Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Which Petaluma schools are getting major upgrades in the next decade?
Coming up on the Petaluma Patch calendar: Crossing Over with Psychic Medium John Edward live in Santa Rosa, CA!

Good morning Petaluma! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- Which Petaluma schools are getting major upgrades in the next decade?
- How will Petaluma football handle being the smallest team in its league?
- Which 2026 food trends are already landing on Petaluma menus?
Also on today's calendar: Crossing Over with Psychic Medium John Edward live in Santa Rosa, CA! and 2 more events.
Find out what's happening in Petalumafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Find out what's happening in Petalumafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Wednesday: A couple of afternoon showers, with a high of 53 and low of 48 degrees.
- Thursday: Periods of rain, temps: high: 56, low: 52.
- Friday: Occasional rain and drizzle, with a high of 59 and low of 49 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Petaluma City Schools OKs $229 million for facilities upgrades (pressdemocrat.com) — Petaluma City Schools is launching $229 million in bond-funded construction and upgrades across local campuses, including new gyms at Casa Grande and Petaluma High and new TK and arts spaces at several elementary schools. District leaders stress these voter-approved bond dollars can’t be used to fix a looming $5 million budget shortfall, and projects are expected to roll out over the next five to seven years.
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2. Football: League realignment upheld after unsuccessful appeals from St. Vincent, Petaluma (pressdemocrat.com) — Petaluma High’s football team will stay in the tougher REC-Valley league for the next two seasons after its appeal to move down was denied, leaving it the smallest program in the division. St. Vincent will jump to the top-tier Adobe league, as North Coast Section officials say they followed competitive-equity rules despite local concerns about safety and enrollment gaps.
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3. 8 hot food trends you can't avoid in 2026 (pressdemocrat.com) — Sonoma County’s 2026 food trends are already showing up at Petaluma spots like Fantasy Restaurant for hot pots and Teaspoon for tea-based drinks. The piece highlights cozier, globally inspired comfort foods, more personalized dining, and a growing tea culture. It also points readers to specific restaurants across the county where they can taste these trends now.
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4. Winona Ryder Always Knew Her 80s Flop 'Heathers' was a Masterpiece (movieweb.com) — Winona Ryder recalls first reading the script for “Heathers” while living with her family in Petaluma, already convinced the dark teen comedy was a masterpiece. In a new GQ interview, she describes cold-calling the director to beg for the role and reflects on how the once-flopping film has since become a cult classic, now streaming on several platforms.
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📸 Around Petaluma
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Petaluma
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Crossing Over with Psychic Medium John Edward live in Santa Rosa, CA!
Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Rd, Santa Rosa
12:00 pm
Sunday January 11
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Challah Club
Chabad Jewish Center of Petaluma , 205 Keller St , Petaluma
3:30 pm - Kids in the Kitchen
Chabad Jewish Center of Petaluma , 205 Keller St , Petaluma
4:00 pm - Album release party for "Stories In The Heart" by Back pOrchEstra Peacetown Sebastopol Jan 7 Wed 6p
6:00 pm - Sourdough Made Simple
Chabad Jewish Center of Petaluma , 205 Keller St , Petaluma
7:00 pm
Thursday January 1
Wednesday January 7
Thursday January 8
📣 Petaluma Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Pilates with Lorraine Fisher-Smith
Dance Palace , 503 B St , Point Reyes Station
9:00 am - Jazzercise Novato CardioSculpt HIIT Class
Margaret Todd Senior Center , 1560 Hill Road , Novato
9:15 am - Senderos: Última caminata del año
Sugarloaf Ridge State Park , 2605 Adobe Canyon Rd , Kenwood
10:00 am - Bouncy Ball New Year’s Eve
Downtown Novato Center , 1761 Grant Ave , Novato
12:00 pm - Bouncy Ball New Year
Downtown Novato Center , 1761 Grant Ave , Novato
12:00 pm - Snowy Day Collages
Roseland Regional Library , 470 Sebastopol Rd , Santa Rosa
3:00 pm - NYE at Songbird Parlour
Songbird Parlour , 14301 Arnold Dr #3 , Glen Ellen
5:00 pm - Ring in 2026 at Songbird Parlour
Songbird Parlour , 14301 Arnold Dr #3 , Glen Ellen
5:00 pm
Wednesday December 31
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Petaluma PatchAM possible:
- Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible! - Hamilton's Smog — (415) 493-8801
Smog checks available now—always ready when you are - Cheryl Teach Music — (707) 326-8797
Award Winning Music Teacher and Music School - RF Sealcoating and Striping — (707) 867-6289
🚧 Winter Rains Damaged Your Driveway or Parking Lot?
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Crab Feed Benefit —Lyndi Brown Read on Patch
- PEF Scholarship Application Portal Now Open for Class of 2026 —Maureen Highland Read on Patch
- Hi friends and neighbors.
Our little porch light pantry just got a huge bread donation. Please take what you need. Also still some meals in the community fridge. 860… (Nextdoor Crinella Drive) - https://new.shelterluv.com/embed/animal/LLRO-A-142
Foster Dog Looking for a Forever Home! Meet Samantha, a dog through Love’s Legacy Rescue. Samantha is a 1-year-old Chihuahua / Papillon butterfly… (Nextdoor Fallon Two Rock)
- Molly Maid posted a job opening for Residential House Cleaning Professional in Petaluma. Apply here.
- ABM posted a job opening for Janitorial Cleaner in Rohnert Park. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Petaluma here.
Ok Petaluma! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I heard there’s only a 50 percent chance of snow.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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