Community Scene
-
River Revelry: Party with Friends at the Sunset Fandango fundraiser
There are plenty of ways to throw a fundraiser, but Friends of the Petaluma River (an educational organization dedicated to the conservation of the Petaluma River) has always had a memorable approach: put people outside, next to the water, serve them good food, and let the river inspire them. That’s the idea behind Sunset Fandango,…
-
Celebrating M.F.K. Fisher Month
Long before celebrity chefs, prestige food Instagrams, and “foodie” entering the social lexicon, there was M.F.K. Fisher quietly alchemizing food and literature in the wilds of Sonoma County. This summer, the newly launched M.F.K. Fisher Foundation honors the pioneering writer with the inaugural M.F.K. Fisher Month, a nationwide celebration running from June 3 through July…
-
Petaluma Bounty
At the end of a short road in west Petaluma that is more pothole than roadway sits Petaluma Bounty Farm, a thriving urban farm with a 20-year history. At first glance, it’s an unlikely spot for a farm, surrounded by railroad tracks, an apartment complex, and an old strip mall. In fact, it is a…
-
Season of the Mosquito
On purpose, belonging, and social change In his book Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging, Sebastian Junger reports on the historical successes of societal groups that work cooperatively, both as the norm and during extraordinary times such as wartime and natural disasters. From indigenous cultures over thousands of years to Londoners transcending class distinctions during the…
-
Not a Stranger Any Longer
Artist KAJSA LOVE writes secret love letters to anyone who requests them. My sister discovered it in a flower bed. A small particolored sign, staked among the blooms of multicolored zinnias. In small and curious capital letters, the small poster read: “What message do you need? ASK FOR IT. Ask for it! A lamp for…
-
Community Scene
Petaluma’s El Día de Los Muertos Celebration Marks 25 Years of Honoring an Ancient Tradition. Petaluma’s El Día de los Muertos/Day of the Dead celebration marks its 25th year, honoring a cultural tradition that’s been practiced for centuries. Each fall, the city comes alive with color, memory, and reverence as community members gather to pay…
-
Artstart Shines
An interview with Heather Brook, Artstart Director.
-
Food for People, Not for Profit: Worker-Owned Community Market Celebrates 50 Years
For 50 years, Community Market has been keeping Sonoma County well-fed and feeling good about it—no shady ingredients, always fresh, organic, and ethically sourced goodness. With locations in both Santa Rosa and Sebastopol, this worker-run market puts people and the planet first. Now, as they celebrate their golden anniversary (that’s a lot of kale sold!),…
-
Community Scene – The Experience Artist
Spring Maxfield is all about creating community-driven arts and cultural programs. She’s been a key player in Maker Faires in the Bay Area and New York and cofounded the popular Great Handcar Regatta in Santa Rosa from 2008-2011. She’s active on various arts committees, supporting artists, businesses, and community groups, and holds degrees in Art…
-
Community Scene – Taking Charge
Made Local (ML): Tell us about Sonoma Clean Power, and why it began? Geof Syphers: Sonoma Clean Power (SCP) launched in 2014 as California’s second Community Choice Aggregator (CCA), driven by the community’s demand for locally controlled, sustainable energy options coming out of the State’s energy crisis of the early 2000s. By 2014, we were…