The Buzz

<p class="bold allcaps">‘Devil dogs’ on frogs</p> <p>Just when you thought you’d heard the last about bullfrogs vs. Red-legged Frogs at the city’s water treatment plant, guess who’s decided to weigh in — the U.S. Marine Corps. The Argus-Courier received an e-mail from a biologist on the staff of the “environmental security” division at Camp Pendleton, the Marine base near San Diego. The biologist took issue with the newspaper’s description of Petalumans upset with the removal of non-native bullfrogs from Red-legged Frog habitat at the sewer plant as “animal activists,” saying that term could also apply to native-species advocates who support the bullfrogs’ removal. “I’ve heard of wildlife biologists, nature lovers, research scientists, PETA members and crazy cat people all referred to as ‘animal activists’ or ‘environmentalists,’ when we are often on opposite sides of an issue,” the biologist wrote. The e-mail also said local residents who want to stop the bullfrogs’ removal should know that the Corps has studied the damaging effects the creatures have on the endangered arroyo toad population at Camp Pendleton: “As a wildlife biologist who also deals with bullfrog removal to protect endangered species, I would be interested in sending the (Petaluma) group a letter to inform them of the damage this non-native species is capable of.”</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><h3>Schindler success</h3> <p>The response to the Petaluma Museum’s speaker series for the Schindler Exhibition has been overwhelming, “literally standing room only,” according to museum president Joe Noriel. “The exhibit itself has seen thousands of people so far,” he said. “Due to repeated requests, we decided to add two very special speakers.” Rosemary Schindler, Oscar Schindler’s great-grandniece, will discuss Oscar Schindler’s story and her own organization, “Schindler’s Ark,” that has been helping people all over the word who have suffered from the effects of genocide.</p><p> She will speak at 3 p.m. on Dec. 5. Paul A. Schwarzbart, author of “Breaking the Silence: Reminiscences of a Hidden Child,” will speak at 3 p.m. on Dec. 6. Schwarzbart came directly to Petaluma in 1945 after the war. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s traveling Oscar Schindler exhibition is on display at the museum, 20 Fourth St., until Dec. 13. Schindler, an enamelware factory owner, used his business and social influence to save the lives of more than 1,000 Polish Jewish refugees during the Holocaust. For more information, call 778-4398 or visit www.petalumamuseum.com.</p><h3>Big change at Redwood Empire Gymnastics</h3> <p>Redwood Empire Gymnastics has new owners. The Petaluma club, known for its success in training young gymnasts, has been bought by Petalumans Eric and Erinn VanDerMeer. The VanDerMeers take over the club from founder Steve Klotz, who is enjoying a well-deserved retirement. The new REG owners also own San Francisco Gymnastics, located at the Presidio in the city.</p><h3>Dance of the Irish</h3> <p>Six girls from the Keenan School of Irish Dance participated in the Western Region Irish Dance Championships in Denver, Colo. The competition featured more than 500 championship solo dancers, plus team dancers from 12 Western states. Participating from Keenan School were Petalumans Elizabeth Carey, Alexandra Gambonini, Caitlin Clark and Jacqueline Clark. Also participating were McKenna Hoban from Napa and Heidi Noonan from Sonoma. Keenan School of Irish Dance classes are taught by Fidelma Keenan. Classes are held in Santa Rosa, Sonoma, Napa and Petaluma.</p><h3>No empty windows</h3> <p>Former Petaluma Chamber of Commerce President Robert Boccabella wants to see no Petaluma storefront go undecorated this holiday season. Reacting to a program being implemented in San Francisco’s Union Square, Boccabella is spearheading a drive to decorate the windows of empty storefronts. The idea is to have local design, architectural and art professionals decorate buildings that are temporarily empty. He says the preliminary response has been very good. “We can do it,” he says. For more information, contact Boccabella, the principal of Business Design Services, at 762-1058 or by e-mail at rb@businessdesignservices.com.</p><h3>Book and exhibit:</h3> <p>A new book by Sharon McGriff-Payne, “John Grider’s Century: African Americans in Solano, Napa and Sonoma Counties from 1845 to 1925,” mentions several Petalumans. “As far I can tell, these people have received no recognition in our local history books,” said local historian Katherine Rinehart, who met McGriff-Payne earlier this year at the Sonoma County Library. McGriff-Payne, a Vallejo resident who serves on the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum board of directors and is planning an exhibit called “An Enduring Legacy: African Americans in Vallejo and the North Bay from 1850 to 1950,” is looking for additional materials and photos from Petaluma. If anyone has something pertinent that they would like to loan her for the exhibit, she can be reached at 552-3934 or at snicsnac@comcast.net</p>