Wayne Dunbar, Author at Positively Petaluma

25 Years ago in a bowling alley not so far away, PPSC Rock n’ Bowl began

GET YOUR LANES if you haven’t done so yet….

25 years! Wow, that is hard to believe, but when you think about how long Petaluma People Services Center has been taking care of our community (over 42 years), 25 doesn’t seem so long. PPSC provides a network of critical social services, which are likely already supporting the health of employees within your own company. Here is merely a sample of a few ways your employees benefit from the existing service network:

PPSC provides case work for your employees caring for elder family members who may be in need of Alzheimer’s day care or transportation services as they negotiate living independently here in our community
PPSC provides subsidized services for families and individuals in need of mental health counseling including offering Human Resource referral based services for all companies in our community
PPSC provides fair housing services which enables tenants and landlords to resolve problems related to rental housing, which directly contributes to housing stability for your employees

In order to effectively maintain these service programs, we are asking to get involved in our upcoming Rock N’ Bowl event on Friday, March 18th. This iconic fundraiser is well-loved by many here in our community and would be greatly enhanced by your company’s financial support. Please consider sponsoring a team for your company, or even more fun, have employees raise the money through individual sponsorship and then match what they raise. If you are interested in donating an item for our auction just send me an email and either Caryn or I will be able to come pick up the item.

Here are the Registration Forms:

Team Registration Form 2016

Sponsor Sheet 2016

Contact Elece Hempel for any questions at 707-765-8488 and she will be happy to help you or email her at [email protected] with your questions.

POWELL’S CANDY STORE IN PETALUMA IS NOW THE SWEET ZONE

Your local candy store is not new, just improved Petaluma, CA

After 9 years in downtown Petaluma as Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, this locally owned candy store is getting a major face life. The owners of the Petaluma location of Powell’s felt it was time for a change and decided not to renew their 10-year franchise agreement. They will remain at the same spot in Theatre Square and will be an independent store called The Sweet Zone.

“We loved being an old fashion candy store and being part of this community, but we are very excited about the new store we are creating and we know the community is going to love the changes. Customers will still find all their favorite sweets, the same great staff and excellent customer service, now we get to do things the franchise would not let us do.”, says Monika Bomar, Owner/Operator

The Sweet Zone will still carry the same selection of candy but plans on adding more lose bulk candy, expanding the chocolate section by bringing in more local chocolatiers and adding a “Chocolate Club”. Plans include a slushie machine, new delicious confectionaries, and unique gift items all wrapped in a new colorful and upbeat appearance. Under the new store, The Sweet Zone will also save money by not being part of the franchise and plans on starting a scholarship with the PEF as well as working with Mentor Me and Petaluma Animal services.

“We have always donated to every non-profit that asks by donating gift certificates, now we want to do more for the community and these are some of our favorites. We will continue to honor any gift certificates we donated in the past.” said Will Bomar, Owner

The Sweet Zone is closed March 1st through March 10th for a major facelift and will reopen Friday March 11th. There will be a Grand Reopening Saturday March 12th starting at 11a; where the first 500 people will receive a custom gourmet chocolate bar and everyone will get a free gelato. All day there will be prizes, Beanboozle challenges, and a host of other giveaways.

VIDEO: Cutest Chicken Dance Ever Seen In Petaluma Ca

Our city is full of charm and wonderful surprises making our Petaluma Downtown a great and memorable place to visit. If it is not Petaluma Pete playing a piano on a corner or a flash siting of Roller Boy buzzing down the sidewalks we are constantly entertained by pop up street artists. You never know what’s going to happen unless you experience it.

This video of a street artist and the cutest little chicken dance (ever!) is a good taste of our pop up entertainment and the fun you will experience when visiting our historic downtown. You can’t get more Petaluma culture than the chicken dance played on Accordion accompanied by a young girl who decided along her route through our Plaza to dance to the music.

This is a raw homemade video so give it a second to get squared away – we promise it will make you smile and worth two minutes of your day.

VIDEO: Newborn Piglets at Green Goose Farm

Green Goose Farm in Petaluma is a small family farm, raising pastured, grass-fed, grass-finished animals for the local community. In this video they captured their next generation of pigs. These cute little piglets are one day old and they are hungry!

These piglets are first-generation of pure bred Large Black Hog and Gloucester Old Spot.

Gloucester_Old_Spot_Boar — Gloucester Old Spot Boar

What’s Going On In Petaluma This Week? Through February 26

“For the LOVE of Petaluma” Scavenger Hunt – thru Feb: Pick up a Passport at Flower Child Consignment or the Petaluma Visitors Center; Visit downtown shops to find the special image; Fill your passport & win prizes.

Friends of the Petaluma Library Book Sales – thru Feb. 27: In the Helen Putnam Community Room at the Petaluma Regional Library, 100 Fairgrounds Dr. 763-9801.
“5th Annual Youth Art Exhibit” Reception – Fri., 4-7pm: Petaluma Arts Center, 230 Lakeville St. 762-5600.

“Powerful Women Within” – Fri., 7pm: Benefiting Guided to Safety. St. John’s Episcopal Church, 5th & C Streets. Tickets bpt.me/2495817

“Bad Dates” Extended – thru Feb. 21: See website for details & tickets. Cinnabar Theater, 3333 Petaluma Blvd. N. 763-8920. www.cinnabartheater.com

Hearth Tales: How Art Shaped My World – Sat., 7:30pm: Petaluma Arts Center, 230 Lakeville St. 762-5600.

How Art Shaped My World Petaluma Arts Center — Hearth Tales: How Art Shaped My World

Boating at the Barn – Sun., 10am-1pm: Free kayak and row boat rides at the River Heritage Center in Steamer Landing Park, at the end of Copeland St. Sign up at the barn. For info: 769-0910

East-Side Farmers’ Market – Tues, 10am-1:30pm: Year-round! Deer Creek Shopping Center, 501 N. McDowell Blvd. 415-999-5635.

Petaluma Cinema Series – Wed., 7pm: Naji Abu Nowar’s film, “Theeb.” Pre-film lecture at 6pm; Film at 7pm; Post-film discussion until 10pm; SRJC Petaluma campus, 680 Sonoma Mountain Parkway. www.petalumafilmalliance.org

Classic Car Cruise-In – Thurs., 6-9pm: Show off your classic cars every Thursday evening. No judging. Fourth & Sea Fish and Chips, 101 4th St. 762-6424.

Butter & Egg Days Parade Float Workshop – Tues (2/23), 6-7:30pm: Make your float fabulous! Free. To sign-up contact the PDA at 762-9348

Tom Cruise Impersonator Video For Petaluma Ca Exercise Class Goes Viral

A short time after the video below was released on Facebook it had already received over 1700 views. The video is of a Tom Cruise impersonator doing a Risky Business routine showcasing Laura Sunday’s (We like to call her the Queen of Petaluma) exercise classes.

If you don’t already know Laura, she is the organizer of two great local events that benefit the Cinnabar Theater (The Great Petaluma Chili Cook-off and The Taste of Petaluma). In her “spare time”[insert sarcasm] she also works as an exercise instructor at Petaluma Valley Athletic Club.

This impersonator Evan Ferrante does a great job and can be hired out and say whatever you want him to in a video as Tom Cruise through Fiverr.com . He states: “I’m using this inconceivable power to promote Laura Sunday‘s classes at Petaluma Valley Athletic Club!”

Friends of the Petaluma Library Announce Book Sales

The Friends of the Petaluma Library are continuing their quarterly book sales. The group runs a great little bookstore in the library. If you are interested in volunteering can send an email to [email protected].

Here are some upcoming sales you will want to add to your calendar:

Children’s Sale Days:

Friday Feb 19 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday Feb 20 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Future dates for Children’s Sales Days will happen May 13-14; Aug 12-13; and Nov 11-12.

General Book Sale Days:

Wednesday Feb 24 4:00pm – 8:00 pm
Thursday Feb 25 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday Feb 26 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday Feb 27 Deal Day
- 10:00 am – 1:50 pm Half Price
- 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Bag of Books for $2

Future General Book Sales Days will happen May 18-21; Aug 17-20; and Nov 16-19.

Note that the vast majority of the books are donated and not ex-library. Great values with most books priced between 50 cents to $2. Some special books also available. Lots of DVD’s, books on tape / cd, music CD’s etc.

Welcome to the Village – Free, introductory meetings

We would like to thank Lyndi Brown for providing the following information on the Village Network of Petaluma. They will be holding free introductory meetings on its services for older adults at 10:30 – 11:30 am at 402 Petaluma Blvd. North, Petaluma on these dates. The cost is free for age 50+ folks who wish to grow old together in the Petaluma and Penngrove area:

Saturday, March 5
Wednesday, April 13
Saturday, May 14
Wednesday, June 8

Game Night Village Network of Petaluma — Game Night Mexican Train Game

Attendees will learn about the Village Network and how membership offers support, connection, transportation, social events, and home assistance to help older adults stay active. Adults ages 50 and older and their family members are welcome to attend.

The Village is an innovative concept of neighbors helping neighbors to continue living vibrant, active and connected lives in our own homes as we age. The Village is based on a national model of 190 nonprofit villages across the United States.

Learn how membership in the non-profit Village Network of Petaluma can offer support, connection and fun, including transportation, social events, interest groups, and home assistance.

For information, email [email protected] or call 707-776-6055. Visit http://www.villagenetworkofpetaluma.org

The Envelope, Please – A Benefit for KPCA Community Radio Feb. 28 at the Mystic

There’s an Academy Award-themed event coming up in our charming little city that you might not want to miss. It’s the premier of Petaluma’s annual Oscar-night gala, The Envelope, Please, at the Mystic Theatre in our historic downtown on February 28.

Presented by Petaluma Community Access (PCA), the nonprofit public access television station and media center, The Envelope, Please was created to benefit KPCA 103.3, the FM radio station that will begin broadcasting via the local airwaves later this year, featuring programming produced by and for the Petaluma community.

Awarded a license from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) last year, PCA still has a few major tasks ahead of it before it can begin broadcasting – completing an agreement with the Santa Rosa Junior College to place an antenna on-campus, building a radio studio at its 205 Keller Street facility, and raising the funds to get the station up and running.

The Envelope, Please was conceived by PCA’s active Board of Directors as a fun celebration of the cinematic accomplishment and spectacle that is the televised annual Academy Award ceremony, and a community media-building fundraiser for KPCA.

President of PCA’s Board of Directors Cindy Thomas referred to it recently as “a heroic effort by a small nonprofit organization to enrich the entire community.”

The Mystic will be rolling out the red carpet for guests, who can mingle with friends while watching the Oscars ceremony on the big screen, enjoy A-list appetizers and signature cocktails while emcee Tom Gaffey hosts.

John Bertucci Executive Director Petaluma Community Access

As PCA Executive Director John Bertucci pointed out to the Petaluma Argus-Courier’s Matt Brown a while back, the desire to bring FM radio back to Petaluma spans more than a decade. As with the organization’s overall mission, KPCA radio’s goal will be to promote the free expression of ideas and conversations, and provide access to media-making resources for the entire community.

Interest in providing programming for KPCA radio has been high.

Petaluma farmer, writer and Petaluma Grange VP Connie Madden is contemplating a series of talk shows focused on issues of climate change, local culture and political change, all timely issues in this presidential election year.

The Petaluma Radio Players, a new radio comedy & drama troupe that came together last fall to give two sold-out, live performances of the old radio drama, The Shadow, at the DeCarli Trolley Barn Theater, are planning to present a regular series of original shows on the new radio station.

KPCA, much like PCA’s public, educational and government television channels, will further the nonprofit’s mission to be of community service by broadcasting important city events and meetings, and may also be of use to the city in communicating with the public in emergency situations, such as a major earthquake.

First things first though. We need to raise around $10,000 to get the station up and running, and fund a part-time staffer. We need your help to do this. Please join us at the Mystic Theatre on February 28 as we launch a significant new addition to Petaluma’s media landscape for the 21st century – KPCA FM 103.3 – radio of, by and for the Petaluma community.

Much more information and tickets are available at the PCA.tv website, or save yourself a service charge and buy tickets in person at the PCA studio, 205 Keller St, Petaluma. PCA is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 2 – 8 pm. Volunteers, sponsors, and donations of any size are welcome.

VIDEO: Winners of Sonoma Home Brewer’s Competition Joe Monostori and Jeremiah Konen

Joe Monostori and Jeremiah Konen tell there story in this short video. These two home brewers won the 2015 Sonoma County Homebrewer’s Competition in Petaluma for their “Mojo Chocolate Milk Stout.”

In this video Jeremiah said when they entered the competition that had no expectations of winning it. He stated “It just happened.” They encourage other home brewers to enter this year’s competition. In talking about their winning, Joe said this year “It could be you.”

For more information and applications for this year’s event, go to the Petaluma Downtown Association Website.