Sonoma County swings into Halloween in welcome break from disaster

Just before sunset at Skyhawk Park in Santa Rosa on Tuesday night, a taco took a trip down a slide alongside a pink cat, while a pair of Spidermen shot fake webs at a G.I. Joe.

The revelers were there for a Halloween party put on to bring people together in the wake of the region’s destructive wildfires, and to provide a place for would-be Fountaingrove?trick-or-treaters to go after that neighborhood was largely destroyed.

Lining the sidewalk was an arts and crafts table with supplies provided by Village Art in Montgomery Village; a face-painting station manned by hairstylists from the neighborhood; and a table lined with an array of different foods, including sushi donated by Boathouse Sushi, the owner of which lost his home in the fires, said organizer Hillary Lattanzio.

Daniela and Ryan Beach, who lost their Fountaingrove home in the Tubbs fire, were on hand with their two kids: Bella, 12, a black cat for the night; and Luca, 9, who dressed up as Star Wars’ Kylo Ren.

In years past, the family would walk around their own neighborhood on Halloween, or invite friends over for a party. After the disaster, the family didn’t really have a plan for the holiday.

The event at Skyhawk Park allowed them to spend tme with friends Andrea and Jeff Ballus, who live in the Skyhawk neighborhood with their three children.

“We’re just trying to make the most of it and still have traditions and still have fun,” said Ryan Beach, 39, who wore a “Sonoma Pride” T-shirt. “We were talking about this stuff on the way over. We were like, ‘We have to have some fun with this. We can’t be somber all the time.’ We all have our somber moments, daily, but this is fun. It’s nice to see everyone intermingling.”

At another Halloween gathering, in the Saddlebrook community near Mark West Elementary School, Rincon Valley firefighter Sid Andreis stood near an engine and passed out junior firefighter stickers and coloring books to passing trick-or-treaters.

Andreis, who lives in the neighborhood with his young family, noted an uptick in the number of firefighter costumes compared to years past, he said.

“I thought, ‘Well if they’re going to do that, then I’m sure going to get an engine out there,’” said Andreis, whose own children dressed as Mickey and Minnie Mouse for the night. Decked out in firefighting garb, he smiled at youngsters eager to grab some firefighting swag, and dutifully shook the hand of one father who thanked him for his efforts.

“I’m off duty. Just here to hand out stickers,” he said. “It’s cool.”

You can reach Staff Writer Christi Warren at 707-521-5205 or christi.warren@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @SeaWarren.