I know that I should be cleaning out the garage tonight, rather than posting a blog; but Eagle-Eyes and Hammerhead thought the three community events that Me, Myself & I participated in during the past 24-hours were worthy of calling to the attention of Petaluma360 viewers because they “hit the nail on the head” as far as representing the great sense of community enjoyed by the Petalumans of today. Hopefully, the printed edition of the Argus-Courier will cover these events in greater detail.
Saber-Tooth Curriculum: Although we haven’t written about educational events for some time, now, last night’s 25th Year Anniversary Celebration for the Petaluma Educational Foundation, raised money to benefit all public and non-profit private schools throughout the Petaluma area. “The Bash” was held at the historic Sunset Line and Twine building and attracting over 700 contributors. This elegant dinner-dance celebrated the accomplishments of PEF since its inception, a quarter of a century ago. Over $2M has been given back to the community in the form of project grants, scholarships, and fine arts programs. As Ken Dennett, PEF President, stated in the printed program, “Money alone doesn’t magically make Petaluma a better place to live – we also recognize the dedicated educators in our community – teachers, specialists, principals, and superintendents who do such a wonder job of our children.” The original spirit expressed in the “Saber-Tooth Curriculum” by “Dr. J. Abner Peddiwell” and the need for innovative and creative educational programs is as critical today as ever. Here’s looking forward to the next 25 years of investing in the education of Petalumans by Petalumans. Stay tuned to learn exactly how much was raised by “The Bash.”
Then & Now: As most Petalumans know by now, 2008 will be our sesquicentennial year as a chartered city, established in 1858. As part of the “Art in the Park” golden anniversary celebration earlier today, there was a booth showcasing the winners of the Youth Art Contest celebrating our city’s sesquicentennial. This display and the atmosphere created in our historic Walnut Park was but one more example of how Petalumans express their spirit and sense of community. This is just the begining, the best is yet to come. Stay tuned.
Emergency Preparedness: Although it didn’t receive much publicity or the total number of participants didn’t match the above events, the Grant Elementary School Parent Teachers Association sponsored “Safety Day” exhibited a sense of community and a school community “spirit” that was second to none. Among the booths and presentations related to child safety was the theme of “emergency preparedness.” Two School parents, both CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) course graduates, volunteered their time to disseminate information pertaining to being prepared for a major disaster. The enthusiasm, excitement, and interest of the children was something to see and hear. Hopefully, this community building experience will extend into their adult years. The Grant School parents and teachers should be congratulated for this neighborhood school get-together- just one more example of our Petaluma sense of community. Stay tuned for additional blogs devoted to “Be Ready” events during this National Month of Emergency Preparedness.
OK, where’s the door to the garage. I feel energized and ready to spring into action.