Saturday, October 24th, International Climate Action Day, continues to be an inspiration locally. 

My favorite memories of the City Hall transformational eco-landscaping day:

Seeing Frank Simpson on and off for the entire day, while he watched for and captured spontaneous moments in photography.  Check out the Petaluma Spectator blog for these  – especially the children.

Two students from Santa Rosa JC arrived at the event, having heard about it at the college, to sign up and help for the morning.  They weren’t able to stay for lunch.  They had to go to work.  They seemed grateful to be there with everyone and help for 3 hours.

I stopped counting at 12 times after seeing Grayson James of Petaluma Bounty walk back and forth between the front of City Hall and the back where two different projects were being created and he was guiding.

Dave Iribarne of Petaluma’s Water Resources and Conservation Department is a leader and visionary.  He’s also a person of great humility.  I love the rainwater catchment structures he ordered for the project and these were installed along the walls at City Hall.  They look like art sculptures.

The demonstration model of rainwater catchment and water conservation was popular and educational.

Vice Mayor Teresa Barrett’s welcoming comments on behalf of the Mayor and City Council were brief and motivational.

The lunch arriving from High Tech Burrito, Whole Foods, Velasco’s and Tres Hombres, with the salad provided by Petaluma Bounty, and the coffee and tea from Petaluma Coffee Company – AND the apples, snacks and aesthetically pleasing serving trays on which much of the food was served – provided by Jane Hamilton, Victoria O’Riley and Sarah Young of Rebuilding Together Petaluma – provided the needed mid-day break or during-work break to help volunteers sustain.

Dusty Resnick, landscape architect, also played a significant organizational and management role in helping to keep things on track.

Councilmember Tiffany Renee and her husband, Jaimey Walking Bear, were some of the most diligent volunteer participants.  I’ve seen them at many other community volunteer events, like the annual Rebuilding Together Day.

Petaluma Pete was there all day as a videographer and event recorder.  Jim Johnson and Nina Zhito circulated, capturing special moments in pictures. 

And a kind person came by and left 3 large circles of Goat Cheese, which were opened and shared for pre-lunch enjoyment and after-lunch enjoyment with chips that also found their way to salsa.

During lunch, Bruce Hagen offered free music and info about the planned Green Roof at the Phoenix Center.

The volunteer coordination by Jane Hamilton and Victoria O’Riley of Rebuilding Together Petaluma, with free T-shirts and group assignments for the 230+ volunteers was the engine that made the day move.

Now … a week later, the scent of real life, new energy, and the living earth greet anyone who comes to our City Hall.   The crafted planting beds from recycled things from Heritage Salvage add the reminder of usefulness and beauty in the used and discarded.

The goal of the City of Petaluma, Daily Acts, Rebuilding Together Petaluma, Petaluma Bounty, all other nonprofits and businesses who assisted, and all volunteers who participated to enhance climate change awareness on October 24th was realized.

It’s heartening to think events like this were occurring all over the world on that day.  People care about our Planet and our Environment.

Of course, I felt exhausted upon returning home that afternoon and took a couple of days to recover, especially my feet, but I guess that comes with aging.   An undesired part of the day!