Meet Our Supreme Court Chief Justice The Honorable Houston Porter, assisted by Julie Longo, Jacque Reid
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 Meet Judge Houston Porter
Houston is a Petalumaholic. If it has to do with Petaluma, he is reading about it, visiting it, playing in it, or eating it. Having under-appreciated his hometown as a kid, Houston tries to participate wherever he can throughout the community. As a big fan of food, he revels in Petaluma’s vast and diverse restaurant, brewery, and winery scene and volunteers or visits every Petaluma food festival, event, or “feed” that he can. Houston writes the Tip of My Tongue column, as well as the feature article in the Food and Drink section of the Petaluma Argus-Courier, always focusing on the human element and how our food and drink purveyors are connected to our community. He also writes for Petaluma360.com, makes regular appearance on Santa Rosa radio station KSRO and is an Elite Yelp reviewer. Houston enjoys highlighting Petaluma's parades, festivals, events, people, and businesses, all of which make Petaluma such a nourishing place to live and visit.
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Meet Judge Mike Harris
Mike Harris, Chairman Emeritus of the Young Professionals Network of
Petaluma is the Senior Vice President of CrossCheck, Inc. (a National
Payment Guarantee Company) and served on the City Council for the City
of Petaluma from Jan 2003-Jan 2015. Mike was elected to the City Council
in 2002 as one of the youngest Councilmen ever elected in Petaluma. Mike
was re-elected to the City Council in 2006 as the top vote getter and
was re-elected in 2010 once again as the top vote getter. Mike served as
the Vice Mayor of Petaluma in 2005 and has served on many boards and
commissions. Mike has served on the Transit Advisory Committee for
Petaluma (Chairman from 2009-2010), the Technology & Telecommunications
Committee (Chairman from 2008-2009) and the Airport Commission to name a
few. In 2010, Mike was honored as one of the top 40 business leaders
under 40 years old by the North Bay Business Journal. |
 Meet Judge David Glass
In David's words "It is my pleasure to serve as a judge of the Chili Cook-off. This will be a difficult task as I don't believe I have ever tasted an entry that I did not like. They start at really good and go to great. I tend to like it hot but as Harry Truman said if you can't take the heat stay out of the kitchen.
“I love Cinnabar, Chili, and Salsa so this is not only a must do event but obviously one of my favorite days of the year. I want to thank Cinnabar for all of the work they do in our community with our youth, the school program, and the family entertainment they bring to our community. Every contestant is a winner simply by being here today.”
“I want to wish all of the contestant's good luck, and I truly am just glad to be able to help. I hope you will enjoy this event as much as I do” |
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Meet Judge Frances Rivetti
Frances Rivetti is a Petaluma-based freelance journalist and author of
Fog Valley Crush, a non-fiction romp through the region’s rich
farm-to-table history and modern day culture of all things authentic and
tasty. This British-born writer, frequently found in print and online
has a penchant for the eclectic and quirky in the world of food and
wine, beer, cheese — and of course, chili and salsa! Her popular local
lifestyle blog Southern Sonoma Country Life features lots of fun things
to eat, drink and do. |
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Meet Judge Wayne Dunbar
Wayne Dunbar, a long-time resident of Petaluma, is owner and editor of the popular Positively Petaluma website/magazine which is the fastest growing social and digital media presence catered specifically to positive information about #Petaluma. Dunbar also writes a column in the Sonoma County Gazette, a Star Patcher for Petaluma and Napa Valley Patch, and a board member of the Petaluma Downtown Association. The winner of the Chili Cook-off will be featured in an article on PositivelyPetaluma.com.
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 Meet Judge John (JJ) Jackson
John (JJ) Jackson has worked at the Argus-Courier for 18 years in two stints – one of seven years from 1975-1982 and currently from 2004 until the present. He is sports editor and education reporter. His culinary experience includes tastings at festivals of bacon-wrapped smoked salmon in Bandon, Ore. to chili in Columbus, Ind., and hot dogs at every high school in the North Bay.
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Meet Judge Steve Jaxon
Steve Jaxon is currently the host of KSRO's "The Drive", Sonoma County's only live daily talk show featuring a mix of politics, comedy, and live music. Steve has been a voice on Sonoma Country radio for 32 years from his work on popular morning shows on KREO and KHTT, to the hundreds of commercials he has voiced and produced through his company Vicario Productions. He is also the host of a 2 hour weekly show: "Swingin' With Sinatra". |
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 Meet Judge Marie McCusker
Marie McCusker, Executive Director of the Petaluma Downtown Association and Visitors Center. Marie and her team produce the Butter & Egg Days Parade, Antique Fares and the Art & Garden Festival. Born and raised in the UK, her background in non profit and business management has taken her around the world to settle here over 10 years ago. “I just love Petaluma, it has a lot of soul and there is always something fun going on” . Honored to be a judge at the Chili Cook off can’t think of better reason to lend out my taste buds than to help raise funds for Cinnabar Theater! |
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 Meet Judge Laurie Figone
Laurie Figone has won a dozen or so national recipe contests/cook-offs, including two internationalcook-offs. Most recently, named ‘Dessert World Champion’ last November in Las Vegas at the www.WorldFoodChampionships.com. Last fall she also appeared on TNT’s new cooking competition, "On the Menu’, with Emeril Lagasse and Ty Pennington. She has appeared on the TODAY Show in NewYork with Giada, Fox40 TV in Sacramento, and is currently a regular guest on KTVU Fox2 in Oakland. Currently in the process of publishing her first cookbook, you can always find her whipping up another culinary creation in her Petaluma kitchen.
"As a past competitor in the “Great Petaluma Chili Cook-off” I know the work and passion that goes into every pot of chili and sampling of salsa…my taste buds are geared up for FaBuLoUs FieRY FuSioN!” You can find more info. about Laurie at her website: www.LaurieFigone.com
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 Meet Judge Joe Tucker
Executive Director of RateBeer, which is widely recognized as the most accurate and *most-visited source for beer information. RateBeer is an independent world site for craft beer enthusiasts and is dedicated to serving the entire craft beer community through beer education, promotion and outreach.
Since May 2000, RateBeer has remained an active forum for beer lovers to come together and share opinions of beers, and beer retailers in a free environment. Established and maintained by dedicated volunteers, RateBeer has become the premier resource for consumer-driven beer ratings, features on beer culture and industry events, weekly beer-related editorials, and an internationally recognized, annual RateBeer Best competition. |
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 Meet Judge Mario Rubio
Mario Rubio is a local independent beer consultant and writer. In addition to contributing to the local Petaluma Argus Courier, Mario also writes for the Northwest Brewing News. These days, Mario can be found every Thursday at Taps promoting the weekly Brewery Night as well as buying beer around Sonoma County, bringing knowledge and passion for craft beer to thirsty accounts.
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