Roundup: Sebastopudlians past and future

High heat, this year’s Cemetery Walk, Woodmark Apartments are move-in ready, and a farewell to Gordon Stewart

Dale Dougherty, Laura Hagar Rush, and Ezra Wallach

Oct 06, 2024

Sebastopol’s high for Saturday, October 5, reached 102 to 106.4 degrees, depending on the source. The Sebastopol Public Library’s weather station had a reading of 106.4 degrees at 3:15 pm. (Laura doubts that this is correct, but agrees it certainly felt like that.)

Who’s Who in the Cemetery Walk

Photos by John Fore

This fun, slightly spooky historical event at Sebastopol Memorial Lawn cemetery sells out early every year. At the Cemetery Walk, the living join the ghosts of the dearly departed at their gravesides as locals re-enact stories of their lives in early Sebastopol. Hosted by the Western Sonoma County Historical Society, this event is the major fundraiser which supports the activities of Luther Burbank’s Gold Ridge Experiment Farm and the West County Museum.

The evening started out with Joe Kinnee as Luther Burbank. (Photo by John Fore)

Steve Einstein and Denise Eufasia as Donner Party survivors William Graves and Nancy Graves Williamson. (Photo by John Fore)

Emily Webster as Willow Borba and Dennis Magatelli as William Borba (Photo by John Fore)

Latefa Mineo as Emma Louise Burbank Beeson's dear friend Fannie and Caitlin Fowler as Emma Burbank Beeson. (Photo by John Fore)

Selena Polston as Georgia Miller and Robert Hertzog as Rodney Miller (Photo by John Fore)

Mary Goodman as Maria Madronich, Don Madronich as Paul Madronich and Kate Field as Anna, Madronich’s neighbor. (Photo by John Fore)

Brenda and Richard Nichols (above) wrote and starred in the vignette about former Sebastopol councilmember Bill Roventini, who they knew personally.

An appreciative crowd watches the skit about the Madronich family—which this year starred Don Madronich, a descendent of the family. (Photo by John Fore)

Woodmark Apartments ready for farmworkers

With the construction team putting their finishing touches on the Woodmark apartment complex on Bodega Ave., Woodmark’s leasing team is now in its initial phase offering Affordable Farm Labor housing within Sebastopol. They have been passing out the flyers below, in both Spanish and English. The apartments are move-in ready.

“It’s important to note that these units are for farmworkers, which means at least 50% of the applicant’s household income must come from agricultural work where the person is physically involved in the farming,” said Lauren Alexander of Armory, the development partner for the project.

Sebastopol Police Logs, September 23-29

The following are crimes excerpted from Sebastopol Police Department daily crime log entries and listed at the time the alleged violation was reported.

MONDAY

11:57 p.m. Battery of a spouse or companion (misdemeanor) at Gravenstein Highway North and Hurlbut Avenue. Suspect arrested.

TUESDAY

3:55 p.m. Grand theft (felony) at Corline Court and Gravenstein Highway South. Pending further investigation.

WEDNESDAY

11:33 p.m. Trespassing without owner’s consent (misdemeanor) at Morris and Johnson streets. Suspect arrested.

FRIDAY

5:33 p.m. Battery on a person (misdemeanor) at Willow Street and Jewell Avenue. Pending further investigation.

SATURDAY

1:05 a.m. Driving while under the influence of alcohol, with a blood alcohol content of at least 0.08 percent (misdemeanor) at Gravenstein Highway South and Lynch Road. Suspect arrested.

OTHER POLICE ACTION

The Sebastopol Police Department also recorded 127 other events requiring police action during the period, such as lost animals, assisting citizens, parking violations, foot patrol, traffic hazards and reckless driving.