RoundUp: Hands Off and Hands on
Protests, car crashes, and Analy breaks ground on a new career technical education building
Protestors came out in droves to the four corners of downtown Sebastopol on Saturday in what might the largest turnout for a protest in recent memory. So many brought their own colorful handmade posters echoing “Hands Off!” However one might describe the national mood, this local protest was surprisingly upbeat. One person remarked: “look at how many people it’s bringing together.”
Dogs on leash joined the protest against DOGE.
And now the artist who goes by Kat.
Analy’s Career Technical Education Groundbreaking
School administrators, trustees and faculty gathered to break ground on a new 15,000 CTE facility at Analy High School “that will provide students with spaces to develop valuable skills in areas such as engineering, welding, design thinking, culinary arts and agricultural sciences.” Funding for the project came through local Measure A bond funds.
Chris Meredith, superintendent of WSCUHSD, said in a press release: “These modern, well-equipped spaces will allow students to explore their passions and develop the specialty skills needed for success. Thank you to the community for its continuous support in making this project a reality, and our dedicated project team for guiding us through this process.”
The building that was used for the Project Make program was demolished in March to make way for the new CTE building. The program was moved to a portable.
Hands-on!
The Academy of Innovative Arts is holding a preview night for prospective 9th graders and their families as well as other interested community members on Thursday, April 10th from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm at the El Molino Campus Library located at 7050 Covey Road in Forestville. Meet the founding team of this new high school and tour the Innovative Arts makerspace. Learn more about the Academy of Innovative Arts.
If you know parents of a current 8th grader, please let them know about this opportunity to be part of an new high school opening this fall in West County. This is a non-traditional high school that offers hands-on learning and develops valuable skills while exploring creative and innovative uses of technology. Homeschoolers and neurodivergent learners are most welcome!
If you have any questions or wish to talk about the new school and can’t join us on Thursday, you can contact Greg Anderson, principal, or contact me by email (dale.dougherty@gmail.com).
Crash, bash, rollover
Wednesday, April 2, was quite a day for car crashes in Sebastopol. Eerily, two of the crashes (above) happened almost simultaneously, kitty-corner, on the same block as the Sebastopol Times office. That’s a first.
Here’s the story from the Sebastopol Police Department:
We started the day with a roll over crash on Fellers Lane. Thankfully, no one was injured in that crash. In the afternoon, we had almost simultaneous crashes on Petaluma Avenue and South Main Street, with vehicles careening off the road after being involved in collisions on the street. One vehicle drove through a fence and landed in a front yard. Another vehicle traversed the sidewalk and collided with a building. Fortunately, no one was injured in either of those collisions.
As a reminder to drivers—please slow down, stay focused and drive like lives depend on it. Because they do.
Sebastopol Police Logs, March 24-30
The following are crimes excerpted from Sebastopol Police Department daily crime log entries and listed at the time the alleged violation was reported.
MONDAY
10:59 a.m. Resisting a peace officer, possession of unlawful paraphernalia, and violation of probation (misdemeanors), at North Main Street. Suspect arrested.
11:51 a.m. Assaulting a peace officer, resisting a peace officer, and battery on a peace officer (misdemeanors), at Gravenstein Highway South. Suspect arrested.
TUESDAY
10:21 a.m. Failure to appear in court after promising in writing, at Healdsburg Avenue. Suspect arrested.
2:18 p.m. Throwing burning material (misdemeanor), possession of flammable material, and arson (felony) at Morris Street. Pending further investigation.
8:00 p.m. Burglary, grand theft, and shoplifting (felonies), at Sebastopol Avenue. Pending further investigation
WEDNESDAY
8:32 a.m. Possession of a controlled substance and unlawful paraphernalia (misdemeanors), at North Main Street. Suspect arrested.
8:16 p.m. Possession of a controlled substance, violation of pre-trial release, and disobeying a court order (misdemeanors), at Sebastopol Avenue. Suspect arrested.
THURSDAY
2:58 p.m. Embezzlement of more than $950 and grand theft (felonies), at South Main Street. Pending further investigation.
8:38 p.m. Possession of nitrous oxide and violation of probation (misdemeanors), at Gravenstein Highway North. Suspect arrested.
SATURDAY
1:55 p.m. Knowingly furnishing tobacco and/or paraphernalia to someone under 21 years old (misdemeanor), at Gravenstein Highway South. Suspect arrested.
SUNDAY
12:02 p.m. Tampering with a vehicle (misdemeanor) at Bodega Avenue. Investigation suspended, leads exhausted.
2:16 p.m. Served a misdemeanor arrest warrant for an outside agency at Morris Street. Suspect arrested.
9:14 p.m. Threatening a crime with an intent to terrorize, assault with a deadly weapon that was not a firearm, and inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or companion (felonies), exhibiting a deadly weapon other than a firearm, battery on a spouse or companion, and violation of probation (misdemeanors) at Wilton Avenue. Suspect arrested.
OTHER POLICE ACTION
The Sebastopol Police Department also recorded 195 other events requiring police action during the period, such as lost animals, assisting citizens, parking violations, foot patrol, traffic hazards and reckless driving.
The Week of March 30 - April 5
This week, Sebastopol resident Matt Wood told us that he had been working remotely for the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights until he was laid off and the San Francisco regional office was closed. Laura spoke to Matt after we published the story on Friday and she added an extra conversation to the original story plus this photo at the end.
Yesterday, Matt Wood and the rest of the OCR staff removed their personal belongings from the Department of Education office in San Francisco. “Supporters gathered outside to thank us for our work and clap for us,” Matt Wood said. “This is happening at OCR and federal employee offices throughout the country. It’s called a ‘clap out.”’ (Photo by Matt Wood)
If you only read the story in email, there’s more to Matt’s story here on our website.
Also, a reminder that Sebastopol Cultural Community Center is hosting an author talk on Sunday night. See our story on Jeanne Carstensen and “The Greek Tragedy.” Ticket info here.
A Greek Tragedy
While covering the Syrian refugee crisis in Greece and Turkey a decade ago, San Francisco-based journalist Jeanne Carstensen found herself reporting on a tragedy that eclipsed the …
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When I saw the protesters and read some of the signs I thought to myself "What a bunch of brainwashed people." Clearly, I was looking at people who still watch the fake news shows like ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, CNBC, FOX and MSNBC, because the signs were nothing but fake news propaganda talking points. Intelligent people don't watch fake news anymore, but I guess we're not all intelligent people. Sometimes I forget that, because I'm surrounded by intelligent people, none of which were at this "protest".
Great coverage - thank you.
I went on my weekly morning ride yesterday on the SMART train to visit the Farmers Market in Larkspur. The return trip to Santa Rosa at around 1:00 brought me to tears. The protestors came onto the train, and we sang songs - "We Shall Overcome," "This Land Is Your Land," and "Where Have All The Flowers Gone?"
Hoping for our country to heal!