Overnight Lightning Fires + Water Delivery Fee? + Arreguin Family

Hello there, fellow citizens. Simone here with your event-packed weekend edition of the Healdsburg Daily. Can't believe it's already Friday again! Here's everything you need to know about what's happening in town.

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First, your weekend weather:

• Friday: Mostly sunny and windy. The "red flag warning" issued yesterday due to optimal fire conditions — strong heat, wind and a chance of dry lightning — is still in effect through 11 a.m. this morning, so stay vigilant. High: 90 Low: 50.
• Saturday: Some fog in the morning, clearing to sun. High: 90 Low: 50.
• Sunday: Sun, sun, sun. Hottest day of the weekend. High: 92 Low: 51.

Here are the top 5 stories in Healdsburg today:

1. As predicted by local weather and fire officials, there were some spot fires reported across Sonoma County overnight, apparently due to lightning strikes from the thunderstorm passing through. Luckily we got some rain, too! The only fire we saw reported in Healdsburg was on West Dry Creek Road between Jack Pine Road and Long Family Vineyards. Sarah Stierch, a local freelance journalist, reported the "20x20 ft fire" was "spreading into a few redwoods" at a "slow rate of spread" in the wee hours, but was expected to be extinguished by firefighters quickly (and apparently was). She also reported that electricity went out in the area for a few hours. Other small fires overnight included a couple down in Sonoma Valley, near Penngrove and Kenwood — likewise contained quickly. The most significant one was the Rock Fire, up along the Sonoma-Mendocino County line. The flames could be seen overnight from Cloverdale, and crews were reportedly having trouble getting to it. The rain seemed to help, though, and it does not appear to be rapidly spreading. (Twitter & Facebook & Mendocino Voice & Press Democrat; paywall)
2. Here's the timeline for the winding down of Healdsburg's popular recycled water delivery program — or at least the free version. The program will continue as-is through Nov. 5, the Tribune reports. But "after that, it will likely have some sort of fee and a participant cap as the city continues to use its own resources and funds to support the pricey program." More than 1,000 households are currently taking advantage of the free water deliveries, costing the city roughly $365,000 since the program began in early summer. (SoCoNews Healdsburg)
3. The Press Democrat has a great piece this week on the Healdsburg family "dominating the concrete business" across Sonoma County. From the PD: "At any point in the last decade, as many as eight members of the Arreguin family were on the payrolls at five separate concrete businesses in the North Bay. If you have concrete poured in anywhere on a job site in northern Sonoma County, you likely will work with an Arreguin at some point along the way." Click through for the family's history in Healdsburg, which dates back to the late 1940s, when they emigrated from Mexico by way of Texas. (Press Democrat; paywall)
4. Some environmentally friendly wine industry news from Healdsburg-based winery Medlock Ames, on the eve of their 20th anniversary: The company is shuffling around some of its higher-ups so that Ames Morison, after 19 years as head winemaker, can "shift focus to Medlock Ames’ strategic sustainability goals and be an outspoken educator to mitigate climate change." (Wine Industry Advisor)
5. Another local magazine just did a tour of the plaza's newest attraction, the "231-seat, three-level restaurant and lounge" that is the Matheson and Roof 106. They've got some great pics and video of the restaurant's "barrel-stave-inspired ceiling"; elaborate Japanese-style dishes such as the "Tamanishiki Rice Porridge"; and more. A tipster who emailed us this week with a decidedly less charmed impression said, "Stunning to see velvet ropes at The Matheson about 5 pm. I’m expecting a bouncer at the door. Our very own Studio 54." (Inbox & Sonoma Magazine)

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This weekend in Healdsburg:

Friday, September 10

• Healdsburg Library Storytime at Giorgi Park (10:30-11:30AM)
• Harvest Lunches at Jordan Winery (Sept. 10-13, 12-2PM)
• Food Truck Fridays at Bacchus Landing (4-7PM)
• Friday Evening Wine & Song at Hudson Street Wineries: Adam Lieb (5-8PM)
• Wilson Artisan Wines Summer Music Series: The Bluebyrds Live at Soda Rock Winery (6PM)
• Dustin Saylor Live at Hotel Healdsburg (6-8PM)
• Celebration of Pigs and Pinot at Hotel Healdsburg & Dry Creek Kitchen (6:30PM)
• RootStocks Live at Coyote Sonoma (7PM)
• Bugbee Project Plays Elephant In The Room (8-11PM)

Saturday, September 11

• Free COVID-19 Testing at Alliance Medical Center in Healdsburg (7AM-7PM)
• 6th Annual Drew Esquivel Memorial Scholarship Golf Tournament (7:30AM-2:30PM)
• Fitch Mountain Villas HOA Community Garage Sale (Sept. 11-12, 8AM-12PM)
• Healdsburg Saturday Farmers Market (8:30AM-12PM)
• Harvest Hikes with the Winemaker at West Wines (9:45-11:30AM)
• Pop-Up Art Gallery on Fitch Street: Textile Works, Silk Paintings, Line Drawings (Sept. 11-12, 10AM-4PM)
• Bella Vineyards Backyard Summer Concerts: Dustin Saylor (11AM-4PM)
• Live Music by Adam Lieb at Spicy Vines Winery (3-6PM)
• Stella Heath Quartet Live at Hotel Healdsburg (5-8PM)
• Live Music on the Russian River (6-10PM)
• Alexander Valley Film Society Summer Drive-In Series at Cloverdale Citrus Fair: Wayne's World (6:30PM)
• Billy Hart Quartet at THE 222 (7PM)
• Pat Jordan Band Live at Coyote Sonoma (8-11PM)

Sunday, September 12

• Plaza de las Américas: Celebrate Latin-American Heritage Month With Food, Music, Dance at Healdsburg Plaza (10AM-7PM)
• Artist Experience and Demonstration with Alison Haley Paul at ÆRENA Galleries Healdsburg (11AM-1PM)
• Bella Vineyards Backyard Summer Concerts: Sebastian Saint James (11AM-4PM)
• Solo Acoustic, Classic & Southern Rock at Soda Rock Winery: John Chevalier (12-3PM)
• Free "Second Sunday" Pipe Organ Concert at St. Paul's Episcopal Church (5PM)
• Billy Hart Quartet at THE 222 (7PM)

Healdsburg Patch Notebook

• Last night's sunset was completely insane, thanks to those thunderstorm clouds. (Facebook)
• Healdsburg nonprofit "Farm to Fight Hunger" is in need of recyclable egg cartons, a reader named Wendy Bertalon tells us. "All the eggs and vegetables they grow are given to the local food bank," she says. "Wrights Feeds will collect them and I will pick them up and get them to the girls (hens)." (Inbox)
• The Healdsburg High School wrestling team is now taking signups for their upcoming season, which begins on Nov. 1. (Facebook)
• In August, a total of 33 people died in Sonoma County from COVID. The three latest victims "included two vaccinated seniors between the ages of 80 and 90 — one of them male, one female — and an unvaccinated man in the 50-64 age range." (Press Democrat; paywall)
• A judge has refused PG&E's request that 25 of 33 criminal charges against them for starting 2019's Kincade Fire in Sonoma County be dismissed. (Press Democrat; paywall)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Friday! I'll see you soon. If you're feeling these newsletters, consider bringing some friends and neighbors along for the ride. 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? Email me at simone.wilson@patch.com.