Roundup: In a pickle
Library sales tax take two, Pickles' big adventure, super early Sebastopol, police logs and more
Sonoma County Library puts out feelers to renew Measure Y on November ballot
Lots of folks in Sebastopol got this flyer in their mailbox this week. It’s from the Sonoma County Library, which is considering putting a tax renewal measure on the November 2024 ballot.
In November 2016, 72 percent of Sonoma County voters approved Measure Y, a one-eighth of a cent sales tax to support the 14-branch Sonoma County Library system. That measure is set to expire in two years. The new measure would extend the life of the eighth of a cent tax going to the library system.
According to Fred Engbarth, Sebastopol’s representative to the Library Commission, the only thing that’s different in the new measure is that, thus far, it doesn’t have a sunset clause, which means it will run until the voters decide to vote it down.
The deadline to submit a measure for the November ballot to the Clerk/Recorders office is August 9, 2024.
In the meantime, we’ve received word that Sebastopol Branch Manager Mathew Rose has been given another (this time, short) suspension. (Note: the library does not comment on personnel matters.)
Engbarth suggests that rather than writing to complain about this treatment that you write to library director Erika Thibault about what a wonderful library branch manager Mathew is and how much you enjoy the Sebastopol library he oversees.
Pickles’ big adventure
I gotta say, I love working in a town where the most significant police chase this week involved a piglet.
From the Sebastopol Police Facebook page:
“On 6/13/24, at approximately 1342 hours [1:42 pm], Sebastopol Police dispatch received multiple calls reporting a piglet running in and out of the roadway in the 800 block of Gravenstein Highway North.
Officers arrived and located the described piglet who…proved to be very fast and strong for an animal of its size.
Officers, along with bystanders, helped chase the little pig multiple city blocks until it was finally cornered in a side yard on Soll Court and taken into custody. The pig, later identified as “Pickles,” was reunited with his [human] mother at the scene.
Officers Whitehall and Thomas used discretion and elected not to charge Pickles with 148(a)(1) PC - (Resisting a peace officer). Instead, we felt it was beneficial to just admonish Pickles for running from officers.
Thanks to Pickles’ mom and all the Sebastopol citizens (including the captor, Michael W.) who helped get Pickles!”
Pickle’s owner Mattie Scariot drove all the way to Sebastopol from Gilroy to adopt Pickles. When he took a bathroom break in her car, she stopped to clean things up and when she opened the door, he leapt out.
Scariot was at first terrified as Pickles ran onto Highway 116. Then she was impressed with how helpful the locals were: four police officers, two businessmen, a farmer, and several whole families helped chase and ultimately catch Pickles. Sebastopol’s Michael Wilson was the one who was fast enough to catch him.
Scariot wrote on her Facebook page: “I never thought that when I picked up Pickles he would become so famous. Thank you again to the Sebastopol Police Department, and everyone who helped catch Pickles. We are so in love with him. He is so spoiled with his own mud puddle, shady area, and 5-star cuisine.”
Where the early bird gets the…coffee
Sebastopol is a pretty quiet place in the wee hours of the morning, but that doesn’t mean you have to do without your early morning coffee and croissant/donut/bagel. Most folks know that Hardcore Espresso south of town opens at 5:30 am, but did you know about these options?
EARLIEST: The earliest place you can grab coffee is at two of Sebastopol’s three Starbucks—in the Redwood Shopping Center at the north end of town and at the south end of town at 801 Gravenstein Hwy S. Both open at 4:30 am.
MOST DONUTS: Donuts and Water opens up at 5 am. The service here is as basic as the coffee, but the donut selection can’t be beat. 7237 Healdsburg Ave.
MOST CHEERFUL: If you want some early morning cheer with your coffee—and a delicious bagel—then Grateful Bagel is the spot. Their morning team never fails to make me smile. Grateful Bagel opens at 5:30 am Monday through Saturday, 6 am on Sunday. 300 S. Main St.
BEST DEAL: I’m almost afraid to let this early-morning cat out of the bag, but the best morning deal hands down is at Sunshine Organic Roasters just north of town at Andy’s Produce Market. (They also have a location in Forestville.) You can get a small coffee and a donut for just $2 from 6 am to 8 am, Monday through Friday. Throw a dollar in the tip jar, and it’s still a deal.
Charles M. Schulz – Sonoma County Airport gets thumbs up from Newsweek
It was a big news month for Sonoma County’s little airport. Newsweek’s 2024 Readers' Choice Awards declared the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport the fourth best “small airport” in the nation. The Sonoma County Airport also got called “bougie” this month by the San Francisco Chronicle, which found its charcuterie vending machine a tad de trop.
Article follow-up: Projected water and sewer rates for Fircrest Mobile Home Park
At the last council meeting on water and sewer rates, there was a discussion about how the new rate increases would affect low income folks, particularly the residents at Fircrest Mobile Home Park. Here is consultant Toni Bertolero’s projection, provided by Councilmember Sandra Maurer, who led the charge against the rate increases (as currently configured) because of their impact on low income residents.
Sebastopol Police Logs, June 3-9
The following are crimes excerpted from Sebastopol Police Department daily crime log entries and listed at the time the alleged violation was reported.
MONDAY
8:06 a.m. Battery on a person (misdemeanor) at Healdsburg and Cleveland avenues. Referred to the District Attorney for review.
8:53 p.m. Possession of unlawful paraphernalia (misdemeanor) at Gravenstein Highway North and Hurlbut Avenue. Suspect arrested.
TUESDAY
4:21 p.m. Shoplifting and violation of probation (misdemeanors) at McKinley and North Main streets. Suspect arrested.
WEDNESDAY
6:14 a.m. Theft of more than $950 from an elder dependent adult (felony) at Bodega and Washington avenues. Report unfounded.
11:04 p.m. Second-degree robbery (felony) with damage of a wireless communication device, possession of unlawful paraphernalia and disobeying a court order (misdemeanors) at McKinley and North Main streets. Suspect arrested.
THURSDAY
3:48 a.m. Served a misdemeanor arrest warrant for an outside agency and failure to appear after promising in writing (misdemeanor) at South Main and Burnett streets. Suspect arrested.
SATURDAY
3:01 p.m. Peeking into an inhabited building and loitering (misdemeanor) at Calder Avenue and South Main Street. Pending further investigation.
4:26 p.m. Disorderly conduct and loitering on private property (misdemeanor) at Maple Avenue and South High Street. Pending further investigation.
8:20 p.m. Disorderly conduct involving alcohol (misdemeanor) at Petaluma and Abbott avenues. Suspect arrested.
SUNDAY
9:52 a.m. Battery on a public officer (misdemeanor) at Petaluma and Palm avenues. Suspect arrested.
12:19 p.m. Possession of a controlled substance and violation of pre-trial release (misdemeanors) at South Main Street and Calder Avenue. Suspect arrested.
OTHER POLICE ACTION
The Sebastopol Police Department also recorded 154 other events requiring police action during the period, such as lost animals, assisting citizens, parking violations, foot patrol, traffic hazards and reckless driving.
Farewells
Cypress Stuart
Billie Janet Herring
The Sebastopol Times posts obituaries for free. They can be found in the Farewells section of our website. Send obituaries of Sebastopol residents (and others who played a role in the life of our town) to sebastopoltimes@gmail.com.
