Windsor’s Charlie Brown tree grove saved

WINDSOR: Charlie Brown tree grove saved

Since 2009, Realtor Karen Alves, owner of Town Square Properties, and Michael Powell of Powell’s Sweet Shoppe fame have voluntarily coordinated the annual Charlie Brown Christmas Tree Grove event at the Town Green.

When they announced in January that they were no longer able to do so, People4Parks, also known as the nonprofit Windsor Parks and Recreation Foundation, agreed in March to take over with Alves’ and Powell’s support .

“It’s a perfect partnership,” said Cindy Bagley, Windsor’s recreation program supervisor.

Craig Schulz, son of “Peanuts” cartoonist Charles Schulz, met with People4Parks and approved the nonprofit organization’s right to continue using Charlie Brown’s name.

“I am glad to see this wonderful tradition continue on the Windsor Town Green, as it brings so much joy to the season,” Craig Schulz said.

The annual display of 200 Christmas trees, with scheduled snow flurries at the Town Green, has drawn visitors from the Bay Area, and the downtown Windsor merchants report a significant increase in sales during the monthlong celebration, said Robert Ramirez, Windsor’s economic development manager.

Funding for the celebration comes from the sale of $50 trees and sponsorships that range from $500 to $5,000, Bagley said. The tree revenue pays for the event’s direct costs, and the sponsorship money covers the significant costs of event lighting and music, along with People4Parks’ mission of maintaining, enhancing and preserving Windsor parks, facilities and programs, she said.

James Lanaras

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ROHNERT PARK: Comedy for a good cause

What happens when a comedian is also a parent looking to raise funds for his daughter’s high school robotics team? In this case, you get “3 Still Standing Live,” a comedic fundraising event that features three Bay Area comedy legends performing live in Petaluma on Wednesday .

Technology High is a public school located on the Sonoma State University campus, with activities such as the robotics team that are privately funded. Many parents help raise the money by participating in walkathons, helping with car washes and the like.

Their annual fundraising goal is $10,000, something Petaluma comedian Dave Pokorny thought he could help raise quickly with a comedy show.

The show is based on “3 Still Standing,” a documentary film about comedians Larry “Bubbles” Brown, Will Durst and Johnny Steele. All three were rising stars on the comedy circuit in San Francisco in the 1980s . Rather than following the crowd to Los Angeles, they stayed local and, years later, are still performing.

The documentary is making the rounds at film festivals, traveling this weekend to the Mendocino Film Festival.

“These three guys are old friends of mine,” Pokorny said. “We do comedy fundraisers a couple times a year, trying to keep the funny alive in Petaluma. So this time we are trying to help the robotics team.”

The benefit show starts at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Petaluma Community Center, 320 N. McDowell Blvd., and will alternate clips from “3 Still Standing” with stand-up sets by the comedians. Tickets are $15 in advance at brownpapertickets.com or $20 at the door. More info: 477-4416.

Nick Walden