🌱 Memorial Beach Opening + Old Tradition Returns + Theater Update

Hello, Healdsburg! I'm here in your inbox per usual to tell you everything you need to know about what's going on around town. Let's get right to it.

First, your local weather:

• Thursday: Fog and clouds turning to sun. High: 96 Low: 55.
• Friday: Mostly sunny and hot. High: 98 Low: 57.
• Saturday: Mostly sunny and super hot again. High: 100 Low: 52.

Air over Healdsburg:

From our sponsor:

Today’s Healdsburg Patch newsletter is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. T-Mobile has invested billions to light up their best network ever, covering 99% of people in America with LTE, which helps to keep communities like ours informed and connected. We thank T-Mobile for their support and for making today’s Healdsburg Patch newsletter possible.

Here are the top 3 stories today in Healdsburg:

1. It's river season in Healdsburg! And now that the dam is up at Memorial Beach — for the first time in four years, thanks to an insane rainy season — county workers expect the beach area to open by the end of this week, according to the Press Democrat. Meaning "the narrow riverbed" beneath Memorial Bridge will "once again be transformed to an expansive, seven-foot-deep swimming area," the paper reports. “I’m pretty confident we’ll be open for this weekend,” says Sonoma County parks employee Corbin Johnson. More from the story: "Brisk flows on the river were very similar, he said, to those recorded in June of 2019, the last time the dam was installed. That year, once the dam’s panels were in place, 'it took about three days to fill up,' he recalled. ... As of Wednesday evening, a note on the park’s webpage read: 'Dam installation is scheduled to end Thursday, June 29 at 3 p.m., and the beach will reopen at that time.'" Read the full piece in the PD for more on the history of Healdsburg's Russian River dam and swimming beach, plus the science behind preserving minimum water flows for wildlife. See y'all out there... (Press Democrat; paywall)
2. An ancient Healdsburg tradition is reportedly being revived this fall after 86 years in hibernation: the Healdsburg Prune Box Derby, where community members will "build imaginative, non-motored, box cars to ride down a hill in town." The event "will be returning on October 1, 2023 for the first time since 1937," says Healdsburg High School art teacher Linus Lancaster, who made the exciting announcement on Facebook last week. Here's the rest of the info he shared: "Thank you to local artists and curators, Jessica Martin, Naomi Brilliant, and Spring Maxfield for making it happen. We weren't able to secure the original location on Powell Ave., but the city has committed to finding a decent hill in town. Thanks to Corazon and the City of Healdsburg for sponsoring! Thanks to a grant from the Tourism Improvement District we may be able to provide some financial assistance for builders, and there is plenty of technical assistance available from the race committee. Entries can be anything from kinetic sculptures to traditional racers. Requirements: no wider than seven feet, at least three wheels on the ground, brakes, no propulsion other than gravity. We look forward to seeing you there. Contact HHS Arts with questions. llancaster@husd.com." (Facebook Groups & Sonoma County Gazette)
3. The Alexander Valley Film Society, or AVFilm for short, has cleared another hurdle in their quest to bring an indie movie theater to downtown Healdsburg. "Exciting news!" Org leaders wrote online yesterday. "Last night, the Healdsburg Planning Commission unanimously approved our application for the conditional use permit for Plaza Cinema Center! Seeing all the excitement and support around this project, which is so dear to our hearts, is such a joy." AVFilm is still in the process of raising the funds needed to build and operate the theater. However, if their vision becomes a reality, a two-story film screening and education center could open at 371 Healdsburg Ave. — situated sorta behind the old Bear Republic building — as soon as this year, showing a mix of arthouse and more commercial films. (AVFilm via Facebook & AVFilm & Press Democrat; paywall)

Check out what our local sponsors can do for you:

• Searching for your dream rental in the Healdsburg area? Discover the pleasure of finding your perfect rental in picturesque Healdsburg with the expert guidance of Stacey Bernd. With 50 incredible years of living and breathing Sonoma County as a second-generation realtor, Stacey is dedicated to helping you find the ideal home. Connect with Stacey Bernd to have her find your dream rental home.

• Healdsburg gardeners and plant enthusiasts: Need help growing your garden? Thrive Hydroponics and Garden Supply is a family-owned, full service garden shop with over 15 years experience helping people care for their plants. Whether you’re a first-time grower or an experienced greenhouse gardener, they’ve got the right supplies and expert knowledge to help your garden flourish — including a variety of soils at the best prices. Visit them here and mention Patch for 30% off your order.

• 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.

Click here to see your business featured in this spot.

Coming up in Healdsburg:

Thursday, June 29

• Healdsburg Lumber Hosts Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting for Their New Location (10AM-2PM)
• Storyteller Diane Ferlatte Tells Folktales, Myths & Legends for Kids at the Healdsburg Library, Featuring Musical Accompaniment by Erik Pearson (11AM)
• Sonoma County Sheriff Eddie Engram Hosts Town-Hall Style Community Meeting at Alexander Valley Hall (5:30-7PM)
• Healdsburg Prune Packers Play Home Game Vs. Walnut Creek Crawdads at Rec Park (6PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company Hosts "Run With the Crew" to New Barrel Brothers Brewing Location in Windsor (6PM)
• Trivia Night at Fogbelt Station Beer Garden (Weekly, 6PM)
• Jenny O Live at Little Saint (7-9PM)
• Karaoke Night at Coyote Sonoma (Weekly, 7-10PM)

Friday, June 30

• Steve Pile Live at Davis Family Vineyards (3PM)
• Healdsburg Library Hosts Bilingual Storytime for Kids Aged 0-5 at Giorgi Park (10:30AM)
• "Friday Flicks" at the Healdsburg Library: Family-Friendly Movie Screening (1PM)
• Second Street Band Live on the Lawn at Truett Hurst Winery (5-8PM)
• The Blues Burners Live at Coyote Sonoma (6-8:30PM)
• New Play at the Raven Theater: "Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" (June 30-July 1, 7:30PM)
• Tumbleweed Soul Live at the Elephant in the Room (8-11PM)
• "Big Flick Energy" at Fogbelt Station Beer Garden: Comedians Cody Smit & Steve Ausburne Host an Evening of "Beers, Laughs & Awesome B Movies" (8:30PM)

Saturday, July 1

• Healdsburg Farmers Market in the West Plaza Parking Lot (Weekly, 8:30AM-12PM)
• Read to a Dog at the Healdsburg Library (Weekly, 11AM)
• Healdsburg Museum Hosts "History Talks" in the Plaza (Weekly, 11AM-2PM)
• Opening Reception for New Exhibit at the Hammerfriar Gallery: "Stars & Stripes: A Show on the American Flag" (3-6PM)
• Dallas Caroline & Justin Peterich Live at Coyote Sonoma (7-10PM)
• Norwood Fisher's Trulio Disgraci Live at the Elephant in the Room (8-11PM)

In partnership with T-Mobile:

Father's Day has come and gone, but that doesn't mean we have to stop celebrating rad dads, past and present. Patch partnered with T-Mobile to shine a light on exceptional fathers in communities like Healdsburg. Click here to meet 13 awesome dads and learn more about the legacies they're leaving behind.

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• Steve Pile at Davis Family Vineyards (June 30)
• Add your event

That's it for today. See you soon, my loves ☺️

— 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