Roundup: Great Pumpkins
Orange monsters, the TLC gala, Art Trails and the Retrograde staff art show, farewell to Tony Anello and more
Mondo Pumpkins at Andy’s
These amazing pumpkins at Andy’s Produce, just north of Sebastopol, are grown right here in Sonoma County by Brendan Dawson at Dawson Acres in Rincon Valley. Guess their weight and win. Here are the deets from the Andy’s Facebook page:
These beauties are grown right here in Sonoma County by a local mom and son team, carrying on a tradition learned from their Italian grandfather. They’ve been growing giants for 5 years now, with a personal best of a 2,465 lb. pumpkin.
Seeds started in March
Hand-pollinated in June
Harvested this September
Each one grows on a 1,000 sq. ft. plant with all other pumpkins pruned away.
Gaining up to 50-70 pounds a DAY!
How much do you think the giant pumpkins weigh? Drop your guess for Snoopy (right) and Linus (left) in the comments [on Andy’s Facebook page] for a chance at pumpkin glory and an Andy’s Gift Card!
You can also drop your guess in the box at Andy’s.
TLC celebrates 50 years with a big gala
TLC Child & Family Services (tlc4kids.org) in Sebastopol celebrated 50 years at a gala Friday night at Balletto Winery. Susan Fette, CEO of TLC, welcomed over 200 people, thanking them for coming out to support this organization that serves the most vulnerable youth in the community. Amazingly, for over 50 years, the TLC organization has had only two top executives, and the other besides Susan Fette, founder Jim Galstrer, was there to be recognized.
Among the usual elements of a gala, such as food, wine and a live auction, one moment stood out in the evening. Susan Fette introduced Cheyenne Pimental Perez, who is not only a social worker at TLC but she was once a client as a foster youth. Perez told her story of how she had gone into foster care as an 18-month-old. Later in life, she left an abusive relationship and found her way to Sonoma County, trying to start a new life but found herself sleeping on couches and outside under bridges. Someone told her about TLC, and she became a client with her own place to live. She talked movingly about what having her own place meant to her, how she went grocery shopping and knew that she had a refrigerator for the food she was buying. “TLC made me feel that I mattered,” she said.
Perez recently took on the role of social worker for TLC’s Transitional Housing Program while she pursues her master’s degree with the goal of becoming a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Her talk received a standing ovation.
Fette’s brief speech was about “honoring our past and embracing our future.” TLC has evolved to meet challenges facing youth today, she said, “including mental health crises, housing instability, and systematic barriers.” TLC has “helped thousands of young people find safety, build skills and move toward bright futures.” Fette was proud to receive a $65K check from Constellation Energy at the event.
Sonoma County Art Trails is happening this weekend and next
There are 150 participating artists this year, with a record number of new artists, as well as a diverse range of returning artists. Meet the artists in their studios, see some fantastic art and watch demonstrations of various artistic techniques. Artists keep 100% of their sales. Here are some of the newer-to-Art-Trails Sebastopol artists this year:
More than foam art: See the staff art show at Retrograde
Sebastopol Times reader Stacy Low tipped us off to the fun art show going on at Retrograde. It’s their annual staff art show, featuring art by all your favorite Retrograde baristas! Pastels and gouache by Lauren Lee Francis, cross-stitch by Angela, watercolor dahlias by Traci Hunt, photography by Harlow Shin, collages by Eli, and more.
Barista Dakota Sumner said Retrograde has been doing a staff art show every fall for a couple of years. “There are all different styles,” Sumner said yesterday, during a typically busy Saturday morning at Retrograde. “Some people are selling their work. Others are just putting it up for the show.”
Retrograde’s staff art show will run through November. (Click on the images below to see them in more detail.)
Local fire firefighters came out for Tony Anello’s funeral
On Wednesday, Oct. 8, traffic on Bodega Highway was stopped at Pleasant Hill Road as fire trucks from Gold Ridge and other area fire department lined the road for the funeral procession of Tony Anello, co-founder of Spud Point Crab Company who was also a firefighter. Several groups of firefighters stood outside their trucks saluting as the procession moved from St. Sebastian Catholic Church to Pleasant Hill Memorial Park Mortuary. (In Loving Memory of Tony Anello)
Sebastopol Police Logs, Sept. 29-Oct. 5
The following are crimes excerpted from Sebastopol Police Department daily crime log entries and listed at the time the alleged violation was reported.
MONDAY
10:23 a.m. Served a misdemeanor arrest warrant at Laguna Park Way. Suspect arrested.
3:09 p.m. Grand theft from a building (felony) at Pleasant Hill Avenue North. Pending further investigation.
3:10 p.m. Theft of more than $950 from an elderly dependent adult and obtaining more than $400 by false pretenses (felonies) at Evergreen Avenue. Investigation suspended, leads exhausted.
5:14 p.m. Child abuse without causing great bodily injury or death (misdemeanor) at Bodega Avenue. Pending further investigation.
TUESDAY
3:51 p.m. Disorderly conduct involving intoxicating drug with alcohol and violation of probation (misdemeanors) at McKinley Street. Suspect arrested.
5:38 p.m. Violation of a court order involving domestic violence and violation of probation (misdemeanors) at Gravenstein Highway North. Suspect arrested.
11:09 p.m. Served a felony arrest warrant at North Main Street. Suspect arrested.
THURSDAY
7:40 a.m. Served a misdemeanor arrest warrant at Morris Street. Suspect arrested.
SATURDAY
1:56 a.m. Driving while under the influence of alcohol with a blood alcohol content level of at least 0.08% (misdemeanors), driving with a suspended license, and served with a misdemeanor arrest warrant at South Main and Willow streets. Suspect arrested.
3:21 p.m. Disorderly conduct involving alcohol and violation of probation (misdemeanors) at Gravenstein Highway North. Suspect arrested.
SUNDAY
12:55 p.m. Failure to appear in court after promising in writing (misdemeanor) at Burnett Street and Petaluma Avenue. Suspect arrested.
7:35 p.m. Possession of a controlled substance, violation of probation (misdemeanors) and possession of a controlled substance with two or more prior convictions (felony) at Sebastopol Avenue and Morris Street. Suspect arrested.
9:24 p.m. Disorderly conduct involving an intoxicating drug with alcohol and violation of probation (misdemeanors) at Healdsburg and Murphy avenues. Suspect arrested.
OTHER POLICE ACTION
The Sebastopol Police Department also recorded 131 events requiring police action during the period, such as lost animals, assisting citizens, parking violations, foot patrol, traffic hazards and reckless driving.
