The Petaluma Downtown Association has bestowed the annual Good Egg award upon Kathy Fries, coordinator at the Petaluma Historical Library and Museum.The honor coincides with Fries' 10th anniversary with the Petaluma Museum, where she is known as the glue that holds the place together.
"The Petaluma Museum Association would not be able to preserve and promote Petaluma's history without the dedication of Kathy Fries," said board member Katherine Rinehart. "She is a constant positive influence . . . a community treasure."
The quirky award from the town that was once known as America's Egg Basket is given by the Petaluma Downtown Association to a person whose "eggsceptional" efforts have helped preserve and promote Petaluma history.
So Fries, known as a humble worker bee, will become the Queen Bee during April's Butter & Egg Days festivities. That will be a challenge for the friendly, but admittedly shy, Fries. "It will be hard to have so much attention, but I know it will be fun," said Fries.
She will be formally proclaimed this year's Good Egg during a ceremony at noon April 4 at the Petaluma Museum, 20 Fourth St.
She also will be in the Butter and Egg Days Parade, which will get under way at Walnut Park downtown at noon on April 25. This year's parade theme is "Recycle, Re-Use and Remember."
Kathy Fries started giving to her community as a museum volunteer. "In 1999, I was expecting a baby and I was going a little stir crazy, so I decided to volunteer," she said.
She found she enjoyed greeting visitors and helping out in the museum gift shop. She also loved the architectural grandeur of the former Carnegie Free Library and felt appreciated by fellow volunteers and the board of the museum.
"The great thing about Petaluma history is that it doesn't exclude newcomers. Once you move here, it grabs you," said Fries, who grew up in New York.
By 2002, Fries was a part-time employee. She took on more and more responsibilities until finally becoming the museum coordinator, lining up volunteers, helping with school tours, writing press releases and handling requests from media, board members, non-profits and other organizations.
Every September, Fries coordinates History Day for Leadership Petaluma, a Chamber of Commerce program that exposes participants to the museum and its resources for researching histories of families and buildings. She also assists with designing and setting up exhibits and works on the Petaluma Museum Association newsletter.
Her boss is Don Phoenix, a Petaluma Parks and Recreation department recreation supervisor.
"She's the nexus for so much activity that benefits Petaluma," said Phoenix. "She truly is a wonderful, kind person that just comes through for us every day."
You can reach Staff Writer Rayne Wolfe at 521-5240 or rayne.wolfe@pressdemocrat.com.
So Fries, known as a humble worker bee, will become the Queen Bee during April's Butter & Egg Days festivities. That will be a challenge for the friendly, but admittedly shy, Fries. "It will be hard to have so much attention, but I know it will be fun," said Fries.
She will be formally proclaimed this year's Good Egg during a ceremony at noon April 4 at the Petaluma Museum, 20 Fourth St.
She also will be in the Butter and Egg Days Parade, which will get under way at Walnut Park downtown at noon on April 25. This year's parade theme is "Recycle, Re-Use and Remember."
Kathy Fries started giving to her community as a museum volunteer. "In 1999, I was expecting a baby and I was going a little stir crazy, so I decided to volunteer," she said.
She found she enjoyed greeting visitors and helping out in the museum gift shop. She also loved the architectural grandeur of the former Carnegie Free Library and felt appreciated by fellow volunteers and the board of the museum.
"The great thing about Petaluma history is that it doesn't exclude newcomers. Once you move here, it grabs you," said Fries, who grew up in New York.
By 2002, Fries was a part-time employee. She took on more and more responsibilities until finally becoming the museum coordinator, lining up volunteers, helping with school tours, writing press releases and handling requests from media, board members, non-profits and other organizations.
Every September, Fries coordinates History Day for Leadership Petaluma, a Chamber of Commerce program that exposes participants to the museum and its resources for researching histories of families and buildings. She also assists with designing and setting up exhibits and works on the Petaluma Museum Association newsletter.
Her boss is Don Phoenix, a Petaluma Parks and Recreation department recreation supervisor.
"She's the nexus for so much activity that benefits Petaluma," said Phoenix. "She truly is a wonderful, kind person that just comes through for us every day."
You can reach Staff Writer Rayne Wolfe at 521-5240 or rayne.wolfe@pressdemocrat.com.
