Is it “new wine in an old bottle?”
If you recall Bill’s Blog #34 from last November, it ended with these thoughts: “I’m not sure why I got off on this “people coming together” theme, today. Perhaps it is related to recent national and international events. Maybe it’s the current holiday season spirit or possibly, just the wandering thoughts of a senior citizen. Maybe it is simply a flashback to historic times, when neighbors used to come together – more often than they tend to do today – in order to tackle a common need or problem and solve it without wasting a lot time.”
Even though ‘Me, Myself & I’ are technically still on sabbatical, we continue to bounce ideas back and forth about the future and how to enhance the quality of life and the sense of community that exists in the Petaluma area. That’s what happens when one becomes a “social” engineer instead of a civil engineer. Your mind never takes a break or a holiday; it runs constantly, 24/7. Of course, the constant bombardment of headlines and quotes by Eagle-Eyes and Hammerhead don’t help the situation either.
Perhaps the thoughts in Blog #34 might represent one approach that would be worth reviving. It just might help recapture what some citizens believe has diminished or has been lost over the years – knowing your neighbors. The word “neighbor” surfaced because it was used in a headline, yesterday- “Crime-Fighting Neighbors.” (Yup; blame Eagle-Eyes.) Yesterday was celebrated as “National Night Out,” and law enforcement groups across the nation, as well as Sonoma County, were urging neighbors to sponsor cookouts or parties to promote “common-sense crime prevention and cooperation between neighbors and law enforcement. It was even suggested that disaster preparedness and fire safety demonstrations be included. “National Night Out,” was initiated in 1984 by the National Association of Town Watch as an annual event. One such neighborhood in the Petaluma area sponsored such an event, and our ALERT leaders were able to give a brief description of our CERT and NERT initiatives.
Maybe the time has come for Petalumans to step up to the plate, roll up their sleeves, mobilize local resources, and raise a few more “barns” (figuratively speaking) – together. Bill’s “dream” for PetalumaNET is coming together. Stay tuned.