Former Mayor Jack Buchanan Dies

Buchanan was instrumental in development of Rohnert Park.

Former Police Chief's Family Thanks the Community

Bob Dennett, who spearheaded the city's public safety concept, was beloved by the community.

Sheryl Dennett, the daughter of Rohnert Park's first police chief who passed away recently, said she was compelled to write a "thank you" to the community following his memorial services at the Community Center.  "There was such an outpouring of cards and letters and people," Dennett said. "Everbody was amazing — the community, the police department," she added. "It was such a beautiful way to honor my father." Dennett's obituary is published in full here. Read the Dennetts' message below: The Dennett family wishes to thank all of our friends, family and the community for assisting with and attending Robert E. Dennett's memorial services. Our family greatly appreciated the generosity and support we received during this difficult time. The …

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Bob Dennett: 1931-2011

Rohnert Park's first leader of the city's public safety department died Aug. 24 after years of battling cancer and heart disease, according to family members.

Between 400 and 500 people gathered Wednesday at Spreckels Performing Arts Center in Rohnert Park to remember and honor Robert Dennett, who was 79 when he died. Following is his full eulogy, which was read at the memorial by Art Hollingsworth. Bob was one of three children born William and Mary Dennett in Oakland, Calif. He is preceded in death by his two brothers, Billy and Clark. Bob grew up in El Cerrito, California, where he attended Harding Grammar School and St. Joseph Junior High. He used to say the nuns at St. Joseph taught him all he needed to know, so he simply went to high school for the basketball and lunches.  At Albany High School, he took to typing and fondly remembered being the only boy in class. He excelled at typing and …

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Late Police Chief Bob Dennett Beloved by Community

Dennett served Rohnert Park from 1969 to 1993. He died Wednesday.

Robert Dennett, Rohnert Park's first chief of police who pioneered the city's public safety concept, died Wednesday, Aug. 24 at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital after years of battling cancer and heart disease, according to Dennett's daughter Sheryl. "He survived three bouts of cancer and a series of strokes," said Sheryl, who lives in Vancouver, Wash. "He did a lot to bring the community together with the public safety department." Dennett, who was 79, began his police career in Richmond in 1960, and in 1967, he moved to South Lake Tahoe, where he served until accepting the position of director of Public Safety in Rohnert Park two years later. Dennett went on to serve as head of police and fire from 1969-1993, according to Lt. John Marty, …

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A Peek Inside the Community: Sweet Pea Children’s Boutique

If you fancy a cozy boutique to shop for new and used clothes for the little ones, you need to take a peek at Sweet Pea.

This week we take a stroll through downtown Cotati. If you take a turn on Charles Street you can find Sweet Pea, a cute little store that provides a little bit of everything for babies, toddlers and the younger kiddos. About the Owner: Amy Strother has been a longtime fixture in the community. For many years she worked in child education at Sonoma State University. After having her second child she decided to make a change in careers to something more flexible to have time with her family. So four years ago she bought Sweet Pea. With her career experience as well as being a mom, owning a kids boutique is right in her comfort zone. “I like that I can provide a service to the community," she says. "There really aren’t a lot of good places to…

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Obituary: Reba Yurman Roberts, 77

Twice named Rohnert Park Woman of the Year and honored as Grand Marshal of the Founder’s Day Parade, Reba Roberts was known to nearly everyone in town.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Reba (Yurman) Roberts graduated from New York University with a degree in Journalism and Radio.  Trained in voice and dance, as a young person she sang on radio and with bands and wrote a weekly column while still in high school.  Upon her marriage, she transferred from NBC’s Comedy Writing Department in New York to a similar position in Hollywood, California. In the early 1960’s, Reba and her husband, Art Roberts, moved to Rohnert Park and established the third business in the newly established town, the Rohnert Park Pharmacy.  Wanting to help the new city get recognized, Reba approached several local radio stations and before long, she had five radio shows a week plus a monthly television show, all focused …

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Community Mourns Teacher Who Died Tuesday, Days After She Was Diagnosed With Leukemia

Students, teachers and parents called Heidi Kreger a selfless teacher with a big heart, who had an amazing ability to help kids.

Heidi Kreger, a second grade teacher at Evergreen Elementary, died Tuesday, just nine days after she was diagnosed with Leukemia. She was 40. Kreger, who was just married last year, has been with the Cotati-Rohnert Park School District for 16 years, most recently at Evergreen. She also taught at Goldridge Elementary until it closed. Teachers and students were shocked Tuesday when they heard the tragic news — her condition was not expected to be life threatening. Kreger’s friends and colleagues said doctors quoted a 95 percent cure rate. Things were looking up. She started a chemotherapy regimen days after she found out she had blood cancer, and was planning to return to work this week. But, Kreger’s health condition took a turn for the …

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VIDEO: Friends of Kevin Craft Band Together to Help Family After Son's Homicide

Local businesses and friends donated time and services for a fundraiser benefitting the Craft family at Escape Paintball in Rohnert Park Monday night.

Kevin C. Craft would have turned 21 May 1. Police are still searching for Craft’s killer, who gunned him down outside Best Western Inn in Rohnert Park a little more than two weeks ago. Craft’s body was discovered around 8 a.m. April 22.  When police confirmed Craft’s death later that day, friends and family were confused. They said he was without his wallet, had made at least one phone call three hours before he was found and didn’t understand why he was at a hotel parking lot in the still-dark morning. Friends and family of Craft — many who have never met one another — immediately united after the tragedy. The killing has stricken down cultural barriers that may have prevented a kinship before. People of all colors, cultures, ethnicities …

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Rohnert Park Remembers Leo Cedeno

A remembrance ceremony brought together community to share their memories of Cedeno, who they called selfless, and a great dad.

Nearly 100 friends and family members gathered at Cross and Crown Lutheran Church last night to share memories and swap stories of the late Leo Cedeno, a Rohnert Park father of two and an active community volunteer, who died on Dec. 22. He was 54. The mood was somber as Cedeno’s family showed a video montage of old photographs over the song from Phantom of the Opera, a musical the family loved, said Beverly Hammond, Cedeno’s ex-wife. “Leo was an extremely talented musician, and he had an operatic voice,” Hammond said. The video was a tribute for the children, she said. Friends from all aspects of Cedeno’s life shared laughs and tears throughout the evening — customers from the 24-Hour Mail Service store he owned from 1994 until 2005 were …

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Leo Cedeno Remembered as Great Father, Community Volunteer

Friends are holding a remembrance ceremony at Cross and Crown Lutheran Church Monday evening.

Leo Cedeno died suddenly in his home on Dec. 22, 2010. Although the death certificate has not yet been released, friends and family say they suspect the cause was a heart attack. He was 54. Friends and familiy said Cedeno was an amazing father, a selfless citizen and a hard worker. He was born on Aug. 23, 1956 in Venezuela. He received his BA in music from Vincennes University in Indiana in 1984, and moved to Rohnert Park in 1986. Cedeno ran 24-Hour Mail and Services here from 1994 until 2005, when he sold it to become a truck driver. He wanted to work nights, so he could spend his days with his kids, family members said. Cedeno is survived by his father Ruben, 84, his brother who is also Ruben, his two children, Andrew, 10, and Carla, 7, …

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Angela Hart

10:27 am on Monday, January 17, 2011

Thank you for your comment Clifton.   more ›