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To the left, Mayor Pamela Torliatt, center, cuts
the ribbon for Lance Kuehne (L), and Jerrie Jerne
Morago (R), surrounded by artists of the Riverfront
Gallery.
To the right, artists from Riverfront
Gallery celebrate the ribbon cutting with
Mayor
Pamela Torliatt (front row, right). |
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The Chamber’s Annual
Business Expo on October 16, was, once again, a
major success as overflow crowds packed the
Community Center. The photos on this page, taken
by Mark Mooney, depict some of the booths and
activity at what has become an annual tradition
in Petaluma.
A number of the booths
featured drawings, and a few of them have
reported the names of winners to Petaluma
Business.
Praetzel’s Fine
Furniture donated two nights at the Whale Watch
Inn in Gualala, which was won by Phyllis
Rutherford
The Argus-Courier
donated a free ad, won by Sharon Medley
Peak Performance Health
Products donated a session on the Bemer 3000
SLT, which was won by Onita Pellegrini
Markey’s Computer
Services donated a wireless baby monitor kit,
for which Bruce Bernhardy was the winner.
Medley Glass Works
donated a rollaway screen, won by Alice Forsyth
Chamber of Commerce donated two Wake
Up breakfasts, won by Tom Corbett
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Just
some of the booths and activities at the 2008 PACC
Expo. |
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The traditional launch for official
Petaluma Holiday season on the first Saturday after
Thanksgiving, Nov. 29 this year, begins with the slightly
unconventional arrival by boat of Santa and Mrs. Claus at
about noon as the vessel named “Petaluma,” chugs into the
historic downtown harbor.
After greeting thousands of children
and passing out candies, Santa and Mrs. Claus usually climb
aboard a horse-drawn sleigh to take part in the colorful
Antique Wagon and Horse Procession. Depending on a dozen
different variables once Santa is in place the procession then
begins sometime between 1 to 1:30 p.m.
Santa and the Mrs. join a long line of Antique wagons,
horse teams, riders in costume and volunteers in Victorian
garb as it wends its way through Historic Downtown.
Once the season is officially underway
the decorating contests for businesses and homes begins.
Entries are listed on the “City of Lights Driving Tour
Map.”
In this much-anticipated annual event,
Petalumans engage in friendly rivalry to create the most
elaborate Holiday décor, some will use this year’s holiday
decorating theme,
“A Dickens Holiday Season” Petaluma 1858 – 2008 Past, Present
and Future, in honor of Petaluma’s 150th Birthday. Other homes
and businesses will be decked out in a unique theme created to
fit the holiday spirit.
Traditionally thousands of
people come from all around to view the decorated
homes and businesses and to enjoy the city lights.
This year maps are available by Dec. 4 in various area
publications and at the Petaluma Visitor Center. For more
information about how to take part in the holiday home or
business decorating contest and thereby the “City of Lights
Driving Tour” contact the Petaluma Visitor Center at 769-0429.
On Dec. 6, the Holiday spirit renews
Historic Downtown afresh when the downtown merchants host the
Annual Holiday Open House, offering down-town shoppers the
opportunity to sample tea, cider, wine and snacks at various
participating shops and to see Santa at others.
In
a dramatic evening spectacle, the Holiday Lighted Boat Parade
on Dec. 6, a flotilla of decorated lighted vessels glide into
the historic downtown harbor at about 6:30 p.m.
Santa and Mrs. Claus make another appearance.
Some of the lighted boats remain throughout the night.
After this stunning event, many onlookers warm up with
dinner at one of the downtown restaurants or stop for coffee
and dessert at a local cafe.
The following day, Dec. 7, is another
big day in Petaluma.
The Annual Museum Benefit Victorian Tea on that day,
with seating at noon and 3 p.m., is served by volunteers in
Victorian costume on fine English china and linen in an
elegant holiday setting at Petaluma Historical Library &
Museum, 20 Fourth St. Call 778-4398 for reservations and
ticket costs.
The Heritage Homes Holiday Parlour
Tour also takes place from 6 - 9 p.m. and features a visit to
several Victorian parlours for an old-fashioned holiday
complete with treats, carolers and costumed docents.
Applications for the holiday Business
Decorating Contest are now being accepted at the Petaluma
Visitors Program. Businesses can enter in one of four
categories: Painted Windows, Window Display, Outdoor Display,
or Lobby.
All contest entrants will be listed on
the City of Lights Driving Tour map, to be available on
December 5. The map will be distributed through the Petaluma
Visitor Center and multiple venues including local papers.
Judging will be held December 8-10.
Winners receive a framed certificate from the city. No charge
to enter.
Entries will be judged on Overall
Quality, Impact, and Originality. Deadline for entries is
Friday, November 7 at 5:00 p.m. Call 769-0429 for information.
Dempsey’s Restaurant downtown on the
River, will hold a Dine and Donate Night for Petaluma People
Services On Saturday, November 1st. Dempsey’s will donate 15%
of dinner bills to help support this great organization.
Petaluma People Services assists many members of our
community. The mission at PPSC is dedicated to improving
the social and economic health of our community by providing
programs that strengthen the dignity and self-sufficiency of
the individual.
Petaluma Health Center (PHC)
received a $500 award from the National Alliance on Mental
Illness, Sonoma County Chapter (NAMI-SC) at their annual
banquet on September 15, 2008.
The award recognizes the Health Center’s innovative
work in their Integrated Behavioral Health Program, directed
by Linda Winter, PhD (licensed psychologist), Ms. Deliris
Medina, PsyD (licensed psychologist), Ms. Ulla Andrewson,
LCSW, and Ms. Nancy Colvin, LCSW.
Circle
Bancorp, parent company of Circle Bank, today
reported quarterly net income for the third quarter
of 2008 of $467 thousand, compared to net income of
$203 thousand for the third quarter of 2007,
representing an 131% increase from prior year.
Sky Hill Institute is offering a way for students to make
their schooling more affordable and for the local community to
get involved.
Using GreenNote.com, Sky Hill students can participate in a
lending program that draws from local community, family, and
friends as well as an Internet network of interested lending
parties. Students
receive loans at 6.8% (fixed rate, no credit required) and
lenders (family, friends and the community) receive a 5%
return on their investment.
Lenders can invest as little as $100 per student and
benefit by knowing that they are helping shape someone’s
future. In
addition, Sky Hill Institute is offering all students a 30%
reduction in tuition for November programs a $3000 savings.
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Christine Foster
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Clark Mattheissen
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Redwood Credit
Union
(RCU) announced that Christine
Foster and Clark Matthiessen, both registered
representatives affiliated with broker-dealer
and Registered Investment Adviser CUSO Financial
Services, LP (CFS), were recipients of CFS’ 2007
Pacesetter Award at the recent 2008 CFS “Focus,
Commit, Evolve” Annual Conference, held in San
Diego, California. Ms. Foster earned a Silver
award and Mr. Matthiessen received a Bronze
award; both advisors are credited with
generating significant revenue while providing
high quality financial and retirement planning
services to RCU Members.
 Petaluma
Health Center announced Tim Moran as Chief Financial
Officer, completing the Senior Management Team. He joined the
organization on September 22. He has lived in Petaluma for
more than 10 years and was once a candidate for the Petaluma
Health Care District Board of Directors.
The Sonoma County economy,
facing the same formidable obstacles plaguing the
nation, is nevertheless is better shape that the
rest of California as well as the nation, according
to a Fall Forecast just released by the County
Economic Development Board.
The forecast, compiled by
Moody’s Economy.com for the EDB, credits the
County’s high tech sector for possibly reducing much
of the fiscal pain the local economy might face in
the upcoming months. Following is the summary for
the report.
Recent Performance.
The economy is holding up better in Sonoma County
than in many other parts of California and the
nation. Payroll employment has risen over the past
six months and is now at a new peak, finally passing
the previous peak of the 2001 dot-com boom period,
with gains across a number of industries. Employment
is not rising fast enough, however, to accommodate
all job seekers; the jobless rate has risen sharply
in recent months so that it now is at its highest
since 1995 and is no longer below the U.S. average.
The pace of homebuilding is at a record low and the
median sales price is falling at an accelerating
pace. Household credit quality remains problematic
also and there are hurdles still to clear, but the
economy has shown resilience in recent months.
Technology.
Among the industries that will enable the economy to
maintain its good performance are its
technology-producing industries. International
demand provides considerable support for wireless
telecom equipment. The presence of venture capital
and research talent creates renewed support for the
medical technology industry, as evidenced by the
rebirth this year of medical device maker
TriVascular2, which hopes to start product trials by
next year. Emerging demand for solar technology and
other green industries adds further potential for
Sonoma County’s tech-producing cluster of
industries. Professional services, which include
research and development and manufacturing, are net
gainers of jobs in recent months.
Tourism and Wine.
Wine and tourism have not been as resilient and will
likely have to wait for a broader recovery of the
U.S. economy. The impact is being felt in reduced
demand for high-end wine in restaurants and retail
outlets, causing profit growth to slow. Similarly,
drive-in tourist arrivals have been weak because of
the price of gasoline and the weak economy of much
of California. If the economy is able to stabilize
next year, there will be an additional draw for
tourists: A $400 million expansion of the River Rock
Casino is under way, giving a near-term boost to the
construction industry.
Housing.
Sonoma County’s housing market is inching its way
back to stability, which is expected by mid-2009.
The number of new residential construction permits
is at a record low. This, more than anything, will
help bring supply and demand back into balance.
Sales prices are falling, particularly at the low
end of the market, where affordability has been
dismal. The median sales price has fallen 36% from
peak since late 2005. Prices need to fall at least
10% more before they are in balance with household
incomes. The conservatorship of Fannie Mae and
Freddie Mac by the federal government adds some
upside potential to the local housing market since
it brings additional mortgage lending liquidity and
lower interest rates, making the higher conforming
loan limits instituted earlier this year more
effective tools of support for the housing market.
Risks.
The nearly frozen global capital markets could very
well bring business investment spending and consumer
spending to a halt, directly weakening demand for
local tech-producing industries, as well as
consumer-based tourism and fine wine. Further, the
volatility of equity markets can limit IPOs, thereby
reducing venture capital appetite for local emerging
technologies.
Current fundamentals bode
well for Sonoma County’s economy as housing
approaches a new balance and investment supports
tech industries. The pace of near-term economic
recovery will also depend closely on the global
economy and on the pace of U.S. domestic investment.
If all goes well, the local economy may bounce back
strongly. But all must go well, with the help of
federal and global policymakers.
The North Bay Business
Journal‘s 2008 Health Care Conference will focus on
the latest health care trends impacting you, your
company, your employees and your community.
The event will be held Nov. 12
at the Hyatt Vineyard Creek Hotel in Santa Rosa. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., and the program
runs from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tickets are $45
per person and include continental breakfast. Tables
of 10, including company signage, are $470. To
register, contact Linda Perkins at 707-521-5264 or events@busjrnl.com by Nov. 7, or register online at
www.NorthBayBusinessJournal.com.
Keynote Speaker Dr. David
Greenberg, Professor and Vice President for Special
Research Programs at the Buck Institute for Age
Research, will discuss regenerative medicine and
diseases in aging, including an overview of
cutting-edge stem-cell research.
Following the keynote, two
panels will focus on innovative responses in the
health care industry to various challenges. First, a
panel of experts will discuss new approaches that
work in health care delivery. Beatrice Bostick,
Executive Director of Clinic Ole in Napa, will tell
how the implementation of a managed care
administrator has impacted the delivery of care as
similar programs are prepared in Marin and Sonoma
counties, and Barbara Sternfeld, Senior Research
Scientist with Kaiser Permanente, will share the
results of a KP Division of Research study on an
e-mail wellness program developed by Berkeley-based
Block Dietary Data Systems.
The
second panel will consist of insurance and health
care experts addressing the trends and developments
that impact the bottom line, health education and
the quality of coverage employers provide. Panelists
include Terry De Decker of Vantreo Insurance
Brokerage to discuss how HSAs and catastrophic plans
can work for both employers and employees, Alena
Wall of the Northern California Center for
Well-Being to explain how her center helps employers
promote wellness and reduce costs, and Victor
McKnight of the North Coast Association of Health
Underwriters and Sitzmann Morris & Lavis to cover
general pricing and benefit trends for small
businesses.
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