Rebuilding Together At COTS!

Saturday, June 24, 2017 was a special workday at Petaluma’s Mary Isaak Center, shelter for the homeless.  Wells Fargo Bank generously funded several major improvements and also supplied 55 employee volunteers who enthusiastically painted the 100 bed dormitory and all the restrooms. Many of the residents joined in and helped the day to be a smashing success.

Wells Fargo Volunteers (Photo Credit: RTP)

I  managed to capture some of their efforts in the photo gallery below.

Click on any image to open…

The team also included a special group of volunteers…

 

 

A Victorian Sixties Era Ranch House?

I leave it to the reader as to how to best answer the question posed above. But first read the background below! 🙂

It was time to upgrade the exterior of our sixties era ranch house e.g., windows, paint, lights. But what color for the house? Fortunately, my wife, who has a much better eye for such things than I, took charge of the color selection.

After several trips to Peterson’s Paints to evaluate color options, computer modeling, etc., she selected colors frequently used on Victorian style homes–Exotic Purple & Eggplant. Simply White was selected as the trim color.   Purple was the main color except for one side wall in Eggplant. To put it all in perspective this work photo will better explain it…

Here is the result…

NOTE: As the light changes throughout the day, the Purple becomes Black and the Eggplant becomes Purple.  White remains…Simply  White.

BUT WAIT! THERE IS MORE! 🙂 

MAJOR MISSION CREEP!!

This project, like most, generated another idea. I mean if you are doing new windows and colors, you can’t just live with the old concrete steps to the front door!

A little research and consultation with Ohana Construction produced this solution…

 THANKS TO

  • Ohana Construction in Petaluma for making it all happen with their usual hard work above & beyond…not to mention their suggestions at several stages of the exterior renovation projects. They continue to live up to their reputation as the People’s Choice.

  • Peterson’s Paints for their help in evaluating and selecting colors, sheens, etc.
  • Friedman’s for their assistance on selecting outdoor lighting options from the overwhelming selection.

The Smart Train Is Not As Smart As Our Roomba!!

We had our first encounter with The Smart Train intersection control lights in December 2012–See the Press Democrat Article–Railroad crossing arms close on Petaluma couple’s car at green light

We were assured that they were aware of the situation and it would be fixed.

But then in September 2016 we encountered another intersection light control issue at a different location in Petaluma and discussed it in two blog posts…

TODAY at 3:25 PM we were returning home from Point Reyes and found ourselves again at the intersection of D and Lakeville–THE SCENE OF THE FIRST SMART ATTACK ON US in December 2012 (see above)

TODAY AT 3:25 PM

  1. The Smart Train pulled up and stopped by the train depot by the Petaluma Arts Center.
  2. The traffic lights were working normally controlling the heavy traffic.
  3. My wife was driving.
  4. Fortunately there was plenty of sunlight so I could see the train and keep my eye on it–unlike in December 2012.
  5. We were first in line and the traffic light turned green and my wife started forward and I yelled at her to stop as I could see the train starting to move and then the gates started to come down. Fortunately we able to stop before getting hit–Unlike in December 2012
  6. I was able to capture a photo as the light changed to yellow and the gates were already down or coming down…

D St & Lakeville Petaluma CA

SMART does not seem to understand that drivers are focused on their control lights.  Traffic lights should be red long before the crossing gate arms are activated!

  • AT LEAST OUR HOUSE ROOMBA “Bob” FOLLOWS INSTRUCTIONS IF PROPERLY PROGRAMMED.
  • SMART seems unable to get it right and safe. If SMART cannot program the crossings to operate correctly and  safely, then they should not be running the trains.
  • Perhaps they would like to practice with our Roomba before running any more trains!

UPDATE April 29, 2017

I sent this  article to every agency and elected official I could think of plus the two papers. 

I clearly expect no answers or actions—Past promises have been repeatedly made and nothing changes.  Whatever they say now I will not believe.

SMART is beyond shame or even ridicule…

UPDATE May 4, 2017

Received the following E-Mail from SMART at 8:27 am…

“Thanks for the link. I have forwarded it to our ops team.

 Matt

—
Matt Stevens | Community Outreach & Education

Direct: 707.794.3074| Mobile: 707.328.3046

SMART | Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit

5401 Old Redwood Hwy., Suite 200, Petaluma, CA  94954″

 

Rebuilding Together On Earth Day 2017!

The Annual April Workday for Rebuilding Together Petaluma (RTP) happened to also be Earth Day!

Briefly, 264 volunteers from the community joined together to lend a helping hand to neighbors and the community at eleven locations. * (Details at end of article)

I was able to photograph the volunteers at four of the eleven locations…

The RTP Volunteers at Shollenberger Park  had their “hands full” at times… becoming at times a part of the Earth in my viewfinder… 🙂

Click on any image in the Gallery to open it…

*Here’s s short incomplete list of what 264 volunteers accomplished:

  • A wheelchair accessible shower was installed for a man who has had a stroke
  • A rotten bathroom floor, broken toilet and porch were replaced for a brother and sister, one of whom has cancer
  • 5 dumpsters were filled to the brim with debris & unwanted junk from every site
  • New wall heaters were installed and 40 year old carpet replaced, a fence built and a backyard sheet mulched for an 84 year old widow
  • A new kitchen floor was laid for a 90 year old WWII veteran as well as the exterior of his home painted, grab bars installed.
  • An employee kitchen was installed, gutters cleaned, landscape cleaned up and counseling rooms painted at Petaluma People Services Center
  • Rebuilding Together Petaluma’s new home was painted, landscaped, and new doors that actually open were installed
  • The home of an 89 year old woman who is blind was cleaned and landscaped
  • Two porches and a bathroom and laundry room floor were replaced for a disabled homeowner.
  • A 90 year old widow recieved a new roof on her mobile home earlier in the week, pressure washing outside,  and soft spots in her floor fixed
  • An unsafe and rotten porch was replaced for a disabled woman
  • Collapsing kitchen cabinets were replaced for a disabled homeowner
  • And Shollenberger Park had a team of volunteers pull out invasive weeds to restore the wetlands.

Balshaw Bridge Fitness Center?

It appears that we may have another fitness center in Downtown Petaluma!*

I noticed the gear this morning under the Balshaw Pedestrian Bridge over the Petaluma River.

YES, I DID! 

No editing tricks–images straight from the camera made during this morning’s perambulation…

Balshaw Bridge Barbell

No hours are posted for this new facility.  However, it may be open 24 hours for boaters who want to lift weights while on the river…

Balshaw Bridge Barbell

Balshaw Bridge Barbell

Hmmmm! I wonder what kind of permit was required for this installation?

*While written with tongue in cheek, I hope this will be taken seriously and corrected…Until then, boaters should be careful under the bridge