What’s new on the “Petaloo”

by David Yearsley

Hello River Friends;

We’re back with the next installment of Tidings . I say we because this posting is now the official voice of Friends of the Petaluma River . March has been a productive month for “Friends” and I would like to share a few of the highlights.
News and Events :

“Friends” is now online! Yes, our website has just been launched. Check it out at www.FriendsofthePetalumaRiver.org. This is just the beginning of what I hope will be a great resource for keeping the river community informed about the Petaluma Watershed and our activities. I hope you will bookmark the page and return often to watch it grow. I would like to thank volunteers Reno LaGrande and Dave Hage for getting the site up and running. Next week Dave H. and I will meet with an advanced computer science class at Casa Grande High to recruit help in designing layout and expanding content on the site.

Grassroots Grant: We are delighted to report that Friends of the Petaluma River was just awarded a $2000 grant from the No. Calif. Environmental Grassroots Fund to help in our start-up efforts. We were one of just 13 recipients in the current cycle for this highly competitive award. These funds along with generous donations from our Charter Members have allowed us to purchase stationary and business cards and budget money for our initial activities. In addition to the web-site we plan to produce an informational brochure to help in our community outreach efforts. We are grateful to the Grassroots Fund for this award.

Office space sought: “Friends” is actively looking for space to set up more formal office systems and augment our community visibility. A place near the river with room for 2 desks and a few filing cabinets are the basic requirements. The addition of a conference rm. and a public display capabilities would be ideal. We would need a large part of these amenities to be donated or “sponsored” at this time, at least until our funding expands. As a 501c3 non-profit any contributions would be tax deductible. If you have a possible situation, or know friends that do, please contact me directly at 707 763-7756.

In the Community:

Look for us in April at the following community events.

Sat. April 22 : Tabling at Whole Foods 621 E. Washington in Petaluma as part of their annual Earth Day celebration. We will man (and woman) an informational display and hopefully have copies of our new brochure to hand out. Stop by and say “hi”.

Sat. April 29 : Participating in the Butter & Eggs Day festivities. Wave to us in the parade then come down to the docks at the turning basin to visit us on our boat.

We were happy to see the colorful article by Dane Golden the Argus Courier on Mar. 22 nd highlighting some upcoming river tours. He also quoted yours truly in describing the experience. Don’t miss your chance to catch the boat on April 8 th & 9 th or May 13 th for one of these great trips. See www.dolphincharters.com. or call (510) 527-9622 to get onboard.

Out and About :

Petaluma River Row : We were out on the River Sunday Mar. 26 th participating in the annual Petaluma River row sponsored by the Traditional Small Craft Associations Sacramento Chapter. It was a rare sunny day and “Friends” Elizabeth Howland, Greg Sabourin , and Andy Rodgers joined a fleet of about 12 boats for a great trip from the Petaluma Marina up to the Turning Basin for beverages and then down river to Lakeville Marina for lunch at Papa’s Taverna. It was a delightful outing and the beauty of the fleet of handcrafted fleet of wooden boats was a sight to behold. Any of you who are interested in traditional boats or recreational rowing can find great resources at these sites : www.tsca.net/Sacramento, www.northbayrowing.org. We promote access!

Petaluma River Walk : On Sat. March 4 th a group of 2 dozen hikers braved the elements and participated in Landpaths ” Petaluma River by Foot” tour of Alman Marsh and Shollenberger Park . The walk was lead by knowledgeable docents from the Petaluma Wetlands Alliance www.petalumawetlandspark.org and featured a wonderful walk along “The Trail of Tides” with views of the river, abundant birdlife, and the future water recycling facility/wetlands park south of Shollenberger. This is the site that will feature the environmental artwork of Patricia Johanson www.patriciajohanson.com. See the Mar.3rd Tidings on our website for more information on that exciting project. By the way, we still have a few copies of the book “Art and Survival” available. We followed the walk with a visit to the No. Bay Regional “Barista” competition being held weekend at the Sheraton Sonoma Co. Petaluma. It was great to get warm and sip fresh cappuccino’s while watching the regions best baristas exhibit their style. The Sheraton is a wonderful venue for public gatherings and they have a great restaurant there called Tolay. They have been very supportive of “Friends”, hosting both the Patricia Johanson presentation and our most recent advisor’s meetings.

Conservation News :

There is a great workshop on Solid Waste coming April 18th .

How does this affect the Petaluma River you might ask? One of the greatest threats to the Petaluma Estuary is Redwood Landfill on San Antonio Creek. Reduction in solid waste could impact their expansion plans. The event promises be fun, informative, and timely. Hope to see you there.

COUNTING DOWN TO ZERO WASTE : New Ways to Counter the “Throwaway Society”
Tuesday, April 18, 6 : 30-9 pm
Supervisors’ Chambers,
Marin Civic Center, San Rafael .
View Details

Tying together fresh links in the zero-waste vision, the workshop features dialogue among the Bay Area’s top experts on how waste reduction, reuse and recycling can, and should, go to much higher levels. A unique window into the need for even better performance and the exciting new possibilities to move affordably beyond conventional, environmentally costly “throw-away-and-dump” solutions of the past. Hear how prevention and avoidance can move Marin and Sonoma farther along in their efforts to be a world-class leaders in solid waste management and sustainability. Hosted by Marin Supervisor Charles McGlashan. Admission is free.

Memberships : Friends of the Petaluma River is a grassroots organization that relies on membership to expand its community service and to strengthen its voice while speaking for the vitality of the River. If you have not joined us yet please consider downloading the reply page from our web-site and returning it with your contact information and a contribution to Friends. We will keep you informed about river related activities, issues, and events. Also, consider volunteering time or donating goods and service s to our group.

For more information call 707 763-7756. We would love to have you as a “Friend”!

There is still time to become a “Charter Member” of Friends . This privilege is limited to the first 100 people to join. As a charter member you will receive special mention in our upcoming brochure. For donations at the “Great Friends” level and above you are eligible for a personal river tour to learn the “mysteries of the marsh”; or to enjoy whatever interests you most about our wonderful river.

Hope to see you on the water and in the community.

Celebrate and Conserve,

Dave Yearsley

Friends of the Petaluma River

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What’s new on the “Petaloo ”
by David Yearsley

Hello River Friends;

The Tidings have returned. A lot has happened since October 05, when the original posting announced my departure from Baykeeper. I now hope to keep you informed about River related news on a more regular basis. I am launching a new organization called Friends of the Petaluma River , and am doing it with some wonderful people.

Our motto is “Celebrate and Conserve”; which describes the work we plan to do in the community and on the water.

Friends of the Petaluma River will provide recreational activities, educational materials, and instructive programs that promote access to and understanding of the Petaluma River and its “Wetlands Empire”. “Friends” will also monitor conditions in the Petaluma Watershed and act as a “voice for the River and its wildlife” in public affairs.

As a new 501c3 non profit we urgently need your support! Both financial contributions and volunteer help are needed to get our new organization up and running. To send donations use the “Join” link above or to lend a hand please fill use the “Contact” link above or call 707 763-7756. Our immediate needs include:

• Computers (laptop and stationary), and administrative help
• PR, and outreach materials and design assistance
• Development efforts and volunteer coordination leader
• Technical help to build and launch a new web site
• Money for Insurance and overhead expenses
• Assistance with program planning and implementation

Your support and contributions will help to further our vital work.

More importantly, it will bring increased opportunities to connect you with the River.
News and Events:

The Patricia Johanson presentation on Feb 27 th was quite a success, especially considering the weather and other local events. Well over 100 people attended the reception and or the slide show on Patricia’s work held in conjunction with the release of the book Art and Survival. “Friends” co-sponsored this event with the Petaluma Arts Council and it was hosted by the Sheraton Sonoma Co. Petaluma. We were heartened by the support generated for Patricia’s innovative designs to connect people to nature, protect the environment, and provide habitat for wildlife in conjunction with large civic projects. This internationally respected artist’s plans for Petaluma’s new water recycling facility will be a boon to the River and our community for years to come. Watch for the program to be aired on PCA soon. For more about Pat’s work see www.patriciajohanson.com. With donations to “Friends” of $50 or more you will receive a free copy of the book Art and Survival (see below).

Upcoming Access Opportunities

Landpaths; the non-profit that hosts outings on Sonoma Co. on Open Space has a new calendar out that features trips and events in the South County this quarter. Some of the more interesting offerings include a “Stories about place” event and a “Petaluma Marsh paddle”. To learn more about these and other offerings visit www.landpaths.org , e-mail outings@landpaths.org. or call 707 524-9318.

River Tours:
As part of our mission to get people on the river we are working with Dolphin Charters, www.dolphincharters.com, to promote their new service providing river tours on the Petaluma. They in turn are donating a portion of the proceeds to Friends of the Petaluma River. Please download the attached flier to learn more about this wonderful opportunity. These are great folks and they provide wonderful information on the history of the River and its natural resources. This trip should be great for bird watching too. There are only a few dates offered at this time and seating is limited, so make your reservations quickly before they sell out. Tell your friends about this opportunity and consider going as a group.

Conservation Issues

Redwood Landfill: The public hearing on the Landfill’s Expansion EIR has still not been scheduled; due in part to some very serious concerns about seismic safety, water quality threats, wildlife disturbance, and other issues raised in comment letters that still have not been answered. Marin Co. should schedule a hearing within the next few months. For further updates and to learn more about this threat to the Petaluma Marsh and the entire watershed visit the website of No Wetlands Expansion (NWLE) at www.noexpansion.org. I’ll leave you with these thoughts from Stuart Moody of Marin.

“The sad truth is that the negative impacts of the Landfill in terms of danger to the surrounding marsh lands and communities may be fully realized only after it closes and its owners are long gone.”

In 1969, at the end of a presentation on William Bronson’s “How to Kill a Golden State,” one of the audience members told a parable: “In the olden days, when men lived in caves, they used to throw their garbage in front of their own cave. Then as humanity evolved, they began to throw their garbage in front of the other guy’s cave. That’s where we are now.”

Dutra: Is planning an asphalt production facility on the river at Haystack Landing, just south of town. There was an EIR scoping meeting on Feb. 27th at the Petaluma Community Center. The written comment period for for items that should be considered in the EIR is open until around March 20th . Information can be obtained from the Sonoma County Permit and Resource Mgt. Dept. 2550 Ventura Ave. Santa Rosa, (707) 565-1900.

Or check online at www.sonoma-county.org.

More on this in the future.

I will be posting Tidings regularly to keep you informed about River news and events.

PLEASE become a “Friend” of the Petaluma River at the highest level you can.

Special “Charter Member” benefits : l imited to the first 100 “friends” to respond;

Recognition as a Charter Member of Friends of the Petaluma River .

Contributions of $50 or more will receive a free copy of the book Art and Survival.

Those at the “Great Friends” ($250) level and above will receive a personal river tour.

Mail your donation to:

Friends of the Petaluma River
P.O. Box 4928
Petaluma, Ca. 94955

Or call:
David Yearsley
707 763-7756

Happy Tidings from dmy

Dates to Note :

4/29 - Butter and Egg Parade; look for us in the turning basin after the parade

5/7 - Annual River Cleanup

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