After 2-Month Coma, Woman Dies From Bike Wreck

Susan Prnjak, an avid mountain biker, was found unconscious Nov. 12 on the Shaver Grade Fire Road near Phoenix Lake.

Enrico Pucci, Owner of What Was Pucci's, Dies

Community icon passes away.

Enrico Pucci, who owned Pucci's (what is now Fradelizio's) for nearly 20 years, passed away on Dec. 12 at the age of 80. The following is an obituary from his son: An immigrant from Marlia, Italy, Enrico Pucci left his family and came to America in 1951 at the age of 19. Landing in San Francisco, he began a fifty-year journey in the restaurant business – a journey in which he became a fixture of the North Beach restaurant scene until he opened his eponymous Marin County restaurant, Pucci’s, in 1982.   From North Beach to Fairfax, “Pucci,” as he was called by his friends, neighbors, and customers, was known for his sparkling personality, his charming smile, and his passion for life – all of which he displayed prominently during his years in…

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

Nationally-Known San Anselmo Advocate Dies

Jane Alexander, a victim's advocate, dies at 86. Services pending.

Rabbi Jerry Winston Dies at 74, Memorial This Weekend

Leader of Jewish community was one-of-a-kind.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13, at Montgomery Chapel at the San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo for Rabbi Jerry Winston, founder of Barah, the Creative Center for American Judaism, who died Dec. 19 of complications from Parkinson’s disease. He was 74. A one-of-a-kind rabbi known for opening his arms to Jews of all persuasions, he served as a chaplain to Jewish prisoners at San Quentin and once led a congregation for the deaf. But Rabbi Winston was best known for heading the small Jewish community Barah – which, lacking a synagogue, held Shabbat and holiday services in Montgomery Chapel at the San Francisco Theological Seminary. “Jerry was a groundbreaker and someone who marched to the tune of his …

• Photos (2)

Family and Friends Remember 'Whirlwind' Teacher

Family and friend reflect on Debra Schmitt's impact on their lives.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 12, at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ross, for Terra Linda High School teacher Debra Schmitt, 53, whose body was found Jan. 30, on the banks of a creek behind her Ross home. Ms. Schmitt disappeared January 19, after leaving a goodbye message on her classroom board and school keys behind. Results of a toxicology report are pending. As an educator Ms. Schmitt stood out from the crowd, teaching classes in exciting ways. “She absolutely refused to allow her lessons to be boring,” recalled Steven Shapiro, a friend and colleague at Stuyvesant High School in New York, where she taught English before moving to Marin County. When presenting “The Scarlet Letter,” Ms. Schmitt dressed as …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Crime Writer Joe Gores Dies

San Anselmo writer earned Edgar Allen Poe awards.

A funeral mass will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m., Friday, at St. Sebastian Catholic Church in Greenbrae, for acclaimed crime fiction writer Joe Gores, a longtime San Anselmo resident. Mr. Gores died Monday, Jan. 10, at Marin General Hospital, of complications from an upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. He was 79. A prodigious author, Mr. Gores won three Edgar Allen Poe Awards and penned a prequel to Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon. Mr. Gores brought authenticity to his work, learning about the criminal element while pounding the pavements in San Francisco as a private eye and repo man. His fictional detective agency, Daniel Kearney Associates, earned its bread and butter by repossessing automobiles. Sue Kirton – co-owner of Hilda’s …

• Photos (1)

About Town

Breaking the Law and Baking the Bread

Music concerts, missing chicken, book sales, bake-offs and leaf Blower.

Breaking the Law I am listening to a leaf blower blowing at the moment and it got me to wondering about what the town's ordinance on leaf blowers. I know there is one, and it was easy to find on San Anselmo's website. Unfortunately, I also learned that I broke that ordinance last week when I blew off our driveway and yard on Wednesday, because leaf blowers are only allowed on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 1 to 4 p.m. and only for 30 minutes. So I guess the neighbor who was blowing off their yard on Thanksgiving Day was still OK. The Future Famous Drake High School will be holding two great events this week to show off and share the incredible talents of their musical students.  Tomorrow, Wednesday, from 7 to 10 p.m. you can …

• Photos (1)