Youth: July 29, 2026
Greetings, Petaluma Voice readers, and happy Wednesday. Before we get to today's issue, we'd like to ask a favor. With 16 issues now under our belt, we want to hear from you. We're hoping to learn more about what you like and what you don't, what you could use more of, and where and how you're finding our work.
To that end, we've prepared a brief survey that should take just a few minutes to complete. As you peruse our latest stories, please give it a look and share your thoughts. We really appreciate it.
This week's stories
A new superintendent is ready to lead Petaluma City Schools and its approximately 7,000 students into the new school year. Read all about Davina Goldwasser's plans and priorities for the district in a story from reporter Jennifer Sawhney.
In Get Out!, our monthly nature and outdoors column, editor Nate Seltenrich shares the story of Petaluma open-water-swimming expert Morgan Filler and her plans to support local youth swimmers in a journey across the bay from Alcatraz Island to San Francisco this September.
Young journalists also grace our digital pages this week. Jesse Saal, a columnist at Santa Rosa Junior College student newspaper The Oak Leaf, brings us the first of a two-part, must-read series on the history of Petaluma's youth-centric Phoenix Theater.
Petaluma High School student and new Petaluma Voice intern Audrey Atiyeh helped out photographer Crissy Pascual on this week's 5Qs interview with fifth-generation Petaluman Kevin Akers, an artist who makes unique ornaments depicting Petaluma signs and other landmarks – just in time for Christmas in July.
Finally, Scene & Herd features three unique wildlife photos captured recently at Shollenberger Park by Petaluma photographer Tony Johnson.
In case you missed it: Scene & Herd
Scene & Herd is our weekly space for photos and videos capturing special moments in Petaluma. Over the last 16 weeks we've highlighted unique local events like Transhumance and the Butter and Egg Days parade; Petaluma people giving away flowers or celebrating their retirement; and even news like the groundbreaking of Petaluma's new skate park and the rescue of a sea lion at the Turning Basin.
Find all of them right here, and watch for more to come!