The Pothole Bandits, coming to a Sonoma County road near you

Are they crime fighters?

You probably could say that of the pair of semi-retired motorcyclists who are patrolling Sonoma County roads while concealing bright-colored spray paint and a couple of stencils.

Peter Babcock and Lauren Roy regard it a crime for so many of our roads to be cratered by potholes that jeopardize our shock absorbers and struts and general well-being.

So when they encounter a pavement pit, they stop.

To warn fellow riders, drivers or cyclists, they paint small arrows on the approach to the pothole, circle it and sign their handiwork with a stencil-painted skull and crossbones.

They call themselves The Pothole Bandits.

“We started these actions a couple of months ago in defense of the deplorable condition of our roads,” Peter told me.

“Tagging and painting these potholes,” he said, “has become our spare-time activity in our old age.”

The couple has a Facebook page and asks for the locations of potholes they might tag. Vows Peter, “We’ll be there.”

All crusaders need a slogan, and Lauren and Peter have one: “We can’t fill ’em, but we can point ’em out.”

hhhhhh

TICKETS TO “HAMILTON” are so expensive, but for a song we can witness the first stage hit by the creator of the historic musical, Lin-Manuel Miranda.

His acclaimed “In the Heights” opens April 21 at Santa Rosa Junior College. The musical portrays life in New York’s Washington Heights.

The cast’s Sarah Wintermeyer says, “Now as the world feels less inviting, we need to be kinder, more human, and more loving, and this show does that. .?.?. I connect with all the themes of family, community, love, desire and finding home.”

hhhhhh

ONE OF THE BOYS: I’m hoping you saw the obituary for 92-year-old George Scinto, who played football at both Santa Rosa High and Santa Rosa Junior College and served with the Marines in World War II before near-legendary Santa Rosa Police Department Chief Melvin “Dutch” Flohr hired him as a police officer.

Here’s a Scinto vignette too good to let pass: Perhaps more so in the 1950s and early ’60s than today, it would drip sweat into a cop’s hatband to have to decide what to do with an inebriate or a mischief-maker who was a Somebody. Or the child of one.

Mark Trione recalls being a teenager in Santa Rosa and doing his part to put Officer Scinto in such a predicament.

Mark is, of course, one of two sons of late Sonoma County business and community titan Henry Trione. As memory serves, he was in a parked car with some high school buddies one night. There might have been beer present.

Up walked flashlight-wielding Officer Scinto. He shone it at one kid and asked his name.

“Jim Keegan.”

Swell, the son of prominent businessman and National Guard Col. James B. Keegan.

Officer Scinto moved his flashlight to another down-turned face. And you?

“Mark Trione.” Great.

And you? “Russ Gleason,” son of SRPD Officer Lee Gleason. How lovely.

Then Patrolman Scinto aimed the beam at the kid in the backseat who held a hand over his face. And who are you?

Came the meek reply, “Hi, Uncle George.” The cop then threw at nephew Skip Scinto and his pals The Look.

Chris Smith is at 707-521-5211 and chris.smith@pressdemocrat.com.