery on Healdsburg Avenue near the roundabout next month. Programmers for the "intimate, non-profit venue" plan to book "jazz, classical, contemporary and choral music, film screenings, literary readings, and much more." Jazz pianist George Cables will be the first act; he performs Aug. 21. (Inbox; THE222.org)

Today's Healdsburg Daily is brought to you by our friends at Verizon. They're building the fastest 5G network in the country. To learn how 5G is going to change life for you and your community — and to get access to this amazing technology — click here. And thank you Verizon for sponsoring this community resource in Healdsburg!

This weekend in Healdsburg:

Friday, July 23

• Westside Road Band Live at Coyote Sonoma (8AM-5PM)
• Funeral Mass for Albert Francis Ghiglieri at St. John the Baptist Church (11AM)
• Virtual Teen Game On at Sonoma County Library (4-5PM)
• Friday Evening Wine & Song at Hudson Street Wineries (5-8PM)
• Spring Music Series: Dustin Saylor at Hotel Healdsburg (6-8PM)
• Prune Packers Baseball Game at Rec Park (6-8PM)
• Summer Music Series at Soda Rock Winery: Rock on a Roll (6-8PM)
• Locals' Night: Russian River Ramblers at Coyote Sonoma (6-9PM)

Saturday, July 24

• Giro Vigneti Healdsburg Health & Wellness Cycling Tour (7AM-2PM)
• Healdsburg Saturday Farmers Market (8:30AM-12PM)
• Celebration of Life Service for Robert E. "Bob" Myers at Healdsburg Community Church (2PM)
• How to Draw Your Own Comic Book Character Workshop at Sonoma County Library (2-3PM)
• Adam Lieb Live at Spicy Vines Winery (3-6PM)
• Sonoma County Library Summer Reading Author Series: Jeff Chang (4-5PM)
• Live Jazz at Hotel Healdsburg: Steve Moon Quartet (5-8PM)
• Vineyard Series: Summer Vineyard Dinner at Dry Creek Vineyard (5:30-8:30PM)
• Prune Packers Baseball Game at Rec Park (6-8PM)
• Live Music: Last of a Dyin’ Breed at Coyote Sonoma (6-9PM)
• Buck Nickels and Loose Change at River Rock Casino (8-11PM)

Sunday, July 25

• Brunch White Flight at Comstock Wines (11AM-12:30PM)
• Summer Sunday Music with Jason Bodlovich at VML Winery (11AM-4PM)
• Pizza & Wine on The Green at Rodney Strong Vineyards (4:30-6PM)
• Sunday Backyard Nights at Medlock Ames (5-7PM)
• Prune Packers Baseball Game at Rec Park (6-8PM)

Healdsburg Patch Notebook

• Asahi Sushi & Kitchen, located on Healdsburg Avenue near the plaza, just opened a new sister spot in the Safeway shopping center. They're serving "Ramen, Sushi Rolls, Teriyaki, Katsu, Izakaya Tapas, etc…" (Nextdoor)
• Only a few weeks til school starts, on August 18! (HUSD)
• Hot new form of social currency in Healdsburg: How low can you get your "Avg. Gall per day" figure at the top right corner of your monthly municipal "Electric & Water Usage History" receipt, per person in your household? (Facebook & Facebook)
• There's a multi-class reunion in the works for the Healdsburg High School classes of 1980, '81 and '82. Join their new Facebook group if you want in! (Facebook)
• Just what the plaza needs: Another wine tasting room just opened for Jeff Cohn Cellars. (Facebook)
• Taqueria El Sombrero will be short-staffed this weekend, so they're planning to close a little early at 5 p.m. today, tomorrow and Sunday. (Facebook)
• Down in Petaluma, the first Sonoma County mosquito of the season just tested positive for West Nile. (Nextdoor)
• There are dozens of interesting job positions currently open in the Sonoma County public sector, including a 911 dispatcher for the sheriff, a wood-chipper, a helicopter pilot, a wildfire vegetation mitigation program manager and much more. (Sonoma County Government)
• The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors is coming for your vacation rental. (KRCB)
• A report on the current situation for renters in Sonoma County finds that "to cover the cost of rental housing, a worker earning minimum wage would need 2.7 jobs." (North Bay Business Journal)
• Very cool new software being used by Sonoma County fire crews monitors the myriad wilderness cameras set up across the county to detect any fire or smoke and pinpoint its location. (ABC7)
• The Healdsburg Youth Wrestling Club had to cancel one of their final practices of the season last night due to a COVID scare. (Facebook)
• And speaking of the wrestling club, here's a nice recap from the Trib on this year's Drew Esquivel Memorial Camp. (SoCoNews Healdsburg)
• Sonoma County's parks department just posted a wonderful list of little-known "shady summer hikes" you can take on trails across the county. (Sonoma County Regional Parks)

From our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley - Silent Digital Auction! The UnGala (July 24)
• Happy Birthday Harry 1M 5K 10K 13.1 26.2 - Participate from home! (July 31)
• CinemaBites Screens "Roadrunner" with Treats from Panevino and Brigachero Chocolates (August 2)

Job listing:

• Caregiver (Details)

Alrighty, that's it for today. I'll see you back in your inbox next week.

— 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? You can reach me at simone.wilson@patch.com.