October 18, 1918 – 100 years ago
“The Toy Shop,” given by the school children under the auspices of Cloverdale Chapter of the American Red Cross proved not only a delightful entertainment, it was a financial success as well; netting the Red Cross the sum of $150.25. When the curtain arose young and old became enthusiastic, so charming proved Puck and his little band of fairies with their graceful dancing. After the journey to the toy shop much merriment followed. Japanese, French, paper and rag dolls were there, and even tin soldiers, jack-in-the boxes, pixies, etc. Really one could not make a selection or pick out the “prize doll,” for the splendid acting and dancing. The wonderful costumes and general stage effect made such an entrancing picture that one was almost bewildered.
The owner of the New Toscano Hotel near the depot was arrested Monday by Marshal F. P. Conner, and charged with selling liquor to a man on the “black list”. The liquor was sold by one of the woman’s son-in-laws, and he claims that he unwittingly gave the man liquor, not knowing he was on the black list. The owner appeared before the town recorder and was given a week in which to enter her plea.
October 10, 1968 – 50 years ago
For the sixth consecutive year, a series of award-winning motion picture documentaries will be available to junior and senior high school students without charge as a public service of PG&E. The first in the series on world events and timely subjects will be “Communism in Conflict, Death of a Dream” set in Czechoslovakia. Two of the other pictures will be in color; the first will be a report on the exploration of the sky and the sea through the Apollo and Sealab projects. The second film in color will depict the making of a president from primary campaigns to inauguration day. The final film scheduled is the stories on the civil war between Niger and Biafra.
No longer can Santa Rosa and surrounding residents dial 411 and hear the familiar “Information, may I help you?” Dialing 411 will now produce the response, “Directory assistance, may I help you.” Pacific Bell has changed the response from information to directory assistance as many customers in the past have taken the response “Information” in the broadest possible sense. The operators are anxious to help, but their information is limited to helping customers with the directory. The volume of calls for assistance grew at a rate of 10.5 percent annually, which is almost twice the rate of growth in the number of telephones.
October 20, 1993 – 25 years ago
$200,000 reward for information on the kidnapping of Polly Hannah Klass last seen on Oct. 1, 1993 in Petaluma. Polly is 4-foot-10-inches tall, 80 pounds has brown hair and brown eyes. Suspect is white male, 32 to 45 years, approximately 5-feet-10-inches tall to 6-feet-10-inches tall. Thick, wavy, salt and pepper hair, full beard and facial hair. Slight age lines on forehead and around eyes.
