🌱 Storm Watch + SMART Extension + Holiday Home Decoration Winner

Hello, friends! I'm finally back after the holidays with your regular Wednesday edition of the Healdsburg Patch newsletter. Keep reading to find out all the things you need to know about what's happening locally, including updates on:

• The latest winter storm passing through
• A small step forward for the extension of the SMART train to Healdsburg
• The winner of Healdsburg's first annual holiday home decorating competition
• And more...

Today's newsletter is sponsored by CraftWork Healdsburg

Are you a freelancer or remote worker in Healdsburg? Start-up? Small business owner? Or just someone who needs a more professional workspace than the one at home? Take advantage of Craftwork Healdsburg’s Jumpstart January specials to get inspired and productive in the new year.

CraftWork is Healdsburg’s premier coworking space — ideal for client and business meetings, a company offsite or just a quiet place to work. And their Jumpstart January specials — which include special day pass packages and trial memberships — make it easy to get started and to join a community of like-minded professionals.

Need some inspiration to get your year started? Or just want the chance to meet some interesting people?

Then “Crafted Conversations” are for you!

Each month in 2023 CraftWork will host inspiring speakers and conversations about design, travel, careers and more.

Comfortably produced in the Fireplace Lounge, each ‘conversation' will also feature a local, boutique wine and specialty bites, bookended with plenty of time to meet and mingle.

The series kicks off January 18th with a discussion of travels to the Artic and photographing wilderness landscapes.

Check out the initial line up of “conversations”. Each event is limited to 45 tickets, so get yours today!

Now, your daily weather:

• Wednesday: Heavy rain and wind. High: 56 Low: 49.
• Thursday: Lighter rain and wind. High: 56 Low: 44.

And a heads up: There's a "flood watch" and "high wind watch" in effect through tomorrow. "Sustained winds will be 35-55 mph with gusts reaching 60-70 mph in higher elevations," county officials say. "Please prepare today for power outages, downed trees, limbs and debris." Also: "Rain rates may be up to an inch an hour during heaviest rainfall, causing potential debris flows in the Glass burn scar and localized flooding, including the Russian River. Excess runoff is expected to cause flooding of rivers, creeks, streams and other poor drainage, low-lying and urban areas." (County of Sonoma via Facebook)

Shoutout to the other awesome local businesses who keep this newsletter running:

• Have you stopped by Amy's Wicked Slush near Memorial Bridge lately? Amy's has Slush in glorious flavors like root beer, mango, and orange cream and soft serve in flavors like Cupcake, Blueberry and Brown Sugar Cinnamon. Can’t decide? Get the Split — half-slush, half-soft serve layered up like a parfait! Do yourself a favor and stop by ASAP.

• Looking to buy or sell a luxury property in Sonoma County? Healdsburg’s Sotheby’s International Realty is a local firm with global reach that specializes in luxury real estate, vineyards, wineries and land in Sonoma County. Healdsburg's Sotheby's: local expertise, deep market knowledge, and a passion for the community. Whether buying or selling, it pays to work with the best. Call Healdsburg’s Sotheby’s at 707-433-4800.

• 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.

• 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.

Click here to see your business featured in this spot.

Here are the top 3 stories today in Healdsburg:

1. Here we are again, in the middle of another multi-day "atmospheric river" storm pummeling the North Bay. From this morning through end of day tomorrow, the projection is that we'll have gotten 2 to 4 inches in town, 3 to 6 inches in the foothills and 8-10 inches in the mountains west of Healdsburg. And because we've already had a couple big rains that saturated the parched soil, this one could add some serious depth to our reservoirs and waterways. Luckily for Healdsburg, though — while experts believe the Russian River will hop its banks soon up in Ukiah and over in Guerneville — there's no indication the river will pass "flood stage" here in Healdsburg "until at least next week," says Vice Mayor David Hagele. He adds: "The City will continue to monitor if conditions and cumulative impacts change over the course of the storm." And local nonprofit Russian Riverkeeper said yesterday: "Residents living along the river, please move your things to higher ground and pack it in! Your items are being carried into the river." If you do have trouble with flooding on your property, Healdsburg city staffers have set up a "sandbag fill station" at the Healdsburg Community Center, with sandbags included. (Healdsburg Patch & City of Healdsburg via Facebook & David Hagele via Facebook & Russian Riverkeeper via Facebook & Press Democrat & Press Democrat; paywall)
2. A new federal spending bill just approved by Congress and signed by President Biden near the end of last year allots $1.8 million to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District, aka SMART, "for the design of the SMART Rail Extension to Healdsburg," according to district officials. They call it "a strong step towards expanding commuter rail service and increasing climate-friendly transportation alternatives in the North Bay." However, according to news reports from the middle of last year, the district still needs many millions more than that to complete the extension. Right now, the train runs from Larkspur up to Santa Rosa, with the extension to Windsor currently under construction. We'll keep you posted, but this still seems a long way off... (SMART via Healdsburg Patch & RailwayAge Magazine & Marin Independent Journal & North Bay Business Journal; paywall)
3. Is this the most beautiful holiday home in Healdsburg? Mayor Ariel Kelley has declared the Rosillos family home at 304 Sunnyvale Drive as the winner of the first annual "Healdsburg Holiday Home Decorating Competition." Around 15 homes were in the running, and were voted on by locals via the mayor's website. One neighbor says of the winning home: "Yesss!!! We love them so much! We love the Santa costume and all the effort they put in to decorate." And another says: "Down the street from me. [Their] house was amazing!" Click through for a photo of the Rosillos family in front of their epic display. (Ariel Kelley via Facebook & Healdsburg Holiday Home Decorating Competition)

Healdsburg pics of the day, wild river addition:

Wanna see one of your pics right here in the newsletter? Send it to me for consideration. Please just confirm in your email that you took the photo, and that Patch has permission to republish it. Thanks! 📸

Today and tomorrow in Healdsburg:

Wednesday, January 4

• "Knits & Knots" for Teens at the Healdsburg Library: Learn How to Knit/Crochet With Experts From Purls of Joy (2PM)
• "Knits & Knots" for Everyone Else at the Healdsburg Library (6PM)
• Trivia Night at Coyote Sonoma (Weekly, 7-9PM)
• Asistencia de Registrar Para el Colegio / School Registration Assistance at Corazón Healdsburg (9PM)

Thursday, January 5

• Locals & Industry Night at Oakville Grocery & Wine Merchant (5-7PM)
• Folk Duo Fellow Pynins Performs at Little Saint (5:45PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company Hosts "Run With the Crew" Through Downtown Santa Rosa (6PM)
• Film Screening at THE 222: "A Matter of Life and Death" by Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger (7PM)

From my notebook:

• You know the Sky Lounge Steak House & Sushi Bar at the Sonoma County Airport? Well, it just closed its doors after 15 years — and has been replaced by a new restaurant called Tap & Pour, according to the PD. (Sonoma County Airport via Facebook & Press Democrat; paywall)
• FYI, Riverfront Regional Park and bunch of other parks across the county are closed right now due to potential flooding. (County of Sonoma via Facebook)
• Sally Smith, a Wyoming native who spent her last couple of decades living in Healdsburg, has died of cancer at age 75. She worked for Brandt Insurance and "was a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and a friend to many," her obituary says. A celebration of life will be held for Sally at the Villa next month. (Legacy.com)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• 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! See you again soon...

— 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