Six Months: October 7, 2026
Issue #26
This is issue No. 26, which means we've been publishing for half a year! We still remember the excitement of that first issue, and the commitment it represented to our community to continue providing independent, nonprofit, and locally reported, edited, and vetted news.
Six months later, we're on a roll, but still improving and growing every week. And you, our readers, are a critical part of that success. Thank you for subscribing, for sharing our stories, for telling your friends and neighbors about Petaluma Voice. And thank you, if you are able, for signing up as a paying member to support ad-free and paywall-free news for everyone in Petaluma, regardless of their ability to pay.
One more quick note: Petaluma Voice will have a booth at the Clo Cow 5K, 10K, and half-marathon on the morning of Sunday, Oct. 11, near the corner of Kentucky Street and Western Avenue. If you're participating, spectating, or just walking by, please come say hi – and grab a cool Petaluma Voice sticker and pen!
This week's stories
Talk of P-Town covers a lot of ground this week, with items about a long-distance trike ride, a march, a three-day walk, Petaluma's big annual footrace, and more.
In our special community contribution column Voices, we feature an article by Mothers Care founder and director Allison Murphy about postpartum mental health – a timely issue given the ongoing, high-profile Lindsey Clancy trial.
Halloween is right around the corner, and that means it's Heidi Wright's time to shine. Contributor Eileen Rodriguez brings us the story of this creative, multi-talented seamstress and her long-running Custom Costumes shop on Petaluma Boulevard North.
With the November election less than a month away, contributor Chris Samson has a story on Petaluma's new congressional district split that stems from Proposition 50, approved by California voters last November.
It's also pumpkin patch season, and we've got an interview with Jim Groverman, the fourth-generation Petaluman and lifelong farmer behind the Petaluma Pumpkin Patch on Stony Point Road, now in its 34th year of operation.
In less upbeat news, police are investigating the source of antisemitic pamphlets discovered at some east-side homes on the morning of Saturday, Oct. 3.
Finally, Scene & Herd features photos from Cinnabar Elementary's annual Jog-A-Thon and from a Día de los Muertos celebration at St. Vincent de Paul Church.
In case you missed it: Nonprofits
Our Voices column this week features a contribution from Mothers Care Support founder and CEO Allison Murphy. In various ways over the last six months, we've covered many of Petaluma's leading nonprofit organizations:
- Last week, we wrote about Safe Streets Petaluma's monthly First Friday bike rides.
- In our Aug. 12 issue marking the start of the new school year, we ran a photo essay spotlighting local nonprofits that help ensure every student has the supplies they need, and we interviewed Petaluma Educational Foundation executive director Maureen Highland.
- In June, we wrote about Amor Para Todos, a Petaluma nonprofit that seeks to spread a message of inclusion, and love, for all.
- Back in May, we broke the news about Rebuilding Together Petaluma's first foray into low-income and workforce housing.
- Also in May, we introduced readers to Murphy's organization through a special Mother's Day feature on perinatal care.
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