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Healdsburg
April 20, 2026

Healdsburg Happenings, Oct. 30-Nov. 7

Joshua Tree at dawn, Andy Katz photo
Photographer and world traveler Andy Katz introduces a gallery of his prints at CraftWork on Wednesday Nov. 5, starting at 5:30pm. With Aperture wine and hors d’oeuvres, $60 for the event, half-price for members and friends of CraftWork, 445 Center St., craftworkhbg.com.

Letters: A vote for oaks in city plant survey

Valley oak in landscape
"I was so happy to see that the City of Healdsburg has given us a chance to suggest an official City flower, plant or tree as representative of Healdsburg," writes reader Mary Kelley. "I was especially pleased to see that all of the options are California Native Plants. There are five different plants from which to choose, and the sixth option is a category which encompasses a variety of species of Oak trees."

Prepare To Be Merry, Healdsburg!

A relatively new tradition continues this Friday with the third annual Merry Healdsburg party at the Plaza, an occasion to celebrate the winter season, shop for local gifts, enjoy the company of neighbors and witness the Lighting of the Tree. “Bring the whole family to...

‘Formula Retail’ Limits Return for Council’s Approval

Map of Healdsburg downtown with retail exclusion zone shown
Briefly put, a formula retail store sells a branded line of products with standardized services, menus, decor, uniforms, architecture, signs or other similar features, as if the store is following a formula. If that’s not clear enough, visit the new Faherty’s menswear shop at 326 Healdsburg Ave., half a block off the Plaza.

The Man Behind the Hot Wildfire Tracking App

Prescribed burning near Healdsburg
When asked how Watch Duty stands out from other wildfire apps, John C. Mills’ answer was simple: accuracy and immediacy. “We don’t speculate,” he said. “We disseminate information directly from professionals. If a first responder says a fire will reach a community in 17 minutes, we relay that information without delay. That’s our commitment to transparency.”

It’s Not Spring till the Market Opens

New chair of the Healdsburg Farmers Market, Shalie Gaskill Jonker, in a sprouting tent at Noble Goat Ranch.
“I think one of the things that people don’t think about is how long the produce lasts,” said Janet Ciel, Healdsburg Farmers Market manager. “So you buy from a farmer’s market that was picked that morning or the night before, but when you buy from a grocery store, that same head of lettuce, it’s three or four or five days in a freaking truck before you ever get it to your home!”

Snapshot: The OG conservationists

Amish country in Ohio
Living in a tech-dominated world, it’s hard to imagine a day or year without a cellphone or car, yet that is every day, every year, for the Amish.

Faherty Opens As Council Considers Formula Stores

Faherty store display
The new proposal was to expand the formula-free zone one block further into the Downtown Commercial district. McDowell showed a map where a red line marked the border of the proposed formula-free zone; it surrounds most of seven city blocks adjacent to the Plaza, marking a significant expansion of the prohibition zone.

4th of July is patriotism with a bang

Colorized 1896 holiday parade
Once again Healdsburg throws itself wholeheartedly into the 4th of July holiday, starting at 10am with the Fourth of July Kids Parade and Duck Dash in the Healdsburg Plaza. Arrive on bikes, tricycles and wagons adorned with red, white and blue decorations. There will be live music and activities for all.

No ‘remote’ public comment

City Council votes against reinstatement The Healdsburg City Council decided Tuesday night to continue limiting public comment to in-person and written submissions, declining to reinstate live remote participation via Zoom after a detailed review of legal, operational and security concerns. “After a thorough and wide-ranging discussion,...
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Arts & Entertainment

Melissa Yanc

Rising star in the kitchen

Melissa Yanc’s culinary path began at her grandmother’s side, learning her way around a kitchen since childhood. Over 16 years in the hospitality industry, she honed her craft through pastry school before opening her first bakery in Denver at the young age of 23.