One hundred years ago, Prohibition was repealed – construction began on the Golden Gate Bridge – the first drive-in movie theater in the United States opened – and WWII veteran Herman Todeschi of Bayfield was born in the four-cabin hamlet of Cold Creek. The nearly lifelong resident of Durango and Silverton will celebrate the century mark Sunday with 100 friends and family at an Italian-inspired “polenta picnic” at the Durango VFW.

“He’s Italian and it’s one of the things they do when they have gatherings,” said granddaughter Anastasia Arellano of Bayfield. “They’ll make a big pot of polenta and then people will bring sauces and gravies – mushroom gravy or marinara, meatball or meat or whatever, just a bunch of different sauces.” The gathering itself will fulfill Todeschi’s expressed birthday wish.