Rural Land Bought Up + Healdsburg Police Logs + Fire Season Over?

Hey, everybody! It's me again, Simone, your host of the Daily — here to tell you everything worth knowing about what's going on in Healdsburg today. Also just wanna say while I've got you: I see all your emails full of news tips and memories and gripes and words of encouragement, and appreciate them with all my heart, even if I'm (very) slow to respond. Y'all are truly the best. Now, what you came for...

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and wildly pleasant. High: 74 Low: 51.

Here are the top 5 stories in Healdsburg today:

1. We bring you a couple more buzzkills from Sonoma County and Cal Fire officials after our big week of wetness. The storm "brought us much needed rain," the county says, "but not enough to bust the drought! Our region needs 25 inches or more of rainfall this winter to catch up. We still need our community to save water for drier months ahead." And Cal Fire adds that we're "not out of the woods" as far as wildfire season goes, either. From the PD: "Cal Fire says the risk of wildfire remains real and will for the foreseeable future, absent several more drenching rains that, so far, don’t appear in the forecast. It’s still peak season for the dry, north winds that sweep across the landscape and suck moisture from the forests and grasslands." So stay vigilant out there! (Facebook & Press Democrat; paywall)
2. Healdsburg-area landowners and real estate agents are central to a new Business Journal report on what's being called a "go-rural land purchase boom" propelled by the COVID-era work-from-home lifestyle. A local agent from Sotheby’s says rural land sales in our area are 25 percent higher so far in 2021, compared to 2020. This is reportedly due in large part to Bay Area techies moving north, now that they have more freedom from the office. An appraiser from American Ag Credit in Santa Rosa calls the clientele "so-called lifestyle buyers searching for a turnkey home to purchase — with acreage, a view and perhaps a small vineyard." He says "affordability is not a concern for this group, even in this otherwise pricey market. But now buyers in this category are armed with a newfound freedom to work remotely and maintain social distancing, which further encouraged this migration.” (North Bay Business Journal)
3. Just came across this obituary for Healdsburg High School grad and longtime Alexander Valley resident Wallace Clair, who died this month at 95 years old. He sounds like a heck of a guy. After serving as "oiler, electrician, and assistant engineer" in the Merchant Marines, Wallace reportedly returned home to be with his sweetheart and start his own earthmoving business. From his obit: "Some of Wally's most memorable jobs included building the roads and pads for Union Oil at the Geysers Geothermal Plant, assembling the dam at Memorial Beach every year, and installing the summer bridges in Asti and Forestville. A self-proclaimed Clark Gable look alike, Wally loved to entertain those around him with stories and teach (often inappropriate for children) songs to his grandkids. He loved to watch old westerns, duck hunt, fish, and deer hunt at his family property on Pine Flat Road." A celebration of his life will be held the weekend after next at Alexander Valley Hall. (Legacy.com)
4. In a colorful local sports story, Petaluma's hometown newspaper says their high school football team, the St. Vincent High School Mustangs, must "beware the Hounds" at their upcoming game this Friday, on their road to the championships. "On paper, it shouldn’t be a problem for the Mustangs," the Petaluma Argus-Courier reports. "They are 6-1 on the season, while Healdsburg is 3-4 and has lost both its league games. But the game is not played on paper, but at Recreation Park, one of the most historic recreation facilities in the Redwood Empire. Many a heavily favored Petaluma-area teams, including both Petaluma and Casa Grande, have stepped boldly onto the Greyhounds home kennel only to leave town sadder but wiser." (Petaluma Argus Courier)
5. We're a couple weeks behind on Healdsburg police logs! Here's a sampling of the incident reports that came in between Oct. 11 and Oct. 24: Someone seen "driving erratically and stopping at green lights for long periods of time" on Healdsburg Avenue near Matheson; a customer who allegedly "changed a price tag to make an item $12 cheaper" at a local business; a woman in a wheelchair "urinating, littering and lighting items on fire including candles, papers, matches, cigarettes and a marijuana joint" in a parklet downtown; a 10-year-old gum thief on Powell Avenue; a girl on Grove Street, upset at her mom for taking her phone and laptop away, allegedly hitting her mom with keys and driving off in her car; a guy who reported his box truck stolen on Vine Street, then when cops located it on Kinley, "noticed that $500 worth of potato chips were stolen from the truck"; quite a few domestic disturbances; a couple hit-and-runs; and more. (SoCoNews Healdsburg & SoCoNews Healdsburg)

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Today in Healdsburg:

• Foggy River Farm Pumpkin Patch Open on Eastside Road (Oct. 28-31, 10AM-4PM)
• "Reach for Home" Navigation Center Ribbon Cutting at Healdsburg's Victory Apartments (4PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company Thursday Night Costume Run With the Crew at Trailhouse Santa Rosa (6PM)
• Healdsburg School District Spanish Information Session: Presentación del Doctor Sobre la Vacuna de COVID Para los Niños (6-7:30)
• Sonoma Marin Saving Water Partnership Webinar: Permitted Graywater Systems (6-7:30PM)

Healdsburg Patch Notebook

• FYI, the Healdsburg Library is closed today, along with all other county libraries. (Sonoma County Library)
• An "ofrenda and art display" for Día de los Muertos was just set up in the Healdsburg Junior High School library. Starting today, junior high kids are encouraged to bring in "pictures or memories of loved ones who have passed away to display on the ofrenda." (Facebook)
• The best spot for vegetarian and vegan food in Healdsburg is the "Taste of Tea" Japanese restaurant and tea house on North Street, a block from the plaza, according to Sonoma Mag. "The Miso Ramen, ideal for chilly autumn days, is a signature dish. The vegan version offers depths of flavor and varied textures from the light miso kombu broth, soft tofu, chewy noodles, bamboo shoots, green onions and sprouts." (Sonoma Magazine)
• The Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue org down south in Petaluma, currently caring for five black bear cubs evacuated from big fires elsewhere in NorCal — as well as a couple mountain lions caught wandering through urban parts of Rohnert Park and Santa Rosa — is looking for a winter intern. Also some volunteers! (ConstantContact)
• Did you know you can research your Healdsburg home using the Sonoma County Library website? Here's a video tutorial. (YouTube)
• You can also head down to the Healdsburg Museum to get additional help. "Two weekends in a row we've helped Julie Seghesio Neumiller research the Dry Creek Victorian home that's been in her family since the 1950s," the museum posted recently. "Grandkids Maren and Tobias had questions of their own: How many children lived in the house? (FIVE) Did they raise chickens? (YES) Where did they go to school? (HAMILTON SCHOOL)." (Facebook)
• A beautiful old guitar has reportedly been stolen from the front display at Antique Harvest on Healdsburg Avenue. Here's who to call "if you have seen it or know anything about it."(Patch Neighbor Posts)
• Also: A guy who says his car was sideswiped in front of the Wurst restaurant hopes neighbors will keep a look out for "a blue Hyundai with damage on the drivers side." (Patch Neighbor Posts)

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— 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 reach me at simone.wilson@patch.com.