What a time to be on the river! Recent events and beautiful weather have brought hundreds of people to the waters of the Petaloo in the last few months. Now several new activities beckon, including the first ever “Race for the River” on Sept. 6th. Don’t want to miss out on the fun. Learn about it and more below.

Race for the River is September 6th

Friends of the Petaluma River invites all paddlers and rowers to join us for a special day of fun and discovery on the River. We invite you to join us with any craft you can think of, as long as it is human-powered: outriggers, shells, kayaks, surfskis, canoes, rafts, tubes…..whatever!

This is a day the whole family can enjoy, so bring the kids, friends, neighbors, and co-workers, and enjoy a day of fun and exploration on the Petaluma River.

It’s a Race like no other: a marine treasure hunt that celebrates the rich bounty and beauty of the River. The course will cover some 6 miles along the River up and down stream from the Marina. Along the way, and sometimes hidden in tributaries, will be positioned some 30 floating markers that designate points of natural, commercial, and historical interest. It’s the job of each team to “tag” as many of the markers as they can in 2½ hours.

Strategy and speed will favor the most competitive teams, but some teams may just enjoy paddling around while observing the fun and the rich wildlife that the River calls its home. So come on down and join in the fun!

The more markers you tag, the more raffle tickets your team gets!

THE DETAILS

• When – 9 am to 2 pm, September 6, 2008
• Where – Petaluma Marina, Petaluma, CA
• Click the registration price below to pay by PayPal (Please specify lunch choice: Vegetarian or Turkey in PayPal Comments during checkout)
• Click here to Pre-Register by mail
• Families, corporate teams, couples, individual racers, River rats – all are welcome!
• All proceeds go to promote the Friends of the Petaluma River’s activities to preserve and celebrate the River.
• The sponsors of each station will provide something of value or interest to each team that stickers its station; eg, a 2 for 1 meal coupon, a historical fact sheet, a 10% discount, and so on.
• Click to download the Liability of Risk Release form

RAFFLE SPONSORS TO DATE (many more to come!):

• River and Ocean LLC — Valley Sea Kayaks, Kokatat Watersports Wear, Lettmann Paddles, North Shore Sea Kayaks, ElephantWear, Mitchell Paddles, Gath Helmets, Barz Optics
• Futura Surf Skis
• Ocean Paddlesports – Fenn Kayaks
• Dairydell Canine
• Outwest Garage
• Evermay Garden Center
• Graffiti Restaurant
• Lee’s Body Shop

FOOD SPONSORS TO DATE (many more to come!):

• Peets Coffee & Tea
• Noah’s Bagels

CORPORATE SPONSORS:

• Port Sonoma
• RNM Properties
• ERI

Kayaks are available for rent at Clavey’s Kayaks
409 Petaluma Blvd. South • Petaluma, CA 94952
www.clavey.us • 707.766.8070

Check this site for periodic updates.

Last Nautical Mass for 2008 Sets Sail Friday, August 29th

This month we join the fabulous “Café scene” that is taking place along the River on Friday nights. Bands are playing and Restaurants are providing outdoor seating at the Apple Box and along water St. Friends will provide downtown hospitality to Nautical Mass participants on our wonderful new “Barge”.

Bring your non-motorized boat to the Petaluma Marina launch Ramp; 781 Baywood Dr. Fri. the 29th in time to depart from the Marina at 6PM. Come and enjoy the festivities at the last Mass for 2008.

Friends HQ is Moving to a New Location:

We will be leaving our wonderful offices at the Petaluma Marina Office Center at the end of August for a new home up-river at 260H Water St. North. We are looking forward to being closer to downtown and are excited about the rustic waterfront location of our new home. Although it is much smaller than our previous space we have the stability of a lease and the possibility of installing a dock for water access.

We would sincerely like to thank to folks at the Marina Office Center for accommodating us at a greatly reduced rent for the past year and helping Friends to substantially expand its community presence.

Stop by and say hi when you’re in town. We will be having a housewarming celebration later this Fall.

Mayor’s Boat Ride and River Fest a Memorable Success::

August 10th was a great day for everyone who visited Petaluma’s downtown turning basin; whether they came by water or land. Over 60 non-motorized watercraft helped launch the Sesquicentennial River Fest by joining Mayor Pamela Torliatt and the crew of the historic scow schooner Alma for a boat ride into town. Participants included local paddling and rowing clubs, plus many individuals with canoes, kayaks, rowboats and other craft; some created especially for the occasion. Our thanks go to the event’s many volunteers, and participants; together they made this day long festival colorful, and memorable.

The flotilla heads for town	Mayor Pam and crew from The Alma	Some unique water craft showed up

Beautiful wooden boats were in abundance	Whole families participated

River Heritage Center plans move forward:

The historic livery stable at Steamer Landing Park is getting some much deserved attention as Friends of the Petaluma River is working with Petaluma’s Parks & Rec. River Heritage Center Committee to clean up the interior and make plans for future uses. The first public tours of the facility were hosted by Friends during the River Fest on Aug. 10th where participants were encouraged to share their ideas for future uses.

The Livery Stable cleanup begins	River Heritage Center information station

The River Heritage Center needs your help. If you would like to assist as a committee member or restoration volunteer please contact us via email or call 707 763-7756

Dutra / Haystack Landing Asphalt decision date extended:

The Sonoma Co. Planning Commission heard comments on the final EIR for the proposed Asphalt plant on Aug. 21. Many River aficionados and Shollenberger Park users attend the meeting to voice their concerns about the location and “unavoidable impacts” of the proposed facility. Many others wrote letters to the Planning & Permit department to comment on the project. So many comments were raised that the Commission’s final decision of whether or not to recommend the project as planned to the Board of Supervisors was postponed until Oct. 16th. There is still time to comment and make your views known.

For more background see the recent article from the Press Democrat: plus comments and an editorial from the Argus Courier:
View the EIR by clicking here.

Let the Sonoma County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors know what you think.
Even a few words can make a difference. Speak now or forever live with the consequences.
e-mail Steve Padovan and attend the hearing on Oct 16th.

Site of the proposed plant’s loading dock on a windy day	Bill Kortum registers his concerns

The River Heritage Center needs your help. If you would like to assist as a committee member or restoration volunteer please contact us via email or call 707 763-7756

Comments Off

It has been a very busy month on the Petaluma River. Friends recently held two very successful events and now is gearing up for two more. We also aquired a great tour boat thanks to the generosity of Baykeeper, and the River is closing for the Fall, parts are anyway (no kidding). Read all the news below.

Mayor’s Boat Ride and River Fest on August 10th:

There will be only one Sesquicentennial River Fest. It will not be a day to miss!

Some of last year’s colorful participants (photo by Robin Herrick)	Mayor Pam blesses the fleet (photo by Robin Herrick)

The downtown turning basin and Water St. will be filled with historic boats, & much more:

• See the S. F. Maritime Museum’s Scow Schooner Alma and dozens of boats from the past including beautiful Master Mariner sailboats, Classic old motor boats, and the Traditional Small Craft Association’s rowing & sailing dinghies
• Watch and participate in a variety of River games
• Enjoy rides on the River offered by Sea Scouts
• Visit many interesting displays and booths with River related information
• Listen to music by local performers, while enjoying food & drink

River Festivities begin with “The Mayor’s Boat Ride” departing the Marina at 10:00am!

Itinerary for Mayor’s Boat Ride
8:30 - 10:00-AM Boaters launch and assemble near Petaluma Marina below the pivot bridge

10:00 - 10:30-AM Mayor’s Boat Ride “flotilla” for non-motorized watercraft heads for town

10:30 – 11:00-AM Arrive at downtown Turning Basin docks for events & festivities

The procession will proceed at a relaxed pace will allow everyone to safely enjoy the River.

Note: Kayaks can be rented at Clavey River Equipment while they last. All the proceeds will benefit Friends and PSC3. Contact them at info@clavey.com or call 707 766-8070.

The River Fest will take place all day around the downtown Turning Basin. Friends of the Petaluma River will host displays and park boats on the Eastern docks and park by the River House restaurant. We will feature tours of the future River Heritage Center site including a look inside the Livery Stable at nearby Steamer Landing Park.

Mayor’s Boat Ride and the River Fest are in of need volunteer helpers!

Mayor’s Boat Ride needs:
“Display Darlings” – starting 8:00 AM – help set up displays, tents and materials.
“Ramp Rats” — 9 to 10 AM Petaluma Marina. Patrol & assist in parking lot and at launch ramp. See folks safely onto water and keep the launch ramp and docks free of congestion.
“Stage Hands” — Stage participants on the water near marina & below pivot bridge. Monitor safety, help in the Turning Basin to park & pull out boats.

Contact David Yearsley at 707-763-7756 for more information or to sign up to help!

River Fest needs:
Greeters by the entry-ways: handing out programs, greeting people, helping with the flow of traffic, answering some questions like where to find bathrooms, food, etc. We’ll need about 10 people for this.
Floaters: be of general assistance before and after event and help when Greeters or staff need it.
Beer Garden: We’ll need about 5 people to assist with ID checking and 3-4 Servers.

VOLUNTEER AND GET FREE T-SHIRTS AND FOOD VOUCHERS!

Last year’s Mayor’s Boat Ride participants at the D St. bridge

D Street Bridge will be closed this Fall!

Due to maintenance work the D St. Bridge the River will be ‘closed-to-navigation’ under the bridge between September 3 and November 14th. The contractor will be using scaffolding underneath the bridge to facilitate the painting work. Small canoes, kayaks, and even small motor boats may still be able to transit the bridge during the maintenance period. Any vessel that can safely transit the bridge during the maintenance period can continue to do so. It is the responsibility of the mariner to determine how much clearance is at the bridge.

Two events in One Day! 9/26 wrap up:

Fishing Fair: The first ever Petaluma Fishing Fair created quite a stir at the Petaluma Marina on July 26th. Everyone who attended went home a winner in both knowledge shared by local experts and Raffle prizes donated by generous sponsors.

This lucky angler won a jacket	Steve Jette won a fishing trip	Carlo Bongio talks tackle

What folks are saying:

I thought the Fishing Fair was really a great event. There was solid information and tons of prizes. Western Outdoor Sportshop really went overboard. I was especially touched to see Wes on stage addressing mothers and children as naturally as a Camp counselor. –Bill W.

So glad I went to the fishing expo today !! Can’t wait to go fishing with the pros… Steve Jette

Susan Kirks answers questions at the Friends table	Carlo catches the audience’s attention

We want to send our warmest thanks to Tom Nelson and the folks at Western Sports Shops for making this event a huge success. He not only arranged for experts to demonstrate various aspects of angling, he donated a bulk of the display equipment and raffle prizes. Other key members of the team included Bill Wolpert, Mike Simpson, and Wes Nelson. Scott Ponic & Susan Kirks provided volunteer assistance

Canoe-dling: (notes by event organizer Keri Lackey) - The social event dubbed “Canoe~dling in Canoes” turned out to be a midsummer nights dream; an evening to remember! The Petaluma River had never been showcased so well. All in all, we had over 40 people who will be new friends of the Petaluma River. I think those same 40 people enjoyed the conversation and camaraderie of other canoe~dlers just as much. Live accordion music was provided by Xavier De La Prade from the Accordian Club of the Redwoods All the Canoe~dlers mentioned that their at titude was forever changed in the way they will view the river resource. They are connected now by the memory of the setting sun on the sparkling water, the laughing and paddling in a canoe. I leave you with this one question for next year……can you canoe~dle? Keri Lackey

A beautiful evening to canoe-dle on the river	Organizers Keri Lackey, Elizabeth Howland, and Patti French

What folks are saying:

Thank you for hosting such a lovely event on Saturday evening’s Canoe-dle. What a wonderful way to be introduced to the Petaluma River and to spend a summer evening. I met several interesting and nice people and was out on the river for the first time ever, and I’ve lived in Petaluma for 10 years! I had such a good time that you’ve now got me thinking about getting a kayak! I truly enjoyed myself and really appreciated getting to learn about Friends of the Petaluma River and to meet you! Karen

The Argus Courier blessed our events with a nice front page article in their Community Section:

A few high points:
1. The Fishing Fair well attended and netted nearly $300 with raffle sales and donations!
2. The Canoodle event was very successful as well; nearly 40 people attended with an even
mix of men and women. This social event made almost $500 for Friends.
3. The weather was super for both events, sunny with a little breeze in the AM, balmy in the PM.

Friends wants to thank all the people who made these events successful by volunteering and attending.

Next Nautical Mass sets sail again on August 29th:

Show up with your non-motorized boat for a Magical Mystery Trip. Meet at the Petaluma Marina launch Ramp at 5:30 PM; 781 Baywood Dr. The flotilla departs from the Marina at 6PM.

The “Nautical Mass” is a freeform event (based on bicycling’s Critical Mass) for folks who want to get out on the River at the end of the week in non-motorized watercraft. It is held on the last Friday of the month and usually departs from the Petaluma Marina. People are free form their own groups, set their own agendas, or follow the leaders.

Save the Date Sept 6th for an exciting new boating event:

The first “Race for the River” for non-motorized watercraft promises to challenge educate and entertain entrants with a race to find and “tag” stations up and down the river.

Friends acquires a deluxe Touring Boat:

Thanks to the generosity of the Baykeeper organization Friends of the Petaluma River has the loan of a 27’ triple pontoon barge to conduct River tours and educational outings. The boat will carry up to 15 passengers and extends the capacity of our organization to introduce folks to the River and generate income. Look for a schedule of trips very soon.

Tour barge ready to launch	Dave at the Wheel	The barge at work in the sloughs

We am delighted to report that the Tour Barge has already made quite a splash in the Petaluma River. We have done 1 tour & 2 events so far netting income of nearly $3000. We love having it! Thank you again Baykeeper!

Comments Off