🌱 Plaza Xmas + SIMI To Close Tasting Room + Peptoc Goes Viral (Again)

Hello, friends! It's me, Simone — here with your sunny Tuesday edition of the Healdsburg Daily. Keep reading for all the local news you need to know right now, including updates on:

• This year's giant Christmas tree in the plaza
• SIMI Winery's plans for their Healdsburg tasting room and wine club
• The viral, West Side School-based hotline with pep talks from kids
• And more...

But first, your daily weather:

• Tuesday: Mostly sunny and a little warmer than yesterday! High: 70 Low: 35.
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny again. High: 71 Low: 35.

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Air over Healdsburg:

Here are the top 3 stories today in Healdsburg:

1. This year's giant plaza Christmas tree has arrived! It was installed yesterday by a huge crane-looking thingy and a crew of city workers in about the same spot as last year, on the cement pathway near the west end of the plaza. She's a 27-year-old, 48-foot white fir, Healdsburg city officials say, and stands about 43 feet tall after being fitted for her slight subterranean "sleeve" in the walkway. Healdsburg's Community Services Department uploaded a two-part video series to Facebook yesterday of the full tree installation — looked like quite an ordeal. City leaders say the official tree-lighting ceremony will take place on the evening of Friday, Dec. 2, as part of a larger "Merry Healdsburg Weekend" event in the plaza. That night, there will be free hot chocolate, carriage rides and photos with Santa, as well as a bunch of other food vendors, family activities and "live musical performances from Rocio La Dama de La Cumbia y Su Sonora and Healdsburg Chorus." And then the next day, a bunch of downtown Healdsburg businesses will be hosting their big tipsy shopping tour again this year, called "Holiday Sip & Shop." Here we gooo... (Healdsburg Community Services via Facebook & City of Healdsburg & Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce via Facebook & EventBrite)
2. SIMI Winery will "cease hospitality operations" at their location on Healdsburg Avenue at the north end of town "early next year," according to a spokesman for SIMI's parent company, Constellation Brands. The winery told its wine club members in an email sent earlier this month that "this means our tasting room and our wine club will be closing." The spokesman tells me that SIMI will instead be focusing on their "Sonoma designated wines, so you will continue to be able to find them in your local markets and wine shops." More from his email: "We will retain ownership of the property in Healdsburg, and winemaking, viticulture and production operations will continue onsite. Our people remain our top priority, and we intend to retain any impacted employees within our business if they so choose. ... We value our wine club members and visitors and will honor all existing reservations to ensure our guests will continue to enjoy the premium experience and service they have come to expect from SIMI." The newsletter to members says their "final wine club allocation will be in February." (Inbox & SIMIWinery.com)
3. "Peptoc," the telephone hotline launched back in March by a couple of West Side Elementary School staffers — featuring positive messages recorded by adorable little kids — has seen another huge viral run over the past couple of weeks. The renewed attention seemed to start with a tweet from a Twitter account called @KingLouie8th that said: "If anyone needs a little motivation today, call (707) 873-7862. It’s a school project where kindergarteners give you a pep talk. It’s so cute. And it’s automated!" That tweet has since gotten over 50,000 retweets and 200,000 likes — and prompted another whole wave of news stories from outlets across the planet. "Thank you for all the support, the nearly 10 million calls to the hotline, for the donations to support our project and our school!" Peptoc organizers wrote on Instagram a few days ago. "These kids are so proud to have lifted up so many people all over the world. Please spread the word about our international call for photos of youth-made encouraging posters. All submissions will be considered for our forthcoming book! Go to Peptoc.net for details." They also encouraged the public to donate "to West Side Union Elementary’s foundation to fund the hotline and school enrichment programs." You can donate on their website. (Peptoc.net & Peptoc Kids via Instagram & Twitter & Today)

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Healdsburg pics of the day, equine edition:

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Today and tomorrow in Healdsburg:

Tuesday, November 15

• Minimum Days at Healdsburg Elementary: Parent-Teacher Conferences for Grades K-5 (Nov. 15-16, All Day)
• Farm to Pantry Hosts Garden Workday at Home Farm (9AM-12PM)
• Healdsburg Branch of American Association of University Women (AAUW) Hosts Final Session of Forum Series at the Raven Theater: "Latin America's Great Urban Centers" (10-11:45AM)
• "Bulbs & Blooms: A Tulip Planting Experience" at Ferrari-Carano Vineyards & Winery (10AM-12PM)
• Annual Gift Market at the Healdsburg Center for the Arts (Nov. 15-Dec. 31, 11AM-5PM)
• Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE) Meeting for Healdsburg High School (12PM)
• West Side Elementary School District Board of Trustees Meeting (5:30-7:30PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company Hosts Ladies Run Ending at Furthermore Wines (6PM)
• Baile Folclórico at Corazón Healdsburg (Weekly, 6PM)
• Zumba With Chuy at TCElite Gym (Weekly, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6PM)
• City of Healdsburg Housing Element Work Group Special Meeting (6:30PM)
• Lucy Dacus Performs Live at Little Saint, Feat. Opening Act Haley Heynderickx (7PM)

Wednesday, November 16

• Teen Anime Club Meets at the Healdsburg Library (Every other Wednesday, 2PM)
• Healdsburg Unified School District Board Meeting (6-8PM)
• Family Bingo Night at the Healdsburg Library (6PM)
• Taller de Propiedad de la Vivienda / Home Ownership Workshop at the Healdsburg Community Center (6-7:30PM)
• Food Writer & TV Cook Nigella Lawson Performs at the Luther Burbank Center (7:30PM)

From my notebook:

• Quick correction from last Friday's newsletter. A reader points out that on second mention of award-winning Healdsburg High School baseball coach Mark Domenichelli, I called him "Mike." My bad! (Inbox & Healdsburg Patch)
• Speaking of sports! The Healdsburg Tribune has a great recap of the Healdsburg High School fall sports season that just ended — including football, tennis and cross country. (Healdsburg Tribune)
• Also, good sign for this season: The high school girls basketball team just crushed Lower Lake High School in their season opener. (Lake County Record-Bee)
• The Upstairs Art Gallery inside the Levin & Company bookstore on the plaza has added some "exquisite original paintings" from local artists Carmen Sheldon and Luba Stolper. (Upstairs Art Gallery via Facebook)
• Neighbors on Nextdoor have compiled a helpful list of all the little free libraries around town. (Nextdoor)

Now you're in the loop! I'll see you around.

— Simone Wilson

About me: I was born and raised in Healdsburg, CA, where I was the editor of the Healdsburg High School Hound's Bark. I have since worked as a local journalist for publications in San Diego, Los Angeles, New York City and the Middle East. I'm currently a senior product manager for Patch.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Healdsburg Daily? Contact me at simone.wilson@patch.com