The Buzz

Do you remember the roller rink?

Ever since publishing “Petaluma: A History in Architecture,” author and historian Katherine Rinehart has heard from many locals who have shared their memories of Petaluma’s early days, but local attorney Dave Traversi recently piqued her curiosity about the Gayland Roller Rink. A photograph on page 49 of Rinehart’s book shows the old Parker & Gordon Grain and Feed business at 368 Petaluma Blvd. North. The building has housed several businesses over the years including the skating rink. “It was always a treat to get off the sidewalks, which were often rough and uneven,” said Traversi. “Most kids skated in those days; there weren’t even any swimming pools in town until many years later.” Rinehart would like to write about the Gayland Roller Rink in her next “Changing Landscapes” article for Petaluma magazine. If anyone has any photographs, memorabilia or memories to share, contact Rinehart at kjrinehart@comcast.net or call 766-9462.

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Keeping the needy warm this winter: Frank Howard Allen Realtors is holding a coat and food drive through Nov. 13 in Sonoma County. Locals are asked to donate clean, reusable coats and jackets as well as canned goods and dry pastas and cereals to be distributed to Petaluma People Services Center and the Redwood Gospel Mission. Drop off donations between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Petaluma office, 905 E. Washington St., Suite 109.

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Mulchers move on: Some of the 230 volunteers who transformed the City Hall turf into a water-saving community garden may be called on again — organizers are mulling over future mulching projects at other city properties, including the police station, the South McDowell Boulevard fire station and Wiseman Park. During a presentation to the City Council last week, organizers also said they aren’t finished with City Hall — a plaza area may be added on the south end of the building during a second phase of the work, possibly with a bocce ball court. “It would be a great place for the community to gather,” said Louise Leff, a landscape architect who helped design the project.

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Open House at Raley’s: Locals who are passionate about food may want to check out the Raley’s “Something Extra” magazine open house being held from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15 at the Petaluma store, 157 N. McDowell Blvd. The event features samples of the magazine’s holiday 2009 recipes, cupcake decorating for the kids and a chance to ask the magazine’s recipe development team questions. For details, visit www.raleys.com.

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Doctor writes book on aging: Longtime Petaluman Dr. Myrtle Heery has co-written a book with Dr. Gregg Richardson of Kaiser Hospital in Oakland about “Awakening to Aging:Glimpsing the Gifts of Aging.” Heery is director of the International Institute for Humanistic Studies in Petaluma and is an associate professor of psychology at Sonoma State University. The book is available online at www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com.

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