🌱 Rainwater Capture Program + Burke Funeral Info + Absinthe Cocktails

Hey, everybody! Hope you're all enjoying this wonderfully stormy Wednesday. I'm here in your inbox per usual to get you up to speed on everything you need to know about what's happening in Healdsburg. Follow along for the latest...

First, your daily weather:

• Wednesday: Cloudy, windy and rainy. High: 58 Low: 47.
• Thursday: More of the same — with possible thunderstorms and hail, to boot. High: 57 Low: 44.

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Air over Healdsburg:

Here are the top 5 stories today in Healdsburg:

1. Tomorrow's rain may be the one we've been waiting for to make a dent in drought and fire conditions leading into the dry season, according to local weather officials. On Monday, we got around a quarter of an inch in town and three-quarters of an inch in the hills west of Healdsburg — and we should see some more "steady showers" throughout the day today. Then, the PD reports, "the precipitation is set to pick up Thursday, which 'looks to be the rainy day we've been waiting for since January with... steady, soaking rains,' weather service officials said." This style of rain — one long dump, strong and continuous — is reportedly the kind with the most lasting benefits. Some thunderstorms and hail are possible tomorrow as well. Overall, from now through Friday afternoon, the hills are expected to get one to two inches of rain, forecasters say, and we could get up to a quarter inch in town. Wondering what this means for summer in Healdsburg? We should get more answers tonight at the city's Water Town Hall. It'll include updates on water access for residents, all the ways city leaders are trying to diversify our water supply, and more. There's a Zoom link on the city's website — show starts at 6 p.m. (City of Healdsburg & Press Democrat; paywall)
2. Speaking of rain! There's a new countywide program that encourages residents to bolster their own water supply with rainwater by easing the cost of installing "roof rainwater catchment systems for outdoor non-potable use." According to the Sonoma County Gazette, the program comes "thanks to multiple grants and a partnership with Sonoma Water, the Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership, Daily Acts" and multiple local cities including Healdsburg. "This program reduces the barriers to installation by providing technical assistance for system design and installation... and rebates towards materials costs," the Gazette reports. "If you have ever wanted to install a system but have questions about getting started and would like to learn more about how to prequalify for a rebate, here’s your chance." There will be an informational webinar on Thursday, May 5, from 5:30-7 p.m. Here's how to join and learn more. (Sonoma County Gazette & Daily Acts)
3. Did you know Healdsburg is home to its own absinthe laboratory? The Bohemian has the inside scoop. "For over a century, France and Sonoma County have had winemaking in common, and now thanks to Healdsburg’s Young & Yonder, we are confreres in absinthe-making as well," the story goes. "Founded in 2013 by husband and wife team Josh and Sarah Opatz, the distillery debuted with vodka and gin before introducing an absinthe boasting a contemporary flavor profile. 'We wanted to stay true to the spirit with anise, fennel and wormwood,' says Sarah Opatz, 'but added lemongrass, ginger, peppermint and eucalyptus to make drinking it more interesting than just a black licorice bomb. We joke that ours is a gateway to absinthe.'" They also make a crazy-sounding absinthe drink called the Suisse Coffee Cocktail, which reportedly consists of absinthe, a shot of espresso, simple syrup and half-and-half — "shaken and served in a coupe." You can visit the Young & Yonder distillery and try their concoctions at the end of Allan Court off North Street, behind City Hall. (North Bay Bohemian & Young & Yonder Distillery)
4. As of today, you're no longer required to wear a mask at the Sonoma County Airport, nor on SMART trains or Sonoma County Transit buses. This new guidance is a little confusing, seeing as the CDC itself has extended its mask mandate for public transport through May 3 "to allow more time to study the BA.2 omicron subvariant." However — the federal Transportation Security Administration updated its own policy this week "in response to a federal judge striking down the CDC's mask mandate for public transportation hubs," the PD reports. So the county has followed suit. From Santa Rosa airport officials: "In accordance with TSA not enforcing the federal mask mandate, at this time mask use is recommended but will not be enforced inside the STS terminal or gate, or aboard aircraft. TSA is still evaluating how they will respond to the ruling, and there may be additional changes in the future." There ya go! (Facebook & Press Democrat; paywall)
5. The latest Healdsburg police log, covering the week of April 11-18, includes the following reports (and many more). A man at Longboard Vineyards on Fitch Street claimed a transient threw a radio and a rock at him; a couple catalytic converters were reported stolen from the Healdsburg Auto Industries dealership; multiple cars were seen doing donuts in the Healdsburg Community Center parking lot; a couple different incidents were reported of apparently drunk people stumbling into their cars near the plaza and trying to drive; a couple transients outside the Raven allegedly set up "reclining chairs under the over-hang in the front of the theater," then cooperated when police asked them to "move along"; an "altercation between two guests" was reported at Calderwood Inn on Grant; various pieces of graffiti popped up around town, including the word "gringo" tagged at Giorgi Park; and a couple different people reportedly stole stuff from Big Johns. (Healdsburg Police Department)

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Today and tomorrow in Healdsburg:

Wednesday, April 20

• "Women in Conversation" at the Luther Burbank Center, Feat. Native American Activist & Author Winona LaDuke (4:30-8:30PM)
• Dustin Saylor Live at Duke's Spirited Cocktails (4:30-8:30PM)
• City of Healdsburg Hosts Water Town Hall (6PM)
• Healdsburg Unified School District Board Meeting (6PM)
• Trivia Night at Coyote Sonoma (7-9PM)
• Zumba With Chuy at TCElite Gym (7:15-8:15PM)

Thursday, April 21

• Little Monsters Culinary Mini Cooking Camp at the Villa, Featuring Spring-Themed Recipes (3:30-5PM)
• Pop-Mixer & Industry Night at Bacchus Landing (4-6PM)
• Healdsburg High School Governance Council Meeting (4-5PM)
• Senior Citizens Advisory Commission Meeting at Villa Chanticleer Annex: Parks & Rec Commission Joint Work Session Training (6PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company Run to Geyserville With Gun Club Finish, Feat. Music & "Killer Dinner Special for Runners" (6PM)
• Entries Due for Healdsburg FFA Showmanship Clinic & Show (11:59PM)

Healdsburg pic of the day:

I love to feature local photos! Submit yours here. Please just confirm in your email that you own the rights to the photo, and that Patch has permission to republish it. Can't wait to seeee 📸

From my notebook:

• Healdsburg's SingleThread restaurant, she of three Michelin stars, is planning to reopen on May 1 after being closed for 10 weeks to repair damage from a duct fire. And after that, come May 17, the restaurant will be hosting an elaborate 10-course "collaborative dinner" with a couple famous chefs from San Francisco and Mexico City. Back in action... (Sonoma Magazine)
• Tonight's school board meeting at City Hall will reportedly cover stuff like — what school officials are doing with the $67 million they got via Measure D in 2016; the "possibility of opening the district to limited interdistrict transfers"; a proposed "college prep math curriculum for Healdsburg High School"; plans for the 73rd annual Twilight Parade next month; and more. (SoCoNews Healdsburg)
• Healdsburg's former police chief, Kevin Burke, who died earlier this month in an apparent suicide, will be "honored and celebrated" in a series of upcoming events. First, there will be a "public viewing" at St. John's Church on May 4. Then, on May 6, there will be a funeral mass at St. John's, followed by a celebration of life at the plaza. (Facebook)
• Meanwhile, Burke's name will still appear on the June 7 ballot for Sonoma County sheriff. It's the "result of strict candidate filing and approval deadlines mandated by state law, which dictates that once someone has filed and qualified for the ballot, there is no legal option for them to be removed," according to the PD. (Press Democrat; paywall)
• A bunch of beautiful cats just went up for adoption at the Healdsburg animal shelter. Plus a handsome husky-lab mix named Frankie and a trio of Guinea pigs. (Healdsburg Patch)
• A writer for the Tribune reminisces about Healdsburg's rich history as a prune blossom capital, from the '60s through the '90s — and tries to follow an old recipe the Trib printed at the time for prune honey bread, to mixed results. (SoCoNews Healdsburg & SoCoNews Healdsburg)
• The Healdsburg Library's annual book sale is coming up on May 18-21 in the forum room, with titles for "everyone and every interest." And they need volunteers to help set up and sell! (Facebook & Healdsburg Patch Calendar)
• The Healdsburg Arts Festival is also back this year, running from August 26-28 in the plaza. Applications are now being accepted from "fine art and craft artists" who wish to show their work at the festival. (Facebook)
• County officials are planning another "Fire and Earthquake Safety Expo" in Cloverdale on May 1, much like the one held last August. It's a "huge emergency preparedness event" that will feature preparedness workshops, home and pet protection tips, live firefighter drills, a cameo from the sheriff's famous Henry 1 helicopter and lots of other family-friendly activities. (Facebook)
• Healdsburg development watchers are wondering how Piazza Hospitality got the go-ahead to pursue their huge new hotel project at the corner of North Street and Healdsburg Avenue. (Nextdoor & Blogspot)
• Speaking of fancy Healdsburg hotels: The Montage just made Esquire's list of "the best new hotels in North America and the Caribbean" for 2022. The Four Seasons Napa Valley, over in Calistoga, is on there too. (Esquire)
• Some media students from Healdsburg High made a very sweet video about what it's like to be a kindergartner at Healdsburg Elementary's Fitch Mountain Campus. (Facebook)

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Events:

• Healdsburg Chorus Spring Concert: "And Nature Smiled" (April 24)
• National Hug A Plumber Day (April 25)
• Savour Sonoma Sculpture (April 30)
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You're officially in the loop for today. See you around...

— 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.