Healdsburg Tribune June 20 2024

The Healdsburg Tribune

The Healdsburg Tribune

LAST-MINUTE CHANGES PITCHED TO BROADEN APPEAL OF GMO REVISION MEASURE

By Christian Kallen

Faced with the task of crafting a ballot measure that was accurate, legal and appealing to the average voter, the Healdsburg City Council took pains to review the recommended wording for a November ballot measure that would amend the 24-year-old Growth Management Ordinance, or GMO.

The proposed wording, to be placed on the ballot in the general election on Nov. 5 of this year, was presented as follows:

“To encourage creation of workforce housing on underutilized parcels, should the City of Healdsburg exempt multi-family housing along portions of the Healdsburg Avenue corridor from the Growth Management Ordinance?”

This would be the latest in a long line of attempted revisions to the GMO that the city and its voters have grappled with for the past eight years. And, as it turned out, that wording itself was subject to final revision even as Monday’s meeting took place.

Background

Healdsburg voters adopted the GMO in 2000, back when Mike McGuire was on the City Council, to control residential growth. What was then called Measure M limited residential building permits for new construction to an average of 30 units per year, and no more than 90 over a 3-year period, with exclusions for low-income and accessory

1,200-ACRE WILDFIRE BURNS HOMES, THREATENS WINERIES

By Simone Wilson

A warm and sunny Father’s Day amid the rolling hills of the Dry Creek Valley outside Healdsburg took an uneasy turn early Sunday afternoon, when hundreds of residents, winery staff and tourists began receiving alerts on their phones about a wildfire near Lake Sonoma.

Cal Fire, the lead response agency, named it the Point Fire after Stewarts Point-Skaggs Spring Road where it started. “It’s a bad spot, because it’s vegetation that likes to burn and produces embers,” said Marshall Turbeville, chief of the Northern Sonoma

County Fire Protection District.

Weather conditions, too, were ripe for fire, with low air humidity, and high heat and winds. During the next 12 whirlwind hours, the Point Fire burned through more than 1,000 acres of rural land southeast of the lake—destroying at least two country homes, threatening dozens of world-famous wineries and possibly damaging some grapevines, and prompting widespread PG&E power outages that lasted for days.

As thick smoke poured across Sonoma and Napa counties, more than 300 residents of the northern Dry Creek Valley and its foothills rushed to evacuate, along with hundreds more lake and tastingroom visitors.

“Everything that firefighters were doing wasn’t

working” that first day, Chief Turbeville said. As they tried to douse the Point Fire from the ground and air, gusts up to 40 mph kept blowing more embers downwind, igniting huge new swaths of vegetation.

On top of that, according to Cal Fire spokesman Jason Clay, crews were working in “steep and rugged terrain” with homes tucked into trees along narrow, winding roads. In firefighter lingo, it’s called a “wildland-urban interface”—one of the trickiest to navigate.

Santa Rosa residents Vivian and Eddy Cumins were enjoying a glass of wine on Father’s Day at Trattore Farms & Winery on Dry Creek Road, taking in a view of the hills to the west, quilted in forests and vines. They watched, mesmerized, as one of those hills went up in flames.

ASTI SUMMER CROSSING IN CONSTRUCTION, TO

OPEN BY JULY 4

PERMANENT BRIDGE IN THE WORKS BUT LOCAL PROPERTY FEE MAY BE NECESSARY

Staff Report

“You have the beauty of the hill and the green and the vineyards,” Vivian Cumins said. “And then you have this beast of fire coming across and just starting to consume it.”

As she and her husband evacuated the winery on the gentle orders of Trattore staff, she said they encountered a stopand-go line of cars along Dry Creek, many pulling boats—apparently fleeing from Lake Sonoma. “You could tell how rushed they were, because their boats were only halfway onto their trailers,” she said.

Memories of Fires Past

For those who call the valley and its hills home, the chaotic outbreak of the Point Fire on Sunday brought back memories of the Walbridge Fire that

the crossing into a permanent one.

“A Permanent Asti Bridge will provide an additional, reliable, yearround egress, particularly during disaster emergencies, which are an increasingly frequent threat,” stated the County’s Road Projects division, part of what’s now called Sonoma Public Infrastructure (formerly TPW, or Transportation and Public Works).

The total estimated project cost is $20 million, and the County of Sonoma proposes to fund $16 million of the total amount.

ravaged the area in 2020, tearing through a similar footprint (only much larger) and burning hundreds of buildings. It carried all the markers of that traumatic event: The screaming phone alerts. Flashing sirens. Road barricades. The sickly orange-yellow color of the sky. The frantic trips from home to car, stockpiling valuables. A goodbye glance at the house on the way out. The smell and taste of thick smoke—and, up closer, of burning wood and plastic.

In a briefing Monday morning at the Cloverdale fairgrounds, a Cal Fire unit chief reminded firefighters they would be encountering Walbridge Fire survivors as they continued battling the Point Fire that day. “So please be mindful of that, and take a second

determination of a Bridge Assessment District in which that money will be collected via a property tax over a period of time,” said Kasey Williams of Sonoma Public Infrastructure.

“That being said, nothing is set in stone just yet and we’re looking at all options, including additional grant money.”

The recently completed Environmental Impact Study found no significant mitigation was required under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the findings were posted for public comment on May 29, when a 30-day period opened for review and any written objection. Construction of the temporary crossing began on Monday, June 10, and is now expected to be completed before the 4th of July holiday. ➝ Fire, 6 ➝ Ballot, 2

Even as work proceeds through the end of the month to reopen the seasonal span over the Russian River near the community of Asti—the so-called Asti Summer Crossing—the County of Sonoma is finalizing preparations to turn

“Property owners may be required to fund up to $4 million of project costs, depending on any grants that may be available,” the County said, suggesting a property tax or levy might be applied.

“Several options are in play in order to get that money, including the

Photo by Eddy Cumins

UP IN FLAMES Visitors to Trattore Farms & Winery on Dry Creek Road

Father’s Day afternoon.

GOINGS ON AROUND TOWN THIS WEEK & NEXT

Jazz Festival

The 26th annual Healdsburg Jazz Festival continues its 9-day immersion in music, with nightly concerts at Bacchus Courtyard Thursday through Sunday and other shows at the Elephant, Farmers’ Market, St Paul’s Church and Sunday afternoon, 2pm, at the Raven. Details at healdsburgjazz.org.

Second Story

Singer-songwriter Amy Levere plays from the Second Story stage on Thursday, June 20. Upstairs at Little Saint, doors open at 6pm for the 7pm show. 25 North St., littlesainthealdsburg.com.

Princely

1999 tribute band the Purple Ones performs at Summer Night on the Green in Windsor, Thursday, June 20. Farmers’ Market 5pm, music 6-8pm.

Crawfish Boil

Healdsburg’s New Orleans restaurant Parish Café, 60 Mill St., rolls out the big pots and fires up the music again this Friday, June 21, 5:30-9pm. On the menu is a “boil” with Louisiana crawfish, andouille, and corn and potatoes, plus grilled meats, creole salad, black-eyed peas and, of course, beignets. $65, limited tickets at theparishcafe.com.

Friday Night Live

Hot Buttered Rum plays progressive bluegrass during Cloverdale’s weekly street-fair-and-music happening, on Friday, June 21, from 6-9:30pm.

Beware the Beast Free baseball movie in the Healdsburg Plaza, “The Sandlot” (1993, PG) from AVFilm. Concessions and music will begin at 7:45pm; the film begins after sundown. avfilmpresents.org/ show/the-sandlot/

Council Votes

dwelling units.

However, the patterns of residential growth in Healdsburg that resulted never produced the middle-income or affordable units that the GMO was designed to encourage.

In 2016, the city attempted to revise the GMO with what was called Measure R, but it fell far short at the ballot box. Other incremental efforts to revise the GMO did pass, in 2018 and 2019, but failed to produce the desired results.

Meanwhile high-end developments at Montage Healdsburg and the Mill District closer to downtown were allowed to proceed, to much dissatisfaction among local residents.

HEALDSBURG HAPPENINGS

Farmers’ Market

The Saturday Healdsburg Farmers’ Market gets underway in the West Plaza parking lot this Saturday, June 22, from 8:30am to noon. This week the Healdsburg Jazz Future All-Stars play for your shopping entertainment.

Saturday Blues Amidst all that jazz, Furthermore Wines makes room for a blues revue from Mudcat Slide, a.k.a. Double D and the Cataract Daddies, or some similar configuration. Music from 5-8pm, Saturday, June 22, at Furthermore, 328-A Healdsburg Ave.

Cult Musician

Willie Walman brings his Project to the Elephant

That’s why the city is now trying again to craft revisions to the GMO that would finally allow middle-income housing to be built in town—if developers can be found who will build it.

The proposed 2024 ballot measure cited above was to include specific maps for voters to evaluate what portions of the Healdsburg Avenue corridor would be affected, maps that evolved over previous meetings, including on June 3. Three specific areas are included:

The Healdsburg Avenue North Corridor, between North Street to Grove Street; the Central Healdsburg Area Plan or CHAP, the area between Mill Street and the Healdsburg’s Memorial Bridge; and the South Entry Area, south of

Lisa

Liz Alber Classified Advertising/Legal Notices lalber@weeklys.com

on Saturday, June 22, including members of Oingo Boingo and Fantastic Negrito. Opening act is the all-star local review, Crowbot. Tickets $15 in advance, $20 at the door, from 7pm on. The Elephant in the Room is at 177 Healdsburg Ave., elephantintheroompub.com.

Global Guitars Latin jazz, rhumba, flamenco and other global beats from the David Correa Trio, featuring the guitarist joined by a second guitar from Tommy Hill and percussionist Rami Ziadeh. It’s at Hotel Healdsburg’s Spirit Bar on Saturday, June 22. No cover, partial Dry Creek Kitchen menu available.

the bridge to the city limits.

Roughly six city blocks in the downtown Plaza area would be excluded from housing development.

The Debate

Following Planning Director Scott Duiven’s presentation of the ballot wording, Councilmember Ariel Kelley began to question just how much the general public understood about workforce housing—a term used in the ballot question—or the GMO itself.

“When Councilmember Mitchell and I were interviewing planning commissioner applicants a couple weeks ago, it really kind of dawned on me (that) very few people know what the Growth Management Ordinance is,” she said. “I think that there is not a lot of deep

25 Matheson St.

Big Hair For fans of Guns N’ Roses, Billy Idol, Def Leppard, Journey and other ’80s rock bands, Aqua Nett plays the hits at Coyote Sonoma on Saturday, June 22, starting at 8pm. The Mill Street venue features Karaoke Thursday and Trivia Night on Wednesdays, too. At 44F Mill St., coyotesonoma.com.

Sunday at the Plaza Camino De Agua (Spanish Guitar Duo) plays from the Gazebo stage from 1-3pm on Sunday, June 23.

‘Mystery Feast’

Author Lucy Foley, in conversation with Kristin Chen, discusses her

knowledge … of what exactly is the challenge with the Growth Management Ordinance. And so I’m worried that we make assumptions in the ballot language.”

She suggested that, to augment the ballot term “workforce housing,” the term “middle class housing” might be included as well, since many might confuse workforce housing with affordable housing— which is already permitted in the GMO.

City Manager Jeff Kay gave the idea of modifying the proposed wording a qualified endorsement. “As much as I would be nervous with a whole lot of wordsmithing on the fly tonight, I don’t think that’s necessarily terribly complicated,” he said.

Then, to further complicate things, Kelley

new locked-room murder mystery, The Mystery Feast , at Second Story on Sunday, June 23, starting at 10am. $32.50 admission includes a copy of the book and fresh coffee; more at littlesainthealdsburg.com/happenings/ lucyfoley.

Plaza Tuesday Los Caminantes de Humberto Navarrro play ranchera from the Gazebo stage on June 25, from 6-8pm. That morning, the Farmers’ Market (9am to 12:30pm) also takes place at the Plaza, on Plaza and Center streets.

6- and 12-String Back by popular demand, guitar maestro Leo Kottke returns to the Raven stage on Tuesday, June 25,

asked, “Do we have to use the words ‘Growth Management Ordinance’ in the ballot language?”

That question was punted to City Attorney Samantha Zutler, since the wording of a ballot measure has to be legal, and if it calls for amending an ordinance the name of the ordinance itself might need to be included.

The arguments went back and forth on both suggestions for some time, prompting Councilmember Evelyn Mitchell to say, “I really wasn’t anticipating that we would try to wordsmith this quite so much at this stage in the process.”

However she then weighed in on the discussion, saying that workforce and middleincome housing sounded to her like opposite ends of the spectrum.

starting at 8pm. Always a good show from this decade-spanning artist. Raven Performing Arts Theater, 115 North St., tickets and info at raventheater.org.

Housing Forum The City of Healdsburg will hold a public forum on Wednesday, June 26, to discuss the Growth Management Ordinance and housing solutions in Healdsburg. It’s 6-7:30pm at the Healdsburg Community Center, 1557 Healdsburg Ave.

Post events on the Tribune’s online calendar at healdsburgtribune.com/ calendar and send special announcements to editor@ healdsburgtribune.com.

Closing In As the discussion zeroed in on including both terms— “workforce and middle class housing”—the idea of dropping GMO from the wording became less popular. Mitchell opposed it, saying “It would feel like a political game that we’re playing not to include ‘Growth Management Ordinance.’ Otherwise, what are we doing?” Kelley made another suggestion, to add the word “certain” to the text to clarify that the ordinance exclusions were limited, and while that was readily accepted she indicated she had other suggestions, too, but realized that if the council wasn’t interested in too much more wordsmithing, she could move on.

➝ Ballot, 7

Photo by Mark Glassman

UPLIFTING Vocalist Lisa Fischer appears with Taylor Eigsti and special guests including the LINES Ballet at the Raven Performing Arts Theater on June 23, the final day of this year’s Healdsburg Jazz Festival.

➝ Ballot, 1

LIBRARY

Modernization Just a Summer Away

SUMMER READING, FRIDAY FLICKS AND STORYTIME AT THE PARK

By Jon Haupt

Summer reading season has begun at the Healdsburg Regional Library, and we hope to see you soon. This year, you can sign up and track your reading using either the Beanstack app or a paper

log. The more time you spend reading, the more prizes you can earn.

After five, 10 and 15 hours of reading, you can come in to claim free book prizes. After 15 hours of reading, you are also entered in a drawing to win one of several special prizes, such as alphabet soft blocks, an instant camera with film or a family membership to the California Academy of Sciences.

Throughout the summer, come by the library each week for a special themed sticker to celebrate your accomplishments. Collectively as a county, we have logged millions of minutes each summer and we look forward to seeing what we can do this year.

We hope you will also take advantage of our programming this summer. We have opportunities for all ages coming up. It

would be silly to try to list them all here, but the following are a few highlights to get you excited: Our big family events kicked off with Python Ron on June 13, continues this week with Magician Mike on June 20 and follows with All About Bees on June 27—all at 11am. July also has many popular presenters for this Thursday afternoon time slot.

Storytimes

We have Storytimes in the Park on Friday mornings at 10:30am on most Fridays in June and July, followed by Friday Flicks in our air-conditioned meeting room starting at 2pm. Teens can look forward to crafts and cooking on June 26, July 10 and July 24— Wednesdays at 1pm.

Tweens will have programming on most Tuesday mornings at 11am, such as Universal Yums, a Graphic Novel Book Club and book-bag crafting. Adults can also enjoy programs such as a Duke Ellington legacy event on June 18 at 2pm, book clubs and music from Trio Nuevo Amanecer at 6pm on Wednesday, July 24. Information about all of these opportunities and many more can be found in our handy Summer Reading pamphlet, available in person at the library or on our online events calendar at events. sonomalibrary.org. Give us a call at (707) 433-3772 if you have questions or would like some more suggestions of upcoming events of interest.

Modernization

We are fielding a lot of questions these days about our upcoming Building Modernization Project. The planning stage of the project is nearing completion and we still anticipate a start date for construction around Sept. 1. The current plan is to close the Healdsburg Regional

Library site down completely for several months, during which we will provide all of our basic services and many more special opportunities from a temporary location at the Healdsburg Community Center. Arrangements are still being finalized, but we are grateful for the wonderful staff in Healdsburg Community Services helping us get oriented as we continue to prepare. We are excited about the updates to the library building and looking forward to providing excellent service and connecting with our community throughout the project. Look for more information in coming weeks, including at the public Healdsburg Library Advisory Board meeting at the library on Tuesday, June 11, at 5:30pm. Once again, we are really looking forward to interacting with as many community members as we can this summer. If you’re not sure where to start in your reading journey, by all means drop by and we will offer a few suggestions. With tens of thousands of books on hand, the library has a lifetime of reading to offer.

Jon Haupt is the manager of the Healdsburg Regional Library, 139 Piper St., which is open daily. See sonomalibrary. org for hours and other programs at all libraries in the system.

RESEARCH Patrons of the Healdsburg Regional Library use the public terminals to work on school, home finance or other personal matters. The library will be

Photo by Christian Kallen

THEATER

Raven Players Take a New Direction

WINDSOR HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM ENLISTED FOR ‘COMPANY’ PRODUCTION

By Christian Kallen

The traditional home of the Raven Players is, and always has been, the Raven Theater. This week, however, the Players are trying on not just a new play, but a new stage: Their upcoming production of Stephen Sondheim’s Company will take

MICHAEL P. TIERNEY July 5, 1945 – May 25, 2024

Michael P. Tierney passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 25, 2024 at Healdsburg hospital surrounded by loving family and friends.

How do we tell Mike’s grand story?

That he was truly one of a kind.

That he was the rock of our family and our most beloved human being.

That he was the very best friend to his wife, Kathy and son, Matthew, and adored by his grandson, Otto.

That he was a voracious reader and a keen scholar with a doctorate from CAL.

That he was a top-rated high school English teacher at Pinole Valley High School, sharing humor and knowledge with hundreds of students.

That he was the capable president of our family winery, Taft Street, for over 40 years.

That he was an ardent Bay Area sports fan, who could be heard shouting for the Golden State Warriors and the San Francisco 49ers for miles from his house.

That he was an accomplished athlete from the time he won the San Francisco city ping-pong championship as a preteen to the one year he ran six marathons.

That he was an intrepid traveler leading family adventure’s all over the world.

Mike was all these things plus so much more.

Michael Philip Tierney, (7-5-45 to 5-25-24) was born and raised in San Francisco, to parents, Martin Joseph, and Emily Tierney, the second of five siblings, Martin (Susan), Ann (Tersh), Mimi, (RIP), and John.

Mike started school in the City at Saint Emydius, followed by high school at Saint Ignatius, and next attended St. Mary’s College of Moraga, where he met the love of his life, Kathy Lyons, who was attending Dominican College of San Rafael. They were married right after graduation in 1967 when they were accepted into President Kennedy’s first Peace Corps group assigned to Fiji and headed for two years teaching in Fiji and later they returned and Mike taught for a year at the University of Fiji in Suva.

Kathy and Mike were married for almost 57 years and shared too many adventures all over the world to list.

Their son, Matthew, was born in 1971 with the travel bug, and accompanied them to the corners of the Earth.

After Fiji, Mike and Kathy settled in Oakland and began his teaching career and a path to a Masters Degree from San Francisco State University and later an EDD, Doctor of Education, from the University of California at Berkeley.

In 1982, Mike joined his two brothers, Marty and John, his brother-in-law, Arleigh Sanderson and two friends, Mike Martini and Andy Bartlett to start Taft Street Winery in the Russian River Valley, Sebastopol, Sonoma County, CA.

For 40 plus years, Mike put his heart and energy into making Taft Street a success. With his title as president he filled many roles which included traveling around the US meeting with wine reps.

Mike’s love language was cooking for us, from over a hundred at the winery and at the famed Tierney parties to intimate family barbecues. Everyone marveled at his skill, organization and creativity with food and always with a smile and a quip. His sense of humor was as delicious as his recipes.

His life with its big, bold, smart, humorous joie de vivre simply wore out his name. No more Mikes. Just our Mike. Our marvel. Our gift. Our blessing.

A Celebration of Mike’s life will be on June 29, 2024 at 12:30pm at The Taft Street Winery in Sebastopol.

A memorial mass will be held for Michael at St. John’s Catholic Church in Healdsburg on July 6, 2024 at 4:30 pm. In lieu of flowers please send donations to Russian Riverkeeper, PO Box 1335, Healdsburg, Ca 95448.

place at the Windsor High School Theater Building, starting June 28.

“We’ve been pursuing performance venue partnerships the past few seasons and are fortunate that Windsor High and WUSD are allowing us to use the fantastic Playhouse at WHS for our premiere production in that partnership,” said Steven David Martin, director of the Raven Players.

He said the school auditorium is a bit smaller than the Raven, with about 300 seats, which “provides a more intimate environment for the show than the larger Raven Theater.” The Raven can hold up to 443 seats, depending on its configuration.

The Windsor theater was designed for the school by QKA, Quattrocchi Kwok Architects, and received several state design awards at the time it was completed in 2000.

The play itself, Company, has music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim; George Furth wrote the book. It received a thenrecord 14 Tony nominations

the year of its premiere, 1970, winning six. It concerns the 35th birthday party of a bachelor who is beginning to think about marriage, and a series of vignettes that follow.

Company will run from June 28 through July 14 at the Windsor High School Auditorium, usually Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sunday afternoon at 2pm.

Musical Chairs

With the theatrics of the Raven Players moving elsewhere, the Raven Theater itself is not remaining empty. Regarding the Players’ move to Windsor this summer, Raven Performing Arts Director Tom Brand said, “One of the benefits is we have five weeks open up for other shows and events. We are really busy, with only a few weeks out of the year where we are dark.”

Case in point: Next

Wednesday, June 25, guitarist Leo Kottke returns to the stage, not quite a year following his previous concert in town last July.

At that time, the Tribune reported, “To say Kottke is just a cult guitarist falls short of his impact. Though hardly a household name, people who know the songs ‘Eight Miles High’ or ‘Sweet Emotion’ are more likely to know versions by the Byrds or Aerosmith. But one could argue in all seriousness that his versions are better. They are certainly more evocative, and have become something akin to hits for his loyal audience.”

Hyperbole aside, Kottke presents a wide-ranging, informal and quite humorous program of American guitar music. His baritone singing voice is well-used in the service of his material, but it’s his guitar work that carries the show. Doors 7pm, music at 8pm, raventheater.org/event/ leo-kottke.

A week later, on July 3, the volume gets turned up by the Fabulous Thunderbirds. A powerhouse blues band, the Thunderbirds had a series of hits in the 1980s, including “Tuff Enough” and “Wrap It Up,” building on their early output that mined the deep

ore of electric blues and swamp rock at roughly the same time ZZ Top, another Austin band, was doing the same.

Most of the songs and singing are the work of Kim Wilson, whose harmonica defines the sound as much as the stinging guitar licks do. Jimmie Vaughan, older brother of Stevie Ray, was the original guitarist, but Wilson has been through a couple dozen sidemen in the intervening decades. The barn-burning sound remains the same, and since the theater promises that the area in front of the stage will be open for dancing, it’s a safe bet the Raven will be rockin’ the night before the 4th of July. raventheater. org/event/the-fabulousthunderbirds.

Other programs scheduled for the Raven in coming months include a Traveling Wilburys Revue tribute on July 26, and the next night, July 27, the South African vocal group Ladysmith Mambazo. See raventheater.org for complete schedules.

Photo by Jake Cudek

SPORTS

Course Record Set at Fitch Mountain Footrace

VANDEN HEUVEL SETS NEW MARK AT 33:00 FOR 10K RACE

By Caleb Knudsen

On what turned out to be an even more eventful day than planned, Sunday, June 16, more than 300 runners gathered on Center Street at Matheson for the start of the annual Fitch Mountain Footrace. Though begun 50 years ago in friendly competition with the Kenwood 4th of July Footrace, this

traditional Healdsburg fun run has become a magnet for area competitors. They were a varied lot—some lean and focused, others pushing strollers or wearing distinctive hats. (Those stroller-pushers were most likely running the in-town 3k race, although not necessarily …) The weather was perfect, the skies blue and temperatures mild. The 10-kilometer loop around Fitch Mountain went smoothly, aside from the roller-coaster road work on the north side of Villa Chanticleer, and the

competition got heated coming down Matheson back into town.

Jack Vanden Heuvel crossed the finish line at 33:00, setting a new course record. Right behind him was Garrett Gardner of Sacramento, at 33:05, but it took awhile for Anthony Cortes of Half Moon Bay to claim third in 34.48.

It was a fast race overall. Dante Godinez set the previous course record, at 35:20, in 2022. The three top finishers in Sunday’s race all beat that time.

Not so long ago Vanden Heuvel was a student at

HHS, where he holds the school records in the 800-, 1600- and 3200-meter races. Now just 21, he is entering his senior year at Westmont College in Santa Barbara. Though he’s competed several times before, it was his first Fitch Mountain win.

Fourth overall was Nicole Lane, 29, a former Santa Rosa runner who now lives in Rancho Cordova. She took first in the women’s race at 36.33, almost six minutes faster than Chelsea Bingham of L.A., second in the women’s field, with Emma Kudritzki third.

“It was a little faster than when I ran this as a kid, when I was in high school,” Lane said. She attended El Molino High, then went on to UC Davis and, in 2020, became an Olympic qualifier in the marathon.

Lane, too, set a course record in the women’s division, obliterating the previous best time of 45:03 set by Melane Mathewson last year. Other notable finishers: 16-year-old Xavier Sturgeon of Windsor finished 7th in 39.29, the top high school runner. Two 17-year-olds, Max McKinney of Windsor and Tristan Moores of Healdsburg, rounded out the top teen racers. All three attend Windsor High.

Two of Healdsburg High’s current top runners,

and

served as race co-directors.

was on crutches to nurse a broken toe that hindered his 2024 race season as a junior.

Though billed as the 50th annual Fitch Mountain Footrace, this marks at least the second year in a row that the 50th annual billing has been claimed. The Kiwanis, who produced the race in 2022, at that time claimed it as the 46th.

About those strollers: Finishing 25th was Thomas Allen, 40, of Santa Rosa—pushing a stroller with two children, one of them asleep at the finish line.

Winners received prizes from Arista Winery, Fogbelt Brewery and Costeaux French

Prune Packers Stay Hot as PEL Season Begins

HEALDSBURG’S

HISTORIC BASEBALL TEAM RUNS RECORD TO 10-0

By Cannon Fritz

The Healdsburg Prune Packers had an eventful week, showcasing their strength and resilience across multiple games. Here’s a detailed recap of their performances from June 11 to June 16.

The Packers faced the West Coast Kings Gold team on June 11, securing a commanding win with a score of 9-0. The Kings Gold, based out of Fairfield, proved no match for Healdsburg’s team on their home field.

The Pack’s four pitchers combined their efforts for a one-hit shutout, with starter Cole Kaase getting the win. Cole Caruso walked three times and scored twice, Max Debiec drove in three runs and the whole lineup demonstrated a balanced attack.

Reflecting on the game afterward, Max Shupe, assistant coach for the Pack, said, “We had a good feel going into today’s game. We’ve been playing well—our pitchers have been doing phenomenal, our infielders have been playing great.”

The next day, Wednesday, June 12, the Prune Packers took on the CA Red Tails, again coming out on top by a comfortable 7-1 margin. The game was a testament to their defensive prowess and strategic play, with

the final score reflecting their dominance. Leadoff hitter Tommy Farmer homered with a man on in the seventh to put the lead out of reach.

After a day off, the June 14 game against the Alameda Anchors was another blowout at 11-1, which is becoming familiar with this year’s team. Joey Kramer homered in the 4th, but the highlight was Logan Sutter’s walk-off single in the second inning with the bases loaded, an incredible moment that secured the win.

Sutter’s clutch performance epitomized his approach: “Just got to figure out a way to win every day. No matter if it’s one to zero or 25 to three, you got to find a way to win,” he said.

First League Game

On Saturday, June 15, the Prune Packers faced their first Pacific Empire League rival, the Menlo Legacy. It was a close game that brought the first test for this dominant Pack lineup as the team’s batting was stifled most of the game. Though they were able to get runners on base, the Menlo pitching was able to get out of jams, and both teams remained scoreless into extra innings.

Then in the bottom of the 10th, Alex Leopard started the inning at second base, Joey Kramer was hit by a pitch and took first, and Logan Sutter singled to load the bases. When Connor

Charpiot walked, the winning run came home and the game ended with a 1-0 Packers win.

The final game of the week on Sunday, June 16, found the Packers up against the Solano Mudcats. It was a confident win for the Pack, as they emerged victorious with a 5-0 victory, getting back to their ways of scoring the runners on the basepath and shutting out teams with stellar pitching performances.

Starting pitcher Robert Aivazian pitched three strong, giving up only a

single hit and striking out six, and his relief pitchers kept the Mudcats off the scoreboard.

Assistant coach Shupe summed up the game well: “The defense and the pitching led us today, but that’s a grind win where you gotta see it to the very end.”

Team

Performance

The Prune Packers’ stats reflect their dominance this week. The team’s batting average, home runs and ERA all point to a well-rounded squad

capable of excelling in various aspects of the game. The synergy between the pitchers and fielders has been a crucial factor in their recent victories, as highlighted by their ability to turn double plays and maintain control in high-pressure situations. With a busy schedule ahead, including three games each against PEL teams the Medford Rogues and Humboldt Crabs, the Healdsburg Prune Packers will need to maintain their current form to continue

their winning streak. The upcoming games will be critical, but coach Joey Gomes and his team are prepared to take on the challenges, armed with the strategy and the determination to win each day.

For more information and updates on the Healdsburg Prune Packers, visit their official site at prunepackers.org

Cannon Fritz is a journalism major at

analytics

a

Kaeden Anderson

Jake McWilliams,

Anderson

Bakery.

Photos by Christian Kallen

WINNING SMILE Nicole Lane came in fourth overall, first in the women’s category at the Fitch Mountain Footrace, on Sunday, June 16.

Baylor University and

sports

intern with the Healdsburg Prune Packers.

Photo by Christian Kallen

DOUBLE-UP Prune Packers second baseman Jonas Salk prepares to throw to first after forcing out Menlo Legacy’s Cooper Winton for an inning-ending double play on June 15.

ALL OUT Jeff Hollis of Cloverdale, 43, stays just ahead of Skyler Carr of Healdsburg, 36, at the finish line for the Fitch Mountain Footrace. They came in 10th and 11th, respectively.

to communicate with them, and let them know that we’re doing everything that we can,” the unit chief said.

With some luck, the situation vastly improved overnight, as weather conditions calmed and cooled. Multiple helicopters dropping water on flames all Sunday night also helped, according to Chief Turbeville—a night operation he called “a first in Sonoma County.”

Over the next couple of days, hundreds of firefighters from more than 15 different agencies across Sonoma County continued to ramp up their attack. The multifaceted, Cal Fireled operation involved 50 fire engines and 12 ground crews, 10 dozers carving out fire barriers, 10 “water tenders” bussing in water to fight the flames and at least four aircraft doing aerial drops. (One responder was injured when a tree branch fell and gashed his neck, according to Cal Fire officials, who later said the injury was non-life-threatening.)

With cooperation from the wind, firefighters managed to halt the fire’s spread early on, keeping it to just over 1,200 acres. By Wednesday, the situation was more of a “mop-up” operation, according to Cal Fire—meaning responders focused on dousing any remaining hotspots and making the area safe for residents to return.

Sense of Relief

The resounding sentiment among locals: This could have been so much worse. “It’s a miracle that almost everything survived,” said Mary Louise Bucher, who co-owns Trattore Farms & Winery with her husband.

Of course, this sense of relief does not extend to

Burns Homes

those who may have lost their homes. Reporters who entered the burn zone documented houses ablaze on West Dry Creek Road— as well as other structures being saved from the flames by both firefighters and bold residents who hung back to defend their properties. John Clarke Mills, creator of the Watch Duty fire app, said he had friends with homes “just south of Bradford Mountain” who “thankfully didn’t lose anything but were fighting fire on their land.”

At press time, Cal Fire officials reported only two destroyed structures, but planned to update that number shortly.

A spokeswoman for the Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley Association, which

represents all but a few of the approximately 70 wineries in the area, said no wineries burned. However, she said one popular local spot—Bella Vineyards & Wine Caves—reported some damage to its vineyards. “Their wine cave and their tasting room are totally fine,” Winegrowers rep Amanda Brower said on Tuesday. “But we’ve heard of some of their vines getting caught in the fire.”

Although a second-order problem, other local winery owners worry about what the Point Fire might mean for business. “We are terrified right now,” said Bucher at Trattore Winery. “It’s early enough in the season that hopefully there’s no smoke taint on the grapes. But we’re also terrified

because people become very reluctant to come back after the fires.”

Point of Origin

Cal Fire is still investigating what sparked the Point Fire. Many locals were confused at first about whether it was a controlled burn or a wild one, since it broke out within a day or two of a nearly 300-acre prescribed burn on the other side of Lake Sonoma that hopped its set perimeter at one point, burning another 20 acres or so before firefighters got a handle on it.

Friday’s prescribed burn has not been ruled out as the cause of the Point Fire, simply because “nothing gets ruled out,” said Cal Fire spokesman Clay. But

he noted there was a fair amount of time and distance between them.

Fire officials say original predictions of a medium-to-mild 2024 fire season, much like those of the past few years, are quickly shifting to a more severe outlook—punctuated by the Point Fire, which comes unusually early in the season. A few recent heat waves and periods of powerful winds have officials on high alert. And after so much rain over winter, “the grass this year is just burning really well,” Turbeville said. Thanks to the Point Fire and another big fire burning right now in Colusa County to our north, Cal Fire’s Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit has seen “more acres

burned in our unit over the last three days… than we saw in the previous three years combined,” the agency tweeted Tuesday. That said, the rural Healdsburg community and its protectors appear more prepared than ever, as demonstrated by the swift and calculated Point Fire response.

“The resources that we have available to us at Cal Fire have been greatly enhanced over time,” Clay said. “And it’s not just us— it’s all our partners that we work with. And then the public plays a big role. It’s really important that Californians understand that it takes all of us to come together to keep people safe.”

Photo by Tenaya Fleckenstein

Photo by Simone

The Look of Love SNAPSHOT

SOCIAL

CREATURES STILL, THESE HORSES ARE BONDED BUT UNBOUND

By Pierre Ratte

It’s hard to know what love looks like. However, these two creatures’ tenderness to one another provides inspiration.

They have a beautiful pasture to graze; hills, valleys, trees and of course their barn, set out on many acres. Yet every day they choose to sidle up to one another, standing in place through the afternoon, each seemingly enjoying— no depending—on the other’s company. The brown horse’s cheek will press against the white one’s stifle or thigh as they spoon side to side. They stand together so regularly that

Council Votes

Part of Kelley’s dissatisfaction stemmed from the limitations placed by the Brown Act on council members from communicating with other council members. She had wanted to speak to others about her ideas prior to the meeting, but was constrained from doing so and instead forced to use the public forum of a council meeting. When the council finalized a couple of small but key changes to the wording, a straw vote found all five voted yes on the adjustments. “‘We’ll need a lot more yesses to make it happen!” said Mayor David Hagele, referring to the majority vote the measure would require in November.

With the wordsmithing done, the ballot question

the grass does not grow on their spot.

On cool days, their spot is on this hillock. On warmer summer days, their spot is beneath a shade tree. So regular are they, that anyone driving past the intersection of Mill Creek Road and Mill Creek Lane after 3pm will likely see them standing together or nuzzling.

Speaking of hot summer days, how did we get here so quickly? The Point Fire, threatening winds, fire and smoke? Be safe, Healdsburg and Dry Creek. Fun facts: There are over 300 breeds of horses. They form strong bonds as social creatures accustomed to herd living.

Horses appear on the evolutionary tree about 55 million years ago as small mammals in North America. Earliest domestication took place in Central Asia around 4,000 B.C.E., according to the National

Science Foundation.

Horses live 25-30 years, though the oldest known horse was 62. Horses have 208 bones; humans have 206. A horse’s “stifle” references its rear knee joint. Horses have the largest eyes of all mammals, with a field of vision of over 300 degrees. Blind spots are directly behind and ahead, which is why they may use nibbling lips to find the carrot directly in front of their nose.

“The Look of Love” was released in 1967. Written by Burt Bacharach, with lyrics by Hal David, it was originally sung by Dusty Springfield and featured in the James Bond movie Casino Royale, which grossed $41.7 million. Just one year later, Sergio Mendes and Brazil ’66 released another version of “The Look of Love,” exceeding Springfield’s on Billboard’s charts. Which do you remember better?

will read, “To encourage creation of middle class and workforce housing on certain underutilized parcels, should the City of Healdsburg exempt multifamily housing along portions of the Healdsburg Avenue corridor from the Growth Management Ordinance?”

Not a lot of change in total word count, to be sure, but perhaps enough clarification that the measure, by whatever letter it is assigned, stands a better chance of passing in November.

A Housing and GMO Community Workshop to discuss these matters, co-hosted with Corazon Healdsburg, is scheduled for Wednesday, June 26, starting at 6pm at the Healdsburg Community Center.

BUSINESS

-

The

person(s) is (are) doing business as: 1. STUMP N GRIND, 1256 MARK WEST SPRINGS

SANTA ROSA, CA 95404, COUNTY SONOMA, Mailing Address: SAME: Is hereby registered by the following owner(s): PIVOT CONTRACTING INC, 1256 MARK WEST SPRINGS RD, SANTA ROSA, CA 95404. This business is being conducted by A CORPORATION. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious name or names above on N/A. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: BRIAN WHITE, PRESIDENT. This statement was filed with the County Clerk-Recorder of Sonoma County on MAY 28, 2024. (Publication Dates June 6, 13, 20, 27 of 2024 The Healdsburg Tribune).

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT - FILE NO: 202401707 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: 1. BROWS & BEAUTY, 248 W. NAPA STREET STE B, SONOMA, CA 95476, COUNTY SONOMA, Mailing Address: 1160 MEADOW LN APT 58, CONCORD, CA 94520: Is hereby registered by the following owner(s): SANGITA PRASAIN, 1160 MEADOW LN APT 58, CONCORD, CA 94520. This business is being conducted by AN INDIVIDUAL. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious name or names above on 05/21/2024. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: SANGITA PRASAIN, OWNER. This statement was filed with the County Clerk-Recorder of Sonoma County on MAY 21, 2024. (Publication Dates June 6, 13, 20, 27 of 2024 The Healdsburg Tribune).

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT - FILE NO: 202401692 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: 1. CRU ESTATES, 809 SECOND STREET, SANTA

ROSA, CA 95402, COUNTY SONOMA, Mailing Address: SAME: Is hereby registered by the following owner(s): VICE PROPERTIES, INC., 809 SECOND STREET, SANTA ROSA, CA 95402. This business is being conducted by A CORPORATION. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious name or names above on N/A. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: RYAN VICE, PRESIDENT. This statement was filed with the County Clerk-Recorder of Sonoma County on MAY 20, 2024. (Publication Dates June 6, 13, 20, 27 of 2024 The Healdsburg Tribune).

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT - FILE NO: 202401496 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: 1. SONITROL OF MARIN/SONOMA, 2. SONITROL OF MARIN & SONOMA COUNTIES, 250 EXECUTIVE PARK BLVD #4500, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94134, COUNTY SONOMA, Mailing Address: PO BOX 9198, FRESNO, CA 93791: Is hereby registered by the following owner(s): KIMBERLITE CORPORATION, 3621 W BEECHWOOD AVE, FRESNO, CA 93711. This business is being conducted by A CORPORATION. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious name or names above on 12-18-1996. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: MICHAEL MUTTI, CFO. This statement was filed with the County Clerk-Recorder of Sonoma County on MAY 01, 2024. (Publication Dates June 6, 13, 20, 27 of 2024 The Healdsburg Tribune).

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT - FILE NO: 202401525 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: 1. WEBISTREE. COM, 313 1ST STREET, HEALDSBURG, CA 95448, COUNTY SONOMA, Mailing Address: SAME: Is hereby registered by the following owner(s): VICKIE L NORRIS, 313 1ST STREET, HEALDSBURG, CA 95448. This business is being conducted

by AN INDIVIDUAL. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious name or names above on 01/09/2000. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: VICKIE L NORRIS, OWNER. This statement was filed with the County Clerk-Recorder of Sonoma County on MAY 02, 2024. (Publication Dates June 6, 13, 20, 27 of 2024 The Healdsburg Tribune).

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT - FILE NO: 202401862 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: 1. CHATHAM NEIGHBORHOOD, 6195 DRY CREEK ROAD, HEALDSBURG, CA 95448, COUNTY SONOMA, Mailing

Address SAME: Is hereby registered by the following owner(s): CHATEAU DIANA LLC, 6195 DRY CREEK

SANTA ROSA, CA 95407 COUNTY SONOMA: Mailing Address: 3669 MT DIABLO BLVD, LAFAYETTE, CA 94549: is hereby

by

owner(s): 1. GAWFCO ENTERPRISES, INCORPORATED, 3669 MT DIABLO BLVD, LAFAYETTE, CA 94549. This business is being conducted by A CORPORATION. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious name or names above on 05/22/2024 declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: MOHAMMED AHMADI, PRESIDENT. This statement was filed with the County Clerk-Recorder of Sonoma County on MAY 30, 2024. (Publication Dates June 13, 20, 27 and July 4 of 2024 The Healdsburg Tribune).

FICTITIOUS

Photo by Pierre Ratte

HORSES IN LOVE Standing side by side for hours on end, these two horses epitomize a silent bond.

Photo by Christian Kallen

MIXED USE The commercial lot known as Towne Centre, on Center Street, would be eligible for residential development if the GMO revision passes in November.

GRAFFITI, DUI, HIT-AND-RUN AND WORKING ON SUNDAYS

Monday, June 3

9:01am An officer stopped a vehicle near CVS Pharmacy on Center Street for crossing double lines. An 18-year-old (YO) man was arrested and brought to county jail for driving under the influence of a drug, being a minor in possession of alcohol, possession of a controlled substance and possession of an open container.

10:55am The reporting party (RP) indicated that a motorcycle was driving recklessly on the sidewalk near Hartford Family Winery on Healdsburg Avenue. Officers responded, but the driver was gone on arrival and unable to be located.

11:42am The RP indicated that a man may have been selling stolen items near Healdsburg Community Center on Healdsburg Avenue. Officers contacted the 48-YO man. He was arrested and brought to county jail on an outstanding Sonoma County warrant regarding violating probation and receiving stolen property.

• 2:38pm Graffiti was reported on Theresa Court.

3:01pm Graffiti was reported on Lupine Road at Alexandria Drive on a utility box, and in a separate report on Fuchsia Way on a fence.

June 4

2:51am Someone tried to break into the RP’s truck boxes on Brown Street. The RP scared away the thief and an accomplice. They left in a vehicle. No weapons were seen. The RP wanted to press charges for the damage. Officers responded and took a report.

5:51am The RP indicated that a subject came to the RP’s residence on University Street to see the subject’s children. There was an order in place restraining the subject from seeing the children and the mother. The subject was loud and boisterous and after approximately one hour and 15 minutes, the subject left on foot. Officers responded and took a report. Officers waited to hear from the RP about whether the RP wanted to press charges for the violation of a court order.

7:07am Petty theft occurred on Tulip Court. The RP indicated that two tool boxes were stolen out of the back of his truck the preceding night. An officer responded and took a report.

11:00am An officer contacted a 63-YO man near CVS Pharmacy on Center Street for a probation check. The man was arrested and taken to county jail for resisting arrest, possession of a controlled substance and violating probation.

11:24am The RP indicated that a man was yelling obscenities at Metro PCS on Healdsburg Avenue and was asked to leave. Officers met with the man and resolved the issue.

• 3:34pm Embezzlement was reported at Molti Amici on Healdsburg Avenue. The RP indicated that his business partner failed to make deposits into the business account between September 2023 and February 2024 totaling $60,000. The partner claimed to use the money for payments to vendors instead of making deposits, but the RP said that was not true. An officer responded and took a report.

10:37pm A driver on Grove Street at West Grant Street was given

a citation for driving without a license.

June 5

10:57am A vehicle was stopped on Grove Street for violating tail light rules. A 45-YO man was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia and on an outstanding Marin County warrant regarding possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• 12:10pm Petty theft of candles, gourmet cheeses and specialty gift items worth $220.73 occurred the preceding night at Big John’s Market on Healdsburg Avenue. The RP wanted to press charges. An officer responded and took a report.

• 1:41pm The RP on Heron Drive indicated that her neighbor may be having a mental health issue. The neighbor was running in and out of his apartment, screaming at people and vehicles passing by. The RP stated that the last time something similar occurred, the neighbor was involuntarily detained. Officers responded. The neighbor refused medical help and an involuntary detention was not applied.

3:33pm A vehicle was stopped for having a defective windshield or rear window on Lytton Station Road at Hassett Lane. A 45-YO man was cited and released for driving with a license suspended for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI), operating a vehicle without an ignition interlock device, and violating probation.

5:14pm The RP reported a reckless driver on Redwood Highway at Shiloh Road. The RP was transferred to California Highway Patrol.

8:38pm A vehicle was stopped on Lincoln Street at Center Street for speeding, and the officer

identified the driver as being on probation. A 37-YO man was arrested and brought to county jail for DUI, DUI while already on probation for DUI and violating probation.

June 6

• 9:06am The RP with Ace Towing stated that the vehicle he was towing at Safeway on Vine Street was smoking. The incident was referred to the Fire Department.

6:53pm The RP on Lupine Road stated her husband screamed and threw things. The RP had a bruise on her leg from a bottle thrown at her. An officer responded and arrested a 63-YO man for inflicting corporal injury on a spouse. He was taken to county jail.

8:05pm The RP, a security guard at Hawley Winery Tasting Room on North Street, requested a woman be removed from the property. The woman was inside the restroom prior to standing in front of the business with all her belongings. Officers responded and contacted the woman, who refused to leave the property. The RP wanted to press charges. A 61-YO woman was cited and released for trespassing. She was advised not to return.

10:13pm A vehicle was stopped for violating registration rules near the West Plaza Parking Lot on Healdsburg Avenue.

A 47-YO man was cited and released on an outstanding Sonoma County warrant regarding violating a restraining order and possession of drug paraphernalia.

10:59pm The RP indicated that a woman was yelling, “Get out, get out!” at L&M Motel on Healdsburg Avenue. A second RP reported hearing someone getting choked and asserting “Stop!” Officers responded and did not see anything out of order. The security guard had

heard nothing. No further assistance was needed.

June 7

6:55am Vandalism to a vehicle occurred on Lupine Road. The RP stated that his City of Healdsburg work truck was egged the preceding night. No permanent damage was done. The information was logged.

8:46am An officer stopped a vehicle near Tip Top Liquor Warehouse on Dry Creek Road for running a stop sign. The driver was cited for driving without a license.

10:53am The RP received emailed threats at Wine Creek Ranch. The RP was transferred to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office.

3:22pm The RP at Hawley Winery Tasting Room on North Street stated a woman left her belongings outside the door for days. The RP did not want to press charges. Officers responded, but the woman was gone on arrival and unable to be located.

5:17pm The RP stated that a man in a wheelchair at Badger Park on Heron Drive yelled, “I’m going to get you!” An officer determined there was no criminal threat and logged the information.

11:40pm A woman on Pheasant Drive continued to go to the residence of a previous dating relationship. The RP and her son attempted to get a restraining order against the woman. The woman eventually left on foot.

June 8

• 4:28pm The RP indicated that someone scratched the RP’s vehicle on Sherman Street. An officer spoke with the RP and provided an incident number for insurance purposes.

June 9

9:40am A hit-and-run accident occurred on

June 8 on Vine Street. The RP stated there was a note from a witness on her vehicle. The witness left the license plate number of the suspect vehicle. The RP’s vehicle sustained damage to the front end and black marks along the driver side. An officer responded and took a report. An officer subsequently

1:44pm A