Wicked Slush Arrest + New Fire App + East Street Water Theft?

Hey there, everybody. Simone here with your Thursday edition of the Healdsburg Daily. Apologies for my absence in your inbox yesterday. I'm making up for it today with a jam-packed newsletter, filled with everything you need to know about what's happening locally. Let's get to it!

First, today's weather:

Hazy sunshine. High: 91 Low: 54.

Here are the top stories in Healdsburg today:

1. Healdsburg business owner Amy Joy Covin, 59, who runs popular local slushie spot Amy's Wicked Slush by Memorial Beach, has reportedly been arrested by the Sonoma County Sheriff and charged with felony counts of grand theft and attempted grand theft. The exact nature of the charges is still unclear, but the PD does note that Amy "quit her accounting practice two years prior to opening Amy’s Wicked Slush." (Press Democrat; paywall)
2. The other shoe just dropped in the Russian River water diversion clampdown. As of yesterday, hundreds of additional "grape growers, ranchers and other landowners" with water rights are prohibited from taking any more water from the river this summer. According to the PD, the residents and businesses affected are in the "southern portion of the watershed, known as the lower river, though many are located in the Dry Creek Valley and other tributary areas around the middle reaches." (Press Democrat; paywall)
3. Healdsburg has been abuzz with talk of a new app for real-time fire information called Watch Duty — and it finally dropped this week. The app is reportedly run by a "dedicated team of firefighters, radio operators and citizen information officers" who "monitor fires around the clock and push out the information you need to know." The app is now available to download from the Apple App Store or Google Play. (Facebook)
4. You can feel even better about riding the bus in Healdsburg now. Sonoma County Transit’s Route 67 is "operating with an all-electric shuttle bus" as of Monday, the Trib reports. Fun fact: It was manufactured by the same company responsible for Healdsburg's new electric garbage truck. Check out the shuttle schedule to test out this fancy green tech. (SoCoNews Healdsburg & Sonoma County Transit)
5. Construction update on the Foss Creek pathway, a.k.a. Healdsburg's stretch of the 316-mile Great Redwood Trail from Humboldt Bay to San Francisco Bay. The pathway — which is being extended "from the storm water detention basin, adjacent to the skate park, north across Dry Creek Road and continuing north to the intersection of Grove Street and Healdsburg Avenue" — is currently getting some new lighting and being prepped for paving. Next, crews will do some "intersection and traffic signal work where the pathway crosses Dry Creek Road." (SoCoNews Healdsburg)

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Today in Healdsburg:

• Clinica de Vacunacion / Vaccination Clinic at Alliance Medical Center in Healdsburg (8:30AM-4:30PM)
• Sonoma County Office of Education Back to School Webinar in Spanish (4PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company "Fun Run": Hoka Zinal Demo at Shiloh Gallo Negro Finish (6PM)
• Healdsburg American Legion: Sotoyome Post 111 Monthly Meeting and Boys State Dinner (6-7PM)
• The Raven Theater Presents Shakespeare in the Park: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (7:30 PM)

Healdsburg Patch Notebook

• It's Healdsburg Police Log day! This one's loaded. Recent incident reports include an apparent "torch and butane" theft from a car parked on Canyon Run; a man on Healdsburg Avenue "changing in the parking lot — fully nude"; an East Street business owner who "believes someone may have been stealing water from her spigot" after finding her hose snipped and surrounded by suspicious water puddles; what sounds like a whole ordeal between a drunk guy, another guy and his daughter at Gibbs Park; and a few new graffiti sightings across town. (SoCoNews Healdsburg)
• There may be some big federal disaster bucks coming our way. An "expansive" infrastructure bill just passed by the U.S. Senate would devote $8.3 billion to "water infrastructure projects in the West and billions more to fund national projects to mitigate the impact of wildfires." Now the bill just has to get through the House. (Los Angeles Times)
• A fluffy gray indoor cat from the Oak Grove Apartments has been missing for about a week now. (Nextdoor)
• One mile south, an even fluffier gray cat just went missing across from the Healdsburg Hospital. (Nextdoor)
• A neighbor in the "What's Happening Healdsburg" Facebook group is wondering why the Tayman Park Golf Course on city land is still so dang green, considering the current water crunch. A Healdsburg city councilmember responds in the comments: "It is my understanding that private wells are not subject to the mandatory water reductions as their water is not coming from the city’s water source." (Facebook)
• Healdsburg's Jordan Vineyard & Winery is now doing overnights. Anyone who joins their wine club can stay in a luxurious "chateau guest suite" at the Alexander Valley property. (Sonoma Magazine)
• Costeaux bakery boss Will Seppi is here with "some simple tricks for saving water in the kitchen." (Nextdoor)
• Related: County water officials will be handing out free "water-saving kits" at the Healdsburg Community Center the weekend after next. (Sonoma County Gazette)
• Keep your eye out for a Sonoma County voter information guide coming in the mail ahead of the Sept. 14 California Gubernatorial Recall Election. Here's what to do if you haven't gotten one by Aug. 20. (Patch Press Release Desk)
• Hype is building over the new performance venue opening soon inside Healdsburg's Paul Mahder Gallery. NYC jazz pianist George Cables and his trio will play opening night on Aug. 21. (Press Democrat; paywall)
• There are a ton of job openings right now at various Sonoma County public agencies. Some standouts: account clerk for the fairgrounds, sheriff's deputy, park ranger, helicopter pilot, public defender, wood chipper and more. (Sonoma County Government)
• Another awesome job opportunity in Healdsburg: River's Edge Kayak and Canoe is looking for "boat loaders" and "future river guides" to work long weekends through fall. (Facebook)
• There's also this beer production job at self-described "farm-to-bottle" Healdsburg brewery Haus Beverage. (Brewbound)
• Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue has put out the call for as many hard-boiled eggs as you can stand to donate. "Baby season is still well under way and have over 130 hungry mouths to feed!" the org says. (Facebook)
• Another local animal rescue org, Forgotten Felines of Sonoma County, is hurting for paper bags. (Facebook)
• The Sonoma County Airport just posted some rad demolition pics on Facebook. "Bye bye old 1970's disco style 'Gate Room 1'," airport officials write. "We've had... a complicated relationship." (Facebook)
• The new-ish Montage Healdsburg mega-resort at the north end of town is doing very well for itself. "We are excited to discuss the strong performance of Montage Healdsburg, which has exceeded our underwriting," hotel overlord John Arabia says in a new report. He adds that the "ramp-up in rate and occupancy has surpassed our expectations in each month of ownership." (Seeking Alpha)
• The Healdsburg Museum just got its hands on a bunch of old high school newspapers from the 1940s. You can apparently make an appointment to come leaf through them. Healdsburg resident Diane Bertoli, for one, found some pics of her husband Lou "in his senior year, when he was captain of the football team." (Facebook)
• Did you know the museum can also help you research your building? They "love helping property owners discover the hidden history of their homes to guide them in doing restoration." (Facebook)
• That scary 50-acre fire down in Santa Rosa on Tuesday was reportedly caused by "two tractors with mechanical issues." (Press Democrat; paywall)

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Now you're in the loop, y'all. See you tomorrow morning for your next update. If you're loving these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to read along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— 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? Email me at simone.wilson@patch.com.