Wayne Dunbar, Author at Positively Petaluma

Interview with Taps Chef Abe Asay Grand Champion of the 2015 Great Petaluma Chili Cookoff

Don’t miss Chef Abe’s Award Winning Chili Recipe at the end of this interview

This year’s Great Petaluma Chili Cookoff was the best attended in its 18 year history. There was 1050 attendees, 40 challenger teams, 26 breweries which is the highest participation in every category since inception. In our post VIDEO/PHOTOS: Winner’s of the Great Petaluma Chili Cook-Off we highlighted this years winners. The Grand Champion this year was Taps under the supervision of their Chef Abe Asay who was awarded a Golden Ticket to enter the 2015 World Food Competition in Florida. This week we sat with Abe to learn more about him AND he agreed to share his award winning recipe to Positively Petaluma readers.

Wayne: Was this the first time you have won in the Chili competition?

Abe: No, we have won first place in the Restaurant category 2 or 3 years in a row?

Wayne: How long have you been a chef at Taps?

Abe: I have been here since they started – it will be six years in September.

Wayne: Where you a chef prior to Taps?

Abe: Yes I was a chef in Orange County at a restaurant called the Cafe Mezzaluna.

Wayne: Is that where you are originally from?

Abe: No I am a native of Petaluma.

Wayne: Where did you you get your inspiration to become a chef?

Abe: My parents and grandparents liked to cook – and they always cooked good food. We grew our own vegetables. I also was part of the 4H club and learned how animals are raised.

Wayne: When was the first meal you cooked?

Abe: I was about 7-8 years old and it was Thanksgiving Day. I remember my grandmother and grandfather telling me I better not try cook anything outside our traditional Thanksgiving dinner. They told him “No fancy stuff”.

CLICK PAGE 2 TO FIND OUT IF REAL CHILI HAS BEANS AND CHEF ASAY’s OPINION

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Introducing A New #Petaluma Company: YourBizFootprint.com

In our fast growing information age it is becoming harder and harder for businesses to keep up and compete on the digital landscape. Many business owners don’t know the first thing to do – – let alone have the time – – to better enable customers to find their store or business on a PC or smart phone.

More and more consumers are looking for your services using their smartphones. Most people will google your name or your business name before even meeting with you. If they can find you, they will want to check out your website and get fast and easy directions to your location. If they can’t find you, it’s possible your competitor who as a strong local listing presence will get the business. As editor of this website, we have noticed a tremendous number of Petaluma businesses that do not have Google directory listings. Consequently, their business doesn’t show up on Google Maps (see photo to the left and you will notice blocks of business that do not show up). This is why we started YourBizFootprint.com, a new affordable service to help business owners to get their footprint on the MAP. We will assist your business with listings on the major directories (Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc…) and it will probably be well within your budget.

In order to dominate your business presence on the internet, you also should have a good social media footprint. Adding social is important for dominating browser searches helping your company to show up on top. 75% of people select the first hit, 20% select the 2nd hit, and 5% click on the third hit – after that it is very unlikely someone will find your store our company. We also have noticed a lot of companies do not have Facebook Pages or even Twitter accounts. The more your footprint is out there, the more your brand is going to show up and be front of mind for new and existing customers. However, again, many small business owners don’t have the time or bandwidth to even manage it. We have created a Social Media machine that businesses can plug into. If you don’t have the content to share, we can create it and post if for you at very affordable rates.

Google just released a warning to web developers that if your website is not responsive to work well on pads or smart devices your website will be downgraded. Yourbizfootprint.com can also help you to create clean and simple websites that are fully responsive in design and mobile friendly. You can test your website for yourself by going to the Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test. These are what the result should look like for your business website.

It is also very important to be actively engaged with your community and have that face-to-face interaction with potential customers. If planned properly, when you meet people in your store or business hand them your business card and ask them to follow you on Facebook or Twitter to keep up on any specials or promotions that might benefit them.

Oh yeah, and let’s not forget the pesky Google Panda and Penguin who are way out of scope to even get into a discussion here. Just know that they are out there, and if you don’t pay attention to them they can affect your web presence without you even know it.

Give YourBiz Footprint call today at (707) 773-6002 or to learn more visit their website YourBizFootprint.com.

Mark Your Calendar For These Upcoming Events & Special Exhibits

Upcoming 2015 Events

6/20: Edgar Degas: The Private Impressionist exhibit – Get your tickets early for the various event dates as they are likely to sell out.

Peanut Winner of The 2014 World's Ugliest Dog Contest — Peanut Winner of The 2014 World’s Ugliest Dog Contest

6/24-28: Sonoma-Marin Fair – With a very impressive line up of FREE concerts featuring classic artists you won’t want to miss.

Wednesday, June 24th, Tower of Power

Thursday, June 25, The Beach Boys

Friday, June 26, Rodney Atkins

Saturday June 27, Tanya Tucker

7/4: Annual Bell-Ringing Gather on the Museum front steps for a Helen Putnam tradition. Ring the Korbel Bell, afterwards enjoy cookies and lemonade. Boy Scout Troop 9 will perform flag ceremony. Proclamation read by Mayor/City Council Member. Ceremony starts at 10:30am Bell ringing at 11am

7/4 – City Fireworks & Festivities – Every year the city of Petaluma puts on a great 4th of July fireworks show. $5 admission with free parking. The show will once again be at the Sonoma Marin Fairgrounds. Gates open at 5:00pm with fireworks starting at approximately 9:30pm. Lots of fun activities for kids and adults alike, along with amazing food and drinks. This year’s headlining band is the Killer Queens, an all-female Queen cover band! 175 Fairgrounds Dr, Petaluma, CA. Make sure to bring low lawn chairs, blankets, warm clothes, and flashlights.

7/12: Art & Garden Festival – The much loved Art & Garden festival will return on July 12th, 2015, for it’s 14th year, from 11am to 5pm. Once again we’ll host fine local crafters, artisans, gardeners, live music on two stages and an array of local wineries, breweries and restaurants will offer tastings. See our post on last year 2014 #Petaluma Art & Garden Festival A Great Success which includes photos and this video:

CLICK PAGE 2 TO SEE CURRENT AND UPCOMING SPECIAL EXHIBITS

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What’s Going On In Petaluma? May 30th Through June 5th

Petaluma Kids’ Theatre presents “Walk Two Moons” – May 29-31: Fri. & Sat. at 7:30pm; Sun. at 2pm. Clear Hart, 90 Lesse Lane.

Historic Downtown Walking Tour – Sat. 10:30am: Costumed docents stroll downtown. Donations welcome. Free. Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 20 Fourth St. 778-4398.

Saturday Farmer’s Market in Walnut Park – Sat., 2-5:30pm: Over 60 booths selling farm-fresh produce and local products. Live entertainment & activities. Walnut Park. . 415-999-5635.

Igniting Hope Charity Concert with Larry Gatlin – Sat., May 30, 7:30pm: Benefits Paralyzed Veterans of America. Held at the Petaluma Community Center, 320 McDowell Blvd.

Beatles Sing-Along – Sat., May 30, 8pm: Sing your favorite Beatles tunes, surrounded by the exhibition The Art of Rock ‘n Roll. Petaluma Art Center, 230 Lakeville St. 762-5600.

Boating at the Barn – Sundays, 10am-1pm: Pick a rowboat, canoe, kayak or sailboat. River Heritage Center in Steamer Landing Park. Call 769-0910 for information.

Stories of War – Sun., May 31, 2:30pm: Veterans will share their stories. Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 20 Fourth St. 778-4398.

Festa Do Espirito Santo – Sun., May 31: Full day with a parade beginning at 9:45am; Mass at 10:30; Lunch at Holy Ghost Society Hall, Live music 3-5pm; Dinner at 7pm; Music & dancing 8-11pm. 4699 Bodega Ave. 707-472-9049.

East-Side Farmers’ Market – Tuesdays, 10am-1:30pm: Year-round, rain or shine! Petaluma Community Center Parking Lot, 320 N. McDowell Blvd. 415-999-5635.

Wednesday Evening Farmers Market – Wed., 4:30-8pm: Theatre District.

SRJC To Host 4th Annual Building Community Breakfast – Thurs,, June 4 from 7:30-9:00am The Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) Friends of Petaluma Campus Trust is presenting the fourth annual Building Community Breakfast at SRJC Petaluma’s Physical Fitness Center located at 680 Sonoma Mountain Parkway.

Author Meet & Greet – Fri., June 5, 7pm: Paulo Bacigalupi, author of “The Windup Girl” at Copperfield’s Books, 140 Kentucky St. 762-0563.

Can Sonoma County Communicate?

On 10-19-95, a special report TV show by PCMG, raised the question, “Can Sonoma County Communicate?” Now, almost 20 years later, this same question needs to be asked again; because WHEN, not IF a major disaster strikes Petaluma and/or Sonoma County, and all electric power is lost and most regular forms of communication are inoperable, how will Sonoma County communicate and exchange information with its citizens?

Participants in the 1995 TV show, hosted by Brad Bollinger, included the following guests: Christopher Helgren, Sonoma County Department of Emergency Services; Eric Swanson, Auxiliary Communication Services Team Leader for South County; Chris Albertson, Petaluma Fire Chief; and Bill Hammerman, Westridge Knolls Neighborhood Watch Facilitator. The current emergency service operations offered by these organizations and groups may be found by clicking on the following links:

http://sonomacounty.ca.gov/FES/Emergency-Management/

http://sonomacounty.ca.gov/FES/Emergency-Management/Auxiliary-Communications-Service

http://cityofpetaluma.net/firedept/disaster.html

Here is the episode:

PCMG.TV Special Report – Disaster Preparedness, Can Sonoma County Communicate from Wayne Dunbar on Vimeo.

Whether or not any significant changes have taken place to the different communication networks (County, City, or Volunteer Organizations), will be left up to their leaders to answer. The one area I can comment on is what happened at the neighborhood level between 2006-2011. Various acronyms were created as the emergency training programs were initiated and developed:

CERT = Community Emergency Response Team
NERT = Neighborhood Emergency Response Team
CERN = Community Emergency Radio Network
STAR = A “Safe-Trained-Alert-Ready” neighborhood team
ALERT = Alliance of Local Emergency Response Teams

Before municipal sponsorship of the Petaluma CERT courses ceased, the FCC Certified CERT instructor had taught 12-27 hour courses and graduated over 120 citizens, 24 of whom became licensed amateur radio operators. Following Hurricane Katrina, the term “Neighborhood HamWatch” was adopted to identify those licensed Hams who would serve their neighborhood emergency response teams. NHW is a voluntary program all amateur radio operators who want to provide a helpful service to their neighbors during times of extended power outage. These volunteers included those certified ACS, Red Cross, ARES, and SATERN who would serve their neighbors prior to any deployed assignment, following the official declaration of an disaster by their emergency leaders.

There are three main NHW purposes: (1) Get on your radio and talk to other operators from other neighborhoods, and thereby ease tension and isolation associated with an extended power outage; (2) establish a NHW net and communicate with local EOCs through ACS and ARES operators; and (3) send welfare traffic at the request of neighbors to extended family outside the stricken area to relieve concerns and reduce clogging of any telephone systems that might still be functioning. Hopefully, this blog will attract licensed Hams in the 94952 and 94954 zip code areas, and motivate them to register their name, call sign, and e-mail address with the Petaluma NHW Network. Please e-mail Bill Hammerman at [email protected]

#Petaluma’s SRJC to host 4th annual Building Community Breakfast June 4

From the SRJC Website:

The Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) Friends of Petaluma Campus Trust is presenting the fourth annual Building Community Breakfast on Thursday, June 4 from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. Business, education, nonprofit and community leaders are expected to attend. The breakfast takes place in SRJC Petaluma’s Physical Fitness Center located at 680 Sonoma Mountain Parkway.

SRJC Superintendent/President Dr. Frank Chong will deliver opening remarks, providing the Petaluma angle on his recent President’s Address to the Community. Dr. Jane Saldaña-Talley, Vice President of the Petaluma campus, will present the “State of The Campus” address including an update on current activities, new and future plans for SRJC Petaluma. Bill White of Basin Street Properties is the featured speaker for the morning.

The morning will also include student speakers reflecting on their experience at SRJC Petaluma. Earth and Space Sciences faculty member Dr. David Kratzmann will discuss recent projects including construction of a geologic boulder field across campus and two gardens. The garden project is a partnership with Daily Acts and the City of Petaluma to create a Permaculture/Living Learning Lab Demonstration Garden designed by SRJC Ornamental Horticulture students to reduce water use and serve as a demonstration site for community education. The second garden project is a sustainable, organic, student-run teaching garden developed in partnership with Petaluma-based Friedman’s Home Improvement and a multi-disciplinary collaborative of students, faculty, and staff.

Tickets are $40 per person and table sponsorships are available. Registration is available at www.santarosa.edu/foundation. Under Register Now, click on “4th Annual Petaluma Campus Building Community Breakfast.” Check-in begins at 7:00 a.m. Parking is free.

The event is an opportunity for attendees to explore the impact of the Petaluma campus on the surrounding community. It also provides the chance for those unfamiliar with the campus to connect in a personal and welcoming manner. Tours of the campus will be provided upon request.

VIDEO: Sonoma County Home Brewers Competition

This video The inaugural Sonoma County Home Brewers Competition at the Petaluma Veteran’s Memorial building on Saturday, May 23, 2015 was provided by Petaluma360.com YouTube page.

Also see article in Brewers gather in Petaluma to share their suds.

For more information about this event see our previous related posts:

“I Drink Beer For A Living”: An Interview with Petaluma’s Ken Weaver

Thirst for craft beer drives expansion at Sonoma

VIDEO: The Bohemian Interviews “J.J.” at Petaluma Hills Brewing

5 Tips For Homebrewers Entering The Sonoma County Home Brewer’s Competition

Ken Weaver who was one of the judges at this event also authored the The Northern California Craft Beer Guide. You may want one for your collection.
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Clover Stornetta – A Petaluma Staple

Clover Logo (PRNewsFoto/Clover Stornetta Farms)

Located in Sonoma County, California is the historic Downtown Petaluma with its citizen’s actively contributing to Petaluma’s rich culture and unique community. One of the pioneers in the agricultural industry is positively Clover as a leading and sustainable dairy farm. At the head of Clover Stornetta Farms is the original founder, Gene Benedetti, who is after decades was actively involved in the dairy industry until passing in 2006. Now his two sons and two grandsons are involved at the Clover Stornetta plant in Petaluma.

After Mr. Benedetti started, his career in the dairy industry in 1946, the Clover Stornetta farms was founded in 1977 with Benedetti enthusiastically at the head. The rich natural resources of Sonoma County are the ideal for dairy farming is something he discovered early in his dairy career. With magnificent pastureland for cows to graze and terrific climate, the Clover Stornetta Farms received the county’s first dairy award, the Free Farmed Label for their humane production of animal products.

Born in 1919, few realize that Gene M. Benedetti was born in Sonoma County, after his parents left Italy in 1913. At age eight, his parents bought a house in Cotati and he still lives there with his wife. A native from Petaluma, the boy completed his education at Petaluma High School, went to St. Joseph’s Church in Cotati and continue to have his first communion there, got married in the same church. A man with strong roots and christian values, his first job at a Creamery was as a field man, going out to dairy farms to get new business. He continued on to the plant where he learned to make butter, cottage cheese, pasteurization, and bottled milk.

The injection of the advertising legend of Clover Stornetta was to create CLO Cow in 1969, which became the official mascot. The idea of putting together a comical cow came from an advertising company in Santa Rosa when Benedetti wanted to put up a billboard. Although the initial reaction was to change the first cow, it remained with the company which today is the company’s brand.

CLICK PAGE 2 BELOW AND LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY OF CLO COW BILLBOARDS, THE RECENT RELEASE OF THEIR NEW LINE OF ICE CREAM AND A ‘MOO-TUBE’ VIDEO

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#Petaluma Help Fill The Boot On Friday May 29

The Petaluma Firefighters Local 1415 are having their annual “Fill The Boot” fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). This is a coordinated fundraiser for MDA across the country, however the funds raised stay in the Petaluma area helping local citizens with disabilities. The Petaluma Firefighters organize the fundraiser but not without the efforts also from Cal-Fire, Rancho Adobe Fire District and San Antonio Fire.

On Friday, May 29th starting at around 8am the participating firefighters will be at intersection of Petaluma Blvd. North and Washington St. They plan to be at the intersection until 3:00PM that day. So if you are driving through town, make it a point to drive your car in that direction and fill a boot for a good cause. While you are there, this is a great opportunity for you to thank these first responders for the service they provide for our city. While we are running out of a house on fire, these firefighters are running in.

The Petaluma and area firefighters encourage everyone to help ‘fill their boots!’ They also thank you for your support in their efforts to help people in need.

Positively Petaluma is donating 30-Day small block ad spaces on our website for any businesses that ‘fill the boot’ with $500 or more. We will also mention your company’s donation on our website with a link to your business website AND in our social media feeds. Your generous donation will be seen by thousands of potential future customers. Simply send us an email to [email protected] and tell us the amount you donated along with your contact information.

Kenilworth Teacher Laura Bradley Wins National Award

The Henry Ford and Litton Entertainment recently announced winners for The Henry Ford’s Innovation Nation Teacher Innovator Awards. A Kenilworth Junior High School teacher, Laura Bradley, was selected for first place. The award recognizes educators who are using the classroom to inspire innovation, creativity, problem solving and critical thinking among their students.

Bradley decided to apply for the Henry Ford when another teacher sent her the application and suggested she apply. She tells us the process included making a video, plus a written application that included a description of her program and how it incorporates STEM, creativity, innovation, etc.; plus the standards that are addressed in the class; plus a reference letter. As part of this, she was very happy a former student Sam Baeza, a 9th grader at Casa Grande, wrote a letter for her to support her application. Also she submitted her application with her Digital Media curriculum and standards. Included in her application was the Digital Media project website she had created so that her students could work independently in her class.

Dr Jessica Parker Sonoma State University — Dr. Jessica Parker, SSU

Bradley gives credit to Sonoma State University’s MA program in Education (emphasis on Ed Tech with Dr. Jessica Parker) for starting her on this path: when she started that program in 2009, she was not tech-savvy at all and her classroom had very little tech. She wrote grants for laptops and pioneered the 1:1 laptop classroom in Petaluma. Then she went to Google Teacher Academy and things developed from there.

Here’s the video she made as part of her application:

CLICK PAGE 2 TO SEE EXCERPTS FROM HER APPLICATION AND PHOTOS OF SOME OF HER 3D PROJECTS

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