Week of October 12, 2026
Wonderstump: What is it, and should you take your kids?
If you've been curious about what is happening in the old white Radiator Repair Shop space at 301 Petaluma Boulevard North, you're not alone.
I had heard several months ago that there was some sort of art exhibit and/or maker space happening there. I found my way to the Wonderstump website, but even after watching their intro video, I wasn't sure exactly what to expect.
Well, with my 7-year-old daughter off from school recently, I thought it was time to pay the place a visit.
Note that they aren't open very often. If you want to check it out, you'll need to do so on Thursdays, Fridays, or Saturdays. It seems like a great place to take your kids on a potentially rainy Sunday this winter as well, so let's hope they can expand their hours a bit. I did purchase tickets ahead of time on their website just to make sure everything was set for our arrival, but we probably would have been just fine buying tickets at the door.
My daughter was excited. She's definitely a creative kid who gravitates toward art projects and make-believe scenarios. I tried to temper her expectations, since I wasn't really sure if it was going to be a hit for someone her age. For what it's worth, WonderStump advertises itself as family-friendly and encourages kids to come and touch, play, and learn all about its eclectic exhibits.
And it really is a nice mix of things to see and play with.
There is a childlike whimsy to most of the pieces on display, but I'd say that both my daughter and I were equally intrigued and eager to dive into what Wonderstump had to offer.
We were greeted by a friendly staff member who encouraged us to have fun and "push all the buttons", certainly words that a seven-year-old is eager to hear!
Some of the pieces were relatively self-explanatory: beautiful but simple. Others clearly had depth and meaning that a seven-year-old probably can't fully grasp.
There is a loose, futuristic, space-age, cyberpunk vibe about the place. There is also clearly a lot of thought put into a narrative storyline that I was starting to follow, though I could have used more time to explore it.
The standout pieces for my daughter included a mystifying trunk that you could look into; it appeared to extend deep into the floor. She knew it was some sort of optical illusion using mirrors, but she was still blown away by how it tricked her perception.
We were also encouraged to touch a giant screen mounted on the wall. I had thought it was a passive viewing experience, but I was mistaken. The screen acts as a really fun digital whiteboard for kids and adults to create funky cosmic artwork. I'm sure there were more Easter eggs and plot points buried in the interface, but my daughter was set on creating lots of magenta-colored mushrooms, so that's what we did.
Aside from the screen, we spent the most time in a small room that felt like taking a trip back in time to a spare bedroom in my grandma's basement or a set piece from Stranger Things, and I mean that as a high compliment. My daughter quickly recognized one of her favorite films, Kiki's Delivery Service, playing on an old TV. However, she was not prepared to see that the movie was playing through a Panasonic VCR eerily similar to the one that I (and probably most of us) had in our childhood homes.
While we never fully came to conclusions about what everything in the space was "supposed to be," it gave us a lot of joy to open all the drawers and push all the buttons to see what would happen.
We kept drawing parallels to a fun puzzle book we love called “The Eleventh Hour” by Graeme Base.) In that book, every small detail in the illustrations means something. There are messages to decode, tiny mice drawings to spot, and more. So every minor detail in the room was observed and considered a potential clue to what was going on at Wonderstump. Was it aliens? Ghosts? Or just a creepy story meant to keep you guessing with no definitive answer?
When our brains started hurting from trying to figure out what all the clues meant, we took an energizing break to color at the arts table. Intricate coloring sheets and a variety of colorful markers are too much for a seven-year-old (and her dad) to resist. It's also worth noting that Wonderstump sells some kid-friendly snacks and drinks to help you refuel while you're hunting for clues or creating art.
All in all, we spent about two hours enjoying ourselves in the space, though I feel like we could have spent much less time or much more time and had an equally lovely experience.
It definitely feels like a place to return to when they update exhibits (October had a spookier vibe than other months, it seemed) and to look for new details you may have missed the first time around.
I could also envision it as a very unique birthday party venue for the right kind of artsy, imaginative kid and group of friends maybe between the ages of 6-12. It's a versatile space that could act like a chameleon, changing tone for different audiences with just a few subtle tweaks. The stage and projector screen seem perfect for a rave or horror movie night, but I could also see a setup with kids' movies or pop music videos for a birthday dance party.
I'm really glad we found a Friday afternoon to experience Wonderstump! You should absolutely bring your kids and check it out for yourself....
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Music Report I: Nightspore “PH-Level” CDr (A traveling listening club item)
*(The following is the first in a series of music reviews meant to start a “decentralized listening party”. If you are interested in participating please see the end of the review to get involved.)
Like so many “new sounds” that spread in the last 100 years of popular music, Acid House and its offshoots were not a result of new technology being explored by those fortunate enough to afford it. Rather it was born of people forcing outdated hardware to make novel sounds, usually by leaning into an area that previous musicians avoided. In the case of this music, the style is commonly cited as originating in Chicago around 1986 when some musicians realized that a Roland 303 bass synth with the resonance cranked to self-oscillation levels, something previously considered unpleasant, might actually have a charm all its own. (After the internet shined a light on every corner of music history at the turn of the millennium, an obscure 1982 Raga LP was found to use the 303 in a similar way… musical origin stories seem always to be a bit blurry… but using the Acid label and having the sound catch on seems uncontroversially linked to 1986 Chicago.)
35ish years later, a mysterious project titled Nightspore poked its head out with a series of tapes and eventually a full-length CD release. A brisk discography of 12 or so releases erupted in 2 short years and then… silence. The material all had the signature resonant 303 bass synth, but the similarities seemed to end there. The drum machine used here was clumsy, untreated, and was programmed with a more pagan ritual pattern as opposed to the four-on-the-floor which seemed prescribed across all Acid House releases. That approach, riding alongside whispered vocals and cryptic lyrics, created a much more disturbed, mystical aura than the music that may or may not have inspired it. There are some extra noisy, gritty layers and abstract moments that set the recording apart, but by no means are they a deal breaker in a world after Radiohead, etc. (No sound similarity there, just that 2000s pop would definitely expand people's tolerances for musical use of non-musical sounds.) Finally, the unusual distribution channels (sold mostly in non-techno markets like hip hop, experimental, and metal distributors) were further evidence of the stubborn outsider approach.
No lineup information or biography was available, but a 2023 appearance at The Phoenix Theater would triangulate the project to at least Sonoma County, if not Petaluma precisely. Nightspore opened for Allegory Chapel Ltd along with other support acts Cert and Cloud Fault on an eclectic bill of rhythmic electronic, tape music, and old-school noisy industrial music. The turnout of approximately 50-60 people was actually pretty large for such marginal acts, but of course in the 800 cap venue still looked fairly modest. Nighspore performed a medley of two or three songs using only a tape machine and a floor tom, with face obscured by a scarf wrapped under a hood so only the eyes were revealed. It was well received, minus the abrupt stage exit at just over 10 minutes. Despite the masked performance, keen observers of shoes were able to corner the performer and pry some information. (I actually held back; I love a good mystery.)
During the short burst of tapes released during 2021 to 2023, there was a fractured series of tapes titled PH Level (insert number here) that created a series. The use of PH here seemed the only confession of any awareness of the techno predecessor. To the best of my knowledge, only tapes 1, 3, and 5 were publicly released, leaving fans to wonder where 2 and 4 ended up. It turns out there were actually six tapes in the series, a fact only discovered when Marin-based hip-hop label produced a pro-manufactured collection CDr earlier this year titled PH-Level. Odd Sounds isn’t strictly hip-hop music, a poke around the Bandcamp will also show some odds and ends like the hip-hop-shaded demented sounds of Circus Lurkers, but the Nightspore CDr still stands alone. It takes up very little space too, being produced in a micro edition of 50 copies.
The collection does have a few sharp turns, like the Temple Of Slempy track that includes an intro built from a sweaty and clumsy saxophone number with some whispered female vocals layered in. The second track, The Only Thing That Matters uses the most caustic-sounding white noise bursts found on the disc, breaking up a fairly driving and dark melody. These islands created a nice relief among the other more similar primitive and less human-sounding tracks.
When I listen to this CDr as I finish the review, I can find a kinship in things that nibbled around the first wave of punk as it came and went. Devo, for example, could be a touchpoint in its adventurousness. Maybe even the rigidness of Laibach (but of course not as compositionally rich or conceptually straight face...). I am not a scholar of techno music, but usually people who are deeply embedded in a genre will not accept these half-in, half-out approaches, so I would not push this on that crowd… but for people who miss rule breakers and music content without a home, this CD might be a nice jolt!
You can hear the whole thing for free on Bandcamp, but if you are interested in engaging with the CD itself, let me introduce you to what I hope to be a fun little adventure for this disc. I am looking for a group of people (4-5 tops) who would like to take custody of this CDr, spend some time with it, post their own thoughts here in the comments, and then send it off safely to the next waiting volunteer. But there is a catch… I am really hoping each person is willing to meet the person on either end of the CDr’s journey for an in-person handoff. Make it a 10-second pass-off in a grocery store, or make it a coffee or a meal; it’s up to you. If needed, you can ask me to ferry between parties. In person transfer is not a requirement… I don’t want to exclude shy people, so if you prefer you can have someone drop it off on your porch in a safe place or do the dropping yourself when you release, but why not take the chance to meet a person and grow your own music community in Petaluma? Aside from the reviews, thoughts, impressions, whatever you want to say in the comments, I am hoping each person will also write something inside the release itself during the time they have custody. I will affix a white avery sticker for notes like we do with DJ reviews at KFJC. The last volunteer can drop the item off at Porches HQ where hopefully the team there will be willing to add it to their HQ library for future listening, or lending, or as a conversation piece. (I plan to try to do the above with books as well, so stay tuned for a spooky book review and opportunity to participate later this week if that is your thing.)
Don’t leave me hanging folks! Lend me your ears… post in the comments if you are willing to chip in to this fun game, or send me a message directly. (And as always, please let me know if there is anything you would like to see written up in these features. Bonus points if you will chime in on the writing!)
I can't wait to hear from you....
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Meet Chloe Herdman, the Student Moderating the October 12th School Board Candidate Forum
Chloe Herdman is a senior at Casa Grande High School and this year's student board member for Petaluma City Schools, a one year term she is serving for the first time. Tonight she moderates a forum for the candidates running to join the board she currently serves on. I called her this afternoon. She told me she had her college application essays open on her computer while we talked.
Have you moderated a forum before?
"I have not actually. This is my first year on the board. It's a one year term. And last year I didn't run for the position. So this is my first time getting this opportunity. And I'm really excited about it."
Where did your questions come from?
Her AP Government class. She asked her teacher if she could poll the room, then turned what students said into formal questions and sent them to her co-moderator for the forum, Pamela Granger.
"These board members are gonna be representing us, our interests, putting forward policies that are really important for how our school's going to be regulated. So I had students tell me the issues that were most important to them, and then I wrote those up into official questions."
Six of tonight's questions came out of that class.
Are you nervous?
"I'm definitely nervous to be moderating a big event like this. It's my first time. I'm a little scared, but I think it's going to go well."
What calms her about public speaking is the musical theater she does outside of school.
"I memorize a lot of lines and songs and dances and stuff, and I perform very frequently. So I've gotten to have that opportunity to wash away a lot of stage fright."
Who is coming tonight?
Two of the candidates, Laura Holmes and Sarah Seitchik Sebastian. Chloe says the other three candidate, John La Bare, John Garcia and Brianne Balzarini, are out of town. She has met Sarah before, because she went to elementary and middle school with Sarah's son. She and Laura Holmes have been emailing but have not met in person. As far as she knows there is no second forum, and she is not certain she will get to speak with the other three before the election.
What do you want Petalumans to know?
"Just keep in mind that a lot of these elections are going to directly affect how our education system functions for a while, especially because we've recently gone through six million dollars in budget cuts. So a lot of these policies and efforts that these candidates want to put forward will affect what opportunities our students have, what classes, what extracurriculars, and how our teachers are funded."
The seats are for four-year terms.
About Chloe
Chloe moved to Petaluma at age three with her family, natives of Kansas City. She attended Mary Collins School at Cherry Valley from fourth through eighth grade and has been a Casa student all four years.
"I haven't had another public school experience, but I don't think I could have had a better one than Casa."
Casa feeds into American Legion Auxiliary California Girls State, where she spent a week building a mock government with several hundred other high school students.
"I've gotten a lot of really awesome opportunities because of PCS, and I really want to see those opportunities extended to more students."
Chloe is applying early decision to Brown and plans to major in political science.
"It's been my dream career field for a long time now."
Thank you Chloe Herdman, and good luck tonight! For background on the race, Meet Your Petaluma School Boards and the data dashboard at petalumaschools.com are both up.
♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️
📷 : courtesy of Chloe Herdman...
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JOIN THE CHORUS: Where Do Petalumans Make Music?
My students often tell me they want to learn to sing harmony. That's tough to teach in a one-on-one lesson, so I always give the same advice: join a choir! There's no better way to practice harmony week after week. As a bonus, you'll stretch your range and build your sight reading, ear, tone, and breath control alongside peers in a nonjudgmental setting. I've been singing in choirs since I was 7, and I wouldn't be where I am today without all the hours spent in those groups. My husband reminds me that we first met at a very nerdy Nor-Cal Honor Choir 20 years ago. You never know who you’ll meet…
If a choir sounds right for you, I've spotlighted a few local groups below. And if you'd rather build your musical chops on an instrument, read to the end, because I've featured a community band too!
My hope is that this post helps connect Petalumans with community ensembles where they can make music together and hopefully even make new friends while they’re at it.
Know of another group that's welcoming and open to the public? Tell me about it in the comments!
Petaluma Women’s Chorus
If you're a woman looking for a sweet and inviting group to sing with, the Petaluma Women's Chorus is worth a look. I've heard nothing but wonderful things from friends and students who have taken part over the years. The repertoire is an eclectic mix, ranging from classical pieces in other languages to choral arrangements of popular holiday songs.
The chorus has been around (on and off) since the late 90’s, and is currently directed by Sadie Sonntag. Sadie also teaches music for the Petaluma City Schools so you may have seen her on campuses around town (and your kids may already know her!). By all accounts, Sadie is incredibly kind and welcoming to newcomers. No prior experience is required, and the audition is nothing to be intimidated by (mostly vocal exercises to determine your voice type).
The group, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, rehearses right downtown at the Hall of the Above on Tuesday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m. The current fall-winter season culminates with a performance on December 6. The next session begins in January, with a spring concert in May.
So if you want to build new musical skills, find a community of women who love to sing, or both, this might be your calling. I've also heard you can sometimes find the choir ladies cutting loose at karaoke around town after rehearsals!
If you're thinking about joining, you can ask to shadow a rehearsal by emailing info@petalumawomenschorus.org, or learn more at www.petalumawomenschorus.org
Santa Rosa Symphony Chorus
If you’re looking for a more rigorous choral experience this season, and want to be a part of the masterpiece that is Handel’s Messiah, then you should check out the SR Symphony Chorus!
Affiliated with Sonoma State University, it’s an auditioned choir where community members sing alongside music majors, other students, faculty, and staff. This year they’re starting a new annual tradition called Winterlude, beginning with Messiah which their website describes as “uplifting and joyful…this choral masterpiece concludes with the “Hallelujah” chorus, offering inspiring meditation on hope and the promise of a better world.”
The choir is led by Sonoma State's Professor of Music and Director of Choral and Vocal Activities, Jenny Bent. My friend, Arden Kwan, a wonderful Petaluma musician who recently joined, told me that the audition was “very non-stressful.” She just sang “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean”!
Rehearsals are on Tuesdays at 7pm and begin tomorrow, October 13th in Schroeder Hall at the state-of-the-art Green Music Center in Rohnert Park, just a quick 15-minute drive from Petaluma. The final performances will be on December 12th at 7:30pm and December 13th at 3pm. They are still looking for members so there’s time to join even if you can't make the first rehearsal.
Learn more at www.srsymphony.org/people/ssu-symphonic-chorus or find Jenny Bent’s contact info on her faculty page: music.sonoma.edu/faculty-staff/jenny-bent
Petaluma Chorale
The Petaluma Chorale is a nonprofit mixed vocal ensemble "dedicated to the art of superior choral singing, including formal, jazz, Broadway and other contemporary styles." Its singers are community members of all ages and backgrounds who share a love of singing.
The Chorale is directed by Linda Evans Manuilow, a longtime teacher and member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and the American Choral Directors Association.
Rehearsals run in 16-week sessions each fall and spring, with a performance at the end of each. The group meets on Tuesdays from 7 to 9:15pm at St. John's Episcopal Church near downtown Petaluma (Tuesdays at 7 seem to be a very popular time for choir rehearsals!). New singers do a brief audition, and registration is $164 for adults and $82 for students.
Learn more at thepetalumachorale.com/home.
Pacific Empire Chorus
If tight four-part harmony is your thing, this one might be for you. Founded in 1964, the Pacific Empire Chorus is a women's a cappella group dedicated to sharing the joy of singing and preserving the American art form of barbershop harmony through performance, education, and competition.
Under the direction of Patty Pennycook, the Chorus and its affiliated quartets have drawn members from as far away as Nevada, Alaska, and Hawaii. It's a chapter of SingUnited International (formerly Sweet Adelines International) and competes regularly around the region.
As their website puts it, "Pacific Empire Chorus is more than just an a cappella ensemble...it is a family." The group meets Wednesdays at 6:30pm at First Presbyterian Church (939 B Street, Petaluma).
Email sing@pacificempire.org or visit www.pacificempire.org for details.
Petaluma Community Band
Have an instrument gathering dust in the closet? The Petaluma Community Band might be your excuse to pull it out.
Formed in 1996 by musicians eager to rebuild Petaluma's rich tradition of municipal bands, it's an all-volunteer adult wind and percussion ensemble whose members span a wide range of ages, backgrounds, and occupations.
The band is directed by Arlene Burney, who is also Director of Instrumental Music at Casa Grande High School. An accomplished French horn player, Arlene has taught instrumental music for over 30 years and grown the Casa Grande program from 40 members in one band to more than 120 across two concert groups and two jazz bands.
There are no formal auditions, but the website says participants should have played in an advanced high school or college band, be comfortable sight-reading at that level, and be willing to practice at home. You'll need your own instrument, though percussion equipment and sometimes tubas and string basses are provided. And of course, "an enthusiasm for community music and contributing to the town band tradition is essential!"
Rehearsals are Monday nights, 7–9 p.m., in the Casa Grande band room. The band is now a class through the Petaluma Adult School, and participation costs $40 per semester. Concerts are always free. The next one is Monday, December 14th, at 7:30pm in the Casa Grande High School multi-use room.
If you're interested in joining, email Arlene at: pcband@sonic.net
Did I miss a group? Tell us about it in the comments!...
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“I Wanted to Do Something Good With My Winnings”: Sue Conley's Next Act on Lakeville Highway
Almost everything written about Sue Conley is about cheese, and rightfully so. She is an icon, a real pioneer in the world of cheesemaking in the United States. She and Peggy Smith started Cowgirl Creamery in a converted hay barn in Point Reyes Station in 1997, won a James Beard award for it in 2006, sold the company to the Swiss dairy company Emmi in 2016, and retired in 2021. The founding story has been told in many, if not every, food magazine that covers this part of California and beyond. During our conversation, Sue shared something new: what she is working on next.
"I wanted to do something good with my winnings," she said.
She started by looking for a multi-unit housing property to purchase, and her plan was to subsidize rents for people working in food and agriculture. What she found instead was a farm on Lakeville Highway, across the road from Ernie's Tin Bar, with six small cottages on it and an 1899 farmhouse with six bedrooms. Sue and her partner, Nan Haynes, purchased the property in 2019. It is called Silver Penny, a name that goes back to William Randolph Hearst III's family, who owned the place in the early 1970s.
The cottages are there because the property spent about twenty years as a retreat center after it was donated to the Archdiocese of San Francisco in 1986. She describes the six units as very modest, which is the thing that made them fit the plan rather than work against it.
"I thought, this is perfect for cheese makers and, you know, people in the food community," she said.
The business model was such that the farmhouse use would pay for subsidizing low rent on the cottages. Events, meetings, the occasional short term rental, with that keeping rents down in the six long term rental units. The permitting for the proposed project was no quick process. Without getting into great detail, Sue said, "The problem was, it took me three years to get a permit, even though it had been a retreat center. I had to kind of start the process over, do some retrofitting and such."
At the purchase of the property and the start of this new venture, Sue gave herself a timeline with a deadline for moving on. If it was not working in five years, she would sell. By her own accounting the only part that was working was the housing.
"Nobody wants to leave," she said.
The fifth year came and she listed the property. However, sitting across from me over our cortados at Della Fattoria , Sue told me that she has decided to take the property off the market and wants to give it another go, and really try to bring her vision to life with full force.
"I've just now decided to take it off the market and re-energize the effort," she said. She is looking ahead at 2027, and she is inspired by the work that her nephew and artist, Chris Kallmyer is making in his studio there and the community he has built around it. She has hired Kate Larson to help her with bookings.
We talked about the location for a minute. How cool it is that Ernie's Tin Bar is going strong, the new addition of Sundrop Sauna, and the restaurant slated to open in spring 2027 in the former Papa's Taverna location, which the Gilardi family is bringing back under the site's historic name, Lakeville Landing.
What she wants the farmhouse for
Earlier in our conversation I had said that what interests me most about Petaluma politics is the conversation that happens in the middle, and that two sides shouting past each other does not get much done. She picked the phrase up and told me that is what she wants the farmhouse to be for.
"I'm mostly interested in what you call the middle. It's the juncture between ag and urban. It's so contentious."
She means where the agricultural life and the urban life meet.
The groups she named as the ones she wants in that room are Point Blue Conservation Science, Sonoma Land Trust, Sonoma County Ag + Open Space, and the Marin Agricultural Land Trust, where she served on the board for eighteen years. She says the Agricultural Institute of Marin is holding its annual meeting at the farm next month, and that the working lands team from Point Blue stayed two nights this week and held a meeting at a farm down the road.
The farms, and the buildings
That juncture is under pressure at the moment. Twelve ranching operations in the Point Reyes National Seashore are winding down under a settlement reached in January 2025, and she says three of those farms were selling milk to Straus Family Creamery.
"That's been really a heartbreaker," she said.
Sue keeps coming back to the buildings and the places of building a business. The Point Reyes creamery she and Peggy built is now a fermentation operation, making sauerkraut and pickles, and their old Petaluma distribution buildings on Lakeville have become Stemple Creek Ranch facilities. Infrastructure like that is expensive and slow to permit, and in both cases it was already standing.
She says the regional cheese world she helped build has contracted. When I asked whether that was because everyone grew and had to focus inward on their own companies, she agreed, and said it came down to each of them working out how to keep making a living. "We all had to scale to survive." She does not know yet what replaces it or what comes next.
"I feel really sad that we've kind of collapsed and consolidated, and people are working on their own," she said. "But I feel like there's something ahead that we don't know."
It's all the same work
The rest of her time goes to mentoring, through Les Dames d'Escoffier and the West Marin Fund, and to raising money for the Mesa Refuge writers retreat in Point Reyes, where she chaired the board. Her partner Nan is seven years into working as a support instructor in the citizenship program at Petaluma Adult School, which Sue describes as where her heart is, along with her garden.
"Hey, it's all the same work," she said. "Just in a different form."
Silver Penny Farm is at 5215 Lakeville Highway. Porchmail Sue Conley if you have a group that belongs in that farmhouse, and thank you Sue for taking the time to talk....
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Event Roundup: Monday, October 12 → Sunday, October 18
Happy Monday! It's a big week at Porches HQ. On Thursday we're hosting our October Happy Hour with Damien Carney from Avinage - a wine shop pouring a few of his favorite fall wines, and then On the House: October Edition returns this weekend with free breakfast treats at three of my favorite spots in town. Here's what else is on my radar this week:
Tonight! Monday, October 12
AAUW Candidate Forums — Petaluma City Hall, 11 English St (School Board 6pm, City Council 7pm to 9pm · Free) If you're still deciding how to vote, tonight's your chance to hear from the School Board candidates and then the Mayor and City Council candidates, all in one room. Lizzie Wallack shared all the details, plus links to her interviews with the candidates, so you can do a little homework first.
Wednesday, October 14
Brother Verses Brother - Fall Cinema Series — Carole L. Ellis Auditorium, @SRJC Petaluma, 680 Sonoma Mountain Pkwy (Director interview 6pm, film 7pm · $8) This week the Petaluma Film Alliance is screening Brother Verses Brother, a film about family and the healing power of music that was shot in a single unbroken 90-minute take. Director Ari Gold is there for an onstage interview before the film and a Q&A after. Details here.
Thursday, October 15
Porches October Happy Hour — Porches HQ, 11 5th St, Suite 202 (5pm to 7pm · Free) Our neighbors from Avinage - a wine shop are joining us for a special wine tasting. Co-owner Damien Carney will be pouring a few of his favorite fall bottles from small, family-owned producers and sharing the stories behind them. PLUS, we'll have special beverages from Biotic Ferments, courtesy of Ryan Johnston available to try! Please mark yourself as interested on the event page so we know you're coming!
Friday, October 16
Youth Art Exhibition — Cloudland, 900 B Western Ave (3pm to 6pm · Free) Porches Scout Beth Tisthammer is opening up her youth art studio for a showcase of student work from her Upcycle Fashion, Illustration Studio and Upcycle Sculpture Lab classes. You can make something for the Día de los Muertos altar or add a sticker to the studio's Yayoi Kusama-inspired Obliteration wall, then grab dinner next door at Ray's Delicatessen & Tavern (the deli kitchen closes at 5).
Nighttime farm tour @ Umbel Roots — Umbel roots, 3900 Sears Point Rd (7pm to 8:30pm · $10, ages 10 and up) Walk the farm after dark looking for owls, farm cats, opossums and the other night creatures that help (and sometimes hurt) an organic, biodynamic farm. Bring a small flashlight, red if you have one, and wear shoes for uneven ground. Tickets here.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show - FRIDAY 10PM SHOW — Phoenix Theater, 201 Washington St (Doors 9pm, preshow 10pm · $15.49) Halloween season isn't complete without a late night of Rocky Horror at the Phoenix, with a live shadow cast acting it out in front of the screen. Can't make Friday? There's a second 10pm show on Saturday. Tickets here.
Saturday, October 17
On the House: October Edition — The Bagel Mill, Caffeine Inc.. and Stellina Pronto (Saturday and Sunday · Free for Porches members) On The House is back, this time devoted to breakfast! Grab a free bagel and cream cheese at The Bagel Mill, an El Cubano at Caffeine Inc. and a pumpkin cinnamon roll at Stellina Pronto. Just open the Porches app at checkout to redeem your tickets, and invite a friend to join before the weekend so they can come along.
Tattoo for Buckelew — Petaluma Tattoo, 406 Petaluma Blvd S (11am to 7pm) Petaluma Tattoo's annual flash fundraiser is back, with guest artists coming in from Los Angeles, Chicago, Eureka and Portland. Proceeds benefit Buckelew Programs and its suicide prevention and mental health services. More info here.
15th Annual Adobe Cup — Petaluma Speedway, 100 Fairgrounds Dr (Gates 4pm, racing 6pm · $25 adults, $12 kids 6 to 11, under 5 free) The Sprint Car Challenge Tour rolls into the Speedway for the Adobe Cup and the Bob McCoy Memorial, one of the bigger nights on the track's calendar. Tickets here.
The Textile Show — @Jess Brown, 144 Petaluma Blvd N (7pm to 9pm) Six textile artists, including @jess brown, Jess Feury, Dalila Acuña, Yuka Hoshino, Anna Simpson and Carrie Crawford, are filling the shop's walls for one evening. Porches Scout Beth Tisthammer talked with Yuka Hoshino about her work ahead of the show, and it's a lovely read before you go.
A little further afield: Stemple Creek Ranch Open House & BBQ — Stemple Creek Ranch, 900 Burbank Lane, Tomales (10:30am to 3:30pm · $50 adults with a $10 farm stand coupon, $25 kids, BYOB) Take a guided ranch tour with the owners, then settle in for a BBQ lunch, tastings from local food makers, live music, games and a raffle. Tickets here.
Sunday, October 18
Boating at the Barn on the Petaluma River — David Yearsley River Heritage Center, Steamer Landing Park, 6 Copeland St (10am to 1pm · Free) Every Sunday morning, Friends of the Petaluma River lets you check out a kayak, canoe or paddleboard like a library book and head out on the river. It's a great way to work off that pumpkin cinnamon roll. Details here....
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Week of October 5, 2026
The Dog Who Changed Everything: How Lily’s Legacy Is Saving Senior Dogs
Top: Alice and her dogs, Angie, Belle and Cooper. Bottom Left: Maggie and Lucy - mom and daughter bonded pair available for adoption. Bottom Right: Dogs running in Lily's park.
How Lily, a beautiful senior Golden Retriever, inspired Alice to create a Petaluma sanctuary—and how her work later grew to include Saving Senior Dogs USA, a separate nonprofit supporting senior-dog rescues.
As I turn onto the country road, a squad of turkeys lines the roadside like feathered traffic guards. I roll down the hill toward Lily’s Legacy. The gate opens, and I see volunteers out walking dogs.
I hop out, eager to pet them all, starting with Martha, a sweet Hound mix. Before I even reach Alice’s front door, someone calls, “Hey, are you here to volunteer?”
“No, I’m here to interview Alice!”
“One second, then!”
A new face pops out to welcome me in. There are senior dogs relaxing in every room, and I stop to greet Alice’s three furry bodyguards—Angie, Belle, and Cooper. They give me a thorough sniff-test, decide I pass, and I finally sit down with Alice.
Lily’s Legacy is a five-acre sanctuary in Petaluma for large-breed senior dogs. The rescue moved from Alice’s home in Marin County to a rented larger property in Petaluma in 2012; with a supporter’s help, it bought its current property in 2015. And yes, there are volunteer “cuddle hours.”
Tara: You’d retired and had this lovely farmhouse. Did you imagine you’d be starting a sanctuary?
Alice: I had volunteered with Golden Retriever Rescue for about 10 years. Then I fostered Lily from the Sonoma County Animal Shelter. She had some serious health problems. We got through several of them, but then she developed a blood disease she couldn’t recover from. She was only with me for about four months, but she affected everybody she met and inspired me to start Lily’s Legacy.
Alice started Lily’s Legacy in January 2009. What began at her home grew into a rescue dedicated to large-breed senior dogs—at least seven years old and weighing 50 pounds or more.
Tara: What happens when a dog arrives?
Alice: The first thing is a visit to the vet. We want to understand what the dog needs and get them as healthy and comfortable as possible.
Each dog receives a thorough veterinary intake exam, a senior blood panel, all necessary vaccines, dental care if needed and any other medical care needed. Lily’s Legacy also works to help adopters understand a dog’s medical needs. The rescue considers whether a dog is likely to do well at the sanctuary or if they would do better in one of Lily’s foster homes. About 60% of its dogs come from shelters and 40% from owner surrenders. The average stay is about 60 days, though every dog’s path is different.
Lily’s Legacy is a 24/7 operation. Alice and another caretaker live on the property so the dogs are never alone. Volunteers help with feeding, walking, and keeping the dogs company—and some sign up for “cuddler” shifts.
Tara: Wait—did you say “cuddler volunteers”?
Alice: I did!
Tara: Oh my gosh. I think everybody wants to do that all day.
Alice: They sit on the couch and cuddle with the dogs or sit in one of the fields and cuddle with the dogs.
Senior dogs make wonderful companions. We strive to match the dogs with their adoptive families, so the family is the right family for the dog, and the dog is the right dog for the family.
Tara: What do you wish more people understood about adopting or caring for older dogs?
Alice: Older dogs are just amazing. The biggest thing I’ve learned from them is gratitude. They’re so grateful to be somewhere they’re loved and cared for—and sometimes they really bounce back. We have a hospice dog, who came to us in December 2023 with six months to live because of an adrenal tumor. He’s still alive and flourishing, now living in a beautiful home at Treasure Heart Ranch.
A wider network for senior dogs
Alice’s work reaches beyond Petaluma. In 2019, she started Saving Senior Dogs Week to connect senior-dog rescues and raise funds. What began with about 10 participating rescues has grown to around 35 rescues throughout the USA.
Tara: How does your annual Saving Senior Dogs fundraiser help rescues across the country?
Alice: Veterinary care is one of the biggest expenses. Seventy-five percent of the money raised is divided among participating rescues, and 25% goes into a veterinary grant fund they can apply for.
Saving Senior Dogs Week takes place during the last week of October, ahead of Adopt a Senior Pet Month in November. Businesses can choose from four sponsorship levels, and donations are accepted year-round.
How you can help this October
Saving Senior Dogs Week is looking for sponsors big and small. Visit the Saving Senior Dogs USA campaign page to donate, then share the campaign with your community.
To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please reach out directly to Alice Mayn at alice.m@savingseniordogsusa.org.
To learn more about Lily’s Legacy Senior Dog Sanctuary in Petaluma, visit the Lily’s Legacy website or follow Lily’s Legacy on Instagram and Facebook.
Alice hopes anyone considering a dog will look to a senior—the ones who need it most and can be the hardest to place. After meeting the dogs at Lily’s Legacy, and thinking of my own sweet Ava and Amigo, I am reminded of the fierce, quiet gratitude an older dog gives you. Loving them until their very last breath, and walking with them through that final chapter, is one of the most sacred, beautiful gifts of a lifetime....
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The Story Behind Cider Circus
There’s something pretty magical about watching a good idea come to life, especially when it involves bringing the community together in Petaluma. A few years ago, I met Emily Weber and Nina Kravetz through my friend Steven Klarman and the folks at Alec's ice cream and my husband Ben Plourde and I have been going to their Big West Wine Fest since it began. What they’ve created at Big West is more than a wine festival, it’s a gathering of curious, creative people who care deeply about what they’re making, who they’re sharing it with and the community that grows around it. So when I started thinking about how we could bring some of that energy to Petaluma, Emily and Nina immediately came to mind.
I sit on the board of Friends of the Petaluma River David Yearsley River Heritage Center and Steamer Landing Park has always felt to me like one of those special Petaluma spaces that deserves to be celebrated. It sits right on the outside of Petaluma, between two water ways, has a little grit and history and offers the kind of backdrop where you can actually relax, wander, run into friends and spend an afternoon together. I thought: what if we brought the Big West spirit here? What if we created a party that felt uniquely Petaluma while also supporting something important to our local community?
That was the beginning of Cider Circus. Emily and Nina have spent years immersed in the world of natural wine, cider and co-ferments and they have a real talent for bringing people together. They’re the kind of hosts who understand that the best events aren’t just about what’s being poured: they’re about discovery, unexpected conversations, music, food, creativity and giving people a reason to linger. Cider Circus brings that same spirit to the waterfront, with local and small-production ciders, food, music and a playful, carnival-inspired atmosphere. Last year’s event included everything from juggling and face painting to oysters and waterside activities, proving that “cider festival” can mean a whole lot more than standing around tasting beverages.
But underneath all the fun, there’s a bigger reason I’m excited to see Cider Circus take root here. Cider is deeply connected to the agricultural history and character of Sonoma County, and Cider Circus is a chance to celebrate the growers, makers and traditions that make this region so special. There’s something wonderful about gathering around a product that has such a strong sense of place and supporting the people who are keeping that craft alive in new and creative ways. As cider maker Ellen Cavalli put it, supporting local cider producers helps keep the region’s apple industry “alive and thriving.”
And for me, that’s where the Friends of the Petaluma River connection feels especially fitting. The river is part of the fabric of this town, it's where our agricultural, industrial and recreational histories intersect and it’s a place that belongs to all of us. Events like Cider Circus give us an opportunity not only to enjoy this incredible setting, but to invest in the organizations and people working to care for it. A great community event can be both a really good party and a way of putting energy and resources back into the place we call home.
I also love that Cider Circus is designed for the whole community. Kids are free, with apple bobbing, juice pressing, face painting, friendly clowns, lawn games, kayak paddling and an exclusive Lego Make & Take from my team at Poppy's. The Poison Oak Band will bring bluegrass to the waterfront and, of course, there will be plenty of cider for sale. It’s an afternoon built for wandering, playing, discovering and running into friends.
And when the circus winds down, the party keeps going. The Cider Circus After Party runs 5–8 p.m. at Grand Central Petaluma, with Tacos don Pepe, live music from Julia Cramer and Tyler Johnson of Willow & Hound and cider, wine and coffee flowing. It’s a chance to keep the good energy going downtown and continue supporting the local businesses and people who make Petaluma such a special place to gather.
Ultimately, I hope Petaluma embraces Cider Circus as more than just another event on the calendar, as a celebration we’ll want to show up for, enjoy together and truly make our own. Emily and Nina are bringing their years of experience, their love of gathering people and their incredible network of makers to our waterfront. Friends of the Petaluma River benefits, local makers get a moment in the spotlight and our community gets a new reason to come together in one of the most beautiful, iconic spots in town. I’m pretty thrilled that a few introductions, a little matchmaking and a shared love of a great party turned into this.
Come for the cider, stay for the circus, bring the kids, paddle the river, listen to some bluegrass and then keep the party going downtown.
Saturday, October 24th, 12-5 p.m.
Steamer Landing Petaluma, CA
Snag your tickets here: https://www.bigwest.biz/tickets...
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I Went Looking for Marigolds
This morning, I went looking for marigolds—not for my own display, but to add to an altar teenagers at the Phoenix Theater are creating for Petaluma’s Día de los Muertos celebrations.
A couple of days ago, I saw a post on Porches from Chelsea Shapouri of Dog Dirt Farms, inviting people to come harvest marigolds. So today, I filled a basket with bright orange flower heads and brought them to the Phoenix Teen Clinic, where the teens created their altar.
When I arrived, several teens were there, along with the Petaluma Library, which hosts a craft gathering at the Phoenix once a month. I pulled up a chair and joined in.
As I strung marigolds, I listened. I added flowers to the altar, listened to conversations, and toured the revamped Phoenix Teen Health Clinic. What I thought would be a quick visit turned into a window into the community that gathers here every Wednesday.
It seemed like a very Petaluma kind of connection: a local flower farmer, a post on a neighborhood social media app, a basket of marigolds, the public library, and a circle of teenagers coming together to make something meaningful.
For me, bringing the flowers was also a thank-you. Over the past two years, my son found connection and inclusion through the Phoenix’s teen gatherings, and I realized I had never really stopped to see what happens here every Wednesday.
Now I want to find out more:
What does this place mean to the teenagers who come here? What keeps them coming back? And what happens when young people have a place where they can simply show up, make something, talk, create, and be themselves?
I’ll be back next Wednesday to listen and learn more.
Stay tuned. An incredible resource for Petaluma teens is right here in our community.
Phoenix Teen Clinic drop-in visits: Wednesdays, 3:30–5:30 p.m., are run by
Volunteer Program & Clinic Director: Cheryl Negrin, FNP/PA/MSN/PHN.
The clinic provides education, resources, and free or low-cost services that address a range of adolescent health issues in a relaxed, teen-friendly environment. It also partners with local organizations to connect teens with additional resources and services.
chelsea shapouri crow saidel Phoenix Theater Tom Gaffey...
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HOCO 2026!
Whether you have a child in high school or not, you might have nostalgic memories of your own high school Homecoming experience, or “HOCO” as the students call it these days. In Petaluma, it is always a lively time where our community comes together to celebrate. This year for the first time, Petaluma High School (PHS) and Casa Grande High School (CGHS) had their homecomings in the same week. At PHS, the theme was Lumapaloza and at CGHS, the theme was Rio. Both high schools had a week of dress up days, floats, a football game with a halftime show and of course the much anticipated Homecoming Dance. As one of the ASB advisors at PHS, I was heavily involved in the planning and week of events at PHS.
PHS has an annual tradition of the Homecoming Float Parade which goes through the neighborhood near the school. This year’s floats were a collection of music genres, freshman with Disco, sophomores with Hip Hop, Juniors with Rock ‘N Roll, seniors with House and FFA with Country. Floats are judged by various staff members and the overall winner was FFA, which had a special tribute to Dolly Parton.
Both schools had their Homecoming Football games, sadly both lost, PHS against Ukiah 28-38, and CGHS against Rancho Cotate 20-44. However both games were very lively and spirited with halftime shows featuring the cheerleading teams as well as the announcement of Homecoming Royalty winners.
The final activity of the week for both schools was the annual Homecoming Dance which had almost 800 students at PHS and over 800 for CGHS. With record heat temperatures last weekend it might have been the hottest dance in both school’s history but fun was still had by many! Both schools had a “HOCO Proposal” contest where students could submit their dance proposals for a chance to win a free dance ticket on the school’s ASB Instagram - many with creative posters, flowers, and stuffed animals. Overall fun was had by many!
When I surveyed students, staff and parents about the week of events, many commented on how much they love the overall school spirit, the parade and of course the dance including the getting ready pictures beforehand. One student said: “My favorite memories from this year's homecoming was getting to spend time with my friends at the dance and football game. We also got ready together and took pictures. It was also nice to see my siblings at these HOCO events. I felt very happy and can't wait to do it again next year!”
As an ASB activities advisor, it is a long week but it is well worth it when I see all the smiles on students' faces and all the fun that people have!...
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Monday, October 12th ► Candidate Forum
Present by AAUW Petaluma, Co-Hosted by The League Of Women Voters and Petaluma Area chamber of Commerce, PCS Forum co-moderated by Casa Grande High School student
Time & Location
Petaluma City School Board, 6-6:45pm
Petaluma City Council, 7-9pm
Petaluma City Hall
12 English Street
Related Features
Meet your City Council
Meet your Petaluma School Boards
Petaluma City School Board Candidates
Trustee Area 2: Brianne Balzarini
Trustee Area 3: Laura Holmes , John Garcia Trustee Area 3*
Trustee Area 5: Sarah Seitchik Sebastian, John La Bare Trustee Area 5*
Petaluma City Council Candidates
Mayor
Kevin McDonnell / incumbent
John Hanania*
Shelina Moreda*
District 1
Janice CaderThompson / incumbent
Nate Martin
John LaPierre
District 2
John Shribbs / incumbent
Brent Newell
District 3
Karen Nau / incumbent
Eric Vazquez-Izaguirre
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Note: All candidates in this race were invited to join Porches and to sit for a community spotlight interview with equal access to our audience.
*Did not respond or declined the interview.
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AAUW
League of Women Voters
Petaluma Area Chamber of Commerce...
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Arts education at every stage
In conversation with SFMOMA's Amy Lange
I was introduced to Amy Lange through a mutual friend who recognized both our shared background as artists working with youth, and our matching zipcodes (Amy became Petaluma official a month ago).
For the last 8 years Amy has been with SFMOMA doing museum education. The starting position had her coordinating with colleagues to lead tours of the collections that would later inspire an art project at the in-house arts studio. When a position opened for her to act as Family program producer, she jumped on it. “It is a much better fit for me” she explains, “I’m like the producer on a film set”. Every Sunday you and your family can participate in a hands-on creative event cooked up by Amy and the team at the museum, and facilitated by a teaching artist hand-picked (and paid) by the organization. Projects still take place in the museum studio, but Amy delights at the new freedom to do pop-ups under giant sculptures or on the rooftop gardens with views of the city.
As a sculptor, Amy’s recent works are large scale textile installations – technicolor crocheted and woven “blanket forts”. These interactive spaces invite the viewer to reconnect with a younger version of themselves. Growing up, I certainly made forts for fun – but in hindsight, also as a way to insulate myself from a world that could feel frightening and unrelatable.
She is currently looking for a new studio here in town. There is a garage in her current home, but it's not going to cut it – “I need a lot of space to build”. Any leads on barns or warehouse spaces would be greatly appreciated.
Fresh off her move to Petaluma, Amy met me at Cloudland to talk about shared observations in art making with children, and the health benefits of maintaining a creative practice into adulthood.
At the studio things are in their periodic state of cleanliness (my doing), but we both agree that young creators thrive in chaos. “I just leave it”, Amy laughs about her museum work space. I imagine she's right, after a year at Cloudland I am starting to resent all the sweeping...
What generates this mess is the recognition that what children at this stage are developing is a love of innovation.
Years ago, I watched the Netflix docuseries Abstract's profile on Cas Holman – a toy and playground designer from NYC. “You can’t play with a finished idea” was something they said regarding toys with assembly instructions. “Don’t tell a kid to make a car, rather ask them to design a way to get to school” Now, instead of getting a representative image, you are getting a flying taco truck or an inner-city rollercoaster.
This is also a guiding principle in Amy’s work and her favorite moments at SFMOMA are when a kid goes off script. If making a color paper spectrum after seeing the Ellsworth Kelly exhibition is not your thing, Amy’s not going to stop you from making a paper house instead.
Kids want components to create – it supplies much needed agency over ideas and the freedom to be able to choose what happens next. What they make becomes secondary to what is really being cultivated: the reliance on oneself to figure it out.
As adult creators both Amy and I know how essential this skill is as it applies to all circumstances forthcoming to our students. On paper, I may seem multifaceted – but in reality my resume is the direct result of assuming that whatever the assignment, I can depend on my creative thinking skills to figure it out. The world becomes much easier to navigate, much less lonely, “and it's free” Amy adds.
Funding for arts in education is historically low, and academic standards barely recognize them beyond grade school. This might be subject to change due to new research in the fields in the neuroscience of aging brains.
Amy points to a friend recently hired as a curator for the UCSF Memory and Aging Center.
Neuroscientists there are excited by recent findings between creative processes and brain health. Creative activities are proving invaluable to the rehabilitation of the white matter pathways lost during age related events. Formerly thought to only live on the “right side of the brain”, making art engages multiple interconnected brain networks rather than a single creative center, serving as a form of cognitive cross-training that merges movement, emotion, and problem solving.
“Arts need to be a requirement for all grade levels” Amy explains, its funding underwritten for purposes of health and longevity.
Amy will continue her work in the city, but has ambitions to capture local students at that pivotal moment when art making becomes inaccessible. I too have questions about this stage, seeing a big drop in interest around age 11. I assumed it was societal, but Amy believes it to be developmental, and has frontline success with high school students doing observational drawing. “They need to draw still life, and they need figure drawing, they love it”.
I think this adds up – looking deeply at a subject, the concentration required to turn it into shapes and then render surfaces transports you to a place in your brain where you, or time does not exist. It's the kind of mental vacation that I’m sure sounds good to anyone in this age of overstimulation – but should be a priority for tweens and teens struggling with unprecedented levels of anxiety and depression.
Amy has a standing invitation to teach at Cloudland, but in the meantime encourages anyone to just make something, anything, no excuses....
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Sonoma County’s Largest-Ever Education Bond Is on the Ballot
A look at Measure AB, what it would cost, and what it does and does not promise the Petaluma campus.
Measure AB asks voters to approve $830 million for the Sonoma County Junior College District, the largest amount the district has put before voters. It would be repaid through property taxes into the late 2050s.
It lands at a moment when a lot of people are rethinking what education should look like and what it should cost. The measure leans heavily on career technical training: nursing, firefighting, EMT work, auto mechanics, the building trades. Those are the programs that send people into good jobs without a four-year degree, and they are drawing fresh attention as families weigh the price of a bachelor’s and as employers look for skilled workers.
I wanted to know three things: what the money would pay for, what it would cost, and what it would mean for the Petaluma campus. So I read the measure itself, along with the arguments on both sides. Here is what I found.
What a junior college is, briefly
“Junior college” is the older name for what California now calls a community college. SRJC opened in 1918, when the term was standard, and kept it, which is why your ballot says Sonoma County Junior College District.
It is a two-year public school. Anyone can enroll, and tuition costs a fraction of what a four-year school charges. A junior college has two main goals. One is to grant associate degrees that transfer to a CSU or UC, so a student can finish a bachelor’s for far less. The other is to train people directly for work, through the career programs Measure AB would fund.
What is on the ballot
The trustees placed Measure AB on the ballot on June 9. A general obligation bond is borrowed money for buildings and equipment, repaid through property taxes over decades. It cannot be spent on teaching salaries or the day-to-day running of the college.
The district has said it is facing roughly $1.75 billion in identified maintenance and upgrade needs across its campuses. Voters have funded SRJC construction twice before, through Measure A in 2002 and Measure H in 2014, $662 million between them. District officials say the last of it is assigned to projects by the end of this year, even where the spending has not finished. Measure AB is larger than both combined.
Sarah Laggos, the district’s spokesperson, answered my questions by email.
“Since 2008, the state has ceased to provide regular funding to community colleges for capital improvements and determined it is a local issue to address,” she wrote. Since then, local bonds have been close to the only way these campuses get built or repaired.
The district describes the $830 million as what it believes it can responsibly address while holding the tax rate steady, and stresses that it is a maximum authorization rather than money spent all at once.
Some of the need reflects age. SRJC opened in 1918, and the Santa Rosa campus is the old one. Petaluma’s is newer, built out in stages since evening classes started here in 1964, and most recently rebuilt with Measure H money around 2020.
What it would cost taxpayers
Petaluma property owners already pay about $29.50 per $100,000 of assessed value toward SRJC, split between the two older bonds, which finish paying off in 2030 and 2042. Measure AB is timed to pick up as those older bonds pay off, so the total stays about the same.
Its payments do not start until the end of this decade, when Measure A finishes paying off.
From then until 2042, the combined rate projected to stay under $30 per $100,000.
Once Measure H retires in 2042, Measure AB settles at $25 per $100,000, and holds there until 2059.
The ballot language opens “Without increasing tax rates,” and that phrasing is contested. The California Taxpayers Association told the Press Democrat it is biased, since the tax runs decades longer than it otherwise would. Assemblymember Chris Rogers noted that courts have allowed the wording, on the argument that payments do not rise year to year, they simply last longer.
Borrowing also costs money: principal and interest come to roughly $1.76 billion on the $830 million borrowed, about $930 million of it interest, through about 2059. The district calls that a conservative estimate rather than a fixed number, since the bonds issue in series over roughly a decade at whatever rate the market sets. It also argues the comparison cuts both ways, since construction costs rise at least four percent a year, so waiting carries its own price.
What this means for Petaluma’s campus
The short answer is we don't know yet! There is no dedicated Petaluma share and no schedule for our campus. Project lists are written broadly on purpose, because a district cannot know thirty years out which buildings will need the work. The tradeoff is that voters approve the money first and learn the specifics later.
So I asked Laggos directly what we can expect. The intent, she said, is to invest across the district, Petaluma included, but Measure AB "does not establish a predetermined campus-by-campus percentage." If it passes, a public facilities master planning process begins after the election, with discussion and data analysis running through 2027, and that process sets the priorities.
I also asked whether most of the backlog sits in Santa Rosa, given the age of that campus, and how a Petaluma owner should think about paying into it. Laggos said the benefit runs both directions: Petalumans use the fire academy in north county and the nursing program in Santa Rosa, while "students from all over Sonoma County can take classes at the Petaluma campus for things like our carpentry, HVAC, veterinary technician, fashion design."
What the district would not do is put a number on Petaluma. It did not say what share of Measure H came to this campus, how much of the $1.75 billion sits here, or which building most needs the work. Laggos said the district's facilities assessments "are the appropriate place to identify and rank specific building and system needs rather than promising a project before that work is complete."
The case for, and against
Argument in favor: Herman G. Hernandez, Trustee, Sonoma County Board of Education. Gaye LeBaron, SRJC Grad, Historian, Lecturer. Judy Coffey, Registered Nurse. David Pena, Firefighter, and Alumni. Cheryl E. La Franchi, Rancher.
The district has identified about $1.75 billion in repair and upgrade needs.
The money modernizes nursing, firefighting and trades facilities, the programs that train people for local jobs.
Your tax bill does not go up, because the new bonds replace the 2014 bonds as those expire.
Argument against: Andrew J. Smith, Sonoma County Resident.
The $830 million was set by what fits under the tax rate, not by a cost list of projects.
Interest runs about $930 million, roughly 53 cents on every dollar borrowed. Final payments stretch to 2059, tying up the district’s borrowing capacity, and the cost reaches renters through what landlords pass along.
The Press Democrat’s editorial board endorsed the measure, and headlined that endorsement “with caution.” The district’s answer on renters is that property taxes are paid by owners, while allowing that landlords may factor their tax and operating costs into what they charge.
The measure does carry accountability requirements:
Annual and independent audits
A ban on spending bond money on administrator salaries
Public disclosure of spending
A Citizens’ Oversight Committee of community members, excluding district employees and vendors
That committee is how the public finds out, after the fact, where the money went.
What happens if it fails
The district says the needs do not go away, projects get delayed, and deferred maintenance gets more expensive the longer it waits. Without bond money for urgent repairs, it says it would have to look at the operating budget, which pays for instruction and student services, and that growth would stall in programs already turning students away, naming welding, nursing and public safety.
Where to look further
The full text of Measure AB includes the project list and the accountability provisions, and the measure summary page carries both official arguments. Your Sonoma County voter guide has the same material, along with any rebuttals.
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Thank you to Sarah Laggos, Executive Director of the SRJC Foundation & District External Relations for taking the time to answer our questions....
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Petaluma Job Board: A Pilot
Today, we’re launching a curated list of job openings in or around the Petaluma area. We’ll share a list of 5-10 openings per week. We will include some part-time and some full-time positions. We’re piloting this format below to start, and based on interest, we hope to expand this as a more central database on Porches. For now, we hope you enjoy it and send it to friends and family who may be looking to work closer to home.
Sonoma County Library wants a Graphic Arts Designer to turn ideas into visuals that make people stop and look, and to shape how the library shows up across the county. “Help us make the library impossible to overlook.” Portfolio required; closes Wednesday, Oct 14. ($85,738–$107,078, Rohnert Park HQ)
Point Blue Conservation Science, the “internationally recognized nonprofit advancing conservation through science, partnerships, and community engagement,” is hiring a Philanthropy Officer. The job is looking after about 150 major donors and taking them out to see the work on land and at sea. Hybrid, two to three days a week at the Petaluma office. ($110,000–$130,000) Point Blue is also searching for a Chief Financial Officer. ($220,000–$225,000, hybrid)
Petaluma City Schools is looking for a creative, collaborative art teacher for its Dual Immersion Academy at McDowell, one day a week, to inspire students through the visual arts. Spanish speakers preferred. (Paid on the district’s $65,116–$103,987 teacher salary scale, prorated for part-time)
Petaluma Arts Center needs a Gallery & Visitor Services Coordinator to welcome visitors warmly, look after the gallery and the art, and help at receptions and events. It’s about 16 hours a month, mostly weekends, at 230 Lakeville. ($28/hr)
Skywalker Sound, the Lucasfilm sound house at Skywalker Ranch, is hiring a Senior Software Engineer for the team that builds tools for film soundtracks and media distribution, working closely with the sound artists. You’d lead pipeline components and mentor younger engineers. They ask for 5+ years of experience designing audio and video post-production workflows. Hybrid, mostly at the Ranch in Nicasio. ($157,800–$211,600)
Life On Art brings people from different communities together to build large, handmade, interactive art, including with people inside San Quentin and three other state prisons. It’s hiring a Program Manager to run budgets, fabrication timelines, and installs and to hire facilitators, for work the group sees as building belonging and healing. First deadline is Friday, Oct 16. ($95,000–$110,000)
Adobe Road Winery needs a Social Media Manager to build the online presence of its new riverfront winery and entertainment complex in Petaluma: photo, video, paid ads, email, and the web store. It’s a small team with room to grow your role. Portfolio required; in-office at 1995 S. McDowell. ($75,000–$100,000)
Sonoma State University is looking for a Director of Strategic Communications who loves inventive storytelling. You’ll shape the stories the university tells about its mission and set its communications strategy. ($7,500–$9,167/month, Rohnert Park)
Petaluma Health Center is hiring a Senior Vice President of Medical Services. The role leads primary care, behavioral health, specialty and integrative medicine, sets the goals for all of it, and pushes innovation across the clinic. ($360,000)
Santa Rosa Junior College is adding adjunct instructors in Film & Media Studies, the department behind the Oak Leaf News and the Petaluma Cinema Series and Film Festival. Assignments are part-time or on call. ($60.76–$154.09/hr)
Bool Wine & Spritz Bar, the new spot opening at 112 Washington, is hiring a Hospitality Associate. You’d guide guests through wine flights, invent wine spritzes, and teach people about sparkling wine. There’s a path into management. Part-time, 5–20 hours a week, 21+. ($20–25/hr + tips + 50% off wine)...
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Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue...Did you know?
I retired about 18 months ago and with that came decisions about how I was going to give back to the community. I have always been a big wildlife enthusiast and consider myself an amateur naturalist, so deciding to volunteer at the Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue Center was an easy choice to fill some of my new idle time. It has been a great decision for me! Now, one cannot just sign up and think that the 4-hour-a-week shift and 1-year commitment is a walk in the park, and that one is just hanging out with coyotes, bobcats, red-tailed hawks, mountain lions, foxes and a myriad of other local Sonoma County fauna. This is serious work that Doris Duncan, the founder and executive director, and her permanent staff, interns, and volunteers do every day. It is hard but fulfilling work! From veterinary hospital work, to rehabilitation, to fostering and taking care of orphaned baby animals, to releasing those animals back into the wild, it is all critical work that is focused on the incredible wildlife we have here in our town and county. Their mantra is Rescue, Rehabilitate, and Release!
Founded in 1981, SCWR was facing closure when Doris became involved as a volunteer in 2001. She offered to take the organization into her home, and from there, Doris and her team have grown it from a small and determined outfit into a nationally recognized rescue center with an impeccable reputation.
Two highlights are the Raptor Recovery Center, rated as one of the best in the Western United States, as well as the new Apex Predator facilities that house black bears and mountain lions from all over the state. Both are incredible facilities doing amazing work.
If you are interested in checking out their great work and getting more familiar with their mission, you can get a tour of the facilities, learn more about the animals they treat, as well as learn how you too can help and be a part of the center's great work.
Here is a link that will direct you to their website, volunteer information, and how to book a tour of the facility. Link to SCWR:...
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