New Beginnings: May 13, 2026
Good afternoon, Petaluma Voice readers. And a big welcome to all of our new subscribers and members. A month in, we're still just getting started, but we're proud of what we've been able to build with your support.
So here's to new beginnings, the theme of this week's issue.
This Week's Stories
Weeks after taking over at the Petaluma animal shelter, Marin Humane is already making positive changes – yet its future here remains uncertain.
Longtime local nonprofit Rebuilding Together Petaluma is embarking on a new chapter, too, after purchasing a midtown Petaluma property to house previously houseless employees and other low-income residents.
In Scene & Herd, one Petaluma resident celebrates the ultimate new beginning: retirement.
We also have a dispatch on North Bay Get Down, a free, all-ages, potentially transformative dance party founded by Ethan Schiff at a pivotal time in his own life.
Finally, new beginnings take the form of restored classic cars at Petaluma's annual salute to "American Graffiti." In 5Qs we've got an interview with Jim Bergstrom, who will be showing his 1941 Ford truck, featured in the film.
Speaking of classic, we also have a photo essay on a unique historic tour of downtown Petaluma using View-Master toys as a window to the past.
Our last story highlights the work of two Spanish-speaking city commissioners and the live translators who help make it happen.
In Case You Missed It: Local Government
Our first four issues shined a light on some of the inner workings of local and state government.
- Last week we offered a peek into Petaluma's state-mandated Housing Element.
- Our April 29 issue included a roundup of recent Petaluma City Council decisions and a primer on how to watch, attend, and weigh in on City Council meetings.
- In our April 22 Earth Day issue, we reported on how city leaders are managing some of Petaluma's most important wetlands.
- And our debut issue on April 15 included four stories on local government, covering: a) Petaluma's committees, commissions and boards; b) the highest-paid and lowest-paid positions at Petaluma public agencies; c) the unveiling of Petaluma's General Plan; and d) the race for Sonoma County District 2 supervisor.
