Our Thanksgiving Quirky
Rhymes with turkey
Credit local historian Jeff Elliot, who passed away earlier this year at age 72. He nailed it in his article “Sebastopol Was Always Quirky,” which he wrote in 2018 on his Santa Rosa History website.
Sebastopol has admirable things in its past as well as the awful, but goddesses help me, the cliché is true: Go back to the earliest years and the town was always quirky.
The town deserves plaudits for being a tolerant and (mostly) welcoming place for ethnic minorities that were hated and persecuted elsewhere in Sonoma county during the 19th century. A Native community endured continuously on the banks of the Laguna through the early 1900s, complete with their own cemetery. The following article shows Sebastopol had a thriving Chinatown going back to 1869, even as Chinese immigrants were elsewhere being driven out of the area. Later Japanese newcomers also found it a good place to bring their families and put down roots.
On the flip side, lots of awful stuff happened in the early 20th century, particularly the child labor camps where boys as young as seven were brought up here from the Bay Area to work in the fields and canneries. Feel free to also rage over the destruction of Lake Jonive, an irreplaceable treasure which the town turned into an open cesspool and garbage dump.
But there was often something different about the people who lived there. They seemed to be the sort that liked to doodle in the margins of a cookbook more than following the recipes – and I measure that by the number of times I’ve read something about the village in the old newspapers and found myself mumbling, “wow, that’s unusual.” What they often did was just…quirky.
What better time than Thanksgiving to celebrate how Sebastopol continues to be quirky. What makes us even more quirky today is how we are giving to others in the community.
At Pacific Market on Wednesday morning, Cara Darpino and North Bay Association of Realtors (a quirky bunch if you know any) were asking grocery shoppers to donate food or money to the Inter-church Food Pantry, which is located at St. Stephen’s Church. Being so dedicated, Cara was dressed as a turkey outside the grocery store.
Later in the afternoon, Food for Thought was outside Pacific Market. Rancho Cotate High School Student Tyler Garrett was volunteering for the food drive, wearing an apron and handing out flyers.
Food for Thought was the recipient of the largest grant from Sebastopol 100 in October, another thing to be thankful for. As Laura wrote:
When the city of Sebastopol decided that it couldn’t afford to continue its longstanding tradition of giving community grants to local nonprofits, two Craigs—Craig Boblitt and Craig Litwin—decided to do something about it. This spring, they pulled together a board of directors for a new giving circle called the Sebastopol West 100. Their initial modest goal was to raise $200,000 to replace the city budget cuts.
Sebastopol 100 gave out $295,000 in grants.
In October, TLC’s 50th Anniversary Gala at Balletto Vineyards raised $251,400 for at-risk youth in Sonoma County, according to Susan Fette, CEO of TLC Youth and Family Services in Sebastopol.
This week, we heard from Hrieth Pezzi, the Community Food Drive Organizer for Sebastopol Grange
THANK YOU!
We just completed 2 (of 3) Community FOOD DRIVES at the Sebastopol Grange.
As the the organizer, I was interested in hearing how folks had heard about it.
It is a testament to your good hearts, community service and far reach, that the Sebastopol Times was the single most consistent response.
YOU make a difference and enable US to make one, too.
Thank you, with an overflowing heart today, for people like you, a community like us and a world that continues to hold promise of better.
I recognize that, though you have paid subscriptions, etc., that The Sebastopol Times is a labor of love and it shows.
As it turns out, Laura caught another glimpse of Cara in full regalia, looking tired after chasing people down in the parking lot. That’s just a wonderfully quirky way to spend the day before Thanksgiving. Dressed as a turkey. Working the Holiday Food Drive.
Gratitude from the Mayor
Sebastopol Times asked Mayor Stephen Zollman what he’d like to say for Thanksgiving.
During this Season of Gratitude, I am grateful for this wonderful community that applies all of its years of wisdom and experience to look after those who are struggling economically, emotionally or physically.
For me, Margaret Mead’s quote of “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. In fact, it’s the only thing that ever has.” always rings loudly during this period as we all work together to create the world that we would like to see.
I am very grateful for this community and for the love and support of my partner, Jim, and our rescue cat, Ben.
Am sending all best wishes during this time and always,
Cheers,
Stephen Zollman, Sebastopol Mayor
Gratitude from Mr. Music
This morning, Jim Corbett (aka Mr. Music) was up early and texted Laura, who is also an early riser:
Laura,
I am very grateful for your keeping the Sebastopol Times alive and very well. Your writing and dedication to our town is a huge gift of love. Blessings to you and your family.
Jim C
Laura replied:
Right back at you with gratitude for all your heartfelt work keeping the music flowing!
Then she asked Jim:
Just curious - are you writing a bunch of folks that you’re grateful for around town as a part of a personal Thanksgiving project?
Jim Corbett replied with lots of emojis:
Yes! I really have a lot of gratitude for the folks who keep Sebastopol a really cool place. I have sent greetings to:
Diana & Daniel Rich
Craig & Pat Boblitt
Dale & Nancy Dougherty
Andrea Caron
Myriah Volk
Bill De Carli
Dan & Robbin DavisAnd a bunch of local yokels that I love dearly.
You are on that list for who you are and what you do.
Thanks so much, Jim.
Quirky is cool.
Thanks to all!
Yesterday, reader Daniel De Kay said in a comment on the article “They’re Hardly Strictly Irish”:
Thank you, Sebastopol Times, for yet another vision into the great town that we call home. And thanks to all those who make up Sebastopol and its environs. Let’s make this bubble of ours a better and better place for all who come here.
We really appreciate the great comments from our readers.
We’ll give the last word to historian Jeff Elliot.
Sebastopol is the only community around here with a colorful story about its name, and personally I love the idea that some joker in Sebastopol may have made it up, most likely to make the place seem less respectable. From that quirky seed grew a tree that looks mostly like others in the forest until you take a closer look – and then you realize it’s really not quite the same. Not the same at all, and that’s something nice to appreciate.
Happy Thanksgiving 2025. Stay Quirky Sebastopol.
Thanks, Dale, for an article that brought both wet eyes and a smile to my face. You have captured so much about what is good in this town. I am grateful to be able to live here.
Sebastopol does wear quirky well! Thanks for keeping a close eye on us Sebastopolians and deflecting back our quirk ;-)