🌱 Open Space Park Closed + Copter Rescue + Election For Council Seat?

Hello, hello! It's me again, Simone, your host of the Healdsburg Daily. I'm back in your inbox this fine Wednesday to get you up to speed on everything you need to know about what's happening in town. Here we go...

First, your daily weather:

• Wednesday: Sunny and windy. High: 68 Low: 42.
• Thursday: Partly sunny with a breeze. High: 66 Low: 43.

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Air over Healdsburg:

Here are the top 3 stories today in Healdsburg:

1. Healdsburg fire officials say that for the foreseeable future, the Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve will be closed from 7 a.m. through 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, "for the safety of the hikers." The gate entrance will remain locked during that time, they say. Fire department staff have been using a crazy machine called a "masticator" — a big tractor-looking thing with "a mower on an articulating arm" that "can throw debris at high speed" — to get rid of flammable vegetation along the ridge line of the preserve. Officials explain that "mastication is a fuels reduction treatment that is necessary to prepare for fire season. We are sorry for the inconvenience." (Healdsburg Fire Dept. via Facebook & Healdsburg Fire Dept. via Facebook)
2. CBS News stopped by Healdsburg's three-Michelin-starred Single Thread restaurant recently to celebrate their May reopening, after a duct fire forced them to shut down for two-and-a-half months of repairs. The news station got some pretty mouth-watering footage of Single Thread's modern, farm-fresh take on Japanese classics — as well as the overflowing Healdsburg farm where they grow the ingredients, filled with "bees, chickens, fresh vegetables destined for the kitchen and a host of flowers." Restaurant owners Kyle and Katina Connaughton, a couple since they were "punk-rock teenagers," talk to CBS about their various "setbacks" over the years and their latest venture in Healdsburg: the Little Saint food and art space a couple of blocks down North Street. "We wanted to do something more casual for our community, that had more accessibility for locals and visitors, and that you could visit more frequently," Kyle says. Watch the full video interview here. (CBS News & Single Thread Farms)
3. Looks like Healdsburg residents may be voting for a new member of the City Council this November — someone to fill Skylaer Palacios' newly empty seat and serve out the remaining two years of her term. David Hagele, who's currently on the council, quotes our city manager as saying that because Palacios resigned more than 130 days before the next municipal election (190 days before, to be exact), "the Council will have the option to appoint an individual to serve until the November election or to leave the seat vacant for that period, but the Council does not have an option to appoint for the remainder of the term." Because of this, he continues, "it appears necessary to call for a election in November, concurrent with the General Election, to fill the last two years of the term. I know this is different from what many of us anticipated, so I wanted to share it as quickly as possible." Healdsburg city leaders will discuss official next steps at their regular meeting this coming Monday. (David Hagele via Facebook)

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Today and tomorrow in Healdsburg:

Wednesday, May 11

• Healdsburg Airport Runway Closed for Engineering Evaluation (May 11-12, 8AM-5PM)
• "What Moves You?" Spiritual Reflections & Communal Meal at THE 222 (5:30PM)
• Healdsburg City Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting (6PM)
• Canon Book Group at Healdsburg Library: "Why Read Moby-Dick?" (6-7:30PM)
• Trivia Night at Coyote Sonoma (7-9PM)

Thursday, May 12

• Beginning Crochet Class at Purls of Joy Healdsburg: Flower Coasters (3-5PM)
• The Winemaker Experience at Blanchard Family Wines (3:30-5:30PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company Trail Surf at Shiloh Ranch Regional Park (6PM)
• Healdsburg High School English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC) Meeting (6-8PM)

Healdsburg pics of the day, weather edition:

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From my notebook:

• There was a motorcycle accident Monday night out Dry Creek Road, just past Yoakim Bridge. Responders from the Northern Sonoma County Fire District, which patrols the area, reportedly swooped down in a red helicopter around 7:30 p.m. to transport the victim to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. (Northern Sonoma County Fire District via Facebook)
• Did you know there’s a gift boutique inside the Healdsburg Senior Center at 133 Matheson, right next to Oakville Grocery? "All goods are hand crafted and produced by Healdsburg seniors," according to the helpful folks from the Shop Local Healdsburg account on Instagram, who stopped by. The store reportedly sells a bunch of handmade stuff like embroidered cards and towels, "jewelry and consignment pieces," baby quilts, beanies, blankets, cheese boards, woodwork, "books written by Healdsburg seniors about Healdsburg" and more. You can "inquire too on custom orders, as they enjoy making them." (Shop Local Healdsburg via Instagram)
• The Tuesday version of the Healdsburg Farmers Market begins next week, and will last through the end of October. Organizers say they expect it to be "the biggest Tuesday market yet." New vendors include Mulligan Gardens, specializing in herbs and mushrooms; Eddie's Farm with produce and an "abundance of flowers"; The Italian Corner with "to-go homemade traditional Italian dishes, sauces, pastas, desserts"; the Sushi Shoubu food truck; the Olive Truck with olive oil; and Mendo Grass, selling wheatgrass and a variety of microgreens. (Healdsburg Farmers Market via Facebook & Mailchimp)
• Also coming soon to the Saturday version of the Healdsburg Farmers Market: A company called Relish Culinary Adventures will be giving market "tour, cooking and lunch workshops" once a month, starting this weekend. Here's how it works, according to the PD: "A rotating cast of guest chef-instructors will lead a stroll through the morning market to meet the purveyors and select seasonal fruits, vegetables and artisan cheeses for a seasonal menu, then return to the school for a hands-on cooking workshop and farm-fresh luncheon served with local wines." Tickets are $189 a pop. (Press Democrat; paywall)
• There's a one-acre meadow selling for a little over a quarter mill at the south end of town. The property is located on "picturesque and serene" Red Rail Road off Old Redwood Highway. It "faces a beautiful hillside," is "completely fenced with a gate" and has a "small storage barn," the listing says. (Healdsburg Patch & Redfin)
• Neighbors on Nextdoor miss the Bear Republic, and wish we still had a brewery in town. "You’d think one would pop up with a great menu," someone says. "Hoping the new Mill District will have a brewery!!" says someone else. "Don't hold your breath," says another. And so on... (Nextdoor)
• As a fundraiser for Healdsburg High's senior graduation celebration this year, you can pick up dinner next Tuesday night from the Villa. It's $50 for a dinner feeding four — featuring pulled pork, mac and cheese, coleslaw and cookies — or $75 with wine included. (Facebook Groups & Graduation Celebration Healdsburg)
• A labradoodle got loose on Fitch Mountain yesterday — and some neighbors say he may be a repeat offender. "This beautiful guy followed me all the way down the mountain," says the woman who found him. "He’s at the Healdsburg Animal Shelter now." (Facebook Groups & Facebook Groups)

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You're all caught up for today! See you again tomorrow...

— 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