The Healdsburg Tribune 2-9-2023

GREEN LIGHT FOR $16M HEALDSBURG AVENUE REDESIGN

‘TRANSFORMATIVE PROJECT’ FUELED BY $11.8 MILLION TRANSPORTATION

GRANT FROM MTC

By Christian Kallen

Imagine Healdsburg Avenue north of downtown as a smooth mile and a half of three-lane road, with plenty of room for bikes and pedestrians as well as autos, in a meandering swerve between art-friendly landscapes in what urban designers would call a “linear park.”

That’s the vision for the “complete street project” that the City of Healdsburg has been working toward for over five years, but it’s a vision that is beginning to look less like a dream and more like a done deal.

The long-evolving goal to remake the north half of Healdsburg Avenue into a modern “multi-modal” route connecting the town to new developments at North Village and Montage is $11.8 million closer to reality, thanks to grant approval from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC).

The success of the city’s grant proposal comes after many years of “hard work and strategizing by the city team, and advocating by our city council,” said Larry Zimmer, director of public works. “This truly will be a transformative project for the city,”

Zimmer, who also wears the hat of city engineer, emphasized that the $11.8 million grant is just for construction. “Construction cost is very preliminary now, but will be further refined during design. We have another $636,000 in grant funding, along with city funds, to complete the design,” he said.

The “Healdsburg Complete Streets Project” was

➝ Healdsburg Avenue, 6

‘From Africa to Coltrane’ in Schools

HEALDSBURG JAZZ CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH

By Christian Kallen

At Alexander Valley School on Tuesday morning, Destiny Muhammad filled the new multipurpose room with the ethereal sounds of her harp as over 100 K-5 students listened quietly

to an instrument it’s probably safe to say most of them had not heard before: They are too young for New Age music or the Marx Brothers.

As she played a series of evocative hymns and jazz meditations, Muhammad took time to mention that the oldest representation of a harp is in Egyptian hieroglyphs of the building of

the pyramids—making a harp, like the banjo, a descendant from African instruments.

Then she turned to the assembly of youngsters in the room and answered their questions on everything from the weight of the harp, to how many strings it has, to how does she keep it tuned, to its name (Paloma, answered the musician).

“The important thing is to get them engaged,” said Gayle Okumura Sullivan, current executive director of Healdsburg Jazz, of the Tuesday morning assembly at the school. “The students got so much from it. I loved the quote from, I think it was a first-grader, ‘I am so inspired!’”

Muhammad is presenting “From Africa to Alice Coltrane” to primary

school students from Cloverdale to Roseland this week. She’ll reprise the program in a free family matinee at the Raven on Feb. 25, this time as a trio with drums and upright bass. That same night, two more concerts round out Healdsburg Jazz’s February offerings.

Few local groups have

GIRLS

DESPITE LOSS OF KEY PLAYER, 11-1 IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR FIRST PENNANT SINCE 2004

By Christian Kallen Steve Zichichi

HARPIST Destiny Muhammad shares her skills with the harp and history with K-5 students at Alexander Valley School, during Healdsburg Jazz’s Black History Month programs.

could barely contain his enthusiasm and pride when the Healdsburg High girls basketball team easily defeated Piner High on Saturday night, 72-20. And he wasn’t the only one. “They

Photo by Kristin Zichichi

CHAMPIONS The NCL-Redwood League girls basketball first-place team is the Healdsburg Greyhounds. From left are assistant coach Lauren Rudy, Ashley Behrens, Hailey Webb, Macie Parmeter, Hannah Sellards, Ruby Leffew, head coach Steve Zichichi, Allie Espinoza, Maddie Wagner, Itzel Ortiz, Claire Berry, Meher Dhiman and assistant coach Jim Lago.

Photo by Christian Kallen

A CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS IN HEALDSBURG

Gold Medal Gala

Wilson Artisan Wines celebrates their 118 gold medals from the recent International Wine Competition in San Francisco, at Coyote Sonoma, on Friday, Feb. 10, 6:30pm.

Owners Ken and Diane Wilson (she’s also chief winemaker), as well as others from the 11-winery

GOINGS ON IN THE ’BURG

Society String Quartet and pianist Stephen Prutsman. On the bill as well, the expressionist masterpiece, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, also with music. Saturday, Feb. 18, starting at 7pm at 222 Healdsburg Ave.

Chicago

The Raven Theater breaks new ground in the welltrod tribute band phenomenon, with Chicago

The Tribute on Saturday, Feb. 18, 7:30pm. 115 North St.

Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras can be celebrated in Healdsburg at Parish Café and the Elephant in the Room, with crawfish boil, beignets, wine by Flambeaux Winery, music by the Blues Defenders and Spike’s Awesome Hotcakes. Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2-10pm, $75. Southwest corner of Mill St. and Healdsburg Ave. City Council

strong company, will be on hand for the tasting event; music by Nick Foxer, tickets available at www.wilsonartisanwines. com/118golds

Steelhead Fest

The Lake Sonoma Steelhead Festival returns after a two-year COVID hiatus to the Milt Brandt Visitor Center at Lake Sonoma on Saturday, Feb. 11, 10am-4pm. Art, games, disc golf, bubble demonstrations, live music and more, though the hatchery will not be

open this year. It’s not just about the fish, but a free family-friendly event with a broad environmental focus.

African Music

Baba Shibambo leads an interactive introduction to the music and stories of South Africa, with demonstrations of djembes, marimbas and gourd shekeres. This free class is Saturday, Feb. 11 at 11am, at the Healdsburg Regional Library, 139 Piper St.

Senior Living: Beyond Expectations

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Reading Science fiction writer

Kim Stanley Robinson will read from his work, The High Sierra, a Love Story, on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 7pm. Tickets at the 222.org, at 222 Healdsburg Ave.

Fortepianist Daniel Adam Maltz performs Haydn and Mozart’s works on the instrument for which they were written, the fortepiano (also known as the pianoforte), on Sunday, Feb. 12, 1pm. Raven Theater, 115 North St.

‘Plastics’

On Monday, Feb. 13, one may check out Mike Nichols’ 1967 film, The Graduate, with Dustin Hoffman, Anne Bancroft and a pitch-perfect soundtrack, presented by AVFilm director of programming Mike Traina. At Young and Yonder Spirits, 449 Allan Ct. Lions and Gorillas Bushtracks founder David Tett speaks on the charismatic wildlife of Africa in a “Crafted Conversation”

on Wednesday, Feb. 15, starting at 5:30pm. In the Fireplace Lounge at CraftWork, 445 Center St.

Book Signing

Sommelier Jane Lopes shows up at Thumbprint Cellars (102 Matheson) on Thursday, Feb. 16, 7pm, to celebrate her book, Vignette: Stories of Life and Wine in 100 Bottles. This event will include a Q&A session and signing; free pour with purchase of the book.

Family Dance

Healdsburg Elementary School and Fitch Mountain campus students and parents are invited for a night of music, dancing and family togetherness, Friday, Feb. 17. Held at Healdsburg High, 6-8pm; $10 requested donation gets the whole family in. Free refreshments and family photos.

Buster Keaton

One of cinema’s early masters is featured in his silent classic, Sherlock Jr., accompanied by live music from the San Francisco Chamber Music

Tuesday, Feb. 21, council meeting, due to the Presidents Day holiday. The appeal of the Planning Commission’s denial of a use permit for The Ruse is expected, among other matters. Starts at 6pm at City Council Chambers, 401 Grove St., or one may watch at facebook.com/ cityofhealdsburg.

Indigenous Voices

Second gathering in Healdsburg’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) community conversations, on Thursday, Feb. 23, from 6:30-8:30pm. Subject is contemporary and historical experiences of the African-American community in Healdsburg. At the Healdsburg Community Center (1557 Healdsburg Ave.).

They Got the Beat

Dave Wakeling and The English Beat return to the Raven for their first post-COVID concert, featuring their signature blend of ska, rock and Motown on Friday, Feb. 24. Always a very popular concert, one may get tickets at raventheater.org. 115 North St.

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MOZART MUSIC Daniel Adam Maltz performs Haydn and Mozart’s works on the instrument for which they were written, the fortepiano, at the Raven on Feb. 12.

ELEPHANT WALLOW David Tett of Bushtracks Expeditions will discuss the role of safari camps and wildlife experiences in supporting traditional communities in Africa, in a Feb. 15 talk at CraftWork.

Photo by Alissa Everett

Photo courtesy of Daniel Adam Maltz

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Rain Is for the Dogs

CANINES TRACK THE SCENT OF MORNING DEW

By Pierre Ratte

After a rain, outdoor settings smell fresher, better. The word for that smell is “petrichor.” Scents are more easily detected on cool, moist days because water molecules capture scents and “hold” them for all to smell.

Morning dew aggregates scent molecules. That’s one reason why tracking dogs have their noses to the ground and perform better in the morning.

Tracking dogs like hounds have long ears which rustle up the leaves, raising the scent. Though human noses do not have as many receptors as most animals, it is estimated that humans can differentiate over 1 billion different smells. That estimate must

be from an AI or mathematical study, rather than an in-person trial.

Unfortunately, an estimated 450 million people lost their sense of smell due to COVID-19. While it is estimated that 40% of those losing their olfactory sense will regain it in six months, many will not recover the delicious and not so delicious sensations. It’s reported that smell training can help correct this condition.

To date, WHO (World Health Organization) estimates 754 million people have had COVID and 6.8 million have died— approximately 1%. Unfortunately, it is still around.

Fun facts: Dogs have twice as many odor receptors as humans; cats are 14 times better at detecting odors than humans; a silkworm moth can detect one molecule of scent seven miles away.

Science is focused on COVID’s affects on humans. But it is sobering to think how this disease might be affecting the natural world, where sense of smell dictates ways of life and reproduction.

COVID attacks olfactory support cells called sustentacular cells. Their role is to maintain a salt balance, promoting electrical connectivity that sends signals to the brain.

At first, it was feared COVID might be infecting olfactory neurons directly, the danger here being those neurons could lead the virus into the brain. Fortunately, those neurons do not have ACE2 receptors, and olfactory loss is due to chemical imbalances.

It will be interesting to understand in years to come how this pandemic has been experienced by the non-human partners on this Earth.

Healdsburg Jazz

given as much attention over the years to Black History Month as has Healdsburg Jazz, the 25-year-old old education and performance nonprofit. “For all these years, I’ve been trying to introduce kids to eloquent and charismatic Black musicians—all they mostly know is athletes and actors,” said Jessica Felix, the festival’s founder.

In about 2010, Felix, impressed by bassist and bandleader Marcus Shelby’s ability to connect with kids, asked him if he’d like to help create a Black History Month program in Healdsburg.

Shelby did several week-long music education swings through local

schools, until COVID shut down school assemblies, among other things. Now he’s the festival’s artistic director, and has too many other roles to handle as well.

Yet his voice as an educator has not abandoned him. “Imagine a world without swing,” he wrote in a recent newsletter. “Imagine a world without music that changed the course of history during the civil rights movement…

Without these contributions from Black artists who taught us as a nation how to creatively reflect our unique and emotional experiences using the language of the blues, we are left

with a world muted in its potential.”

On Feb. 25, Shelby will lead his 12-part musical suite, “Soul of the Movement: Meditations on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” starting at 6:30pm at the Raven. His 45-minute program will be followed by a concert from blues singer and bandleader Terrie Odabi, on the theme “Blues of Resistance.” Her performance will cover a range of music from the Civil Rights era, including songs by the Staple Singers and others.

‘Blues of Resistance with Terrie Obadi’ begins at 7:30pm on Feb. 25 at the Raven Theater, 115 North St., Healdsburg. Tickets $18-$35, available at healdsburgjazz.org or from a link on the raventhreater.org website.

SCENTED Morning dew aggregates scent molecules.

JAZZED Alexander Valley was one of six schools that harpist Destiny Muhammad visited the week of Feb. 7-10 for Black History Month.

Photo by Pierre Ratte

Photo by Christian Kallen

Wine Country Beer Grows in Popularity

popular beers. Fermented (in 2022) with Simcoe, Waimea, Strata and Zappa hops, this super fresh, dry, double IPA is exploding with tropical fruit aromas and flavors, leading to a nice long, clean, hoppy, dry finish.

The 2022 release of Big Chicken was Feb. 6, and now the beer will be served at bars and restaurants all over the North Bay for a limited time. It will also be available on tap and in cans at HenHouse’s Santa Rosa and Petaluma brewpubs.

Lagunitas Censored (Kronik), 6.75% ABV

This coppery amber toned ale is a classic from Lagunitas that still deserves to grace any “best of” list in the North Bay. Nothing beats a nice pint of Lagunitas Censored after a day of snowboarding, skiing, cycling or hiking.

Aromas and flavors include toasted bread, cocoa, sweet malt, dried fruit, hops (with very low bitterness) and mild earthiness. The weight and mouthfeel are medium bodied, smooth and dry with an almost sweet cocoa powder finish. Available at local and statewide retailers.

Moonlight Brewing Death and Taxes, 5.3% ABV

This medium to light bodied San Francisco Style black lager is a dark brown, frothy beer that offers fantastic aromas and flavors of coffee, roasted grains and cocoa, finishing off smoothly with notes of slightly bitter coffee. Some compare the flavor profile of this beer to an iced coffee, in a good way. It is lighter and more refreshing than the dark color and nose imply.

Russian River Brewing Co. STS Keller Pils, 5.35% ABV

A classic German style pilsner with a twist—this beer is dry hopped with a small amount of European hops. Pale yellow or straw in color and slightly hazy in the glass due to residual yeast, this hoppy pils from Russian River Brewing Co. is strong and malty with a dry, bitter finish. The name of this beer is a nod to the threeletter code—STS—for Sonoma County’s Charles M. Schulz Airport. Available on draft and in bottles at the brewery and at select local stores.

A DOZEN FAVORITE BREWS TO TOAST ‘BEER WEEK’

By Weeklys Staff

With San Francisco Beer

Week (sfbeerweek.org)

kicking off this Friday, it’s high time to raise a glass to the North Bay brews making their mark here in Wine Country.

There are more than 40 craft breweries in the North Bay, so one is almost always in close proximity to great, locally brewed beer. From iconic California IPA and Belgian style ales to farmhouse, German, and pilsner style ales and lagers—the North Bay is a mecca for beer lovers. The following are 12 favorites.

Adobe Creek

Brewing Anxious

Minds DIPA (Double IPA), 8% ABV

Brewed with Citra, Mosaic and Galaxy hops, this super hazy, hop forward and creamy IPA displays mild tropical fruit notes, white fruit notes, verbena and a slightly bitter but balanced finish. Fresh, non malty and clean with a slightly bitter finish, this is an extra hopped up version of the brewery’s Derealization IPA.

Available in cans and on draft in Adobe Creek’s taproom.

Bear Republic Racer 5, 7.5% ABV No North Bay “best of” beer list is complete without Bear Republic’s iconic Racer 5 India Pale Ale. It is and always has been super scrumptious and is one of the brewery’s most consistently popular (and U.S. medal winning) beers.

Fermented with Columbus and Cascade hops from the Pacific Northwest and malted barley, wheat and crystal malts, this IPA is full bodied and hoppy with floral notes on the nose and fresh lemon, pine and baked bread on the palate, as well as a malty, sweet-bitter and smooth lingering finish.

Available at local and national retailers.

Crooked Goat Brewery Mountain

Goat IPA, 7.2%ABV

Brewed with Mosaic, Citra and Galaxy hops, this fresh, clean light bodied IPA is complex yet smooth with just the right amount of bitterness. Flavors and aromas include floral, citrus and pine with earthy and fruity notes.

Available on tap at Crooked Goat in Petaluma and Sebastopol. crookedgoatbrewing.com

Cuver Pepperwood Saison Style Farmhouse Ale, 4.8% A Belgian style ale brewed by Belgians…in Windsor!

This light to medium bodied saison style farmhouse ale is brewed with Meyer’s lemon peel and California bay laurel, giving it a bright, fresh, lemony and herbaceous aroma and flavor profile. Hops are moderate and fruitiness is low, with mostly lemon leading. This is a refreshing beer with a clean, crisp finish that will have one reaching for another pint.

Cuver’s beers are available at their brewpub in Windsor and at select stores in Marin and Sonoma counties. A list of retailers can be found on their website.

Cooperage Brewing

Judas Cradle West Coast Pilsner, 5.2% ABV (a Cooperage Brewing Co. and Ghost Town Brewing collaboration)

Clear, bright, amber gold with a thick, frothy head of white foam and streaky

lace, this pilsner has satisfying aromas of pine, citrus and caramel malt. A malty body with grain and caramel notes carries the hoppy bitterness and pine notes. Its medium body has moderate carbonation. This is a nicely malty IPA amidst the tide of hazy and West Coast IPAs.

A collaboration with Ghost Town Brewing, West Coast Pilsner is brewed with Nelson, Nectaron & HBC 586.

Fogbelt Mojo, 7% ABV

This barrel aged stout is aged in Willett Bourbon and Templeton Rye barrels before being finished with vanilla bean, cocoa and coconut. On the nose, the aromas are sweet and rich while on the palate this medium bodied stout is smooth with a dry, satisfying finish.

Currently only available at the brewery inbottle (they have just run out of draft kegs), in limited quantities.

HenHouse Big Chicken Double IPA, 10% ABV

This double IPA is only released at certain times of the year, in limited quantities, and is one of HenHouse’s most

Lagunitas IPA, 6.2% It would be difficult to find an IPA that better deserves the OG Sonoma County IPA crown than Lagunitas IPA. This clear amber-gold classic beauty of an IPA is fermented with Centennial Cascade and Chinook hops and caramel malted barley, which add hoppy floral, citrus and caramelized sugar notes.

All of this citrus and caramel goodness is tied together neatly with a little bit of earthy pine, some bitterness that is balanced by the fresh citrus, earthy and sweet notes and a clean, dry finish.

Available at local and statewide retailers.

Old Caz One Way IPA, 7% ABV

Old Caz brewery stays true to their Sonoma County roots with this flagship West Coast IPA which combines Citra, Mosaic and Simcoe hops. This beer boasts all of the classic IPA flavors that IPA lovers dig without the over the top bitterness found in some IPAs.

This is also one of the brewery’s most easily purchasable beers, as it is sold in stores across Sonoma County, Marin, San Francisco and the East Bay.

Russian River Brewing Company

Velvet Glow, 4.75% ABV

This blonde Helles style lager is clean, crisp and refreshing with a pale straw color, yeasty and bready aromas and flavors, and mild hops. The name of this beer is an homage to a historic Santa Rosa brewery, Grace Brothers Brewing, that operated in Santa Rosa between 1933 and 1966 and made a beer brand called Velvet Glow. This is a limited release that’s only available at Russian River Brewing Company’s brewpubs (on draft, and sometimes also in bottle).

Woodfour Brewing Co. New Ridge Lager, 4.8% ABV

“Inspired by the rustic lagers of early Europe,” this unfiltered light Zwickelbier German style lager is brewed with 100% California grown pilsner. Fresh, lively and bright, this pale yellow-orangegold lager has aromas and flavors of very lightly toasted grain or crackers and shows a little sweetness that is balanced with some earthiness and farmhouse funk. This light bodied beer is best served young.

Photo by Engin Akyurt

CRAFT Breweries abound in the North Bay, offering a variety of styles for connoisseurs and newbies alike.

Healdsburg Avenue

extensively studied in 2019 in a community visioning process. Its resulting executive summary reads, “Healdsburg Ave is a safe and comfortable street for people who walk, bike, take transit and drive. It is well connected to adjoining neighborhoods and Foss Creek multi-use trail. The redesigned street calms traffic while maintaining traffic flow, delivery service and emergency access. New streetscape improvements will support local businesses while creating an iconic people friendly [avenue] that meaningfully integrates[with] the natural environment.”

Among the key features would be reducing traffic lanes from five lanes to three (including a middle turning lane), plus the construction of protected bike lanes and pedestrian improvements to renovate the avenue. The bike lanes would be wide enough to serve as traffic evacuation lanes, should an emergency arise.

The Vision

Beyond the core downtown area, Healdsburg Avenue extends from Powell Avenue northward to Passalacqua Road, gateway to the Montage hotel and homes. Major

intersections between include Dry Creek/March Avenue with its shopping and Highway 101 access, and Parkland Farms Boulevard access to the housing development there.

The Healdsburg Avenue improvement project has been in the works for years, coming into focus during a robust community engagement campaign conducted in 2019. Three public forums evaluated the overall vision and goals for Healdsburg Avenue through focus group meetings, online and in-person surveys, and community design workshops.

Among the goals the community input program evolved were to help create a “complete street” that is safe, comfortable, well-connected and reliable for walking, biking or public transit, as well as emergency access. Enhancements of the natural environment and encouragement of business and economic development were also favored by a strong voice in the community feedback process.

The project will produce a road diet by reducing the through lanes on Healdsburg Avenue from five lanes to three.

Prior to the construction of Highway 101 to the west, Healdsburg Avenue

was the main state highway corridor for travel to the north, though it was never a freeway in the current sense.

But that stretch of road no longer sees the traffic that warrants five lanes, and transportation consultants believe that fewer lanes will result in slower traffic, fewer accidents and a more liveable thoroughfare.

“Primarily, it will create an environment that will encourage cycling and walking,” said Zimmer. For many residents, “the biggest draw right now is the community center,” he added. “The community center gets a very large number of Healdsburg residents, including students, that traverse from their neighborhoods to the community center on a very regular basis.

“One of the things that we received in that community engagement was a lot of comments from people, particularly parents, who were concerned about their kids biking and or walking to the community center from where they lived,” he noted.

Zimmer said that the creation of a new 35-acre public park north of Parkland Farms, currently called Saggio Hills, would also be a draw. “It’s

going to be a big park, and it’s going to be an active park, with playing fields and other community enhancements,” said the public works director. “As opposed to a passive park, which is, you know, just open space.”

The Money

At the Feb. 6 city council meeting, where the news of the large grant was shared by City Manager Jeff Kay, Vice Mayor David Hagele pointed out that “it could very easily have gone the other way.”

“It wasn’t a slam dunk,” said Hagele, the only member of the current city council who then held a seat. “There was concern about the cost of just getting the report, which was I think $470,000 for the original contract with MIG. I think it speaks to the council members who voted to support this

project going forward to have a bigger vision.”

“The $11.8 million grant will go a long way toward paying for much of the construction, though it cannot be used for design or “environmental clearance,” said Zimmer. To help offset the difference, there needs to be a “significant city contribution of roughly $3 million, when you work in a construction contingency and construction management,” he continued.

Under questioning, Zimmer said, “If you’re including the design, the environmental construction, everything from here on out, you’re looking at approximately $16 million, give or take.”

The first phase of the project should begin this summer, with the “undergrounding” of utilities and upgrading of aged or undersized sewer and water lines. “It’s prudent

to have the utilities in good enough shape that you can trust that you won’t have to dig through your fresh pavement in the near future,” said Zimmer. Surface improvements should begin in 2026, with completion expected sometime in 2028.

Coupled with recent federal, state and regional grants for bringing SMART rail to Windsor, Healdsburg and beyond, the future of modern multi-modal travel in north Sonoma County is beginning to look a lot like the proverbial Christmas.

Hagele concluded his remarks at the Feb. 6 City Council meeting by saying, “It’s something that I saw where it started, and we’re all going to see where it’s ending. It’s pretty exciting to have that massive improvement to the middle of Healdsburg.”

Francis Klein Trunk Week

MULTI-MODAL ROAD A vision of Healdsburg Avenue north of Powell five years hence, with bikes, pedestrians and cars on a redesigned ‘complete street.’

Photo courtesy of City of Healdsburg

Among the goals the community input program evolved were to help create a ‘complete street’ that is safe, comfortable, well-connected and reliable for walking, biking or public transit, as well as emergency access.

Black History Is American History, Says City Proclamation

SMITH ROBINSON AGAIN STANDS AS SYMBOL OF HEALDSBURG’S BETTER SIDE

By Christian Kallen

The City of Healdsburg, at their Monday Feb. 6 city council meeting, issued a proclamation declaring February as Black History Month in the city, among other reasons because “Black history is American history, and Black History Month is a time where all citizens are encouraged to reflect on the past successes and challenges of Black communities and to look to the future to ensure freedom, equity and inclusiveness,” read Councilmember Evelyn Mitchell from the city’s proclamation at the meeting.

First-term Councilmember Ron Edwards, who is Black, addressed the recognition in the Feb. 6 city council meeting. “I have been here for 30 years, and Healdsburg has been an accepting town all the way back to when Smith Robinson’s family arrived here fleeing from Georgia in 1903. Healdsburg welcomed this family into town when (other) local cities banned African Americans from being here,” said Edwards. Robinson was one of the local hospital’s longtime employees, and widely engaged in the community as a coach, choir leader and mentor. During both World War II and the Korean War, he led community goodwill efforts to support local troops overseas. The high school’s gymnasium is named after him.

The teaching of Black history in schools is making headlines in other states for all the wrong reasons, but in California, in places like Healdsburg, there are signs of continued acceptance and respect for Black culture, history and its value as part of the wider American story. The connection of education with Black history is unavoidable. It was a teacher and educator, Carter G. Woodson, who was one of the first to write about the story of Black men and women in American history.

“Woodson believed that the white-dominated historical profession had

little interest in Black history,” observes an NAACP biography about Woodson. He saw African-American contributions “overlooked, ignored, and even suppressed by the writers of history textbooks and the teachers who use them.”

In 1926, he pushed for a Negro History Week in the second week of February—to coincide with both George Washington’s and Frederick Douglass’ birthdays. Fifty years later, Gerald Ford was the first president to recognize Black History Month during the country’s bicentennial year, 1976.

Appropriately, the second in the city’s series of four Diversity, Equity and Inclusion “Encuentros” (conversations) will be titled “Is the Dream Alive?” and focus on the topic of contemporary and historical experiences of the African American community in Healdsburg and Sonoma County. It will take place on Thursday, Feb. 23, in the Healdsburg Community Center’s multi-purpose room from 6:30-8:30pm. All are welcome; language interpretation, childcare and light refreshments will be provided.

The county’s library system, one of the cornerstones of public education, is doing their part by showcasing African music and arts with percussionist Baba Shibambo at several regional libraries, including in Healdsburg on Feb. 11.

The 11am interactive program will introduce the cultural traditions of South Africa though Indigenous music and story-telling, and participants will have the chance to play traditional African instruments such as djembes, marimas and shekeres.

The following weekend, on Feb. 18, Shibambo will share his interactive program at the Northwest Library at Coddingtown Center at 11am, and again the same day at 2pm at the Sonoma Valley branch (755 W. Napa St., Sonoma).

Additionally, extensive reading lists for all age groups for Black History Month can be found online at sonomalibrary. org/BlackHistoryMonth.

APPRECIATION Smith Robinson in Washington, DC in 1955, with Congressperson Herbert Scudder and Arline Langhart Weyand, the wife of the commander of the army battalion that Healdsburg ‘adopted’ during the Korean War. Robinson headed the campaign for Healdsburg.

OBITUARY

SHIRLEY ANN DEMATTEI

March 1, 1937 - January 5, 2023

Shirley Ann (Griffin) DeMattei, a longtime resident of Healdsburg, passed away peacefully on January 5, 2023. Born in Oklahoma, she was just an infant when her family emigrated to Sonoma County in 1938 to escape the dust bowl. The family settled in Fulton, North of Santa Rosa, where Shirley grew up and attended school in Healdsburg. At the age of sixteen, she married her high school sweetheart, Robert “Bob” DeMattei of Healdsburg, and were happily together for 53 years, until his passing on April 30, 2006. Shirley was warm, loving and generous and enjoyed spending time with friends and family. She was especially happy in the company of the many dogs she and Bob had over the years. She was always passionate about supporting organizations that benefitted her four-legged friends and has generously donated for their cause. She was loved and will be missed.

Shirley was the dearest sister and sister-inlaw to Charles and Tako Griffin of Rio Vista, Don Auradou of Clearlake and Theresa DeMattei of San Francisco, and a beloved Aunt to Steve (Kelly) Auradou of Gig Harbor, WA, Rick (Diane)

Auradou of Clearlake, Ron (Alma) Auradou of Daniel, WY, Mike (Judy) Auradou of Healdsburg, Mike (Julie) Griffin of Rio Vista, Debbie (Pat) Griffin-Brannigan of Fernley, NV, Corky (Mari Anne) Griffin of Salem, OR, Jim Griffin of Rio Vista, Cindy (Tom) Griffin Havens of Rio Vista, Ron Elliott of San Mateo, Janice (Steve) Davoren of San Francisco, Doreen (Pepe) DeMattei of Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Ron Bettiga of Windsor, Rob (Jaime) Bettiga of Dayton, OR, Karen Azzalini of Santa Rosa, Michael (Leonor) Azzalini of San Francisco, David (Alexandra) Castillo DeMattei of Boca Raton, FL, Monica (Alex) Castillo DeMattei of Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Shirley is also survived by numerous other nieces, nephews and cousins.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents Catherine and Elmer Griffin; sister Darlene Auradou; mother-in-law and father-in-law Adele and Jack DeMattei; sisters-in-law and brothers-inlaw Mary and George Gagliardo, Gene DeMattei, Ida and Bing Bettiga, Lola and Charles Elliott; nieces and nephews Terrie Auradou, Steve Griffin, David and Fran Bettiga, and Stephanie Bettiga.

Friends and family are invited to attend a Rosary Service for Shirley on Friday, February 10, 2023 at 10:30am at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Healdsburg, followed by a Funeral Mass starting at 11:00am. Afterwards, there will be a crypt side service at Oak Mound Cemetery, Healdsburg.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Shirley’s name to the Healdsburg Animal Shelter would be appreciated.

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Greyhound Girls

were so emotional afterwards, and there were a lot of tears and hugging in the locker room,” said Zichichi the next morning.

For the first time since 2004, a Healdsburg girls basketball team claimed the league title. They got there despite several late season injuries, including one to junior star Hailey Webb, the team’s leading scorer: She was in a Jan. 27 auto accident that takes her out for at least six weeks, long past the inevitable league and California Interschoalstic Federation (CIF) division playoffs.

Another key player, Hannah Sellards, sprained her ankle on Thursday night in a 46-11 win over St. Vincent de Paul. So it was a depleted varsity squad that met Piner at home in Healdsburg on Feb. 4.

But as Coach Zichichi said, “The girls were able to get it done. It was huge.” Maddie Wagner took up the challenge of Webb’s absence and led scoring with 19 points, including five 3-pointers. Allie Espinoza had 14 points and 15 rebounds. Ruby Leffew scored 14, four on 3-pointers. And Itzel Ortiz had 10 points and six rebounds.

The final 72-20 score reflected the dominance the Lady Hounds exerted over their opponents throughout the season, but it wasn’t entirely a surprise to the coach or to the team. Zichichi, the former surgeon and Dry Creek

winemaker who has coached the team since 2017, said he knew it was a special team from the start. “Seriously, from day one, the very first practice, I said, this is a special team. I said, we can do special things,” he recalled.

And from the start they did, taking on a rough preseason schedule that included bigger schools and long travel days, but resulted in an impressive 11-3 record, leading up to the first Redwood League match on Jan. 4 against Windsor.

They won that first Windsor game handily, 57-29, and swept through the league’s first half on fire. “Before League started, I was thinking, you know, we can do pretty well,” recalled Zichichi. “I was worried about Rancho and Windsor, and Santa Rosa for that matter. And then we ran through the first round and beat everybody bad. I think the closest game was like 25 points.” It was, a Jan. 11 55-30 win over Santa Rosa.

“But I knew the second go round was going to be harder,” Zichichi said. First team on the schedule for the second half was again Windsor, but this time the Jaguars were ready. Their 3-pointers were sinking, their rebounds were working, their passing game on target. The final score was almost a humiliation, 43-28.

“I knew there was a bad game on the

horizon,” sighed Zichichi. “We couldn’t shoot, we just couldn’t shoot.” While the Jaguars were on a roll, the Greyhounds could only sink six out of 48 3-point attempts, not nearly enough in the current style of play.

The loss proved an anomaly, however, the kind of thing that happens once in a long season. The team finished the year as they began it, sweeping through the Redwood League with a series of big point-spread wins against Elsie Allen (57-38), Santa Rosa (5420) and St. Vincent de Paul before the Piner win.

The season-ending victory sweep gives the Hounds first seed in the Redwood League playoffs, which began Tuesday night against Santa Rosa. Healdsburg won, 36-31, and will meet Windsor (who defeated Rancho Cotate that same night, 51-48) for the third time this season on Friday at home. The coach is still only cautiously optimistic that they can sweep the playoffs, too, as they are still without their leading player—Hailey Webb.

But on Monday, the coaches met to select the all-league players, and Webb was named league co-MVP. In fact, the Greyhounds cleaned up at the league coach’s meeting, with six players recognized for their play: Ashley Behrens won Defensive Player of the Year, Allie Espinoza and Itzel Ortiz were named to the first team, Maddie Wagner to the second team, with Ruby Leffew receiving an honorable mention.

And to no one’s surprise, Steve Zichichi was named Coach of the Year. The team motto is “Team First,” said Zichichi, and their play reflected the generous awareness that characterizes team play. “It’s just a great team. They’re talented, but none of them have egos, you know. We always look for the open player, the best shot.” Team First. And now there’s a pennant to prove it hanging at Smith Robinson Gym. The first since 2004.

Boys Basketball

The boys are also headed to league playoffs, finishing in second place with a 5-3 record behind 8-0 Ukiah. But they capped their season on Feb. 3 with a thrilling near-miss against Ukiah, 48-46—only a single basket separating the Greyhounds from an upset. In fact, the onfire Greyhounds built up a 20-point first half lead, but it wasn’t quite enough to extinguish the Wildcats, who made up more than the difference before the final buzzer.

The boys’ first playoff game was Wednesday this week against Rancho Cotate (results too late for press time), who they defeated 47-44 on Jan. 28. If they win that one, the Greyhounds will probably face Ukiah once again for the championship on Saturday.

Friday’s girl basketball playoff final against Windsor starts at 7pm at Smith Robinson Gym on the Healdsburg High School campus.

LAYUP Sophomore Allie Espinoza scores two of her 14 points in the Feb. 4 game against Windsor, which Healdsburg won to take the league pennant for the first time since 2004.

Photo by Michael Lucid