🌱 Storm Update + NYE Plans + New Healdsburg Restaurants

Hello, people of Healdsburg! It's me, Simone — back in your inbox today with a big New Year's weekend edition of the Healdsburg Patch newsletter. Let's close out 2022 on an informed note, with a quick review of the most important things happening around town.

But first, your crazy weekend weather:

• Saturday (New Year's Eve): Rain and wind. High: 58 Low: 36.
• Sunday (New Year's Day): Quick break from the rain! Mostly sunny and breezy. High: 62 Low: 34.
• Monday: Cooling way down, with more rain returning. High: 49 Low: 38.
• Tuesday: Cloudy with a chance of rain. High: 52 Low: 42.

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Here are the top stories in Healdsburg today:

1. The rain just keeps on coming! Across the county, roads are flooding and water lines rapidly rising in local creeks, streams and rivers. Weather officials issued a "flood watch" yesterday that lasts through this evening. Between yesterday and today, we could see a total of 3 to 6 inches of rain, the county says, adding: "In Healdsburg, the river is expected to reach 14.9 feet at 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon. There is a 10 percent chance of reaching Monitor Stage (20 feet) and zero chance of reaching Flood Stage (23 feet), according to the National Weather Service." We'll get a short break from the rain tomorrow, but by Sunday night or early Monday morning, "a new storm system makes its way into the area and brings strong winds out of the south at 40+ mph," the county says. Here's what to do if something happens and you need help during these rains, according to the Healdsburg Tribune: "'Public works (as well as utilities) staff are on call 24-7,' the city’s public works director, Larry Zimmer, told the Tribune. 'If there is an emergency, residents can call the police or fire department to report it, and it will get to the right hands.' Zimmer said the Utility Hotline, 707-431-7000, is a 24 hour a day answering service that forwards messages to the appropriate personnel. Mark Themig, the city’s community services director, confirmed that the hotline is the number to report any park or open-space related emergencies during this time as well." (Healdsburg Patch & Healdsburg Tribune & National Weather Service via Twitter & Chris Herrod via Facebook & County of Sonoma)
2. A new Indian restaurant will be opening in Healdsburg next year, according to Sonoma Magazine. It's called Bollywood Kitchen, and it will be located in the Safeway Shopping Center where Asahi used to be. Here are some more details from Sonoma Mag: "Nope, it's not that Bollywood. Chandi Hospitality Group, which owned the popular Bollywood restaurant in downtown Santa Rosa, says the forthcoming Indian and Nepalese restaurant in Healdsburg isn't part of their business ventures. Bollywood Kitchen is slated to open Jan. 1 with plenty of vegetarian specialities, chicken tikka masala, lamb and goat curries, biryani and naan." (Sonoma Magazine)
3. Also opening in Healdsburg in "early 2023" is a new "modern wine bar" called Maison Healdsburg, reportedly the brainchild of a "group of Single Thread alums." From Sonoma Mag: "Owners Evan and Jade Hufford and Ryan Knowles said diners at the Michelin-starred Single Thread were often interested in having a glass of wine after their meals — sometimes as late as midnight — with little available after hours around town." It will be located at 210 Healdsburg Avenue near the roundabout. (Sonoma Magazine)

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This weekend in Healdsburg:

Saturday, December 31 (New Year's Eve)

• Six-Course Chef’s Tasting Menu at Valette for NYE (5-9:30PM)
• NYE Dinner at The Matheson, Followed by Roof 106 Party With DJ (5PM-12AM)
• NYE Celebration at Coyote Sonoma, Featuring Prime Rib Dinner, Live Music by Beatles Cover Band "Hey Jude" & East Coast Ball Drop at 9PM (5:30PM)
• NYE Performance by the John Courage Trio at the Elephant in the Room (9PM-1AM)

Sunday, January 1 (New Year's Day)

• Special New Year's Brunch Menu at Fogbelt Station Beer Garden (10AM)
• New Year's Day Bubbles, Dim Sum & Tarot Readings at Breathless Wines (1-3PM)
• The Gino Raugi Trio Live at Montage Healdsburg (5-8PM)

Monday, January 2

• Registration Opens for Healdsburg Branch of American Association of University Women (AAUW) Lecture Series: "Russia's War on Ukraine" (7AM)
• New Exhibit at the Upstairs Art Gallery: “The Beauty of Stillness,” Featuring "Still Life Works in Oil by Ukrainian Native Luba Stolper" (Jan. 2-29, 11AM-6PM)
• Kaethe and Marié, Acoustic Violin & Accordion Duo, Live at Little Saint (5:45PM)

Tuesday, January 3

• Spanish Music & Movement for Kids Aged 0-6 at the Healdsburg Library (11AM)
• Brown Bag Book Club at the Healdsburg Library: "Detransition Baby" by Torrey Peters (12PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company "Trail Sisters" Host New Year's Run Through Town (6PM)

From my notebook:

• The winners of Healdsburg's first-ever "Holiday Home Decorating Competition" will be announced sometime today on Mayor Ariel Kelley's Instagram account, she tells the Healdsburg Tribune. She says "the prize has not yet been announced, but it is going to be something very fun." Click through to the Trib to see the addresses of the 15 homes in the running. (Ariel Kelley via Instagram & Healdsburg Tribune)
• Two different Healdsburg residents say the catalytic converter was stolen from their cars recently in town. One target was a Toyota Prius and the other a Honda Accord. (Facebook Groups & GoFundMe)
• We just learned that longtime Healdsburg resident John Stephen "Steve" Wear passed away on Dec. 10 at the age of 80. "He is survived by his wife Elvira Wear, his son Jeffery Wear, along with his step-children and several step-grandchildren," Steve's obituary says. "He also developed a great relationship with Lucas, his neighbor, who would walk his dog. In a short time, Steve was able to teach Lucas a lot about cars and take on a grandfather role for Lucas. Steve loved to spend his time working on cars, watching sports, especially his San Francisco Giants or showing his grandkids how to play solitaire." (Legacy.com)
• And a day earlier, on Dec. 19, we lost Pamela Harmon, who grew up in Healdsburg and graduated from the high school in 1981. You can read more about her life here. (HHS Student Memorial Page via Facebook)
• FYI, the Dry Creek General Store will be closed for at least the next couple months while they repair their precarious parking lot. (Nextdoor)
• Because of the New Year's holiday, the Healdsburg Library closes at 2 p.m. today and doesn't open again til Tuesday — so if you've got library business to do before 2023, hurry on over! (Sonoma County Library via Facebook)
• Healdsburg Tribune reporter Christian Kallen published a handy list of various New Year's Eve dinners happening at restaurants in town tonight. (Healdsburg Tribune)
• And Healdsburg Patch editor Maggie Fusek has a wider roundup of other New Year's Eve events across greater Sonoma County. (Healdsburg Patch)
• There's also a thread going in the "What's Happening Healdsburg" Facebook group about the best place in Healdsburg to spend NYE this year. The most popular recommendation seems to be Lo & Behold. (Facebook Groups)
• If you're not too hungover the next day, the Sonoma County Gazette has another good list of "five new year's day hikes to start the year in Sonoma County" — including the Healdsburg Ridge Trail. "This 3.5-mile loop offers breathtaking views of Russian River Valley, Lake Sonoma, and whatever wildflowers might be blooming," the author writes. "As you make your way up, you'll be able to catch glimpses of towering redwoods along with plenty of opportunities for bird-watching. This is a moderately strenuous hike with several steep sections, so pack accordingly." (Sonoma County Gazette)
• A beautiful brown husky with no collar or microchip was found running loose in Giorgi Park yesterday. Anyone recognize him? (Humane Society of Sonoma County via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Fresh Perks Every Week (January 3)
• Crossing Over With Psychic Medium John Edward (Live)! (January 15)
• 2nd Annual Crab Feed Feed Fundraiser To Benefit Disabled Veterans (January 21)
• Add your event

Now you're in the loop and ready to take on 2023! See you back in your inbox next year... ;)

— 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