RIP Healdsburg Chef + Parish Cafe Update + Wine Cave Guide

It's Hump Day in Healdsburg! And right on time, I'm here to get you all caught up on everything you need to know today about what's happening locally.

First, today's weather:

Some clouds and wind in the morning, clearing up by afternoon. Temp continues to drop for some sweet relief. High: 83 Low: 44.

Here are the 5 top stories in Healdsburg today:

1. Dozens of Sonoma County firefighters have headed southeast this week to help fight the River Fire in Mariposa County, near Yosemite. As of last night, the fire had burned at least 9,500 acres — including some buildings — and was only 15% contained. Cal Fire’s expert Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit has also been assisting with the Beckwourth Complex fire to the northeast, now at a whopping 92,988 acres and 46% contained. (Press Democrat; paywall)
2. The motorcyclist who died in a crash last week on Highway 128 after reportedly swerving around a Calistoga Fire Department engine was Kolin Vazzoler, 51, the "beloved and successful" longtime executive chef at Healdsburg's Simi Winery. He leaves behind a 3-year-old son. Here's how to support his family. (Press Democrat; paywall)
3. You know the Parish Cafe, that Louisiana-style restaurant right off the roundabout at the south end of town? There's a future for it yet. While Parish founders Rob and Karla Lippincott are fleeing to Tennessee to escape the local "cost of living and wildfire threat," they're handing off their restaurant to new owners Gareth and Lynette Owens, who just moved here from the Bay. "The eatery’s recipes and concept won’t change," the Trib reports. (SoCoNews Healdsburg)
4. SMART trains aren't just for humans anymore — they're gonna start doing freight now, too. The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit district "took ownership of North Bay freight operations from the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Co. this week," the Marin Independent Journal reports, "along with 21 miles of additional railroad spanning from the Sonoma-Mendocino County border to Healdsburg." (Marin IJ)
5. Scope the latest Healdsburg home sale roundup from the PD. Interesting tidbit: An estate on Dry Creek Road "with a pool, bocce court, guest house and gourmet kitchen" that sold for $4.5 million at the end of May "recently re-entered the market as a co-ownership home with shares going for $677,000." That's one fancy commune. (Press Democrat; paywall)

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Today in Healdsburg

• Virtual Teen Anime Club at Sonoma County Library (4-5PM)
• Virtual Healdsburg Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting (6PM)
• Trivia Night at Coyote Sonoma (7-9PM)

Healdsburg Patch Notebook

• Healdsburg Avenue chiropractor David Jones is looking for "a younger, more energetic doctor" to buy his practice. It's going for around $142,000. (Life West)
• Local government accountability FTW! The Press Democrat just hired another full-time reporter to cover goings-on in the Sonoma County government. “I want to hear from readers,” she says. "What do you want to know about your county government?" Here's how to reach out. (Press Democrat; paywall)
• And as long as you're getting all civically engaged, consider throwing your name in the hat for one of 28 "special district governing board seats" now open in Sonoma County, including on the Russian River Recreation and Park District. (Patch Press Release Desk)
• If you missed that virtual workshop over the weekend on emergency preparedness, county officials have uploaded a recording of the event. (Facebook)
• In a tale as old as time, Healdsburg just lost another star local winemaker to Napa Valley... (North Bay Business Journal)
• Did you know there's a bougie towel set being sold by home design brand Serena & Lily called the "Healdsburg Bath Collection"? (Yahoo! Life)
• This Healdsburg winery is hiring seasonal workers for around $19/hour. (Facebook)
• Turns out the Healdsburg Boys & Girls Club is hiring as well, ahead of their big post-COVID reopening in August. (Facebook)
• This is pretty cool. The Sonoma County Library is compiling 2020 stories for a “community memory archive” that will document "the COVID-19 pandemic, social justice activism, wildfires, and the presidential election." Share your story here. (Facebook)
• Registration is now open for the Healdsburg Little League's fall season. (Facebook)
• Wanna play tourist in your own town? Here's a guide to local underground wine caves open for tasting, including a couple in Healdsburg. (7x7)
• The Russian River is about to get branded, marketed and merched, hard — for a good cause. Think something along the lines of Tahoe's “Keep Tahoe Blue” slogan. And expect water bottles, T-shirts, towels, bags and other "eco-friendly... wearable and reusable items." (Press Democrat; paywall)
• The owner of Healdsburg's Dry Creek Inn is expanding his cross-county empire with a "stucco Spanish Mission style three-story hotel" in Sonoma. (North Bay Business Journal)
• Anyone seen a "pink tankini bathing suit top" near the high school? It "fell out of my stroller tonight on a walk home," says a neighbor. (Facebook)
• The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors caved to pressure from the NAACP this week, re: lack of diversity on its redistricting commission. (Press Democrat; paywall)
• Drought got you down? Check out these free "open-source water-saving landscape plans" just released by a Sebastopol nonprofit. (Sonoma County Gazette)
• Sonoma Mag's foodie writers think the best fries in Healdsburg can be found at Rooftop Bar on Healdsburg Avenue. Oh, and at the McDonald's a few blocks south. Edgy! (Sonoma Magazine)

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That's it for today, people. I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow with your next update! 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? You can email me at simone.wilson@patch.com.