Creative Spirit: July 15, 2026
Petaluma is nothing if not overflowing with the beauty of creative spirit.
We are a community of creators including writers, painters, sculptors, musicians, and live performers who are all giving back to the town that we love in our own way.
This Week's Stories
Celebrating that creative spirit was a weekend full of music, art, and joy that's on display in our weekly Scene & Herd column. Music swept in the 50th anniversary of the Petaluma Library; boaters and paddle boarders filled the Petaluma River Turning Basin for the annual Bands on the Basin; and music kept people entertained as they strolled through the downtown Art & Garden Festival.
Not to mention homegrown artist Maxfield Bala, our 5Qs interview of the week, putting the finishing touches on his new mural at Petaluma High School.
And who is not up for a medieval combat reenactment performance by the Shire of Wolfscairn, our local chapter of the Society for Creative Anachronism?
Creativity is even on display sometimes at City Hall. Editor Tobias Young wrote a story on how the city whittled down the cost of a public safety facility by approving construction of a new police station, fire station, and emergency operations center under one roof at the Petaluma Fairgrounds.
Unfortunately, we will have to get even more creative to find ways to heal the ocean and tackle the problem of an increase in domoic acid poisoning in recent years, which has ended badly for many sea lions, including two in the past year who swam up the Petaluma River to the Turning Basin.
Our creative spirit can inspire many things, so let's put it to use.
In Case You Missed it: Creative Paths
The Petaluma River is a winding path of creativity all its own, as described in "13 Miles and 4 Bridges" by contributor Rich Brazil.
In other news, locals have submitted their own creative ideas for naming the city's longest path, winding along the eastern edge of town. The Recreation, Music and Parks Commission will consider the suggestions at their 6 p.m. July 15 meeting. The five most popular nominations were:
- Lone Tree - 29
- Sonoma Mountain Vista/View – 22
- Eastside/East Side – 13
- Adobe – 9
- Miwok/Coast Miwok – 6