Chris Smith: Want to take your pick from someone's yard? Just ask, please

Every day, the tiny green peaches on my frontyard tree grow a bit. How I anticipate them ripening. And how I fear for them.

Some years, passersby pick them by the basket-load. The thefts tempt me to install a security system or chain a Doberman to the tree.

What civilized person would harvest another's peaches? Sadly, such ripoffs seem to be happening more often.

Days ago, a Santa Rosan found spring flowers missing from her yard and a note on her door.

“Please forgive me,” it read, “but I have a good friend who has suffered a stroke in a hospital nearby. I drove by and was admiring your simple flowers.

“I hope you don't mind, but I picked a few flowers to share with my friend. I sincerely hope this does not offend you and I promise to never return.”

At least the pilferer had a justification and left a note. But parents, tell your kids nobody should go into yards and take what's growing there.

Kids, tell adults the same.

GOLD MEDALS will be bestowed in Washington, D.C., this month to two remarkable Sonoma County teenagers.

The highest honor in the Congressional Award program will go to Maria Carrillo High's Catherine Liang, an accomplished dancer and a former Sonoma County Outstanding Teen, and to Cyd Kaslar of Santa Rosa High. Cyd wrote the insightful dispatches from Cuba that ran in the PD earlier this year.

The Congressional Award acknowledges young people who set and achieve goals in volunteer service, personal development, fitness and exploration.

The top winners, including Catherine and Cyd, are invited to D.C. shortly after school's out to receive their gold medals and meet members of Congress and others who might inspire them onto their next quest.

SEBASTIAN JUNGER, author of “The Perfect Storm,” has spent a good deal of time observing, chronicling and thinking about war.

In his new book, “Tribe: On Becoming and Belonging,” Junger takes on the shameful tragedy of mental anguish and suicide among combat veterans by examining how well we, the members of their tribe, embrace them back into the culture. He concludes: not well.

Junger will speak about “Tribe” at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Napa's Uptown Theatre and at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Copperfield's Books in Petaluma. Learn more on the Uptown and Copperfield's websites.

PEGGY SUE'S has long been one of the planet's grandest, most charitable classic car shows and downtown cruises.

Much has changed since founders Peggy and Rich Williams of Santa Rosa had to step back to focus on dealing with Rich's cancer. Now with a new owner, Orhan Sarabi, and a new location, Peggy Sue's Car Show prevails - and this year boasts nice new touches.

The show is June 11 at Sonoma Mountain Village, off Petaluma Hill Road near Sonoma State. The night before, June 10, there's a drive-in movie, “Grease.” All the particulars are at cruiseforpeggysue.com.

Though the car show has moved away from Santa Rosa, the concluding cruise will still take place there, downtown, starting at 5:30 p.m. on the 11th.

Founders Rich and Peggy struggle terrifically just now. But Peggy said they're so happy the show goes on. “It's our legacy in a way,” she said.

Chris Smith is at 521-5211 and chris.smith@pressdemocrat.com.