Summary: Books, Balls and Bugs

Sebastopol Library patrons can now pick up books 24 hours a day, seven days a week using the BiblioBox smart locker, easily accessible just outside the library’s west entrance on High Street. BiblioBox is not intended to replace librarians, but to serve those who cannot make it to the library during regular hours, usually for work reasons.

“Even though we’re open seven days a week, we still get people saying we don’t have enough hours to pick up their books,” says John Koetzner, interim branch manager who normally works at the Cloverdale Library. “We’ve had someone ask about it and say, ‘You know, that’s great. I’d love to come by at nine and pick up my books if I’m coming from somewhere.'”

This may take some getting used to – also because there are no instructions on the Bibliobox, just a QR code that you scan with your phone and which then takes you to a website with instructions.

To save you all the fuss, here’s how it works:

Seat reservations for collection at the Bibliobox:

• When you make your reservations in the online catalog, select “Sebastopol Bibliobox” as the pickup location.

• The library will notify you when your reservations are ready for pickup. You have three days to do this.

Pick up handles

• When you arrive at the library box, scan your card or enter your library card number and PIN number on the touchscreen. (“Sometimes it’s a little tricky to get the scan right,” Koetzner said.)

• A locker will be opened for you to remove your items. The items will be loaned to you when the locker opens. (Please remove all items before closing the locker.)

Librarian Adriel Ahern was willing to play guinea pig and show us how it works. She reserved a book and then went to the library box to get it. I wouldn’t say it worked perfectly, but eventually one of the magic drawers opened with her book.

The Sports Basement held a pickleball demo in Sebastopol this week. We mentioned it in “What’s Happening in Sebastopol This Week?” and a whole bunch of people showed up to play on the tennis courts (er, pickleball courts) near Libby Park. Pickleball ambassador Kathy Kerst was excited. “I’m so happy to see so much enthusiasm here,” she wrote to Dale.

One of those in attendance, Sebastopol resident Marylou Mileck, was so impressed with the turnout that she sent us this pickleball report:

“Today, 75 Sebastopodlians came out to the Brook Haven Courts at Libby Park for the Sport Basement Pickleball Demo Day. Some have been playing for a while, but there were many new faces as well. All ages love the game! Sports Basement had plenty of racquets to try out, information, coupons, water and snacks, and everyone joined in.

If you’re new to pickleball and want to try it out, the Finley Community Center offers free introductory classes every Wednesday and Friday morning. It’s such a fun game, easy to learn, the pickleball community is very welcoming, and the equipment is affordable. All you need is a racket and a couple of balls. Great for exercise and community building.

The Sebastopol Group uses www.playtimescheduler.com to plan games. It’s free to use and registration is easy.

Almost every town in Sonoma County, except Sebastopol, has its own pickleball courts. Many players drive to other areas with better/more courts. We are looking at two options to expand court availability in Sebastopol: The quickest would be to redesign two of the three tennis courts in Brook Haven. New lines would allow for six pickleball courts, leaving one tennis court. Tennis players also have access to Analy’s courts and some very nice courts in Ragle Park. The other option is to build our own pickleball courts in Ragle Park. There seems to be room. Some fundraising may be needed. Players in Occidental recently worked with Sonoma County Regional Parks to get four courts of their own. Sebastopol is next for sure!”

I was visiting the Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe at St. Sebastian’s Catholic Church in Sebastopol, near Pacific Market, when this 3.5-inch beauty landed on my shoulder and then flew off to a nearby rose bush. There are 2,500 species of praying mantis in the world. They are considered garden lovers because they eat so many other insects – including their own kind, which is a little creepy. Still, I just liked the idea of ​​a praying mantis in a sanctuary. This sanctuary, by the way, is a beautiful place that Sebastopol’s Latino community and others keep abundant flowers.

In What It Takes to Run for City Council, I incorrectly stated that Council Member Sandra Maurer placed first in the 2022 City Council election. In fact, she placed third. Vice Mayor Stephen Zollman placed first and Council Member Jill McLewis placed second.

The following crimes are excerpts from daily entries in the Sebastopol Police Department Crime Log and were listed at the time of reporting the alleged violation.

MONDAY

11:19 p.m. Possession of a controlled substance and unlawful paraphernalia (misdemeanor) and serving a misdemeanor warrant for an outside agency at the corner of North Main Street and Bodega Avenue. Suspect arrested.

TUESDAY

12:39 a.m. Possession of illegal paraphernalia and a controlled substance (misdemeanor) and probation violation (felony) at Gravenstein Highway South and Fellers Lane. Suspect arrested.

11:38 a.m. Second degree burglary, home invasion and grand larceny (felony) at West Street and Mary’s Lane. Investigation closed, leads exhausted.

WEDNESDAY

6:07 p.m.: Obtaining credit by false pretenses, fraud, and theft over $950 from an elderly dependent adult (felony) at the corner of Washington and Bodega Avenue. The charge is unsubstantiated.

9:19 p.m.: Service of a warrant for felony against an outside agency and possession of a controlled substance and unlawful paraphernalia (misdemeanor) at the corner of High and Burnett Streets. Suspect arrested.

THURSDAY

6:53 a.m.: Misdemeanor warrant served for an outside agency at the corner of South Main and Willow Streets. Suspect arrested.

FRIDAY

4:12 p.m. Theft using credit card or banking information (major felony) at Laguna Park Way and McKinley Street. Pending further investigation.

6:41 p.m. Tampering with a vehicle (misdemeanor) at the corner of North Main Street and Healdsburg Avenue. Investigation closed, leads exhausted.

SATURDAY

9:50 a.m.: Execution of a felony warrant for an outside agency at the corner of Gravenstein Highway South and Cooper Road. Suspect arrested.

12:21 p.m.: Execution of a misdemeanor warrant for an outside agency at the corner of South Main and Willow Streets. Suspect arrested.

4:17 p.m.: Execution of a warrant for a misdemeanor for an outside agency at the corner of Brookside Avenue and Orchard Street. Suspect arrested.

10:45 p.m. Assault on a spouse or domestic partner (misdemeanor) at Fircrest Avenue and Gravenstein Highway South. Suspect arrested.

SUNDAY

5:48 a.m. Second degree robbery, second degree burglary and shoplifting (felonies) at Gravenstein Highway South and Cooper Road. Further investigation pending.

OTHER POLICE ACTIONS

Sebastopol Police also recorded 185 other incidents requiring police intervention during this period, including lost animals, citizen assistance, parking violations, foot patrols, traffic hazards and reckless driving.

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