Out&About

June 14, 2006

San Antonio VFD salutes the big 4-0

The San Antonio Volunteer Fire Department celebrates its 40th anniversary this year -- hosting its traditional annual Fathers Day Chicken Barbecue from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 18. Food will be served until 3 p.m.

Along with the good eats, there will be music, a silent auction and raffle, and special edition fire department shirts for sale. Kids can sit in the department's fire engine, play games and test their firefighting skills.

The barbecue will be held on the Pomi Ranch, 5227 Red Hill Road. Cost is $8 adults; $5 children. Call 769-0353 for more information.

'Can Iraq be Stabilized?'

A joint meeting of the Sonoma World Affairs and UNA chapters will be held at 7 p.m. tonight in the Lodge Room at the Veterans Memorial Building, 1094 Petaluma Blvd. South.

Stanford professor Larry Diamond, senior fellow of the Hoover Institute, will address the topic, "Can Iraq be Stabilized?"

The event is free and the public is welcome.

Learn more about Shollenberger

The third Saturday morning of each month is a great time to learn more about Shollenberger Park. Nature walks specifically designed for children and families are offered by the Petaluma Wetlands Alliance, starting at 10:30 a.m. and lasting between one and two hours.

Participants should meet at the first kiosk at the park. This month's walk takes place June 17. Call Gerald or Mary Edith Moore for details, 763-3577.

June is Dairy Month

Spring Hill Jersey Cheese salutes Dairy Month this June. From June 14 to 18, free flags will be given to children June 14 in honor of Flag Day, and hot dogs and root beer floats will be served on the weekend.

During the week of June 21-25, there will be free chocolate milk for children, and hot dogs, lemonade and ice cream sundaes will be available on the weekend.

Tours of the cheese plant and dairy are $5 per person with youth 7 and under free. Cow milking demonstrations will be held daily from 2:30 to 5 p.m.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, at 4235 Spring Hill Road.

'Remembering our Fathers' with Hospice

Hospice of Petaluma offers an evening in honor of fathers from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 16. Whether or not your dad's death was recent, coming together to share memories and feelings can bring comfort and healing.

Participants are asked to bring a special remembrance of their father such as a photo, poem or flower.

The free event takes place at Hospice, 416 Payran St. Call 778-6242 to register.

Sign up for summer reading

With school out, that means it's time for the Petaluma Library's annual Summer Reading Program, "Paws, Claws, Scales and Tales."

Sign-ups for the seven-week event take place at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 16 at the library, 100 Fairgrounds Drive or call the library, 763-9801, ext. 6, for more information.

Summer programs at B&G Club

Boys & Girls Clubs of Petaluma kicks off its summer camp program this week with Carnival Week, featuring games, activities and projects. Other weekly themes will include Olympic Challenge, Farm Week, Stars and Stripes, Wet-n-Wild, Beach Week, Monster Week, and Lights, Camera, Action. The program will conclude with a family barbecue.

Program cost is $20 per day, $75 per week, or $450 for the entire program. Activities are supervised. For details, call Georgi Harden, 769-5322, ext. 13.

Boating safety class offered

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary offers a one-day boating safety class, "GPS for Mariners and Chart Reading," starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, June 24 at the Bodega Bay Community Center, 2255 Hwy. 1.

The course covers the use of hand-held global positioning system units in conjunction with marine charts. Cost is $35. Call 953-0182 or go to www.flotilla-55.org.

Swimming program offered Saturday

"Vamos a Nadar" (Let's Go Swimming), a program designed to train Hispanic children and their parents in water safety, comes to the Petaluma Swim Center, 900 E. Washington St., June 17, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The bilingual program includes swim classes for the children, water safety lectures for the parents and demonstrations of lifesaving techniques. Cost is $15. To register, call the Red Cross, 577-7611.