🌱 Wine-Tasting At Airport + Farmworker Rally + Buy Old Skate Rink

Ahoy, good townspeople! Simone on the horn with your Tuesday edition of the Healdsburg Daily, full of everything you need to know about what's going on in town. Here's the lowdown...

First, there's weather happening:

• Tuesday: Fog and clouds in the morning, gradually clearing. Small chance of rain. High: 62 Low: 42.
• Wednesday: Cold, cloudy, windy and rainy. High: 57 Low: 46.

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Air over Healdsburg:

Here are the top 5 stories in Healdsburg today:

1. You know the local wildfire safety movement by farm and vineyard workers and their advocates, including many in Healdsburg, to pressure winery bosses into enacting more safety measures for workers during fire season? Around 100 of them reportedly held a rally in Santa Rosa last night — marching, waving signs and banging drums in front of the Sonoma County government complex. North Bay Jobs for Justice, the org who orchestrated the rally, "is urging the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors to make three worker protections — hazard pay, disaster insurance and language justice — a requirement for winery and farm owners who seek to access their lands during wildfires and other types of emergencies through a county permit," according to the Press Democrat. The org has "garnered support from 80 organizations and businesses in their appeal to the county board," the PD reports. "County officials say they plan to discuss this issue during the Board of Supervisors meeting in May." (Press Democrat; paywall)
2. The Sonoma County airport is embracing its Wine Country character with a couple swanky new additions to the airport experience next month. The airport, currently in the middle of a $40 million construction project, "has announced the addition of two concessionary businesses that are expected to open in May, pending final approvals," according to the PD. "Vintage Wine Estates will open the Flight Deck Lounge, a wine-tasting room and wine-packaging shop, and Salt Lake City-based Apple Spice’s Petaluma establishment will open a satellite operation, according to Airport Manager Jon Stout. The Flight Deck Lounge will be located next door to Costeaux On The Go, just south of the main terminal, he said." Apparently the wine lounge used to be located in Healdsburg, "but was closed about a year ago in favor of moving to the airport," which the parent company believes is a more "ideal fit." And as for Apple Spice — they'll be operating as a "grab-and-go operation from Gate 2 that will sell sandwiches, salads and a variety of snacks and drinks." (North Bay Business Journal; paywall)
3. Here's what came of the annual Dry Creek Valley trash pickup a couple weeks ago: A group of 43 volunteers picked up a whopping "836 pounds of trash, including eight tires" along the main roads of the valley, which runs northwest of Healdsburg, according to the Tribune. The event was a collaboration between the Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley, the Dry Creek Valley Association and local river-health nonprofit Russian Riverkeeper. “Our goal is to leave the land in a better place for the next generation,” says Dry Creek Vineyard President Kim Stare Wallace. (SoCoNews Healdsburg)
4. A neighbor in the "Beverly Healdsburg" Facebook group noticed that an old, dilapidated historic skate rink-turned-home on Fitch Mountain is up for sale. The two-parcel, half-acre property at 2689-2690 South Fitch Mountain Road has been listed for just under $600,000. It's described on Redfin as a "Healdsburg fixer with upside potential" that's in an "extremely distressed condition." More from the listing: "Bring your vision and create the ultimate retreat. ... Ideal location across from Del Rio Woods County Park along the Russian River with Beach access. ... Existing structure offers a massive 6,280 sf footprint. This specialty property previously known as Palomar Dance and Skating Hall in the early 1930's is a local icon to many. City water services. Private septic. There is excessive content and debris inside and out sold in present as-is condition. Cash only sale." (Facebook & Redfin)
5. Another local tradition is about to go in-person for the first time since COVID hit. AVFest, formerly known as the Alexander Valley Film Festival, is "headed back to big screens and event venues across the county" for its eighth year, according to the Trib. It'll last 10 days, from April 29 through May 8 — and it will be fully live. “Last year we had a full 10 days, although it was 90% virtual," says the head of AVFilm, which runs the festival. "This year, all 10 days will be in person. That means that the expansion and growth we experienced online, we’re parlaying into an in-person experience." The fest includes indie films focusing on the Black, Spanish-speaking and LGBTQIA experiences, as well as a ton of others. They'll be screened at local venues like the Alexander Valley Hall, Barndiva, the Healdsburg Community Center, Lo & Behold, Orsi Family Vineyards and more. You can see the full lineup and buy tickets on the AVFilm website. (SoCoNews Healdsburg & AVFilm)

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Today and tomorrow in Healdsburg:

Tuesday, April 19

• Healdsburg American Association of University Women (AAUW) Spring Forum: "The Ocean Off Our Coast" (10-11:45AM)
• Sonoma County Registrar of Voters Open House: Learn About County's New Voting Process (3-6PM)
• Matty Tucker Live at Duke's Spirited Cocktails (5-8PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company Mendo 5K/Arnold Rim Trail Shakout Run at Riverfront Regional Park (6PM)
• Ballet Folclórico at Corazón Healdsburg (6:30PM)

Wednesday, April 20

• "Women in Conversation" at the Luther Burbank Center, Feat. Native American Activist & Author Winona LaDuke (4:30-8:30PM)
• Dustin Saylor Live at Duke's Spirited Cocktails (4:30-8:30PM)
• City of Healdsburg Hosts Water Town Hall (6PM)
• Healdsburg Unified School District Board Meeting (6PM)
• Trivia Night at Coyote Sonoma (7-9PM)
• Zumba With Chuy at TCElite Gym (7:15-8:15PM)

Healdsburg pics of the day:

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From my notebook:

• There was a baby 3.3-magnitude earthquake around 10 p.m. last night "just under 2 miles east-southeast of Cloverdale" — right on the anniversary of the big 1906 quake that ravaged Sonoma County. (Facebook & Facebook & Press Democrat; paywall)
• Bay Area architects Jan O’Brien and Craig Hartman are getting some press for the home they just designed and built out Chalk Hill Road, an 840-square-foot structure made of "two separate pavilions connected by a breezeway." See the pics in Sonoma Mag. (Sonoma Magazine)
• Tour guides from River's Edge Kayak & Canoes in Healdsburg say they're seeing lots of river otters this season! 😍 (Facebook)
• The Healdsburg Little League needs volunteers to help clean up and maintain the HES baseball field so the kids can play. (Facebook)
• The date palms in the plaza are looking especially handsome today after getting their biannual pruning yesterday morning. (Facebook)
• Condé Nast Traveler’s annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey for 2022 is "now live with Healdsburg on the ballot," the Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce notes. "Healdsburg is nominated in the 'Best Cities' category and h2hotel, Hotel Healdsburg, Hamon Guest House, Montage Healdsburg, Hotel Les Mars, Duchamp Hotel and Healdsburg Inn on the Plaza are nominated in the 'Best Hotels & Resorts' category." Here's how to vote. (Facebook & Condé Nast Traveler)
• Chalk Hill Estate Vineyards & Winery is celebrating its 50th this year with some special wines and events. (Wine Industry Advisor)
• Sonoma Mag has some suggestions for how to spend Earth Day, aka this Friday, in Healdsburg. It'll be the opening day for Little Saint — serving plant-based foods in the old SHED space — so you could stop by and check it out. There's also a vintage clothing popup being held "in honor of Earth Day" in the h2hotel lobby. Or you could volunteer at Russian Riverkeeper, or stop by the MIX Garden nursery for some native plants. (Sonoma Magazine)
• There's also an Earth-themed book reading Saturday night at THE 222, the cool new venue inside the huge Paul Mahder art gallery hangar downtown. Starting at 7 p.m., former NY Times reporter John Markoff will read from his latest book, "Whole Earth" — a biography of Whole Earth Catalog founder Stewart Brand. And the folks from Levin & Co will be on hand to "provide books for signing after the reading." (THE 222)
• New local business alert: A 9-year-old girl from Healdsburg has started a jewelry shop called Ali Sparkles. "So far, she has earrings and is starting to create necklaces and chokers too," Ali's mom says. "She is accepting custom requests." Check out her stuff here. (Facebook)
• FYI, the Healdsburg Garden Club has two plant sales coming up on April 30 and May 7, held right alongside the Saturday farmer's markets. They’ll be selling "some marvelous containers and baskets... filled with low growing filler plants, succulents, annuals, perennials, variegated Ivy, and house plants"; "new or gently used gardening tools... at bargain prices"; and "a wide variety of interesting, well-priced and well-maintained plants," including heirloom tomatoes. And the proceeds go toward scholarships for local students. (Inbox & Healdsburg Garden Club)

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Events:

• Healdsburg Chorus Spring Concert: "And Nature Smiled" (April 24)
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That's it for today! See you soooon.

— 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.