🌱 Trash Bill Hike + RIP Former Police Chief + Spiked At Duke's?

Hello there, Healdsburg! Long time no see. After a little vacay, I'm back to get you all caught up on what's been happening around town lately. Lots to cover, so let's get right to it.

First, today's weather:

Peak of this three-day heat wave! Mostly sunny and super hot. High: 90 Low: 50.

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Air over Healdsburg:

Here are the top 5 stories today in Healdsburg:

1. Healdsburg's former police chief, Kevin Burke, has died at the age of 55. It appears he may have taken his own life. A rep from the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office says Burke was found by deputies Tuesday at his home on Josephine Lane with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound and a note nearby. His official cause of death will be determined by the county pathologist. During his decade-long stint as Healdsburg police chief, from 2011 to 2021, Burke played a lead role in the community's response to the Kincade Fire, the pandemic, and a national dialogue over police reform," the city said in a statement. "Committed to community policing, Chief Burke also created a program within the police department wherein a social worker works with sworn officers to provide services to community members." There were an outpouring of tributes to Burke from community leaders on social media yesterday. "He was loved by so many," Vice Mayor Ariel Kelley wrote. "The feelings of grief we are experiencing as a community are unfathomable." (Healdsburg Patch & Facebook)
2. Healdsburg police are looking into a report of at least one person who said their drink was spiked at Duke's Spirited Cocktails downtown last weekend, according to the San Francisco Chronicle." We are actively cooperating with the Healdsburg PD in their investigation of these alleged incidents," the bar posted on its Facebook page yesterday. Vice Mayor Kelley also posted about the allegations. "It was brought to my attention that there is a Facebook post from an alleged victim who was drugged at a local bar in Healdsburg this weekend," she said, encouraging others to go straight to police if anything like this happens to them. “Your anonymous tip could prevent someone else from being victimized in the future,” she added. The Chronicle reached out to David "Duke" Ducommun, the bar's owner, but he said he was "not immediately available to comment" last night. And "Healdsburg police could not immediately be reached for comment" either. (SF Chronicle; paywall)
3. Healdsburg residents will see their trash bill go up next year, starting Jan. 1, 2023. The "one-time trash rate increase adjustment of 3.3%" from our trash collector, Recology Sonoma Marin, is being implemented to make up for the costs resulting from a slew of new requirements from a new state bill known as the "Short Lived Climate Pollutants Act." It reportedly requires local agencies like Recology to establish an "edible food recovery program," "conduct education and outreach to the community," "procure recyclable and recovered organic products," "monitor compliance and conduct enforcement," "conduct trash route reviews," "regularly report to the city," expand its "three-container organic waste collection services" and more. So that's what you'll be paying for with next year's bill increase. (SoCoNews Healdsburg)
4. Local farm and winery workers and their advocates, including many in Healdsburg, are reportedly "continuing their push on the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors to adopt a formal, local wildfire evacuation zone policy that addresses farmworker health and safety concerns by June 1." There's an open letter circulating with signatures from nearly 60 big local orgs and businesses, and a rally is coming up in Santa Rosa on Monday, April 18. "As the drought deepens and the fire season comes upon us," a flyer for the rally says, "farmworkers on the front lines are urgently calling on public officials to enact language justice, disaster insurance and hazard pay." Or in the words of Zoe Hitchner, farm manager at Healdsburg's organic Front Porch Farms: "Farmworkers are the backbone of this county and shouldn’t have to choose between personal safety and financial stability. We need to adapt in a changing climate." (Wine Industry Advisor & Instagram)
5. The Chronicle has the inside scoop on the Healdsburg's newest (and oldest) fancy hotel: the re-envisioned and renovated Madrona out Westside Road. After a "one-year, $6 million revamp," it's set to open sometime this month, although we haven't seen an official opening date listed anywhere yet. From the Chronicle: "The transformation, led by noted interior designer Jay Jeffers, took this once quaint country inn and turned it into a swanky resort with a bold and playful design and an all-day food and beverage program. The revamp is emblematic of the bigger changes afoot in Healdsburg, previously a sleepy agricultural town that’s become one of the hottest destinations in Wine Country." Click through for lots of crazy pics and more details on the landscaping, the interior design, the food and more. (SF Chronicle; paywall)

Healdsburg pic of the day:

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Today and tomorrow in Healdsburg:

Thursday, April 7

• AARP Tax Help at Healdsburg Library (10AM-3PM)
• New Exhibit at Paul Mahder Gallery: "About Time," the Art of Elena Zolotnitsky (April 7-June 5, 10AM-6PM)
• Hot Dog Thursday at Sonoma County Airport, Feat. Historical Aircraft on Display (11:30AM-1:30PM)
• Sonoma County Economic Development Board Presentation at Luther Burbank Center: "Climate Change’s Impacts on Our Economy" (11:30-1:30PM)
• Little Monsters Culinary Mini Cooking Camp at the Villa, Feat. Spring & Easter Inspired Recipes (3:30-5PM)
• American Heart Association Event at Montage Healdsburg: "Heart of the North Bay" (5:30-7:30PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company Shake Out Run to Coyote Sonoma, Feat. Grilled Cheese, Wine, Beer & Movie (6PM)
• Dog Training Class at Healdsburg Community Center (Weekly, 6-7PM)
• Sonoma County Community Sheriff's Forum (6:30-8PM)

Friday, April 8

• Lake Sonoma Race Series: On-Course Pre-Run, Ending With Smoothies & Donuts (8AM)
• Ricky Ray Band Live at Coyote Sonoma (5:30-8:30PM)
• Lake Sonoma Race Series: Pre-Race Dinner at Wilson Winery (6-8PM)
• Mr. Healdsburg Talent Showcase at the Raven Theater (7:30PM)
• Sirsy Live at Elephant in the Room (8-11PM)

From my notebook:

• A Healdsburg wine has won first place at the 10th annual North Coast Wine Challenge at the county fairgrounds. The winner is the Roth Estate 2019 Heritage Red Wine blend, created by local winemaker Jesse Katz. (North Bay Business Journal; paywall)
• Spotted on a random telephone pole across the country in Cape Cod: A "bizarre, eye-catching flyer" warning that most seagulls in the area are actually "cleverly disguised drones" spying on residents. And the phone number they give on the flyer for more info is 707-998-8410 — aka, the viral hotline with pick-me-ups from Westside School students. Weird, right? (FUN107)
• The V Foundation, the charity that threw the extravagant, first-ever "Sonoma Epicurean" last weekend in Healdsburg, says the event brought in nearly $2.5 million for cancer research. (KRON4)
• The organizers of the big zombie walk in Healdsburg last fall are planning to hold it again this October. (Facebook)
• Two pretty amazing country properties recently went up for sale in Healdsburg. One is a piece of land with two building sites on Fitch Mountain for $275,000, right near the intersection of Hilltop Road and Riverview Drive. And the other is an artsy $1.7 million round house on 36 acres out West Dry Creek, near Lambert Bridge, with "its own private valley & year-round creeks." (Healdsburg Patch)
• Healdsburg City Councilmember David Hagele has been in DC this week to talk to federal politicians about grant opportunities for our area. (Facebook)
• The student floral team from Healdsburg High is currently selling Easter bouquets and floral arrangements for $35 each. (Facebook)

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— 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.