The Healdsburg Tribune
POLITICAL CONCERNS SHOULDN’T AFFECT LAW ENFORCEMENT
By Matt Jenkins
As Healdsburg’s Chief of Police, I am proud to lead a department dedicated to the safety and wellbeing of every member of our community, regardless of their immigration status or national origin. I write today to reaffirm the policies and values that guide our approach to immigration enforcement, ensuring that all individuals feel safe and respected when interacting with members of the Healdsburg Police Department.
The Healdsburg Police Department’s policy is clear: We are committed to the equal enforcement of the law and the equal service of all community members. Trust between law enforcement and the community is essential for effective policing. When individuals fear that calling the police could lead to questions about their immigration status or potential deportation, crimes go unreported, cooperation in investigations wanes and public safety suffers.
Our officers are trained to avoid inquiries about immigration status. Officers do not engage in immigration enforcement, nor do they detain individuals based solely on federal immigration violations.
This approach aligns with the California Values Act, which prohibits local resources from being used for federal immigration enforcement. Under this law, officers cannot
➝ Political Concerns, 4
‘LA LISTE’ NAMES WORLD’S 9 BEST, INCLUDES SINGLETHREAD
By Christian Kallen
Ever since it opened in 2018, SingleThread Farm-Restaurant-Inn has accumulated recognition, plaudits and even stars, of the Michelin variety. The restaurantfarm—co-founder Katrina Connaughton runs the Dry Creek farm, Kyle Connaughton the Healdsburg restaurant—has made a rapid if not unprecedented rise in the world of haute cuisine since the business opened in 2016. As Healdsburg’s celebrity has grown, so too has SingleThread’s. Now the destination restaurant at the corner of Center and North streets has attained a new honor: It’s been named as one of the World’s Best Restaurants, sharing the honor with one other U.S. restaurant, La Bernardin
in New York City, and seven more establishments on the global shortlist.
Other Best Restaurants include Guy Savoy in Paris, Cheval Blanc in Basel and Matsukawa in Tokyo. A second restaurant in France, La Vague d’Or in St. Tropez, was also named, as well as L’Enclume in the U.K., Lung King Heen in Beijing and Schwarzwaldstube in Germany.
The incursion of Asian cuisine into the global list has been growing ever since Iron Chef hit cable in 1993.
Kyle Connaughton’s own culinary education began in an established Japanese restaurant in Los Angeles; he trained as a sushi chef and worked in Hokkaido, Beverly Hills and an exhaustive list of kitchens in other locations.
Combining Passions
Meanwhile Katrina Connaughton studied sustainable agriculture during
their global journey. They combined their talents and passions with the creation of SingleThread, which opened in 2016. The restaurant earned two Michelin stars within months, and its third in 2024.
The restaurant and a five-room hotel are in a modern Italianate building at 131 North St., on the site of the former post office that was destroyed by fire in 2010. SingleThread is not however a community gathering place, as the post office was; its prices are quite high, either for dining ($600 for a 10-course tasting menu, wine flights extra) or residence ($1600/night). Access to the restaurant is through a key-coded, unmarked door, and smoked windows and potted plants preserve the diners’ privacy from passing pedestrians.
But Connaughton puts Healdsburg front and center in his success, saying that to see Healdsburg “next to these Old World
KILLING FOR A VIEW: ARBORICIDE ALLEGED
FITCH MOUNTAIN NEIGHBORS AT ODDS OVER 60-FOOT OAK
By Christian Kallen
A couple of months ago, John Petrick and his wife, allergist Dr. Maria Petrick, noticed a branch on their 60-foot oak tree was dying. They called a neighborhood arborist to remove it before it fell onto their house on Sunset Drive, on the edge of Healdsburg city limits near Fitch Mountain.
cities famous for gastronomy, like Paris, Tokyo, and Geneva, gives us an incredible amount of pride for the work we have been doing for our guests these past eight years. We wouldn’t have imagined when opening we could have achieved this type of recognition, so it’s both humbling and exciting for the future.”
La Liste is a privately owned ranking guide founded in 2015, whose grades are compiled by data-processing algorithms from a number of other services and media. By issuing its selection, La Liste claims to be “consolidating its position as an authority in international gastronomic assessment. This year, nine excellent establishments in seven countries share first place, illustrating the richness and diversity of the world’s haute gastronomy.”
Vertice Sides
The Connaughtons co-own the restaurant-farm-inn
As the dying branch was removed, in early November, the tree worker climbed down from the ladder and, according to John Petrick, asked them if they were trying to kill the tree.
“A strange question I thought, since it was obvious we were just having a branch removed,” Petrick said later. “He then pointed out drilled holes on the side of the trunk facing our neighbor’s house, originating just over the height of the fence. These holes were overflowing with, according to our tree expert, a form of herbicide intended to poison and ultimately kill the tree.”
with Tony Greenberg, CEO of Vertice Hospitality. In the past several years, Vertice has made other investments in Healdsburg, including buying the remodeled River Belle Inn on Front Street, former home of wine doyenne Isabelle Simi Haigh. It purchased the historic building in 2022 for a reported $7.25 million, and while for the past two years Vertice maintained it, it recently stopped taking bookings for after the first of the year. Though there has been no announcement, real estate sources suggest that Vertice plans to embark on a considerable renovation, and plans are to reopen by the end of 2025.
In May, the Healdsburg City Council issued a proclamation recognizing SingleThread for “receiving its three Michelin Stars (and Keys, for their hospitality at the Inn) and for their Contributions to the Community.”
The Petricks were shocked. The arborist showed them a photo he had taken—two holes had been drilled into the trunk, and a bluish fluid had seeped out and was clearly damaging the tree. The tree was on the north side of their property, on their side of a redwood fence. And a ladder was seen leaning onto the tree from their neighbor’s backyard. The blue fluid was apparently a compound called “copper green,” sometimes used as a “tree hardener,” but which prevents photosynthesis and, thus, can kill a living tree. The investigating police officer concluded it was “a copper naphthalene and hydrocarbon solvent.” Both houses face south from the shoulder of Fitch Mountain, looking toward a miles-long view of what used to be called Sotoyome Valley extending to Santa Rosa and beyond, toward distant hills in Marin County. It’s an exceptional view, and John Petrick is fond of saying they have the smallest house in the neighborhood, but the best view. While the Petricks’ view was unimpeded, the 60-foot oak at least partially
4
Tree Poisoning,
Photo by Garrett Rowland
Photo by Christian Kallen
John Petrick in his backyard with the dying oak tree behind him, clearly rooted on his side of the fence. Petrick
HEALDSBURG HAPPENINGS
GOINGS ON AROUND
TOWN THIS WEEK & NEXT
ONGOING
Vroom!
“Toys on the Go” is the theme of a new exhibition at Healdsburg Museum, featuring toy vehicles collected by the late Steve Castelli. It includes pretty much everything that goes, from trikes to trains, and is enhanced by a model train display from enthusiast Wayne Padd. Continues through Jan. 19,
Wednesdays through Sundays, 11am to 4pm. 221 Matheson St.
THURSDAY, DEC. 12
Mayfield and Valentine
Two distinct artists on one local stage, free. Jessica Lea Mayfield is a singer/songwriter hailing from rural Ohio, and Joseph Allen Beltram, a.k.a. “Goodmorning Valentine,” hails from Ohio; they’ll play together and apart on the Second Story stage. Another in a notable series of concerts on Thursdays, from 6-9pm, at Little Saint, 25 North St.,
littlesainthealdsburg.com.
Ladies’ Night
Another all-woman rock band struts the stage in the Coyote Den on Thursday night—Zepparella, a tribute band dedicated to the music of Led Zeppelin. Tickets $30 for this Dec. 12 show, starts at 8pm, Coyote Sonoma, 44-F Mill St.
SATURDAY, DEC. 14
Fall In the Air
The Countdown is on, one more week until the final Saturday Healdsburg Certified Farmers’ Market of the year (Dec. 21). Fresh local produce, holiday food and craft items;
a great place to catch up with weekly friends. From 8:30am to noon in the West Plaza Parking Lot.
Holiday Feast
Annual fundraiser for Healdsburg Rotary Club to fund scholarship programs for Healdsburg High School students: an “all you can eat” crab dinner, a silent auction and a live auction MC’d by local personalities. Villa Chanticleer, Dec. 14, tickets $110 to $160, 5:30-9pm, healdsburgrotary.org.
Stella!
Jazz singer Stella Heath has full command of many styles, especially her
own—she brings them all together at Furthermore Wines on Saturday night, from 5-8pm. No cover, 328-A Healdsburg Ave.
Songs of the Season
“Joy Shall Be Yours!” is the theme of the Healdsburg Chorus’s annual holiday program, presented twice this weekend, on Saturday and Sunday at 3pm. A community choral institution for over 36 years, the chorus will be joined by members of Healdsburg’s UPside Dance Company and local musicians on many of this season’s holiday songs. Performances
at the Raven Theater, 115 North St. Tickets $20 at the door or via Eventbrite at healdsburgchorus.com/ concerts-tickets.
MONDAY, DEC. 16
Mayor and More
The City Council will meet for the last time in 2024 to select a new mayor and vice mayor for the coming year, but first they will open up the Monday meeting for the first of five public hearings about the transition from at-large to district elections, and consider renaming the Community Center for Abel de Luna. 6pm, 401 Grove St., online at facebook.com/ cityofhealdsburg.
TUESDAY, DEC. 17
‘Toward the Light’ The Klezmatics, “worldrenowned and Grammywinning superstars of the klezmer world,” return to Healdsburg Tuesday night on their Hanukkah Tour. Over the last 30 years they have revolutionized traditional klezmer music by opening it up to other influences, and vice versa. Tickets $30 general up to $75 front row, Raven Theater, 115 North St., raventheater.org.
NEXT WEEK
Harlem Nutcracker
The Marcus Shelby Orchestra, with Tiffany Austin, will perform a jazz concert based on Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite at the Raven Theater, Saturday, Dec. 21, at 7pm. See story this issue. Post events on the Tribune’s online calendar at healdsburgtribune.com/ calendar and send special announcements to editor@ healdsburgtribune.com.
Healdsburg Hanukkah
Community Candle Lighting Thursday, December 26
Gather, 5pm | Lighting, 5:30pm Healdsburg Plaza
6pm Hanukkah Celebration to follow Visit JewishHealdsburg.org for location and information
GUARDIANS OF GUTHRIE The Klezmatics bring their latest collection of material including their music for Woody Guthrie’s words, ‘Happy Joyous Hanukkah,’ to Healdsburg on Dec. 17.
‘Harlem Nutcracker’ in Concert at the Raven
MARCUS SHELBY BRINGS CLASSIC ELLINGTONSTRAYHORNTCHAIKOVSKY SUITE TO STAGE
By Christian Kallen
Music is everywhere this time of year: familiar carols, seasonal favorites and traditional songs of Christmas. Among the melodies are invariably selections from Tchaikovsky, especially his Nutcracker Suite —a series of dances he wrote in 1892 for a ballet to be called The Nutcracker , but first performed as a series of musical numbers, a suite.
Flash forward almost seven decades. Duke Ellington’s big-band style had fallen on hard times, usurped after the war by smaller bebop combos and, later, rock music. But in 1956, Duke was born again—“That was his words,” said Marcus Shelby, a composer, educator and bandleader—when the Duke Ellington Orchestra played at the 1956 Newport Jazz Festival and overwhelmed the audience.
Now widely known as The Harlem Nutcracker , it was one of several suites Ellington and Strayhorn wrote for Columbia, as well as film scores and other work. “One of the things that he and Columbia Records talked about was him and Billy Strayhorn doing a sort of Nutcracker Suite” just in time for the Christmas 1960 record-selling season, Shelby said.
Their jazzy rendition was a hit, and a seasonal concert staple was born. Certainly part of the success was due to the universal familiarity with the melodies—“The March,” the “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, “Waltz of the Flowers”—but in a different musical context.
“Most people know these popular themes in Tchaikovsky, because you know, they shove it down our throat every Christmas, right?” Shelby said. “And so you know these themes. And so most people immediately can relate to the music.
“But then when you hear the saxophone playing it,” he added, “or the drummers using their hands to create this mood or the plunger [mute] trumpet; then you’re like, ‘Wow!’”
Holiday Suites
Shelby has written several musical suites of his own, usually on more political or social themes: About Martin Luther King Jr.
That rousing performance led to a new recording contract with Columbia Records, first with Ellington at Newport, and later a string of “suites” co-authored with Billie Strayhorn, his creative partner since the 1930s. Among them was The Nutcracker Suite , credited to Ellington, Strayhorn and Tchaikovsky, released in 1960.
and Harriet Tubman, and A Prison Oratorio, among others. But for this concert, Shelby is not in his educator, grandstanding mode—he’s leaving that to the music, and Healdsburg Jazz’s longstanding poet in residence, Enid Pickett.
“She’s written a nice opus about The Nutcracker Suite,” Shelby said. “I don’t talk a lot because we have her set up certain things, [with] short poems that kind of segue [between] certain sections.”
The Nutcracker Suite — or to give it its full title for this concert, Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s Harlem Nutcracker Suite—runs about 40 minutes, from the original score the two composers created in 1960. Though it is the Dec. 21 concert centerpiece, it’s not the only music performed that Sunday night.
Before and After
The Healdsburg Jazz Youth Ensemble, composed of high-school musicians from the music nonprofit’s performing arts camp, will open the evening show with two songs before The Harlem Nutcracker gets underway.
The concluding piece of music picks up where Ellington leaves off, a series of holiday music from around the world arranged by Shelby and vocalist Tiffany Austin, a key voice in much of his recent work. Included is material from Japan, South Africa and the United States, rearranged for a quintet instead of an orchestra, as a “Holidays in Healdsburg” performance.
One of the songs will be a piece that Shelby and Austin co-wrote,
“Kwanzaa Time,” for the Black cultural celebration during the week following Christmas. A toy drive will also be included with the night’s performance, cosponsored by Healdsburg Jazz and the Raven Performing Arts Theater.
But there’s no doubt The Harlem Nutcracker will be the centerpiece of the concert, if not the season. “I’ve played this piece so many times, I’ve listened to it even more and I never get tired of it. Even if we only play it during the holidays; but I tell you, you could play this music anytime of the year,” enthused Shelby.
“It swings so hard. It’s so well written. The orchestration is so beautiful and it’s sublime. It’s such a wonderful suite of music,” he added. He acknowledged that he has played it
frequently—most recently with the New World Ballet at Spreckels Performing Arts Center in Rohnert Park, just last week. And the night after the Raven concert, the Marcus Shelby Orchestra will give a repeat performance for SFJazz in San Francisco, again featuring Tiffany Austin. It’s become an annual concert that Shelby and his orchestra never weary of performing.
“Every musician loves it, whether they play it a lot or not, young or old,” he said. “I never get tired of it.”
Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn’s ‘Harlem Nutcracker Suite’ will be performed once only on Saturday, Dec. 21, 7pm at the Raven Theater, 115 North St. Tickets $25 to $100 at healdsburgjazz.org.
CONDUCTOR Bandleader, musician and composer Marcus Shelby conducts his orchestra in a concert performance of ‘The Nutcracker Suite,’ Saturday, Dec. 21, at the Raven.
Photo Courtesy of Marcus Shelby
FLASHBACKS
CURATED NEWS FROM BACK ISSUES OF THE HEALDSBURG TRIBUNE
100 years ago: December 11, 1924
SHOPPERS FOR CHRISTMAS FILL LOCAL STORES
A journey to the various stores in Healdsburg shows a very complete line of all kinds of articles which are suitable for Christmas presents. The merchants of this city report Christmas buying in full swing. This city is fortunate in having almost every line of merchandise represented. There are articles from the most humble Christmas card, to the highest grade of expensive automobile, all ready for delivery to purchasers. Stocks are complete at this writing, but the early shoppers
VANDALISM
➝ Tree Poisoning, 1
obstructed the view from their neighbor’s wraparound, second-story deck.
Five years earlier, when the Petricks moved in, they had some brush cleared that the fire marshal had recommended be removed to provide defensible space in the wildfire-risky mountain neighborhood. At that time their neighbor, in one of the few conversations they had, asked if they would remove the tree as well. They declined.
Other Cases
“Strange as it may seem, my wife and I read a story over the summer (I believe originally in the Wall Street Journal ), and yesterday we found out it happened to us,” said Petrick when he alerted The Healdsburg Tribune to the situation.
are taking advantage of the season and are picking their choices while the selection is complete. Healdsburg people are at the hub of a shopping center. People are reported on our streets shopping from points away from this locality in all directions.
75 years ago: December 9, 1949
HEALDSBURG HIGH TO HOST CAGERS IN WEEKEND BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
The First Annual North Bay League, Section 11, basketball tournament gets underway at the Healdsburg High School Gymnasium this afternoon, Friday, December 9, and will continue until Monday evening. The curtain raiser, matching Sonoma and Cloverdale in the first round, is scheduled to start promptly at 2:30 o’clock this afternoon.
That story concerned two homes in a wealthy enclave of Camden, Maine—one on the shores of the Atlantic, the other situated just behind it. In 2022, the owner of the second home poisoned two trees that were obstructing his view, and despite the outrage of the community and the neighbors, and a $1.7 million settlement, the second neighbor now enjoys an improved view of Penobscot Bay.
“We thought our story was/is one of those you just wouldn’t think would happen here,” Petrick said, but it turns out not to be an entirely isolated incident, even in Sonoma County. In 2018, a vineyard owner east of Sonoma woke to find one of her large oak trees had been felled—one in the line of sight of a house behind them that now, by coincidence, enjoyed a better view.
Farther afield, last year a large spreading sycamore oak in northern England
Continuing first round play in the evening, the Greyhounds of Healdsburg High School will meet the Ukiah cagers in a game that is set to begin at 7:30 p.m.
The climax to the threeday event will come on Monday night when the two finalists meet for the championship. This game will be broadcast by KSRO of Santa Rosa for all Redwood Empire and Bay Area sports enthusiasts. Following the final game, ceremonies will take place in the center of the local basketball court, including the crowning of the tournament champs and the awarding of all other tournament trophies and prizes. Souvenir programs will be sold at the game.
Healdsburg High School students and faculty have done their very best to make this first annual basketball tournament a complete success. Everything is in readiness for the sound of the opening whistle, so
that grew from a gap in the millennia-old Hadrian’s wall was severed at its base by a heavy-duty chainsaw. It took months to track down the two men who may have been responsible for the crime. They were charged by Northumbrian police with damaging both the tree and part of Hadrian’s Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
That historic tree— which played a part in Kevin Costner’s Robin Hood movie Prince of Thieves was valued at $785,000 by prosecutors.
Police Report
When the Petricks reported what they believed to be a crime to Healdsburg police, one that involved trespassing and damage to private property, an officer came up to investigate. He visited the site, contacted the neighbor and discovered not one but two ladders leaning on the common fence.
let’s come out and enjoy witnessing some exciting basketball in Healdsburg’s first annual tournament.
50 years ago: December 12, 1974
HAZEL HOTCHKISS WIGHTMAN DIES AT 87
Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman, one of America’s greatest athletes of the 20th Century, died last Thursday in Massachusetts just 16 days short of her 88th birthday. A native of Healdsburg, Mrs. Wightman grew up on the old Hotchkiss ranch and first developed her love of sports here when her three
leaning across the property line to the tree and the tree’s wounded trunk.
“[He] then began to tell me something about property lines and how he let the fence be built at that location even though his property line was behind the fence line,” reported Officer Joe Janowczyk. “I advised that if that were the case the tree would be his and not in Petrick’s backyard.”
The officer issued the neighbor, Dwight Hinton, a citation to appear in court on Dec. 4. Janowczyk asked the district attorney to file two misdemeanor charges against the neighbor: for willfully injuring, disfiguring, defacing or destroying “any object or thing of archeological or historical interest or value, whether situated on private lands or within any public park or place,” and a separate violation for damaging material without a written permit from the owner.
older brothers included her in their games. When she was 14 her family moved to Berkeley. She had many relatives and friends in Healdsburg and kept in frequent touch over the years.
The young Miss Hotchkiss began one of the most successful athletic careers the nation has ever seen. Always an amateur, she began her tennis career after seeing a match in 1902. She immediately wanted to play the game. In 1909 she shocked spectators at the Philadelphia Cricket Club by appearing in a short sleeved dress, but she won the National Women’s Championship, 6-0, 8-1. She also was on the national doubles and
mixed doubles championship teams and repeated the triple feat in 1910 and 1911. No one has since. A plaque in the Healdsburg Plaza commemorates the feat. The measure of her accomplishments can be seen when it is remembered that Billie Jean King has garnered 24 U.S. titles so far. Mrs Wightman won 45. She won Olympic medals (before the games were dropped) and kept competing, always as an amateur, into her 70s.
The Flashbackers are docents for the Healdsburg Museum, open Wednesday through Sunday, 11am to 4pm, at 221 Matheson St.
When Hinton showed up at civil court on Dec. 4, he found the charges had been dismissed.
neighbor for the cost of removing the tree (at least $10,000, the value stated in the police report). It was not a criminal issue, said the deputy DA Josh Kovach, because “there was a property line dispute” and such cases are usually resolved in civil court.
The neighbor at first denied he poisoned the tree, then said he hadn’t drilled the holes, then asserted the tree was really on his property not Petrick’s—despite the obvious fence separating the two properties, the ladder
OPEN MIC
➝ Political Concerns, 1
ask about immigration status, make arrests for deportation orders alone or share personal information with immigration authorities unless it is publicly available. Additionally, requests from federal immigration officials are carefully reviewed to ensure compliance with these state protections.
Our mission is to protect and serve everyone in
Petrick was disappointed that the DA was disinclined to pursue the charges, recommending instead a civil court solution—sue the
Healdsburg. By prioritizing public safety over immigration enforcement, we build stronger, more inclusive communities where all individuals feel secure in seeking help when they need it most.
I want to assure everyone in our city that the Healdsburg Police Department is here to serve you. We will continue to uphold our commitment to fairness, dignity and the values that unite us as a community.
Contact Chief Matt Jenkins at mjenkins@Healdsburg.gov.
Though he insists it is a criminal matter involving trespassing and destruction of private property, Petrick
has contacted a civil court lawyer whose specialty is environmental vandalism, a term Petrick finds apt to the situation he faces. But the resolution could be months away, at the earliest. Meanwhile, said a discouraged Petrick, “The sad part is the perpetrator will eventually get what he wanted. A dead tree, a better view and probably increased home value. We’ll see ...”
CHIEF Matt Jenkins has served as Healdsburg’s Chief of Police since 2021.
Photo Courtesy of City of Healdsburg
Photos Courtesy Healdsburg Museum & Historical Society
HOLIDAY GIFT A Healdsburg police officer slips bags over the parking meters around the Plaza in 1966 to encourage Christmas shoppers to take their time.
QUEEN OF THE COURTS A 1970 photograph of Healdsburg’s own Hazel Wightman, at the age of 83—one of the most successful women’s tennis athletes of all time.
FENCE LINE The large valley oak on John Petrick’s side of the wood fence separating two properties on Sunrise Drive. A ladder can be seen coming from the left, the far side of the fence line, which Petrick believes is evidence of environmental vandalism.
Photos courtesy of John Petrick
SPORTS
Boys Soccer Team Wins at Home
8-0 SHUTOUT OVER SAINTS SETS HIGH BAR
By Caleb Knudsen
The Healdsburg boys soccer team, with their 3-2 record so far this year, has found much of their success in games at home— including an 8-0 trouncing of St. Helena last Friday night. A week earlier, they defeated Windsor at home 3-1, but lost on the road against Ukiah on Dec. 3.
“Healdsburg was able to score four goals in each half against St. Helena—a good result for Healdsburg considering that St. Helena is a Division 4 school just like Healdsburg,” said head coach Herbert Lemus.
Scoring for Healdsburg were Anthony Guzman and Jairo Mendoza with two each, and single goals from Cayson Hagen, Jeremiah Tinsley and Henry Ortiz. That adds up to 7 points: The St. Helena team scored an “own goal” in the first half, inadvertently sending the ball into their own net for a Healdsburg point.
“The team had a very good outing; they executed what was put together at practice,” Lemus said.
“We had asked the team to press the defense of St. Helena to put them under pressure to force mistakes or regain possession of the ball in their defensive
third.” That “own goal” in the first half was an example of St. Helena feeling the pressure.
“Overall based on the stats, the win was a team effort,” summarized the coach. Last year’s Greyhounds finished with a 5-10-2 record, so already the boys are off to a good start at 3-2.
Coming up this week are the Wednesday game in Healdsburg against Roseland University Prep (1-0) and a Friday night game at Maria Carrillo in Santa Rosa (1-0-1 to date).
Soccer Girls Still Undefeated
Meanwhile the girls soccer team is riding high after six straight wins, the most recent coming against the St. Helena Saints on Friday, Dec. 6, by a 2-1 score.
Senior Madeleine Munselle kicked home both goals for the Greyhounds. But their biggest game of the year so far was on Monday, Dec. 2, against St. Vincent. The Greyhound girls scored six points to put away the Mustangs.
Senior Julia Dolph scored twice, once in each half,
with additional goals by Olivia Saini, Vanessa Castro (penalty kick conversion), Lucy Behrens and Maria Castro. Their undefeated early season stands in contrast to last year’s record, when they finished 5-9-2; by this point in December 2023 they were 2-1-2. Tuesday night they had a rematch against Cloverdale, a team they defeated on Nov. 19 by a tight 4-3. It will be followed on Thursday by an away game against Swett of Crockett (Contra Costa County).
REIBT Action Now Underway
WEDNESDAYSATURDAY PLAY IN 75TH ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL
By Caleb Knudsen
The 75th annual Redwood Empire Invitational Basketball Tournament, familiarly known as REIBT (and commonly mispronounced “Ribbit”), is an action-packed four days of basketball this weekend, taking place on host Healdsburg High School’s campus.
Eight girls basketball teams and five boys teams will compete starting on Wednesday, Dec. 11, building to the tournament championship games on Saturday afternoon. Several of the games, both boys and girls, will be played in the East Gym, while most will take place in Smith Robinson Gym, the school’s larger hall.
Both championship games will be played in Smith Robinson on Saturday evening, Dec. 14—the boys at 6:30pm, the girls at 8pm.
Participating girls teams, and their records to date,
include Healdsburg (5-0), Cloverdale (2-2), Fortuna (4-1), Tamalpais (4-2), Justin-Siena (2-0), Middletown (2-1), McKinleyville (4-1) and Ukiah (3-3). They represent six North Bay counties—Marin, Napa, Lake, Mendocino, Humboldt and Sonoma.
However only five boys teams are participating this year—Healdsburg (3-4), San Rafael (7-2), Kelseyville (1-2), Roseland Collegiate Prep (0-3) and from the East Bay, AIMS College Prep of Oakland (4-4).
Lance Munselle, whose Munselle Vineyards is one of the sponsors of this year’s tournament, admitted that the competition for fall tournament play is stiff—both boys and girls Greyhounds teams played in two other tournaments this month.
Some schools have had turnovers in their coaching departments this year as well—Healdsburg has new head coaches for both their boys and girls teams, for instance. And while REIBT over time has shown itself to be a competitive and reliable tournament, new coaches may not recognize the opportunity.
“If coaches don’t know
PREVIOUS TOURNEY Last year’s REIBT included more boys teams playing than this year. Healdsburg was eliminated in the first round, despite agile play from Thatcher Little (33).
about it, they say, ‘Oh, just another tournament,’” Munselle said. “But it’s always been a big deal for the school. It’s such a significant part of Greyhound athletics.”
Other sponsors include Kiwanis International, Denny’s Electric, Capricorn Automotive, Robert
Young and others.
The idea for REIBT, a regional basketball tournament to fill the enthusiasm gap between the football and baseball seasons, is attributed to Art McCaffrey, whose impact on local sports is recognized by the playing field at Rec Park that bears his
name. Though he proposed the tournament in 1948, it wasn’t until December 1949 that the first one was held—making this year, 2024, the 75th annual Redwood Empire Invitational Basketball Tournament.
Originally only a boys team tournament, girls were added in
1984—making this the 40th anniversary of the oldest boys and girls basketball tourney in the state. All of the games encourage fan participation. Tickets are available online or at the door—a tournament pass is $25 (plus fees) for all games, available at tinyurl.com/bdftwzcf.
by
Photo by Michael Lucid
FORWARD Jairo Mendoza (10) takes the ball downfield in Dec. 6 action against St. Helena, an 8-0 statement game for the Greyhounds.
Photo by Michael Lucid
CLOSE Cayson Hagen (7) just misses on a shot toward the goal in the Dec. 6 game against St. Helena. Hagen did manage to score later in the 8-0 rout of the Saints.
Photo
Christian Kallen
CRIMES & CONCERNS REPORTED TO HEALDSBURG POLICE,
NOV. 25 - DEC. 1
Residents and others are encouraged to call Police Dispatch as needed at (707) 431-3377, operational 24/7
Monday, Nov. 25
• 2:39pm A vehicle was stopped near Jerry’s Valero on Dry Creek Road.
The 31-year-old (YO) male driver was cited for violating probation, driving with a license suspended for driving under the influence (DUI) and lacking proof of insurance.
3:11pm The Reporting Party (RP) on Fitch Street indicated the tires of the RP’s vehicle were slashed. An officer responded and took a report.
3:58pm A probation officer contacted a 43-YO man at L&M Motel on Healdsburg Avenue. He was arrested and brought to county jail for violation of probation, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.
Tuesday, Nov. 26
12:54pm An unlicensed driver was cited on March Avenue at Tulip Court.
1:55pm A probation officer contacted a group of people in the West Plaza Parking Lot on Healdsburg Avenue. A 40-YO man was arrested and brought to county jail for violation of probation and public intoxication. A 39-YO man was arrested and brought to county jail for violation of probation and public intoxication.
3:03pm RP advised dispatch of an incident “the other day” when he “smoked a joint w/an old lady and an old man” at Badger Park on Heron Drive. When finished smoking he could not get up and thought it was
“laced.” The RP reported his cell phone was stolen by the couple, but upon an officer’s response the incident was not as reported. • 3:04pm A hit-and-run occurred on Harold Lane. The vehicle was side-swiped; no note was left. An officer responded and took a report.
4:35pm The RP on Mason Street at Front Street stated that a motorcycle with a light too bright caused the RP to be distracted and he drove toward the motorcycle. The RP threatened to pepperspray the motorcycle driver. The driver of the motorcycle left the area and called 911 from a family member’s house to report that he was threatened by the original RP. An officer contacted both parties. The initial RP, a 61-YO man, was arrested and brought to county jail for assault with a deadly weapon that was not a firearm.
Wednesday, Nov. 27 • 12:02am A vehicle on Lupine Road at Sunnyvale Drive was stopped for violating
vehicle registration rules. A 32-YO man was cited and released for possession of drug paraphernalia.
10:04am A sexual assault occurred on Healdsburg Avenue. The victim went out with a group of coworkers on the previous evening, Nov. 26. The victim and suspect slept at a friend’s house and when the victim woke up, the suspect was having sex with her. An officer responded and spoke with the victim. A medical and sexual assault response team was called, investigation ongoing. A 42-YO man was arrested for rape of an unconscious person.
10:12am The RP on Mill Street noticed on Sunday, Nov. 24, that three citrus trees in pots valued at approximately $180 were missing from his property. The RP wanted dispatch to have information about the theft.
• 8:30pm Reckless driving was reported at the Healdsburg Community Center on Healdsburg Avenue. The RP advised
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that a vehicle covered in Christmas lights was doing donuts. She told the juveniles in the vehicle to leave and they did. The RP wanted the police department to know in case the juveniles went somewhere else in town and did the same thing.
Thursday, Nov. 28
4:00pm Reckless driving occurred on East Street at North Street. A vehicle did donuts at the intersection. The vehicle was described as an unwashed, black, late ’70s to early ’80s Mustang convertible. An officer responded, but the vehicle was gone on arrival and unable to be located.
Friday, Nov. 29
• 10:11pm The RP’s vehicle was hit in the parking lot of Safeway on Vine Street and a note was not left. A bystander had a video of the suspect vehicle. An officer responded and took a report.
Saturday, Nov. 30 • 2:42pm A woman on and
off her phone in the Safeway parking lot yelled, “I’m going to kill you” for approximately 30 minutes. Officers responded, contacted the woman and conducted a probation search. The search did not find any violation. The woman was advised of the complaint.
2:53pm The RP on Yew Circle found two different men in his backyard on three different days in November. The men were not in the RP’s backyard at the same time. The first man walked around on the property naked. The RP recognized the naked man to be a local transient from the creek. The other man looked like he was trying
Photograph by Christian Kallen
ON PATROL A Healdsburg Police vehicle patrols the playing fields at Rec Park, used by both community and schools.