A presentation by Mike Ban and David Iribarne of the Department of Water Resources and Conservation at the November 2, 2009 Council meeting caught my attention…

…When you’re out and about this Saturday, stop by and check out… The Project Linus Craft Bazaar

“All I know is just what I read in the papers, and that’s an alibi for my ignorance. ” –Will Rogers An article and a column in Sunday’s Press Democrat brought the Will Rogers quote to mind…

In cooperation with the City of Petaluma, the volunteers created a new water conserving landscape for City Hall that could serve as a model for businesses and homeowners to emulate.

In “Final Assault on City Hall…Turf” I promised that the photos from the City Hall Lawn Transformation Project would be available in a week. However, once I started working on them, I could not stop. They are now available…

By the end of the day, they had shoveled, hauled, and raked–250 yards of mulch, 50 yards of compost, and 20 yards of topsoil. For good measure, they also built several raised beds, pulled out several bushes and scrubs, and planted several native plants.

My wife called the Wells Fargo Center and asked to speak with someone in administration. She was told that they never had a complaint (ours was the first) about the sound level or the audio mix at any performance. In addition, she was advised that the performers are in control of the audio. The Wells Fargo representative said she would check with “others” and get back to us. My wife suggested that she also check with some of the ushers.

I don’t know how many others, if any, walked out that evening but ours was not the only car pulling out of the lot. I do remember the faces of some of the audience as we left our seats–reminisecnt of the expressions I last saw at the ball park during the ‘89 Loma Prieta earthquake…blank, empty stares of shock.

October 12 was the beginning of the transformation of much of the turf area around Petaluma’s City Hall. In the early morning, advance strike teams from the Petaluma Mulchers Army (PMA) landed on the grounds, unloaded equipment and began preparing the terrain for the main attack on October 24.

Morning’s are the best time in Petaluma. As you step outside, you may observe…