Winery 'Dream Job' Winners + City Hall Protest + New Police Log

Good day, neighbors! Simone here with your latest Healdsburg Daily. Allow me to update you on everything you need to know about what's happening in town today.

First, today's weather:

Clouds in the morning, giving way to sun. Weather officials warn of "smoky, hazy skies" and bad air quality due to big fires burning to the north and east. High: 89 Low: 54.

Here are the top 5 stories in Healdsburg today:

1. The Trib has a great piece this week on the Healdsburg activists calling for "bold citywide climate action." Even though Monday's Healdsburg City Council meeting was moved online due to the current COVID surge, protesters gathered on City Hall steps with signs like "CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL" and "THIS IS AN EMERGENCY" and "Pause. Reflect. Research." and "Water is essential to life." Former mayor Brigette Mansell, who's been at the forefront of the local movement, says the petition circling to pressure city leaders into more extreme water conservation measures has nearly 300 signatures now. Read more about the cause. (SoCoNews Healdsburg)
2. Healdsburg makes an appearance in a new, in-depth Washington Post piece on the effects of "extreme weather ripping across the American West" — including "historically large wildfires, unfathomably high temperatures [and] a megadrought decades in the making." Local couple Chris Windbiel and John Wiest are featured as the faces of the new Healdsburg reality, with a "go bag" at their bedside and a recycled water tank in their yard to keep the "trees, flowers, garden and tomatoes alive." (The Washington Post)
3. Following the lead of other California institutions now requiring vaccination, Sonoma County health officials have ordered that by Sept. 1, "all fire, law enforcement, emergency medical workers, and staff at disaster shelters must be fully vaccinated or submit to weekly COVID testing." Some local businesses are making the move, too. (ABC7 & North Bay Business Journal)
4. If you heard a bunch of sirens coming from the Alexander Valley Road area last night — no, it wasn't a fire. The "Sonoma County Scanner Updates" Twitter account, which monitors local police scanners, reports that sheriff's deputies responded to the area and "deployed less than lethal [force] on a suspect and he wasn’t complying but now is." Another Healdsburg resident noted on Facebook: "I came down 101 south from Dry Creek at 8:30 and counted 14 CHP'S and Sonoma County Sheriff cars sirens and lights heading north." Sheriff's officials sent out a Nixle warning neighbors to avoid the area, but gave the all-clear around 10 p.m. (Twitter & Facebook)
5. Remember that insane contest announced earlier this year by Healdsburg's Murphy-Goode Winery, where people could compete to land their "dream job in the wine industry"? Well, after a few exhaustive rounds of interviews, two winners have been chosen for their "passion for wine, creativity, humor and drive," the winery says. Please welcome Lindsay Perry and Veronica Hebbard to town. They'll now reportedly be shadowing Murphy-Goode winemaker Dave Ready Jr. and team during harvest, as well as learning about E-commerce and marketing in the wine industry. (KRON4)

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Today in Healdsburg:

• Good Morning, Healdsburg! Monthly Business Updates from the Healdsburg Chamber (8-9AM)
• First Responders Resiliency Conference at Bishop's Ranch (8AM-5PM)
• Challenger International Soccer Camps at Fitch Mountain Elementary (August 5-9, times vary)
• Let's Talk: Virtual English Conversation Class at Sonoma County Library (2-3:30PM)
• LGBTQ Connection Sonoma Potluck at the Plaza (4-5:30PM)
• Live at Duke's Spirited Cocktails: The JT3 (5-8PM)

Healdsburg Patch Notebook

• Finally, the new Healdsburg Police Log is out! Lots to see here. A few standout moments: Reports of a"woman outside screaming" on West Grant Street who "may have tripped over exercise equipment"; claims by a Josephine Lane resident that his neighbor "keeps vandalizing his daughter’s car by spraying it with some substance that turns white" and "looks like bird poop"; and someone ratting out their "regularly unmasked and unvaccinated" friend for allegedly buying a "bogus vaccine card so she could travel." (SoCoNews Healdsburg)
• A dramatic new CBS documentary called "Bring Your Own Brigade" takes a comprehensive look at the devastating California wildfires wreaking havoc on residents for the past few years. It'll start streaming on Aug. 20, and is also showing at a few Bay Area theaters starting tomorrow. (CBS News)
• Sit back, relax and civically engage: Monday's four-hour Healdsburg City Council meeting is now available to view online. (Facebook)
• There was a happy ending yesterday on Nextdoor for the amazing-looking "rag doll cat" who got loose near March and Daisy. "Been looking for him for the last 3-4 hours! He is back home! Thank you all," the cat's owner wrote. (Nextdoor)
• In case you're interested — the PD explains some of the reasons why people aren't getting vaccinated in Sonoma County. (Press Democrat; paywall)
• Healdsburg Center for the Arts is getting rid of some old art pedestals that don't fit in their new location at 334 Center Street. (Facebook)
• Sonoma County bank chain Exchange Bank, which has a branch in Healdsburg, has fared surprisingly well throughout the pandemic. The bank is reporting "net income for the second quarter of $8.22 million, up 4.7% from a year before." (North Bay Business Journal)

From our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Free Estate Planning & Living Trust Workshop Live Q&A Friday 1PM (August 6)
• 14th Annual Petaluma Music Festival (August 7)

Job listing:

• Caregiver (Details)

That's it for today! See you back here tomorrow, same time same place. If you're feeling these newsletters, consider bringing some friends and neighbors on board. 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? Reach out anytime to simone.wilson@patch.com.