Petaluma Community Column - December 2010

We all know Petaluma loves to dress herself up for holidays. Halloween was a HOOT and now comes The City of Lights Driving Tour! From Dec 3rd to December 27th the grand dames of Victorian Petaluma apply their Christmas make-up and many businesses, including Heritage Salvage, compete for Best Of! Maps are available in the Petaluma Post, the Marin Independent Journal, the Petaluma Visitor Center and online.

Come join our flirtatious city and light up your holiday! . . . And yet another example of Petaluma putting herself on display, even though the city charged $12K, many great contributors helped keep another Petaluma institution alive. I was warmed by the attendance and feeling at the Veterans Day Parade. Although I do not agree with war as a means to settle disputes, I do honor those who believe in their mission enough to put their life on the line for their country.

Petaluma has so many magnificent attributes – the architecture, its gateway to wine country, its progressive artist community with its agricultural roots and her penchant for dressing herself up – but there is a singular deep rooted ability to give which makes our community so rich. This community gives. Our recent fundraiser for Danny Cox was a case in point. This town just keeps on giving.

One of the things that make Petaluma such a special place to live is the soft infrastructure that is always there for people in need. When you walk the streets of Petaluma at night in safety and brag about what a wonderful feeling this town has, remember why that is. COTS is the Committee on the Shelterless, Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness, including the Petaluma Kitchen. http://cots-homeless.org/

Petaluma Bounty, Healthy Food for Everyone. 
The Bounty is in need of your help; they have distributed 100’s of thousands of pounds of food but are struggling with budget. http://www.petalumabounty.org/

Petaluma People Services Center is dedicated to improving the social and economic health of our community by providing programs that strengthen the dignity and self-sufficiency of the individual. http://www.petalumapeople.org/ 

Just as much as the old Victorians, The Petaluma Downtown Association, the great clubs, art programs, galleries and restaurants enhance this community, it is these vibrant organizations that cover the Bottom Line.

Rather than buying a plastic toy made in China from a big box store, there are two ways that really help your community, Follow Vesta’s Shopping Tour and buy locally made gifts from locally owned stores, or consider donating some moola to the organizations that help the needy in your community!

Many blessings to you all!
Smile on your neighbor; do a good turn . . . Peace!