Roundup: Turkey Week
A Royal Palm and Christmas tree farms, Thanksgiving dinner for seniors and the homeless and giving a gift bag for those living in a shelter.
This Royal Palm turkey belongs to Robin Kurtz of Sebastopol. A heritage breed, the Royal Palm is known more for its distinct plumage than its meat.
Thanksgiving Dinner at the Community Church
For many years, the Sebastopol Community Church hosted a free community Thanksgiving dinner for about 250 people. Since Covid and the passing of Roger Collins, one of the lead organizers of the dinner, things have changed.
A small group of volunteers whose core consists of Gary and Denelle Tognozzi and Linda Collins are busy preparing Thanksgiving meals but in place of an in-person dinner, the meals will be distributed to Burbank Heights and Fircrest Mobile Home Park. A dinner for about 20 people will be served at the Community Church to the homeless who use the Church’s Safe Parking Program and those who come to the second Saturday lunch at the Church.
Denelle Tognozzi said by email: “We are carrying on the tradition of Roger Collins” but said the group didn’t want “any extra attention” for its work serving 250 dinners to seniors and the homeless. Word is they are cooking 28 turkeys.
Christmas tree farms open this week
If you’re an early bird, you’ll like knowing that the first day for local Christmas tree farms is Friday. Here’s a list of those who say they are open, starting Friday.
Reindeer Ridge Tree Farm , 3500 Mariola Road
Frosty Mountain Tree Farm, 3600 Mariola Road
Garlock Tree Farm, 2275 Bloomfield Road
Grandma Buddies Christmas Tree Farm, 8575 Graton Rd
Wallinfarm, 840 Ferguson Rd
Celesta Farms, 3447 Celesta Ct.
Here’s a Google map of the locations:
I asked Mary Dodgion of the West County Museum about the emergence of family-owned Christmas tree farms. She said they started showing up in early 1960s.
Mary explained: “Besides our local nurseries selling cut and uncut trees, many families made a small business out of growing and selling trees on their property. Christmas Tree Farm, Winsby's Western Hills, Winter Wonderland, Celesta Farms and Buddy's Christmas Trees. Buddy's started in 1982 by Hazel Davis, at the age of 69, and is still operated by her family. Located on Graton Road.”
Christmas gift bags for Sam Jones Hall
Joyce Cox of the Community Church told me that she hopes to have 165 gift bags to distribute by Christmas, one for each person living at the Sam Jones shelter in Santa Rosa. It is a joint outreach project of Sebastopol Community Church, Stone Creek Zen Center and Sequoia School.
Here are the instructions (from the Church newsletter):
Fill a reusable shopping bag with the items on the list below. Please use full-size items and include everything on the list below.
Leave filled bags by the tree in the entry hall of the church by December 17.
There will be ribbons by the window near the tree. Please tie one to the handles of your bag to indicate who it is for: Pink – woman; Blue – man; Green – gender neutral.
You can shop or send money to have volunteers shop for you, please send a check to the church office before Dec. 8. Please be sure to indicate that it is for a “Christmas Bag.” The men’s list costs $35 and the Women’s and Gender Neutral Lists - $40.
The lists were put together with the help of the staff at Sam Jones. The staff and residents deeply appreciate your help! This IS the holiday for the residents. Please include a card or note of good wishes.
One Interim Fire Chief After Another
Bruce Martin has been named Sebastopol's Interim Fire Chief. Chief Martin has most recently served as Interim Fire Chief for South Lake Tahoe and is the former Fire Chief of the City of Fremont. Chief Martin replaces former Interim Fire Chief Jack Piccinini.
Visual and Performing Arts at Analy
Analy teacher Casey Jones worked with students to create a brochure for prospective students that talks about what Analy High School offers in Visual and Performing Arts. At the last school board meeting, Casey proudly pointed out that all the images and art in the brochure were created by students — “no clip art.”
Below is a screenshot of part of the brochure.
Here is a link to view the entire brochure (PDF).
The Week of November 13-18
A busy week with the town abuzz about a high-speed chase with a helicopter in the sky and a suspect who fled on foot to hide in a laundry hamper, the naming of a new City Manager, preparing for the end of parklets, the City Council’s debate over a possible tax and much more.
By the way, People’s Music was the top choice in last week’s Main Street Exit Poll. 43% of you said that the former music store was missed the most.
Happy Thanksgiving Week to all of you, where ever and however you celebrate.