Dear fellow Friend of the Petaluma River,

David Yearsley joyfully championed the Petaluma River as a priceless community resource.   In his honor, the board of Friends of the Petaluma River – which David founded in 2005 and nourished up to the day of his death in September – joined with the City of Petaluma in naming the historic barn on the McNear Peninsula the David Yearsley River Heritage Center. This marvelous structure is the living symbol of Friends’ commitment to the River and serves as the focal point for all of our activities.  Through the DYRHC, David’s legacy lives on.

With your help we will continue to establish the Petaluma River as the heart of our community by sharing in the beauty, wildlife and recreation opportunities our River and wetlands provide. Please join us in Celebrating and Conserving the Petaluma River today with a generous year-end contribution. Click HERE to donate now!

Celebrate and Conserve, the guiding principle of Friends, underscored our work in 2011.  Here are some of the highlights:

• Friends teamed up with the Rivertown Revival gang and brought the beauty and history of the River alive to 8000 participants.
• River Heritage Days centered around the historical vessels, Alma and Grace Quan, and the pioneering days of Petaluma; kids of all ages learned the lore of the River.
• Boating events from our Sunday morning small boat introduction to the prestigious Wine Country Rowing Classic brought in budding skippers and world class rowers.
• Our able and enthusiastic team of volunteers established the ever-expanding Small Boat Club, which meets every Sunday morning at the River Heritage Center to work on boats – all are welcome to stop by and join in.
• Friends’ two launches have taken scores of local dignitaries and family groups into the Petaluma marsh to see its wonders and strengthen their commitment to the River.
• Our annual fall Fandango was a huge success thanks to Friends like you.
• A $46,000 grant from CA Department of Fish & Game and NOAA Fisheries allowed us to expand Salmonid habitat and increase community awareness of the watershed. We are also pushing ahead with a California State Office of Grants proposal to create a Nature Education Facility at the DYRHC.
• Earlier this year we successfully removed major debris and hazardous waste at the River Clean Up with Sonoma County Sheriff’s Marine Unit and EPA support.
• We have increased our office staff to help with our growing organization.   Staff will work under the direction of the Board to coordinate activities, write grant proposals, and promote our goals.

We look forward to building on these accomplishments in 2012 by enhancing the community’s involvement in the David Yearsley River Heritage Center, expanding our cultural heritage programs, and increasing watershed restoration and River clean-up efforts.  And through our partnership with the Department of Fish & Game we will continue to educate the community with our nature awareness programs and River tours.

Your support for Friends of the Petaluma River will allow us to complete renovations on the River Heritage Center, increase our outreach and education programs and continue the process of restoring this wonderful natural resource for the entire community to enjoy.

Please contribute now to help ensure that David’s legacy lives on in the Petaluma River and Marsh. If you prefer not to contribute online please contact our staff at (707) 763-7756. See you on the river.

Sincerely,

Friends of the Petaluma River Board of Directors

The Importance of Access to Nature

David Yearsley River Heritage Center
November 19-20th at 9:00am-5:00pm

Friends of the Petaluma River is honored to host a powerful weekend workshop with Jon Young and Paul Raphael at the David Yearsley River Heritage Center.  Teachings and stories will be shared around the fire on ways in which we can honor our significant transitions of life, both as individuals and as a community. The workshop will be facilitated by Jon Young and Paul Raphael, both of whom are dedicated to Community and Culture Repair.

This workshop was inspired by the community’s interest in learning more about the traditions and teachings behind the “Sacred Fire” that was held for David Yearsley at the River Heritage Center.  Many of the guests who attended “David’s Fire” were very touched by the way in which the fire brought the community together, held everyone, and provided the space and opportunity to grieve and honor David.

David was dedicated to bringing the teachings he learned from Jon Young, founder of The 8 Shields Institute,  to the Community here in Petaluma.  Some of those teachings include sharing tools for cultivating deep nature connection, community repair, and cultural repair.

If you are interested in this event and would like to learn more, please “click here”

To register, please “click here”

Please note: Friends of the Petaluma River participants receive a $45.00 discount, upon registration please enter “Friends” as the promotion code.

For official flyer: HonoringTransitions

Memorial Celebration for David Yearsley on Sunday, October 23rd, 1-4PM
at The David Yearsley River Heritage Center

Friends of the Petaluma River invites community members to join us in a Memorial Celebration in honor of David Yearsley, which will be held on Sunday, October 23, from 1-4 PM, at the River Heritage Center on the McNear Peninsula.

There will be a short presentation which will include the City Proclamation renaming the facility The David Yearsley River Heritage Center in his honor, followed by a potluck lunch and open mike musical performances. Please bring some food to share, an instrument or a tale to tell.  We hope you will join us to honor and remember our founder in his own inimitable style.

For more information, please contact “Friends” at 763-7756, or by email at friends@friendsofthepetalumariver.org