Four decades of custom costumes
"The more challenging, the better," says longtime seamstress Heidi Wright, who also throws unique parties, makes short films, and practices intuitive healing
October 07, 2026Culture
45 posts
Scene & Herd: Cinnabar Jog-A-Thon
Cinnabar Elementary School students celebrated another successful Jog-A-Thon on Wednesday, Sept. 30, where every single one of the 123 students participated and helped to raise $5,000 for the school. We also have photos by Jim Johnson of the Día de los Muertos celebration on Saturday, Oct. 4,
October 07, 2026
5Qs with DeLeon Judo Club Sensei Henry Kaku
Kaku, 78, was born in Japan to parents imprisoned during World World II, moved to the Bay Area as a child, and settled in Petaluma in 1985 with his own family; both of his children also still live in town. In addition to judo, he teaches origami and Japanese-American history.
September 23, 2026
Scene & Herd: Spanish mass and repurposed trash
A party was had at St. Vincent’s Catholic Church on Sunday after the noon Spanish-language mass let out. Why? Well, it was the 45th anniversary of the first Spanish mass delivered by Father Isidore Garcia on Sept. 20, 1981, said Abraham Solar, a longtime parishioner and faith leader
September 23, 2026
5Qs with Upper Room Petaluma tattoo artist Jimmy Bruce
Bruce, 37, is a Petaluma native who has been tattooing in town for 16 years, opening Aces Over Eights with two colleagues in 2011 and moving to his own private studio in 2024
September 16, 2026
Three decades of Petaluma poetry
The Petaluma Poetry Walk turns 29 this weekend. The annual tradition brings 24 poets to eight venues on Sunday, Sept. 20, from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Audiences are encouraged to walk from one reading to the next, discovering poets from throughout the Bay Area, including local favorites
September 16, 2026
New exhibit asks big questions through small things
“Longing is not just about looking backward,” says Lina Hoshino, curator of a new show on display this month at the Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, teasing out the root word longing from belonging. “It is what helps us imagine what comes next and how to move forward.” The concept
September 09, 2026
Scene & Herd: The Big Social
The Aqus Community Foundation sold out an Aug. 22 event it called "The Big Social." The Copeland Street party included plenty of food, libations, and mingling. The social experiment – encouraging participants to meet new people by cross-pollinating social networks and collecting colored beads for use as drink
August 26, 2026
5Qs with Beautify Petaluma co-founder Jill Olson
Olson, a fourth-generation Sonoma County resident, co-founded Beautify Petaluma in 2025. With help from local sponsors and volunteers, the organization seeks to dress up downtown Petaluma through small projects with big aesthetic impact.
August 26, 2026