🌱 Girls B-Ball Champions + Refugee Family + High School Interns

Hi there, Healdsburg! I'm here in your inbox this crisp winter Friday to tell you everything you need to know about what's going on in town. In today's V-Day weekend edition of the Healdsburg Patch newsletter, you'll find these stories and more:

• A triumphant end to the season for the HHS girls basketball team
• A refugee family from Mexico living in Healdsburg
• A bunch of high school interns working at local businesses

But first, your weekend weather:

• Friday: Mix of sun and clouds, with a chance of rain later on. High: 59 Low: 37.
• Saturday: Some clouds, then sunshine. High: 61 Low: 35.
• Sunday: Lots of sun. High: 70 Low: 37.
• Monday: Mostly sunny again. High: 63 Low: 38.

Shoutout to the awesome local businesses who keep this newsletter running:

• Looking to buy or sell a luxury property in Sonoma County? Healdsburg’s Sotheby’s International Realty is a local firm with global reach that specializes in luxury real estate, vineyards, wineries and land in Sonoma County. Healdsburg's Sotheby's: local expertise, deep market knowledge, and a passion for the community. Whether buying or selling, it pays to work with the best. Call Healdsburg’s Sotheby’s at 707-433-4800.
• Looking to rent in the Healdsburg area? Stacey Bernd at Healdsburg & Artisan Sotheby’s International is a second generation realtor who has lived in Sonoma County for 50 years. You could say she has real estate in her genes – even her daughter is a real estate agent! Work with a local agent you can trust. Thinking of listing a property to rent? Stacey is a wiz at successfully matching quality owners and tenants. Contact Stacey and work with Healdsburg’s best.

• Considering a fire-safe metal roof or siding for your home? Metal Roof Company has specialized in metal roofing and wall panels in the North Bay area for nearly 30 years. They work with homeowners, architects and general contractors on everything from single-family homes to commercial installations — and take pride in getting the job done right. To see a gallery of projects or to learn more, visit Metal Roof Company today or email metalroofcompany.com@gmail.com.

Click here to see your business featured in this spot.

Air over Healdsburg:

Here are the top 3 stories in Healdsburg today:

1. They did it! The Healdsburg High School girls basketball team just won the league title for the first time in almost a decade. The Tribune has the story: "Steve Zichichi could barely contain his enthusiasm and pride when the Healdsburg High girls basketball team easily defeated Piner High on Saturday night, 72-20. And he wasn’t the only one. 'They were so emotional afterwards, and there were a lot of tears and hugging in the locker room,' said Zichichi the next morning. For the first time since 2004, a Healdsburg girls basketball team claimed the league title." The Tribune reports that "they got there despite several late season injuries, including one to junior star Hailey Webb, the team’s leading scorer." And as for the boys team: They took a not-shabby silver medal in the league this year, second only to the undefeated Ukiah team. "But they capped their season on Feb. 3 with a thrilling near-miss against Ukiah, 48-46 — only a single basket separating the Greyhounds from an upset," the Trib reports. "In fact, the on-fire Greyhounds built up a 20-point first half lead, but it wasn’t quite enough to extinguish the Wildcats, who made up more than the difference before the final buzzer." If you want to see our championship girls team in action, you still have one more chance: They play Windsor in their final postseason playoff game tonight at the HHS gym, according to the Trib. (Healdsburg Tribune)
2. Sonoma Magazine ran a wonderful feature this week on a Mexican refugee family living in Healdsburg after being granted federal asylum. From the story: "Guadalupe Yesenia Espinoza and her husband Julio Peña smile proudly as they watch their two children pass a ball back and forth at a soccer field in Healdsburg. The ball they play with is one of the few possessions the family brought with them after fleeing their hometown in Mexico. For the family of four, the simple act of playing outside brings up feelings they haven’t experienced in years: the freedom to learn, play, and work. To simply exist without fear. The family, who were recently granted asylum in the U.S., are learning to trust again after several terrifying years living under the threat of cartels that laid siege to their smalltown community in the Mexican state of Michoacán. 'It’s just like a war and we’re just the civilians in the middle,' Espinoza explains, sitting in an office at Corazón Healdsburg, the nonprofit that is helping the family." I recommend you read the full story here. (Sonoma Magazine)
3. Longtime Healdsburg resident Shirley Ann DeMattei has passed away in her mid 80s. Here's a peek into her life's journey, from her obituary: "Born in Oklahoma, she was just an infant when her family emigrated to Sonoma County in 1938 to escape the dust bowl. The family settled in Fulton, North of Santa Rosa, where Shirley grew up and attended school in Healdsburg. At the age of sixteen, she married her high school sweetheart, Robert "Bob" DeMattei of Healdsburg, and were happily together for 53 years, until his passing on April 30, 2006. Shirley was warm, loving and generous and enjoyed spending time with friends and family. She was especially happy in the company of the many dogs she and Bob had over the years. She was always passionate about supporting organizations that benefitted her four-legged friends and has generously donated for their cause. She was loved and will be missed." Services for Shirley are being held today at St. John's Church and the Healdsburg cemetery. (Legacy.com)

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Healdsburg pics of the day, high school intern edition:

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This weekend in Healdsburg:

Friday, February 10

• Bilingual Family Storytime for Kids Aged 0-5 at the Healdsburg Library (10:30AM)
• Corazón Healdsburg Presente Taller de Preparación Para Emergencias Para Niños de 6 a 11 Años / Emergency Preparedness Workshop for Kids (5-6PM)
• Odyssey Wine Academy at Bacchus Landing: "Bubbles! A Sparkling Celebration" (5:30-7PM)
• Wilson Artisan Wines Hosts Gold Medal Grand Tasting Gala at Coyote Sonoma (6:30PM)
• Healdsburg High School Girls Basketball Playoff Game at Home Vs. Windsor (7PM)
• Healdsburg High School Boys Soccer Home Game Vs. Elsie Allen (7PM)
• "Concierto del Amor" at the Luther Burbanks Center, Featuring Live Music by Industria Del Amor, Los Ángeles de Charly & Los Fugitivos (8PM)
• Sugar Shack Funk Live at the Elephant in the Room (9PM-12AM)

Saturday, February 11

• Healdsburg Running Company Hosts Coastal Trail Run at Jenner Headlands (8AM)
• Lake Sonoma Steelhead Festival (10AM-4PM)
• Valentine's Day Wine Walk & Chocolate Pairing at Bacchus Landing (11AM)
• Memorial Service for Mikaela Seronello at St. John's Church (11AM)
• Read to a Dog at the Healdsburg Library (11AM)
• "African Music & Arts Village" Interactive Program at the Healdsburg Library (11AM)
• Hawley Winery Hosts Annual Wine Club Party, Rosé Release & Humane Society Fundraiser, Featuring "Puppy Love" Doggie Kissing Booth & Therapy Dogs (12-5PM)
• "Febrewary Funfest" at Coyote Sonoma, Featuring Burgers, Chili, New-Release Beers & Beer Trivia Game (4-10PM)
• Conversation & Book Reading at THE 222 With Sci-Fi Writer Kim Stanley Robinson (7PM)
• John Courage Trio Live at Coyote Sonoma (7-10PM)
• Casual Country Live at the Elephant in the Room (9-11PM)

Sunday, February 12

• Galentine's Day Brunch at Bacchus Landing (11AM)
• Fortepianist Daniel Adam Maltz Performs at the Raven Theater (1PM)
• Valentine's Day Cooking Class for Kids & Drink Tasting for Parents at Alley6 Distillery (3-4:30PM)

Monday, February 13

• AVFilm Hosts "Through This Lens" Film Screening & Discussion at Young & Yonder Spirits: "The Graduate" (5:30PM)
• Surprise Guest at Little Saint! (7PM)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Fresh Perks Every Week (February 14)
• Mardi Gras 2023 (February 21)
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That's it for now. See you next week ✌️

— 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 Patch newsletter? Contact me at simone.wilson@patch.com