🌱 Pomo's New Water-Saving System + Library Frog + Police Logs

Hey, neighbors! It's me, Simone, your host of the Healdsburg Patch newsletter — back in your inbox after the long and kinda stormy Memorial Day weekend. Hope it was a good one all around. Today's newsletter is full of everything you need to know about what's happening in town, including:

• A cool new water-saving system being tested by the Dry Creek Pomo at their Healdsburg vineyards
• Police logs for the month of May
• A makeover for the frog sculpture in the Healdsburg Library fountain
• And more...

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Now, your local weather:

• Tuesday: Fog and clouds turning to sun. High: 71 Low: 51.
• Wednesday: Fog and clouds turning to sun again. A little warmer. High: 80 Low: 47.
• Thursday: Mostly sunny. High: 81 Low: 49.

Air over Healdsburg:

Here are the top stories in Healdsburg today:

1. Healdsburg's local American Indian tribe, the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians, has set up creative new system to save water at the 140 acres of vineyards they run in the Alexander Valley area, according to the North Bay Business Journal — and they're hoping other local wineries will get on board as well. They're reportedly using a "vineyard frost-protection system to put water back onto the ground during peak Russian River flow periods in order to increase the level of groundwater throughout their vineyards." It's called the “On-Farm Recharge Initiative,” and the target completion date is 2030. Pretty cool, right? More from the story: "Dry Creek Rancheria Tribal Chairman Chris Wright... is spearheading a major grant-funded, multi-million-dollar, drought-resistant water capture plan. He hopes it will spark interest from Healdsburg-area wineries and farms in a 7,000-acre area to help with the water supply that keeps the Russian River economic microcosm going. The benefits are threefold — from water consumers and fisheries to wineries and other agriculture businesses at 'ground zero' in the valley. And the stakes are high, as drought periods have turned up over the past few decades, prompting concern among local farmers and water agencies. ... In essence, the phased-in project aims to replenish the groundwater basin with up to 9,000-acre feet of water savings annually, when the Russian River increases to high flows. Traditionally, that stormwater runoff represents a wasted supply. Instead, ag stakeholders like the tribe want to capture that excess." You can read a bunch more about the new system and plans for expansion in the Journal. (North Bay Business Journal; paywall)
2. Time for some Healdsburg police logs! Among the more notable reports during the month of May: A semi truck and a brown Corolla that crashed into each other right outside Fincher’s Auto Service, leaving one person limping and car parts littering the road; an "unruly patient" at Healdsburg Hospital allegedly "kicking and hitting staff" in the emergency room; a skimming device found on the ATM at the Bank of America on Healdsburg Avenue; a young man arrested near the Lytton Springs exit off the 101 for allegedly driving drunk, carrying drugs without a prescription and "resisting an officer"; a handful of other suspected drunk drivers; some parked cars that got broken into, including at the Parkpoint gym and Ramey Wine Cellars; a woman at the Dry Creek Inn reported for "freaking out, crying and refusing to leave past her check-out time," and a visibly drunk guy with spiky hair and a pink shirt who refused to leave a wedding at Studio Barndiva on Center Street as well; some kind of close-call knife fight at Amy's Wicked Slush near the river; $1,000 worth of booze allegedly stolen from the glass liquor cabinet at Safeway; and much more. You can always peruse more Healdsburg police logs at your leisure, either on the police department's website (under "Bulletin") or in the "First Responder Logs" section of the Healdsburg Tribune site. (Healdsburg Police Department & Healdsburg Tribune)

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Healdsburg pics of the day:

Do you have any great local pics that you want to share with your community? You can submit them here and I may feature them in the newsletter. Please just confirm in your email that you took any photos you're sending, and that Patch has permission to republish them, K? Thanks! 📸

Coming up in Healdsburg:

Tuesday, May 30

• Healdsburg Farmers Market on the Plaza (9AM-12:30PM)
• Hiring Event at Hotel Les Mars for Goodnight’s Bourbon + Chop House, the New Steakhouse on the Plaza (May 30-31, 9AM-4PM)
• Food Distribution at the Healdsburg Community Center (Weekly, 9:30-10:30AM)
• First "Tuesdays in the Plaza" of the Season, Featuring Live Music by '90s Party Band Club 90 (6PM)
• Alexander Valley Film Society (AVFilm) Hosts Filmmaker Social & Panel at the Plaza Cinema Center (6PM)
• Bossa Funka Nova, Matt Silva & Nick Otis Live at the Elephant in the Room (7:30-11PM)

Wednesday, May 31

• "Intro to Chinese Calligraphy" Workshop for Teens in Grades 7-12 at the Healdsburg Library (3PM)
• Trivia Night at Coyote Sonoma (Weekly, 7-9PM)

Thursday, June 1

• Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce Hosts "Good Morning, Healdsburg" Conversation With Sonoma County Airport Manager Jon Stout (8AM)
• Gentle Yoga at the Healdsburg Senior Center (Weekly, June 1-29, 10:10-10:55AM)
• Healdsburg High School Swim Coach Hosts "Pre-Team" Recreational Swim Lessons for Kids Aged 8-17 (Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays, June 1-29, 4:15-4:45PM)
• Local Business Networking Mixer at Smith Story Wine Cellars (4:30-6:30PM)
• Rosary for Deceased Healdsburg Resident Manuel Alvidrez Garcia at 213 Bumpy Road Off Bailhache Avenue (6PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company Hosts Run to Dry Creek General Store & Bar (6PM)
• Trivia Night at Fogbelt Station Beer Garden (Weekly, 6-8PM)
• Caleb Caudle Live at Little Saint (7-9PM)
• Karaoke Night at Coyote Sonoma (Weekly, 7-10PM)
• Live Professional Theater at THE 222: "CHAPATTI," a Play by Christian O'Reilly (June 1-2, 7:30PM)

From our sponsor:

Today’s Healdsburg Patch newsletter is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. T-Mobile has invested billions to light up their best network ever, covering 99% of people in America with LTE, which helps to keep communities like ours informed and connected. We thank T-Mobile for their support and for making today’s Healdsburg Patch newsletter possible.

From my notebook:

• There's some new animal art in town! The Healdsburg Library just replaced the damaged frog sculpture in its front fountain, named Demeter, with a new version by the same artist, according to a rep from the Friends of the Healdsburg Library. Looks like the new Demeter comes with a dark, glossy glaze and a few more lilypads. She was sculpted by Healdsburg ceramic artist Michael Rosen and installed by Jay Tripathi of local landscaping company GardenWorks, the rep says. (Friends of the Healdsburg Library)

• If you missed the raucous livestock auction at the Healdsburg Future Farmers Country Fair over the weekend, you can re-watch it here. The auctioneer's signature sing-song gets real good near the end there... (Healdsburg Future Farmers Country Fair via Facebook)
• The City of Healdsburg's youth soccer league is filling up fast for the fall season, organizers say. And tomorrow is the last day to get a discount on the registration fee. You can sign your kid up here. (City of Healdsburg & Healdsburg Youth Soccer Association via Facebook)

In partnership with T-Mobile:

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More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Fresh Perks Every Week (May 30)
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Now you're in the loop for today! I'll see you very 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 Patch newsletter? Contact me at simone.wilson@patch.com