Joe Cool Fetches Big Cash For Cool

<p>A few sprinkles couldn't dampen the fun Saturday when Santa Rosa bid farewell to its summer of Snoopy, the culmination of three years of whimsical statues placed around town in tribute to Peanuts creator Charles Schulz.</p><p>For one last time, visitors strolled past the likenesses of the round-nosed beagle, 90 statues gathered together at the ball field behind the Schulz Museum. Beneath gray skies were sunglasses-wearing Snoopys in "Joe Cool" personas, as pilot and race car driver, legal beagle and Blues Brother Jake to name but a few.</p><p>Like many visitors, Santa Rosan Jenny Lawrence said the fun Saturday came in the photo shoots beside the statues. She said her 11-year-old daughter, Shannon Cook, and Shannon's friend, Taylor Hopper, enjoyed play acting for the camera.</p><p>"They could be surfing or being pirates," she said.</p><p>Saturday also featured the auction of 17 statues at the the nearby ice arena. Several hundred fans and bidders attended the event, which featured four popular statues displayed on ice.</p><p>The auction raised nearly $250,000, which will benefit art scholarships and a permanent bronze Peanuts sculpture to be unveiled at 11 a.m. today at the Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport.</p><p>The top auction item, the tropical-themed "Boom shaka laka laka," raised $31,000. It was purchased by the owners of the Flamingo Hotel, who also paid $6,000 for the Egyptian-themed "A-snoop-bis," and $30,000 for "Joe Cool Giant," signed by 42 past and present San Francisco players, including Barry Bonds.</p><p>Schulz, the creator of one of the most popular comic strips in history, died in February 2000 at age 77. He had lived in Sonoma County for more than 40 years.</p><p>Santa Rosa's statue invasion began three summers ago with 55 Charlie Browns, followed last summer by 76 Woodstocks and this year's 94 Snoopys.</p><p>Some fans at Saturday's auction clapped in support of keeping the statues coming again next year. But Schulz's son Craig told the audience that the end had come.</p><p>"This is it, Santa Rosa," Craig Schulz told the crowd. He expressed appreciation that community support had made possible the bronze statue for the airport, adding that today's unveiling "is the day I've been waiting for for eight years."</p><p>The three years of statues will be remembered for the sometimes-quirky pop art -- this year included allusions to Harry Potter and pirate Capt. Jack Sparrow. With that was coupled the chance to revel in the creations of a Santa Rosan known round the world.</p><p>"To me it's brought so many smiles, not only to the people who live here, but we've had so many people visit our community" to see the statues, said former mayor and Peanuts on Parade co-chairwoman Janet Condron.</p><p>You can reach Staff Writer Robert Digitale at 521-5285 or robert.digitale@pressdemocrat</p><p>.com</p>