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Woman is stealing signs advertising saratoga high's drama production

By Shannon Burkey

Students, parents and school officials are stunned by the recent theft of nearly 100 yard signs promoting the upcoming Saratoga High School Drama Department production of Into the Woods.

The signs, which are very similar to those used by political candidates during election time, were the idea of Saratoga resident Bill Pack, whose daughter Samantha plays a leading role in the production. Pack is also on the publicity committee and came up with the idea for the signs as a way to get as much publicity for the production as possible on a limited budget. The production's publicity budget is $750 and comes from parent donations.

"You don't usually get the opportunity to inform the community at large--that aren't directly involved in the school--about school activities," Pack said. "If you can heighten people's awareness at more than one location and with some repetitiveness, maybe you can get them interested in the arts programs going on at the schools that they might not know about."

After coming up with the idea, both Pack and school officials checked with the city code enforcement official to make sure what they were planning on doing would not violate any city codes. The city told them they could go forward with the idea.

The publicity committee purchased signs for $4 apiece and designed them so they would somewhat blend in. The signs are a dark green with mustard yellow lettering and they read, "Going into the Woods? Saratoga High Feb. 8-11, 867-3411 x203." Committee members have also gotten permission from property owners before placing any signs.

"We were very sure to dot our i's and cross our t's about where the signs were going," Pack said.

Sign placement began Jan. 10, but the bulk of the signs were distributed on Jan. 14 and placed in front yards and other privately owned property--all with the permission of the owners of those properties.

By Jan. 15, several of the signs had gone missing, and a woman was seen by witnesses taking three signs that had been placed on the empty lot that houses the Christmas tree lot and pumpkin patch on Saratoga Avenue. The lot is privately owned, and the owner gave permission to have the signs displayed.

After hearing about the theft, Pack replaced the signs, but once again they were taken. Witnesses again said they saw a woman remove the signs.

Over the next couple of days, signs in front of the Village gas station, Argonaut Shopping Center and at least 20 homes went missing, according to Pack.

"It upset me a lot and frustrated me that someone would go onto private property and steal them," Samantha Pack said.

Saratoga High School Assistant Principal Karen Hyde said she could not believe someone would steal signs that were promoting something for a good cause.

Hyde was surprised once again on Jan. 16 when the school's administrative assistant received a call from a woman claiming the signs were "disgracing Saratoga" and that they "were ugly." The woman refused to give her name and hung up on the administrative assistant when she tried to get more information from her.

"Shortly after that woman's call, we got calls telling us that all the signs along Pierce Road had been taken," Hyde said. "We have a phantom thief who will not even own up to it." A day after the phone call, six signs that were being displayed on the school's lawn were taken.

"It astounds me that they would be so motivated to go on school property and remove something that is promoting an event happening at the school," Pack said.

Hyde said she knows communities may have disagreements about things, but suggests the person responsible think about the example she is setting for the kids who are working so hard to put the production together.

"I find it a poor representation of what adults should be teaching, and it makes me sad," she said.

Pack said the signs weren't meant to anger anyone and he just wishes it would stop.

"Us putting them out is legal; stealing them is not," Pack said. "It would be nice if this person could just support the community. This is a really good thing, and these kids are working really hard."