🌱 Porta Potty Arrest + Robot Butler + Healdsburg Org Spotlight

Happy Tuesday! It's me again, Simone, your host of the Healdsburg Daily — here to get you all caught up on everything you need to know about what's happening in town. Let's do it.

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny. High: 63 Low: 37.

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Here are the top 3 stories today in Healdsburg:

1. A young man from Healdsburg took Sonoma County Sheriff's deputies on a high-speed chase last Friday night that ended in a porta potty, according to the sheriff. Andrew Moreno, 22, allegedly "sped through neighborhoods" in western Santa Rosa, "running stop signs and a red light" before eventually crashing "through a fence and into portable toilets at a business in the 4100 block of Sebastopol Road." Several deputies and two sheriff's dogs then spent over half an hour trying to find him in the yard, which reportedly contained "at least 100 portable toilets." Here's how it ended, according to the sheriff: "A K9 found Moreno inside one of the portable toilets and bit him on his left arm. Moreno still refused to come out and had to be removed by a deputy." He's now facing nine felonies. (Facebook)
2. Healdsburg nonprofit Reach for Home plays a central role in a new, in-depth piece from the Press Democrat on farm laborers and other low-wage workers living in squalid conditions in northern Sonoma County. The piece describes the deplorable living conditions of "an untold number of families" who "live in cramped apartments with too many people, or sheds with only a chemical toilet, or tiny mobile homes with leaking roofs or backed-up sewage pipes." County officials call up Reach for Home when a property owner is reported for violations and there's an immediate need to get residents out of danger. "The nonprofit can hook up families affected by COVID-19 with up to 18 months in rental assistance through the county" at places like the Victory Apartments in Healdsburg, the PD reports, and get them other help. We recommend you read the full story — it's very illuminating. (Press Democrat; paywalls)
3. Another Healdsburg nonprofit, Farm to Pantry — which goes on "gleaning" missions to collect excess produce from local farms and deliver it to those in need — is featured in an equally illuminating Sonoma Index-Tribune story on local efforts to take advantage of the wine country's famously bountiful harvests to feed the hungry. The org's executive director, Duskie Estes, is a former celebrity chef who transitioned to nonprofit work after her Sebastopol restaurant was destroyed in the Russian River flood of 2019. So far in 2021, Farm to Pantry has salvaged and distributed more than 320,000 pounds of produce. “We are helping people find dignity,” Estes says. “Our volunteers enjoy the instant gratification of harvesting food to give to people who truly need it.” You can always check the glean schedule and sign up to help on their website. (Farm to Pantry & Sonoma Index-Tribune; paywall)

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Healdsburg pic of the day:

Today in Healdsburg:

• Corazón Healdsburg Savings and Budgeting Workshop, Feat. $100 Gift From Redwood Credit Union (Call for time)
• Packet Pickup for Healdsburg 5K Turkey Trot (Nov. 23-24, 10AM-7PM)
• New Art Exhibit at Upstairs Art Gallery: "Give Joy" (Nov. 23-Jan. 2, 11AM-6PM)
• Art Moura Solo Exhibition at Hammerfriar Gallery (11AM-6PM)
• Volunteer Info Meeting: Drivers Assisting Seniors in Healdsburg (DASH) Program (12PM, 5:30PM)
• Healdsburg City Planning Commission Meeting (6PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company Trail Sisters Run at Parkland Farms, Ending in Thanksgiving Potluck (6PM)
• Virtual Spanish Conversation Class for Beginners at Sonoma County Library (6:30-7:45PM)

Healdsburg Patch Notebook

• Did you know that Hotel Trio Healdsburg has a robot butler named Rosé who does "room-service deliveries"? According to San Diego Magazine, "this cylindrical, stainless-steel 'social-distancing ambassador' efficiently delivers ice, towels, and your favorite bottle of vino." (SD Magazine)
• Someone prototyped an amazing LEGO version of Cal Fire's crazy new "Fire Hawk" helicopter, one of which is stationed in our area. You can vote to make the LEGO set a reality. (Facebook & Lego.com)
• English classes for Spring 2022 are now open for enrollment at Corazón Healdsburg. "Las clases de inglés para la primavera 2022 ya están abiertas para que se inscriba!" (Facebook)
• The Healdsburg Library has some awesome children's book bundles ready for takeout. Themes include "bilingual books," "toddler faves," "dogs & cats" and "picture books for older readers." (Facebook)
• Heads up from a neighbor on Nextdoor yesterday: "In case anyone is looking for their dog, there is a large black Lab type dog wandering on Bailhache near the railroad tracks." Another neighbor spotted the dog, too. (Nextdoor)

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You're all caught up for today. See you tomorrow! If you're liking these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to follow along. 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? I'm all ears. You can contact me at simone.wilson@patch.com.