Smith: Former Maria Carrillo High culinary teacher hires on at the Warm Puppy Cafe

Mary Schiller, the Maria Carrillo High School culinary teacher reprimanded and placed on leave following the October fires, started a new job Monday.

She now manages the Warm Puppy Cafe at the Schulz family's Santa Rosa ice arena.

Schiller said she resigned from teaching after being unable to get any information about her future with the Sonoma County Office of Education.

“When they asked me for my keys, I saw the handwriting on the wall,” she said.

Schiller was reprimanded in writing and told Santa Rosa Schools' new food truck was off limits to her after she used it to feed and assist people left without power or chased from their homes by the October fires. The letter accused her of several offenses, including insubordination, placing students at risk and misrepresenting why she took the food truck.

She was suspended with pay in December, after a catering job with students. She said she was offered a half of glass of wine and sipped from it in view of a county schools official.

Schiller said she's sorry to leave Carrillo but eager to see and serve and hire students at the cafe alongside Snoopy's Home Ice.

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HIS FRUGALITY, truly, was not the focus of Saturday's old-Santa Rosa reunion and celebration of the life of late city manager Ken Blackman.

At the heart of the gathering at the Kenneth R. Blackman Conference Center at the Hyatt Regency were the tributes to his vision for the city he loved, his exacting professionalism and the steadfastness that exemplified all aspects of his life.

But the man could squeeze a dime. Shared ex-city finance director Stan Lindsay, who worked 30 years for Blackman, “The first thing he taught me to say was, ‘We can't afford it!'”

Gaye LeBaron recounted that Blackman for a time drove often to Oregon. The city manager told of setting out late in the day, driving until past midnight, then stopping at a motel and promising the clerk he'd leave early and not shower if he could get a room for half price.

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WORK DUDS GONE? While she helped sort vast amounts of clothing donated for the benefit of folks burned out in October, it occurred to Lois Shelton to separate business attire from casualwear.

She and her helpers isolated an impressive collection of office clothing in nice condition.

Shelton invites people whose wardrobes burned to come shop for free on Saturday in Santa Rosa. Business attire will be available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Center for Spiritual Living.

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MLK'S LEGACY INSPIRES an impressive lineup of people to prepare for events on Sunday and Monday - and to hope for plenty of company.

The annual Dr. Martin Luther King birthday celebration begins at 7 p.m. Sunday in Santa Rosa High's auditorium.

History-as-theater performer Jacqueline “Miss Mammy” Lawrence will take the stage, and also the band James Coffee & None But the Righteous, and Lorez Bailey, who directs Chop's Teen Club.

Two students will present the speeches that won them top honors in the MLK Oratorical Contest. There's a special program for youngsters, and cake!

Monday, Community Baptist Church hosts “A Day On, Not a Day Off.” From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. will be service projects, demonstrations, conversations, lunch and a unity march.

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