Talk:Petaluma, California

Important Notes Before Editing This Article

Please review the following to get a better idea of what you should add to this article:

1. Please follow the Wikipedia USCITY guideline for layout and content.
2. Please examine these great articles for ideas: Lock Haven, Pennsylvania / Stephens City, Virginia / Kent, Ohio / Tulsa, Oklahoma / Grand Forks, North Dakota.
3. Please ensure a person meets Wikipedia Notability requirements before adding to the "Notable People" section.

Please review the following before editing:

1. Please document your source by citing a reference to prove your text is verifiable.
2. Please add text that has a neutral point of view instead of sounding like an advertisement.
3. Please read the "Editing, Creating, and Maintaining Articles" chapter from the book Wikipedia : The Missing Manual, ISBN 9780596515164.

Sbmeirow (talk) 08:56, 19 December 2010 (UTC)

Polly Klass

I just re-inserted the Polly Klass line. Perhaps it isn't in the right spot, but I couldn't figure out why it has been deleted twice. Having lived in the town at the time it happened, I think it is an important part of the town's history. Perhaps there should be a history section?

Perhaps the point is that the vicious sex murder of an innocent little girl by a scum-of-the-earth killer is a much, much, MUCH more serious thing than the death by idiocy (aka drugs) of a nobody member of an ultra-ultra-ultra-minor local nobody band. Perhaps the other, virtually irrelevant matter should be removed?

floating map

this is a very poor graphic for lead image. i would vote to delete it or move to bottom. it is uninteresting besides being unreadable. what do others think? Anlace 17:48, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

It's not so horrible, it just doesn't give much info. It probably should not be the lead image. -Will Beback 21:42, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

I'm at fault for moving it. I agree it is not very exciting. I had just moved it because its previous position was even worse. Feel free to replace it with something more exciting. (Please do keep the image somewhere, though. Someone did take the time to make it after all). Ke6jjj 16:18, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

Sublime

It seems that there's a constant fight on this page for and against mentioning the Petaluma heroin overdose and eventual death of the lead singer of the band Sublime. The most recent battle seems to have been between an anonymous user (for) and Anlace (against). Anlace, your primary concern seems to be that the event didn't have a strong source and that it mentioned drug use. Am I understanding you correctly?

The event certainly did happen and Sublime is well known enough that their history with Petaluma is worth mentioning. If we could find a verifiable and trusted source for the exact details of the event, would your concerns be addressed?

— Ke6jjj 16:32, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

a source would quench my concern. Anlace 18:56, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

Why is there so much emphasis on murder in Petaluma? Karr is a non-issue to Petaluma history; had had no affect on the town. The historical event the most influenced Petaluma was Lyman Byce's incubator in 1879. That's what Petaluma celebrates as its history. The fish hatchery should be added; perhaps also Casa's Academic Decathalon success. Petaluman 23:25, 18 August 2006 (UTC) Petaluman.

I fully agree with Petaluman, Karr lived in Petaluma for little more then 6-7 months at had no real impact on Petaluma, Casa Grande's Academic Decathalon Team is more worth while mentioning. --Alamody 04:54, 5 January 2007 (UTC)

Genealogy

Is there a desire to see a genealogy section? I have been working on several families from Petaluma and all are referenced.

I would be interested. Some of my family had influence there, and I would be happy to see if they made your list. Since you did not sign, I will try to find your comment through the history. CodeCarpenter 17:05, 15 February 2007 (UTC)

I too have extensive Petaluma genealogy, and still have many relations who live there. At one time someone in the family said we were related to about 40% of the population of Petaluma. I lived in the city for about 8 years, 1983-1991. Would a genealogy be appropriate here? I have references to everything. Perhaps simply a section with links to genealogy resources? Coyotez 05:38, 4 November 2007 (UTC)

Notable, notable, notable

I take back what I said in the edit history -- I guess Winona does need to be listed twice, if it was worth reverting my change. I also cleaned up Lynn Woolsey being pluralized, which was also reverted. Why, I have no idea. Dori 06:08, 2 August 2006 (UTC)

The list of songs about Petaluma should include AFI's "Days of the Phoenix". The Phoenix is an important piece of Petaluma culture.

Notable Facts

Is it really a notable fact about Petaluma that there is a winery and reseraunt that happen to have the same name in another country? Unless there is a connection to Petaluma, CA established, I don't think these facts should be listed in regard to Petaluma, CA. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 63.68.128.254 (talk) 22:26, 29 April 2009 (UTC)

Add Heroes to the filmography

I grew up in Petaluma a movie called Heroes can be added to the list . It was with Sally Field, Henry Winkler, and Harrison Ford. I was at the Petaluma race track when it was filmed.166.214.165.59 04:19, 10 December 2006 (UTC)Kenneth Averett

I recall another movie that came in for the wrist wrestling championships (not the atrocious Stallone film that occurred elsewhere, there was another one around that time.) CodeCarpenter 17:07, 15 February 2007 (UTC)

Charles Shultz

Of Peanuts fame was a big fan of the city, I recall. Did he own property there and would he be considered a resident at any point? I see that the Sonoma County Airport has been named after him, nice touch. CodeCarpenter 17:14, 15 February 2007 (UTC)

Very glad you brought up this point. Charles Shultz was a good friend of Bill Soberanes, founder of the World Wristwrestling Championship, held in Petaluma. Bill Soberanes was a reporter for the Petaluma Argus-Courier and a "peopleologist" (his own invention). Soberanes was famous for taking pictures of himself with famous people. Schultz, for reasons unknown to me, gave Soberanes a big boost by sending Snoopy to Petaluma for the World Wristwrestling Championships. This information was given to me verbally by Bill Soberanes, a good friend of mine before his death in 2003. James C. March 13:59, 19 March 2007 (PST)

Thanks for the reply. A peopleologist sounds like the psychiatrist that rides the bus in Ray Bradbury's "The Man in the Rorschach Shirt". Sounds like a fun person. Sorry for your loss.

BTW, are you a long-time resident, and were you around to see the shutting down of Hillcrest Hospital? I am a relative of Russell Feliz, who had a long family history in Petaluma, from before the annexation of California (or so I am told). Do you recall anything about him? Sorry to bombard, but yours is the first response I had gotten, and my curiousity is high. Thanks, CodeCarpenter 22:45, 19 March 2007 (UTC)

Egg-laying capital of the world?

As a child, I recall being told that Petaluma was the per-capita egg-laying capital of the world. Anyone have a reference to this, and is it still the case? CodeCarpenter 17:15, 15 February 2007 (UTC)

Hi CodeCarpenter! You're right that Petaluma was at one time considered the egg capital of the world, and it was even known in pop culture (for example, it played a minor role in the movie "Harold and Maude"). But as a Petaluma resident, I can confidently say that we are unfortunately no longer considered as such. But for a accurate and humorous account of Petaluma's rise and eventual decline in poultry fame, I would suggest the book Comrades and Chicken Ranchers, Kenneth L. Kann; Cornell University Press, 1993. While the book's subject matter is concerned with describing the history of Jewish chicken farmers in Petaluma, it does an excellent job of documenting Petaluma's agricultural history from the mid-1800's to the 1980's, as a whole.

— Ke6jjj 07:53, 22 March 2007 (UTC)

Thanks, I will definitely look for the book. Sorry to hear they lost the title. :(. CodeCarpenter 19:38, 23 March 2007 (UTC)

If Petaluma is "no longer" the egg capital of the world, what city is?

Also - can you provide any further info on this "minor role" Petaluma played in "Harold and Maude"? It is not listed as a filming location on imdb; do you mean a role in the movie itself?

Thanks -- 65.218.84.25 (talk) 17:52, 4 November 2009 (UTC)

OneHump 04:42, 7 September 2007 (UTC) In 1879, Lyman Bryce invented the first successful incubator for hatching eggs. Petaluma was once referred to as "The Egg Basket of the World". This is as significant to Petaluma's history and identity as any other single fact.

Elijah Wood

He did live in Petaluma, unfortunately people couldn't leave him alone so they moved back to Hollywood. His page makes no reference to Petaluma. How is he linked to the city? Just curious.... CodeCarpenter 22:07, 15 February 2007 (UTC)

Agree, genealogy and more history for all famous people listed. Coyotez 05:38, 4 November 2007 (UTC)

Readability Issues

Reading through the text it could be organized a little better. Also the language appears a bit rough perhaps a good editor can clean this all up. Coyotez 05:43, 4 November 2007 (UTC)

Map

Does anoyone have a good map of the town to add to the page? Perhaps Petaluma Vistors Center has one. Coyotez 05:45, 4 November 2007 (UTC)

Adding of David Jebe

I was recently researching philosophers for a school project and discovered that there was one from Petaluma named David Jebe. All I could find was that he was a large contributor to philosophy during the early to mid 80's during and after his schooling at UC Davis. I am hopeful that someone else will have more info on him at some point. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.180.161.216 (talk) 09:08, 22 February 2008 (UTC)

Photos of downtown / town square?

Perhaps someone could take and upload some photos? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Wikip rhyre (talk • contribs) 01:25, 25 November 2008 (UTC)

Pedophile capitol of the world, and To Catch a Predator

The article should probably mention that they filmed a 2 part episode of To Catch a Predator in Petaluma. It caught the most predators of all, which should make Petaluma (Pedo-luma) the pedophile capitol of the world —Preceding unsigned comment added by 173.62.174.10 (talk) 02:04, 11 February 2010 (UTC)

Has the episode been covered by a reliable source not associated with the show? Or does your information come from original research or the TV show itself? If there's been coverage in a reliable secondary source, it seems worth mentioning in the article. --Stepheng3 (talk) 01:25, 20 December 2010 (UTC)

Petaluma and nearby Novato in Marin County is known for a fairly large community of pedophiles and child sex offenders, in fact the SF Bay Area is a magnet for such pedophile activity since the 1960's and the controversial organization, NAMBLA (the North American Men Boy Love Association) was founded in Marin City facing San Francisco back in 1976. I can see Petaluma is where a general social liberal attitude on tolerance in alternative lifestyles can be found (there is a LGBT community alike the whole SF Bay Area and somewhat a haven for paraphilia/sexual fetish types such as pregnancy fetishism or maiseiophilia thrives here and in San Francisco or San Jose areas), but pedophilia is NOT a legitimate thing and nobody in this or any other community wants that reputation, in addition to the Polly Klaas case took place in Petaluma. But there's a striking difference in morality: between a consenting pregnant woman in an affair with a secondary male sharing the same fascination with her pregnancy the woman voluntarily wants to express with him...versus an adult whom forcibly sexually harm a young child without those feelings towards back to the person committing a crime. 71.102.26.168 (talk) 02:25, 29 May 2011 (UTC)

This is blown out of proportion over the Polly Klaas case. I've Lived there. Safer than Most American cities. Just like painting Milpitas "all bad" over that teen murder. An Isolated Incident.Again No Statistics, No Numbers, No Data; just Opinions of those who never Lived there....70.162.46.94 (talk) 19:41, 13 August 2011 (UTC)

User IP 70.162*, like you stated on Petaluma, you are right on how safe it is and nearby Marin County is low-crime even the SF Bay area with a few exceptions (i.e. few parts of Oakland, California) where gentrification and a comparably robust economic profile reduced crime rates in the late half of the 1990s and 2000s. There is evidently higher criminal activity in places located 60-100 miles from San Francisco or the boundaries of the SF Bay Area, as well from Sacramento and the same applies to the city of L.A. or the L.A./Orange Counties' boundary in Southern California. The phenomenon of rural California have more crime, drug manfucaturing and parole relocation (serious felons, sex offenders and welfare cases) than in the cities themselves has made suburban areas and rural counties to oppose Sacramento made the parolee program by relocating released convicts, esp. pedophiles and drug dealers away from urban centers/areas and the "Left Coast" or Coastal California has politicians representing them more are dumping thousands of social deviants into "Red State" counties or small town America. Even the US-Mexican border areas: San Diego hasn't experienced the Mexican drug cartel problem due to the 20-foot border fence installed in the mid 1990s part of the California state's Operation Gatekeeper, but they popped up further east in Imperial Valley where illegal immigration continues with no end in sight. The ratio of child sex offenders per population is 184 in one desert resort city of Desert Hot Springs, California (population 25,000) in the Inland Empire, California region due to a belief the rehabiliatated pedophiles need to live somewhere but in heavily senior citizen populated areas, and more rural areas right on the 100-mile perimeter of the L.A. county line (the Morongo Basin in the Mojave Desert) is notorious in a rash of missing children's cases in the past 20-25 years. 71.102.3.122 (talk) 04:29, 27 September 2011 (UTC)

Snow?

It didn't snow in 2001-2002. I Lived in Cotati from 1992-2002; 7 miles away from PetaHoma, and at 1,000 feet in altitude. There was the Usual 1/8" of Slush; no "snow". Neither did Petaluma, at 14' above sea level, and that sea breeze modification.Quote a US weather service link.70.162.46.94 (talk) 19:37, 13 August 2011 (UTC)

Actually, Petaluma did have snow fall overnight back in Feb. 2002; I was still awake at 3:30am in my childhood home of 24 years when it started. It persisted long enough for kids to have snowball fights & make "snowpersons" that morning, and as SFGate reported (with pics) school was canceled for the day. Don't forget, our climate is slightly different from Cotati's due to the Petaluma Gap & Petaluma Mountain, so one place can easily have snow while the other isn't in the right temperature/humidity range for it. —Xyzzy☥Avatar (talk) 02:59, 20 September 2012 (UTC)

LLWS

I'd like to make a section about the Petaluma All-Star team in the 2012 LLWS. Drop me a line if you'd like to collaborate. Electric Catfish 18:26, 22 August 2012 (UTC)

External links modified

Hello fellow Wikipedians,

I have just added archive links to one external link on Petaluma, California. Please take a moment to review my edit. If necessary, add {{cbignore}} after the link to keep me from modifying it. Alternatively, you can add {{nobots|deny=InternetArchiveBot}} to keep me off the page altogether. I made the following changes:

• Added archive https://web.archive.org/20100505084445/http://www.petalumadowntown.com:80/butterandeggsdayparade.aspx to http://www.petalumadowntown.com/ButterAndEggsDayParade.aspx

When you have finished reviewing my changes, please set the checked parameter below to true to let others know.

This message was posted before February 2018. After February 2018, "External links modified" talk page sections are no longer generated or monitored by InternetArchiveBot. No special action is required regarding these talk page notices, other than regular verification using the archive tool instructions below. Editors have permission to delete these "External links modified" talk page sections if they want to de-clutter talk pages, but see the RfC before doing mass systematic removals. This message is updated dynamically through the template {{source check}} (last update: 18 January 2022).

• If you have discovered URLs which were erroneously considered dead by the bot, you can report them with this tool.
• If you found an error with any archives or the URLs themselves, you can fix them with this tool.

Cheers. —^{cyberbot II}_{Talk to my owner:Online} 12:58, 29 August 2015 (UTC)

Another Peanuts mention

I have a book of all the daily Peanuts comics from the 1960s, which includes the one where Snoopy goes to the National Armwrestling Championship. The reason I'm writing this is because in another later comic, Snoopy is training with "Peppermint" Patty to go to an ice skating competition in Oakland, which Charlie Brown mentions is 50 miles from Petaluma, and Snoopy reacts in a similar way to when he heard Petaluma before. --JH2006 (talk) 18:12, 2 March 2021 (UTC)