Book celebrates city’s past, present and future

A newly released book, “Celebrating Petaluma,” commemorates the city’s sesquicentennial and contains articles on the town’s past, present and future written by more than 20 writers.

“The original thought was that this was going to be a history book, but I learned early on that history books don’t draw as wide an audience, and there were several excellent Petaluma history books already out there,” said Terry Smith, editor of the book. “I suggested that instead of just having one person write a 150-year history, let’s get a bunch of people who love this town to write about things they know about. The book is not a history, but a celebration of Petaluma.”

Contributing writers to the 224-page full-color book include naturalist and historian Bob Dyer, former mayor David Glass, columnist Bruce Hagen, historians Katherine Rinehart and Marianne Hurley, wine educator Von Hurson, journalists Connie Madden and Janet Parmer, Native American leader Greg Sarris and several other longtime residents. There’s also a collection of articles by the late Bill Soberanes, former Petaluma Argus-Courier columnist.

Copies of “Celebrating Petaluma” are available for $34.95 at Copperfield’s Books, Gallery One, Aurora Colors Gallery, Haus Fortuna, The Apple Box, Petaluma Visitors Program and the Petaluma Community Center.

A book-signing party featuring many of the authors was held Feb. 22 at the Petaluma Sheraton Hotel and drew an estimated 350 people.

For more information on the book and other sesquicentennial events, visit www.petaluma150.com.