Healdsburg Tribune July 5 2023

BODY, HAMMER FOUND NEAR MATHESON ST. BUSINESSES

By Christian Kallen

Healdsburg’s downtown on Monday was the location of a crime scene investigation, upon the discovery of what police called “an unresponsive person” in a business parking lot half a block from the Plaza.

Although the investigation continues and no identification of the deceased has been made by press time, there are indications that previous acts of assault may have factored into the death.

Healdsburg Police issued a NIXLE alert at 11:12am asking people to “avoid” the area of 20 Matheson St., the location of a small parking lot for the Wurst Restaurant and the Williamson Wines tasting room.

The initial alert said, “There is no current threat to the public,” though police and first responder vehicles remained on the scene for several hours. The NIXLE alert announcing that police activity had concluded was distributed five hours later, at 4:10pm. A later release from the department distributed on Facebook and other social media channels referred to the 10:21am receipt of a report of “an unresponsive person in the 20 block of Matheson Street.”

Police Chief Matt Jenkins, who arrived at the scene of the incident with the police response, later said it was unclear if the unresponsive person was deceased when police arrived.

“The officers started performing lifesaving measures, followed by

PLAZA CINEMA CENTER APPLAUDED BY PLANNING COMMISSION

By Christian Kallen

Not all meetings of the Planning Commission are controversial. Sure, some get appealed to the City Council and a few end up in court; many pass a project on to the residents of Healdsburg in the form of higher buildings, more traffic and less parking; and some just approve a fence between neighbors.

And every now and then, a vote by the commission is greeted by a robust round of applause.

Last Wednesday, June 28, the commission held

a veritable love fest for an old idea whose time has come again: a movie house in downtown Healdsburg.

To be called the Plaza Cinema Center, the threescreen theater will go into the little-used courtyard behind Troubadour and Leaven Sport, in a building at 371 Healdsburg Ave. previously used as a brewing hall by Bear Republic.

The architect’s image of the new theater façade was all it took to sell the concept: a horizontal backlit marquee, and “Plaza Cinema Center” in large red and white script on a dark band surrounding the building. White or colored pillars of light mimic the opening-night klieg lights that signaled a special event at theaters during the heyday of Hollywood movies. Wide folding glass

doors allow entry to the lobby, where refreshments including beer and wine can be served to customers in as little as a year from now.

Healdsburg has been without a movie theater since the early days of the pandemic, when the Raven Film Center closed down at first temporarily, then permanently. The main Raven Theater at 115 North St. showed movies until about 20 years ago, when it permanently converted to a performing arts center.

Kathryn Hecht, executive director of the nineyear-old AVFilm (and co-owner of The Clover Theater in Cloverdale), has been eyeing a theater on the lower floor of 371 Healdsburg Ave. for some time. On June 28, she

revealed the final plans: a three-screen community movie house, with screening rooms of only 23, 27 and 54 seats—in keeping with the present reality that large screening rooms are too difficult to fill.

The size of the three rooms are small by any standard. Dan Zastrow, who with Don Hyde and Jim Holt opened the Raven Film Center in 1997, said that when it opened only Theater #1 was under 50 seats; the other three screening rooms ranged between 130 and 250.

The new Plaza Cinema will be nothing close to that scale. “The auditoriums are intimate, responding to the changing landscape of movie-going, but still providing the shared social experience of watching the movies with an

MEMORIAL BEACH PACKED WITH SUNSHINE, SWIMMERS

By Christian Kallen

After a cooler-than-normal June, the temperature leapt past the century mark on the first day of July, and Sonoma County families responded by heading to the latest Russian River beach to open—Veterans Memorial Beach in Healdsburg.

“Saturday was our opening day, our grand opening,” said Kaitlyn Chrisman, a Sonoma County Regional Parks lifeguard, from her perch overlooking the fresh green waters of the Russian River.

audience,” Hecht told the commission.

Key to such boutique cinemas is the ability to serve beer and wine, if not food. The Rialto, now in Sebastopol, and Healdsburg’s Raven Film Center were among those that adopted the practice.

Last October, having caught wind of the proposed film center, the City Council amended the code to allow the future Plaza Cinema to serve alcohol, since the location straddles two downtown zones.

“The (cinema) business has evolved over the decades, and naturally theater operators—like any hospitality business— are putting the audience experience first,” Hecht said at the time.

“I'd say we had about 1,400 people on shore, and about 800 people in the water,” said Chrisman. “I mean, it felt like I was working at an actual beach!”

The numbers dropped a bit on Sunday. Come Monday, things had slowed down even more. “Yesterday at this time, it was packed,” Chrisman said on Monday, anticipating another full beach on the 4th of July.

There was only one “rescue,” if that’s the word for it—someone was reported lost in the water who turned up later on shore. “All went well, very swimmingly,” Chrisman punned.

Photo by Christian Kallen

WORK IN PROGRESS AVFilm board chair Jenny Gomez (left) and executive director Kathryn Hecht consider the possibilities in the proposed lobby for the Plaza Cinema Center.

Photo by Christian Kallen

A CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS IN HEALDSBURG

Raven Players

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Raven Theater continues through July 16, various dates and times. With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, the play is a reimagining of the biblical story of Joseph and his brethren. Visit raventheater.org for schedule and tickets.

Indie Rock

Jonny Fritz brings his Dad Country discoveries to Little Saint (25 North St.), usually on Thursdays at 7pm. On July 6, see Izaak Opatz, free.

Meters Tribute

Meter Maid, a tribute band for New Orleans’ legendary The Meters, plays Friday, July 7 at Elephant in the Room, 177 Healdsburg Ave., 8pm.

Farmers’ Market

Healdsburg Certified Farmers’ Market will be held Saturday, July 8

from 8:30am-noon at the West Plaza lot. Live music and lots to shop for from local producers.

Wine Road

Hit the wine road for this one-day Summer Wine Trail event featuring Alexander Valley, Westside Road and Dry Creek. $50 ticket buys tastings at over 40 area wineries suited to summer weather. Saturday, July 8, 11am-4pm only, at wineroad.com.

Taco Fest

Not all the fun is in Healdsburg. Windsor’s 2nd annual Taco Fest and Car Show is Saturday, July 8, from 3-8pm at the Town Green. Acompañanos para tacos deliciosos, autos clásicos, música en vivo ranchera, y buena gente.

Sunday in the Plaza

Listen to Drew Harrison’s Americana music from the Gazebo stage while experiencing the relaxing picnic atmosphere of the Healdsburg Plaza, from 1 to 3pm on Sunday, July 9.

Tuesday at the Plaza Certified Farmers’ Market

from 9am-12:30pm, Tuesday, July 11, at Healdsburg Plaza. At 6pm, the Gazebo and Plaza are taken over by Wreckless Strangers and their Americana soul.

Bubble Bar

The city’s Planning Commission meets on Tuesday, July 11. The commission is slated to discuss an application to convert the business at 134 North St. to a tasting lounge. Check the city’s website for final agenda five days before the meeting. 401 Grove St., 6pm.

Day of Rest

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church will screen the movie Sabbath, on Thursday, July 13 at 7pm. Filmmaker Martin Doblmeier explores the secular benefits of the “day of rest.” 209 Matheson St.

SIP Healdsburg

Songwriters in Paradise, a high-concept retreat also held in Napa and Cabo San Lucas, comes to Healdsburg this year between July 18-22. A limited number of tickets for premium wine selection,

VIP lunch and dinner, and intimate concerts make this an “exclusive boutique songwriters festival,” according to its organizers. Information and ticket links at songwritersinparadise.com/ siphbg.

Guitar Guru Leo Kottke, an acoustic guitarist with a modest yet avid following since 1969, returns to the Raven Theater on Friday, July 21. His fingerpicking style draws on blues, folk and jazz, and his singing

voice has been likened to the migration call of geese. Tickets still available at raventheater.org.

Cycle Tour

Formerly known as the Annual Healdsburg Bicycle Tour, Giro Vigneti Healdsburg from Sunrise Rotary is held out of Mill District starting at 6:30am on Saturday, July 22. The “health and wellness cycling tour” offers four distance routes, from 19.3 to 102.5 miles, all through the landscapes of the

wine country. Sign up at girovignetihealdsburg.org.

GHG Open House

The City of Healdsburg has been developing a Climate Mobilization Strategy focusing on key measures and actions that will be most impactful in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. An Open House will be held Wednesday, July 26, from 6-7:30pm at the Healdsburg Community Center, 1557 Healdsburg Ave.

Photo by Jay Blackesberg

RARE SIGHTING The performing musicians Wreckless Strangers, seen here in daylight near the Bay Bridge, will play at Healdsburg’s Tuesday in the Plaza on July 11.

BUBBLE BAR A proposal to convert an office building on North Street into a sparkling wine tasting room comes before the Planning Commission on July 11.

Photo by Christian Kallen

healdsburg.indd

July 8th 1pm to 3pm

FLASHBACKS

men were responsible for the organization of the local club, coming here some time ago to meet with the Healdsburg men and assist them in starting the club.

The Kiwanis Club is an international organization of the booster type. Every progressive city in the country boasts a Kiwanis, and they are mentioned in the same breath with Rotary and commercial clubs.

75 years ago –

July 9, 1948

CURATED NEWS FROM ‘THE HEALDSBURG TRIBUNE’ OF YESTERYEAR

100 years ago –July 5, 1923

Fourth of July Revelers Celebrate at Del Rio Woods Blustery weather and overcast skies kept some Fourth of July revelers at home, but out at Del Rio Woods young people of the Fitch Mountain area, as well as boys and girls of Healdsburg and vicinity, crowded onto the beach at Palomar to celebrate the national holiday in grand style.

spot on the Russian River. But ever since it became the county’s “in” spot, things haven't been quiet. Throngs of people crowd it every day and on weekends, they so congest Fitch Mountain Road that passage becomes nearly impossible. Underaged youths drinking beer, fights, burglaries, even stabbings, have turned the once quiet area into a nightmare.

The problems have become so numerous that there is talk among regular residents of not putting up the summer dam next year. The homeowners association, however, does not legally control the summer dam, although they are financially tied to it. Resident deputy Larry Liebschure said a variety of people use the beach—families, juveniles, hippies and Hell's Angels (his descriptions). Criminal activities included a large number of house and auto burglaries in the area.

Organization

of Kiwanis Club Is Completed Here

About fifty business and professional men of Healdsburg attended a luncheon at the Plaza hotel today, when organization of the Healdsburg local of the Kiwanis Club was completed. The meeting was the largest attended since the first steps to bring a Kiwanis Club into being here were taken by a group of business leaders.

Eight members of the Napa Kiwanis were present to see the local organization completed. The Napa

Over 1,000 hot dogs, ice cream bars and bottles of soft drinks disappeared before the afternoon was over, according to John Dissmeyer, president of the Del Rio Woods Home Owner's Association. Following the afternoon beach party of contests, races and games, the young people enjoyed dancing at the Palomar and a fireworks display put on at the conclusion of the celebration.

50 years ago –

July 2, 1973

Is No Dam the Answer? The Disquiet of Del Rio

Angers Residents

For years the beach at Del Rio Woods has drawn summer residents to a quiet

It was unlikely that the homeowners’ and recreation district’s arch enemy, canoe king W.C. Trowbridge, would escape his share of criticism. Audience members claimed there was no way persons with property fronting the river could maintain privacy or security with the large numbers of canoeists present. Collecting the canoes at the beach and getting them ready for transport down river caused enormous problems.

The Healdsburg Museum and Historical Society is located at 221 Matheson St. Open hours are 11am to 4pm, Wednesday through Sunday. Admission is free, donations accepted.

Healdsburg Senior Living | Assisted Living | Memory Care 725 Grove Street, Healdsburg, CA 95448 | healdsburgseniorliving.com | License # 496803751

OFFICERS Kiwanis’ new officers in 1958, with a giant gavel recognizing their formation in 1923.

HOLIDAY PARADE A color guard leads the 1940 4th of July parade down Center Street, passing the old City Hall on the corner of Matheson.

Photos courtesy of Healdsburg Museum and Historical Society

HEALDSBURG’S COLLEGIATE TEAM MEETS THEIR SONOMA RIVALS

Staff Report

The midpoint of the California Collegiate League season came as June turned into July, and over a three-day period the league-leading Healdsburg Prune Packers (13-3) met the fourthplace Sonoma Stompers (7-9) for wine country bragging rights.

If their respective position in the CCL standings were the only criteria, one might have expected a sweep. But over the previous series the Packers had shown weakness against their second-place league rival, the Walnut Creek Crawdads, losing two in a row, both games played in Concord, the Craws’ home field.

The series with the Stompers also included two games on the road, at Sonoma’s Arnold Park (another historic field, this one dating to 1950). So nobody was taking anything for granted, and the Packers came to play and to win.

The first game, on Friday, June 30, was played in Sonoma. Both teams traded zeroes through the first three innings before an RBI groundout in the fourth gave the Packers the 1-0 lead. But in the bottom half of the inning, the Stompers tied the game with a solo homer

from Xabier Iparraguirre, a feat they repeated in the next inning when Tyler Martinez homered for a 2-1 lead.

Then the Packers found their swing. Blake McDonald recorded his fourth RBI in six games with a single to score Kyle Russel in the sixth inning to tie the game at two each.

Hunter Dorraugh, who was hitting nearly .500 heading into the game, slammed a goahead two-run homer with Robbie Hamchuck on base in the seventh to give Healdsburg the 4-2 lead. Cameron Nickens hit his team-leading fourth homer of the season in the eighth before the Pack escaped a basesloaded, two outs jam in the ninth to hold on for a 5-2 win.

The next day, July 1, the Packers returned to the warm embrace of Rec Park, and rewarded fans with a dominant performance. They started right out of the gate with a 3-run first inning behind the home run swings of Damian Bravo and Nickens—his second in two days—with Will Hodo aboard.

Things were even crazier in the fifth inning when the Pack sent 10 men to the plate to score 7 runs. Bravo hit a tworun single, and Will Hodo hit a two-run home run in the inning, and headsup baserunning and a

Stompers error added up to the rest.

That big inning put the Pack up 13-0 over the Stompers, who could only hang on to finish the game.

Right-hander Michael Rice did not allow a hit until the fifth inning, and Packers pitchers only allowed two hits on the night for the shutout win.

Sunday the two teams returned to Sonoma for a day game, but Healdsburg kept up the pressure with a bases-loaded single from Hodo to score Bravo for a 1-0 lead. In the third inning, Hodo crushed a three-run homer, complete with a massive bat flip. The homer marked his sixth hit in six at-bats, totaling eight RBIs during that streak.

But the never-say-die Stompers came back with a two-run homer in the fifth from Noah Rabin, and added another in the sixth to cut the Packers’ lead to 5-3.

After two scoreless innings, Jayden Duplantier recorded his first RBI as a Packer in the ninth with a double to score Hamchuck. Sonoma cut Healdsburg’s lead back to two in the bottom half, as Hamchuck in center field made two errors that brought Michael Bell into scoring position. But the game ended with the Packers on top, 6-4, giving the Packers a threegame sweep.

The Prune Packers winning record this season can be attributed in part to their two previous years as CCL champions, which makes playing for the Pack an attractive goal for college athletes. In fact, two of last year’s Sonoma squad, Alex Leopard

and Connor Charpiot, now play for the Packers. And no fewer than a dozen Packers on this year’s roster also played on last year’s championship team, though most of them are seniors and won’t be back next year.

But next year is 11 months away: The Prune

Packers still have to get through the rest of the month, and put the hungry Crawdads in their place before heading for SoCal for the championship series.

Aaron Arnstein of the Prune Packers communications team contributed to this report.

Photos by Christian Kallen

Downtown Death

medical personnel arriving. They worked on the decedent for quite some time before he was declared deceased” at the scene, said Jenkins.

Several police cars blocked the driveway while the investigation and lifesaving measures were underway, and yellow Caution tape surrounded the entry.

The body was removed to the coroner’s office, and an autopsy is scheduled to be performed on Thursday. There was no confirmation of the identity of the deceased at the scene, because no personal identification was found. However, the information released by the department said they had “received reports of a male subject who had assaulted employees of a downtown business” prior to the call. Those reports said that the

“same subject was also reported to have threatened another individual with a hammer.”

The social media release continued, “Based on the descriptions provided, investigators believe that the decedent was involved in these incidents.”

The reports of the previous incidents included descriptions of clothing worn by the assailant, clothing which matched that of the body found at the scene, Jenkins said.

The police chief confirmed that a hammer was found near the site, and that “there were indications of an assault that occurred,” though he would not elaborate pending results of the autopsy.

“There are indications that something occurred,” Jenkins said, as well as “some indications that there were injuries.” There was no evidence of blood

Movies Returning

But it wasn’t the opportunity to serve wine at one more place downtown that enchanted the Planning Commission, but Hecht’s evocative pitch.

“We know that lives are positively transformed by shared experiences around film,” she continued.

“Sometimes profound, some more subtle, like the memories we have as kids, seeing our heroes on the big screen for the first time, being on a date, or giggling or shrieking with friends.”

Admitting that AV Film first attempted to take over the Raven Film Center space

after it was permanently closed in July, 2020, Hecht said that idea didn’t pan out.

“The numbers didn’t work at the Raven, and the space was too big for a commercial theater for today’s audiences,” she noted.

Hence the shift to small screening rooms, a more central downtown location, a more efficient building with a low carbon footprint—“a cinema that reflects a contemporary understanding of movies, media and community,” as she put it.

“The smaller screening rooms are more responsive

on the hammer, said the police chief.

At the scene the following day, a crime scene clean-up team from BioOne of Vallejo was scouring the pavement along the driveway outside Williamson Wines to remove traces of blood. An apparent blood trail looped for 10 feet or so to a more concentrated area, where the victim evidently was found.

“We’re still piecing together the events that transpired leading up to it,” according to Jenkins. “We believe we know all of what happened, but I'm hesitant to comment on any nature of the injuries until we do an autopsy and have a full understanding of what the injuries are.”

Several subjects were thought to have encounters with the deceased, and investigators are speaking with them. “So far, these individuals have been cooperative with investigators,” said Jenkins. The other subjects also reported minor

to today's audiences in Northern Sonoma County,” said Hecht. “They provide state of the art sight and sound while delivering the social element of watching movies, as they were intended, with a crowd.”

Upstairs will be classroom space for education and presentations by the non-profit AV Film, described by Hecht as a “501c3 mission-driven organization dedicated to strengthening the Northern Sonoma County region through film,” an ambitious remit most visibly accomplished by their annual AV Film Fest (the latest was held in early May this year).

“Through fires, floods, a pandemic and

injuries, though these were limited to complaints of pain, he added. Continued the chief, “We haven't labeled anybody as a suspect. We're still piecing together the events that transpired and why they transpired. Before we can make any

social unrest, AVFilm has earned its status as a nimble, socially conscious and implicitly trusted community partner in both English and Spanish-speaking communities,” said Hecht.

The Plaza is slated to be a type of art house cinema that has flourished and faded across the country, only to be in a renaissance today.

Designer Tom Rael, a Santa Fe architect who specializes in art house theaters, was also at the meeting, and he referred to an earlier film project of his, The Sunshine in New York City, as the inspiration for his treatment of the theater’s name above the marquee.

determination there, we do believe we know all of the people who were involved in the incident.” Jenkins anticipated a fuller report, including autopsy findings and the identity of the deceased, would be released Thursday, July 6.

Hecht and Rael both said the Plaza would follow a hybrid model, screening “first-run Hollywood content” in two of the theaters, while a third screen would be reserved for “doing more of the art house model, where we would be heavily eventized with independent film,” said Hecht.

Presentation over, Vesna Breznikar, the Planning Commission’s vice chair (chair Phil Luks being absent) called for public comment from both the online and inhouse audience. When asking for any negative comments, she was met with silence; and when asking for any positive comments, she was

Anyone who has information about the incident should call Healdsburg Police Dis patch at 707-431-3377 and reference case number 23-874. Tips can also be sent to crimetips@ healdsburg.gov.

greeted by a loud, sustained round of applause from the 20 or so who showed up for the hearing.

“I think it’s great to have movies back in town,” said Tom Barber. “I’m relatively new on the commission, but I’ve never heard a resounding applause like that yet, so thanks for showing up and being here.”

“You’re not just bringing a movie theater; you’re bringing culture by having foreign films and activities,” said Breznikar. “I’m very happy for you and for Healdsburg.”

Hecht said construction would begin as soon as later this summer, and the Plaza Cinema Center should open in 2024.

Left to Right: Chamber Board Member Nancy Brandt Assistant City Manager Andrew Sturmfels City Manager Jeff Kay Founders Todd Gottula and Erin Brooks Nicole Yasinsac Mercedes Murolo Mary Louise Bu h M k M lpi d J ph Ry Ch b B d M b B yl Adl Ch b CEO T lli H t

Founders Todd Gottula and Erin Brooks and Winemaker Joseph Ryan

Founder Erin Brooks and Chamber CEO Ta lia Hart

Photo by Christian Kallen

CSI HEALDSBURG Caution tape is stretched across the scene of an active investigation on Matheson Street on Monday, July 3, where an 'unresponsive person' was later pronounced deceased at the scene.

Local Boy Makes Movie: ‘War of the Wills’

wrote the script after COVID quashed their earlier plans to make a larger film, with many characters and locations.

By Christian Kallen

Note: Due to a production error, only part of this article appeared in our June 29 issue. The full article is published this week.

Maybe not everybody has dreams of making a movie when they grow up, but George Dondero sure did.

Now, 40 years after he used to watch second-run films at the old Aven Theater on North Street, today known as the Raven—films like Enter the Dragon Bugsy Malone Tommy—Dondero is blushingly proud of his first feature, War of the Wills

The 110-minute film, available on Amazon Prime Video, is a dark comedy about family members with a family secret. Made on a $20,000 budget in Sonoma County, and starring someone very familiar to Healdsburg theater-goers, War of the Wills represents the culmination of a lifelong dream for Dondero.

“It was one of these things where I kept saying, I want to do this,” said Dondero, 54, who has been running the independent commercial film company Sonoma Film Works for the past decade, doing video production for clients such as Sonoma County Tourism

and various wine brands.

“Then I realized the only thing that's stopping me is me,” he revealed. War of the Wills concerns a father and son, both named William (Will Jr. and Will III), who have an antagonistic relationship but are forced by circumstance to spend a month living together in the family house following the death of William Sr., aka Grandfather Will.

Not surprisingly, the dearly departed left a (wait for it) will that required the two to spend those fateful 29 days together before either of them can inherit the family fortune. If War of the Wills were a fullblown comedy, one might say “mayhem ensues.” But instead it has elements of the supernatural, gaslighting and sadism along with the comedy.

“I don’t want to say that it’s like Arsenic and Old Lace,” said Dondero, “but I think that’s one of those films where everything’s

Taste Pure Joy!

funny, but yet we have people dying and poisoning other people.”

The house is a colorful, ramshackle Victorian in Petaluma, where cast and crew spent two weeks filming the movie in mid2022. Another location is Café Noto in Windsor, and a third is the El Pueblo Motel in Sonoma. So it’s a Sonoma County movie through and through.

Will the Father is played by Steven David Martin, the artistic director of the Raven Players, in his first film role. As anyone who has seen him on the Raven stage knows full well, Martin is an actor’s actor, alternatively subtle and larger than life, and his performance here is appropriately scene-stealing and rewarding as he drives the movie’s energy for almost its full length.

“We’ve known each other for a long time and talked about doing a movie together for almost as long,” said Martin of Dondero. (Martin is busy preparing to

direct a Mardi Gras version of The Comedy of Errors, to play free in West Plaza Park in late July.)

Martin, who took over as artistic director with the Raven Players in 2014, has a lengthy career on the regional theater stage, but surprisingly this is his first film. “George was fabulous, a generous and supportive director/writer and great to the actors, always asking and encouraging our input,” he said.

In the film, Will the Son is played by Kot Takahashi, a Santa Rosa actor who lost his Coffey Park home in the Tubbs Fire. It was while working on a documentary with Creative Sonoma that Dondero first encountered Takahashi.

“I saw him on camera and I was like, ‘This kid has got something. He’s handsome, he’s smart, he’s got a lot of charisma.’ And I was like, ‘I want to make a movie with that guy,’” he recalled.

Dondero and his partner, Bethany Browning,

“Two months into COVID, I realized that it’s not going away anytime soon,” said Dondero. “So I said, let’s figure out something that is one location with as small a crew and cast as possible.”

He started writing the script, with Browning finessing its structure and plot points. Before 2022 ended, they had a movie and called upon the talents of its all-Sonoma County crew and their own years of experience.

The whole process took about two years, from writing the script to completing the edit. Then came the hard part: finding a distributor.

“I was banging my head against the wall trying to get this released, so I didn’t have to do it myself,” Dondero said. “I was just hoping that we could get a little more exposure, a bigger release with bigger PR.”

Finally, just this past March, he and Browning decided they just needed to handle the distribution themselves. As a writer, she had used Amazon’s Create Space platform, which allows writers to self-publish and builds on Amazon’s huge marketplace to find buyers for almost anything. And that’s why one can find War of the Wills, the first film by George Dondero, Healdsburg High Class of 1987, for rental or purchase on Amazon Prime.

The future filmmaker moved with his older sister and mother to Healdsburg when he was four. “I always wanted to leave Healdsburg,” he said frankly. “When I was a kid, Healdsburg was a different place. There were no hotels; it was a very small town, very rural. It just wasn’t what you see today.

“And as a kid who wanted to experience something different and wanted to go into film, I needed to leave,” Dondero continued. He left as soon as he could to go to SRJC and later join the military, then to San Francisco State, where he studied animation. He and his wife separated, and he raised their two sons while growing his career in documentary film. Dondero and Browning now live in Occidental.

Though Dondero couldn’t wait to get out of Healdsburg, something about those long-ago afternoons at the Aven Theater has stayed with him.

“I just instantly was taken by being in that dark room and having the whole world wash away,” he recalls, “having these stories just wash over me. I loved being in that movie theater.”

THE CHALLENGE A family home in Petaluma is where most of the action takes place in War of the Wills.

Photos courtesy of George Dondero

DIRECTOR George Dondero, writer-director of ‘War of the Wills,’ his first film.

HHS GRAD HAS COME A LONG WAY SINCE AVEN THEATER MATINEES