The Healdsburg Tribune
The Healdsburg Tribune
By Christian Kallen
After over 100 years of pleading, begging, negotiating and complaining, the Cloverdale area finally got its wish: The bridge over the Russian River at the hamlet of Asti has been approved for a permanent span, thanks to final action by the County Board of Supervisors last week.
A permanent bridge is intended to enhance public safety, and eliminate the financial cost and environmental impact of installing and removing a temporary bridge each year. That price tag is upwards of $450,000 each year, depending on channel changes of the river, and sometimes involves extensive dredging with its negative environmental impact.
“About 102 years ago the Cloverdale Chamber wrote to the Sonoma County Board asking for a permanent bridge at the Asti crossing,” said Geoff Peters of Showa Farm, located just on the east side of the temporary bridge on Highland Ranch Road.
“Had the county built a permanent bridge 50 years ago it would have easily paid for itself by now,” he continued. “And costs are not decreasing, they are increasing.”
Peters is also the program manager of the Northern Sonoma County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). He said that about 10 years ago the Alexander Valley Citizens League was formed, and “raised about $20,000 in donated funds to pay an engineering firm for an initial study of how and where a bridge could be built at Asti.” Public safety, economics
➝ Infrastructure, 7
CORAZON AND THE CITY COMBINE FOR CELEBRATION OF MEXICAN CULTURE
By Christian Kallen
Residents who headed down to the Healdsburg Plaza on Sunday evening looking for Art After Dark, usually a diverse collection of visual and performance artists showing their skills, were surprised to find something quite different: an hours-long multicultural celebration of music and dance called “Pachanga & Art…After Dark!”
The slight name change and emphasis on the Mexican music pachanga —a Latin American rhythm and dance, and TexMex slang for a lively party— pushed the other artists to the edges of the park. Music
and dance were front and center on Sunday night, with revelers in masks, costumes and regional dress showing their heritage.
The event was a very visual way to recognize the recipients of Corazon’s Diversity in Arts Grant to “promote equitable funding in the arts by providing financial support to artists who have historically been underserved or excluded by other funding mechanisms,” according to the grant’s application. And diversity was indeed the hallmark of the evening.
Among the performers were Guelaguetza dancers from Oaxaca; ranchera and other regional musical styles from Mexican bands such as Efecto Diferente and Maxima Frecuencia; Ballet Folklorico dancers in colorful attire; hip-hop dancers from Top Cheer Elite, and many others.
Grants were awarded to more than Mexican
recipients—members of the Redwood Empire Chinese Association presented their new dragon, wending its way through the crowded plaza to gapes and wonder from the many youngsters among the 2,000-plus who attended.
Arts on the Edges
The arts were represented as well, from a series of paintings showcasing the struggles of undocumented immigrants and people of color by Daniela Orosco, and photographic portraits of Latinos and their professions by Austin Aviles, and traditional weaving with live demonstrations from Yolanda Ramirez of Cooperativa Mujeres Triqui.
Though Dia De Muertos remains Corazón Healdsburg’s primary cultural celebration (to be held this year on Oct. 27), the pachanga was a bold statement of Mexican
heritage in Healdsburg and northern Sonoma County. It also marked Latin American Heritage Month, recognized elsewhere in the region by several Mexican Independence Day events on or around Sept. 16.
Art After Dark was created by the Healdsburg Center for the Arts (HCA) and traditionally sponsored by the City of Healdsburg, said Matt Milde, the city’s recreation supervisor. “When we learned that HCA wouldn’t be hosting it this year to focus on the upcoming Healdsburg Arts Festival, Community Services offered to continue it in 2024,” he said.
“Around the same time,” he added, “we found out that Corazon was planning an event to celebrate their grant recipients, and it made sense to combine efforts into a single event: ‘Pachanga
BRIEF AND TO THE POINT
SHORT FILM FESTIVAL RETURNS TO HEALDSBURG
By Christian Kallen
“I haven’t been this busy since I had a newborn,” said Pamela Demorest, co-founder with her husband Kirk Demorest of the Healdsburg Short Film Festival. She’s lining up lodging for the visiting filmmakers who will show off their works, trying to make lastminute adjustments to the screening schedule for the three-day event and making sure this year’s iteration of the festival is even better than the last.
Formerly residents of
and Art...After Dark.’” Cristal López Pardo, family resource manager at Corazón Healdsburg and the event’s primary organizer, was quick to remind attendees, and readers, that the Diversity in the Arts grants are again open for submissions. “It was an incredible event that highlighted the diverse artistic contributions from our community,” she said of the pachanga.
“We have launched the application for the grant once again, and folks may apply directly from our webpage or pick up an application at our office,” López Pardo said, giving the direct link to www. corazonhealdsburg.org/ diversity-in-the-arts. Meanwhile the Healdsburg Center for the Arts is focusing on its own event this month, the 2024 Healdsburg Arts Festival, to be held in the Plaza on Sept. 28.
Sebastopol, the Demorests moved to Nevada County last year to take care of family matters, but that hasn’t lessened their commitment to presenting the best Healdsburg Short Film Festival they can. They put on their first short film festival in Bodega Bay in 2013, but realized that the filmfriendly town of Healdsburg was not only closer to the audience they sought, but boasted a prime venue in the Raven Film Center and, more recently, the Raven Performing Arts Center. That’s where this year’s festival will be held next week, from Friday to Sunday, Sept. 27-29. Obviously, they know how to pull this off. One of their secret weapons is a judging panel that includes hard-to-find local celebrities Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan, the songwriters behind some ➝ Short Films, 4
Photo by Rick
GOINGS ON AROUND TOWN THIS WEEK & NEXT
Dad Country Weekly appearances of singer-songwriters percolating just under the Hot 100, on Thursdays. Tonight, Sept. 19, it’s Langhorne Slim, from Pennsylvania by way of Nashville. Shows are often free, usually start at 6pm. www.littlesainthealdsburg. com/music.
Reggae Weekend
Some smokin’ Island music settles in for the autumnal equinox at the Elephant in the Room this weekend. Pazifico adds hip-hop and rock to the rolling beat on Friday, Sept. 20, 8pm, $10. The next night Junior Toots & the Fiya Squad Band lay down the legendary vibe, after an opening set by Dan Martin and the Noma Rock Steady Band. That’s a lot of music to roll into a Saturday night jam, starting at 8pm, $20. The Elephant is at 177 Healdsburg Ave., in the happening The Row, as the sign at 44 Mill Street says. Online at elephantintheroompub.com.
Farmers’ Markets
Do your shopping at the Healdsburg Farmers’ Market at North Street and Foss Creek on Saturday, Sept. 21, from 8:30am to noon, for the best fresh local produce in the area. Also this week on Tuesday, Sept. 24, will be the final Tuesday Market of the year. It’s from 9am to 12:30pm at the Healdsburg Plaza. John, Paul, George and Christian Guitarist Christian FoleyBening returns to his favorite local haunt twice
HEALDSBURG HAPPENINGS
next week, on Saturday, Sept. 21, with his Beatles Jazz Connection, and the following Thursday, Sept. 26, with a straight-ahead trio. Both at Furthermore Wines, 5-8pm, 358-B Healdsburg Ave. No cover, good local wine available for purchase.
Doctor Blues
The John Mihalik Blues Septet makes the scene at the Spirit Bar at Hotel Healdsburg Saturday, Sept. 21. The guitarist is joined by Henry White, Mark Lightner, Jeremy Maggs, Dave Webster, Ron Masi and Travis Thayer. Music from 6-9pm, no cover, partial Dry Creek Kitchen menu available, in the lobby at 25 Matheson St.
Chansons de Piaf
The songs of Edith Piaf, as performed by the expressive local French cabaret singer Mimi Pirard (of Dgiin) with the SonoMusette band. Sunday, Sept. 22, tickets $25/$30 at the door, 2pm at Cloverdale Performing Arts Center, 209 N. Cloverdale Blvd.
‘Loving Vincent’
Local premiere of the world’s first full-length hand-painted feature film, about the final years of Vincent Van Gogh and told in his style. Screening Monday, Sept. 23, 6:30pm, to be followed at 8pm by a conversation with filmmaker Hugh Welchman. Upstairs at Little Saint, 25 North St., littlesaint.com.
Candidates’ Forum
The League of Women Voters is holding a City Council Candidates’ Forum on Wednesday, Sept. 25, from 6:30-8pm via Zoom. All five candidates will be present, and questions can be submitted online. URL is us06web.zoom. us/j/83284338915.
E Street News
This could work: A tribute band devoted to Bruce Springsteen and Huey Lewis. Friday, Sept. 27, starts at 8pm. $20 cover at Coyote Sonoma, 44F Mill St.
‘Ready for My Closeup’
The semi-annual Healdsburg International Short Film Festival returns to the Raven Theater for three days of riveting shorts, filmmaker meetand-greets, and other cinematic interactions, Sept. 27-29. Judges include musician Tom Waits, filmmaker Ellie Foumbi, actor Ed Begley Jr., writer Daedalus Howell and other luminaries. Passes and schedule at healdsburgfilm.com.
Season Reveal
Get a sneak peek at what 2025 has in store at the Cloverdale Performing Arts Center, on Friday, Sept. 27. This free event will have some auction items and 2025 Season Subscription packages for sale, and “new perks.” From 6:30-8pm, 209 N. Cloverdale Blvd., www.cloverdaleperformingarts.com.
Habitat
Restoration Time for another Foss Creek Cleanup, in the area of the Healdsburg Community Center. It’s Saturday, Sept. 28, and includes breakfast (from the Rotary Club) 8:309am, clean-up crews from 9-11am, awards and lunch (provided by Healdsburg
LETTERS
‘NO
ON O’
VOTERS VOICE CONCERN ABOUT CAPACITY, INTENTION
In Chris Herrod’s Sept. 5 letter, he leads you to believe that Measure O would only build on eyesore properties. The Housing Accountability Act restricts the abilities of cities to deny an application to build housing that complies with city standards. Development could take place not only at abandoned gas stations, but also at properties with existing operational structures.
The Healdsburg Downtown Housing Capacity Recommendations Memo dated March 29, 2024, clearly presents plans for 852 new units of housing while increasing our density limit by over four times from 16 units per acre to 65. The designated south entry and train station areas could easily absorb over 1,500 units.
Mr. Herrod states that there has been no market-rate, multi-family housing built in decades, but there are 30 marketrate apartments under construction now at 3 Healdsburg Ave. This represents just a fraction of the 300 housing units we have built in the past year.
He blames the GMO for the proliferation of hotels here when it was
his own City Council that approved a fourth Piazza Group hotel on Healdsburg Avenue last September because of a “filing error.”
The “numerous planning efforts” Mr. Herrod cites were all centered on building, but not consequences. There has not been one environmental study.
Because Healdsburg is an agricultural community, we are able to have a legally binding GMO. A vote for Measure O takes this away forever. Building would only be determined by zoning laws, laws that could be changed not by the voters, but at the whim of whoever is in power at that time.
Measure O has no mandates to actually build affordable housing.
The City Council has ignored less drastic alternatives to help make housing more affordable and instead decided that they would prefer to take off all the guardrails which maintain our town’s character.
Yes on O
Dan Pizza Healdsburg
As anyone who lives in Healdsburg knows, and especially anyone who has wanted to buy a home here, the cost of buying a home has skyrocketed since the advent of the Growth Management Ordinance (GMO) that
was passed 24 years ago. It restricted permits for home building.
Among the unintended consequences of the GMO was the stratospheric escalation of the price of real estate, thus prohibiting some very essential people from living here. People who make this little town such a delightful and desirable place to live.
Now the city has advanced Measure O which would help create more housing that is affordable for middleclass residents. This includes restaurant and shop owners, business people, vineyard managers and employees, the city’s employees, the police, the hospital staff, the men and women who teach our kids to read and do arithmetic, teach language and algebra.
We need housing for locals who are on call for emergencies: the firefighters who extinguish the blazes at our homes and on our hillsides, the men and women who get cardiac arrested hearts started again and who attend to traffic accidents and other emergencies. We want these folks to live with us in Healdsburg. The GMO, which has failed to produce middle-class housing, has forced many of these folks to commute into town. Please join with me in voting a big YES
on Measure O. It creates small but meaningful changes to the GMO so that housing may be built for these essential friends, colleagues, and the hard working men and women who are the backbone of our community.
Barbara Medaille
Bianca Lane, Healdsburg
More No on O
Measure O is flawed. Of course Healdsburg needs more “middle income” or “workforce housing,” but this uncontrolled, open-ended lifting of our voter-approved growth management ordinance is an extreme, unwise approach.
Measure O provides no assurances that developers will build so-called “Missing Middle” housing. As a middle-class public school teacher, I want to see we get this right! Why is our City Council choosing unlimited housing growth, requiring no annual growth limits and inviting uncertain housing pricing on the one-mile Healdsburg Avenue corridor?
Transparency and trust are needed. There are so many unknowns: Why hasn’t the City informed residents of its preferences for increasing zoning from 16 units to 45-65 units per acre in this corridor? What are the negative impacts of such housing densities?
Kiwanis) from 11:30am to 12:30pm. For more information, contact mharrigan@healdsburg.gov.
Good Neighbor Saturday
Annual Windsor Day is Sept. 28, beginning with a parade at 10am, followed by a festival on the Town Green with live music (a Taylor Swift tribute), kids activities, food, drinks and more.
Arts Festival
The annual Healdsburg Arts Festival returns on Saturday, Sept. 28, at Plaza Park. Over 40 artists will showcase their original artwork and artisan goods, including painting, multimedia, works on paper, photography, ceramics, jewelry, sculpture, fiber arts, wood and glass, plus food,
wine and entertainment. The event runs all day, from 10am to 7pm, presented by the City of Healdsburg and the Healdsburg Center for the Arts.
Ongoing Through Oct. 13: The Healdsburg Museum continues its newest exhibition, “Trails to Fitch Mountain,” about the human and natural history of our local landmarks, the mountain and the river, until Oct. 13. Free admission, Wednesdays through Sundays, 11am to 4pm, 221 Matheson St. Post events on the Tribune’s online calendar at healdsburgtribune.com/ calendar and send special announcements to editor@ healdsburgtribune.com.
Consider: our water security; traffic and road circulation; more luxury, “multi-family” condos like Mill District; and the impacts on the River, our watershed (south of Memorial Bridge).
With the passage of this measure, how many units “could” be built? What about the needed zoning changes? What can be expected or better yet, required, from these multi-family unit developers?
Healdsburg is a small town, so why not start small? Why not approach this very challenging goal of creating middleclass housing units in a measured, directed manner? The unintended consequences of this uncontrolled housing growth will forever affect the character, charm and livability of our unique small town.
I support a modest, affordable growth plan in limited areas—reasonable annual growth. We need more assurances, more “guardrails,” to guide this noble goal to create more needed, not wanted, housing. Let’s get this right for our vital working people, our middle-class families.
I support building in more strategic geographical locations, such as prioritizing transit-oriented housing near our train depot. That is smart growth!
Brigette Manselle, Pordon Lane, Healdsburg
A Pledge?
I have written to our councilmembers asking them to pledge to eschew or substantially reduce the proposed 65-unit density boost for that stretch of Center Street between North and Piper. Only Councilmember Kelley has responded with this pledge. Councilmembers Hagele, Mitchell and Herrod have refused; Councilmember Edwards has not responded. Councilmember Herrod has told me the voters need to “trust” that the City Council won’t do anything “preposterous.” That’s cold comfort when four councilmembers won’t publicly repudiate a density boost that could do something truly preposterous on Center Street. Measure O would leave the City Council with carte blanche to authorize the construction of downtown housing at whatever density level the City Council chooses. The measure doesn’t deserve our vote if councilmembers won’t firmly commit to restricting density to a specific level that won’t ruin that block of Center Street with overdevelopment. If the councilmembers were to collectively make this commitment, I would vote yes on Measure O. The fact that they refuse to do so is a compelling reason to vote no. Jon Eisenberg Tucker Street, Healdsburg
Photo courtesy of Good Deed Entertainment
VINCENT Robert Gulaczyk and other actors portray the final weeks of Vincent Van Gogh’s life, and are over-painted in a style evocative of the Dutch artist, in the film ‘Loving Vincent.’ The film will screen at Little Saint on Monday, Sept. 23.
MUSIC
Samantha Fish Plays With the Big Boys
KANSAS CITY TALENT
ADDED TO STAR-STUDDED ‘EXPERIENCE HENDRIX’ PACKAGE
By L. Kent Wolgamott
This fall, Samantha Fish is joining the likes of Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Eric Johnson, Zakk Wylde and Taj Mahal on the Experience Hendrix Tour. The show comes to the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
Though flattered to be among that lineup, Fish has no plans to try to play like Hendrix.
“Those are amazing guitar players, and so to be, you know, in that lineup is pretty, pretty crazy. But, you know, I feel like I just kind of do what I do,” Fish said.
Last year, Fish played Eric Clapton’s Crossroads 2023, this summer she joined Slash’s
S.E.R.P.E.N.T. festival tour and now she’s on the Experience Hendrix Tour—all prestigious gigs that showcase some of the world’s best guitarists, nearly all of them male.
“I definitely feel like there has been a severe lack of representation for women in the industry, and especially in the guitar-player world,” Fish said. “But there’s actually more and more all the time. I mean, there’s some incredible women out there, instrumentalists doing it …
“But as far as earning a spot [as one of the world’s best], you know, I have a thing that I do, and I feel like I have a voice on my instrument. The thing about guitar, it’s about having a voice,” she said.
“There’s so many amazing players out there. To stand out and be unique, you have to connect with what makes you, you. I’m trying to do that. That’s my main focus on guitar, and I feel like that’s probably why I’m getting some recognition.”
Teenage Musician
Fish began finding that voice as a teenager, growing up in a musical household in Kansas City.
“I started on the drums,” she said. “That was because I came up in a family of guitar players, and I wanted to do something different. Naturally, there were just guitars kind of laying around the house. My dad played, my sister was playing, all my uncles were guitar players, all my dad’s friends were guitar players. So I picked it up … I just felt really connected to guitar. And it was like, ‘Damn it, this is my instrument.”
Hearing records by Bonnie Raitt and Stevie Ray Vaughan, along with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and especially the Rolling Stones’ Sticky Fingers, the budding guitarist was drawn to the blues that has become her
stock-in-trade.
“I liked rock and roll and I was always kind of inquisitive about, like, who does Keith Rich ards like to listen to?” she said. “That was blues. So I started kind of going backwards and picking up different records; I just started collecting different CDs of different eclectic blues musicians.”
Fish has played venues around the Midwest for more than a decade and a half, since the Saman tha Fish Band released its debut record ( Live Bait 2009), and started branch ing out to other markets while she continued build ing up her chops.
“My first band that I put together, I was like 20, 21,” Fish said. “I had X’s on my hands, which means you can’t drink.”
As her profile grew, Fish, now 35, earned blues guitarist honors from the Blues Music Awards and Living Blues awards, released a string of solo albums and most recently joined Texas singer/guitarist Jesse Dayton on last year’s Grammy-nominated Death Wish Blues collaborative album. The 16-month international tour with Dayton wrapped up just in time for her to go out with Slash on his S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival tour.
recordings and a few songs from Death Wish Blues that can be performed without Dayton.
Singing the Blues
Since she doesn’t have a new album, when Fish plays her own shows around tours like Experience Hendrix, her sets are made up of some of her favorites from her 10 solo
Regardless of whether she’s doing Hendrix or her own material, one thing those who have previously seen Fish are sure to notice is her vocals, which have, over the last few years, grown stronger and more expressive.
“I’ll be honest with you, I’ve worked my ass off on my voice,” she said. “I’ve always told people, you can go watch a guitar
player and pick up a couple things just by watching because you can see their hands moving, and you can kind of see things happening in front of your face.
She continued, “But singing, you can’t really understand the mechanics of that by watching somebody do it. You have to go and learn how to control your breath and how to hold yourself. I’m always trying to figure out different ways to do it and stretch my capabilities. I’ve grown a lot as a singer.”
Nor is she resting on her instrumentalist laurels—she
works on her six-string skills each time she goes on stage, just like the other artists on the Experience Hendrix Tour.
“Guitar is a never-ending journey,” Fish said. “You talk to any of these guys out here, these stellar, badass players, and everybody is still looking for it. We’re all still searching for it. That’s kind of what makes it fun.”
‘Experience Hendrix’ comes to the Luther Burbank Center on Wednesday, Sept. 25. Ticket prices start at $79 plus fees, at lutherburbankcenter.org/ event/experience-hendrix24.
FISHIN’ BLUES Kansas City guitarist Samantha Fish has toured internationally with Jesse Dayton, Slash and now the Experience Hendrix program.
Photo by Daniel Sands
Bird Side of a Barn
HOW BIG IS A BARN DOOR TO A BIG BIRD?
By Pierre Ratte
“Look! It’s a two-eagle barn.” That’s what Dick said to Jim after passing an old barn and estimating the width of its central opening in Golden Eagle wingspans. Then Jim, an everquiet, lanky, silver-haired cattleman with a steel grip handshake, offered up: “Yeah, looks like it. Don’t think it’s a two-anda-half.” And so it would
go, up and down the San Joaquin Valley, measuring old barns’ central openings, and only old wooden barns, by Golden Eagle wingspans. Asked the widest he’d seen, Dick replied: “A five-eagle, I reckon. Right, Jim?” Jim: “Never seen a six.” And then there
would be silence for however long it took to get to the next farm inspection. This old barn reminded me of pleasant times with Dick and Jim. Wish they were around to “discuss” the diameter of this barndoor opening on the east side of Westside Road,
between a species name and a description. Scientific names have a capitalized first and noncapitalized second name. The scientific names for Golden and Bald Eagles are: Aquila chrysaetos and Haliaeetus leucocephalus, respectively. Both were named by Linnaeus in the mid-1700s.
of the more notable entries in Waits’ eclectic catalog. This is their third year wearing the judge’s toque (or whatever judges wear).
Other judges include veteran character actor Ed Begley Jr.; award-winning Cameroonian-American filmmaker Ellie Foumbi; film editor, producer, writer and story consultant Kristina Motwani; and multi-hyphenate Daedalus Howell, not only the editor of the Bohemian and the Pacific Sun but a filmmaker in his own right (Pill Head, Werewolf Serenade).
“Judging a short film is like enjoying an appetizer prior to the feast of a filmmaker’s career,” said Howell (who is also an editor of this publication). “You get a good sense of what they could be cooking up in the future in terms of their themes and interests. And judging several short films is like binging on a charcuterie board. Pair with wine.”
Films to Watch
One might expect films that are by design short
(some are under a minute, some almost 20) to be simple and easy to grasp, but a surprisingly complex palette of emotions and ideas can be compressed into their brief runtime, especially by filmmakers who pay close attention to the medium.
Several known actors are to be found in the brief span between opening title and credits: Brat Pack heartthrob Molly Ringwald shows up in Catherine & Michael as one half of an unhappily married couple; character actor Jack McGee delivers a haunting performance about a man in his 70s suffering from dementia in Involuntary
Some of the films even seem directed at a Healdsburg audience, such as Dirt to Glass , about the Sonoma Valley winemaking Bundschu family, and The Big Wait, about a tourist destination that doesn’t quite take off. With Waiter for Life , one can believe many locals will be grimly fascinated by this candid look at long-time waiters at Scoma’s Restaurant in Fisherman’s Wharf. Then there’s an example of the same point being made in different ways. In the touching-yet-hilarious
Chauncey we meet a grown woman who is afraid to introduce her new boyfriend to her old stuffed animal. Meanwhile, in Puppy Love a young woman (a different young woman) forms a deep connection with a dog, then decides to date the dog’s owner, no matter how strange he is.
Special Events
As is de rigueur at film festivals, having actual filmmakers in attendance is to be expected—no fewer than a dozen will show up in Healdsburg to tout or explain their works through screenings and Q&A sessions with attendees.
Special events are scattered throughout, including the opening night “Champagne Cinema Soiree” at 6:30pm on Friday night, to be held at the Healdsburg Center for the Arts gallery on Center Street, which will include not only flutes of the sparkly but is followed by a screening of some of the festival’s most intriguing entries.
A quick look at the film schedule at healdsburgfilm.com/2024official_ selection/ shows about 10 films per screening block, from an atlas of countries on a glossary of topics.
The next day, after a filmmakers breakfast on
Saturday morning (by invitation), the screenings continue with a “Youth Perspectives & Beyond” program at 1pm, providing a window into the world of modern youth. This set is designed to be equally entertaining for adults as well.
Two other mixed-genre program blocks follow, at 4 and 7pm, and Saturday wraps up with a wine mixer for all pass holders, filmmakers and sponsors, at 9pm. This open-bar event should provide networking opportunities, and perhaps social intercourse if not romantic rendezvous for fans of shortform cinema.
north of Felta. Seems like a little ol’ one-eagle, if that. Nonetheless, it’s beautiful.
Fun Facts: Golden Eagle wingspans are 6-8 feet. Western range is from Mexico to Alaska. A solitary bird, it makes appearances in Sonoma County but tends to nest at higher elevations in steep terrain. Bald Eagles nest here and can be seen reasonably often.
Birds’ common names generally start with capital letters, to distinguish
Sunday provides a documentary film program at 1pm, followed by a mixedgenre program of film in French from France, Quebec and French territories.
The finale comes Sunday at 7pm with the awards presentation from the Raven stage itself, and a selection of “handpicked gems that showcase unique perspectives from all walks of life.”
The 44 films to be shown, from 18 countries, were selected from 472 entries made on the filmmakers’ portal www.filmfreeway.com, winnowed down by arduous screenings. “Selecting films is
Maximum airspeed of a Golden Eagle is reportedly 200 mph; a Bald Eagle about 100 mph; a Peregrine Falcon about 240 mph. Richard Glen “Dick” Jones and J. T. “Jim” Elings had formidable careers in agricultural science and management. Dick received a Master of Animal Science degree from UC Davis, helped advise sheep herders in the Middle East through USAID, and was General Manager of the California Livestock Marketing Association. Jim was a renowned cattleman and advisor, publishing approximately 100 articles on livestock breeding and genetics. Dick and Jim teamed up to form Agricultural Industries, Inc. and developed clients like Stanford University, Unocal and Anheuser-Busch. Roadtripping agricultural lands with them was a pleasure.
trickier than it looks. We’re hunting for the whole package: cool story, slick production and nailing the execution,” said Pamela Demorest.
“We need that emotional grab, plus it’s gotta look good,” she continued. “The real duds? Easy to spot. We don’t even finish those.”
The Healdsburg Short Film Festival is presented in collaboration with the Healdsburg Center for the Arts (HCA), and coincides with HCA’s Healdsburg Arts Festival (Sept. 28). Festival tickets and information at healdsburgfilm.com.
BARN DOOR The big door on this Westside Road barn might not be big enough for a Golden Eagle to fly through, but it’s plenty big enough for a Barn Owl.
Photo by Pierre Ratte
‘CHANGE SHAPES’ A 3-minute music video starring Lauren Mayberry (lead singer of Chvrches) and directed by Gabriella Kashi.
Photo courtesy of Healdsburg Short Film Festival
‘THE ART OF GROWING UP’ A 10-minute American documentary in which teens discuss their hopes, dreams, fears and their lives at present. This is the first film in the 2024 official selection lineup.
Photo courtesy of Healdsburg Short Film Festival
Strong and Getting Stronger
TENNIS GIRLS’ NEW ROSTER IN CONTENTION
By Caleb Knudsen
There are several return players on the girls tennis team this year, and it’s making for an even stronger team performance in 2024.
Leading the pack is junior Meher Dhiman, who “graduated” from the No. 2 slot to be the team’s No. 1 player this year, and also serves as team captain. She has had several successful matches so far this year in the team’s eight outings, which included a collective 7-0 sweep of Piner on Sept. 10. (High school matches usually include four singles matches and three doubles matches.)
Not only did Meher lead the team to the Piner
sweep, but two days later the team traveled to Maria Carrillo in Rincon Valley, a team that coach Mary Beth Chandler described as “a wall of talent.” Although the Lady Pumas won the meet 5-2, the bright spots came in the singles rounds. Dhiman beat their No. 1 player in two sets, and Healdsburg’s No. 4 player, Claire Berry, also swept her opponent. “This was an amazing feat!” enthused Chandler. “This was not the everyday!”
Team captain Dhiman said, “It’s exciting to watch the girls come together as a team. I love the team’s energy on game day; there’s nothing like Hounds pride!”
Other singles players on the Greyhound girls team include Amelia Wickersham and Madeleine Munselle, although
Chandler said that changes are allowed and the lineup may change.
The doubles teams are Isabel Lickey and Ruby Leffew at No. 1, and Sana Katsuki and Margaret Kosta at No. 2. The third doubles team rotates to give more students a chance to compete, and includes pairings of Julia Vega Gallardo and Kathleen Arriaga, Ashley Jenkins and Ivy Stark, Evelyn Ponitkoff and Ava Wolske, and Hayley Davis and Sophia Miranda Martinez.
To this point in the young season, the Greyhounds are 3-2, with wins against Santa Rosa and Montgomery as well as Piner. Upcoming meets at home include Ukiah on Sept. 17 (results too late for press time) and Analy on Sept. 24.
Hounds Combine Offense, Defense to Ground Eagles
LAST YEAR’S TIE WITH DECISIVE 40-26 WIN
By John Linker
The Healdsburg Greyhounds varsity football team won their third straight game on Saturday afternoon in Contra Costa County, walloping the Christian Berean Eagles by a score of 40-26.
In the rare midday weekend game on the Walnut Creek campus, the Hounds entered the game with momentum and a purpose. Last year the two teams tied, so both went into this year’s game to settle the score.
“The kids were 100% motivated to change the narrative of last year’s tie,” said head coach Criss
Rosales. “I wasn’t on staff last year, but it meant a lot to the kids.”
Although it took the Eagles just two minutes to score a touchdown, on a one-yard rush from Damon Neu, the rest of the first quarter was all Healdsburg.
The Hounds’ first score came when the powerful arm of Nova Perrill II threw a 70-yard touchdown pass to Hayden Mariani to even the score at 6-6. A few minutes later Perrill himself took off for a 17-yard run to set up the team’s second touchdown on a burst from Frank Rea. After the first of many of Christian Camacho Ruiz’s point-after kicks, the Hounds went into the second quarter ahead 13-6. They continued to control the ball into the
second quarter and scored in the first four minutes on Andrew Barr’s oneyard run, making the score 20-6. Following a long pass by Eagles’ quarterback Joshua Werner (he went 21 of 29 attempts for 352 yards on the day), Berean Christian scored on a 10-yard pass to make it 20-13.
Healdsburg answered back with three minutes left in the half as Frank Rea scored on a 16-yard rushing play, one of his two TDs. With the Eagles threatening again late in the quarter, Dillan Jocius’ interception preserved the Hounds’ solid lead going into halftime, 27-13.
Second Half
Though Eagles quarterback Werner showed off his arm early in the third quarter, connecting with receiver Dane Lowden for a 43-yard touchdown pass, Perrill was ready to answer the call. He led the Hounds upfield again with a long pass to Hayden Mariani, which set up a three-yard rushing touchdown by Dillan Jocius, a valuable contributor to Saturday’s game.
Werner threw another long ball to Christian Smith as the third quarter ended for a 50-yard touchdown, but once again Berean Christian could not convert and the quarter ended 34-26.
That left it up to the solid Healdsburg defense, which shut the door on Werner’s heroic heaves. Meanwhile Perrill continued his accurate throwing game (14 of 20 throws for 335 yards), and Jocius ran for his second score of the day, bringing the score to 40-26.
Though the Greyhounds had a two-score lead, the Eagles were not giving up in front of their hometown crowd. Werner passed and ran his team into the Healdsburg “red
zone” (inside the 20-yard line) with seven minutes left, but that’s when Areum Romero intercepted a pass and gave the Greyhounds back the ball. They slowed their roll, and only gave the Eagles less than a minute to score once they turned it back on a punt.
Coach Rosales praised the offense, saying they “delivered to seal the game. [I’m] very proud of how we can spread the ball around offensively.” Perrill also led the team with 84 rushing yards, leading Rosales to say, “Nova is a phenomenal quarterback and decision maker. It is a wonderful thing to know as a play caller you and your QB are on the same wavelength.”
Adding to the Hounds’ offensive charge was Mariani, with 177 pass receiving yards on four catches, and Max Morris with 110 receiving yards on six. Andrew Barr and Frank Rea combined for a total of three rushing touchdowns. Healdsburg’s defense was solid, holding the Eagles’ high-flying passing offense when it counted most. Rosales said of his staunch defensive players, “They weren’t satisfied trading blows back and forth. We made crucial plays on defense.” Hounds’ defense had a combined total of 49 tackles, 30 of those being solo, holding the Eagles’ total rushing game to just 38 yards.
It’s been a hard-fought and productive season so far for the Hounds Varsity football team. In looking forward to this week’s game Rosales said, “There is no secret that there has been a rivalry with Montgomery since the ’80s. It’s going to be a classic Healdsburg dog fight all four quarters.”
Healdsburg meets the Montgomery Vikings at Rec Park on Sept. 20, 7pm kickoff.
Photo by Michael Lucid
FOLLOW THE BALL Healdsburg High School’s No. 1 singles player, Meher Dhiman, in action at the school’s tennis courts during a match against Cardinal Newman. Dhiman, the No. 2 player last year, is also the team captain.
Photos by Joe Rowland
THE BIG D Healdsburg defenders close off the running route for a Berean Christian kick-off return during the Sept. 14 game in Walnut Creek. From left, Dillan Jocius (out of focus), Tasman Ouchida (23), Alex Francis (21), Eddie Diaz (24) and Andrew Barr (7). Healdsburg won, 40-26.
SIX POINTS Running back Andrew Barr (7) plows into the end zone during the first half of the Healdsburg-Berean Christian game on Sept. 14. The Greyhounds prevailed, correcting the record on last year’s tie between the two teams.
FLASHBACKS
YESTERDAY’S NEWS IS THE SAME BUT DIFFERENT
By The Flashbackers
100 years ago: September 11, 1924
CAR HITS WALL
BETWEEN TWO PLATE GLASS WINDOWS
The Rosenberg Shoe Store and the Sunshine Beauty Shop, “had a narrow escape from death or serious injury,” in the traditional language of the news hound, when a driver jockeyed his big touring car over the sidewalk in front of the Powell Street stores Monday night. The car struck the concrete pier between the show windows of the business houses, damaging the cement a little, but not hitting the glass. The driver backed up and continued on his way toward West Street.
75 years ago: September 15, 1949
LABOR SAVING
MACHINE SAID TO PICK PRUNE TREE IN FIVE MINUTES
Although many prune picking devices have been invented, some put on the market, others stored away in someone’s garage, the machine demonstrated this week by inventor William Leighton, Healdsburg, promises to effect radical changes in the prune picking process.
Leighton picked prunes during the war and it was at that time, he said, that the idea for the machine occurred to him. It consists of two units, each the shape of a half cone covered with canvas and mounted on ball bearing wheels. The two units join under the tree forming a complete cone which funnels down into four standard prune boxes. Each unit is equipped with folding “wings” which permit the two units of the
machine to be wheeled through prune orchards. Prunes shaken from the tree go directly into conventional wooden boxes by gravity eliminating handling by hand. The machine is constructed to hold four boxes which if not filled under one tree, remain in the machine for the next tree. When the boxes are filled, they are taken from the machine and stacked to await collection by truck. A three-man crew is most efficient, the inventor explains. One man handles the machine, while two others pick up windfalls and remove boxes. In this way, Leighton said, it is possible to pick one tree every five minutes regardless of the amount of fruit on a tree. With an average or better crop, the machine will far surpass hand picking, Leighton claimed.
FRANK “SONNY” HAYES
January 20, 1935 – August 25, 2024
Fank “Sonny” Hayes born on January 20, 1935 passed away peacefully at the age of 89 on August 25, 2024. He is survived by his 3 children Richard Hayes (Deann), Michelle Black (Miles) and Rachael Wright; 4 grandchildren Stephanie Gwilliam, Matt Hayes, Jennifer Gonzales and Daniel Black as well as 5 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his wife Karen Medjo, sisters Laura Foster and Roberta Rutherford. Frank married Karen Medjo on November 28, 1959, and raised their children in Healdsburg.
Frank joined the Navy in January of 1956 and served in the Seabees for the majority of his military career. When Frank came back to Healdsburg, he continued his career as a carpenter. While raising his kids Rick & Michelle he was very involved in coaching football and baseball. During his retirement, Frank and Karen enjoyed trips to Oregon, New York, Hawaii, Minnesota as well as many road trips in the motorhome. Frank was an avid bass fisherman, and his second home was Lake Sonoma.
Please join us for a celebration of Frank’s life on October 20, 2024 from 1-4pm at the Healdsburg Golf Course Clubhouse, 927 S Fitch Mountain Road, Healdsburg.
50 years ago: September 26, 1974
THEY’RE CLEANING OUT CLOSETS FOR ST. PAUL’S ANTIQUE SHOW
Antique dealers find their goods in some pretty strange places - not just the traditional attic,
closet or basement but in old sheds and barns of every description. And the antiques are frequently not much to look at when the dealer first gets them. But patience and love, and knowing what to do, can work wonders. For those who love old furniture, crystal, china, jewelry and other antique
items, but don’t know which shed to look in to find them, or just what to do to restore them, the fourth annual St. Paul’s Antique Show and Sale will be of interest. The sale will be held here Nov 1 and 2 in St Paul’s Hall, 209 Matheson St. This antique show has become one of the Redwood Empire’s
most popular events for antique lovers, attracting visitors from all over Northern California.
The Flashbackers are docents for the Healdsburg Museum. The Healdsburg Museum is open from 11am to 4pm, Wednesday through Sunday, at 221 Matheson St.
Son
SCENE OF THE CRASH Rosenberg’s shoe store at the northeast corner of West and Powell (Plaza) streets, 1915.
SHAKE IT UP Farmworker Alvin Jackson operating a mechanical prune harvester on the Don Jackson and
ranch, date unknown.
Photos Courtesy of Healdsburg Museum and Historical Society
ANTIQUES SHOW St. Paul’s annual Antique Show and Sale has long been in the same building that currently stands at 209 Matheson St., as seen here in 1967.
CRIMES AND CONCERNS REPORTED TO HEALDSBURG POLICE, SEPT. 2-8
Residents and others are encouraged to report to Police Dispatch at (707) 431-3377, operational 24/7
Monday, Sept. 2
11:16pm A vehicle exceeding the speed limit was pulled over on Hwy 101 at Lytton Springs Road. A 24-Year-Old (YO) male was arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated, DUI over .08% blood alcohol and driving without a valid license. He was booked and taken to county jail.
Tuesday, Sept. 3
• 9:23am A 34-Year-Old (YO) man on Falcon Way was cited to appear on a warrant regarding possession of drug paraphernalia.
4:20pm The Reporting Party (RP) called on behalf of her husband about a fraud at Wells Fargo Bank on Vine Street which occurred between March and May of 2024. At least
$100,000 was taken through a telegram scam.
• 4:30pm The RP indicated that a drunk person stumbled out of CVS and left in a vehicle. An officer checked the area, but the vehicle was gone on arrival and unable to be located.
6:21pm The RP on Canyon Run indicated a person violated a court order by sending text messages. An officer responded and took a report.
• 10:05pm The RP indicated that a reckless driver on South Fitch Mountain Road at Greens Drive did donuts, hit three speed bumps hard and sped off westbound on South Fitch Mountain Road. Officers responded and took a report.
11:53pm An officer contacted a suspicious vehicle at Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach on Healdsburg Avenue. A
53-YO woman was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) and violating probation. A 54-YO woman was arrested for public intoxication. Both women were taken to county jail.
Wednesday, Sept. 4
10:11am A man was reported at Russian River Covered RV Storage on Healdsburg Avenue attempting to steal gardening tools. Officers responded and located the man who did not have stolen items. The man was advised not to return to the business.
11:39am The RP went to the lobby of the Healdsburg Police Department to speak with an officer about a fraud. A report was taken.
• 11:55am Graffiti was reported at Evangel Assembly of God Church on Fitch Street.
• 2:53pm The RP stated that there was a miscommunication at Healdsburg Senior Center on Matheson Street and a man repeatedly made harassing calls to the business. The RP indicated he sounded “threatening.” The RP wanted the information logged, but did not want to press charges.
4:49pm The RP on Center Street at Matheson Street saw a woman in a vehicle and a man on a scooter in an argument. The man went to the woman’s driver-side window, spat on her and drove away running multiple stop signs. An officer checked the area, but the vehicle was gone on arrival and unable to be located.
8:27pm A vehicle was stopped for crossing double yellow lines on North Street at Center Street. A 78-YO man was arrested and released to a responsible adult for DUI.
Thursday, Sept. 5
8:57am The RP at West Plaza Park on North Street said a person threw a rock at his truck and broke his window. Before he parked, he noticed four transient people sitting on a bench by his truck. Upon return, he noticed the damage and the people were gone.
POLICE LOG
The RP requested the incident to be logged.
• 3:30pm The RP went to the lobby of the Healdsburg Police Department to report two people for stealing his phone. He did not want to press charges but wanted the information logged.
5:07pm The RP at Bar Bravas on Center Street indicated his rear bumper was damaged in a hitand-run accident. The RP asked local businesses for camera footage and was given an incident number.
8:21pm The RP reported two reckless drivers near the Park & Ride on Healdsburg Avenue. Both vehicles were seen weaving in and out of traffic and driving at an excessive speed. Officers were told to be on the lookout for the vehicles.
8:32pm An officer contacted two people in their vehicle at Carl’s Jr. on Vine Street, where a vehicle search was conducted due to an open container. A 22-YO woman was arrested for conspiracy to commit a felony and possession of marijuana to sell, give or transport. A 30-YO man was arrested for conspiracy to commit a felony, driving under the influence of both drugs and alcohol, and possession of marijuana to sell, give or transport. Both people were taken to county jail.
Friday, Sept. 6
9:35am Graffiti was reported at Badger Park on Heron Drive.
10:21am The RP at Big John’s Market on Healdsburg Avenue reported that a woman stole $37 worth of merchandise. The RP wanted to press charges and file trespass paperwork against the woman.
10:41am A vehicle was stopped on Limerick Lane for lacking a visible and legible license plate. A 42YO man was arrested and transported to county jail for giving false identification to officers, violating probation and driving with a license suspended for DUI.
11:04am The RP, a security guard at Vineyard Plaza on Vine Street, stated a man
LIBRARIES ARE FOR EVERYONE
was camping on the side of Dollar Tree. The man agreed to move along, but did not leave. An officer and a therapist contacted the man, who agreed to move along.
11:20am The RP at Russian River Covered RV Storage on Healdsburg Avenue stated that a U-Haul due back on Aug. 30 was not returned. The RP unsuccessfully tried to contact the renter several times. An officer responded and took a report. The following day, on Sept. 7, the vehicle was parked in front of the business.
• 1:57pm The RP at Big John’s Market on Healdsburg Avenue indicated that a man stole approximately $19 worth of merchandise. The RP wanted to press charges. An officer responded and took a report.
2:18pm An officer cited and released a 42-YO man at Fairview Inn & Suites on Healdsburg Avenue on an outstanding Sonoma County warrant regarding failing to appear in court and possession of drug paraphernalia.
3:27pm The RP on Grove Street said four or five juveniles beat the RP’s brother-in-law and stole his phone and wallet. Officers arrived on the scene and spoke with the RP and a witness. The victim denied medical care. A report was taken and an investigation was underway.
4:17pm The RP on Grove Street received two fraudulent emails demanding money.
An officer logged the information and provided advice.
Saturday, Sept. 7
1:18pm A vehicle was parked in the middle of First Street at Piper Street. The vehicle subsequently crashed into a curb. Officers responded and arrested a 40-YO woman for possession for sale of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana for sale. In addition, a 35-YO man was arrested for possession for sale of
a controlled substance, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance, DUI of drugs and possession of marijuana for sale. Both were transported to county jail.
1:18pm Two people were arrested at First Street and Piper in an incident reported in the Sept. 12 Tribune. Multiple druginvolved charges resulted.
• 2:52pm The RP at Syar Industries on Healdsburg Avenue indicated that a man went to the RP’s campsite and demanded property. When the RP did not give him a wheelbarrow, the man threw rocks at him. The RP was transferred to the Sheriff’s Office.
• 5:07pm The RP on Center Street at North Street indicated a vehicle was driving fast and erratic, almost hitting her when she crossed the street. The RP wanted the information logged.
10:51pm The RP at The Lodge at Healdsburg on Grove Street said a guest at the hotel harassed the front desk employees with multiple calls. The guest was intoxicated and caused other guests to complain. The guest yelled at employees when he was asked to quiet down. Officers contacted
