Petaluma Perspective by Houston Porter — March — March 2020
So here is the thing...if we want real face-to-face help, from people who are knowledgeable in their field, we need to put our money where our mouth is and shop local. Two great examples of what shopping local means to our community are Athletic Soles and Tomasini’s Rex Ace Hardware in downtown Petaluma. Both offer knowledgeable staff and great products. And it might come as quite a surprise to some, but often their prices are cheaper than the big box stores, making shopping with them a double bonus.
When we shop on Amazon or at Target, we not only drive small businesses out, but we lose the decades of knowledge that go along with those locally run businesses. Of course, we also lose businesses and owners who directly support our communities and if you love living in Petaluma, it is likely because it is such a great community. And it is a great community because of...you guessed it - COMMUNITY, which is something the likes of Athletic Soles and Rex Hardware help to create. The big box and online stores cannot compete with that.
Speaking of a company that supports our community, I need to give special mention to Golden State Lumber, which is based in Petaluma. CEO and Petaluman Jessica Scerri was kind enough to make a generous donation recently to the Petaluma Woman’s Club in order for them to buy a much needed A/C unit so that they could schedule more rentals during the summer. And Jessica did this even though she is not a members of Petaluma Woman’s Club and even though PWC is not a 501(c)(3) non-profit. If that isn’t a good enough reason to shop Golden State Lumber for your next remodel project, I don’t know what is.
Daily Acts always offers interesting agricultural and sustainability classes throughout Sonoma County, a list of which can be found at. www.dailyacts.org . One such class is a two-day “Sustainable Equine Management” class on March 7-8, led by Alayne Blickle, “a life-long equestrian, is the founder and director of Horses for Clean Water, an award-winning, internationally acclaimed environmental education program for horse owners since 1990.”
Always bringing poignant speakers to Petaluma, theChabad Jewish Center of Petaluma is hosting “A Historic Evening with Anne Frank's Stepsister Eva Schloss” at the Petaluma Vets Building on Thurs., March 19 at 6 p.m. “Hear a firsthand account of young Anne Frank and of Eva's survival against all odds, and how she rebuilt her life out of the shadows of darkness and ashes of destruction. Be inspired to never give up hope and always see the light at the end of the tunnel.”www.jewishpetaluma.com
For the kids, and in conjunction with the 75 year anniversary since the liberation of Auschwitz and Anne's death, the Jewish Book Council will host an introduction to Anne Frank at Copperfield’s Books with a reading of "The Cat Who Lived With Anne Frank" by authors David Lee Miller & Steven Jay Rubin, free of charge on Wed, March 18 at 4 p.m. www.AnneFrankPetaluma.com/for-kids
A Night of Shakespeare Shorts at the Phoenix Theater is not until April 6, but the deadline for submissions is March 20, with applicants notified of acceptance on March 23. This unique event gives local artists, “a chance to win cash prizes and a little bit of fame for performances of their favorite Shakespeare short. petalumashakespeare.org
The Petaluma Art Center is currently looking for summer arts camp teachers. info@petalumaartscenter.org
Butter & Egg Days is fast approaching (April 25, 2020) and is looking for volunteers. I have volunteered for years, in addition to announcing the parade, and can attest that it is a great way to experience the parade while also being a part of what makes it all happen for everyone else’s enjoyment. For more info, visit www.PetalumaDowntown.com B&E is also holding their button launch party at Lagunitas Tap Room on Tue, March 10 at 5:30 p.m. There will be food, drink and live music, all going to help fund the parade.
