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TheHealdsburg HealdsburgTribune Tribune The Enterprise & Scimitar Enterprise & Scimitar
Visit for daily updates on local news views www.healdsburgtribune.com for daily updates on local news andand views Our 157th year, Visit Number 38 www.healdsburgtribune.com Healdsburg, California 1865 –September 22, 2022
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TWO-YEAR CANDIDATES ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS
Healdsburg, California Healdsburg, California
Date, Date, 20202020
CANDIDATES FOR COUNCIL STUB SEAT COMPLICATES THE MATH By Christian Kallen
Matias Lopez Jr. What are the most important reasons you’re running for a city council seat? City council is a volunteer position, so the stipend for the role is low. Because of this, the people who are able to serve on the council are folks who are fortunate to have flexible work schedules and significant savings. As a result of this barrier, people on city council don’t necessarily represent the residents that live in Healdsburg. What experience or specific qualifications will you bring to the city council? Every year, the speed that ideas, technology and ➝ Council, 2
Photo by Christian Kallen
The race for three city council seats in Healdsburg continues following a candidates’ forum, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and Healdsburg 2040, at Coyote Sonoma on Sept. 14. Last week (Sept. 15) we presented answers to a set of questions from the Tribune by all four candidates for the full-term, four-year council seat. With this issue, the Healdsburg Tribune gives the three candidates for the partial twoyear term the chance to respond to the same questions. The candidates are presented alphabetically, and their comments have only been edited for technical reasons (spelling, etc.). “Election Day” is Nov. 8; mail-in ballots will be accepted beginning Oct. 10 at the Registrar of Voters Office (435 Fiscal Dr., Santa Rosa) and the next day at official Ballot Drop Box locations.
HIKE Fitch Mountain is only 991 feet high, but it looms large in Healdsburg history.
Trail to Fitch Mountain Summit Gets Boost SEN. MCGUIRE’S PET PROJECT IS A GAIN FOR HEALDSBURG By Christian Kallen
The view of Fitch Mountain looming to the east of Healdsburg is as much a signature of the town as the Russian River itself, a natural landmark that defines the region. It’s a small wonder—its 991-foot altitude is no Everest or Denali, but as the Dude would say, it holds the town together. Soon people can do more than just look up at it, but park at the improved trailhead, take a hike to the summit on a well-marked trail across two new footbridges, and look down on Healdsburg, the Russian River Valley, the Santa Rosa Plain and beyond. That hike is possible now, though as locals know the view from
the summit is partially obstructed by high vegetation growth. But an improved route would be welcome. An expanded trail system, restroom facilities and picnic grounds are among the features that will begin improvements this fall, thanks in large part to a $1.5 million allocation from the state to the State Coastal Conservancy, a longtime financial partner in the Fitch Mountain Park and Preserve project. Perhaps not surprisingly, it’s former Healdsburg High grad, Healdsburg City Council member and now State Sen. Mike McGuire who has secured the final $1.5 million needed to complete the trail system on iconic Fitch Mountain. “We couldn’t be more excited to secure the funding that represents the final piece to the Fitch Mountain Park
and Preserve puzzle,” said McGuire. “By next summer, hikers and dog walkers alike will have easier access to this gorgeous property, along with restrooms and an enhanced trail system to enjoy.”
Saving a Landmark
Healdsburg can thank Zelma Ratchford that the mountain slopes and summit are still forested. Starting in 1954, she began accumulating property on the mountain, describing her effort as her “Magnificent Obsession” to preserve the landmark. Eventually, she accumulated 264 acres, most of which became the 173 acres that comprise the Fitch Mountain Park and Open Space Preserve, purchased by Sonoma County in 2014, which “encompasses the entire 991-foot peak of Fitch Mountain and most of its surrounding slopes.” In his final year on the
Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, in 2014, McGuire had a hand in the transfer of the property from private ownership to public. Now he has used his current leverage as Senate majority leader to make sure the funds are available for this hometown landmark. “This project has been a passion of McGuire’s as he progressed through his political career, working with county’s Ag + Open Space to secure funding and negotiate purchase,” said Mark Themig, the city’s community services director. “And as he has moved into his state career, he has kept this on top of his priority list.” The ambitious undertaking also owes a large debt to the City of Healdsburg, which allocated $1.2 million to match the state’s funding from Prop 68 Per Capita Grant program, Measure M funds and park impact fees.
Two separate grants of $150,000 have also come from the Coastal Conservancy, first to fund the 2017 Fitch Mountain Park and Preserve management plan, and now to help kickstart the city’s financing, said Themig. “I am excited to see this project in its final stages,” said Healdsburg Mayor Ozzy Jimenez. “We are thrilled Sen. McGuire was able to secure the funding to finish the infrastructure and trail system on Fitch Mountain.” And Vice Mayor Ariel Kelley said: “Fitch Mountain is an incredible community resource, and I cannot wait to finally get this project completed so we can truly enjoy everything Fitch Mountain has to offer.” The $1.5 million that McGuire secured has been transferred to the State Coastal
HEALDSBURG’S CAMPO FINA WILL CLOSE
led to the announcement, but also suggested that other reasons were contributing factors. “It's difficult to point to one reason we are closing,” reads a portion of the message. “The truth is there are many truths. It would be easy to point to the doubling of our rent this year, a national labor shortage, rampant growth in our town, inflation and the lack of housing for our staff. While these are influencing factors, the truth is they inspired a deeper reflection that points toward a need for change.” Ari Rosen opened Scopa, a small but often crowded Italian restaurant at 109A Plaza St., in 2008. Several years later, he and his wife moved into a restaurant space around the ➝ Campo Fina, 6
POPULAR PATIO, BOCCE RESTAURANT CAN’T KEEP UP WITH RISING COSTS By Christian Kallen
Photo by Christian Kallen
CLOSING Ari Rosen talks with customers about the coming closure of his restaurant, Campo Fina, on Tuesday, Sept. 13, a day after he announced it would close on Oct. 1, 2022.
Campo Fina, for 10 years one of Healdsburg’s most popular restaurants, announced on Sept. 12 that they would be closing their business at the end of the month. In a message signed by owners Ari and Dawnelise Rosen sent to their mailing list and posted on their website, the Rosens outlined several causes that
➝ Fitch Mountain 6