Chris Smith: Santa Rosa neighborhood’s special farewell to retired mail carrier

As the mail arrived on Thursday, folks in Santa Rosa’s Grace Tract got misty.

It was the last day of work for postal carrier Anne Zanolini Caro, beloved for 23 years by the residents, their kids and their dogs in the neighborhood north of Fourth Street and west of the Flamingo Hotel.

“They really made me feel like I was special,” Caro said. “I was part of that neighborhood even though I didn’t live in the neighborhood.”

She’s promised the residents and the dogs that in retirement she’ll continue to walk the neighborhood.

No longer with a mailbag, but with her German shorthaired pointer, Roxy.

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MIKE KELLY WON’T make the Tuesday morning meeting where real estate agents network and share new listings. You may know that Kelly, a star of the weekly Realtors rally at the Veterans Memorial Building, died on Monday.

In the stead of the longtime host of KSRO’s “The Real Estate Hour,” friend and fellow broker John Duran intends to carry in and mount a banner emblazoned with one of Kelly’s favorite sayings:

“Shy salespeople have skinny kids.”

It means that if you want to fatten your babies you need to get bold and make that sale.

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AND NOW THIS ... Speaking of KSRO, the other day syndicated consumer advocate Clark Howard came on the air with a spot that warned against falling for free-trial offers.

What happens often, Howard implored, is that you order, say, a health supplement thinking you’re getting it for free but soon a big charge appears on your credit card statement.

The instant Howard’s consumer alert ended KSRO aired a commercial touting a prostate-health booster - and a chance to try it, for free!

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TRULY FREE is the dental care that a Santa Rosa dentist with a record of community service is offering to at least one deserving person.

Sean Wilson invites nominations of locals who need or desire dental treatment. He has no problem with people nominating themselves.

Wilson’s office is accepting nominations for a gift of free dental work through Valentine’s Day. To nominate yourself or another, go to seanwilsondds.com and click on Get A Smile Project. Or pick up a form from the doc’s office at 98 Montgomery Drive in Santa Rosa.

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LIKE WINGS, the kindness of a 12-year-old has lifted the spirits of Bird Rescue Center volunteers under the gun to find a new home for their life-saving mission.

Beatrice Pezzolo walked into the center off Santa Rosa’s Chanate Road wearing a bird T-shirt and carrying $62.45. Earlier, the Rincon Valley Charter School- Sequoia student was honored as Student of the Month by Santa Rosa’s Sunrise Rotary Club. The Rotarians gave her $15 in seed money and encouraged her to do something good with it.

Beatrice purchased baking ingredients, then baked up a storm and sold her goodies. There was no doubt what she would do with the proceeds.

“She’s been crazy about birds since ... forever,” said her mom, Christina Pezzolo.

Beatrice presented her donation to the Bird Rescue Center and now counts down to the day in August that she turns 13 and is eligible to sign up as a junior volunteer.

You can reach Staff Writer Chris Smith at 707-521-5211 and chris.smith@pressdemocrat.com.