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The Healdsburg Tribune

Healdsburg Tribune

BIG BOX RETAIL, OUTLET MALLS STILL BARRED

By Christian Kallen

High on the public-interest scale for the upcoming March 3 City Council meeting is the question of “formula stores”—what they are, where they are allowed and where they are to be excluded in Healdsburg’s downtown.

Briefly put, a formula 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.

It’s a formula store, with products, look and services found at approximately 60 other stores, coast to coast. Under Healdsburg’s current limits on formula stores, it is permitted. But when its opening was announced, a number of downtown businesses both on the Plaza and on nearby streets launched a “Vote Yes on Local” campaign to expand the exclusion zones to prevent the wider spread of formula stores.

The revised ordinance that comes before the council is the result of a sixmonth process that included a neighborhood sign campaign, a city staff report and revisions by the City Council, and finally a Planning Commission hearing last month.

Ironically, the council review will take place even as another men’s clothing store that seems to skirt the edges of the formula store definition, Patrick James, opens at 103 Plaza St. That’s directly facing the Plaza on a block that even now bans formula stores.

Until recently the location was the home of

➝ Store Limits, 3

CANCER CATCHES UP

WITH

UNIQUE, INSPIRATIONAL METAL-WORKS ARTIST IN TUCSON

By Christian Kallen

As the sky darkened over the Healdsburg Plaza on Sunday night, a large crowd gathered with candles and children, but its purpose was unclear. “May I ask, if I can, what is the purpose of this gathering?” asked a couple visiting from elsewhere in the state.

“A much-loved member of the community died a few days ago,” seemed insufficient. It couldn’t quite capture the spirit or impact of Jennifer Utsch, who died early Wednesday morning, Feb. 19, in hospice care in Tucson. There were no photos of her at the Plaza, no signs or mementos, just the words spoken or sung

by the 75 or so people who showed up on short notice to remember Jendala.

“The amazing Jendala took her last breath in this world at 1:31 a.m. this morning,” reported Heartizens on Wednesday morning. “You are a force and will live on in the hearts of so many. Thank you for all the joy you brought to this world for all of us still here, I know we will continue to keep Jen’s light alive. Tonight, take some time to look to the stars and we might just see her dancing with the moon.”

Spontaneous tributes and appreciation flooded social media. “I will always remember your kindness and that radiant smile,” posted Michelle Schultz. “I will be ready soon to celebrate you, but for now, I rest and recuperate and look to the skies for the brightest star.”

Janet Ciel of the

Healdsburg Farmers Market, where Jendala pedaled her custom “Jingle Cart” to show and sell her affirmation chimes, posted aptly on Facebook: “I hope heaven is ready for the incredible Jen.”

‘Jendala’

The name is that of her crafts business, a combination of her name, Jennifer, and “dala,” which is what she called the dangling pieces of metal on which she wrote positive words for meditation, confidence or just plain reminders of what’s valuable. (In Sanskrit it means “piece,” or the petal of a lotus among other translations.)

She inscribed by torch a single word on a piece of recycled metal: From Heart to Sunshine to Hope to Share, Family, Friendship, Spirit. Positive expressions of positive energy. That’s Jendala; each one a piece of Jen.

TO WHOM GOES THE GOLDEN MAN?

PREDICTIONS FOR OSCAR-WINNING FILMS, ACTORS, DIRECTORS AND OTHERS

By Jared Rasic

The time has arrived for the 97th Annual Academy Awards, and we have more options than ever to watch the event. This year, it can be streamed live on Hulu for the first time ever, or watched on TV like our forefathers did before us. Once again, I’ve divided my guesses into what

The single-word cards, sometimes etched with simple flowers, suns or other shapes, could be combined into a one-ofa-kind chime—hence the name of the euphonious Jingle Cart, in which she transported and sold her works. Her customers were widespread, not just from a circuit of farmers and crafts markets but via on-line marketing (etsy. com/shop/Jendala) and word of mouth.

Over time she herself became known as Jendala, a name that seemed to suit her though many still called her Jen. As she wrote on her website, jendala.com, “My nickname is Jendala, a name that evolved over time as I followed my heart as an artist creating my life.”

One of a Kind

Janet Ciel, the director of the Healdsburg Farmers

should win vs. what will win, but with so many of the nominees this year coming from movies I genuinely enjoyed, I’ll be happy no matter who takes home the little bald man.

Actor in a Leading Role

Adrien Brody, The Brutalist

Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown Colman Domingo, Sing Sing Ralph Fiennes, Conclave Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice

Who Will Win: Adrien Brody. His work in The Brutalist is monumental and deserves recognition.

Who Should Win: Brody. But if Fiennes or Domingo took it, I’d be so happy. Fiennes does work unlike any we’ve seen from him before, and Domingo is

Market, said they had known each other for over 30 years. “Let’s see, probably I met her in the early 1990s,” Ciel said. “She was a craftsperson at a festival that I was co-running with my ex-husband, the Festival of Art and Wine at Duncans Mills.” At the time, Jen was selling for someone else, “painted light bulbs that were pretty cool,” Ciel remembered. “And then she started cutting out tin cans and making them into little lamps, little hanging lamps. They were really sweet. That was her first craft.” Those crafty years came when Jendala was already in her 30s—she was born in 1969. Prior to that she said she had worked as a sheriff’s deputy in Utah and a firefighter in Arizona. Though it took a while for her to develop the metal works she

such a gentle and moving artist that it’s impossible not to root for him.

Actor in a Supporting Role

Yura Borisov, Anora Kieran Culkin

A Real Pain

Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown Guy Pearce The Brutalist Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice

Who Will Win: Culkin. He builds such a jagged-edged, empathic character that it feels like we’re watching a tightrope walker dance over a bonfire.

Who Should Win: Culkin. He captures something singular in A Real Pain, but I sure love Borisov in Anora In many ways it feels like the movie doesn’t even start until he shows up.

HEALDSBURG HAPPENINGS

GOINGS ON AROUND TOWN THIS WEEK & NEXT

THURSDAY, FEB. 27

Swing Dance

The Healdsburg Dance Collective begins a series of swing dance lessons on Thursdays, starting Feb. 27. Each lesson $20, dropins welcome, no partner needed, 7-8pm at Dragonfly Dance Studio, 425 Westside Dr. Jazz on the Menu

The Healdsburg Jazz organization continues its decades-old Jazz on the Menu program, this time featuring four restaurants in town (Baci, Goodnight’s, Spoonbar and Valette) donating 25% of their food and beverage sales to help support Healdsburg Jazz free community music education programs. Thursday, Feb. 27, from 5:50-8:30pm.

WEEKEND PROGRAMS

Love vs. Art

The Shape of Things , a play by Neil LaBute, will continue on stage at The 222 on Feb. 28-March 2. Our reviewer Harry Duke says, “The Shape of Things raises the age-old issues of what one would be willing to do for love and whether the ends justify the means.” Tickets from free (18 and under) to $105 (gold level seating). 222 Healdsburg Ave., The222.org. Dance Concerts

Friday and Saturday bring the return of MOSAIC, with live dance performances by UPside Dance Company and dance films from SF Dance Film Festival. Friday’s performance starts at 6pm. On Saturday, March 1, starting at 7:30pm, a longer performance includes live music by Mr. December, followed by a dance party on The Raven stage with DJ Glitterfox. The Raven

Performing Arts Theater, 115 North St.

SATURDAY, MARCH 1

Barrel Weekend

Wine tasting with an emphasis on a wine’s development during the 47th annual Barrel Tasting weekend, at 60 participating wineries in the Alexander, Dry Creek and Russian River valleys. Both Saturday and Sunday, 11-4pm each day. More information at wineroad.com.

CFB Trio

The Christian Foley-Beining Jazz Trio will perform jazz standards, Brazilian jazz and a few originals at Hotel Healdsburg on Saturday from 6-9pm. Christian Foley-Beining on guitar, Tom Shader on bass, Kendrick Freeman on drums. In the lobby lounge at 25 Matheson St., no cover.

SUNDAY, MARCH 2

Disney at the Movies

The Healdsburg Community Band will perform music from Disney films at the Raven Theater on Sunday, at 5pm. A traditional band of locals, some of whom have been playing together since 1982 we’ll bet, the year the “hometown band” was founded. No admission, donations welcome.

Oscar Watch

From the red carpet of the nominated (3pm) to the red eyes of the losers (9pm), celebrate the 97th Academy Awards with a live simulcast and onlocation events and prizes. Tickets $20, with food and wine for sale. Benefits co-sponsors True West Film Center, held at Coyote Sonoma, 44-F Mill St., coyotesonoma.com.

Brass Band Furthermore Wines celebrates Fat Tuesday a couple of days early with the popular Bourbon Street Brass Band, blowing the tin ceiling off the tasting room at 328-A Healdsburg Ave. No cover,

lots of fun. Thursday-Saturday music continues with various artists, free, from 5:30-8pm. See furthermorewines.com/events.

MONDAY, MARCH 3

City Council

Regular meeting of Healdsburg’s five-member, atlarge elected City Council to discuss, oversee and direct city business. Agenda includes the first vote on a new “formula store” ordinance following its review by the Planning Commission. 6pm at 401 Grove St., live on facebook.com/ cityofhealdsburg.

TUESDAY, MARCH 4

Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras will be celebrated at Parish Cafe and the neighboring Elephant In The Room on Fat Tuesday, March 4. Food available for purchase from Parish includes crawfish, po’boys, muffuletta, gumbo, jambalaya and beignets, plus

wine from Flambeaux Winery and beers from Fogbelt Brewery. Featuring music all day from Spike Sikes & His Awesome Hotcakes, Vernon “Ice” Black and the House Party, and the Brian Boudin Band. Starts at 2pm. Tickets available at the Elephant, $25, 177F Healdsburg Ave.

UPCOMING

TEDx Sonoma It’s almost time for the intellectually stimulating meeting of great minds and big brains that is TEDx, the local version of the international short-form lecture series on “ideas worth spreading.” It will again be at Sonoma Country Day School, Saturday March 8, 1:30pm. Tickets and information at tedxsonomacounty.com. For additional events, visit healdsburgtribune.com/ calendar.

SILHOUETTES UPside Dance Company’s artist residency at Harmon Guest House included this striking scene. The Healdsburg Dance Collective will perform their

MOSAIC program on Friday and Saturday at

Adam and Evelyn in the Gallery

NEIL LABUTE PLAY

‘SHAPE OF THINGS’ IN HEALDSBURG

By Harry Duke

The first line of Neil LaB-

ute’s The Shape of Things

“You stepped over the line,” is also a criticism leveled at LaBute for a lot of his writing. Sometimes labeled a misanthrope and other times a misogynist, LaBute’s plays and films (In the Company of Men) often feature terrible people doing terrible things and getting away with it. But if the last two months in our country teach

Outlander, which ceased operations on Feb. 1, and the agreement to turn the

storefront over to Patrick James was apparently reached between the owners of the two stores. According to Planning Director Scott Duiven, whoever takes over Outlander’s lease can do so

us anything, it’s that terrible people do get away with doing terrible things. Labute’s work merely reflects that reality. It’s a stretch to say he endorses it.

The Shape of Things , running at The 222 in Healdsburg through March 2, is the tale of four

without any review by the city itself.

“When retail spaces turn over we typically don’t know about it until a business license and/or sign permit are applied for by the new business or if a building permit is submitted for tenant improvements,” Duiven told the Tribune. And, as of now, Patrick James has not applied for a business license with the City of Healdsburg.

In fact, though, Patrick James has listed the Healdsburg as a store location on its website, though it is listed as Outlander—a name it intends to keep until the fall.

In the Fine Print

The changes to the municipal code that will be taken up by the council on Monday should be fairly familiar, in that they were

university students whose paths cross and how their lives change (for the better? for the worse?) over the span of 18 weeks.

Nebbishy University art gallery security guard Adam (Terrance Austin Smith) has his hands full with protester Eveyln

discussed at length by the council in August and again in December, and the Planning Department crafted a series of ordinance changes approved by the Planning Commission on Jan. 28.

The opportunity to take a straightforward approach is sometimes not the one the council chooses to take, so some debate, less from the floor than from the dais, is to be expected.

Faherty’s opened in November, and a month later the city’s senior planner, Ellen McDowell, proposed to the council that the exclusion zone for formula stores be expanded from just the four block faces around the Plaza to almost seven full city blocks, from the roundabout to North Street, from Foss Creek to East Street.

After some discussion the council agreed, though

(Anne Yumi Kobori).

She’s trying to spray paint genitals back on a statue that’s had them covered in plaster after community objections. Adam is quickly taken by the forceful Evelyn, and a relationship develops. Evelyn guides Adam out of his

McDowell’s proposal was amended to include both sides of North Street. When the Planning Commission met on Jan. 28 it substantially agreed with the City Council on all points, though it changed a single word in the definition of a formula store.

“A retail business which is required by contractual or other arrangement or affiliation to maintain a standardized (“formula”) array of services and/or merchandise (etc.)... which causes it to be substantially identical to 10 or more other retail businesses or restaurants in the United States…” The word “identical” was changed to “similar,” and that is what will be presented to the council on March 3.

Yet as a recent editorial in the Press Democrat made clear, there is still the perspective that the city should

shell, encouraging him to take better care of himself with a better diet and exercise, improve his attire and even undergo a bit of cosmetic surgery.

Adam’s friends Phillip (William Webb) and Jenny (Lauren Berlinger) at first are impressed with the changes in Adam, but soon have their concerns. In no time, Evelyn convinces Adam to drop his friends. Then she drops a bomb on Adam. A couple of bombs, actually, before a final, devastating detonation.

Jeffrey Bracco directed the bare-bones production where the entire set consists of just a collection of white cubes that transform into whatever they’re needed to be (a statue, a bed and more). It helps that the show is being staged at the Paul Mahder Gallery, since a gallery is the setting for the play’s opening and closing scenes.

The young cast is solid, with a particularly good performance by Berlinger as human collateral damage from Adam’s relationship with Evelyn.

The Shape of Things raises the age-old issues of what one would be willing to do for love and whether the ends justify the means. Topical references (video stores, Fatal Attraction, Jerry Springer) give the play a somewhat dated feel, but the dramatization of human beings being wretched to other human beings is timeless.

‘The Shape of Things’ runs through March 2 at The 222, 222 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. Fri- Sat, 7pm; Sunday, 2pm. $45-$105. Students free with ID. 707.473.9152. the222.org

not overly limit what the editors called “free market forces.” This despite the fact that most of the cited opportunities a chain or formula store would bring to Healdsburg would challenge local business already in operation—for instance a Home Depot would compete with Healdsburg Lumber, and a Trader Joe’s with Big John’s and Shelton’s. Preserving Healdsburg’s identity is also in the General Plan and Municipal Code, which is where the discussion next Monday will focus.

The Healdsburg City Council meets at 6pm on Monday, March 3, at 401 Grove St. The meeting is broadcast on Facebook and other services, but people who wish to offer public comment may only do so at the meeting.

SALE The Outlander storefront at 103 Plaza St. closed, and arranged for another men’s store, Patrick James, to take over the lease until October. The street faces the Plaza, and thus should not allow ‘formula stores’ to open.

Photo by Christian Kallen

WORK IN PROGRESS Museum security guard Adam (Terrance Austin Smith) has his hands full with protester Evelyn (Anne Yumi Kobori) in the Neil LaBute play ‘The Shape of Things,’ at The 222 this weekend.

Actress in a Leading Role

Cynthia Erivo, Wicked Karla Sofia Gascon, Emilia Pérez

Mikey Madison,

Anora

Demi Moore, The Substance Fernanda Torres, I’m Still Here

Who Will Win: Moore. The academy loves a comeback almost as much as it loves a beautiful person under a bunch of prosthetic makeup. Also, it probably is the best performance of her career.

Who Should Win: I’m rooting for Moore just

because of how much I love The Substance, but part of me really hopes Madison gets the upset. She paints with the entire palate.

Actress in a Supporting Role

Monica Barbaro, A Complete Unknown Ariana Grande, Wicked Felicity Jones, The Brutalist Isabella Rossellini, Conclave Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez

Who Will Win: Rossellini. She maybe has a dozen lines of dialogue in the entire film, yet they convey a thousand years of patriarchal servitude in just a glance. Who Should Win: Probably Rossellini, but Jones’

work is for the ages and flawlessly calibrated.

Cinematography

Lol Crawley, The Brutalist

Greig Fraser, Dune: Part Two

Paul Guilhaume, Emilia Pérez

Ed Lachman, Maria Jarin Blaschke, Nosferatu

Who Will Win: Crawley for The Brutalist. I felt completely transported to period New York City.

Who Should Win: Crawley. To look as good as it did on such a (relatively) small budget is a minor miracle.

Director Sean Baker, Anora Brady Corbet, The Brutalist

James Mangold, A Complete Unknown

Jacques Audiard, Emilia Pérez

Coralie Fargeat, The Substance

Who Will Win: Corbet. His work on The Brutalist is massive. Most people aren’t as in love with the film as I am, but I think his work here is legendary.

Who Should Win: Corbet, but I would still be so happy if Baker or Fargeat won. All of their work is seminal.

Documentary

Feature

Black Box Diaries: Shiori Ito, Eric Nyari and Hanna Aqvilin No Other Land: Basel Adra, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal and Yuval

Abraham Porcelain War:

POLICE LOG

CRIMES AND CONCERNS REPORTED TO HEALDSBURG POLICE, FEB. 10-16

Residents and others are encouraged to call Police Dispatch as needed at (707) 431-3377, operational 24/7

Brendan Bellomo, Slava Leontyev, Aniela Sidorska and Paula DuPre’ Pesmen

Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat: Johan Grimonprez, Daan Milius and Rémi Grellety

Sugarcane: Julian Brave NoiseCat, Emily Kassie and Kellen Quinn

What Will Win: No

Other Land. Timely and important.

What Should Win: No Other Land. It’s not even close.

International

Feature

I’m Still Here (Brazil)

The Girl with the Needle (Denmark)

Emilia Pérez (France)

The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Germany) Flow (Latvia)

What Will Win: I’m scared

Emilia Pérez will win, but backlash has been so intense that I think it will go to The Seed of the Sacred Fig

What Should Win: It doesn’t stand a chance, but The Girl with the Needle felt like the most groundbreaking effort.

Best Picture

Anora: Alex Coco, Samantha Quan and Sean Baker, producers

The Brutalist: Nick Gordon, Brian

Young, Andrew Morrison, D.J. Gugenheim and Brady Corbet, producers

A Complete Unknown: Fred Berger, James Mangold and Alex Heineman, producers Conclave: Tessa Ross, Juliette Howell and Michael A. Jackman, producers Dune: Part Two: Mary Parent, Cale Boyter, Tanya Lapointe and Denis Villeneuve, producers Emilia Pérez: Pascal Caucheteux and Jacques Audiard, producers

I’m Still Here: Maria Carlota Bruno and Rodrigo Teixeira, producers

Nickel Boys: Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner and Joslyn Barnes, producers

The Substance: Coralie Fargeat and Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, producers

Wicked: Marc Platt, producer

What Will Win: It’s either Anora or The Brutalist. I think Anora has the momentum, but The Brutalist works better as a movie. I think Anora wins by a hair.

What Should Win: Anything but Emilia. In my heart I know The Substance is my favorite, but it doesn’t stand a chance. The Brutalist should win, as it’s a monumental work of artistic vision that moves me even just thinking about it. Although, if/when Anora wins, I’ll raise a glass to Baker anyway.

Feb. 14 at 10:18am, one of the suspects contacted an officer at the Healdsburg Police Department on Center Street regarding the incident. The 53-YO woman was cited and released for conspiracy and petty theft.)

the builder of a new house. On Feb. 8 or Feb. 9, someone went on the gated property and broke a $6,000 window with a rock. The owners wanted to press charges. An officer responded and took a report.

again. Officers responded, and the man was provided a courtesy ride home.

Monday, Feb. 10

8:29am The Reporting Party (RP) stated that while he was leaving Safeway on Vine Street the previous day, he saw a vehicle back into his vehicle. He tried to get the driver’s attention but the person drove off. The RP was not the owner of the vehicle and stated the vehicle was a company car. An officer advised the RP to have the owner of the vehicle call the police department if the owner wanted a report.

10:53am The RP on North Street at Fitch Street said that while walking her dog, a man pulled up in a vehicle and exposed himself. The RP met with an officer and did not want to press charges. Officers looked for the vehicle, but it was gone on arrival and unable to be located.

• 5:25pm A bicycle was stopped near Great Clips on Vine Street and a probation check was conducted. A 44-YO man was cited and released for possession of drug paraphernalia and violation of probation.

Tuesday, Feb. 11

12:30pm A subject on North Street at Foss Street was stopped for having an outstanding warrant. A 55-YO man was cited for violation of probation, violation of the open container law and on an outstanding Sonoma County warrant regarding simple battery.

2:31pm A student at Healdsburg High School on Prince Avenue was found with marijuana at school. It was confiscated. An officer responded and took a report.

2:43pm Healdsburg Police performed a welfare check on an elementary school child who was not picked up after school at the bus stop. A family member had indicated that the child’s mother was possibly using drugs. During the welfare check, police located several ounces of suspected methamphetamines, marijuana and a scale in the mother’s vehicle outside the residence. During the booking process of the suspect, a 33-year old woman, it was discovered that she was in possession of additional items of contraband concealed in her bra, including drugs, paraphernalia, and over $1,000 in U.S. and Mexican currency.

• 8:42pm The RP indicated that his husband was missing. He had flown alone to Sacramento from Southern California, rented a car, drove to see family in Woodland and drove to a winery in Angwin. The RP spoke to his husband at 4:50pm as he was leaving Angwin. The phone last pinged at Safeway on Vine Street at 5:30pm, and had been off since. Dispatch obtained the license plate of the rental vehicle. The Flock license plate reader registered the vehicle on Mill Street at 4:39pm. An officer spoke with the RP and took a report. The RP’s husband and the rental vehicle were entered into the Missing and Unidentified Persons Section. He was located the next day, Feb. 15.

1:21pm A 51-Year-Old (YO) man in the West Plaza Parking lot on Healdsburg Avenue was contacted about a warrant. He was cited and released on an outstanding Sonoma County warrant regarding resisting arrest, possession of drug paraphernalia and trespassing.

• 1:41pm A vehicle was stopped for a probation check, violating registration rules and an illegal U-turn near Chevron South on Healdsburg Avenue. A 64-YO man was cited and released for lacking proof of insurance and violating probation.

2:58pm A bike was stopped near Flyers on Healdsburg Avenue for riding on the wrong side of the road. A 45-YO man was cited for violation of a court order and theft or misappropriation of lost property.

4:02pm A woman at Big John’s Market on Healdsburg Avenue stole a bag of groceries and left in the direction of Hotel Trio. The store wanted to press charges. An additional suspect was with the woman and left in a vehicle after stealing a bag full of groceries herself. Officers responded, but the suspects were gone on arrival and unable to be located. An officer met with the RP and started an investigation. (On

• 3:00pm The RP on Mountain View Drive was defrauded of $13,500. The RP lost $5,000 from her Bank of America account and $8,500 from her Charles Schwab account. She had trouble with her cell phone on Feb. 10, 2025, and accessed the Xfinity application on her phone. She spoke with someone in another country who requested her social security number, phone number, date of birth and other information. The fraud occurred shortly thereafter. The RP was provided with an incident number and said she would follow up with her banks for further assistance.

• 3:21pm The RP’s vehicle was hit while parked outside of Safeway on Vine Street. The RP wanted to press charges if the suspect was identified. An officer responded and took a report.

Wednesday, Feb. 12

• 10:58am The RP said a vehicle hit the trash cans of the RP’s neighbors on South Fitch Mountain Road. A piece of the vehicle was left at the scene. An officer responded and noted there was minimal damage. The officer advised the owners.

• 1:59pm A warrant officer contacted a 59-YO man on Brown Street. He was cited on an outstanding Sonoma County warrant regarding failure to appear in court, possession of drug paraphernalia, carrying a concealed dirk or dagger, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and violation of the open container law. 2:12pm The RP on South Fitch Mountain Road was

Thursday, Feb. 13

10:15am A vehicle on Paul Wittke Drive at Rosewood Drive was stopped for violating window-tinting rules. A search was conducted. A 56-YO man was arrested and transported to county jail for possession of a controlled substance after two prior times, possession of a controlled substance, possession of unlawful paraphernalia, driving with a license suspended for driving under the influence (DUI), carrying a switchblade and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.

• 2:45pm A 44-YO woman at Big John’s Market on Healdsburg Avenue was cited for trespassing.

Friday, Feb. 14

11:11am A woman was sleeping on benches near the Dollar Tree on Vine Street with no shoes. Officers and medical help responded. A therapist provided services.

5:01pm A man on Center Street at Piper Street was found laying down on the sidewalk. Officers responded. The man declined medical help and said he would walk home. At 5:35pm, the RP indicated the man was very drunk on Fitch Street at Powell Avenue. The RP saw him fall and her husband helped him up, but he fell

Saturday, Feb. 15 9:16am The RP on Olive Circle received a picture of a homemade baseball bat with spikes protruding out of it hitting a bullseye. Dispatch attempted to get more information from the RP about the picture, but the RP became very upset with the police department as a whole and started cursing. An officer responded to the man, but he was so

SPORTS

Varsity Hoopsters Look Ahead

PLAYOFF RUNS END EARLY FOR BASKETBALL, SOCCER TEAMS

By Caleb Knudsen

While three of Healdsburg’s winter sports teams made it into the postseason play, one that did not was the boys varsity basketball team. But coach AJ Crosby still thinks it was a winning season, despite the 10-18 record, and puts them in position to have an even better season next year. Though this was Crosby’s first year head-coaching

a high school varsity team, it was by no means his first coaching experience. “Last year I was a JV coach at Rancho Cotate,” he said. “And for the past four-anda-half years I’ve been a head coach for North Bay Basketball Academy for AAU seasons.”

The Amateur Athletic Union comes up a lot in Crosby’s reflections on the game of youth basketball. He said he’s seen that many of the best players in the high school also play AAU, which usually gives them a leg up in varsity competition. And the teams that

don’t have AAU players suffer by comparison.

“The goal this year was obviously to win as many games as possible, but also to get the buy-in—to get these kids to play more basketball, not just during basketball season,” he said. Only a couple of players on this year’s roster had AAU experience, Crosby said, and it made a difference.

Still, he said, “I look at our talent compared to all the talent that I’ve gotten to coach, and knowing all the talent from the other teams I think we exceeded expectations.”

Ten wins is a benchmark of sorts, and even if only two of them were league games, they included the season’s final game, Feb. 8 at Elsie Allen. As usual, senior Thatcher Little and sophomore Ethan Overdorf, players at the beginning and end of their high school careers, led the team in the 53-42 Greyhound victory over the Lobos.

Crosby confided that when the NCS playoff season ended, the all-league players should include Little on first team, and Overdorf at least an honorable mention. Their statistics and play

more than bear that out, as one or both leads the team in most categories: Thatcher’s 13.5 scoring average is first, followed by Overdorf’s 11.6 points per game.

The situation is reversed in rebounds, with Overdorf grabbing 7.7 per game and Little 6.0.

“Ethan’s big, Ethan’s huge,” said the coach of his 6-foot-4-inch center.

“His development over the spring and summer I feel will surprise a lot of guys, based off of what he’ll do within AAU.”

But basketball is not a game played alone, or in

pairs, but as a team. Other returning players include juniors Cooper Conrad and Becket Little—yes, a little brother—junior Vincenzo Loupy and the energetic sophomore, Frank Rea.

“I think Beckett Little and Cooper Conrad, both incoming seniors, have taken huge leaps and bounds compared to how the season started to the end of the season,” Crosby said. “And Frank I think is gonna take that next step next year.”

They’ll all return next year, ready to exceed expectations again.

Winter Sports Season Melts Away

BRIEF POST-SEASON APPEARANCES FOR THREE TEAMS

Three Healdsburg High athletics teams made their NCS playoff entrance, and exit, last Wednesday after we went to press. The girls basketball team, and both girls and boys soccer teams, made it into the playoffs, but their post-season ended quickly in all cases. The NCS tournament assigns teams to divisions that do not necessarily match their size, but by a complicated formula even coaches struggle to make sense of. That’s how Healdsburg’s girls Greyhound team drew a Division 2 assignment, and lost their first game against Moreau Catholic, 47-30. Thus ended the year for the 19-8 overall, 7-3 in the league Greyhound girls. The boys soccer team always played good games, whether at Healdsburg High or on the road. They ended the season with a 9-4-7 overall (3-0-5

record in the North Bay – Redwood). That gave them a high #3 seed in the competitive Division 4, and they drew a firstround match against 14-seed Kennedy Richmond (11-9-4). But by the end of the night it was Kennedy that got the win, and Healdsburg’s boys soccer

season, too, was over. The girls playoff game, also Division 4, also took place on Wednesday, Feb. 19. The 14-4-3 girls were seeded #11, and their opponent was 6-seed San Rafael High with their 12-8 record. Unfortunately the girls soccer team lost 3-0 to San Rafael in the first round.

Photos by Michael Lucid

BOYS WILL BE BOYS Healdsburg’s 2024-25 varsity basketball team gathers for one more game at Smith Robinson on Senior Night, Feb. 6.

“Vanessa Castro hit the goal post early but San Rafael scored on a penalty kick shortly thereafter, and had their last goal in stoppage time in the first half,” said assistant coach Peter Mork. “No one scored in the second half as we played them tough on both ends of the field. It was a great season for our seniors.”

Photos by Michael Lucid

BREAKTHROUGH Healdsburg’s Cayson Hagen (7) drives through blocks by Analy opponents at the Jan. 9 home game against Cloverdale.

LAYUP Sophomore center Ethan Overdorf (#10) fights his way to the basket for a layup during the Piner game on Feb. 6. He’s likely to be a key part of next year’s varsity team.

TAKING AIM Madeleine Munselle became a dominant soccer player this season for the Healdsburg Greyhounds, and a possible All-League pick.

Proclamation for Jennifer ‘Jendala’ Utsch

A PROCLAMATION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HEALDSBURG CELEBRATING HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HEALDSBURG COMMUNITY

WHEREAS, in 2004, Healdsburg welcomed a newcomer to the community from Tucson Arizona, Jennifer Utsch; and WHEREAS, with her arrival in Healdsburg, Jennifer relocated her business fabricating metal affirmation artwork and chimes under the name Jendala; and WHEREAS, Jendala took form in November of 1998 after purchasing torches in Tucson, Arizona, where she worked as a Firefighter for Rural Metro Fire Department—it was the passion for the fire element that drew Jendala into its strength and beauty; and WHEREAS, Jendala’s mission is to encourage a

sustainable way of living for ourselves and our environment, to bridge diversity, expand our perceptions, and invoke emotions for self- discovery and wellbeing; and WHEREAS, Jendala artwork can be found inspiring people throughout the community, the state, the nation, and even the world with positive messages and inspiring words; and

WHEREAS, Jennifer can be found regularly at the Tuesday and Saturday Farmers’ Market and throughout the Healdsburg community sharing her creativity, positivity, and passion for life; and WHEREAS, over the past 20 years, the Jendala studio has transitioned to be more than a place to produce artwork, it has become a place of creativity for the community; and WHEREAS, Jennifer used her passion for art and creativity to empower children with the publishing of two children’s books “Wings to Fly” and “Shining with Resilience” that teach the fundamental tool of believing in yourself; and

5 ELEMENTS Handmade recycled metal flags and chimes strands like this were among Jendala’s most popular items in her Etsy shop.

JENDALA

became known for, when they finally took shape she was reborn as an artist.

“The craft that she did was completely unique,” Ciel said. “I was a craftsperson for over 30 years; I made women’s clothing. I traveled all over the country doing festivals, and I never saw anything like what she was doing. Nothing.”

Heartizens

With a plentitude of friends made on the craftfair circuit, she found her way to Healdsburg permanently in 2004, according to the Proclamation the city issued for her in 2024 when she moved to Tucson after 20 influential years in the city’s arts community.

community.” Riner is still a Healdsburg resident herself after 30-plus years, and a member of the city’s newly formed Arts & Culture Commission.

“Jen was a beacon of light in Healdsburg, and she radiated positivity and joy wherever she went,” Riner said. “I’d be in awe of her when I witnessed it. The ways she blended healing, creativity and community building was astonishing.”

Eventually Jendala created an education center for creative kids, Heartizens, located in the same 444 Moore Lane warehouse where she did her metal work. It provides “creative spaces — both physical and virtual” — for children to explore creativity, the arts and their hearts.

board member then. Two years later, she recalled, Jen “complained of pain in her gut.” A couple of weeks after that she tested positive for ovarian cancer.

“And so began her lengthy and painful journey of chemo and infusions,” Ashbaugh said. “Jen was quite transparent about her health … On social media, Jen cleared up misconceptions about ovarian cancer and the importance of early detection.”

By 2021 the cancer had progressed to Stage 4, but her scans were clear, which gave her reason to hope. “I arrive to a whole new me, Jendala, made up, imagined, fought for, and now rising like the Phoenix,” she posted enthusiastically—then asked for donations to Heartizens.

WHEREAS, Jennifer furthered her work in supporting children by creating the non-profit Heartizens, the Heartizens Includitude Project, and Heartizens Street, a supportive space for kids to create connection with self and others through the arts, nature, and awareness; and WHEREAS, Jennifer has decided to make a life change and relocate back to Tucson where she has family and many friends; and

WHEREAS, Jennifer’s contributions to the Healdsburg community will carry-on long after she leaves. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED that the City Council of the City of Healdsburg hereby expresses its sincere appreciation, thanks, and gratitude to Jennifer “Jendala” Utsch for sharing her creativity, positivity, and passion for life, and helping to make Healdsburg a better place.

DATED: August 19, 2024

SO ORDERED: David Hagele, Mayor

My nickname is Jendala, a name that evolved over time as I followed my heart as an artist creating my life.

“And she brought this pretty incredible radiance and energy and excitement to the City Council chambers during public comment.”

Because the council could not comment or respond to public comment, Themig got the feeling Jendala left disappointed, so he followed her out to introduce himself. “Hey, my name’s Mark,” he said. “I’m new to the city. I would love to come to your studio sometime and learn more.”

They became good friends, pseudo-siblings. Themig helped her navigate the city’s paperwork to eventually make her Heartizens vision a reality. Though he admits he is not an artist.

But the education went both ways. “You know, coming from Minnesota—there’s wonderful artwork there, but there certainly isn’t the same kind of vibe as California, in terms of people being more free-spirited and creative and doing these cool things. It was more conservative, more Norwegian,” Themig said.

“So that was kind of my background, and she would push my boundaries sometimes and make me think about things differently.”

Going Home

Earlier in 2024, Jen Utsch began planning a move back to Tucson, where her mother and one of her three brothers lived. Though she appeared lively and as inspirational as always, the cancer had never left her. The idea of returning to Arizona seemed a transparent admission that she wanted to be there, with family, when she transitioned.

It was a poorly kept secret. “I mean, she was saying to me in one breath, ‘I’ll be back, I’ll see you in the spring,’” said Janet Ciel. “And in the next breath saying, ‘You know, it’s probably really smart of me, I really have to go back there. I have to have someone be there for me.’”

In September, she and Themig loaded up a trailer and headed to Tucson from Healdsburg—an epic journey that involved breakdowns and synchronicity. When they finally arrived they moved her into the onestory, ranch-style house she had bought to call her own, a luxury she had not fully enjoyed for years.

beloved metal-worker, Heartizens organizer, and community angel, is now in hospice and may not have long. Most know she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer several years ago, and has been fighting it like a champ; remarkably beating it twice. But, as cancer usually does, it is beating her at this point.”

From her hospice bed, Jendala received visitors from her friends and family, from out of town, from throughout her wide arts network. “I was with Jen the day she went into hospice,” Themig said. “I spent as much time as I could there; I went back a couple times. And what really amazed me is she has this incredible network of people who were not only her friends, but I mean, they loved her.” Themig helped organize a Zoom meeting on Jan. 25 with up to 100 people, friends from all around the world, to log on to talk to Jendala one more time.

“It was exactly what Jen would’ve wanted,” he said. “It was chaos.”

Pseudo-Siblings

“I met Jen in 2013 when I organized the seventh annual Healdsburg Arts Festival,” said Gina Riner. “We discovered we shared a similar vision for elevating art and creativity in Healdsburg. And we both had a passion for helping kids and building

Before she left Healdsburg in September, Jendala made it a point to bring the importance of Heartizens’ mission to the forefront, so that the remarkable space would not lose momentum when she left.

Mona Ashbaugh met Jendala in 2017, about the time the latter was forming Heartizens, and became a

Mark Themig, the current Community Services director, met Jendala at the first city meeting he attended, in 2015. “Jen came to the City Council meeting to talk about her idea of creating opportunities for teens and for youth in her studio space,” he recalled.

Late in 2023, Themig was diagnosed with cancer himself, caused by an infection of human papillomavirus (HPV). “She was there to support me,” he said. “There wasn’t a lot people could do because the treatment’s so awful for anal cancer, but she was here as I came out of treatment.”

Her plans to return to Healdsburg for the final Farmers Markets were canceled as her energy level faded. She saw doctors throughout the winter, and the news was never good: The cancer had returned, and spread.

It was inoperable.

He is in full remission, and has long been back at work full-time.

The State of Arizona does not have a “Death with Dignity” law, but in hospice she was given the choice of a sedative that would essentially end her mental life and allow her body to die.

“And that’s what she did,” Ciel said.

There will be a local celebration of Jendala’s life on Sunday, April 27, at Villa Chanticleer. Details will be forthcoming. ➝

The last week of January, Ciel posted an update on the Healdsburg Farmers Market Facebook page: “I wanted to keep you informed that Jen Utsch (Jendala), our

Photo by Jendala/Etsy

Photo courtesy of City of Healdsburg

RECOGNITION The Healdsburg City Council honored Jendala with an official proclamation when she announced she was leaving town in September. From left, Ron Edwards, Evelyn Mitchell, Mayor David Hagele, Jennifer Utsch, Chris Herrod and Ariel Kelley.