🌱 New Healdsburg Hotel Rules + Fake Jewelry Bust + Bistro Ralph Cameo

Hey, everybody! It's me, Simone, your host of the Healdsburg Patch newsletter — back in your inbox on this late-summer Thursday to get you up to speed on all the most important things happening locally. Today's newsletter includes updates on:

• Three people from Florida caught allegedly selling fake gold jewelry in the Safeway shopping center parking lot
• What's happening with the proposal for a new luxury hotel next to John & Zeke's
• How local winemakers are using AI technology
• The return of beloved Healdsburg restaurant Bistro Ralph (sort of)
• And more...

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

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Now, your local weather:

• Thursday: Fog and clouds turning to sun. High: 79 Low: 47.
• Friday: Fog and clouds turning to sun again. High: 79 Low: 48.
• Saturday: Same deal! High: 78 Low: 50.

Also, heads up: A "red flag" fire-weather warning issued yesterday by the National Weather Service for the mountains just east of Healdsburg will remain in place through 5 p.m. this evening. "Low humidity and northerly winds with gusts of up to 35 mph could cause fires to rapidly grow if they spark," the Bay City News wire reports. (Bay City News via Patch)

And if you've been noticing some smoke in the air over the past couple of days: County officials say it's coming from "wildfires currently burning in Northern California and Southern Oregon." However, "there are no wildfires in Sonoma County at this time." (County of Sonoma via Facebook)

Air over Healdsburg:

Here are the top 3 stories today in Healdsburg:

1. After the Healdsburg City Council realized earlier this month that an ordinance they passed nearly five years ago to limit the size of new hotels in downtown Healdsburg has never actually been valid due to a procedural error at the time, councilmembers passed the ordinance for real at their meeting this week. However, according to the Healdsburg Tribune, the controversial hotel proposal that unearthed the whole problem — a 16-room, 50-foot-tall residential-style hotel known as "H4" that Piazza Hospitality wants to build next to John & Zeke's — will not be blocked by the new ordinance, because councilmembers reportedly decided not to make the rules retroactive. So Piazza will be allowed to continue ushering their proposal through the city's regular approval process. The Tribune has some great details from City Hall: "An old-fashioned Healdsburg City Council meeting took place on Monday night, with wave upon wave of citizens queuing up to the podium to state their opinion of the council’s attempt to readopt the Hotel Ordinance first passed in December, 2018 — and recently revealed to have been wounded twice in its first month by city staff inefficiency. Some 40 people took their three minutes each to express a range of opinions on the issue, though the meeting turned into a referendum on Piazza’s generous impact on the city." Click through to the Tribune for a full play-by-play of the downtown hotel drama, or watch Monday's meeting yourself on the city's Facebook page. (Healdsburg Tribune & Healdsburg City Council via Facebook)
2. Earlier this week, Healdsburg cops say they arrested three people from Florida on suspicion of running a "counterfeit sales operation" out of the Safeway shopping center here in town. Here's what went down, according to the Healdsburg Police Department: "On Tuesday, September 19th , at about 10:30 AM Healdsburg Police received a call from a citizen reporting some subjects in a vehicle had attempted to sell him a gold chain in the parking lot of the Vineyard Shopping Center. The reporting party felt that the nature of the interaction was suspicious and alerted police. An Officer located a vehicle matching the description of those involved in the area and contacted the occupants of the vehicle. During an investigation and subsequent search of the vehicle Officers located about 30 suspected counterfeit sealed and labeled Apple Watches and Ear Pods, over 250 pieces of suspected counterfeit gold jewelry, over $2,500 cash, and several gift cards. Based on officers’ observations it was suspected that the individuals were involved in a counterfeit sales operation. 23 year old Maarco Miclescu, 31 year old Avrinte Miclescu, and 28 year old Cristina Sirbu of Florida were arrested on suspicion of possessing for sale counterfeit trademarked goods and counterfeit gold and booked into the [Sonoma] County Jail." (Healdsburg Police Department via Facebook & Press Democrat; paywall)
3. And over the weekend, on Saturday afternoon, Healdsburg police arrested another guy — 25-year-old Sonoma resident Carl Trumble — after he allegedly tried to steal from a local business, then tried to flee on a stolen motorcycle. Here's what police say happened: "On September 16th, at 2:48 PM, Healdsburg Police Department Dispatch received a call from a local business reporting a theft in progress. The reporting party provided a description of the suspect and their vehicle, a black motorcycle. As officers arrived at the scene, they identified the motorcycle as one that was reported stolen. Responding officers initiated a traffic stop and the suspect failed to comply, continuing southbound on Highway 101 at a high rate of speed. The pursuit continued into Windsor, with the suspect driving recklessly. The suspect abandoned the motorcycle on Highway 101 and attempted to escape on foot. With assistance from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office and [their Henry-1 helicopter], officers successfully located and apprehended the suspect. The suspect... was subsequently booked into the Sonoma County Jail on multiple charges, which include possession of a stolen vehicle, felony vehicular evasion, possession of a controlled substance, shoplifting, violation of probation, reckless driving, and an outstanding warrant." (Healdsburg Police Department via Facebook & msnNOW)

Shoutout to the awesome local businesses who keep this newsletter running:

• Searching for your dream rental in the Healdsburg area? Discover the pleasure of finding your perfect rental in picturesque Healdsburg with the expert guidance of Stacey Bernd. With 50 incredible years of living and breathing Sonoma County as a second-generation realtor, Stacey is dedicated to helping you find the ideal home. Connect with Stacey Bernd to have her find your dream rental home.

• 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.

• Healdsburg gardeners and plant enthusiasts: Help your Fall and Winter gardens thrive! 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, combined with knowledge and friendly staff, to help your garden flourish — including great prices on all your soil needs. Visit them here and check out their Fall Super Sale for up to 30% off.

Click here to see your business featured in this spot.

Healdsburg pic of the day:

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Upcoming events:

Thursday, September 21

• Social Services Fair at the Healdsburg Library (3PM)
• Healdsburg High School Girls Tennis Team Plays at Home Vs. Cardinal Newman (4PM)
• Sofia Talvik, Folk/Americana Singer-Songwriter With Nordic Roots, Live at Little Saint (5:45PM)
• Healdsburg High School Girls Volleyball Team Plays at Home Vs. Rancho Cotate (6:30PM)
• AVFilm Hosts Film Jeopardy Night at Plaza Cinema Center (7-9PM)
• Karaoke Night at Coyote Sonoma (Weekly, 7-9PM)
• Comedian Amy Sedaris Performs at the Luther Burbank Center (7:30PM)

Friday, September 22

• Multi-Family Barn Sale at Jimtown Store (Sept. 22-23, 8:30AM-2PM)
• Baby & Toddler Storytime at the Healdsburg Library (10:30AM)
• "Friday Flicks" Film Screening for Teens at the Healdsburg Library (3:30PM)
• Stax City Live at Soda Rock Winery's Alexander Valley Barn Tasting Room (6-8:30PM)
• Grateful Brass Band Live at the Elephant in the Room (8PM)
• Coyote Sonoma Closed for Private Event (8-10PM)

Saturday, September 23

• Healdsburg Running Company Hosts Lake Sonoma Training Run at Marin Headlands (8AM)
• City of Healdsburg Hosts Foss Creek Clean-Up, Featuring Free Breakfast & Lunch for Volunteers (8:30AM-12:30PM)
• Healdsburg Farmers Market in the West Plaza Parking Lot (8:30AM-12PM)
• Sonoma County Master Gardeners Host Pop-Up Succulent Sale at 402 Tucker St. (9AM-1PM)
• Discover Aviation Festival & Young Eagles Rally in Honor of "Girls in Aviation Day" at the Sonoma County Airport, for Kids Aged 8-17 (9AM-2PM)
• Pezzi King Hosts Vintage Wine Warehouse Sale (10AM-3PM)
• Read to a Dog at the Healdsburg Library (Weekly, 11AM)
• Sonoma County Wine Road Hosts Fall Wine Trail at 30 Wineries Across the Alexander, Dry Creek & Russian River Valleys (11AM-4PM)
• "Music in the Vineyards" Concert Series at Orsi Family Vineyards, Featuring Music by Fleetwood Mac Cover Band Fleetwood Mask (12PM)
• Healdsburg International Short Film Festival at the Raven Theater (2PM & 7PM)
• "Femeninas: Songs of Latin American Women" at THE 222, Featuring Performances by Edward Simon, Mexican Vocalist Magos Herrera & Percussionist Luis Quintero (6:30PM & 8:30PM)
• Classic Rock Band Glory Dayz Live at Coyote Sonoma (7-10PM)
• "Masters of Illusion" Magic Show at the Luther Burbank Center (7:30PM)
• Maxx Cabello Jr. & His Blues Band Live at the Elephant in the Room (8PM)

From our partner:

Do you know a teacher making a difference in Healdsburg? Nominate them here for a Teacher Spotlight on Patch.

From my notebook:

• Beloved shuttered restaurant Bistro Ralph will be returning to the Healdsburg food scene for the month of October only, with a weekly "pop-up dinner series" at The Parish Cafe in the Mill Street shopping center, according to Sonoma Magazine. From the story: "The inimitable chef Ralph Tingle is returning for limited dinner engagements at The Parish Cafe on Oct. 5, 12, 19 and 26. The curtain call includes a three-course meal of bistro Caesar salad, chicken paillard, corona beans, sauteed spinach and bittersweet pot de crème, all prepared by Tingle and the Parish team. Gareth Owens, co-owner of the cafe and a sommelier, will partner with local wineries to serve wines at each dinner. The cost is $60 per person, excluding tips, tax and wine. Reservations are highly recommended and available on Open Table." (OpenTable & Sonoma Magazine)
• Local winery Rodney Strong is pioneering AI technology that can control and monitor wine temperature and fermentation inside their 370 storage tanks, according to a new feature on cutting-edge winemaking tech in the Press Democrat. Rodney Strong also uses a tool called an "optimal sorter" — as do the folks at Aperture Cellars — that automatically scans the grape harvest and kicks out any grapes with defects. And the robots won't stop there! Click through to hear from local winemakers about where they think new AI advancements will take the industry over the next five years. (Press Democrat; paywall)
• "Rich Kids of Beverly Hills" reality TV star Brendan Fitzpatrick reportedly got married at a "lavish" celebrity wedding at the Montage Healdsburg resort over the weekend. (AOL & People)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• Sofia Talvik LIVE at Little Saint - Folk / Americana with Nordic Roots (September 21)
• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Get Delighted Every Week (September 26)
• Los Lobos 50th Anniversary Concert (October 1)
• Fogbelt's Beer Camp at Wildhaven Glamping (October 20)
• Add your event

Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll be back in your inbox soon with your next update.

— 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]