What’s the Plan for 444 Healdsburg Ave?
You know that rusty, chained-off warehouse at 444 Healdsburg Ave. with the swirly metal sculpture out front? Well, after years sitting empty, the century-old building may finally be transformed into something of use. In the old days, it reportedly served as a workshop for...
Healdsburg Rain Totals, River Levels
As I'm sure you noticed, we got a real walloping of rain over the weekend — pushing the Russian River up to the 15-foot mark in the spot where they measure it in Healdsburg, just upstream of Memorial Bridge. (Twenty feet is when they start...
Retardant Dropped on ‘Point Fire’ Destroys Vineyard: Report
One more thing to add to the Point Fire damage report I gave you over the weekend: A plot of wine grapes called Lago di Merlo Vineyards near Lake Sonoma may have been destroyed by some of the hot-pink fire retardant dropped by Cal...
In Memoriam: Richard Iverson
Lifelong Healdsburg resident and World War II veteran Richard Iverson, who at one time owned a local hardware store, reportedly passed away in his sleep about one month ago — on the same night he celebrated his 97th birthday. From his illustrious obituary: "Richard served in the Navy during...
Who Won Sonoma County’s 2024 Pruning Contest
The results are in for the 25th annual countywide grapevine pruning contest, which was held last Wednesday at Ferrari-Carano Vineyards in Healdsburg — and the takeaway seems to be that Geyserville pruners just do it better. Miguel Galvan, who works for VinePro Vineyard Management...
Case Update: Deadly Healdsburg Hotel Fight
The Press Democrat has an update on the shocking death in town last summer of Abel Garza, a 41-year-old father of three from Santa Rosa who police say attacked a group of hotel staffers in the pool area at Hotel Healdsburg earlier that day. One of the staffers,...
Rural Healdsburg Fire Caused by Driver With Busted Tire: Cal Fire
The alerts started flowing in this past Wednesday afternoon: A multi-pronged wildfire, consisting of three spot fires, was burning along Chalk Hill Road in the countryside east of Healdsburg and Windsor. Winds were high and grasses were dry. Locals held their breath while Cal Fire and various other...
Healdsburg Restaurant ‘The Wurst’ Getting New Owners
Down at the The Wurst sausage and burger spot at 22 Matheson St., an ownership change is in the works. Longtime owners Melissa and Kevin McDowell are currently in the process of handing off the restaurant to Healdsburg couple David and Elise Baeli, who used to run...
Assembly District 2 Race: All the Latest Dirt
City Councilmember Ariel Kelley is trying to take the "McGuire leap" from Healdsburg city politics to California state politics in the election this year. The latest issue of the Healdsburg Tribune features a a deep dive into all the campaign donations that Kelley has...
Healdsburg Vineyard Worker Dies in Tractor Accident: Update
We now know the name of the young vineyard worker crushed to death by a tractor in a Dry Creek Valley vineyard last week. It was Geyserville resident Ezequiel Orozco, 28, who "was driving the tractor on a muddy private road at 6355 Mountain...
Sports
The view of the Packers from the pressbox
The week just passed encapsulated the great baseball program built by coach Joey Gomes with the Healdsburg Prune Packers. Tons of powerful offense paired with fantastic pitching and defensive web gems, on a team built with rising stars from across the country. It is frankly surprising to see the determination and great chemistry within a team like the Packers after only a month of playing together.