1977 was the year that both Elvis and Bing died. Who ever would have guessed that the two great singing stars would pass away just 60 days apart.

Elvis Presley died in August of 1977, at only 42.

Bing Crosby died in October. He was 74.

In Petaluma, a lady named Helen Putnam was serving as our much revered Mayor. Bob Meyer was city manager and the two big headlines that fall were the question of whether Petaluma would get a new hospital, and the startling arrest of two local men on arson charges.

1977 was the year of the great 24-hour black-out in New York City. Jimmy Carter had just become President, Leonid Brezhnev was leading the Soviet Union and New York’s incredible World Trade Center had just opened its doors.

That power-failure in N.Y. was the cause of wild mob looting, and over 4,500 arrests were made around the lightless city. Exactly nine months later, the birthrate overwhelmed New York’s hospitals, as folks apparently had felt that it may have been the end of the world, as they knew it, soooo … you know.

In the world of entertainment, everyone was tuning into “Roots,” the epic miniseries on TV, and “Star Wars” was its own kind of epic in the movie theaters. Woody Allen‘s “Annie Hall” was also a major hit. The Eagles had just released “Hotel California” and The Bee Gees had given us “How Deep Is Your Love?”

Locally, residents debated replacing the old Hillcrest Hospital with a new one, as opposed to simply updating Hillcrest. It was a hot subject here.

So a large public debate was scheduled, the whole town was invited, and a huge number of people showed up to watch the two sides duke it out.

The Irate Taxpayers Association, led by Phil Joerger and Mel Hein, vehemently objected to the $10.5 million estimate for a new east side hospital. The “We-have-to-do-this” side was led by hospital administrators Franklin Burns and Carole Barlas.

The moderator was Bob Lipman, who had his hands full. Mayor Putnam didn’t attend the formal debate, but she took out a personal ad in the Argus-Courier saying that she was for the new hospital.

It was eventually approved, of course, and Hillcrest became an extended care facility, still thriving today.

Later that year, in November, someone tried to fire-bomb the Two Rock Elementary School, as well as Helen Putnam’s car (in her own driveway). Helen was Principal at Two Rock then, and the arson appeared to be a “personal thing.”

Helen told me, at the time, that she was “terrified.” A pair of local guys were arrested by a full swat team effort at their compound outside Petaluma. The story made national headlines, and the charge was arson.

Mayor Putnam testified that she had received anonymous telephone calls at her home, saying, “Your school is on fire, Honey” and “Your car is on fire now, Honey.” But she hadn’t been unable to identify the voices.

That same fall, a local banker was kidnapped and, in yet another incident, Petaluma’s Wells Fargo Bank was robbed at gunpoint. Then there were several home invasions and robberies all over town. Everyone was much alarmed and Argus-Courier Columnist Bill Soberanes commented, “A lot of people are planning to get a gun.”

Our local theater and singing group known as The Harmoneers & Harmonettes staged “The Music Man” that fall, and its star was Petaluma disc jockey Ron Walters, singing “There’s trouble, right here in River City,” which seemed to have a double meaning for Petalumans then. But, the musical got great reviews and its famed composer, Meredith Wilson, actually attended the show, and was quoted as saying it was, “One of the best and most flawless performances I’ve ever seen.”

As we headed into Christmas shopping, the toy of the season was a “Walking & Wetting Doll.” (No comment). At Carl’s Market you could buy Clover Eggnog for 69 cents a quart and Piotrkowski Poultry would sell you a Christmas turkey which, they promised, “Tastes like a Turkey!” To compliment your dinner, you could buy yams at Hagstrom’s Market for just 25 cents a pound.

At Merry Trees, on Sprauer Road, you could cut your own Christmas tree for only $5 bucks and at Robbins’ Books in The Great Petaluma Mill the best seller of the season was “The Thornbirds.” Gaye Robbins book shop was always very popular at Christmas, as she had a small room with plush carpeting and children’s books, with kids reading on the floor. Cute!

Bill Soberanes’ column of December 17 was all about a book-signing at Dalton’s Books here. Bill reported, “The phenomenal body builder Arnold Schwarzenegger was on hand. Arnold has that something special that it takes to be a super star!”

And lastly, Bill’s 1977 Christmas Eve column had him reminiscing about Petaluma places and people that he missed,

Ott’s Stationery, Dye’s Restaurant, Mike Walsh’s Eatery, The Old Yosemite Hotel, and The White Dairy were a few of those that had already left our scene 49 years ago. Those were truly memorable, if troubled, times, right here in River City.