Second Annual #Petaluma Superhero Run Helping Kids Battle Cancer

petalumahero3 websizeOn Saturday morning, Sept. 19, dozens of little heroes in capes, pink tutus, batman masks, and colorful costumes zoomed across Walnut Park, in downtown Petaluma. The parents of these children heroes, also sporting capes and superhero crests, encouraged the little heroes to assemble in the park for a just cause: A run to raise money and awareness for children battling cancer.

petalumahero4 (1) Clo with KidsThe Second Annual Superhero Run was held in September as part of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, honoring local children battling cancer. The event also honored the memory of children who passed away after being diagnosed with cancer.

Children ages 4 and up could register for the petalumahero6 websizeevent for $10 and adults for $20, with proceeds benefitting local children with cancer. The event had two runs, a 5k run at 8:30 a.m., followed by a 1 mile fun run at 9 a.m.

Before the run, the children and their parents joined in a dance challenge to Whip Pediatric Cancer, following the steps to Silento’s “Watch Me” and modeling some of the dance moves after superhero flying gestures and spiderman climbs. Then the participating heroes scattered around the neighborhood, with shirts and number labels from the event, spreading the message of their call to action.

petalumahero1 (1) websizeFor more information about the local heroes and ways to get involved, check out Petaluma Superhero Run’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/petalumasuperherorun

Positively Petaluma Welcomes Guest Contributor Mariana Raschke

Mariana Raschke is a student at San Francisco State University, majoring in journalism with a concentration in Print and Online Writing. She has written articles for Santa Rosa Junior College’s Oak Leaf, covering local events and people in Santa Rosa and Petaluma. Mariana is interested in issues concerning social justice both locally and globally and is passionate about traveling, reading, and writing.

We look forward to this young bright and rising journalist to write about more Petaluma events.

A Message of Hope in Difficult Times – The National Heirloom Exposition Continues to Inspire

UPDATE: September 24, 2015 – Check out the complete photo gallery of the National Heirloom Exposition by PositivelyPetaluma.com Visual Artist Ashley Collingwood.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PHOTO GALLERY

Seedsman Jere Gettle and his Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company crew have pulled off another of their annual paeans to heirloom produce and the food movement, as the fifth National Heirloom Exposition took over the Sonoma County fairgrounds in Santa Rosa for three straight days beginning September 8. For three days the fairgrounds were transformed, taking on the look and leisurely pace of a rural country fair that belied its locale amid a city of 172,000.

A display of old farm vehicles and equipment lined the grass as I arrived at the fairgrounds, and suddenly fiddlers seemed to spontaneously proliferate on the music stage, popping up like a bunch of alfalfa sprouts reaching for the sun.

I immediately bumped into Dave Kaiser, probably the most recognizable of the Baker Creek crew from Missouri, besides Jere Gettle himself.

Clad in a worn straw hat and overalls that have definitely been around the farm a few years, Dave is a true people-person, a handsome fella with a scruffy beard and easy grin who’s been a part of Gettle’s company since it began. Dave recalls Jere as a young lad and neighbor in Mansfield, Missouri who loved to show off his garden and daydream about selling heirloom seeds someday.Connie_and_Dave_Kaiser 1

The star of many a glorious full-color photo in the company’s popular annual seed catalog over the years, Dave’s easy-going, generous and welcoming manner – so complimentary to Jere’s own – has helped set the tone for the Expo since its inception.

The Heirloom Expo’s more than a country fair though. It’s also a trade show for heirloom and specialty seed folk, growers and family farmers of all kinds, a livestock show for those who raise them, a three-day seminar for horticulturists and rally for sustainable food and agriculture advocates. Ted-x for the dirt-in-their-nails crowd. It’s all these and more.

CLICK HERE OR PAGE 2 BELOW TO READ MORE AND SEE A 1725 POUND PUMPKIN

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NEW VIDEO: Singer Songwriter Saffell Sproul Unplugged On 1926 Baldwin Grand Piano

Saffell at Rivertown Festival
Saffell Sproul and Friend at Rivertown Festival, Photo By Wayne Dunbar

Morty Wiggins. Saffell‘s manager, says that “Saffell’s attack on the piano is both funky and graceful bringing as much rhythm as it does melody. These songs defy easy classification while pulling from blues, funk, pop, and rock. All of this is enhanced even further by an amazing rhythm section that brings it all home. The playing in both the drums and the bass are great examples of musicians playing exactly what is needed with excellent chops and effortless style.”

We posted on this young rising band previously on the release of their new album in our post #Petaluma Indie band launches new record. We enjoyed Saffell‘s sounds this year both at the Rivertown Revival as well as the Taste of Petaluma at the Roaring Donkey.  Here is another chance to catch him live in Petaluma on September 18th he will be playing at the Corkscrew Wine Bar starting at 7PM.

Here is the recently release solo unplugged video performing his original song, “Take it Easy” on a 1926 Baldwin grand piano.

If you enjoy his sounds you may also like his MP3 or Audio CD Devil’s On The Radio track that is downloadable from Amazon.

Petaluma’s Jonny Gomes pitching one of the greatest innings in history

082815_atl_gomes_leg_kick_med_9ijf5r3qYou’re probably saying, Jonny Gomes pitching? What? Yeah he is a position player.  Obviously the Braves were in a tough spot, and they brought in Gomes to pitch an inning that will go down in history.

From the MLB.COM website:

082815_atl_gomes_does_cueto_med_bp5e5752With the way the 2015 season has gone, you may have assumed you’d seen about all the different position player pitching archetypes there are to see. But with the Braves down big to the Yankees on Friday, we all learned a valuable lesson: You have not lived until you’ve seen Jonny Gomes pitch.

082815_atl_gomes_strike_three_med_rq515uvhGomes is the Platonic ideal of the position player pitcher — the beard, the unbuttoned jersey, the sure-why-not ethos that results from surviving five different brushes with death. And when the moment of truth finally arrived, oh man, did Jonny Gomes not disappoint. Over the course of one glorious inning, he flinched, kicked, flailed, hat-tipped and occasionally pitched his way into our hearts, and to commemorate this historic moment, we’ve compiled this exhaustive timeline:

The Official Site of Major League Baseball

Click the following link to see the videos and timeline from the the original source: A comprehensive timeline of Jonny Gomes pitching one of the greatest innings in history | MLB.com

Petaluma Elks Invites You To Chanel’s Cancer Fundraiser

Tomorrow evening from 1 to 5PM the Petaluma Elks (2105 S McDowell Blvd # A, Petaluma, CA 94954) are holding a fundraising event called Mom’s Sunday Supper for a young girl stricken with cancer.

chanel 3Chanel was admitted into Children’s Hospital in Oakland on May 16th, 2015 around 4am.  She was having seizures and her right side was not moving.  She had swelling of the brain on the left side and blood on the right.  She was scheduled for a Spinal Tap but due to the swelling of the brain they were unable to perform that procedure.  On May 22nd they took a Biopsy which the Doctor stated her tissue was abnormal.  Meanwhile awaiting her results, Chanel was still having seizures.  On May 27th, Chanel’s parents got the worse news ever…Chanel was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Tumor Stage 4.  With Chemotherapy and Radiation treatment she has a 20% chance of shrinking the Tumor and enjoying more of her precious beautiful life.  Her parents. Heather and Gerard, are seeking other treatments and getting more opinions.  They however have found a Doctor that has a clinic that specializes in Glioblastoma in Florida.  Please send all your love and prayers for Chanel and her health.  Any donation to this family will be greatly appreciated. If you can’t make the fundraiser, please click here to donate.

ChanelChanel is starting her third week of treatments and she is starting to lose her hair and has gained a lot of weight from the steroids. It is extremely sad and depressing for all who love her but through it all she has stayed strong and never once complained or cried about anything. Chanel is a true warrior in every sense. Please keep sharing and praying for her cure.

The Elks are calling the event “Mom’s Sunday Supper”  All proceeds will go towards helping the family with Chanel’s treatments which range in the $50,000 and up category.  The Elks donated the use of the hall, the bartenders are volunteering their time for the day and we’ve received donations from the following:

Costco, Petaluma Poultry, JM Rosens, Petaluma Pie Company, Palace of Fruit and still working on more donations.  A band will be playing called Soul Section who is donating their time.  There will also be ton of raffle prizes, including Giant Tickets, jewelry, restaurant gift certificates, Amy’s Kitchen basket of goodies, etc. and the grand prize is a 7-day cruise to the Bahama’s which will most likely be a live auction conducted by Paul Barbieri.  Charlotte Barbieri and Chanel’s Aunt Vicki will be doing all the cooking and Charlotte rallied up  the companies sponsors for the event many who donated food items.

For tickets – they should contact Charlotte Barbieri (707) 778-8588 or (707) 695-5560.

Petaluma’s Griffo Distillery Breaking Through The Spirits Biz

Griffo Family, Photo By Chad Dunbar

We interviewed Jennifer and Mike Griffo, owners of Griffo Distillery in Petaluma, and found them to be hard-working and well educated.  Jennifer has an M.A. at Stanford University in International Development. Mike Griffo has a PhD in Physics from University of California, Santa Cruz.  They have lived in the bay area now for 15 years. In 2008 they got the idea of creating Griffo Distillery while lying on a picnic blanket at the Peay Vineyard. They were reflecting that owning a winery would be a good life for them — one that would keep close to their family and community.  However they didn’t want the demanding agricultural challenges that comes with managing a vineyard.  That was their “Aha” moment when the idea of a spirits distillery – exactly what they want to do without the headache of growing grapes.

Griffo Distillery, Photo By Chad Dunbar

The distillery business for the Griffo’s has been a labor of love.  Their blood, sweat, and tears have poured into this small family-owned spirits company. Mike Griffo spent three years as a “Qaunt” or doing Quantitative Analysis for Barclays in New York to raise the money to start the distillery.  Five years of penny pinching and planning went into starting this operation. They decided on a (infamous) Scott Street location because it is anchored with other craft beer and spirit makers, like Petaluma Hills and Lagunitas, as well as close to their family. They struggled through the outdated Prohibition Era regulations (unlike our Craft Beer companies who have earned relaxed alcohol practices to create their brews.)  These laws allow them only a limited number of options on how they could distribute their products. The Griffos are the founding members of the Petaluma Craft Guild.

CLICK HERE OR PAGE 2 BELOW TO CONTINUE

Click here to see a full gallery of photos of the Griffo Distillery.

What’s Going On In Petaluma This Week? Through Sept 4th

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

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

Mike-eating-ice-cream-2-300x275 (1)Port & Ice Cream – Sat. & Sun., 12-5pm: Taste Three Twins Ice Cream with Port & Sherry. Sonoma Portworks, 613 2nd St. 769-5203. www.portworks.com.

Boating at the Barn – Sun., 10am-1pm: Free kayak and row boat rides at the River Heritage Center in Steamer Landing Park. 769-0910.

Hunt-and-Behrens-courtesy-Petaluma-Museum-300x235“Trestle Talk” Presentation – Sun., 2pm: By historian Katherine Rinehart at the Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 20 4th St. 778-4398.

Salsa on the Terrace – Sun., 1-5pm: Bubbles, Latin American bites and fantastic salsa music by “Sabor de mi Cuba” at Keller Estate Winery, 5875 Lakeville Hwy. Call 765-2117.

Petaluma East Side Farmers marketEast-Side Farmers’ MarketNow among the top Farmer’s Markets in Sonoma County Tuesdays, 10am-1:30 pm: Year-round, rain or shine! New Location: Deer Creek Shopping Center (Friedman’s) 429 No. McDowell Blvd. 415-999-5635.

Wednesday Evening Farmers Market – Wed., 4:30-8 pm: Two blocks of vendors, music, food & fun in the Theatre Dist. on2nd, B & C.

West Side Stories ChangesWest Side Stories – Wed., 7:30pm: 5-minutes stories on the theme, “Change is Coming.” Sonoma Porkworks, 613 2nd St. .

“City of Angels” – Sept. 4-20: Cinnabar Theater presents the Tony Award-winning play. 3333 Petaluma Blvd. North. For ticket info: 763-8920 or www.cinnabartheater.org.

 

ex-machina-3 (1)“Ex Machina” Fall Cinema Series – Wed., 7pm: Pre-film lecture at 6pm. SJRC Petaluma Campus. For info & schedule .

CLICK HERE TO SEE A LIST OF UPCOMING EVENTS