🌱 Sports Car Gone Wild + Plaza Tree Lighting + More Rain And... Snow?

Good morning, everybody! It's me, Simone, your host of the Healdsburg Patch newsletter. I'm back in your inbox on this gloriously wet Thursday to tell you everything you need to know about what's happening in town today. In this issue, you'll find news on:

• A dramatic car crash on Mason Street over the weekend
• Some wild precipitation predictions for the next few days
• What all this wetness means for our water supply
• And more...

But first, your daily weather:

• Thursday: Rain and wind. High: 54 Low: 29.
• Friday: Frost and fog in the morning, then a mix of sun and clouds. High: 57 Low: 31.

Also: Weather officials have issued a "freeze warning" for Healdsburg and other parts of Sonoma County from tonight through tomorrow morning. If you have nowhere to go, remember — shelters across the county include St. Paul's Church on Matheson Street. It opens at 6 p.m. tonight. (Sonoma County Government)

Here's to the great local businesses who sponsor this newsletter. Check out what they can do for you:

• Looking to rent in the Healdsburg area? Stacey Bernd at Healdsburg & Artisan Sotheby's International has lived in Sonoma Co. for 48 years and been in real estate for 30. She knows the market the way only a local can. Thinking of listing a property for rent? She can help with that too. Contact Stacey and work with Healdsburg's best.

• Considering a fire-safe metal roof or siding for your home? Metal Roof Company has specialized in metal roofing and wall panels in the North Bay area for nearly 30 years. They work with homeowners, architects and general contractors on everything from single-family homes to commercial installations — and take pride in getting the job done right. To see a gallery of projects or to learn more, visit Metal Roof Company today or email metalroofcompany.com@gmail.com.

Click here to see your business featured in this spot.

Air over Healdsburg:

Here are the top 3 stories today in Healdsburg:

1. How bout this weather, y'all! The storm that arrived last night "dumped as much as 1 1/2 inches of rain on the wettest parts of Sonoma County," with the highest rainfall totals in the hills, the Press Democrat reports — and much more wetness is expected this weekend, possibly into Monday. Luckily it looks like the heavy rain won't start back up again until after the Merry Healdsburg tree-lighting in the plaza on Friday evening. But right after that, here's the crazy part: Because low overnight temps are expected to dip below freezing from Friday into Saturday, the National Weather Service forecast is showing a chance of actual snow that night. Likely not enough for any to accumulate, but still — could make for a pretty magical midnight show on the heels of Merry Healdsburg. Here's to hoping... (National Weather Service & Press Democrat; paywall)
2. These rains, however relieving, won't put much of a dent in our water supply — aka, the Lake Sonoma and Lake Mendocino reservoirs — regional water officials tell CBS San Francisco. Instead, it's more just expected to be soaked up immediately by the parched Earth. From the CBS report: "'What we're going to get is really going to wet the watershed,' explained Deputy Chief Engineer with Sonoma Water Don Seymour. 'It might result in some inflow to the reservoirs, but not significant.' Seymour says storage is tracking pretty close to 2021 levels, which is not good. Another problem is that we still haven't received enough rain to get the watershed ready to move a lot of water into our reservoirs. The dry ground is still soaking it up." Meanwhile, an "ambitious" Healdsburg resident named Penny has taken matters into her own hands. The CBS video report shows her setting up her rain catchment system this week, ahead of the incoming storm. Penny says she "was trying to find some kind of screen" for her water tanks, but "ended up getting a pizza pan because they didn't have one for 18 inches. So we'll see how it works. This is all kind of a work in progress." (CBS San Francisco)
3. In the wee hours last Saturday morning, a lady in a Mercedes E53 sports car driving through Healdsburg reportedly veered off the road when making a turn from University Street onto Mason Street — plowing through a fence into the empty lot at 444 Mason St. The driver wasn't hurt, and police say she hadn't been drinking, but the car was pretty wrecked — and the whole thing looked like it caused quite a scene. Healdsburg Tribune reporter Christian Kallen has the story: "The following morning, trucks from Cloverdale Tow and All-City Tow of Healdsburg arrived about 10 to extricate the car. They were able to winch it out of the yard and remove it by 11:30am. Claire Savona, who lives locally but not on the property, purchased it earlier this year and cleared the over-abundant foliage from the lot. She has noticed the high speed at which drivers take the turn and it troubles her. 'If there's a lesson here, it's to slow down,' she said as the car was pulled onto the All City Tow trailer, the remains of the white picket fence beneath its muddy wheels." Now, the city's public works director tells the Trib he's looking into whether there's a trend of accidents at that intersection — and, if so, "if we can make improvements." (Healdsburg Tribune)

From our sponsor:

Today’s Healdsburg Daily is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. T-Mobile has invested billions to light up their best network ever, covering 99% of people in America with LTE, which helps to keep communities like ours informed and connected. We thank T-Mobile for their support and for making today’s Healdsburg Daily possible.

Healdsburg pics of the day:

Wanna see a photo you took right here in the Healdsburg Patch newsletter? Send it on over. Please just confirm in your email that you took the photo, and that Patch has permission to republish it, K? Happy snapping... 📸

Today and tomorrow in Healdsburg:

Thursday, December 1

• "Dining Out For Life" Food for Thought Fundraiser at 75+ Establishments Across Sonoma County, Including 7 Restaurants & Wineries in Healdsburg (All Day)
• Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce Hosts "Good Morning, Healdsburg!" With a Commercial Real Estate Update From Eric Drew of Sotheby's International Realty (8-9AM)
• Blood Drive at Luciani Pump (2-6PM)
• Healdsburg High School Girls Soccer Home Game Vs. St. Helena (6PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company Hosts Run to the Bridge, With BloodRoot Wines Stop (6PM)
• Live Stand-Up Comedy at Furthermore Wines (Weekly, 6-9PM)
• First Thursday Films at THE 222: "The Shop Around the Corner" (7PM)

Friday, December 2

• Bilingual Family Storytime at the Healdsburg Library for Kids Aged 0-5 (10:30AM)
• Volunteer Delivery Shift for Farm to Pantry: Meet at Feed Sonoma in Petaluma & Deliver to Families in Healdsburg (1:30PM)
• Little Monsters Culinary Hosts "Holiday Traditions" Kids Cooking Class at Felta School House, Featuring Hanukkah Recipes (3:30-5PM)
• "Merry Healdsburg" Tree Lighting Celebration in the Plaza, Feat. Carriage Rides, Costeaux Hot Chocolate, Food & Desert Vendors, Live Music, Photos With Santa & Other Family Activities (5-8:30PM)
• Kaethe and Marié, Acoustic Violin & Accordion Duo, Live at Little Saint (5:45PM)
• Pop/Rock Pianist Nick Foxer Live at Coyote Sonoma (6-9PM)
• Book Release Party & Poetry Reading at Arnot-Roberts Winery: "Embodied" by Xerxes Whitney (6:30PM)
• Blues Guitarist & Singer Elvin Bishop Live at the Raven Theater (7:30PM)
• Murray & Peter Present "A Drag Queen Christmas" at the Luther Burbank Center (8PM)
• Blues Defenders Live at the Elephant in the Room, Feat. Levi Lloyd (8-11PM)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Winter Art Market (December 2)
• Italian Christmas Markets (December 3)
• Healdsburg Chorus Concert - "Season of Light" (December 10)
• Add your event

You're officially in the loop for today! Stay safe and dry out there, til I see you again...

— 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