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HEALDSBURG CONNECTION IN MONEY LAUNDERING SCHEME
December 21, 2023
Healdsburg, California Healdsburg, California
Date, Date, 20202020
20-SOMETHINGS WHO ALLEGEDLY LAUNDERED MILLIONS INCLUDED HEALDSBURG WOMAN By Tony Hicks
Photos by Christian Kallen
Santa Rosa police have arrested four people—three men and a Healdsburg woman—who were allegedly involved in a wideranging scam in which the police said they laundered $7.8 million in 2022. Police said they spent 12 months investigating the crimes, beginning in September 2022, when they received a request for assistance from a detective in West Deptford, New Jersey, related to a scam investigation affecting someone in their jurisdiction. The detective tracked stolen funds to someone in Santa Rosa, who allegedly withdrew approximately $1,000 from an involved bank account. Santa Rosa police served a search warrant at the subject’s residence on Nov. 15, 2023, in the 2100 block of Meadowbrook Court, the home of 23-year-old Santa Rosa resident Anthony Chand. Police said Chand was working with three additional co-conspirators within the Santa Rosa area to commit extensive money laundering throughout Sonoma County. Detectives identified a second suspect and served a search warrant on Nov. 15 at the residence of 21-year-old Alexander King Knigge of Santa Rosa, on the 4000 block of Arthur Ashe Circle. Chand and Knigge’s alleged co-conspirators were 21-year-old Healdsburg resident Brileigh Blosser and 22-year-old Santa Rosa resident Calvin Valledor. Police arrested Knigge,
BAKERY ORPHANAGE One shelf of Costeaux French Bakery’s annual Nutcracker Orphanage collection, including archive photos of the 100-year-old bakery’s early days.
Nutcracker ‘Orphanage’ Grows Every Year COSTEAUX BAKERY’S COLLECTION OF BALLET TOYS IS WORLD-CLASS By Christian Kallen
One of the world’s largest collections of nutcracker dolls gazes down on breakfast diners at Healdsburg’s Costeaux French Bakery this time of year, promoting the holiday spirit at the 100-year-old bakery. From mid-November into midJanuary, hundreds of the small wood effigies of spirits, tin soldiers, tiny ballerinas and court jesters are on colorful display— a reminder of the bakery’s longstanding enthusiasm for the season. “Christmas has been and continues to be a significant time of year for Costeaux,” said Will Seppi, the current president and CEO of the bakery. “Over the century Costeaux has crafted delectable delights that grace tables—from the start of the meal with breads and rolls to the
passed away, and she had 200 to 300 nutcrackers that were looking for a home. “That’s kind of what kicked us off,” Seppi said.
finale with such treats as our St. Honore, Triple Chocolate Mousse or Princess Cake.” Since 2007, Costeaux has held the Evening with Santa fundraiser benefiting Healdsburg Shared Ministries. Sometimes large families and local companies like to have their holiday parties at the bakery. Even Santa Claus makes an appearance every Saturday morning for breakfast, though he usually can’t stay long because he needs to return to elf management. “We take great pride in making baked goods that create memories and are part of people’s traditions,” Seppi said. Yes, but what about the nutcrackers? “I’ll take some responsibility for that, yes,” he admitted. “I was in line looking for a new Santa Claus chair for our annual breakfast Santas. And a woman behind me asked if I collected nutcrackers, because I had a couple in my hand.” It turned out the woman’s mother had recently
Building an Orphanage
That would have been 10 years ago, and since that time the collection has grown to roughly twice that number, or perhaps three times, or more. Seppi is intentionally vague on how many nutcrackers line the shelves on the bakery’s north wall—and above the kitchen, and on the counter, and wherever else there’s a flat spot during the Christmas season. That includes a staging above the holiday cake display, where the Triple Chocolate Mousse and Princess Cake are presented. At eye level, Baby Yoda and Humpty Dumpty nutcrackers surround a family photo of Santa and the kids. Seppi acknowledged that while his family had personally added to the collection over the years, a large number had come in over the transom, as it
were. “We’ve received them from our guests,” he said. “We’ve received them from community organizations. We’ve been doorbell ditched—left in crates at the back door. We’ve received them in the mail that says, ‘Dear Nutcracker Orphanage, take good care of ’em.’ I kid you not.” The sum total of that process has meant that the collection, or Nutcracker Orphanage, grows every year. A hard and fast number for the dolls is difficult to calculate. It’s still growing: The bakery has added six more shelves for the collection just this year. While Seppi proudly affirms that he’s got “the largest collection west of the Russian River,” he’s also careful not to claim any false flags. “We would assume that in Europe there are collections that are extensive,” he said. “But I am not aware of anyone that has the Thanksgiving Turkey standing next to Santa Claus, with the Raiders further down the shelf
➝ Laundering Scheme, 6
from them. We’ve got Dorothy and the whole crew from Oz. We have farmers, we’ve got grape growers, chefs, cooks, firemen, policemen, the armed forces, Uncle Sam. They’re all there. “And now we have Humpty Dumpty.”
Ballet Magic
The legend of the Nutcracker derives from the Tchaikovsky ballet, with its midnight war between the gingerbread men and tin soldiers against the army of mice. The 1893 ballet is still popular as a first performance for dance schools, and is one of the top money-earners for many American ballet companies. It was performed earlier this month by the Santa Rosa Dance Theater at the Spreckles Theater, and the same weekend by a different company at the Luther Burbank Center. Then there’s “Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker” from the New World Ballet, to be staged on Dec. 23, also at Luther Burbank Center. The 11-piece orchestra that ➝ Nutcracker Orphanage, 6
DAVID HAGELE ELECTED NEW MAYOR, EVELYN MITCHELL VICE FOR 2024 FAREWELL TO MAYOR KELLEY AT YEAR’S LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING By Christian Kallen
Photo courtesy Ariel Kelley
FAMILY PHOTO Outgoing Healdsburg Mayor Ariel Kelley is
joined by her husband and two children at the city council dais on Monday, Dec. 18, when the city of Healdsburg presented her with a plaque of appreciation for her year of service.
A little after 7pm on Monday, Dec. 18, Councilmember Chris Herrod, with a single brief motion, nominated both a new mayor and vice mayor for the city of Healdsburg. A few minutes later, David Hagele, as mayor, and Evelyn Mitchell, as vice
mayor, were unanimously approved by the council. The vote was the last order of business at the 73-minute meeting, which managed to address several long-standing items despite its brief length. The council reviewed the current status of the Foley Family Community Pavilion bid process, and approved the staff ’s recommendation to hire Wright Contracting for $7.4 million to execute the construction. Following that approval, Water/Wastewater Engineer Patric Fuss (appearing in a purple tie) gave a presentation on the city’s plans to install a “purple pipe” delivery mechanism for non-potable treated wastewater. A purple pipe delivery network is a widely-used way to signal that water from those pipes is not drinkable, but appropriate for irrigation.
In 2018, the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board required that the city develop a plan to reach compliance with seasonal discharge prohibition within five years. After extensive research, a grant partner was found to build 1.6 miles of purple pipeline for $7 million. Though the length of the pipeline would meet the board’s requirements for wastewater distribution, it was not to the extent that city engineers thought could provide the widest distribution of reclaimed water. But the wellresearched proposal for a reclaimed water distribution network in Healdsburg, to be installed by the end of 2025, was heartily endorsed by the council.
Adieu Ariel
With the next agenda item pertaining to the ➝ Council Elects Hagele, 2