🌱 New Tenant For Raven Film Center + Foodie Hotel + More Car Crashes

Hello, my people! It's a beautiful summer Tuesday in Healdsburg and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on all the most important things happening locally. Today you'll learn about:

• What's happening with the Raven Film Center building
• Progress on the new "foodie hotel" being built at the north end of town
• A couple of bad crashes just outside Healdsburg over the past few days
• And more...

But first, your local weather:

• Tuesday: Mostly sunny. High: 87 Low: 49.
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny. High: 87 Low: 56.
• Thursday: Mostly sunny and heating way up again. High: 96 Low: 54.

Air over Healdsburg:

Here are the top 3 stories today in Healdsburg:

1. The old, defunct Raven Film Center movie theater near CVS finally has a taker! Local "hospitality development and management company" Vertice Hospitality Management — run by the same three people who own SingleThread, Healdsburg's super fancy restaurant-farm-inn combo right around the corner — just "signed a 25-year-lease to redevelop the shuttered Raven Cinema at 415 Center St.," according to the San Francisco Business Times. And they also "signed a sale-leaseback agreement to take over" the long red office building across the street at 150 North next year. Vertice reportedly plans to use both for "new hospitality projects slated for delivery in 2025 and 2026." The company likewise bought the River Belle Inn near Memorial Bridge last year for $7.25 million. Owners say in a press release that "these acquisitions will allow us to both realize more of our original vision for SingleThread and allow us to offer complimentary hospitality experiences across the entire value spectrum." More from the Business Times story: "The Raven Cinema, spanning 15,000 square feet adjacent to SingleThread, will be redeveloped to house several hospitality concepts to be led by 'SingleThread's next generation of hospitality and culinary leaders,' per a Vertice press release on Friday. ... The theater building was built in 1956 and owned and managed by the same family for three generations before becoming the Raven Film Center in 1996. It closed in 2020 during the pandemic and hasn't reopened since. 'Almost three years after dimming its lights, new life will be breathed into this Healdsburg landmark,' said the property's owner, Mary Kellman, in the release. 'We are looking forward to passing the baton to Kyle, Katina and Tony.'" (msnNOW & Nextdoor & San Francisco Business Times; paywall)

2. Meanwhile, at the very north end of town, the planned Appellation Healdsburg "foodie hotel" has been taking its sweet time before opening, according to the real estate news outlet CoStar. Famous local chef Charlie Palmer and Four Seasons vet Christopher Hunsberger are reportedly behind the new hotel. "It’s often said that patience is the secret to good food," the story goes. "It shouldn’t come as a surprise, then, that culinary-focused hospitality company Appellation is set to open its first property — Appellation Healdsburg, in Healdsburg, California — a whole six years after it was founded." The hotel plans to open its doors sometime next year inside the new "North Village" neighborhood taking shape across Healdsburg Avenue from the Montage. (The "Zen-inspired" Enso Village senior living community is also part of the development; they plan to open later this year.) Says a rep for Appellation: "We're certainly anxious for the day that we open the doors and the first guests check in because we're hoteliers and culinarians at heart. That's really what we love to do. Fortunately, we've built up some anticipation with how we're designing and executing things, so there'll be a lot to look forward to." You can learn more about all these projects on their websites. (Appellation & Enso Village & The North Village & CoStar Group)
3. There was another car crash just north of Healdsburg on the 101 yesterday morning. This one involved a suspected drunken driver whose pickup truck and camper overturned in the southbound lanes around 9:40 a.m., police tell local news stations. From the CBS report: "A 78-year-old Cloverdale man was driving a Dodge Ram and towing a camper, California Highway Patrol Officer David deRutte said. He was allegedly passing another vehicle when he lost control, and the truck and camper overturned on the freeway just south of Lytton Springs Road. The driver was the only person in the truck and was not injured, deRutte said. No other vehicles were involved in the crash. Southbound freeway lanes were closed after the wreck but reopened about two hours later." And the CHP says another tragic crash happened up in Cloverdale on Saturday night: Jorge Figueroa, 40, also of Cloverdale, reportedly died after running his ATV into a wire fence and power pole. His passenger, who survived, was a 71-year-old relative of his, according to the Press Democrat. More from the Bay City News wire: "On Saturday just after 7 p.m., police received reports of an ATV crash on River Road near Highland Ranch Road. Upon further investigation, police believe two men were on the ATV at the time of the crash, driving westbound on a gravel road. The ATV was traveling fast as the two approached a gate, and the driver attempted to turn left on the gravel road, said police. The ATV then crashed into the fence and pole, and both riders were ejected from the ATV, said police. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, and the passenger was left with minor injuries. Neither person was wearing a helmet, said police." (KRON4 & CBS News & msnNOW & Nextdoor & Bay City News & Press Democrat; paywall)

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Healdsburg pics of the day, summer slushie edition:

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Coming up in Healdsburg:

Tuesday, July 18

• Healdsburg Farmers Market on the Plaza (9AM-12:30PM)
• Food Distribution at the Healdsburg Community Center (Weekly, 9:30-10:30AM)
• Local Singer-Songwriter Jacob Philip Benning Performs at the Luther Burbank Center (5:30-7:30PM)
• Tuesdays in the Plaza, Featuring Live Music by World Fusion / Jazz Band DGIIN (6PM)
• Healdsburg Prune Packers Play Home Game Vs. Lincoln Potters at Rec Park (6PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company "Trail Sisters" Host Magnolia Vineyard Loop Run, Ending at the Elephant in the Room Pub (6PM)
• The Bollywood Bluesman Aki Kumar Performs at the Elephant in the Room (7:30-10:30PM)

Wednesday, July 19

• Food Distribution at the Healdsburg Senior Center (9:30-10AM)
• Teen Anime Club at the Healdsburg Library (1PM)
• "Wrapped Rainbows" Crafting Workshop at the Healdsburg Library (6PM)
• Trivia Night at Coyote Sonoma (Weekly, 7-9PM)

Thursday, July 20

• Safari Encounters at the Healdsburg Library: "Wild Encounter With a Rescued Snake, Hedgehog, Alligator, Armadillo & Skunk" (11AM-12PM)
• New Exhibit Opening at the Healdsburg Museum: “We Are Not Strangers Here: African-American Histories in California and Healdsburg” (July 20-Nov. 19, Wednesdays-Sundays, 11AM-4PM)
• New Exhibit Opening at the Healdsburg Center for the Arts: “Bounty" (July 20-Sept. 3, Wednesdays-Mondays, 11AM-5PM)
• Social Services Fair at the Healdsburg Library (3PM)
• "Summery Discovery Series" at Oakville WIne Merchant: Wine Tasting of Varietals Like Vermentino, Godello, Melon & Fiano, Plus Cheese & Charcuterie (5-6PM)
• Trivia Night at the Fogbelt Station Beer Garden (Weekly, 6PM)
• Healdsburg Prune Packers Play Home Game Vs. Lincoln Potters at Rec Park (6PM)
• Songwriters in Paradise Festival: “In the Round" Songwriting & Storytelling Performances at Robert Young Winery (7PM)
• Karaoke Night at Coyote Sonoma (Weekly, 7-1oPM)
• Psych-Folk Musician Connor McLaren Live at Little Saint (7-10PM)

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Featured events:

• Petaluma Music Festival (July 29)
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Alrighty, you're up to speed for today. I'll 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 Patch newsletter? Contact me at [email protected]