Viator, a Tripadvisor company • February 2025

Visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Gave Me a Deeper Appreciation of Immigration History in America

I wanted to dive deeper into US immigration history, particularly my own family history. Specifically, I wanted to retrace the steps of my great-grandparents—who fled persecution under the Russian Empire—and imagine them entering New York Harbor to be welcomed by that universal symbol of freedom.

The Press Democrat • March 2023

Petaluma center helps low-income students build confidence

When Leticia Garcia Arango started classes at both Santa Rosa Junior College’s campuses in 2016, she had little direction. “I didn't have a major. I didn't know what I was doing,” the 24-year-old Petaluma resident said. “I wanted to go to a four-year college, but I just didn't know how it worked.” That all changed two years later when she became a client of the Literacyworks Center.

The Press Democrat • October 2022

Helping Latino families reconnect with nature

Born in Hidalgo, Mexico, Caballero Garcia immigrated to this country when she was 2 years old and grew up in Petaluma. While enrolled at Santa Rosa Junior College, she accepted a paid internship promoting a nature festival at Muir Woods National Monument. As an 18-year-old, she knew redwood trees existed, but she hadn’t ever seen one. Walking in that forest for the first time was life-changing.

Hipcamp Journal - Stories for Hipcampers and Our Hosts • July 2022

Yosemite Camping and Rafting at Colfax Spring

Marty McDonnell has run Yosemite rafting trips on the Merced and Tuolumne rivers for 50 years—the longest of any such outfitter in the region. His family-owned company, Sierra Mac River Trips, features 19 stunning acres perched on a ridge above the Tuolumne River canyon, just a 15-minute drive from Yosemite National Park‘s Big Oak Flat entrance.

TripSavvy • July 2022

Best Tour Companies for LGBTQ Travelers

LGBTQ travelers span the rainbow when it comes to exploring the globe. No matter what you’re searching for—destination wedding, tailor-made culture tour, or festival-filled gay cruise—your personal safety is paramount. This Pride Month, to help plan your next gaycation or find queer-friendly tour guides, we rounded up some of the best LGBTQ tour operators out there, from low-key to luxe.

Los Angeles Times • August 2012

Rio's Carnival | travel Ultimate Guide issue

"She dreamed of being a bejeweled samba dancer at the annual party." It was near midnight and the rain-drenched streets had already stained my white satin slippers. I gripped my ruffled lace pant legs to keep them from dragging on wet cobblestone.

Made Local Magazine • September 2020

All Hands on Deck

At The Spring Hill School in Petaluma, students take hands-on learning to heart. During the 2019–20 school year, middle schoolers made nesting boxes for western bluebirds, bats, owls, and kestrels while learning about the habitat needs of native birds in environmental science.

Made Local Magazine • November 2021

Locavortex: Artisan Markets

Craft fairs abound during the holiday season. If you want to go old-school with handmade gifts while supporting local makers and food vendors, here are a couple of admission-free outdoor marketplaces where you can find unique artisan-made goods and gourmet treats.

Made Local Magazine • November 2018

Root Down: Kovi Kai Elixirs

Rather than brewing coffee in the mornings, Kima McKeirnan, the founder of Kovi Kai Elixirs, has long preferred a hot infusion of fresh ginger. As a substitute for caffeine, the drink makes her feel awake and revitalized, says the 36-year-old mother of two.

Medium • October 2021

How to Create a Home Garden

Many people aspire to grow their own food. For first-time gardeners, however, the prospect of turning a plot of land — be it an abandoned city lot or one corner of a lawn — into a thriving garden can be a bit intimidating. Not sure where to start? Follow these guidelines for growing your own plants.

The Press Democrat: Towns • July 2012

Rape crisis center goes beyond traditional support

To help people who have survived sexual violence develop mind/body coping skills that go beyond traditional support, a Santa Rosa rape crisis center is experimenting with classes that include Pilates, mindful breathing, massage, dance and yoga.

Petaluma Patch • July 2012

No Pain, No Gain: Bikram Yoga is Latest Obsession

Standing in a sweat-soaked room heated to 105 degrees, I'm trying to pretzel-twist my arms and legs into another pose. But my skin is so slippery that my limbs just slide. Scantily clad bodies bend in close proximity. I confront myself in the mirror and count down: just eighty more minutes until I'm out of here.

Petaluma Patch • June 2012

Program Teaches Teens Discipline, Focus

The longest amount of time 15-year-old Tomas Ortiz ever spent away from his family was one day. So it isn't surprising that he feels nervous about leaving them for a three-week backpacking trip. Ortiz is one of three Petaluma students about to embark on a wilderness expedition sponsored by Summer Search.

The Press Democrat: Towns • June 2012

Beach Blanket Babylon Scholarship

Two recent Santa Rosa high school graduates won $10,000 scholarships this week from the Beach Blanket Babylon “Scholarship for the Arts” program sponsored by the Steve Silver Foundation. They were among nine Bay Area finalists, selected from hundreds of applicants to perform live at Club Fugazi in San Francisco’s North Beach.

Petaluma Patch • April 2012

Parkinson's Sufferers Find Support, Community

U.S. Senate Resolution 416 just declared April as Parkinson's Awareness Month. But the "Movers and Shakers," a weekly Parkinson's support and exercise group at the Petaluma Senior Center, have been spreading the word about Parkinson's since 2004, sharing everything from caregiver recommendations to studies on the latest medications.

Petaluma Patch • February 2012

Turning History's Bric-a-Brac Into Art

To walk through Melissa Abercrombie's home is to peek into the past. An artist who makes sculptures from repurposed objects, and necklaces out of antique medals, the owner of Blue Ribbon Salvage says everything she and her husband own is old. That includes a fortune telling napkin dispenser, a cigarette machine, and several arcade games.

Petaluma Patch • January 2012

Karma on Wheels

What comes around goes around. It's the perfect tagline for a little eatery on wheels, especially one called Karma—a mobile Indian restaurant started by Cotati resident David Musgrave. "Karma is a strong force," says Musgrave, who can be found dishing up Indian fare from his food truck in a parking lot.

Petaluma Patch • November 2011

Teen Parents Learn Critical Skills

Negotiating adolescence is hard enough. But when you're a teen parent, it's even tougher. Pregnancy is considered the greatest single cause of dropping out of high school for female students, according to the Educational Equity Compliance. The prospects aren't much better for teen dads.

Petaluma Patch • October 2011

Day of Dead Exhibit Celebrates Life, Aims to Build Bridges in Community

To those not familiar with the Day of the Dead, celebrating death can seem like an odd thing. But the holiday is actually more about honoring loved ones that have passed on while acknowledging that death is an integral part of life.

Petaluma Patch • June 2011

A Cheerleader for Writers

Marlene Cullen is passionate about encouraging writers. Founder of the Writers Forum and facilitator of Jumpstart writing workshops, she believes everyone has a voice. "People are natural storytellers. If you can talk, you can write," says Cullen.