Roundup: Schools out for summer
Roundup: Schools out for summer
Analy graduation, Middle English, free magic, an expensive solar mix-up, and the return of Peacetown
Congratulations, Analy Class of 2024!
Analy High School Graduation happened this week on Thursday, June 6. Students from the school’s Film Department livestreamed the whole thing so that families from around the country and the world could watch. Here’s the triumphant cap and ribbon toss. Watch the whole video, including valedictorian speeches, here.
Sumer is icumin in
Back at the beginning of May, the local Morris dance troupe led a group of shivering Sebastopudlians in a dawn rendition of “Sumer is icumin in,” a medieval English round. Summer seemed a long way off on that cold morning. No more.
Some local pagans like to think of Morris dancing as a kind of primitive magic—dancing up the sun to ensure the arrival of summer. Given the sweltering mid-week temperatures we just experienced, looks like the magic worked.
According to Wikipedia, “Sumer is icumen in” is written in the Wessex dialect of Middle English, and the manuscript in which it is preserved was copied between 1261 and 1264. It’s considered to be the earliest English round preserved in writing. Listen to the song, which is also known as the The Cuckoo, here.
Speaking of magic…
Soul Rituals is located in a pretty, yellow, restored Victorian just south of downtown. For the last few years, at random intervals, they’ve been offering free magic. Yes, you heard that right. You can often find crystals, small sage bundles, herbal facial samples and other small treats that owner Tiffany Heiden sets out as free gifts for passersby.
“We've also done affirmation cards before,” she said. “At one point, we were writing little handmade letters, like ‘This letter is for you,’ and we would write something positive or something sweet, like a little bit of light for whoever walked by.”
Years ago, when she was gifted a big bag of small crystals, she thought, “I can't keep all this magic to myself. You know, I need to give it to everybody.”
She started giving away free magic in front of her home in Petaluma in 2020 during the pandemic lockdown—just to cheer up her neighbors—and when she moved her business to Sebastopol in 2021, she started doing it here.
In case you’ve always wondered what they do at Soul Rituals, it’s is a spa, offering facials, massage, and bodywork, but they also do women’s circles, sound healing, tarot, workshops and more. All services start with a guided meditation.
Heiden gets a kick from setting up the Free Magic table. “I love doing it,” she said. “It makes me so happy.”
Think your utility bill is high? Try $19,410—that’s the bill that Sebastopol Charter school got from PG&E
A couple of weeks ago, Sebastopol Charter school’s Director Chris Topham made a post on Facebook about what seemed like a scam on the part of PG&E. Here’s what Topham wrote:
“About a year and a half ago, we installed an amazing solar system that generates more electricity than we use. Around that time, we were advised by PG&E to switch our plan from a B6 to a B10 plan for our financial benefit….We just received a PG&E bill for $19,410. What happened? We were told that their billing was “lagging.” Our monthly invoices were erroneously indicating our previous B6 plan billing. It took PG&E a year and a half to update the billing reflecting the new B10 plan, which instead of saving us money as promised, cost us $19,410. What happened to being able to monitor our bills monthly to make sure we have the best plan? We asked PG&E to reconsider this bill considering the circumstances, but we were told no. We know that PG&E has suffered financial distress, but to scam money from public schools seems farfetched as a tactic. We have switched back to the old B6 plan. We’re hoping PG&E will reconsider this situation and return the $19,410 they forced us to pay in order to keep our power on.”
When the school tried to argue its case with PG&E representatives, the utility company dug its heels in and refused to budge. The back-and-forth took hours, even though the school had extensive documentation in the form of email exchanges. The school’s administrators worried that they were going to have to sue PG&E to get their money back.
Then the Sebastopol Times called PG&E Communications Manager Megan McFarland to find out what was going on. She asked for two days to let the company figure this out. The school also reached out to the San Francisco Chronicle via a parent at the school.
Within one day, the problem was resolved. In the end, PG&E agreed to refund Sebastopol Charter all but $2,000—and they’re still negotiating over that.
According to Jennifer Neylon, the school’s financial officer, PG&E accidentally switched the school from one rate schedule to another more expensive one, dating back to April 2023.
The return of Peacetown
The Peacetown concert series returned to Ives Park this week. Peacetown will be located there all summer for the first time since before the pandemic.
“My people! Are my people here?!” Corbett exclaimed as he introduced the show. “Are you ready for peace, happiness and joy?”
Despite the 90 degree heat, they were.
Sebastopol Police Logs, May 27-June 2
The following are crimes excerpted from Sebastopol Police Department daily crime log entries and listed at the time the alleged violation was reported.
MONDAY
10:50 a.m. Vandalism involving defacing property (misdemeanor) at Laguna Park Way and McKinley Street. No disposition reported.
5:16 p.m. Driving with a suspended license and an obstructed view at Gravenstein Highway South and Cooper Road. Adult cited.
TUESDAY
1:16 a.m. Served a felony arrest warrant for an outside agency at Sebastopol Avenue and Morris Street. Suspect arrested.
9:43 a.m. Illegal use of tear gas, battery on a person, challenging someone to a fight in a public place, and disorderly conduct (misdemeanors) at Bodega and Dutton avenues. Cleared by circumstances beyond police control.
2:52 p.m. Tampering with a vehicle, vandalism of property, and violation of civil rights by intimidation (misdemeanors) at Analy Avenue and North Main Street. Referred to the District Attorney for review.
THURSDAY
1:55 a.m. Under the influence of a controlled substance, possession of unlawful paraphernalia and a controlled substance, and violation of probation (misdemeanors) at Pleasant Hill Avenue North and Bodega Avenue. Suspect arrested.
9:16 a.m. Battery on a person (misdemeanor) at Laguna Park Way and McKinley Street. Pending further investigation.
5:38 p.m. Possession of unlawful paraphernalia and violation of probation (misdemeanors) at Wilton Avenue and North Main Street. Suspect arrested.
6:14 p.m. Failure to appear in court after promising in writing (misdemeanor) at North Main Street and Healdsburg Avenue. Suspect arrested.
9:47 p.m. Served a misdemeanor arrest warrant for an outside agency at Gravenstein Highway North and Hurlbut Avenue. Suspect arrested.
SATURDAY
12:36 a.m. Possession of metal knuckles (felony) and violation of probation (misdemeanor) at Gravenstein Highway South and Southpoint Avenue. Suspect arrested.
9:54 a.m. Burglary and grand theft from a building (felonies) at North Main and McKinley streets. Investigation suspended, leads exhausted.
3:45 p.m. Threatening a crime with the intent to terrorize (felony), and exhibiting a deadly weapon other than a firearm, battery on a person, and violation of probation (misdemeanors) at Gravenstein Highway North and Hurlbut Avenue. Suspect arrested.
SUNDAY
6:43 a.m. Using offensive words in a public place (misdemeanor) at Bodega and Florence avenues. Suspect arrested.
OTHER POLICE ACTION
The Sebastopol Police Department also recorded 187 other events requiring police action during the period, such as lost animals, assisting citizens, parking violations, foot patrol, traffic hazards and reckless driving.
