🌱 Another Small Fire + Prune Packer Update + Pop-Up School Bus Dinner

Hello, friends! I'm back with your fresh edition of the Healdsburg Patch newsletter, filled with all the things you need to know about what's happening in town. Let's get right to it.

Today's newsletter is sponsored in part by Stacey Bernd, Realtor with Healdsburg Sotheby's. Looking to rent in the Healdsburg area? Rest assured that Stacey Bernd, Sonoma County's premier realtor, will guide you in finding your dream rental. Follow Stacey here for the latest available listings.

Now, your local weather:

• Thursday: Clouds turning to sun. High: 86 Low: 53.
• Friday: Mostly sunny. High: 90 Low: 55.
• Saturday: Mostly sunny and hot. High: 94 Low: 58.

Air over Healdsburg:

Here are the top 3 stories in Healdsburg today:

1. Rec Park was a party last night for the Healdsburg Prune Packers' final game before state championships. The Packers — our local baseball team in California's collegiate summer league, a warmup ground for the major leagues and a place for college players to stay sharp in the off-season — won yesterday's game against the Walnut Creek Crawdads, clinching the title for the league's northern division and sending them to the championship game this weekend for the third consecutive year, according to the Press Democrat. "Wednesday’s game that got them there wasn’t easy, however, as the 'Pack' survived a ninth-inning rally by the visiting Walnut Creek Crawdads for a 10-7 win and the CCL North title," the PD reports. "The Crawdads had beaten the Packers four out of the seven times they met in the regular season, but in the end, it was Healdsburg that won when it mattered most." And here's what's next: "The Prune Packers will now head to Southern California to play in this weekend’s championship series against the CCL South champion, the Arroyo Seco Saints. The Saints were 1-0 winners over the Orange County Riptide in Wednesday’s other game. The best-of-three series starts Friday night, followed by a game Saturday and another Sunday if necessary. 'We’re not going to treat it like anything else,' [Prune Packers manager Joey Gomes] said of the series. 'We’re going to come down and give it everything we got.'" (Healdsburg Prune Packers via Facebook & Healdsburg Tribune & Press Democrat; paywall)
2. Right after that big fire Monday along the 101 at the north end of town, there was another small fire along the 101 at the opposite end of town the next afternoon, according to a bunch of neighbors who posted smoke pics and screenshots of the PulsePoint emergency alert app on Facebook. The fire apparently ignited some vegetation — maybe a tree — along the side of the freeway near the Westside Road exit sometime between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Reports seem to indicate it was extinguished within 15 minutes or so, but not before causing a good little scare. Stay vigilant out there... (Facebook Groups)
3. Local people doing cool things! Healdsburg artist and chef Naomi McLeod has been staging "themed pop-up dinners showcasing local chefs and winemakers" out of a school bus that she parks "in bucolic Sonoma County farms and fields" such as Preston Farm & Winery out Dry Creek, according to Sonoma Magazine. Naomi originally moved to Healdsburg to work as event coordinator for SHED, the food and art space on North Street now occupied by Little Saint. Her new pop-up dinner project, called Field Day CA, also incorporates live music and art displays from other locals — and she's even been "offering pre-dinner art-making workshops where guests can channel their inner muses," the magazine reports. More from the story: "The Field Day CA idea began percolating in 2014, when a friend purchased a vintage Blue Bird International school bus and retrofitted it into a fully functioning catering kitchen. McLeod stepped in part time to help her friend with some small events, while raising a newborn son. The two friends’ fledgling work saluted the phenomenon of Outstanding in the Field, a farm-focused, rock ‘n’ rollstyle series of al fresco dinners, where McLeod had briefly worked. During the pandemic, McLeod bought the kitchen bus from her friend, named it Hugo, and started putting together a new round of ideas for growing the business. But then McLeod lost her home in the Walbridge Fire. 'So, home schooling with a kid and no house — the bus just sat idly by.' Finally, in 2021, she was more settled and ready to relaunch. 'That first dinner was at a woman’s house with spectacular Zinfandel vines, apple orchards and redwoods,' she says — and it was gorgeous.” Read the full story and learn how to get involved here. (Sonoma Magazine)

Here's to the great local businesses who sponsor this newsletter. Check out what they can do for you:

• Healdsburg gardeners and plant enthusiasts: Need help growing your garden? Thrive Hydroponics and Garden Supply is a family-owned, full service garden shop with over 15 years experience helping people care for their plants. Whether you’re a first-time grower or an experienced greenhouse gardener, they’ve got the right supplies and expert knowledge to help your garden flourish — including a variety of soils at the best prices. Visit them here and mention Patch for 30% off your order.

• Looking to buy or sell a luxury property in Sonoma County? Healdsburg’s Sotheby’s International Realty is a local firm with global reach that specializes in luxury real estate, vineyards, wineries and land in Sonoma County. Healdsburg's Sotheby's: local expertise, deep market knowledge, and a passion for the community. Whether buying or selling, it pays to work with the best. Call Healdsburg’s Sotheby’s at 707-433-4800.

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Coming up in Healdsburg:

Thursday, August 3

• Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce Hosts "Good Morning, Healdsburg!" Conversation With Zero Waste Sonoma's Executive Director, Leslie Lukacs (8-9AM)
• Gentle Yoga at the Healdsburg Senior Center (Weekly, Aug. 3-31, 10-10:45AM)
• "Money Smart" School Supply Shopping Activity for Kids at the Healdsburg Library (12:30-2PM)
• Locals/Industry Night at Oakville Grocery & Wine Merchant (5-7PM)
• "Purple Teeth" Comedy Show at Furthermore Wines (7-9PM)
• Indie-Folk Singer-Songwriter Fairhazel Live at Little Saint (7-10PM)
• Raven Players Perform "Shakespeare in the Park" at West Plaza Park: "The Comedy of Errors" (Aug. 3-5, 7:30PM)

Friday, August 4

• Sonoma County Fair at the Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa, Featuring "Jurassic Jubilee" Theme (Aug. 3-13, 12-11PM)
• Welcoming Party for the Stanley Cup Hockey Trophy in the Healdsburg Plaza (1:30-3:30PM)
• Country Rock Band Third Rail Live at Hudson Street Wineries (5-8PM)
• Grand Opening Event at Goodnight's Prime Steak & Spirits (5-9PM)
• "Sip & Support" Dinner & Fundraiser for Russian Riverkeeper at Bella Vineyards, Featuring Food by Diavola Chef Dino Buglica & Art Reveal by Obi Kaufmann (6PM)
• Parisian Pop-Up Dinner at Jordan Winery (6-9PM)
• Love Mischief Live at the Elephant in the Room (8-11PM)

Saturday, August 5

• Healdsburg Farmers Market in the West Plaza Parking Lot (8:30AM-12PM)
• Zucchini Festival at the Farmers Market, Featuring Giant Zucchini Competition & Races (8:30AM-12PM)
• Free Community Document Shredding Event in the Rite Aid Parking Lot (9-11AM)
• Read to a Dog at the Healdsburg Library (Weekly, 11AM)
• Appellation Hotels Hosts Punch Needle Class at Rodney Strong Vineyards: "An Afternoon of Food, Wine & Learning" (1-4PM)
• Artist Conversation at Hammerfriar Gallery for "Stars & Stripes" Exhibit (5-6:30PM)
• Gala for the Arts at THE 222: A Celebration of Healdsburg's Nonprofit Art Organizations, Featuring Performances by the Bandaloop Dance Group (7PM)
• 10-Piece Band Momotombo SF, Including Santana & Malo, Live at the Raven Theater (7:30PM)
• Gladys Knight Live at the Luther Burbank Center (7:30PM)
• Junior Toots Live at the Elephant in the Room (8-11PM)
• Pazifico Live at Coyote Sonoma (8-11PM)

From my notebook:

• The Stanley Cup, hockey's top trophy, will be on display in the Healdsburg plaza for a couple of hours tomorrow afternoon. That's because Healdsburg is the hometown of Bill Foley, who owns the Vegas Golden Knights, reigning champions of the National Hockey League — and the league makes a tradition of bringing the cup to the towns of winning players, coaches and execs. "The Stanley Cup will be on display from 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.," the city says. "Stop by for a chance to see the Stanley Cup in person and grab a photo!" (City of Healdsburg via Facebook & David Hagele via Facebook)
• Wondering whose voice you're hearing on the line when you call the Healdsburg Police Department? Our newest dispatcher, Grace Speakman, just completed her training and will "now be working as a solo Dispatcher and will be answering our community's calls for service," department officials say. "Welcome Grace!" (Healdsburg Police Department via Facebook)
• Guess what? Five tiny baby kittens just went up for adoption at the Healdsburg animal shelter 😻 (Healdsburg Patch)

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Now you're in the loop 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]