🌱 3 Stolen Cars? + Block Party + No More Online Public Commenters

Hello, friends! I'm back in your inbox today with a fresh edition of the Healdsburg Patch newsletter, filled with all the local news you need to know right now. Sorry the newsletter has been spotty lately — I'll try to be better about sending it on schedule! Today's issue includes updates on:

• A streak of stolen-vehicle arrests in Healdsburg last week
• Strict new rules for the public comment period at city meetings
• A recent block party on Ward Street, meant to restore a feeling of safety and togetherness
• And more...

Today's newsletter is sponsored by Stacey Bernd, Realtor with Healdsburg Sotheby's

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Now, your local weather:

• Tuesday: Sunny and warm. High: 86 Low: 52.
• Wednesday: Sunny and even warmer. High: 92 Low: 52.
• Thursday: Sunny and warmer still! High: 94 Low: 53.

Air over Healdsburg:

Here are the top 3 stories today in Healdsburg:

1. Healdsburg cops arrested four different people for alleged car thefts during a stretch of only three days last week, local police officials say. Here's what happened, according to a Healdsburg Police Department news release: First, on Tuesday at around 1:15 p.m., "officers canvassed a local transient encampment and located a reported stolen motorcycle. HPD officers investigated and arrested 41-year-old Daniel Engle out of Healdsburg." Police tell the Press Democrat that "the bike had been missing since November 2022, when it was stolen out of a Sonoma County repair shop" — and that they "believe the bike was passed to multiple people after it was stolen before Engle obtained it." Then, on Wednesday around 12:15 p.m., the department says "officers located a reported stolen vehicle on Dry Creek Rd. near Healdsburg Av. HPD officers conducted a traffic stop on the driver. HPD officers investigated the incident and arrested 39-year-old Ramon Macias out of Geyserville." That car was reportedly a Lexus SUV that went missing down in Newark a couple of weeks ago. And lastly, on Thursday around 9 p.m., the department says "officers located a reported stolen vehicle on Healdsburg Av. near Passalacqua Rd. HPD officers conducted a traffic stop on the occupants. After an investigation, HPD officers arrested 30-year-old Luis Langolozado out of Rohnert Park and 36-year-old Hector Pulidogonzalez out of Windsor." THAT car was a cargo trailer reported stolen from Rohnert Park on Sept. 18, according to the Press Democrat. (Healdsburg Police Department via Facebook & Press Democrat; paywall)
2. Folks who tuned in virtually to the Healdsburg City Council meeting on Monday were not allowed to participate in the public comment period — a restriction that will continue at Healdsburg city meetings for the foreseeable future. Why? City officials say they made the change "due to recent disruptive and hate-filled comments happening to cities across the region." They say "these attacks have subjected communities to profane content and threaten the City Council’s ability to conduct business." Sonoma County government leaders made a similar rule recently for county meetings; theirs will last through the end of the year at least. More from the city's announcement: "The City welcomes public input and regrets the inconvenience that this change may cause for members of the community who prefer to participate in meetings virtually. No end date has been identified at this time, but the City hopes to return to normal operations as soon as it is possible to do so." Locals who want to speak up during the public comment period can do so by either attending a meeting in person or emailing their comments to [email protected] ahead of time. (Healdsburg Patch & City of Healdsburg via Facebook)
3. With help from the city and local nonprofit Corazón Healdsburg, the neighbors of Ward Street on the east side of Healdsburg held a big, lively block party last Thursday. Organizers' goal, according to the Press Democrat, was to "encourage neighbors to interact again, and show they can help improve an impoverished neighborhood in one of Sonoma County’s most affluent cities." This, after "gunfire in February 2021 sparked unease among Ward Street residents, leaving them concerned about safety in their neighborhood and reluctant to interact with city leaders and police." Here are some more details from the PD story: "Ward Street is a narrow, quarter-mile road lined with small houses and apartments. It’s between Healdsburg and Railroad avenues, the latter a short, unpaved stretch parallel to railroad tracks. On Thursday, residents, city leaders, firefighters and police officers gathered at the north end of the street where a traditional Mexican band played music, people ate tacos from Tacos El Mantecas and tables were set up for the city and Corazón Healdsburg to offer services. Residents sat on lawn chairs outside their apartments while children played in the streets — a rare site, according to [resident Angelica Gonzales. 'This is needed,' she said. 'People just don’t talk to each other and we want that to change.'" Read more here! (Press Democrat; paywall)

Check out what our other local sponsors can do for you:

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Click here to get your business featured in this spot.

Healdsburg pic of the day:

Wanna see one of your pics in the newsletter? You can submit it here for consideration. Please just confirm in your email that you took any photos you're sending, and that Patch has permission to republish them. Thanks! 📸

Upcoming events:

Tuesday, October 3

• Homework Help at the Healdsburg Library (Weekly, 3:15-5:45PM)
• Healdsburg High School Girls Tennis Team Plays at Home Vs. Analy (4PM)
• Healdsburg High School Girls Volleyball Team Plays at Home Vs. Elsie Allen (6:30PM)
• Erin Rae & Skyway Man Live at Little Saint (8-10PM)

Wednesday, October 4

• Healdsburg Elementary's Fitch Mountain Campus Participates in "International Walk & Roll to School Day" (All Day)
• Food Distribution at the Healdsburg Senior Center (9:30-10AM)
• "Game On!" Video Game Meetup for Teens at the Healdsburg Library (1:30-3PM)
• Smash Bros. Video Game Tournament at the Healdsburg Library (3-5:30PM)
• Healdsburg High School Cross Country Team Hosts Home Meet Vs. Cardinal Newman (3:45PM)
• Healdsburg Young Professionals Network Hosts "Capture & Connect" Mixer at CraftWork Healdsburg, Featuring Headshot Photography (4-7PM)
• "Knits & Knots" at the Healdsburg Library: Learn How to Knit/Crochet With Experts From the Purls of Joy Co-Op (6-8PM)
• Corazón Healdsburg Hosts Noche de Información / Information Night for First Generation College Hopefuls at the Healdsburg Community Center (7-8:30PM)
• Trivia Night at Coyote Sonoma (Weekly, 7-9PM)

Thursday, October 5

• Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce Hosts "Good Morning, Healdsburg!" Conversation With North Village Developers (8AM)
• Blood Drive at Exchange Bank's Healdsburg Location (10AM-1:15PM)
• Scarecrow Scavenger Hunt at Francis Ford Coppola Winery (Mondays-Thursdays, Oct. 5-Nov. 26, 11AM-5PM)
• Healdsburg High School Girls Tennis Team Plays at Home Vs. Ukiah (4PM)
• Chef Ralph of Bistro Ralph Serves 3-Course Dinner at The Parish, Featuring His Famous Chicken Paillard Dish & Rootdown Wines (Weekly, Oct. 5-23, 5:30PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company Hosts Run to Francis Ford Coppola Winery (6PM)
• Healdsburg High School Girls Volleyball Team Plays at Home Vs. Piner (6:30PM)
• Documentary Film Screening at THE 222: "The Underground Orchestra" (7PM)
• Karaoke Night at Coyote Sonoma (Weekly, 7-9PM)
• SOLD OUT: The War & Treaty Live at Little Saint (8-10PM)

From our partner:

Do you know someone making a positive impact in Healdsburg? We want to hear about them! Click here to nominate a community leader. You'll answer a few questions, and we’ll do the rest with stories on Patch, so the whole neighborhood can celebrate what makes them special.

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• Ralph's Paillard at The Parish, featuring Rootdown Wine (October 5)
• Add your event

That's it for today. I'll see you soon!

— Simone Wilson

About me: I was born and raised in Healdsburg, CA, where I was the editor of the Healdsburg High School Hound's Bark. I have since worked as a local journalist for publications in San Diego, Los Angeles, New York City and the Middle East. I'm currently a senior product manager for Patch.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Healdsburg Patch newsletter? Contact me at [email protected]