St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman proclaimed Tuesday "Charles M. Schulz Day" in honor of one of the city's best-loved hometown boys, the creator of the comic strip "Peanuts."
Craig Schulz, son of the late artist, who wrote and produced "The Peanuts Movie," spotted his former next-door neighbor, Irene Villella, and her daughter, Diane, rear, in the front row and greeted them before the program at the Landmark Center got going Tuesday evening in St. Paul.
Craig's mother, Joyce, and Irene were friends when they lived next door to each other on Wentworth Avenue in Richfield and their families were close. Diane, in fact, babysat for Craig and all of the Schulz children.
Coleman handed the proclamation to Craig Schulz after reading it to the assembled crowd. Others sharing the stage were the kids who voiced some of the characters in the movie, which opens Nov. 6.
Tazhanae Gant, 15, above, had a Snoopy painted on her face. She's a big "Peanuts" fan, she said.
Staff report
![Craig Schulz spotted his former next door neighbor, Irene Villella, and her daughter, Diane, rear, in the front row and said hello to them before the program got going Tuesday evening in St. Paul. Craig's mother, Joyce, and Irene were friends when they lived next door to each other on Wentworth Ave. S. and 62nd St. in Richfield and their families were close. Diane, in fact, babysat for Craig and all the Schulz children. ] JEFF WHEELER ï jeff.wheeler@startribune.com In an event outside Landm](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/KUJIAFYDHZWWV2RIZVR26SPJTE.jpg?&w=1080)
![St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman handed the proclamation to Craig Schulz after reading it to the assembled crowd. Others sharing the stage were the kids who voice some of the characters in THE PEANUTS MOVIE. The kids are, from left, Noah Schnapp, who is the voice of Charlie Brown; Mar Mar, who is the voice of Franklin; Hadley Belle Miller, who is the voice of Lucy; and Francesca Capaldi, who is the voice of the Little Red Haired Girl. Next to Capaldi is director Steve Martino. ] JEFF WHEELER ï](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/E6NRIYJAFII6TQTOHD6YYXMB34.jpg?&w=1080)
![Tazhanae Gant, 15, had a Snoopy painted on her face at the event Tuesday evening in St. Paul. She's a Peanuts fan, she said, from watching all the holiday television specials every year. ] JEFF WHEELER ï jeff.wheeler@startribune.com In an event outside Landmark Center late Tuesday afternoon, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman proclaimed Tuesday, October 20, 2015 "Charles M. Schulz Day" in honor of one of the city's best loved native sons, the author of the comic strip "Peanuts." Schulz's son, Cra](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/SI3KEFWDSBAPFIKRZJK672RU4I.jpg?&w=1080)
