Memorial for David Yearsley Sunday

<p>The community is invited to attend a memorial celebration of David Yearsley's life to be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23 at the David Yearsley River Heritage Center on the McNear Peninsula</p><p>Mr. Yearsley, the former Petaluma Riverkeeper, died after a battle with cancer on Sept. 5, 2011. He was 65.</p><p>The Petaluma Riverkeeper program was started by Mr. Yearsley in 1998, and he served as Riverkeeper until 2005.</p><p>He was founding chairman of the Petaluma Wetlands Alliance and led Friends of Tolay's successful grassroots campaign for the acquisition of Tolay Lake Regional Park. He also served on the Petaluma Chamber of Commerce River Committee.</p><p>In 2006, Mr. Yearsley founded the Friends of the Petaluma River to promote appreciation and stewardship of the river and its tidal wetlands.</p><p>In 2009, he launched an effort to convert an old livery stable that had been moved from First and D streets to McNear Peninsula to the Petaluma River Heritage Center. He helped organize several activities there, including a River Heritage Fair, Tom Sawyer Days, a small boat group and the Rivertown Revival.</p><p>The memorial celebration will include a city proclamation renaming the facility the David Yearsley River Heritage Center in his honor, followed by a potluck lunch and open mic musical performances. </p><p>Those attending are asked to bring some food to share, an instrument or a tale to tell.</p><p>For more information, call 763-7756 or e-mail friends@friendsofthepetalumariver.org.</p>