Lest We Forget – Bert Kerrigan

Bert KerriganAt last, the sun came out and Saturday’s Butter & Egg Days Parade (April 25) was the 34th year that Petaluma celebrated its historic roots in the chicken and egg industry, which can trace its roots back to 1879, when Lyman Byce invented the first successful incubator for hatching eggs.  As this new industry grew over the years and the demand for chickens and eggs increased, Petaluma became the world leader of this industry and was called “The Egg Basket of the World” in 1917. Much of the credit for this recognition has been awarded Bert Kerrigan, who had been hired by the Petaluma Chamber of Commerce to market and promote Petaluma. On August 13, 1918, Petaluma initiated National Egg Day Petaluma Chicken Pharmacywith a downtown parade led by a queen and royal chicks. In addition to the parade, there was also a Chicken Rodeo and Egg Queen Ball. In 1920, the original Egg Day events ended, but the current parade took its place in 1982, in honor of Our Favorite River Town’s chicken and egg days legacy.

Lest we forget, Bert Kerrigan and all the other Petalumans whose efforts have put Petaluma back on the world map. Ripley’s Believe It or Not column and National Geographic discovered and featured the Chicken Pharmacy located on Main Street. It has also been reported that by 1920, the price of eggs increased and that “for nearly two decades, there was more money on deposit in Petaluma banks, per capita, than any other town on Earth.”

paradeThis positive and strong sense of community continues to this day and has influenced the current generation of Petalumans to never forget their favorite river town’s legacy. Stay tuned as we continue to blog about the city where we have chosen to live, work, play, and retire.

 

What’s Going On In Petaluma? April 25 through May 1

  • Petaluma Antique FairesButter & Egg Days Parade – Click this link to get the (SMARTPHONE FRIENDLY SCHEDULE & MAPs), April 25, 10am-5pm: Petaluma’s best loved event returns for its 34th year and is celebrating our “Fertile Ground”! Watch over 130 units march through Downtown Petaluma, enjoy food and drink, music, arts and crafts and an area just for kids! Come early to watch the Cow Chip tossing contest at 10:00, The Cutest Lil Chick Contest at 10:15, Pre-Parade Entertainment at 11:15 & the kids’ Pre Parade at 11:30. Main Parade steps off at 12pm at Fourth and D St, loops around to Petaluma Blvd North, and ends at Petaluma Blvd South at D St.
  • Spring Antique Faire – Sun., April 26, 8am-4pm: Shop for a variety of affordable treasures from 180 vendors in Historic Downtown Petaluma’s historic charm, including its stern Victorian iron-fronts and grand neo-classical buildings, make it the perfect backdrop for the Petaluma Spring Antique Faire. Spanning Fourth & Kentucky Streets between B and Washington Streets, this day long celebration of all things antique will take place on Sunday, April 26th, 2015 from 8am to 4pm.
  • Spring Choir Concert – Sun., April 26, 6:30pm: Performances by the Bell Choir, the children’s choir, instrumental and vocal soloists. Free. First Presbyterian Church, 939 B St.
  • Performance PosterBoating 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.
  • 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.
  • Screening of “Performance” – Wed., April 29: Petaluma Film Alliance’s Cinema Series. Pre-film lecture 6pm; Film 7pm; Held at the Carole Ellis Auditorium, SRJC Pet. Campus, 680 Sonoma Mtn. Pkwy.
  • Single Malt Scotch Tasting and Food Pairing – Thurs., April 30, 6pm: Professionally guided tour of single malt scotches expertly paired with a menu of small plates created to compliment each spirit. Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 20 Fourth St.
  • Bistro 100 Winemaker DinnerCapoeira Petaluma’s 6th Annual Azania Batizado SATURDAY, APRIL 25: 10:00-noon: Street Roda, 2 spots downtown. Meet up at Walnut park at 10 am. 4:45PM: Batizado at the Petaluma School of Ballet (open to the public)
  • Winemaker Dinner – April 28 – Bisto 100 Featuring Preston of Dry Creek. A five-course pairing presented by Executive Chef Garrett Adair and Winemaker Matt Norelli. 6:30pm Seating is limited, 100 Second St.

Cell Phone Friendly Schedule with Maps for Butter & Egg Days Parade (Bookmark it)

Your schedule and embedded maps for Petaluma’s Fertile Grounds. Share it with family and friends.

Calistoga chooses #Petaluma animal control service

VIA The Napa Valley Register.

CALISTOGA — The city of Calistoga will enter into a contract for animal control services and shelter care with a Sonoma County animal foundation instead of the Napa County Animal Shelter.

PASFHopeCompeting for the contract were the Petaluma Animal Services Foundation (PASF), backed by the local Wine Country Animal Lovers (WCAL), and the Napa County Animal Shelter supported by the Napa County Sheriff’s Office.

The council approved the contract on Tuesday, 3-2. Mayor Chris Canning and Vice Mayor Michael Dunsford were the two “no” votes, with Councilmembers Gary Kraus, Jim Barnes and Irais Ortega-Lopez in favor of PASF.

Either organization will provide good animal services, said Calistogan veterinarian Steve Franquelin, but the Napa County Animal Shelter just isn’t at the point of reaching the “no-kill” level of animal rescue most important to him and other board members of Wine Country Animal Lovers, he said.

Click here to read the rest of this article seen in the Napa Valley Register on April 22, 2015, by By Anne Ernst

VIDEO: Petaluma’s Good Egg Ceremony – Congrats to Steve Kemmerle!

Janelle Wang NBC Bay Area Announcing Petalumas Butter & Egg Day ParadeDid you know that our past Good Egg’s choose the next Good Egg each year?  This year’s and past years Good Eggs will be featured in a special section of the Argus Courier today.  So don’t forget to pick up a copy of today’s issue.  Also see their recent article online It’s Time to Celebrate Butter & Egg Days Parade.  Also if you missed it check out our post yesterday VIDEO: Janelle Wang NBC Bay Area Announces #Petaluma’s Butter & Egg Days . In it Janelle Wang of NBC Bay Area did a commercial on our parade calling it the Bay Area’s place to be to celebrate our areas agriculture history.

Dr Fred Groverman Chosen Grand Marshall for 2015 Petaluma Butter & Egg Days Parade
Dr Fred Groverman Chosen Grand Marshall for 2015 Petaluma Butter & Egg Days Parade

We met Steve Kemmerle at this week’s citywide marketing meeting.  Wow what this guy does for our city is amazing.  In the last year he has grown our veteran’s day parade now drawing over 40,000 visitors per year making it one of the largest veteran’s day parades north of golden gate (Even after the city cut future funding of this event — and the Butter & Egg Days Parade – he had to make that up with fundraising).  Some things coming this year is a Korean war vets memorial.  They had the Good Egg ceremony honoring Steve and the Grand Marshal this year Dr. Fred Groverman.  Steve was described as being humble and I should say this was reflected in his short speech – because he said nothing about him and talked only about the Veteran’s Day parade (something he is obviously passionate about).  He talked about passing veterans sometimes looking like he was going to tear up – you can tell the passion in this man’s heart to honor our country’s service men and woman.  We can’t think of another person who deserves this award more.  They called him the “Unsung Hero” and Kaye Chandler captured the ceremony on video so we thought we would share it with you below in case you missed it.

Also I am sure there will be a lot of information about it in the Argus Courier today (paper copy), however here is the first print of their announcements from the Petaluma Post.

Unsung Hero Honored as 2015 Good Egg Steve Kemmerle

Butter & Egg Days Parade Grand Marshal is Dr. Fred Groverman

Here is the Petaluma Good Egg Ceremony that was presented at the Petaluma Library and Museum on Saturday.

 

 

What is Capoeira? Find out More About #Petaluma’s Weekend of Martial Arts

CapibaraWhen we were told about Capoeria we thought they were talking about very large rodents in the Africa [insert sarcasm here].  What we learned was that it is an art of survival in muscle memory using rhythms and movements.  You learn martial arts through music and dance.  How cool is that?

Petaluma Capoeira 6th Annual Azania BatizadoWhy is this important now?  They have a jammed packed weekend of events starting today and throughout the weekend suitable for the entire family. It’s Capoeira Petaluma’s 6th Annual Azania Batizado.  Our translation – a bunch of exciting fun events where you can learn and participate in this mixed art (by the way don’t tell your kids it is also good exercise).  In years past they have entered in our Butter & Eggs Day parade.  You may have seen them doing crazy jumps and twirls down the street (like in the p360 photo above).  Instead of being in the parade this year, they will be sponsoring a series of events many of which are open to the public.  So if you are around the downtown swing by and check it out.

Schedule (from their website): 
THURSDAY, APRIL 23:
Special Vivencia Thursday night workshop with Contra Mestre Pedro Cruz. 7:30 at the Petaluma School of Ballet, 110 Howard Street, Petaluma, CA. $10 if you are coming to the whole Batizado event. $15 if you are going to only this workshop or going partially to the Batizado.

FRIDAY, APRIL 24:
4:00-5:00: Kids workshop at the Petaluma School of Ballet
5-6:30pm: Open roda at Helen Putnam Plaza (open to the public)
7-8:30pm: Adults Workshop at the Petaluma School of Ballet
8:30-10pm: Roda (Petaluma Ballet School)

SATURDAY, APRIL 25:
10:00-noon: Street Roda, 2 spots downtown. Meet up at Walnut park at 10 am. (open to the public)
2:30 & 3:30: Adults Workshop at the Petaluma School of Ballet
3:30: Kids Workshop at the Petaluma School of Ballet
4:45: Batizado at the Petaluma School of Ballet (open to the public)
10:00 pm: Party at Zodiacs

SUNDAY, APRIL 26:
11 am: Brunch (at Zodiacs, wtih a Roda): $TBD
1:30pm BBQ

Capoeira Summer Camp

Also starting on June 8th they will have a Capoeria Summer Camp for kids starting June 8th.  Get more information about the Summer Camp on their website www.capoeirapetaluma.com/

BREAKING NEWS: Daughters Save Mother’s Life After Learning CPR Through HeartSafe Program

Joe Kelly Hero-1 Resized

UPDATE April 24, 2015: Petaluma360.com Two Petaluman’s use CPR to save lives, by Matt Brown.

We have been reporting on these amazing stories about our local youth stepping up and saving lives using skills they learned at school and from our local programs. In October 2014 we share with you  “Save Lives Sonoma” helps 13-Year Old Lewis Save The Life Of His Father with CPR and in December 2014 we posted 10-Year Old Penngrove Boy Saves His Mother’s Life in #Petaluma (a post that went viral and is still gets a lot of traffic today).

We learned about another amazing story that took place on ‘tax day’ in April.

We thank Tami Bender of Petaluma Health Care District (PHCD) for providing this information from Jeff Schach, Petaluma’s Battalion Chief,  along with info about PHCD’s HeartSafe Community.

Petaluma Fire Chief Jeff Schach (Photo by BETH SCHLANKER/ The Press Democrat)
Petaluma Fire Battalion Chief Jeff Schach (Photo by BETH SCHLANKER/ The Press Democrat)

Jeff Schach, Petaluma Battalion Chief says “We have linked several cardiac arrests saves to our efforts. the most recent occurred on April 15th, 2015.”  A Petaluma 51-year-old woman suffered a cardiac arrest while making breakfast.  Her daughters, a 7th grader at Petaluma Junior High School and the other a high school student at St. Vincent, called 911 and started CPR on their mother.  When Petaluma Firefighters arrived they were able to get her heart beating normally again with a few shocks and rounds of CPR.  She was transported to Santa Rosa Memorial and then transferred to Kaiser in San Francisco. She now has an internal defibrillator and no deficits.  Her cardiac arrest was caused by an electrical dysrhythmia, not from blocked coronary arteries.  She credits the quick action of her daughters with saving her life.  Her 7th grade daughter learned how to do Hands-Only CPR this past January during PE class at school through the Save Lives Sonoma program, supported by PHCD’s HeartSafe Community.

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“Our Favorite River Town” – Petaluma

Petaluma In The Press Democrat
Karen Nau’s Google+ Post Where is “Petaluma”? #Petaluma #Peanuts In today’s PD

How many readers of the Press Democrat comics have noticed that Snoopy is asking about – “Petaluma?” because that is where the annual World’s Wrist Wrestling Contest is held. This competition was started in a Petaluma bar in 1953 and was publicized by a local reporter – Bill Soberanes. This series of cartoons by Charles Schultz was originally published years ago, and has helped put Our Favorite River Town on the world map. Snoopy is wondering where Petaluma is located. Why is the contest being held there? Can a blogger help Snoppy find the answer to these questions?

Snoopy and Charlie Brown Talking About Petaluma Wrist Wrestling Championships

A new blog site titled, Our Favorite River Town, is being created for use on the Positively Petaluma website. Although there is another blog, Our River Town, published on the Argus-Courier’s Petaluma360.com site by the same blogger,; we will be experimenting with this new site in order to get maximum exposure to the largest audience. Readers of both sites will be encouraged to read both posts and to share their thoughts.

Snoopy Arm Wrestling Linus Comic Strip

My Our River Town blog was initiated in the 1990s to share reflections about how the information and technology world of today was impacting Petaluma. To date, over 600 blogs have been posted in the following categories: Our Community. Then & Now, Web of Life, Remembering Bill Soberanes, Lest We Forget, Emergency Preparedness, Fred Wiseman, Our Cyberplace, Petaluma History, The Sages of Petaluma, and the Petalumans of Yesteryears.

Snoopy - Welcome To PetalumaAbout The Author:

Following a 40-year career as an educator, Bill Hammerman is currently a community volunteer who founded Petaluma Electronic Network (PEN) in 1996, the Petaluma CyberCity Roundtable (PCCR) and the Petalumans of Yesteryear in 1998, and the Petaluma Alliance for Local Emergency Response Teams (ALERT) in 2006. He was one of the original walking tour guides for the Petaluma History Museum and currently serves as the facilitator for the Sages of Petaluma and the Petalumans of Yesteryear.

Please feel free to share these  blogs with your friends and colleagues and help put Our Favorite River Town on the world map.

http://www.positivelypetaluma.com/about/

http://bill-hammerman.blogs.petaluma360.com/

Positively Petaluma Welcomes Bill Hammerman To Our Contributor Staff

PHOTO: Bill Hammerman (Mr. Pepper) explains Petaluma's bell ringing tradition at the Annual 4th
of July Bell-Ringing Ceremony at The Petaluma Historical Museum on July 4, 2014 via Press Democrat

 

bhWe are growing in leaps and bounds.  We are the fastest growing website and social media outlet in Petaluma.  To keep the momentum going we are adding more contributors.  We are organic in that all our contributors are from Petaluma and are passionate about where we live.

Bill Hammerman dressed as a Petaluma Historical figure addresses crowd at the Petaluma Whiskerino Contest Photo Argus Courier Fred Abecrombie
Bill Hammerman dressed as a Petaluma Historical figure addresses crowd at the Petaluma Whiskerino Contest Photo Argus Courier Fred Abecrombie

We are very happy that Bill Hammerman is joining our team.  Bill is “THE” local historian and often blogs on Petaluma 360.  He has a 40-year career as an educator and an avid community volunteer.  He is founder Petaluma Electronic Network (PEN) in 1996, the Petaluma CyberCity Roundtable (PCCR) and the Petalumans of Yesteryear in 1998, and the Petaluma Alliance for Local Emergency Response Teams (ALERT) in 2006. He was one of the original walking tour guides for the Petaluma History Museum and currently serves as the facilitator for the Sages of Petaluma and the Petalumans of Yesteryear.

Please give a warm welcome to Bill and we look forward to seeing more posts from him in the near future.  His column will be called “Our Favorite River Town”.  Check out his first post “Our Favorite Rivertown – Petaluma” on how Charles Schultz used his Peanuts comics to promote Petaluma’s Wrist Wrestling Championships and shows up in Press Democratic comic strip yesterday.

VIDEO: Janelle Wang NBC Bay Area Announces #Petaluma’s Butter & Egg Days

Provided By NBC’s website along with this video is the below:

Honor and enjoy all things Petaluma at this year’s 34th annual Butter and Egg Days Parade and Festival  in historic downtown Petaluma. This year’s parade theme, PETALUMA: FERTILE GROUND, celebrates Petaluma’s remarkable fertile ground and will share the success stories of Petaluma’s culture, businesses, schools, legends, and non-profits, past and present.

Look for NBC Bay Area’s very own Janelle Wang, joined by Giants alumni Jeffrey Pacman Leonard in the parade on NBC Bay Area’s float. The festival begins at 10:00 AM, kicking off fun and family-friendly activities and bringing local food, arts and crafts vendors, local businesses, non-profit booths, and more together for this grand event. The main parade begins at 12:00 PM. Petaluma Transit will also be hosting a free ride day during Butter and Egg Days.

For more information and for a schedule of events, click here

When: April 25, 2015

Where: Downtown Petaluma

Time: 10:00 AM

via The 34th Annual Butter and Egg Days Parade and Festival | NBC Bay Area.

CLICK PAGE 2 TO SEE JANELLE WANG ON A GIANTS DECORATED CABLE CAR IN LAST YEARS PARADE WITH LEGENDARY PITCHER VIDA BLUE

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