Page 31 - Sonoma County Gazette 12-18.indd

“The average person can volunteer and change someone’s life. The life you end up changing is also yours. Ordinary people can make an extraordinary contribution.” —Eartha McClelland, Penngrove
Penngrove’s own Eartha McClelland was named Volunteer of the Year by Memorial Hospice for her work with Hospice of Petaluma. She has filled many roles with hospice since she began in 1997, doing everything from direct care
to grief support. Eartha wants “to be of use to someone, to lighten the load
Gingerbread House Showcase & Competition For the second year, Hotel Petaluma hosts this gingerbread house event, showcasing these hand- crafted masterpieces Fri, Dec 15 through Sun Dec 17, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., in the main ballroom.
Hospice Volunteer of the Year 2018
Guests will vote
for their favorites
in individual
categories for
kids, youth, teens,
and adults, and
group categories
for families,
businesses, and
professionals. This
is a community
event, so if you
would like to
donate a prize or
volunteer to help
make this event
happen, contact the organizers at events@hotelpetaluma.com.
of daily tasks for a family who could use a hand.” She recalled a time while her patient was napping, she thoroughly cleaned and polished the stove and fridge. It was a simple task but an impossible one for her client. The look of joy on her patient’s face was priceless.
Currently, Eartha leads a Holiday Grief Group at the Memorial Hospice office every Wednesday through December, from 6:00 to 7:00 pm. It is open to
any community member to come in and touch base.
Eartha grew up in New York (never in the suburbs) and moved to Penngrove from San Francisco in 1987. She was amazed to experience a small town where neighbors still lived in the home they’d grown up in, after their parents had passed. Many had gone to high school together. “I went to
the post office for stamps and was amazed when the postmaster said ‘your husband already bought stamps today’”.
New Year’s Eve Gala Concert The Petaluma Museum Association celebrates its 10th year of presenting their New Year’s Eve Gala Concert, and marks the return of Sonoma native and violin virtuoso Nigel Armstrong, who debuted at the inaugural NYE concert at age 18. If you have never attended
a concert at the Petaluma Historic Library, it really is something to behold. Designed by Petaluma’s legendary architect, Brainerd Jones, the former Carnegie Library is topped by the largest leaded glass dome in Northern California. It is also wrapped in the warmth of local Douglas Fir, which enhances the sound quality of the building, and has many calling this the Carnegie Hall of the West Coast.
Eartha also serves on the Board of Court Appointed Special Advocates in Sonoma County (CASA). “There are 65 kids waiting for volunteer advocates,” said Eartha. “We are ordinary people, appointed by the court to interface between the child and his/her parents, foster family, doctors, and caring professionals. It’s like being the hub of a wheel.” CASA volunteers humanize the
However, sound quality is nothing without an interest program and an expert musical ensemble, both of which Elizabeth Walter, the gala’s creator, coordinator, and pianist, has presented in spectacular fashion for the past decade. This year is no different, with selections of Bach, Schumann and Brahms, performed by Walter and Armstrong, as well as returning guest stars Yun Chu on violin, Shu-Yi Pai on cello, and Nanci Severance on viola. These three hale from the San Francisco Symphony and could play any venue of their choosing on NYE, which makes it a double honor that they make the trip up to Petaluma for our NYE Gala each year.
juvenile court process. They get a full picture of the circumstance, and advise the judge. If you are curious, contact the CASA office before the end of the year at 565-6375 or go to sonomacasa.org.
The Nutcracker: December 7 & 8
Is there a Sugarplum Fairy in your heart this season? Get tickets to see The Nutcracker, presented by Contessi Ballet and Napa Valley Ballet at Spreckels Performing Arts Center on Friday, Dec. 7 at 7:00 pm and Saturday, December
8 at 2:00 pm. For tickets phone 588-3400 or search Brown Paper tickets for
event 3742915. For more information and group discounts, call (707) 338-1013. The Contessi Ballet resides at Penngrove Station, as the non-profit North Bay Performing Arts Association. We congratulate Contessi on its 40th anniversary! The Association teaches ballet, pointe, Pas de Deux, core conditioning, tap and Jazz for all ages.
Bundle up, and come down to Main Street for the third annual Penngrove Holiday Parade of Lights on Sunday, December 16 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Penngrove Social Firemen offer the spectacle of glammed up tractor trailers, farm vehicles, and decorated farm tractors covered in lights. It’s not all farm equipment! Last year, North Bay Performing Arts Center’s Contessi Ballet dancers waved from their Cinderella Carriage float.
We have attended most years and like in the past, you are more than likely to see us pouring wine at the downstairs “bar”, so stop by and say ‘hi.’ Visit www.petalumamuseum.com for tickets, which range $50 to $80, depending on how early you buy. All seats include complimentary wine and cheese during intermission, with Balcony guests enjoying fine wine, champagne,
and chocolate, as well as a birds eye view of the performance. Seeing the need for local high-quality classical music events, Elizabeth Walter, in conjunction with Sky Hill Cultural Alliance and the Petaluma Museum Association, have provided the community with many outstanding and inspiring concerts, including 10 years of the NYE Gala Concert.
Holiday Parade of Lights: December 16
Local merchants will serve soup, pizza, hot cider street food to keep you warm. The parade stages in the Penngrove Park, 11800 Main St., and rolls up Main Street toward Adobe Rd. Watch out for the train. There is no entry fee for participants, who must register, and gather an hour early at the park. To join the parade, go to JavAmore Café or contact Kim for your entry form at 794-1516 or email mrsjjava@hotmail.com.
Learning about Libraries For those looking to learn more about how Petaluma received its incredible Carnegie Library, Kenneth Breisch will present “Andrew Carnegie & the American Public Library Movement”
at the historic library and museum on Sat, Dec 8, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., free to the public. Mr. Briesch is an acknowledged authority on library architecture, with several books on the topic to his credit. “Scheduled to coordinate
with the Petaluma Museum Association’s current exhibit, “The Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, A Story of Civic Progress & Pride,” Breisch’s presentation will further our appreciation and understanding of the PHL&M by elucidating the historical and cultural movement which originally gave birth to it as a Carnegie library.”.
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