Water Supply Update + Fire Insurance Win + Coal Train Thru Town?

Morning, Healdsburg! I'm here to get your Thursday started off right with everything you need to know about what's going on in town.

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First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and super hot, with a slight breeze. High: 97 Low: 54.

Here are the top 5 stories today in Healdsburg:

1. Healdsburg's state senator, Mike McGuire, just took his fight to the next level against a "toxic coal train" planned for the railroad that runs along the Russian River, including through Healdsburg. He describes it as "one of the largest environmental threats the North Coast has seen in decades — a proposal from a secret, clandestine operation, hiding behind an anonymous LLC out of Wyoming, that wants to ship millions of tons of coal through the Northern California counties of Marin, Sonoma, Mendocino, Trinity, and Humboldt." So the senator has introduced a bill that would derail the company's plans by blocking state funds for the specific renovations needed for the defunct North Coast rail line and the Port of Humboldt to support coal shipments. And another sister bill would ensure the rail line and the land surrounding it are instead dedicated to SMART passenger trains and the planned 316-mile Great Redwood Trail. (CA Senate District 2)
2. Did you know the Sonoma Water agency has a web portal where you can stay updated on water supply levels for Healdsburg's main water source, aka the Russian River by way of Lake Mendocino and Lake Sonoma? Unsurprisingly, the amount of water in both lakes is way below target right now. Lake Mendocino is at 25 percent of its target capacity for this time of year, and Lake Sonoma is at 46 percent. Also: The Tribune has the latest on key public-agency decisions currently in limbo about the upper river that could have a big impact on Healdsburg in coming years. According to officials tackling that mess, "the upper Russian River basin is at a low point unprecedented in living memory. Lake Mendocino may run dry for the first time since its construction in 1958.” All in all, we're likely looking at strict conservation measures staying in place at least through next year, the Tribune reports. (Sonoma Water & SoCoNews)
3. The City of Healdsburg has been focusing on prepping its senior citizens for wildfires. Or for any other emergency that comes our way — "a flood, a zombie apocalypse, whatever comes next," says the city's senior services supervisor. After talking to the seniors affected by last year's Walbridge Fire, the Healdsburg Senior Center "took their tips and ideas and created a hardcopy, large print paper with evacuation zone and emergency prep information for senior citizens to use." These were distributed at an emergency preparedness event for seniors at Rec Park last week. (SoCoNews Healdsburg)
4. Good news for Healdsburg residents whose insurance companies have been trying to drop them because they live in an especially wildfire-prone area. State officials reportedly "imposed a one-year ban" this week that "prevents insurance carriers from dropping homeowners in areas affected by" major fires from summer 2019 through today. The moratorium covers homes threatened by the Kincade fire, the LNU Complex fires including Walbridge, and more. California's insurance commissioner says the law "empowers my office to help give people the breathing room they desperately need as they recover. I will both continue to enforce this law to protect consumers and continue working to create long-term solutions." (Sacramento Bee via North Bay Business Journal)
5. It's Healdsburg police log time. Incident reports for the period ending Monday include an "individual in a wheelchair" seen "threatening to beat up people" on Vine Street; alleged embezzlement to the tune of "$11,000 worth of products" at a Healdsburg Avenue business; a suspected drunk who "fell over the embankment near Badger Park" and "appeared to not be moving but was snoring," then got a "courtesy ride to his mother’s house" from the responding officer; someone "throwing newspaper stands into the road" on Healdsburg Avenue who also got a courtesy ride from police, this time to Rohnert Park; another man spotted "yelling names and banging on the windows" of the Healdsburg Fire Department; and a dad on Ferrero Drive who reported his daughter's boyfriend for trespassing because "he is not allowed/welcome at their home." (SoCoNews Healdsburg)

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Today in Healdsburg:

• Harvest Lunch at Jordan Winery (12-2PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company Thursday Night Fun Run With "The Crew": Magnolia Vineyards Loop (6PM)
• Documentary Film Discussion Group at Sonoma County Wine Library: "The Pollinators" (6-7PM)
• Healdsburg Jazz Zoom Presentation: The Legacy of John Coltrane (6-7:30PM)
• Virtual Town Hall: How Should Sonoma County Use Funds From American Rescue Plan Act? (6-8PM)
• Healdsburg Unified School District English Learner Advisory Committee Meeting (6-8PM)

Healdsburg Patch Notebook

• Healdsburg city leaders held a workshop on their under-construction Urban Water Management Plan last night to get public input. If you're interested, you can watch the whole thing, which went on for nearly 3 hours, online. (Facebook)
• Another big-ish fire broke out yesterday down in Schellville, near the town of Sonoma, and quickly spread to more than 100 acres. Firefighters hopped on it though, and contained it within a few hours. There were no evacuations needed. (Facebook)
• The Healdsburg Center for the Arts is looking for volunteers. (Facebook)
• Nextdoor sleuths have banded together to solve the mystery of the photos of a hospitalized Mexican singer propped next to mailboxes across town. (Nextdoor & Nextdoor )
• Got any old apples on your trees that are gonna go to waste? Healdsburg nonprofit Farm to Pantry, which harvests excess produce from local farms and distributes it to those in need, wants to take them off your hands. "You can drop your excess apples (no fallen ones) at Manzana 9141 Green Valley Road for our applesauce project," the org says. (Facebook)
• There's a lively poll running to determine "the best place to eat in Healdsburg" in the "What's Happening Healdsburg" Facebook group. Spoiler alert: Campo Fina is winning by a landslide, with El Sombrero taking a distant second. (Facebook)
• Neighbors are worried about a striped cat with white paws and a pink harness who someone saw get hit by a car, then slink away, on Piper Street near East Street. (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.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Healdsburg Daily? Contact me at simone.wilson@patch.com.