Dear Friends,

Welcome to the first Tidings of 2012!

Here is our Amazing Board of Directors

Front row from left to right: Andy Rodgers, Eric Backman and Elizabeth Howland
Back row from left to right: Patrick Campbell, Mike Simpson, Elizabeth Mori, David Hansen and J.T Wick

“Friends” to launch Small Boat Building Program at the David Yearsley River Heritage Center

“Friends” would like to invite the Petaluma community to come and help build our first wooden boat, a 7’9″ Eastport Pram in the DYRHC.  The boat  will be built by local volunteers over a series of 9 weekends starting in February.  The finished boat will be used in our “Free Boat Program” which is open to the public every Sunday from 11am- 2pm at the DYRHC.

This project spawned from  David Yearsley’s vision to help bring back Heritage skills as well as connect people of all ages to the River, nature and themselves.  It is really an honor to carry out part of David’s vision and keep the spirit of the River alive.

Our Small Boat Building Volunteer Orientation Day will be at the DYRHC on February 12th at 11:00am.  Please come out to meet the Project Leaders, hear more about the project, and sign up for a work day. No prior experience necessary.   This is a wonderful family or parent w/ child experience. Also, on Sunday February 19th at 11am will be another informational meeting at the David Yearsley River Heritage Center.

City Council joins community to appeal Dutra Asphalt Plant Proposal

The Petaluma City Council meeting held on January 23rd was resolved by a majority vote of  6-1 to continue to oppose the Dutra Asphalt plant project, and move forward with an appeal to the lawsuit against Dutra and the county challenging the plant approval.

• Past Tidings articles about the Dutra Plant Proposal.
• To learn more about the appeal go to the Save Shollenberger Park website.
• Recent article posted in the Press Democrat: City joins Dutra appeal.

Welcoming New Staff to Friends

Please Welcome Michelle Sauceda and Stephanie Bastianon to the “Friends” staff.

Michelle Sauceda was hired to help with our office administration, grant support, Tidings creation, educational outreach program development, as well as River Restoration projects.  Michelle has recently moved to Pt. Reyes Station from Santa Cruz County where she was a Program Manager for the 8Shields Institute programs.  She has also
developed curriculum for Nature Connection youth programs and  works in the field with youth as a Nature Connection Mentor.

Stephanie Bastianon was hired to help with fundraising and community outreach.  She will be working to expand opportunities for members, sponsors, and community leaders
to support Friends education and conservation programming on the River.  Stephanie has a Master’s Degree in International Development and Non Profit Management from UC San Diego and has worked on water quality issues with San Diego Coastkeeper and more recently as a Campaign Coordinator for Rep. Lynn Woolsey in Petaluma.

Corporate Sponsorship Renewal Opportunities

Friends is renewing its annual appeal to business leaders in Petaluma and the greater Sonoma County to support our efforts celebrating and conserving the Petaluma River.  Sponsors have the opportunity to learn more about the Petaluma watershed and marsh system while sharing in Friends achievements on and off the water.

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor or would like more information please contact Stephanie Bastianon at Stephanie@Friendsofthepetalumariver.org or (707) 548-2937.

New Composting Facility in Petaluma River Watershed? Your Comments Needed!

The Sonoma County Waste Management Agency (SCWMA) has proposed to double its diversion of organics from the waste stream from 100,000 to 200,000 tons per year by building a new composting facility at one of three sites: 1) the existing facility on Mecham Road; 2) a ranch at the southwest corner of Adobe and Stage Coach Gulch Roads; and a portion of the riverside Crane ranch off Lakeville Road just north of Sleepy Hollow Dairy. A draft environmental impact report (DEIR) identifies noise as the only impact at the existing Mecham Road site, but cites significant unavoidable impacts on air quality, water quality, flood plain, traffic, agriculture, and general plan and zoning inconsistency at the two sites within the Petaluma River watershed.  Many Friends attended a January hearing on the DEIR to object to siting the facility at either of the two new locations.

FOPR Board Chair J.T. Wick addressed the SCWMA applauding the increased waste diversion objective and recommending that the Board consider keeping the facility at the Mecham Road location where all impacts except noise are mitigated and reject moving the facility into the Petaluma River watershed where impacts on the river and its communities cannot be avoided.

Friends are encouraged to comment by 4:00 PM, February 21, 2012, to Patrick Carter, SCWMA, 2300 County Center Drive, Suite B100, Santa Rosa, CA 95403; facsimile 707-565-3701; or patrick.carter@sonoma-county.org.

Upcoming Events

Small Boat Building Project
Informational Meeting
February 19th, 11am @ the David Yearsley River Heritage Center
No prior experience necessary

All the best,

Friends of the Petaluma River

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