🌱 Russian River Watch + New Food Bank Distros + Wine Festivals Galore

Hello again! It's me, Simone, your host of the Healdsburg Daily — back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening locally. Here we go...

First, your local weather:

• Tuesday: Heavy rain, wind and possible thunderstorms. Also some possible hail! High: 55 Low: 45.
• Wednesday: Rainy and breezy. High: 51 Low: 49.

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Here are the top 3 stories in Healdsburg today:

1. You're probably getting sick of storm news by now, but here we are again. After the rain and wind whipped us around like crazy last night, the "flood watch" and "wind advisory" issued for our area by the National Weather Service are still in effect through 4 p.m. today. There's also this warning from Healdsburg city officials, sent out yesterday around 2:45 p.m.: "A portion of Railroad Park is closed due to anticipated localized flooding specific to that area this afternoon. For your safety, and the safety of others, please do not enter closed areas. Still want a view of the river? You can do so (safely!) from higher up in the park." Weather officials now say the Russian River through Healdsburg is expected to peak in the wee hours Thursday morning just under 16 feet — well below "flood stage." Around the same time, however, the river in both Geyserville and Guerneville is expected to flood over. (Healdsburg Patch & City of Healdsburg via Facebook & City of Healdsburg via Facebook & National Weather Service & National Weather Service)
2. The number of big annual wine and food festivals held in Healdsburg just keeps growing. According to the Sonoma County Winegrowers org, the "Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience" is on again this spring after its first run last year. The 2022 event was "a tremendous success," the org says, "and it’s returning this May with even more to offer." There's also the two-day “Winter WINEland” event coming up at 70 local wineries this weekend. It's reportedly organized by Wine Road, the same "destination marketing association of wineries and lodgings in Northern Sonoma County" that throws the "Wine Road Barrel Tasting" event at dozens of Healdsburg wineries each spring. (And that one's still on the schedule for this year, too.) Then there's the Sonoma Epicurian in March, which will "take place over several days at Mayacama, The Montage, The Matheson and various wineries"; Charlie Palmer's "Pigs and Pinot" weekend, based at Hotel Healdsburg and Dry Creek Kitchen; the Sonoma County Barrel Auction, which includes events at Bacchus Landing and MacMurray Estate Vineyards; the Sonoma County Vintners Foundation Wine Auction, often held in Healdsburg but yet to announce a venue this year; and finally, "Gay Wine Weekend" in July, which is normally held in Sonoma Valley but is moving north to Healdsburg this year. Whew! (Yahoo Finance & Stay Healdsburg via Instagram & Sonoma County Winegrowers via Facebook & Marin Independent Journal & Press Democrat; paywall)
3. Speaking of our local wine industry: The North Bay Business Journal ran a fascinating story recently on Healdsburg vineyard workers who say they've been negatively impacted by the expansion of California's agriculture worker overtime pay law. From the story: "With the new year ushering in an expansion of the agriculture worker overtime pay law, Sonoma County farmworker Jessica Gallardo hopes it won’t usher her out of her Santa Rosa home. Gallardo, 33, has noticed that since agriculture companies with 25-plus employees were required last year to provide overtime, she’s been getting fewer hours in Healdsburg vineyards. She declined to name the employer. Companies are required to pay overtime for a day’s work over nine hours or 50 hours in a workweek. A 12-hour workday warrants double time. Starting Jan. 1, firms with fewer than 25 workers came under the rule. 'Lots of us farmworkers in the community are seeing bosses would rather bring in additional workers than pay overtime. We’re told to only work 40 hours and not to go over because they can’t pay overtime,' she said. 'My family — because of the cost — has to start to think about moving to some place like Fresno or even Florida. We’re not paid enough to live here.'” (North Bay Business Journal; paywall)

Today and tomorrow in Healdsburg:

Tuesday, January 10

• Sonoma County "Mom Walk Collective" Takes on Healdsburg's Foss Creek Trail (10AM)
• After-School "Mixed Media" Art Lab for Kids Aged 6-8 at the Healdsburg Center for the Arts (Jan. 10-Feb. 14, 3:30-5:30PM)
• "Family Is a Rainbow" Event for Queer Families & Allies With Kids Aged 3-8 at the Healdsburg Library (4PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company "Trail Sisters" Host Fitch Mountain Run (6PM)
• Healdsburg High School Boys Soccer Home Game Vs. Santa Rosa (7PM)
• Healdsburg High School Boys Basketball Home Game Vs. Rancho Cotate (7:30PM)

Wednesday, January 11

• Healdsburg Fire Department Hosts 17th Annual "Bucket Brigade" Community Blood Drive (1:30-6:30PM)
• "Game On!" for Teens at the Healdsburg Library (2PM)
• Corazón Healdsburg Hosts "Asesoramiento Para Negocios Pequeños: Distribución de Pañales" (5PM)
• "What Moves You?" Spiritual Reflection & Potluck Dinner at THE 222 (Monthly, 5:30PM)
• City of Healdsburg Parks & Rec Commission Meeting (6PM)
• Trivia Night at Coyote Sonoma (Weekly, 7-9PM)

Healdsburg pic of the day, flood throwback edition:

Does anyone else have a good storm pic to share? You can send yours to me here. Please just confirm in your email that you took it, and that Patch has permission to republish it! 📸

From my notebook:

• The Redwood Empire Food Bank reportedly just added some new food distribution dates at Healdsburg City Hall. They'll be there "behind City Hall by the recycling center" on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., "rain or shine," according to a neighbor in the know. (Nextdoor & Facebook Groups & Redwood Empire Food Bank)

Thanks for following along! See you tomorrow...

— 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? Contact me at simone.wilson@patch.com