Roundup: How do you like them apples?
A Gravenstein farmer, the finished labyrinth, another Porchfest letter and more
When Pat and Paul Schoch moved onto their property on Sparkes Road 50 years ago, most of the property was an old apple orchard. The previous owner had been paying someone to care for the orchard and pick up the apples, but Pat, who had four kids at home at the time, figured she had a built-in workforce. Thus was the family’s small seasonal apple business born—and for the last 50 years, caring for the orchard has been Pat’s hobby and passion. (She also volunteers around town, most visibly behind the counter at Hospice Thrift.)
There are a hundred trees on their property—some hobby! A few of the trees are 120 years old — they’re propped up but still producing. When trees die, the Schochs replace them with new Gravenstein apple trees.
Pat is now 91—though she moves like a much younger person—and come late July and August, she still mans the family’s Gravenstein Apple stand at 335 Sparkes Road during daylight hours.
That labyrinth in Graton? It’s even cooler…
Oops, we used the wrong the photo in Mark Fernquest’s article about the ReStoryation Labyrinth. In our photo, the labyrinth was only partially completed. Here’s the complete deal:
The Graton Town Square, which is a work in progress, is generally locked, but labyrinth is open to the public on Saturdays, from 8 am to 11 am.
Another letter about Porchfest
On July 15, we ran a story about Porchfest, the neighborhood music festival. The organizers had bowed to neighbor complaints about the event—and to their own inability to fund the porta-potties and traffic study required by a special event permit. Instead, they moved the event from High Street to Ives and SebArts. After our article published, we received a letter from neighbor Ron McDonnell, who felt I had mischaracterized the situation, casting the neighbors in a bad light. Ron’s letter contained some interesting background on the controversy, so we asked to publish it. Rick Rozet, who was named in that letter, wanted a chance to respond. (We would like this to be the last letter on this topic.)
My name is Rick Rozet, and I live on the corner of Maple and High Street. I feel compelled to reply to Ron McDonell concerning his written response to Laura’s article on Porchfest and the city council meeting. (I am the person who he is referring to in his commentary on block parties.)
Ron has his version of a history of block parties. He may be upset with the city (mistakenly) as I dealt with Jeff Weaver (the then chief of Police) in requesting permission for street closures and other permits. Over the period we threw these block parties, I reached out throughout the neighborhood to inform and invite them to the event. We applied assiduously every year for permission and worked with the police hand-in-hand to resolve problems that arose. They [the police] were generally supportive of the idea. I would also like to mention that Ron asked me to stop doing those parties, and I listened to him and acceded to his request.
Ron appears to be equating the block parties on Maple and High streets with Porchfest. I would like to state clearly for the record that Porchfest is not a block party (in spite of the fact that it was perhaps mistakenly called that). It is a national organization that has promoted live local musicians playing in neighborhoods in cities like San Rafael, San Francisco, Alameda, Benicia, Napa and all the way to Atlanta, Georgia. It has promoted community development and spurred economic growth for municipalities across the country. Many of these Porchfests do not block the streets off in the neighborhoods where they take place, although some do depending on the situation. The idea of blocking streets, providing porta-potties, providing information, doing traffic studies, etc., are safety measures designed to ensure the integrity of the event. The organizers and the nonprofit board created to oversee this are attempting to create the structure that makes this possible.
In the case of Florence Avenue on Halloween, the city has taken the initiative to provide support services to an organic community event, which has drawn people from all over the city and outside it as well. The success of the initial Porchfest on High Street illustrates the need for these measures and deserves the same support that that neighborhood receives.
The fact that this organization has been created and its efforts in being proactive speak highly of the integrity of their efforts. That mistakes were made in informing the neighborhood and garnering permission from the city before promoting the event are undeniable but perhaps an inevitable part of the learning process.
To put this in perspective, what is being asked for here is not in my opinion an overly burdensome request. It is a six-hour period on a Saturday afternoon one time a year. All efforts will be made I’m sure to assure neighborhood integrity and address concerns in a participatory manner. Speaking for myself, I’m willing to work and assist anyone willing to compromise in achieving a common vision.
Nancy Rena Tello
Nancy Tello was born in Arvada, Colorado, in 1940. Her birth mother was Shoshone of the Wind River Reservation, and her father was a German American. When she was almost 3 years old, she was put up for adoption and raised in Wyoming by her adoptive parents. She was placed in a boarding school by her adoptive parents when she was 15, and ended up in the …
Teacher looking for a rental
Liqa is a new teacher for the Academy of Innovative Arts. She and her husband are moving here from Sunnyvale. If you know of a place, let her know:
Professional couple is moving to the area to work in the West Sonoma County Union High School district and are looking for a 1-bedroom stand-alone unit with privacy and outdoor space for BBQ in Sebastopol, Forestville, or nearby towns. We are responsible, quiet, and community-oriented, and excited to put down roots in the area. We are also open to trading our 1-bedroom home in Napa as part of a rental exchange. If you have a space or a lead, please contact us at (650) 799-0843.
Sebastopol Police Logs, July 21-27
The following are crimes excerpted from Sebastopol Police Department daily crime log entries and listed at the time the alleged violation was reported.
MONDAY
10:52 a.m. Trespassing (misdemeanor) at Petaluma Avenue. Suspect arrested.
10:22 p.m. Forging a vehicle registration (felony) at Gravenstein Highway South. Suspect arrested.
TUESDAY
4:38 p.m. Causing a fire at an inhabited structure (felony) at Willow Street. Pending further investigation.
WEDNESDAY
11:28 a.m. Vandalism, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of unlawful paraphernalia (misdemeanors) at Sebastopol Avenue. Suspect arrested.
1:33 p.m. Vandalism and defacing property (felony) at Gravenstein Highway North. Pending further investigation.
THURSDAY
11:43 a.m. Shoplifting (misdemeanor) at Sebastopol Avenue. No disposition reported.
11:51 a.m. Theft by using credit card or ATM information (felony) at Petaluma Avenue. Pending further investigation.
1:39 p.m. Served a misdemeanor arrest warrant for an outside agency at Sebastopol Avenue. Suspect arrested.
FRIDAY
3:58 p.m. Petty theft from a building (misdemeanor) at Wilton Avenue. Investigation suspended, leads exhausted.
6:29 p.m. Disorderly conduct involving alcohol (misdemeanor) at North Main Street. Suspect arrested.
SATURDAY
1:46 a.m. Disorderly conduct involving alcohol and violation of probation (misdemeanors) at Gravenstein Highway North. Suspect arrested.
8:36 p.m. Possession of unlawful paraphernalia (misdemeanor) at South Main Street. Suspect arrested.
OTHER POLICE ACTION
The Sebastopol Police Department also recorded 123 events requiring police action during the period, such as lost animals, assisting citizens, parking violations, foot patrol, traffic hazards and reckless driving.
What a nice tribute to the Schochs! Thank you!