Petaluma Elks and Calvary Church working together to support fire victims

On October 9th at 6:30am in the morning, the request for help came from the Petaluma police to open Petaluma Elks Lodge #901’s doors to the first responder’s families being evacuated in the neighboring cities, providing a safe place for them to refuge. By 10am, 5 families, including young children and family pets, were walking into our lodge in visible shock.

Calvary Church

By mid-day, when the gravity of the situation set in, #901 decided to find and respond to the needs of the community. Lodge #901’s next door neighbor, Calvary Chapel, was a designated evacuation center and opened their doors to displaced families.  Lodge #901 discovered that Calvary Chapel’s facility was full of people, sheltering in place, and their logistics team was hard at work trying to figure out a plan. Petaluma Elks Lodge leaders met with the Calvary Church tactical team and offered to open our kitchen and dining hall to them and to partner in the crisis.

The Calvary Church team came over to Lodge 901 and assessed our capabilities the suggestion was made by Lodge leaders to be the cafeteria for the now 180 evacuees and Calvary Chapel would be the sleeping quarters. Food donations began arriving from Calvary Chapel, Petaluma Salvation Army and a multitude of other vendors and individuals while we went to work calling volunteers for help. The Lodge sponsored Boy Scout Troop 2 responded and sent five boys to help. It was agreed upon that they would start by serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the following three days.

Petaluma Elks Lodge #901 Food Line

At 6am on Tuesday, volunteers showed up and prepped and organized and at 7am the first of the families, couples and individuals affected by the fires started showing up. By 10am, half the volunteers went into clean up mode and the other half switched to prepping for lunch. Everyone was still a little shocked, and it was obvious that we needed to get ourselves organized for what was to come, as the news was clear that the fires were traveling and expanding.

Volunteers Making Sanwiches for first responders

A small team of lodge members went into a Lodge conference room and developed a command center, creating operational, logistics, and menu plans, as well as assigning point people for each area. Over the next 24 hours, the Elk’s received food donations, clothing donations and prepared to be an additional shelter to supplement our neighbor Calvary church, who was now housing 180 evacuees. The Elk’s leadership organized the food, reached out for additional refrigeration, built menus for the next 5 days and started slotting volunteers in for five shifts a day around the clock.

Getting Donations Prepared To Help Displaced Families

On day three, The Elk’s started serving additional meals to the Salvation Army, first responders from Falck an emergency response company from across the street, and the Calvary Chapel volunteers. Teams were activated, serving an estimated 650 meals a day. The Lodge opened their showers to Calvary Chapel’s evacuees, accepted additional RVs in 901’s park, placed porta-potties in the parking lot, and all members and volunteers where running efficiently and working together seamlessly and effectively.

Cleaning Crews

Lodge 901 also recognized they needed to start deep cleaning bathrooms and showers on a regular schedule to avoid any illnesses introduced by so many people.  Several groups of volunteers stepped up and rotated shifts  to clean the dining hall, bathrooms, showers and kitchen  maintaining a safe and clean space for all.

The most incredible thing that resulted from this was the length community support coming together and the generosity from all those involve.  Many times we had an army of people taking the time to give love, service and hope to the stream of displaced people.  David Adams from the Lodge said, “Our doors were wide open to those in need.”

After a full week,  the need began to diminish. After a lot of cleaning and redirecting extra food & donations, The Lodge is back to serving our members and learned lessons on how to better prepare, and act quickly and efficiently, the next time they are needed. The Elks are planning to stay in contact with the agencies and organizations that worked so closely with them. Together they plan to create agreements of intent to support each other in the future when disaster hits again. As we all say here “Sonoma County strong-Petaluma kind’.


Petaluma’s Covergirl Shelina Moreda Is What She Makes Up

Today, COVERGIRL announces the biggest reinvention in their 60-year history, redefining the brand with new a slogan, “I Am What I Make Up.” The powerful new expression aims to inspire people to embrace their unique identities and unapologetically create any version of themselves through makeup.

COVERGIRL kicks off their brand relaunch today, with a long-form film titled, “Made in the Mirror,” that features six COVERGIRLs, most of whom were launched throughout the past month. These include, actress Issa Rae, TV personality Ayesha Curry, singer/songwriter Katy Perry, model Maye Musk, fitness trainer Massy Arias and professional motorcycle racer Shelina Moreda. All of these women have combined their professions with their love for makeup, while empowering and encouraging others to do the same.

Ukonwa Ojo, SVP COVERGIRL, Coty, said, “In leading the relaunch, we started with the insight that people no longer strive for a singular standard of beauty, but use makeup as a tool for self-expression and personal transformation.. COVERGIRL has always been inclusive and is known for pushing the boundaries of what it means to be beautiful, which means we have a responsibility to elevate how we connect and communicate with people. This is bigger than a new campaign or a tagline. We hope to spark a provocative dialogue that shifts cultural assumptions about when, where, how and why people wear makeup.”

COVERGIRL’s multifaceted transformation will touch all areas of the brand, including packaging and product design; in-store experience; a new logo and tag line; and look, tone and feel across all communications, starting with “Made in the Mirror” and continuing to roll-out through the remainder of 2017 and into 2018.


Site Under Construction

After an entire year, we finally were able to recover our over 3,500 positive stories and posts on Petaluma. While we have recovered the data, we are going to be working hard on renewing the website with a new look. Please come back in July 2017 and see our progress. In the meantime follow us on our popular Facebook Page and enjoy our archives from the time we launched this site.

VIDEO: Fish with human-like teeth caught in Petaluma Ca Luchessi Pond

Over the memorial day weekend a fisherman got the ultimate surprise.  He reeled in his catch and when he started unhooking it the toothy creature was giving him a big smile.  Here is the video:


What’s Going On In Petaluma This Week? Through May 20th

Spring Book Sale – thru 5/21: Friends of Petaluma Library Book Sale General Sale Days, New books added daily through Friday See website for details & deal days. Petaluma Regional Library, 100 Fairgrounds Dr.  707-763-9801.

  • Wednesday May 18   4:00-8:00 pm
  • Thursday May 19 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
  • Friday May 20 10:00 am – 5:00 pmGodspell-Banner1

Petaluma Arts Association Open Studio“Godspell”thru 5/22: Performed by Cinnabar Young Repertory Theater, 333 Petaluma Blvd. North.  707-763-8920. www.cinnabartheater.org

3rd Annual Petaluma Open Studios – Sat., 10am: Fine artists open their studios to the public – various locations. 707-364-5838 www.petalumaarts.org

Petaluma Adobe Living History DayLiving History Day at the Adobe – Sat., 11am: Mexican California era comes to life at the Rancho headquarters.  Petaluma Adobe State Park, 3325 Adobe Rd. 707-762-4871.

Saturday Farmer’s Market in Walnut Park – Sat., 2-5pm: Over 60 booths selling farm-fresh produce and local products. Live entertainment & activities at 4th & D Streets. 415-999-5635.

PR_JuraMargulis_2Jura Margulis Concert – Sat., 8pm: Russian piano virtuoso performs at the Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 20 Fourth St. 707-778-4398.

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

Holy Jazz & BluesPetaluma Chorale Spring Jazz Concert – Tues., 7:30pm: Jazz and blues performance at the Petaluma Valley Baptist Church, 580 Sonoma Mtn. Pkwy. 812-369-5225 or email: [email protected].

classic carsPetaluma Cinema Series – Wed., 7pm: J.J. Abrams 2015 film, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” at SRJC Petaluma Campus, 680 Sonoma Mtn. Pkwy.

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

Also get ready for

11th Annual Petaluma Ca’s Salute to American Graffiti

Cruisin’ on the Boulevard

Click here or for the schedule of events.

Be Part of Tomorrow’s Highlights Of This Year’s Great Petaluma Chili Cookoff

1-5PM Rain or shine – be there!

(Featured recently on NBC Bay Area)

You have until 8:30AM on 5/7/2016 to order your tickets online.

 

Click here to buy tickets now and help support our Cinnabar Theater children’s programs.

Chili & Salsa $25 ****Kids under 12 $10, under 5 free ****
Chili, Salsa and Beer Tasting $45

Otherwise you can purchase tickets at the gate on day of event.

2015 Great Petaluma Chili Cook-Off-16Here are highlights from previous years event:

I will be a chili judge again in this year’s 19th Annual Great Petaluma Chili Cookoff, Salsa & Beer Tasting competition, so please stop by the judges desk to say “I Love Positively Petaluma! – and chili,salsa and beer too”.

Here are some video highlights from past events:
2015 Highlights:

2014 Event Highlights

For more information CLICK HERE to visit the official Great Petaluma Chili Cookoff website.

PEF to present Special Screening of Documentary Film “Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age”

In partnership with the film production company, Cinema West and Grant School,
Petaluma Educational Foundation to offer Community Screening Event Thursday, May 12 at 6:30 p.m.

Petaluma Educational Foundation (PEF) is excited to announce we will be hosting a showing of the movie Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age on Thursday, May 12. The screening takes place at Boulevard Cinemas in downtown Petaluma beginning at 6:30 p.m., doors open at 6:00 p.m.

In partnership with Cinema West/Boulevard Cinemas and Grant School along with the film’s production company, PEF will welcome guests to this community event offering a Question & Answer session with fellow attendees following the approximately 60 minute documentary.  Click here to purchase tickets on the Eventbright ticketing page:

Numerous local and national media outlets have featured this film. Here is Screenagers official trailer:

Visit www.pefinfo.com for more information on the Petaluma Educational Foundation contact PEF Executive Director, Maureen Highland, at [email protected] 707-778-4632. Or PEF Student Intern Blake Patrick at 707-778-4632.

Click Here Or Page 2 Below To Learn More About Screenagers

Petaluma’s Canvas Ranch Awarded Grant

FGCF-HeaderOn April 26, The FruitGuys Community Fund, a non-profit that supports small family farms will announce Canvas Ranch as a winner of the 2016 FruitGuys Community Fund Sustainable Agriculture Grant Program. Canvas Ranch is a 28-acre family farm that produces vegetables, fruit, grains and wool.

The funds from the grant will allow them to purchase a grain dehuller to provide dehullling services to local grain producers. This essential piece of equipment doesn’t exist in the area. Grains are a key crop for small farm diversification and sustainability as over-wintering maintains water-holding capacity in soils. Crop rotation helps control pests and disease, and increases soil biodiversity.

Winners-Map-1024x768The FruitGuys Community Fund is committed to supporting small farmers across the U.S. who are the catalysts for environmental and economic sufficiency, sustainability, food safety and food access. This year’s group of applicants was the largest and most diverse to date, with submissions and farming project proposals from all across the US.

From their website:

Canvas Ranch is a 28-acre family farm in Petaluma, CA, started by Deborah Walton and Tim Schaible. Together they produce vegetables, fruit, grains, and wool. Deborah also started a nonprofit, the North Coast Heritage Grain Alliance, to support small farmers pursuing alternative and rotational grain crops for food, beer, and spirits-making. Their $2,500 grant will allow them to purchase a grain dehuller to provide dehulling services to local grain producers. No one in the area owns this essential piece of equipment. Grains are a key crop for small-farm diversification and sustainability: overwintering maintains soils’ water-holding capacity, and crop rotation helps control pests and diseases and increases soil biodiversity.



 

Emergency Preparedness in Petaluma Ca

Photo above from Kumamoto Japan Earthquake Relief Fund

Emergency preparedness is back in the headlines due to the recent major earthquakes in Japan (6.5) and Ecuador (7.8). Many people have been killed or trapped beneath collapsed buildings, power outages have occurred, and hundreds of people have been left homeless. Many Californians may ask, “Can it happen here in the Bay Area?” Geologist have replied that it isn’t a question of IF, but WHEN.  For more information see a previous post “Disaster Preparedness – Neighbors Helping Neighbors.”

San-Fran-EQ-Image
Photo From PetalumaMuseum.com

It is just a coincidence, but the 110th anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake was last Monday, August 18th. Amateur radio, often called “ham radio,” has consistently been the most reliable means of communication in emergencies when other systems of communications failed or were over worked. In Petaluma, a small group of volunteer amateur radio operators conducted a city wide drill to test their ability to communicate in the event of a disaster that creates an electric power outage. This group, also known as the Petaluma Neighborhood Ham Watch Network, tested their radios using a repeater frequency as well as five simplex frequencies to communicate with ham radio operators in the four quadrants of Petaluma: North, East, South, and West.

Disaster-Preparedness-Neighbors-Helping-NeighborsThe major goal of this group is to: (1) provide simple conversational contact with amateur radio operators in other neighborhoods, (2) establish two-way communication with an amateur radio station located in the local government Emergency Operation Center (EOC), and (3) to provide Internet messaging service for neighbors to distant relatives. The Petaluma NHW Network conducts weekly check-ins on Tuesdays at
8:00 p.m., on 146.910 -88.5, as well as monthly face-to-face meetings to learn more about their radios.

Any local Hams who want to become involved with the Petaluma Neighborhood Ham Watch Network or seek additional information, e-mail Bill Hammerman, KI6GOO, at [email protected] .


Two Petaluma Mom’s Combine Efforts To End Deadly “Toxic Cocktail”

Kathleen and HeatherKathleen Stafford, mom of 3 teenage boys, businesswoman and Heather Elliott-Hudson, mom of 2 teenage boys and a 7 year old daughter, businesswoman both came together because of a very scary drug incident that happened and because of the incident prevalent drug use at our school was uncovered. Xanax being the current drug of choice, and mixing that with hard alcohol causes a “Toxic Cocktail” and is deadly.

Vowing that we can’t sit on this knowledge we have to get the word out. We then started PPAD who’s mission is to partner with parents, schools, and law enforcement to establish much needed drug education in our schools. 6th graders have the D.A.R.E program and high school freshman can elect to take Human Interaction which teaches lots of important information including drug education. Other than those 2 opportunities there is nothing that is taught on an on-going basis. Leaving our kids at a huge disadvantage when trying to maneuver through the very serious drugs that are widely available to them.

Click here for more information.  Click here to follow their facebook page.