Smoky Grapes + Vaccine Milestone + Walbridge Sheriff Controversy

Hello, neighbors! I'm here with your brand-new copy of the Daily, full of everything you need to know about what's going on in town. Let's get to it.

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Now, today's weather:

Sunny and clear, with some afternoon wind. High: 73 Low: 49.

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Here are the top 5 stories in Healdsburg today:

1. The Russian River will be getting extra love this summer, thanks to a new, county-led revitalization project that will "engage businesses, residents and visitors in stewardship of the river as a critical resource" and "advance solutions to the environmental challenges threatening the Russian River." Complete with fancy branding services from Catch Creative, a Healdsburg marketing company on Hudson Street. (Patch Press Release Desk)
2. After getting pushed out of their Plaza Street digs by a new winery, the Healdsburg Center for the Arts has found a new home for fall. The building is only like a block away on Center Street, right where Plaza Paints is now. "This gives us a chance to redesign ourselves," says Kathy Birdsong, the arts nonprofit's board president. The paint shop, meanwhile, is moving to the building where the B&B was for a while on Healdsburg Avenue near Garretts. Musical chairs! (SoCo News Healdsburg)
3. On the COVID front, Sonoma County just passed an important milestone: Around 75 percent of the population, or more than 325,000 residents, are now vaccinated. "We want to encourage that last 25 percent to get vaccinated and enjoy the return to normalcy that those who are vaccinated are experiencing," county health officials urge. (Patch)
4. In case you were wondering how the smoky grape factor during summer wildfires has been affecting local wineries, there's a great piece in the Business Journal this week on recent confusion and litigation at various steps of the wine-making and -distribution process. The part that still seems up for debate is whether smoky grapes make okay wines. (North Bay Business Journal)
5. The Business Journal is also here to explain a thing called an "assessment roll," or the value of all property in Sonoma County. Well, thanks to a "very strong" residential real-estate market, our roll has reportedly surpassed a BILLION DOLLARS for the first time ever — which is good news for local schools, seeing as they get a big chunk of the tax revenue generated by the roll. (North Bay Business Journal)

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Today in Healdsburg

• Junior Rangers Make Your Own Birdhouse at Riverfront Regional Park (2-4PM)
• Medlock Ames Sunday Backyard Nights at Healdsburg Tasting Room (5-7PM)
• Prune Packers Game at Rec Park (6PM)
• Trivia Night at Coyote Sonoma (7-9PM)

Healdsburg Patch Notebook

• CalFire is handing out some hot tips on evacuating your livestock during a wildfire. (Facebook)
• Still mystified by the whole concept of redistricting? Sonoma County gov officials have been updating their redistricting explainer hub with lots of helpful materials and upcoming meetings to attend. (Facebook)
• The comment section is ablaze this week on a clickbaity Press Democrat article called "18 things people say or do that prove they aren’t from Sonoma County." Many commenters wonder whether the author, in fact, grew up here either. (Press Democrat)
• Recognize anyone from this 1950s-era Healdsburg Elementary School class pic, posted to the "You Know You're from Healdsburg, CA if..." group? (Facebook)
• Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue just uploaded a heart-melting gallery of a resident "Pallid Bat, orphaned Raccoon, and litter of infant Opossums" being cared for at the facility. They're reportedly "healing, growing, and should be ready for release later this season!" (Facebook)
• In case you missed it, the Press Democrat ran an interesting editorial over the weekend called "What are voters entitled to know about the sheriff?" At the heart of the matter is an allegation that Sonoma County Sheriff Mark Essick threatened a county supervisor in a phone convo about Walbridge fire evacuations in the Healdsburg area last summer. Whether or not we're entitled to know what he said, we sure are curious... (Press Democrat)
• Anyone interested in inheriting some ducks? A Front Street resident is giving away three young females — "2 Silver Appleyards and one Blue Swedish (I think)". (Nextdoor)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow morning with your next update. If you're feeling these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to read 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? Email all inquiries to me at simone.wilson@patch.com.