🌱 Local Drink Biz Shutting Down + Best Places To Work + Foppoli Case

Hello, everybody. I'm back in your inbox this morning with all the most important things happening in Healdsburg. Here's the lowdown...

First, your daily weather:

• Wednesday: Mostly sunny. High: 83 Low: 52.
• Thursday: Mostly sunny again, and heating up! High: 89 Low: 53.

Check out what our local sponsors can do for you:

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Air over Healdsburg:

Here are the top 4 stories today in Healdsburg:

1. Sad news today for Healdsburg beverage business Haus and their many fans. The "popular Sonoma County aperitif brand seemingly poised for major success" is closing its doors after "wine conglomerate Constellation Brands suddenly pulled out of the company’s fundraising campaign," according to the San Francisco Chronicle. More from the story: "Constellation had offered Haus $10 million in funding, but rescinded the offer when the fortified wine company ran out of cash before the deal could be finalized, according to Haus co-founder Helena Price Hambrecht. Fans of the brand have one month to stock up on their favorite Haus aperitifs, said Hambrecht — though it’s possible the brand could still be acquired by another owner. ... Founded in 2019 by Hambrecht and her ex-husband Woody Hambrecht (formerly of Alysian Winery in Healdsburg), Haus was at the forefront of the recent low-ABV and aperitif booms in the U.S. Bottled in trendy white ceramic vessels with a serif font, Haus’ aromatic vermouths — like Ginger Yuzu and Grapefruit Jalapeno — have quickly become a staple on bar carts across the country for use in spritzes and other cocktails." On an Instagram post from the Haus team announcing their "biggest sale of the season" a couple of weeks ago, customers lament their impending demise. "You will be missed immensely," one says, adding: "I couldn't have survived the pandemic without those monthly shipments! Thank you for creating such an amazing product." (Shop Local Healdsburg via Instagram & Haus via Instagram & North Bay Business Journal & SF Chronicle; paywall)
2. Healdsburg's Christopher Creek Winery, situated on Old Redwood Highway just past the bridge and co-owned by Dominic Foppoli — the disgraced ex-mayor of Windsor, accused of rampant sexual assault — reportedly wants to be "dropped as a defendant in most of the counts in the lawsuit." Seven of Foppoli's accusers "are seeking compensation from Foppoli, his Christopher Creek Winery and the Santa Rosa Active 20-30 Foundation, a prominent local civic organization" that he was involved in, the Press Democrat reports. That's because "they accuse Foppoli of rape and sexual assault over decades and say the business and the foundation were aware of his crimes, but abetted and profited from them instead of taking preventive action" — and that Foppoli used his "power, connections and alcohol to prey upon dozens of women in Sonoma County.” But the rest of the winery's leadership maintains they should not be held accountable for his alleged crimes. Foppoli reportedly co-owns Christopher Creek with his brother, and the winery has its own lawyer for this case. The PD says there will be a hearing in October on the winery's involvement in particular, before the real trial gets going. (Press Democrat; paywall)
3. Four Healdsburg businesses make this year's list of the 100 "best places to work in Sonoma, Solano, Napa, Marin, Mendocino counties," published annually by the North Bay Business Journal. Healdsburg Lumber makes the list for the seventh time; Mengali Accountancy and the Parkpoint Health Club both make the list for the eighth time; and Costeaux French Bakery makes the list for the 11th freaking time. These businesses and the 96 other award winners will reportedly "be recognized at a Journal event Sept. 14 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa." (North Bay Business Journal; paywall)
4. Leonard "Leo" Thrash, a Piner High grad and familiar face in Healdsburg and environs, has died at the age of 71. His family and friends will be holding a "celebration of life" for him at the Villa Chanticleer on the afternoon of Sunday, Aug. 21. Here's an excerpt from his rather delightful obituary: "With dreams of becoming a private detective, he declined the program when he heard they were required to have short hair and turned to the trade of TV repair. In 1981, he married Rose Coletti and adopted her two children, Don and Susan. Leo had three grandchildren, Paige Kinsey, Ramsey Wittke and Nicholas Belli, who dearly called him Papa. Leo took part in community events such as softball and spent the best years of his life with his friends fishing, hunting, canning and traveling. Leo was able to fulfill his dream of building his own home in a country setting, where he remained happily after his diagnosis of leukemia and required dialysis. 12 years later, on June 5th, 2022, Leo was called home and we ask those who knew him to join this amazing and humorous man's celebration of life." (Legacy.com & Facebook Groups)

Today and tomorrow in Healdsburg:

Wednesday, August 10

• Kinder Bridge at Healdsburg Elementary (All Day)
• Farm to Pantry Produce Glean & Bagging at Healdsburg's Farm to Fight Hunger (8:30AM-12PM)
• Sonoma County Health & Education Officials Host Webinar to Address Community Questions About COVID-19 (4PM)
• Youth Soccer Season Kickoff: Free Soccer Clinics at the Healdsburg Community Center (4-7PM)
• The Redwood Flowers Live at the Luther Burbank Center (5PM)
• "What Moves You?" Spiritual Reflection & Communal Meal at THE 222 (5:30PM)
• Virtual Community Meeting on L&M Village Project (5:30-7PM)
• Healdsburg City Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting (6PM)
• Canon Book Group at the Healdsburg Library: "The Red Badge of Courage" (6-7:30PM)
• Tai Chi Lessons at Giorgi Park (Weekly, Mondays & Wednesdays, 6:30PM)
• "Lost Buildings of Healdsburg" Presentation at the Healdsburg Library by Local Historian Eric Drew (6:30-7:30PM)
• Trivia Night at Coyote Sonoma (7-9PM)
• Movie Nights on the Green at Rodney Strong Vineyards: Free Screening of "Coco" (Sunset)

Thursday, August 11

• Jenny O Live at Little Saint (5:45-8PM)
• City of Healdsburg & Corazón Healdsburg Host Interactive Conversation in Spanish About Diversity, Equity & Inclusion / Conversación Interactiva en Español Sobre Diversidad, Equidad e Inclusión (6-8PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company Full Moon Run at Lake Sonoma, Ending With BBQ & Dance Party (7PM)
• AVFilm Summer Movie Series: Drive-In Screening of "The Goonies" at Cloverdale Citrus Fairgrounds (8:25PM)

From my notebook:

• Healdsburg resident Ron Edwards, who a little birdie tells me may be running for Healdsburg City Council this fall, posted a great recap on Facebook of the city meeting last night on the semi-controversial new development proposed for 444 Healdsburg Ave. He's concerned more people aren't giving input at this early stage. (Facebook Groups)
• Two engines' worth of local firefighters from the Northern Sonoma County Fire District are back in town "after 7 days at the Oak Fire and 7 days at the McKinney Fire," district officials say. One of their takeaways: "While at the McKinney both engines worked in the areas that received heavy rain and mud slides. Sonoma County has received more [than] its fare share of fires but thus far has escaped mud and debris flow problems. This is why we are committed to prefire mitigation work with our fuel reduction crew and prescribed burning." (Northern Sonoma County Fire District via Facebook)
• Meanwhile, members of the "operations team" at Sonoma County Airport are reportedly up in Helena, Montana, right now, attending a "hands-on Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting training." (Sonoma County via Facebook)
• A new bus schedule for Sonoma County Transit goes into effect next week. "Most of the changes address school bell times and coordination between routes," officials say. You can check out the new schedule here. (Sonoma County Transit & County of Sonoma via Facebook)

Now you're in the loop and ready to go! See you soon...

— 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