Healdsburg Tribune July 27 2023

By Charles Ayitey Bay City News

A Healdsburg winery will pay $328,000 in lost wages to 21 agricultural workers to settle a complaint filed with the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB) regarding allegations they didn’t rehire the workers because the workers complained about poor working conditions including dirty restrooms and mistreatment by a foreman.

In a statement on Monday, the state ALRB said several of the workers in 2021 sought assistance and support from the Santa Rosa-based nonprofit North Bay Jobs with Justice to communicate their concerns to Mauritson Farms, Inc.

During the subsequent season in 2022, the winery continued using crews from the H-2A guestworker program but did not rehire any of the H-2A employees who worked during the prior season, including those who complained about poor conditions.

The North Bay Jobs nonprofit then filed a claim with the ALRB alleging that the winery’s failure to rehire these workers was in retaliation for their complaints.

Upon investigation, ALRB found that the winery had indeed violated California labor law.

The ALRB’s director, Kevin Esterling, said the settlement agreement “sends a clear message to employers that they cannot retaliate against workers who exercise their rights,” and indicated that the winery also decided to post a notice informing

Gala Kicks Off New Arts Season at the 222

AERIAL BALLET ELEVATES ARTS NONPROFIT EVENT WITH SPECTACLE

By Christian Kallen

The art gallery-turnedperformance space at 222 Healdsburg Ave. has announced its coming season of music, film, lecture and performance arts, to be kicked off with the highflying dance acrobatics of Bandaloop, at the Aug. 5 Gala for the Arts.

Bandaloop, a “vertical dance company,” combines dance, climbing and aerial techniques to execute performances on the sides of buildings, cliffs and other vertical surfaces. Trained in various dance disciplines including ballet,

modern dance and acrobatics, the troupe will perform on the west wall and open space of the gallery.

Bandaloop will highlight the first Gala for the Arts, a celebration to honor the contributions of all of Healdsburg’s nonprofit arts organizations. These include AVFilm, Healdsburg Center for the Arts, the Healdsburg Chorus, Healdsburg Community Band, Healdsburg Jazz, Heartizens, the Raven Performing Arts Theater and, of course, The 222 itself.

The 222 Executive Director Paul Mahder called the gala “an evening of empowerment for the arts,” with fundraising opportunities for the city’s eight arts nonprofits.

celebration to honor the contributions of all of Healdsburg’s non-profit arts organizations.

“Each of the organizations has one item for the live auction. A bunch of them are doing silent auctions,” he said. “There will also be fund-a-need bidding that all goes to the organizations.”

Among the auction items: a private outdoor movie screening for 50 (AVFilm), a framed painting by artist Gary Nesbit

(Healdsburg Center for the Arts), two nights lodging and golf at the Little River Inn (Healdsburg Community Band), a VIP festival bundle for the 2024 Healdsburg Jazz Festival, and others.

“It’s never happened before, it’s always been everybody in their silos doing their own thing,” Mahder said. “Some of the

organizations are small and can’t manage a big gala to raise money.”

The gala begins at 7pm on Saturday, Aug. 5, with bubbly and hors d’oeuvres. Tickets are $50, available at the222.org/ gala-for-the-arts.

That event is followed by the first of many

NEW MUSIC FOR THE POST-BOOMER GENERATIONS AT VEGAN LITTLE SAINT

By Christian Kallen

The upstairs floor at 25 North St., with its high ceiling, wide-open floor space and full kitchen, never seemed to get the usage for which it was intended. But in the past year Little Saint has turned the room into a frequent and inviting venue for live music as well.

The room itself is now known as Second Story, the “elevated” vegan dining restaurant of the

plant-friendly enterprise, but its use as a music hall seemed to break out a year ago. In August 2022, singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers made an unpromoted appearance at the former “Grange” of the former SHED days. Wordof-mouth spread and the show was standingroom-only, based solely on the buzz.

Since then a steady stream of talented singersongwriters has appeared, often with little notice, sometimes to small audiences and sometimes to a packed house.

Most of the music at Second Story is booked by Jonny Fritz, a

singer-songwriter himself who promotes what he calls Dad Country.

“Around 2012, I made a record called ‘Down on the Bikini Line,’ and everybody said, ‘Oh, this is the next Outlaw Country! This guy’s the New Outlaw!’” Fritz said, on the phone from Havre, Mont. “I was like, ‘Oh, man, I’m really not an outlaw. I’m more like somebody’s weird dad.’”

Thus was born his own genre, and brand. Fritz had previously released two earlier CDs under the stage name Jonny Corndog. Dad Country is an upgrade.

➝ Farmworkers, 8

VERTICAL DANCE The Bay Area arts organization, Bandaloop, will perform at The 222 Gala for the Arts on Aug. 5, 2023.

A CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS IN HEALDSBURG

Shakespeare in the Park

This year’s Theater in the Park presentation is The Comedy of Errors, a “madcap romp”—as the Bard didn’t say—with not one, but two, sets of twins. The Raven Players set the show in modernday New Orleans during Mardi Gras. Performances in West Plaza Park at 7:30pm on Thursdays through Saturdays, July 27-29, Aug. 3-5, Aug. 1012. Free.

Art After Dark

The community-wide street fair and art celebration returns on Friday, July 28, from 5-9pm.

HEALDSBURG HAPPENINGS

Various street art vendors, live performances and activity booths enliven Center Street from the Plaza to North. It’s free. healdsburgcenter forthearts.org.

Summer Music

The Remedies, a longlived Sonoma County rock, blues and R&B band, will return to Coyote Sonoma on Friday, July 28, starting at 6pm. Table reservations $20, standing room free. 44f Mill Street.

STEAM Festival

Healdsburg Community Services partners with Corazon Healdsburg to support the children in the community, to prepare for the new school year through hands-on activities and demonstrations for youth in grades K-12. Saturday, July 29,

7am to 3pm at Healdsburg Community Center, 1557 Healdsburg Ave. Free.

Farmers’ Market

Healdsburg Certified Farmers’ Market will be held Saturday, July 29, from 8:30am to noon at the West Plaza lot. Live music and lots to shop for from local producers.

Prune Packers

Healdsburg’s own California Collegiate League team, the Prune Packers, end their 2023 regular season on Sunday, July 30, with a noon game at Rec Park. Their opponent will be the equally historic San Francisco Seals. CCL playoffs begin the following week.

Dad Country Former Stampede singer Liz Cooper hits the road

with a three-piece combo on Saturday, July 30, starting at 7pm. It’s upstairs at Little Saint in the Second Story hall, starting at 7pm. 25 North St., Healdsburg.

Chris Isaak

The singer of “Wicked Game,” “Blue Hotel” and “Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing” returns to Rodney Strong Winery on Sunday, July 30, starting at 5pm. David Luning opens, doors open at 4pm. 11455 Old Redwood Hwy, Healdsburg.

Sunday in the Plaza Groove with the tunes of the acoustic swing of Hot Club Pacific from the Gazebo stage while experiencing the relaxed picnic atmosphere of the Healdsburg Plaza, from 1-3pm on Sunday, July 30.

MANRIQUEZ NEW PRINCIPAL AT HEALDSBURG HIGH

WRESTLER, BICULTURAL ADVOCATE REPLACES

AMY JONES

Staff Report

Healdsburg Unified School District announced the selection of Francisco Manriquez as the new principal for Healdsburg High School. Manriquez, who for the past two years has served as assistant principal at Healdsburg High, will move into the principal’s chair for the coming school year.

He will replace Amy Jones-Kerr, who has

been hired as superintendent in the Rincon Valley School District.

During his two years with the school, he has worked closely with students learning English as a Second Language, overseen academic testing and worked with Athletic Director Joshua Cavanaugh in the Athletics program.

Manriquez immigrated to the United States from Mexico with his family as a young child and grew up in Ukiah. A graduate of Ukiah High School, he went on to study and compete collegiately as a Division I wrestler at

the University of California, Davis, where he completed a bachelor’s in Spanish with a minor in Chicano/a Studies.

He began his educational career in 2011 at Cardinal Newman High School as a physical education teacher and wrestling coach before eventually becoming dean of students. He also taught Spanish at Analy High School and served as the vice principal and leadership teacher at Sonoma Valley High School.

“Mr. Manriquez’s passion, dedication and commitment to students have been evident

Tuesday at the Plaza

Certified Farmers’ Market from 9am to 12:30pm, Tuesday, Aug. 1, at Healdsburg Plaza. Later, the park is taken over by the city’s Tuesday in the Plaza music program, this week with modern blues from Eddie 9V, 6-8pm.

Conscious Reggae

Junior Toots brings his band back to Elephant in the Room on Saturday, Aug. 5, at 8pm. $25 tickets at Eventbrite. The Elephant is at 77 Healdsburg Ave.

City Council

The Healdsburg City Council will meet for the first time since June on Monday, Aug. 7, at 6pm. City Hall Council Chambers are located at 401 Grove St.

Planning Commission

The city’s Planning Commission will also hold its first meeting in more than a month on Tuesday, Aug. 8, at 6pm. Council Chambers are located at 401 Grove St.

Parks and Rec

The Parks and Recreation Commission will resume its regular meetings on Wednesday, Aug. 9, at 6pm. Council Chambers are located at 401 Grove St.

Healdsburg Museum

The new exhibit at the Healdsburg Museum, “We Are Not Strangers Here: African-American Histories in California and Healdsburg,” continues Wednesdays through Sundays, from 11am to 4pm. The museum is located at 221 Matheson St.

throughout his career and his time in Healdsburg,” read a statement from the office of HUSD Superintendent Chris Vanden Heuvel. “He is eager to sustain the leadership momentum that has been built, and we are very excited to have him continue as the new Principal for Healdsburg High School.”

The school year for Healdsburg Unified School District students begins on Thursday, Aug. 17, which will be a minimum day. Prior to that time, several events are scheduled for incoming students. More information at husd.com.

Photo by KC Mosso

REGGAE NIGHT Junior Toots will return to Healdsburg’s The Elephant in the Room pub on Aug. 5. The second-generation reggae star last played there in September, 2022.

Dad Country

Primarily a songwriter and performer himself, several years ago he struck up a friendship with Laurie and Jeff Ubben at the Newport Folk Festival. Now the owners of Little Saint, they encouraged him to line up some of his friends and fellow travelers for gigs at the Healdsburg restaurant and lounge.

For instance, last Thursday Dad Country presented a newcomer, Connor McLaren. The slight singer, his abundant blonde curls partially contained by a stylishly ethnic flat cap, performed his own songs with confidence, telling stories in between to an amused local audience.

The 21-year-old, a glass of water in front of him between sets, stated that although he’s been “playing bar shows for years, I started doing original music about eight months ago. I’ve got a home base in Indiana, but I’m slowly moving farther and farther out.”

Though he is still learning his songwriting and stage chops, he has high aspirations and role models, as indeed he should: Asked which songwriter he’d like to be, he quickly named Bob Dylan, Noel Gallagher and Todd Snider. “I would love to be one of those three guys, those are my favorites,” he said.

As it turned out, it was Fritz who encouraged McLaren to come to California, telling him about Little Saint. McLaren’s aptly named debut release, “Innocence,” caught Fritz’s ear.

“Connor’s a really cool guy,” said Fritz. “He’s young. He’s up and coming, which is really something

that gets both Laurie and myself really riled up. And he’s a good friend.”

McLaren’s side of the story is he’s never met Fritz, just dealt with him on the phone, by messenger and email. “He’s been super helpful, I want to give him a big hug,” McLaren said.

He was surprised to hear that Fritz, too, was a singer-songwriter. “I didn’t know that. He’s got a name like he could be a musician, so it makes sense,” he said.

Like McLaren, who is just starting out, Fritz is still doing what he loves to do, what his passion is. “We’re calling this the World Tour of Montana,” he said between stops in Coram and Havre, en route to Bozeman. “Just playing tiny little towns in the middle of nowhere in Montana. This is really my passion, playing these little places.”

Not by coincidence, perhaps, Fritz was born

in Montana, 39 years ago, though he grew up in Esmont, Va.—population 491.

Fritz said the first musician he booked at Little Saint wasn’t a country singer. In fact, they weren’t a singer at all—it was Molly Lewis, a professional whistler. That was in April, 2022.

But most of the musicians who now show up at Little Saint are in the performing songwriter vein, as are the upcoming acts: Liz Cooper, an ex-Nashvillian now living in Brooklyn, plays on July 29, following the July 27 program with the Cordovas, whose new record The Rose of Aces is due out in August. Sam Burton, Jess Williamson and the War and Treaty will appear in coming months.

Is there a genre here? The Cordovas bill themselves as “embracing the sound of classic Americana and country-rock, with the Band, the Grateful Dead and the Allman Brothers as key influences,” which certainly sounds like a Dad Country description. But Fritz is leery.

“I have never felt a connection with the genre Americana,” he said. “It’s an obvious label for an outsider but once you start peeling back the layers of most Americana-labeled artists, I don’t find there’s much to see.”

Instead, he finds new music from a variety of sources—friends, fellow musicians on the road, on NPR’s Friday program “All Songs Considered” and by following the trail created by Spotify. The online music service automatically builds playlists by association, evolving from a requested artist—“Play Jonny Fritz”— to a series of musicians associated by genre, personnel or common elements.

For himself, Fritz traces it all back to the 8-volume “Smithsonian Collection of Classic Country Music,” which he discovered on cassette when he was young. “Hank Williams was huge,” he said. “And of course, Johnny Cash. I mean, they were the gateway drugs for me.”

Whether or not that exposure led directly to his dropping out of high

Gala takes flight

➝ 1

performances at the venue for the new season, a varied lineup that explores many artistic talents. First up is a live jazz concert with the Omar Sosa Quarteto Americanos, on Aug. 26 and Aug. 27.

In a career spanning more three decades, Sosa has released more than 30 albums and collaborated with musicians from around the world, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in contemporary music.

Subsequent offerings

school is unclear, but he has since spent most of his life on the road. And he is wrapping up his World Tour of Montana and returning home to Pasadena soon. That’s right, California—not Texas—where he’s got a young daughter. That’s Dad Country for you.

from The 222 include the first entry in the Indigenous Voices Series, with Georgina Marie Guardado and Linda Noel on Sept. 10; a literary program with author Eileen R. Tabios on Sept. 15; a concert celebrating the legacy of Latin American women on Sept. 23; and classical music, cinema, opera and theater programs almost weekly into spring 2024. The complete schedule can be found online at the222.org/events-list.

But the appeal of the music programs at Little Saint is not their niche, but their breadth. To find out what sounds Fritz may have tuned into on his musical journey, check out Little Saint’s coming programs at Littlesainthealdsburg/lineup, Healdsburg’s own live music Spotify stream.

Photo by Christian Kallen

INNOCENT BARD Connor McLaren, a 21-year-old songwriter from Indiana, during his West Coast debut at Little Saint, July 20, 2023.

PRESENTATION When not hosting music performances, Second Story offers elevated vegan dishes from their plant-centric kitchen.

Photo by Emily Dorio

Shakespeare in the Big Easy

‘COMEDY OF ERRORS’ TAKES THE RAVEN PLAYERS TO NEW ORLEANS

By Christian Kallen

The annual summer open-air production of Shakespeare at Healdsburg’s West Plaza Park begins this week with the creative transposition of ‘The Comedy of Errors’ to New Orleans during Mardi Gras.

Once again Steven David Martin, the artistic director of the Raven Players, directs the cast. It marks the eighth time that Shakespeare has been presented at the park, the grassy area between the former Bear Republic Restaurant and Foss Creek.

The Healdsburg Tribune (HBT) corralled Martin between final rehearsals and asked him why Shakespeare plays are such a cornerstone of live outdoor theater. (Interview edited for length and clarity.)

Steven David Martin:

Of course that’s the way it started, right? I mean, back in Shakespeare’s time, there was no electricity. And to do something by candlelight was just unfeasible. So most

plays were done outdoors in the daytime. And I think that the good writers of the day sort of embraced that.

If you go through Shakespeare’s work, there’s a lot of nature in it, the embracing of nature. There’s a lot of talk about the canopy of the sky. There’s a lot of talk about the night sky. There’s a lot of talk about the air. He sort of wove that into whatever he was doing.

Even when you have indoor scenes, I think there’s something about them not being confined by a physical space that’s pretty magical. So when you’re seeing an outdoor theatrical production, even if it’s sort of a realistic set, there’s still no roof. It just goes on forever.

I worked at Ashland in the early ’80s. I was acting there before they put the shell around the outdoor theater. And maybe it is the little curmudgeon in me, but I liked it better than the theater that’s there now. Even when you were acting there in the old days, you could hear the sounds from Lithia Park. You could hear the ducks, you could hear the creek, the water.

And I think we lose something when we don’t hear those. And you know, at our little plot of land at West Plaza Park, we’ve got a lot of ambiance.

HBT: It sounds like the actors could enjoy the performances as much as the audience.

SDM: I think they do. I think that there’s something very freeing about doing things outside.

HBT: So tell us about the play this year, “The Comedy of Errors.”

SDM: Shakespeare, as you know, was one of the great thieves of all time. I mean, he really didn’t come up with many of his own original plots. Comedy of Errors is a very early play, it’s a young playwright’s play. And he basically stole it from Italian commedia dell’arte, which is all about physical comedy.

And Shakespeare loves the idea of mistaken identities. So he doubles down when not only is there one set of twins, there are two sets of twins. And they happen to be masters and servants, separated by a shipwreck years before.

It’s a very simple plot, I think it’s one of the

most straightforward of Shakespeare’s plays. There’s not a lot of stuff to keep track of. There is not a lot of depth to the show. It’s not one of those where you go have a drink afterward and start tearing it apart going into the psychological meaning of the characters. Because there isn’t any, it’s just fun.

HBT: Why do you move the setting from Greece to New Orleans?

SDM: The work of Shakespeare is so strong, it can withstand concepts. If one is a Shakespeare purist, then one should avoid this production. Because I take a lot of liberties!

The set is very Mardi Gras, the costumes, and one of the reasons that I wanted to do Mardi Gras was because there are two sets of twins and it’s very hard to cast four people as two sets of twins that actually look like each other. So we contrived a way for the two sets of twins to be dressed alike because it’s Mardi Gras costume time. That makes it easier for an audience to buy in.

The other thing about Mardi Gras is that it’s, you know, “anything goes.” So

that’s another reason why I think it works really well for this play. It’s just, you know, it’s just going to be crazy hijinks! I mean, it’s all in the title, right? It’s a comedy. It’s a comedy about errors. So hopefully there’s some wacky mixups there!

And everybody’s got beads. The audience will probably get some beads. And, of course, I’m doing a lot of New Orleans, Mardi Gras-type music.

HBT: You keep talking about taking liberties with Shakespeare. Is that kosher? I mean, it’s Shakespeare!

SDM: One of the reasons I think that’s OK is that people forget that when Shakespeare was writing, he didn’t write the plays and have them published, and then actors learned their lines. They were written as parts. So literally you only had your own part. And they weren’t really finalized, until seven years after his death, by editors. So these were still works in progress. You know, we tend to forget that.

I think it’s just a very simple, very straightforward, very relatable plot. And it’s one of those where,

like I said, you can just relax and have a good time. It’s just going to be pure fun!

HBT: Anything else the audience should know?

SDM: The other thing we always do in the summer is, we do a raffle every night. We’ve got many generous merchants in town who donate wine, who donate tasting experiences, who donate gift cards. The Raven itself will donate free tickets to upcoming events. So the actors go through the audience and accost you and try to get you to buy raffle tickets. And then we do the drawing before Act Two, so you get to go home with your prizes. Because this is free Shakespeare, we’re not getting income off of this through ticket sales. So it’s a way for us to put a little bit of profit in nonprofit theater, even though we’re never gonna be in the black.

‘The Comedy of Errors’ is performed at 7:30pm on Thursdays, Friday and Saturdays, from July 27 through Aug. 12. Admission is free. Bring a blanket or low-back chair and a warm wrap, it gets cold once the sun goes down. Raventheater.org.

Photos by Ray Mabry

WISE FOOLS Nicholas J. Augusta and Matt Farrell enjoy the Summer of Love in the Raven Players’ 2019 production of ‘As You Like It’ at West Plaza Park.

COMEDY AL FRESCO The Raven Players cast of the 2022 production of ‘Twelfth Night’ cavorts on the West Plaza Park stage.

TWO SETS OF TWINS From left (top) Heather Berger and Monique Scott, with (bottom) Katie Watts Whitaker and Mary Watts Sparks, in the Raven Players ‘The Comedy of Errors’ at West Plaza Park.

Final Week to Determine Division Winner

NO. 1 SEED UP FOR GRABS AS PRUNE PACKERS, CRAWDADS FIGHT IT OUT

By Christian Kallen

After starting the 2023 season with 19 straight wins, the Healdsburg Prune Packers are now fighting for the right to represent the Northern Division in the California Collegiate League playoffs in August.

As of Wednesday, July 25, their league record stands at 24-7, but the Crawdads are at 22-8.

Tuesday’s afternoon game in Walnut Creek found the Packers leading going into the late innings, but two Crawdads runs gave the host team the game, 5-4.

Coach Joey Gomes was frank in saying that playing on the road was not the same for the Packers

as the home games, and the record shows it: all but one of their losses have been on road games.

The other side of that is that this is a team that wins at home.

“Any high school kid that’s played for a championship knows what it’s like to play in front of a few hundred people in California,” said the coach. “And it’s like that every single night in Healdsburg. What’s been great is that the energy really does trickle its way down into our dugout.”

Case in point: the Saturday, July 22 game against the Solano Mudcats. Led by newcomer Ivan Brethowr’s two home runs, with other round-trippers from Peyton Schulze, Joey Kramer and Travis Sanders, the game more closely resembled a home-run derby than a late-season matchup. The final score was 30-2.

Winning pitcher was Devan Kirby, who struck out five in four innings and gave up three hits. Five different Healdsburg pitchers finished out the game with an inning each to get some time on the mound in preparation for the playoffs.

Losing pitcher Karon Casey gave up 17 runs in 2.1 innings, but he was followed by Ryan Fortune who let nine more runners come home.

Overall it was not a great or even a very good game for Solano, but the determined Mudcats turned the tables the next day with a 5-4 win on their home field. Where, of course, the energy of Packer Nation is sorely lacking.

Massachusetts

Slugger

The last two weeks of the season have certainly been highlighted by Brethowr’s play. “He was

playing in the Cape Cod league,” said Gomes. “He had called me and asked if there was an opportunity to play for us.”

At the time there wasn’t, but when first baseman Will Hodo badly injured his wrist in a home-plate collision, Gomes called him back.

The 6-6 righthander from Massachusetts showed up two days later and started slamming the ball from his first game on July 18. “He’s elevated us,” said the coach.

Hodo, meanwhile, is back in Alabama recovering from the injury, and is expected to be out for the rest of the year.

Final Week

According to Joey Gomes, one of the season’s biggest games will already be over by the time you read this, the Wednesday night game at Rec Park. It’s against the Crawdad team that has

bedeviled the Packers all season long.

“The most pivotal game of the year is going to be tomorrow,” he said flatly on Tuesday.

It will be followed by a final third game in the series at the Concord playing field on Thursday, but Gomes believes the No.1 seed for the playoffs will be settled with the Wednesday game, a 6pm meeting at Rec Park. Where they will have that crucial home field advantage.

The disappointment the team has faced in the last two weeks, when they’ve lost four games, must surely be wearing on their morale. But Gomes keeps things positive and clearly loves the Healdsburg crowd.

“Our guys are used to playing in the cool evenings with the cotton-candy sky. There’s Wicked Slush being sold. There’s the Wurst

being sold. On occasion a brass band, the Healdsburg Prune Pickers, are playing,” he said, laughing. “It’s just such a great environment that we literally play to our capability, you know?”

The shape of the CCL post-season is coming into focus. The No. 1 seed is able to skip the first playoff game, on Aug. 1, but it all comes down to a single game for the league title, on Wednesday, Aug. 2.

The top three teams in the division, all of whom will reach the playoffs, are the Lincoln Potters, the Solano Mudcats and the Prune Packers. Friday and Saturday’s games are against the Mudcats, both at Rec Park. The season’s final game is Sunday, July 29, against the San Francisco Seals. It’s at Rec Park at noon, and to celebrate the fans and the season, admission is free.

Photos by Christian Kallen

EXPERT ADVICE Prune Packers coach Joey Gomes, at right, gives baserunning tips to Cameron Nickens during the July 22 game at Rec Park. The Packers won easily, 30-2.

STAYING COOL ON THE RUSSIAN RIVER

By Pierre Ratte

Virgil Junior “JR” Cowan

July 9, 1942 - June 29, 2023

Known as JR Cowan, beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather, great grandfather and uncle, passed away peacefully at home sitting on his back patio enjoying the view of his property. Work was JR’s middle name. He started at a young age working for Idaco, which became Boise Cascade and then RJW. After his daily job, he would cut and deliver firewood, which eventually developed into Cowans Healdsburg Tree Service. Cowan Healdsburg Tree Service was built on JR’s outgoing personality, respect for all people and his desire to help anyone in need. JR was so proud of his son Bill Chaney for taking over the business and continuing with the dedication and respect that JR had established. JR was known for being one of the most generous human beings and was always offering help to all. Jr was known by all for his wit and valued treasures that he collected from his tree jobs throughout the years. He had a love for hunting and spending time at his cabin up at the Geysers.

JR is survived by his wife of 43 years Patricia Cowan, daughters Charlene Wilson and Tami McPherson (Rob McPherson), son Bill Chaney, sister Emily Debenham (Dennis Debenham) and multiple nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He will be deeply missed by all.

A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, August 6, 2023, 12:00pm at Johnson’s Alexander Valley Wines, 8333 HWY-128, Healdsburg, Ca.

Earl “Skip”

Eugene Butler Ozanwich

1944 - 2023

Earl “Skip” Eugene Butler Ozanwich (1944-2023), aged 78, passed away on June 27, 2023, following a six-month battle with lung cancer. He peacefully departed this world with his beloved wife, Sandy, by his side. It is with profound sadness that we also announce the passing of Skip’s loyal best friend, his 16-year-old dog, Dexter, who left us just an hour before.

Skip’s life revolved around his hometown, Healdsburg. He was a cherished figure known and loved by all. His wicked sense of humor, passion for Nascar, Ferndale Fair mule races, and unwavering support for the Oakland Raiders were legendary among those who had the pleasure of knowing him.

He is survived by his loving wife, Sandy Cicala Ozanwich, his son Lance and wife Carolyn, his three sisters: Beverly, Betty Jo, and Tina, as well as his stepdaughters Staci and Dina. Skip also leaves behind his adoring grandchildren: Kinsey, Andrew, Justin, and Kayla, along with his great-grandson, Danny. He will be deeply missed by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and his high school sweetheart and first wife, Sandy Mitchell Hagan.

While Skip may no longer be physically present, his memory will forever reside in our hearts. A celebration of his remarkable life will be held on August 27, 2023, at Coyote Sonoma, 44 Mill St. Healdsburg, 2pm-5pm.

ROBERT “BOB” CHARLES PALMER

June 20, 1937 – July 4, 2023

Bob passed away at the age of 86. Born in Healdsburg he graduated from HHS in 1955. Bob drove trucks and was a mechanic for diesel trucks. He and his partner started P&S Truck Repair in 1980. His partner retired in 1982 and Bob ran the business until he retired in 2012. He moved to Oregon with Lindsey, his wife of 41 years. Bob is survived by his three children, several grandchildren as well as numerous great grandchildren. He loved fly fishing and hunting. May he rest in peace.

JON H. OLSON

July 30, 1941 – May 24, 2023

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Jon H. Olson, a remarkable individual who touched the lives of many. Jon was born on July 30, 1941, in the Bronx, New York, and grew up in the New York, Long Island, and New Jersey areas before eventually making his home in the San Francisco Bay area in the late 60’s. Over the years, he found joy and comfort in various places, calling San Francisco, Berkeley, Lake Tahoe, Palo Alto, Aptos, Healdsburg, Breckenridge, Colorado, and New York City his homes.

A man of extraordinary accomplishments, Jon left an indelible mark on the communities he served. He attended UC Berkeley’s Department of Landscape Architecture and dedicated much of his early career to shaping the natural world around him. His passion for the environment led him to be instrumental in the creation of the East Bay Regional Park District’s regional bike and hiking trails, and its 20 Year Master Plan (1973), a gift that will continue to be enjoyed by generations to come.

Jon’s dedication to preserving open space and making public lands more accessible was evident during his tenure as the first General Manager of the MidPeninsula Open Space District. He played a crucial role in founding California Land Management and was the visionary behind First Pacific Investments. His commitment to community development and environmental stewardship earned him widespread admiration and respect.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Jon embraced a vibrant and adventurous life. He was a fervent road biker, competing in extreme road bike races and frequently competing in the SF Bay to Breakers. Jon’s love for nature extended to the water, where he fearlessly embarked on kayaking excursions, including kayaking the fjords of Greenland and Norway.

Jon’s diverse interests knew no bounds, and he found joy in exploring cultures and landscapes around the world. He crisscrossed the globe, backpacking through the stunning terrains of Bhutan, India, and Nepal, and traveled the storied Silk Road. His passion for travel took him to every continent, leaving no corner of the Earth unexplored. Jon’s love for history led him to become an avid student of the Civil War and WWII. As a vigneron, he savored the art of winemaking.

Art and collecting were close to Jon’s heart, with a preference for contemporary Bay Area artists. He cherished the beauty of creativity and appreciated art from all corners of the world. Dogs were Jon’s passion, beginning with Lyndon and Hubert, the bassets, followed by Heather, a springer spaniel, and later in his life, doodles. He had a soft spot for restaurants that allowed dogs, making every outing a delightful experience.

Above all else, Jon’s legacy is one of kindness, generosity, and compassion. He touched countless lives with his warm spirit and genuine concern for the well-being of others. Jon’s commitment to environmental stewardship and his adventurous nature inspired those around him to live life to the fullest.

Jon is survived by his loving sons, Ian Olson and wife Denise and Sean Olson and wife Vi. He was a cherished grandfather to Oliver, Kate, Thaila, Damian. He is also survived by his loving cousin Patrick Fitzgerald and his wife Angela, and his former wife Pamella Olson.

Currently, there are no plans for a memorial service. In honor of Jon’s lifelong commitment to protecting the planet, the family kindly suggest donations be made to an environmental charity of your choice. May Jon’s adventurous spirit and unwavering dedication to the environment continue to inspire us all.

In closing, as we remember Jon Olson and his extraordinary life, it is fitting to reflect on the metaphorical significance of Norman Rockwell’s “The Art Connoisseur” hanging above his breakfast table. This whimsical painting of a well-dressed man closely examining a chaotic Jackson Pollock-inspired artwork encapsulates Jon’s own journey of contrast and extremes. Like the well-dressed gentleman in the painting, Jon embraced a life of diverse experiences and passions.

From his upbringing on the East Coast to his eventual relocation to the West Coast, Jon thrived amidst contrasting environments. He embraced both the urban vibrancy of San Francisco and the tranquil beauty of Healdsburg, much like the way the artwork contrasts with Rockwell’s style.

May Jon’s memory inspire us to embrace life’s contrasts, celebrate diversity, and cherish the artistry of our own unique journeys. His spirit will live on in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to know him, and his legacy will continue through the positive impact he had on the environment and the lives he touched.

Russian River water temperatures are about 70 degrees Fahrenheit now, much cooler than recent air temperatures trending above 100 degrees. Besides enjoying cooler temperatures on the river, some of the coolness of floating derives from slowing down. With only a few paddles and a short drift, it seems the body’s nervous system regulates to the current’s lazy tempo. Body and brain relax.

Compared to driving, where landscapes zip by with barely a notice, floating allows long, meditative looks. Long looks seem to initiate slower brain waves.

Funny that the slowest brain waves are called “delta waves,” brain waves associated with meditation, healing and reduced stress. It doesn’t take long while floating downriver to see wildlife. Look, there’s a turtle! Oh, wait, that is a stick. Oh darn. And just then, a squawking ruckus occurs.

Looking up from the stick turtle, a number of great blue herons are having a breakfast conversation in their pine tree rookery. Then, a little green heron along the shore becomes noticeable through a slight movement. The acorn woodpecker—with white mask and red beanie—appears, as if on leave from the Vatican. Then the mergansers, then Mr. and Mrs. Mallard. And so it goes.

Fun facts: Great blue heron rookies, or heronries, can house up to 50 birds. They return year after year to their same nests. Nests are big and mostly flat, made of sticks often with mossy linings.

Green herons nest near the water, too, but their nests can be found at ground level as well as in trees. They generally build solitary and unlined nests.

To float down the river and get a free croakie, contact River’s Edge Kayak and Canoe, at riversedgekayakandcanoe.com.

ROLLIN’ DOWN THE RIVER The Russian River provides a float-friendly waterway between Rio Lindo Adventist Academy and the Veterans Memorial Bridge in Healdsburg.

Photo by Pierre Ratte

Floating down the Russian River is one of the cooler things to do in Healdsburg.

Black History Matters in New Museum Exhibit

UNTOLD STORIES OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE IN HEALDSBURG

Staff Report

Two complementary but distinct approaches to Black history in California are on display through Nov. 18 at the Healdsburg Museum. Museum Executive Director and Curator Holly Hoods has collaborated with Experiential Designer Noah Jeppson to transform the Museum exhibition gallery with vibrant color, impactful design and appropriate music to make this littleknown history come alive to visitors.

“We Are Not Strangers

Here: African American Histories in Rural California,” is a traveling exhibition from Exhibit Envoy, curated by Susan Anderson of the California African American Museum. Displayed on colorful banners, these untold stories challenge myths about early California and create new narratives about freedom, self-governance and civic culture.

A free cell-phone audio tour and Spanish-language text enhance the historical content.

It’s the other section of the exhibition, “Healdsburg Untold Stories,” that presents a distinctly local history. Founded in 1857 by Harmon Heald, a white farmer from Ohio, Healdsburg attracted settlers of various races, ethnicities and backgrounds. Though the new town soon boasted a population of 300, they were not all white.

From the outset, farming and merchant families displaced the indigenous Southern Pomo and Western Wappo communities.

In 1860, 62% of Healdsburg farmers hailed from Southern states; 22% were from the Midwest and 16% were from the Northeast.

As curated by the Healdsburg Museum, the exhibit introduces Healdsburg’s African American founding families, including the Harper, Dennison, Hutchings, Scott, Tombs, Seawell and Robinson families. Many of their compelling life stories are being presented for the first time in this exhibition.

“It was not an easy place to live as an African American,” Hoods said. “But then, neither was the rest of California.”

Despite being admitted to the U.S. in 1850 as a supposedly “free state,” California greeted people of color with discriminatory laws from the very beginning. African American efforts to improve civil rights, justice and educational equality began immediately.

Early Black residents organized four important “Colored Conventions of California,” in 1855, 1856, 1857 and 1860. At each convention, strategies and initiatives were discussed, with the goal of improving conditions for African Americans statewide. Among the participants were William Harper and Alexander Dennison, of Healdsburg.

In 1857, 72 AfricanAmerican residents lived in Sonoma County, 27 of whom were farmers. And 26 of those engaged as farmers were claimed as slaves by their employers who brought them from the South. Among them were Ellen, Taylor, Edmond, Amanda and Sarah Tombs of Healdsburg, who inhabit their own exhibit space at the museum.

“The lives of people of all races are important to understanding broad patterns of California and U.S. History,” Hoods said.

“The Healdsburg Museum invites you to approach

this exhibition with curiosity and empathy.”

A calendar of events is being created for fall presentations, which will include a Black History walking tour and author readings. Visit the Healdsburg Museum website, www.healdsburgmuseum.org, and follow the Museum on Facebook and Instagram.

The Healdsburg Museum, at 221 Matheson St., is open Wed to Sun, 11am to 4pm. Free admission; donations appreciated.

Photos by Christian Kallen

Farmworkers

➝ 1

workers of their rights under the California labor law at its worksites.

The case is the latest scenario where the ALRB found that employers retaliate against workers for exercising their rights under labor laws. In 2022, the ALRB ordered a San Diego-area winery to pay $1.2 million to 15 workers who were fired after they

complained about working conditions. The ALRB is a state agency that enforces California’s labor laws, including the Agricultural Labor Relations Act, which guarantees agricultural workers the right to form unions, bargain collectively and engage in protected concerted bargaining.

to Section 2924m of the California Civil Code. If you are an “eligible tenant buyer,” you can purchase the property if you match the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. If you are an “eligible bidder,” you may be able to purchase the property if you exceed the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. There are three steps to exercising this right of purchase. First, 48 hours after the date of the trustee sale, you can call 800.280.2832, or visit this internet website www.Auction.com, using the file number assigned to this case CA09000006-22-1 to find the date on which the trustee’s sale was held, the amount of the last and highest bid, and the address of the trustee. Second, you must send a written notice of intent to place a bid so that the trustee receives it no more than 15 days after the trustee’s sale. Third, you must submit a bid so that the trustee receives it no more than 45 days after the trustee’s sale. If you think you may qualify as an “eligible tenant buyer” or “eligible bidder,” you should consider contacting an attorney or appropriate real estate professional immediately for advice regarding this potential right

Photos courtesy of Healdsburg Museum

LOCAL FAMILY The Scott family lived in this house at 424 Matheson St., Healdsburg, in 1873.

HISTORY ON DISPLAY A panel in the Healdsburg Museum’s new exhibit, ‘We Are Not Strangers Here: African American Histories in Rural California.’

ADVOCATE Ana Salgado, a community leader and former farmworker, helped local workers navigate their retaliation case against Mauritson Winery in Dry Creek.