Healdsburg Tribune February 22 2024

TEDx Returns With Inspiration

‘IDEAS WORTH SPREADING’ TO BE SHARED AT JACKSON THEATER

Staff Report

The Big Brains are coming back to Sonoma Country Day School, and we’re not talking about the senior class. TEDx Sonoma County returns to the spacious, comfortable Jackson Theater on Saturday, March 2, for a lively afternoon of intellectual stimulation and life-changing inspiration from a dozen speakers who have something to say.

This year’s theme, “Reimagine, Reconfigure, Reconnect,” is a classic TED sentiment: brief, open-ended and alliterative.

“We’ve entered a cycle of seismic change and are challenged to keep pace with the political, economic and social consequences of new technologies and an accelerated world,” said Anisya Fritz, proprietor of Lynmar Estate and master of ceremonies of the local TEDx talks.

Fritz said that this year’s list of presenters “inspires us to lean into big questions with curiosity and courage, and to participate in the shaping of a better future.”

We’ve entered a cycle of seismic change and are challenged to keep pace with the political, economic and social consequences of new technologies and an accelerated world.”

It will mark the 12th local year of the independent community offshoot of the celebrated TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) Conferences. Along with producer

CAMPAIGN FOR ASSEMBLY GETS DOWN AND DIRTY

‘CARPETBAGGER’ CHARGES, DEEP POCKETS DISRUPT ELECTION PROCESS

By Christian Kallen

In early February, about the time vote-by-mail ballots began arriving at registered voters’ homes, political mailers began appearing as well—glossy, eye-catching, attention-grabbing, oversized postcards. Most promoted their candidate of choice by touting

Marilyn Nagel, Fritz is a primary license holder for TEDx Sonoma County, a qualifying conference of the 40-year-old national organization whose motto is, “Ideas worth spreading.”

community endorsements, grassroots support, party or labor connections. But during the past three weeks open conflict between two candidates, Rusty Hicks and Ariel Kelley, erupted into hit advertising through direct mail and targeted video. The initial attacks on Hicks pictured him in an L.A. Dodgers baseball cap, a sure-fire trigger for Northern Californians. The obvious, if not overstated conclusion is that he is not really a local, but a recent arrival coincident with Jim Woods’ early departure from the 2nd Assembly District seat. Hicks is presented as the definition of carpetbagger, who flew a loopy route up north from Santa Monica to Sacramento just to run for Assembly in Arcata. “He knows little more about our area than

➝

The Saturday event begins at 1:30pm and runs through 12 presentations expressing a variety of voices and perspectives. The standard duration for a TED-style talk is 18 ➝ TEDx Returns, 3

a tourist,” the mailer digs. Hicks is perhaps the best-funded candidate for the District 2 seat, with the endorsement and support of a battalion of labor groups. He is simultaneously continuing to serve as the chair of the California Democratic Party, as he has since 2019. He currently lives in Humboldt County and teaches at the nearby federal penitentiary, Pelican Bay. He is endorsed by Jim Wood, the man he is running to replace, as well as by Gov. Gavin Newsom (whose endorsement is infrequently mentioned), several previous Assembly persons and labor leader Dolores Huerta, among many other organized labor organizations. While the North Coast district has not always been a power broker in state politics, the firepower

Photo by Christian Kallen

Photos courtesy TEDx Sonoma County

WELCOME Jennifer Raiser spoke at the 2023 TEDx Sonoma County about Burning Man, which she described as ‘a carnival on Mars.’

This year 13 guest speakers will elevate and stimulate attendees on Saturday, March 2.

ANISYA

GOINGS ON AROUND

TOWN THIS

WEEK & NEXT

Restaurant Week

Continuing through Sunday, Feb. 25, 19 local restaurants (14 in Healdsburg and 5 in Windsor) are offering special menus and discounts. See socorestaurantweek.org for details.

Sonoma Landscapes

Photographer Christopher Leith Evans just opened his new gallery at 316 Center St. with an exhibit of “Big Landscapes of Sonoma County.” An opening reception is planned for Thursday, Feb. 22, from 5-8pm. christopherleithevans.com.

Empowering Trio

The group Trousdale consists of Quinn D’Andrea, Georgia Greene and Lauren Jones, whose melodic and

READERS WEIGH IN ON HEALDSBURG’S WEIGHTY ISSUES

Vertice View

Following the informal community meeting with Vertice Hospitality (SingleThread) at the film center (Feb. 7), concerning the group’s proposed uses for the former Raven Film Center and 150 North St., I wanted to express a few thoughts.

In writing this I wear “two hats.” The first hat is as a property owner on the corner of North and East streets. Our family and our neighbors are most directly affected by a new and larger building at 150 North St., as well as any expanded use of the location for other than existing office space. Currently, buildings along East Street that interface with the residential neighborhood are one or two stories and most have substantial setbacks

heartfelt harmonies draw inspiration from a wide array of music. They will perform an SRO show on the Second Story stage starting at 7pm on Thursday, Feb. 22. Tickets $25 at tinyurl. com/mvdrcjj3 or the Little Saint, 25 North St.

Circus Gala

Enjoy knife-throwers, stage performances and a ballroom dancing show, plus sips and nibbles at the first Winter Gala fundraiser for the Raven Performing Arts Theater on Friday, Feb. 23. $100 tickets or $125 VIP, 6:30pm at 115 North St., raventheater.org.

Sliced White

The regular return of the Wonder Bread 5, Sonoma County’s hottest cover band, is on Friday, Feb. 23, at Coyote Sonoma, 9pm. Show $30, at 44-f Mill St.

Elephant Music

Friday, Feb. 23, finds Silas Fermoy and SPF 1985

burning up the stage at Elephant in the Room, and Lovin’ Dead the next night, Saturday. Both shows 8pm, $10 cover. 177

Healdsburg Ave.

Saturday Jazz Brazilian jazz, American standard gems, classical and pop informs the Stephanie Ozer Trio. The Sonoma pianist is accompanied by Peter Barshay on bass and Kendrick Freeman on drums. Saturday, Feb. 24, 6-9pm, at the Spirit Bar, Hotel Healdsburg, 25 Matheson St.

Kids BHM Show

The Black History Month educator for area schools is Terrence Brewer this year, and his quintet presents a free concert at the Raven Theater on Saturday, Feb. 24, 11am to noon. 115 North St.

Salsa Saturday

Furthermore Wines, at 328-A Healdsburg Ave., has live music in the early

evening hours most weekends from Thursday to Sunday. Saturday, Feb. 24, from 5-8pm, hear guitarist Chip Boaz with Greg Hester and Geoff Whyte.

BHM Experience

Healdsburg Jazz brings their annual Black History Month concert to the Raven stage on Saturday, Feb. 24, starting at 7pm. Percussion master John Santos performs with his quartet while Bay Area painter Adrian Arias creates a “live painting.” Tickets $20-$40 at www. healdsburgjazz.org.

Narrative Night

A free open-mic karaokestyle reading for area writers, who are encouraged to bring an original short story that can be read in 10 minutes. Sunday, Feb. 25, 6:30pm, at The 222, 222 Healdsburg Ave.

Planning Commission

Meeting Tuesday, Feb. 27, at 6pm in City Hall Council

LETTERS

from the sidewalk. These restrictions have been longstanding. Consequently, we all hope the building to be proposed by Vertice will reflect the historical nature of this residential neighborhood in its scale and design and use. Most homes were built during the 19th century for middle class residents, and all current residents have a vested interest in preserving that focus.

There are also broader issues facing Healdsburg and her residents. Both old and new members of the community are affected by these issues. That is my other hat, as a member of the broader community for 30 years.

Change can be vital to the survival of a small town like ours, and conversations about change in Healdsburg are not new. But perhaps those conversations are more pressing these days because what I hear too

often from residents is despair and fear. They fear exclusion in their own town. They fear the inability to access affordable leisure activities. They fear the loss of middle-income families, which have been the backbone of our community. And they despair that nothing can be done to stop it.

Surely plans can be developed by Vertice and others that excite the residents rather than create despair. Their ideas could support a broad spectrum of different lifestyles and backgrounds—and foster wonderful and important diversity. The last development project I can recall that succeeded in building a vibrant community space was the Shed, built by the Lipton family back in 2013. I am hoping the new Foley building and the new AV cinema complex will do so as well. As for the

Chamber, 401 Grove St. ‘Past Lives’

CraftWork’s Crafted Conversations returns this month with an AVFilm screening of Celine Song’s award-winning film, Past Lives, introduced by curator Mike Traina. Thursday, Feb. 29, 5:30pm at the Fireplace Lounge, Craftwork, 445 Center St.

Broadway Bootcamp

The Young at Heart Theater’s performance showcases what the students have learned during their three-month intensive program. Songs, scenes and dance numbers from Broadway musicals on Friday and Saturday, March 1-2, 7pm. Tickets at the door, $10 adults, $5 students, kids under 5 free.

TEDx Sonoma

An afternoon of intellectual speeches, lectures and inspiration under the theme “Reimagine, Reconfigure, Reconnect,” a

classic TEDx sentiment. Hear what 12 thought leaders have to say, Saturday, March 2, at Sonoma Country Day School’s Jackson Auditorium, 1:30-4:30pm. Tickets $25$75, at www.tedxsonomacounty.com.

Mosaic Dance

The Healdsburg Dance Collective presents its second annual “Mosaic” multi-disciplinary show, with live dance performances by UPside Dance Company, the SRJC Dance Company and a local Bachata duo. It’s Sunday, March 3, at The Raven, 115 North St. Tickets $15 children and students, $25 adults, $100 VIP at healdsburgdancecollective.org.

Post events on the ‘Tribune’s’ online calendar at healdsburgtribune.com/ calendar and send special announcements to editor@ healdsburgtribune.com.

dreams of Vertice officers, with all their creative talent, I have faith they can propose an idea that garners community support and excitement from all stakeholders.

What a blessing that would be.

T he C arney F amily East Street, Healdsburg Carpetbagger?

I’ve been thinking about the article about

Rusty Hicks (“Assembly Candidate Faces Revolt

Among Party Delegates,”

Jan. 25) and all the special interest money coming in from outside our district to support his carpetbagger candidacy.

We’ve heard this tale too many times. Before you know it, we’ll be getting stacks of postcards attacking our excellent and effective city council member, Ariel Kelley.

The leader of the state’s Democratic Party should be identifying and supporting up-and-coming

leaders, not using special interest money to buy the seat, which is supposed to represent Healdsburg’s interests. We have to turn out as a community, vote for our best interests and stop this ridiculous power grab. J ohn T homas Healdsburg

Leave appropriate comments on stories at healdsburgtribune.com, or send directly to editor@ healdsburgtribune.com.

Painting by Christopher Leith Evans

LANDSCAPE ‘Winter Oaks, Old Mountain Road,’ an oil painting by Christopher Leith Evans, will be on display among other works at his new gallery at 316 Center St.

TEDx Returns

minutes or less; most have a series or “deck” presentation of images or short video, but it’s the speaker who drives the show.

The short-form structure allows for a sometimes dizzying assault of inspiration that rarely allows time for boredom (or a bathroom break). This year’s roster of speakers begins and ends with musicians— recording artist and textile entrepreneur Lawrence Beamen to start, and Gambia’s Jali Bakary Konteh and Sonoma’s Steve Pile on the Griot Music of West Africa to finish.

In between, the speakers uniformly work on issues with both local and national impact. These include environmentalist Daniela Fernandez, who

created the global organization Sustainable Ocean Alliance at the age of 19 in her college dorm; journalist Carl Fussman of The New York Times and Esquire magazine, on the value of a good question; and Dawn Gross, a hospice and palliative care medicine physician who promotes changing the way we think and talk about death.

Apple’s first “chief evangelist,” Guy Kawasaki, a notable speaker in the tech world for decades, will expound on “How to Murder Your Mediocrity”; Jess Nichol will argue against the three strikes laws that were passed following the murder of her sister, Polly Klass; and filmmaker Quinn Halleck will

propose using Artificial Intelligence to empower creative artists rather than replace them.

Other speakers include behavioral psychologist Brooke Deterline, local first-generation college grad Luz Hernandez, venture capitalist Alex Lazarow and Dr. Mark Shapiro on healthcare.

Snacks and other refreshments will be available. There is one 20-minute intermission, and a short reception following the event, at 5:30pm, is planned.

Complete speaker information and reservation links at tedxsonomacounty.com.

TOTALLY Clinical psychologist Jonah Paquette describes the experience of awe as a central element of emotional fitness, at the 2023 TEDx Sonoma County.

TEDx SISTERS Organizers of the March 2 TEDx Sonoma County event are Marilyn Nagel (left) and Anisya Fritz, who also serves as master of ceremonies.

APPLE MAN Guy Kawasaki, Apple Computer’s first tech evangelist, will speak at TEDx Sonoma County on March 2.

CURATED NEWS FROM BACK ISSUES OF THE HEALDSBURG TRIBUNE

100 years ago:

Feb. 28, 1924

Young Redwoods Planted in Plaza

By courtesy of R. B. Stevens, of the Stevens Lumber Company of this city, a shipment of redwood trees

was procured from the nursery at Fort Bragg and sent to J. M. Alexander of Healdsburg. Eight of the small trees were planted in the Plaza, and the remainder will be turned over to the Chamber of Commerce to be planted in the public camp ground, if they may so desire. The trees are quite small, but show a vigorous growth and will undoubtedly grow very rapidly if properly cared for.

THOMAS C. REED

March 1, 1934 – February 11, 2024

FLASHBACKS

75 years ago: Feb. 25, 1949

Twenty-five Percent of Funds Raised for Bail Park Lights

With the raising of over 25 percent of the $20,000 goal for ball park lights, the drive of the Healdsburg Community Recreation Lighting Committee is well under way. The plans to light the local Recreation Park at University and Piper streets started with the

Thomas C. Reed died February 11, 2024, at his home in Santa Rosa California, age 89 after a short illness surrounded by his family. Reed whose illustrious career as a former Secretary of the Air Force, longtime advisor to President Ronald Reagan, senior National Security Council official, real estate developer and author was born in New York City on March 1, 1934. He was raised in Connecticut, graduated from Cornell University in 1956 with a degree in engineering and accepted an ROTC commission into the US Air Force. He began his professional career at the Air Force Ballistic Missile Division in Los Angeles during the 1950s, the years of Sputnik and the Missile Gap.

After earning a graduate degree from the University of Southern California, Reed moved to the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory where he designed two thermonuclear devices fired over the Pacific in 1962. On leaving Livermore, Reed started and ran a successful high-tech company making superconductors, but he also developed an interest in politics. In 1966 Reed became the Northern California chair of Ronald Reagan’s initial gubernatorial race. He served as chief of personnel in the Governor’s first administration and then, in 1970, as Reagan’s statewide co-chair and re-election campaign director and remained committed to seeing Ronald Reagan become President of the United States.

During the seventies, Reed’s business interests turned to the land: developing the Breckenridge ski resort in Colorado and founding River Oaks Vineyards in Alexander Valley. That, in turn, led to the creation of Clos du Bois Wines in 1973.

In 1973 Reed was recruited to manage certain intelligence projects at the Pentagon in connection with the Yom Kippur War then raging in the Mideast. In 1975, the US Senate confirmed Reed’s appointment as Secretary of the Air Force. He served for two years in that capacity during the Ford and Carter administrations. He was the first Secretary of the Air Force to have served in the Air Force.

In 1976 Reed became Director of the once-covert National Reconnaissance Office, responsible for all US satellite intelligence systems, both photographic and electronic, in operation during the Cold War.

During the eighties, Reed worked within Reagan’s NSC staff as Special Assistant to President Reagan for National Security Policy. Reed’s primary contribution lay in charting Reagan’s road map for prevailing in and ending the Cold War.

Reed left Washington in 1983 to return to business pursuits, but throughout the years of Soviet collapse, Reed continued to advise the Joint Strategic Planning Staff on policy and intelligence matters.

During the nineties Reed traveled to Ukraine, assisting with the return of over a thousand abandoned nuclear weapons to Russian control.

With the coming of the millennium, Reed turned his attention to documenting the history of the Cold War and its principal players along with illuminating the possibility of nuclear terror to come.

His first book, At the Abyss: An Insider’s History of the Cold War with an introduction by Former President George H. W. Bush, was published by Ballantine Books in 2004. It delves into the lives of those who fought and ended the Cold War without a nuclear shot being fired.

His second work, The Nuclear Express: A Political History of the Bomb and Its Proliferation was co-authored by Danny Stillman, former chief of technical intelligence at Los Alamos. It was published by Zenith Press in 2009, with a favorable review by William J. Broad, science editor of the New York Times.

In his third manuscript, Reed turned to history-based fiction with The Tehran Triangle, written with Sandy Baker and published by Black Garnet Press in 2012. James Schlesinger, former chairman of the AEC, director of central intelligence, secretary of defense and then secretary of energy, wrote that, “The Tehran Triangle is a harrowing tale about Iran’s quest for the bomb. The story feels real; it could have been written by an intelligence insider and a nuclear weapons expert. And it was.”

Reed’s most recent volume, The Reagan Enigma, was published by USC’s Figueroa Press in 2014. Enigma provides first-hand insight into the mind of the 40th president as he sought to end the Cold War. Reagan Press Secretary Lyn Nofziger noted that, “On times, people,… -Tom Reed would be the most accurate.”

Reed’s later-year interests were focused on education, trying to find and support the brightest and the best students, the potential innovators and leaders, in Sonoma County.

Reed is survived by his wife Kay, his daughter Carolyn Reed Ellis of Napa, his oldest son Gordon and wife Kerry, now resident in Buffalo, and his youngest child, son Andrew now residing with his wife Alex in west Santa Rosa. Reed is also survived by five grandchildren and two step grandsons.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Healdsburg Rotary’s scholarship fund.

A celebration of life will be scheduled later this year.

appointment of a 14-man group to raise needed money. The group is sanctioned in its drive to raise the money by the Planning Commission and the City Council.

“It will be the job of the committee not only to raise money but to then see that the park is administered in a fair manner,” Chairman McCaffrey stated this week. The group is interested in getting adequate lights only at the Healdsburg Recreation Park, also known as the Ball Park. Upon completion of the lighting project, investors will be repaid from a percentage of the gross gate receipts on a lottery basis.

The park will be used for night football, softball, baseball, and any other event which might be appropriate. The field has been surveyed for a football field. The field will not in any way be limited to high school use. It is a community-wide

project from which all will derive benefits. A special lighting fund account has been opened at the Bank of America by Smith Robinson, treasurer.

50 years ago:

Feb. 28, 1974

Fuel Crisis Hits Dam, Opponents Say The beleaguered Warm Springs Dam-Lake Sonoma project has run into a new stumbling block.

Opponents charge it’s going to take fuel needed elsewhere.

The Army Corps of Engineers recently requested a special allocation of 700,000 gallons of diesel fuel from the Federal Energy Office to renew construction of the $115 million project after a year’s delay for environmental considerations, the Warm Springs Dam Task Force says. Task Force members say the special fuel allocation conflicts “with more pressing

priorities elsewhere and brings into serious question the need for starting work on the massive and wasteful Warm Springs Dam project.”

The group charges the allocation will “further aggravate current diesel fuel shortages experienced by truckers, and perhaps interfere with food distribution and defense priorities. At a time when we are experiencing escalating fuel prices and blocklong lines, this special fuel allocation could provide us with enough gasoline for at least 25 million miles of passenger car driving … enough gas to drive around the world 1,000 times.”

Research and materials provided by the Healdsburg Museum and Historical Society. The Museum, located at 221 Matheson St., is open 11am to 4pm, Thursdays through Sundays.

Photos courtesy Healdsburg Museum

REDWOODS Looking toward the Plaza from the former Healdsburg City Hall in 1950; redwood trees planted in 1924 show healthy growth 25 years later.

UNDER LIGHTS The baseball diamond at Rec Park, now known as Art McCaffrey Field, with newly installed night lights in 1950.

WARM SPRINGS DAM In this photo from the 1970s, construction workers put the finishing touches on the reservoir at Warm Springs-Dry Creek, which became Lake Sonoma in later years.

Championship Run Comes Up Short

GREYHOUND GIRLS FALL IN QUARTERFINALS TO JUSTIN-SIENA

By Caleb Knudsen

Healdsburg High School’s girls basketball team of 2023-24 has made its mark on the school’s history, sweeping all North Coast Redwood games this year and winning the first round of the Division 4 tournament, advancing to the quarterfinals on Saturday, Feb. 17.

Behind the record-setting shooting of senior Hailey Webb, the Lady Greyhounds ran off 17 straight victories in the season’s closing months, dating from Dec. 9, capturing the league pennant and earning a No. 6 seed in the North Coast Section Division 4 tournament.

In the first game of the elimination tourney of 16 teams, they extended their winning streak to 18 straight, sweating out a 36-34 win over Middletown on the Healdsburg home court. The teams had last met in the 202223 season, with the Mustangs winning by a single point in an electrifying 49-48 game.

And although the Greyhounds led from the outset, they were never able to build a comfortable double-digit lead at any point, their high point coming 25-17 at the half. In the second half, however, the Healdsburg rallies were met by the Mustangs almost point for point, and the gap slowly closed.

“We got off to a good start, but Middletown is a skilled team and fought back to tie in the third, and it was a battle the rest of the way,” said coach

Jim Lago. “Fortunately a solid team effort with some third- and fourth-quarter heroics from Hannah Sellards and Allie Espinoza led us to victory.” The final score was close, but it was a win.

The Quarterfinals

Having made it past the first tournament game, the team and coaches traveled through a downpour on Saturday, Feb. 17, to reach Napa for the quarterfinal game against Justin-Siena. The perennial Napa Valley powerhouse was seeded No. 3, and it didn’t take long for their defense to establish a dominance over Healdsburg the girls hadn’t seen before.

The Braves held Healdsburg to only 3 points in the opening frame, on a shot by Ruby Leffew, riding a comfortable 29-15 lead into the half. After the Greyhounds had two successive quarters of a respectable 12 points each, the Justin defense again clamped down in the fourth, allowing just 5 points while they sank 14.

The Braves accomplished their primary goal by holding Webb to just 9 points for the game, the first time this year she hasn’t scored into double digits. Other Healdsburg scoring came from Allie Espinoza (8 points), Ashley Behrens (6 points), Leffew (6 points) and Hannah Sellards (3 points).

The 53-32 final score sent Justin-Siena to the semifinals (Feb. 21 against University), but Healdsburg headed home.

End of the Road

“It is hard for a season like ours to end so abruptly,” said coach Lago on Monday. “One day we have plans to go deep into the playoffs and the next we

run into a private school with extraordinary talent and size.”

Lago, who returned to coach the Lady Greyhounds this year but has a coaching career many years long, offered a summary of the season. “Myself and my coaches were honored with the opportunity to coach [these] extraordinary young ladies. Their character, sportsmanship, talent and commitment to their team and this season was amazing … and all without one bit of drama,’ he added.

He pointed out, too, that eight of the nine girls on the roster had 4.0 or above grade point averages. “To me that is a testament to their maturity and commitment to excellence,” he said.

“Lastly,” he said, “I have been involved with lots of

great teams, including two of the best seasons HHS has seen since 2000,” going 27-3 in 2003 and 29-1 in 2004. “I am now proud to include this 2023-24 (27-3) varsity team among them.”

Alicia Webb, who with Gregg Marguglio serves as an assistant coach with the Greyhound girls, proudly called attention to her daughter Hailey’s record career with the team.

“I just thought you would like to know Hailey finished with 1,274 career points and 110 threepointers” this season, Alicia said.

As Alicia Williams, she scored a then-record 76 three-pointers during her own senior year, in 1995. “She annihilated my record,” Alicia said.

Wrestling to the End

FIRST LEAGUE WIN IN 2 YEARS A HIGHLIGHT

By Caleb Knudsen

With experienced soccer coach Scott Weidemier guiding a young roster of Greyhound wrestlers, the boys scored their first win in a league dual on Jan. 24, defeating Elsie Allen 33-24.

Winning matches were scored by David Campbell (in the 120-pound weight class), Alexander Francis (126), Wyatt Zbinden (138), Maximiliano Suazo (150), Milo Timmsen-Miller (190) and Eli Zepeda (285).

Subsequent duals did not see the team score as high. Against Ukiah, the final score was a lopsided 72-6 with Healdsburg’s

only win coming by David Campbell (120).

On Jan. 31, Maria Carrillo defeated Healdsburg 58-12, with Alexander Francis (120) winning by fall and Ulises NunezRoman (285) by forfeit.

“The team struggled early in the year, but they really started to come together over the last few weeks of the season and

made some huge strides,” said coach Weidemier. “We defeated Elsie Allen for our first league win in a couple of years, and the scores of the Ukiah and Maria Carrillo matches do not adequately show just how competitive we were in those matches.

“They wrestled well against much more experienced kids and many

put themselves in position to win their matches, but some just fell prey to illtimed mistakes or more experience,” he said.

The season ended for two of the younger grapplers with a trip to the North Coast Section championships in the East Bay.

Uli Nunez lost his first match of the day, won by fall in his second match and then lost his third to get knocked out of the tournament, going 1-2.

Freshman Serena Dimas, the only girl competing with the Greyhounds this year, advanced via two early byes in her 122-pound bracket, but then lost both of the matches she wrestled.

“It was a great experience for both of them and a nice accomplishment, as both are first-year wrestlers and it was a nice way to conclude their seasons,” Weidemier said.

The longtime wrestling teacher and coach kept his upbeat prognosis for the team and its future. “We have been super proud of how they’ve persevered and improved after the early struggles,” Weidemier said, adding that even with the departure of key seniors, the nucleus of a good team next year is in place.

“This was a fun group of kids, and their sense of camaraderie was something special,” he said.

Photos by Michael Lucid

IN THE GRIP Healdsburg’s Alex Francis, in red, grapples with Mingyul Kim of Maria Carrillo in a 126-pound match. Francis won on a fall at 4:55.

THROWDOWN David Campbell of Healdsburg, in red, throws Maria Carrillo’s Dante Mares in the 120-weight class at their Jan. 31 meet. Mares recovered to win, and Maria Carrillo defeated Healdsburg 58-12 in the dual.

POINT MADE Claire Berry (25) makes the second of her two free throws in the second quarter against Middletown, as Amelia Wickersham (1) watches.

Photos by Christian Kallen

FEISTY Girls basketball teams from Healdsburg (white) and Middletown (blue) fight for a rebound during the opening game of the 2024 North Coast Section Girls Basketball Championships.

Campaign for Assembly

the party has brought to bear on capturing the seat is impressive. Hicks’ campaign’s ending cash balance was $442,405 in early February, far exceeding that of Kelley, Chris Rogers or Frankie Myers combined.

The L.A. Dodger mailers are pointedly unimpressed with these credentials. “We can do better than Rusty Hicks,” the text maintains. Although there’s no specific candidate named, it’s there in the fine print: “Ad paid

for by North Coast Neighbors Supporting Ariel Kelley and Opposing Rusty Hicks for Assembly 2024.”

The primary funder for the organization is listed as Shoshana Ungerleider. “Dr. Shoshana,” as she is known to listeners of her 3-year-old podcast, TED Health, is also an internal medicine physician, writer, public speaker, news media consultant and big sister of Ariel Kelley, the Healdsburg City Council member running for the seat.

Keeping the efforts of

the North Coast Neighbors at arm’s length, Kelley’s campaign manager Julia Dreher said, “Our campaign does not coordinate, control or communicate with the independent expenditure campaign, so I can’t speak to their strategy or what they have planned going forward. We don’t believe that negative campaigning is ever helpful.”

Kelley’s own campaign marketing is focused on her messages of Results, Wildfire and Women, with tight 30-second videos and

informative mailers, but the North Coast Neighbors flyers don’t even mention Kelley. Instead the carpetbagger charge is frontand-center, along with the goofy hat and a frankly xenophobic characterization of the candidate.

Initially the Hicks campaign for California’s District 2 Assembly seat was silent, but last week it threatened legal action against a Humboldt County television station if it aired a North Coast Neighbors video. The Eureka Times-Standard reported that on Feb. 15, the campaign sent a

cease-and-desist letter to the general manager of Redwood News, KEIM-TV.

The 30-second spot, again produced by North Coast Neighbors, draws a connection between Hicks and his predecessor as chair of the California Democratic Party, Eric Bauman, who resigned after sexual misconduct allegations. The ad is heavy on innuendo and menacing music.

Hicks pushed back. “These statements are absolutely false and a gross mischaracterization of Mr. Hicks’ actions,” his campaign said in a statement.

In his most recent message to supporters, on Feb. 20, Hicks wrote, “Sadly, in the final stretch of this campaign, an outside SuperPAC for one of my opponents has decided the only way to win is to run misleading and deceptive attacks on me in mailboxes and TV ads… It appears they’ve concluded they can’t run on the record of their own candidate, so they’ve chosen to lie about mine.”

It’s an open secret that North Coast Neighbors is substantially funded by a small group of backers, but takes the majority of its cash from Shoshana Ungerleider. She has contributed $200,000 of the $340,000 total to the Political Action Committee, while hedge fund manager Chris Hansen contributed $60,000 and Santa Rosa developer Bill Gallaher contributed $50,000. There are several other $10,000 donations, including from Barbara Grasseschi of Puma Springs Vineyard.

Efforts to contact Ungerleider through her website have not succeeded, and Dreher said she had never met her. Public records indicate she lives on Russian Hill, which

would indeed make her not a resident, but a neighbor of the North Coast.

On Feb. 15, Ariel Kelley contributed another $100,000 to her campaign fund, bringing her personal contribution to a quarter of a million dollars in the campaign to run for the Assembly seat in the fall general election. The other candidates evidently don’t have access to personal funds of that scale.

Kelley’s contributions come from her considerable investment holding and participation in family trusts, as revealed in Form 700 documents submitted to the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) for her campaign. Shoshana Ungerleider’s wealth comes in part from venture capital investment funds. Rusty Hicks’ campaign contributions include amounts from a dozen labor unions or PACs ranging from $10,000 to $150,000.

When asked about the high level of investment in Kelley’s political future, campaign manager Dreher responded, “We’ll be continuing to run a wellrounded campaign that includes digital and TV ads, mail and a lot of voter outreach … In such a large district—and with such a short timeline—we want to make sure that every voter in the district has a chance to interact with our campaign.”

Neighborhood Vote Centers will be open on Election Day, Tuesday, March 5, from 7am to 9pm. Completed ballots are currently being accepted via mail-in or at official drop boxes around the county. There’s one in Healdsburg at the City Hall, 401 Grove St.

Cpassed away peacefully on January 7, 2024, at the age of 65.

Chuck was born in Lynwood, CA on May 20, 1958. He spent most of his life in Healdsburg, CA. He graduated from Healdsburg High School, where he met the love of his life, Heidi, and they enjoyed 35 years of marriage.

Chuck proceeded to work at and co-own an aircraft paint shop. He was a devout Catholic, whose faith in God gave him tremendous strength to persevere through tough challenges. He had such an inviting and humorous personality, one which made you want to be friends after meeting him.

Chuck was a loyal Mason of the SotoyomeCurtis Lodge #123 for many years.

What brought him joy in life was painting, cooking, spending as much time as possible with his wife, daughter, close friends and his many cats throughout the years.

Survived by his Wife Heidi and Daughter Jessica. Sisters-Geri (Jack), Lucie (Phil), Suzie, Linda (Bill). Brothers-Jim (Jill) and Russ. Along with many nieces, nephews and friends.

Preceded in death by his parents, Henri and Charlotte Doire.

The world lost a great man, but Heaven gained an angel who we will never forget.

Per Chuck’s wishes, there will be no services held.

Donations may be made to Forgotten Felines of Sonoma County in Chuck’s memory.

Photo by Christian Kallen

CAMPAIGN MAIL Flyers received at a Healdsburg home in February from or about candidates Rusty Hicks, Ariel Kelley, Frankie Myers and Chris Rogers.

Village is the first of several developments on that site, while a luxury restaurant, a retail and commercial center, and additional housing are in the works.

The prospect of what might be called a “South Village” at the other end of Healdsburg makes many locals feel the pinch of encroaching suburbanization.

South Entry Area Plan

The city of Healdsburg is only just beginning to craft a South Entry Area Plan, a process that is expected to cost about $1.5 million. Although the plan is expected to get underway in 2024, City Manager Jeff Kay stressed that it is in its earliest stages. “We have a draft scope and budget for preparing a South Entry Plan, but have not initiated

the plan,” he said. “The cost would be well in excess of $1 million for a specific plan and EIR,” a number he later amended to $1.5 million.

Given that the Syar property is now for sale, said Kay, “we are conveying to prospective buyers that they would need to participate in the funding of that planning work before any significant development could commence.”

A list of council goals for the rest of the year in a recent Strategic Plan update is led by “Initiative 1: Economic Diversity and Sustainable Growth,” whose top priority is the “Initial Scoping of a South Entry Area Plan.”

That entry also reveals, regarding the 88-acre Syar property, “Staff have met with property owners to discuss process and

participation.”

‘Blank Slate’

The five-page, full-color brochure (available as a PDF) touts the acreage as a “’Blank Slate Development Opportunity,” and promises that “The City of Healdsburg has expressed a focused desire to see the subject property developed for a higher and better use, which will be a key and critical component of the beginning phase of the Southern Entry Area Specific Plan.”

Yet substantial hurdles stand in the way of any effort to turn the property into the dense, multi-use project previewed by the Offering Memorandum.

The acreage has a significant downside, as there is no city sewage or city water supplied to the south side of Memorial Bridge. Any developer would need to add those costs to their prospective investment,

along with reclassifying the industrial zone and performing an environmental clean-up of the earthworks business.

Perhaps significantly,

Kay noted, “Under the current zoning and infrastructure availability, there is very little that could be developed, so the planning process would be critical. Any plan would include substantial community involvement.”

The real estate firm JLL agrees with that requirement, and spins it into an advantage. “Given the extreme importance of the site to the core area of the Southern Entry Area Specific Plan, this timing creates an opportunity for the new owner to take a leadership role in the process, while also potentially accelerating the schedule for any new development.”

The prospectus also

reads, “The city continues to express a strong interest in considering a high quality, mixed-use development, which may include a luxury destination hotel, townhomes, single family residences, and a mixture of retail & related commercial uses.”

Kay was asked to evaluate the claims, and he responded, “Making progress on the South Entry Plan has been part of the adopted city council goals for a few years now, so I think it’s fair to say the city has a strong interest in advancing the planning process.

“As to what uses should ultimately be there, it has always been our intent that we have a community engagement process before making that determination.”

Vice Mayor Evelyn Mitchell works as an

accountant with another quarry, Canyon Rock Co. of Forestville. She cautioned that this does not “give me insight into the Syar operation and sale,” but she, too, was skeptical about the likelihood of any imminent development of the South Entry area.

“The value in their property is to develop it,” she said. “However, the land is zoned industrial and there are no municipal services into that area. So the marketing piece is merely that, marketing, and is not a work product of the city.”

Notably, “Healdsburg Gateway is being offered without a list price,” according to the JLL memorandum. “Purchasers should rely on their own assumptions and base their offer and pricing on the ‘As-Is, Where-Is’ condition of the Property.”

RIVER’S BEND A vision of what a redeveloped Syar property at the bend in the Russian River could look like, based on the sales offering by Jones Lang LaSalle Brokerage Inc.

•

•

PETTY

Monday,

10:30am

Tuesday, Feb. 6

12:30am

5:38am

9:55am

contacted a 49-YO man in the West Plaza Parking lot on Healdsburg Avenue. He was cited and released for removing a

1:40pm

5:30pm The RP indicated a

located.

5:47pm Reckless driving was reported on Powell Avenue at Ridgeview Drive. A black Dodge Charger was going extremely fast. Officer responded, but the vehicle was gone on arrival and unable to be located.

• 6:21pm The RP stated that a man came up to his vehicle at Carl’s Jr. on Vine Street and started hitting and kicking his vehicle while screaming at him. The subject rode his bike toward Starbucks. There was no damage to the vehicle, and the reporting party wanted the responsible

individual talked to about his aggressive behavior.

• 10:53pm Vandalism was reported at the old 76 Station on Healdsburg Avenue. An officer took a report.

11:32pm The RP indicated that a man on Piper Street screamed about witches and that “everyone should burn.” A second caller also reported the incident. Officers responded and contacted the subject at his home to advise him of the complaint.

Wednesday, Feb. 7

8:20am The RP stated that he followed a speeding vehicle to Wine Country Chevron on Healdsburg Avenue. The RP and the driver of the other vehicle got into an argument which disturbed the peace. Officers responded and counseled the subjects, resolving the issue.

10:06am Graffiti on the wood retaining wall was reported on West Grant Street at Grove Street.

2:28pm Graffiti was reported at Hardwear on Healdsburg Avenue.

Thursday, Feb. 8

2:16pm A burglary occurred at North Bay Eye Associates on Healdsburg Avenue on Feb. 6. The RP’s lawn mower, worth approximately $300, was stolen from the premises. Officers responded and took a report.

2:16pm A 26-YO woman in the lobby of the Healdsburg Police Department on Center Street was cited and released on an outstanding Humboldt County warrant regarding vandalism.

10:20pm The RP stated that three men were fighting on Grove Street. One of the subjects’ mothers broke up the fight and took her son back into their apartment. Officers responded but did not see or hear anything.

11:42pm An officer stopped a vehicle on Healdsburg Avenue at University Street for expired registration and a nonworking front headlight. A 56-YO man was cited and released for driving on a suspended license and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Friday, Feb. 9

• 8:28am Graffiti was reported at Giorgi Park on University Street and, at the same time, on West Grant Street at Grove Street.

9:30am Petty theft occurred at Big John’s Market on Healdsburg Avenue. A woman stole a children’s puzzle and a container of hot food valued at $29.41. An officer responded and took a report.

10:59am A battery was reported on Grove Street, and officers were asked to do a welfare check. On Feb. 8 the suspect, who seemed to have been drinking, punched a woman in the face, chased her around with knives and threw her over a fence before another party intervened. Officers responded, but did not make contact with the subject. Other known locations were also checked.

4:44pm The RP went to the lobby of the Healdsburg

Department on

Street to report her

and

accounts were hacked. Following the hack, the RP received inappropriate calls and texts from an unknown person. An officer responded and gave advice.

6:41pm An officer stopped a vehicle on Healdsburg Avenue at Front Street because it was flagged by Flock, the license plate reader system. A 35-YO man was arrested and transported to county jail for child endangerment, criminal street gang activities and carrying a loaded firearm.

•

Sunday,

2:28pm

Compiled by Carolyn Brenner

Photo by Christian Kallen