Out with the Old Electronics

HOW TO GET RID OF THE OLD TV, COMPUTER, STEREO OR MP3 PLAYER

Did you get a new stereo or computer for Christmas? Get a new TV for the upcoming digital broadcasting conversion? How about a new cell phone?

New electronic gadgets are tons of fun, but your can be left with a perennial question: What do I do with the old one?

In California, electronic equipment cannot be thrown out with the regular garage because there's toxic waste built right into their components.

The Solano County Recycle Guide (www.recycle-guide.com) has an excellent list of local organizations that specialize in electronic items. Here's a brief rundown:

• Goodwill (1819 North Texas, Fairfield): Open seven days a week. Accepts TVs, computers, microwaves and other small appliances free. 707-429-2338
• PG&E and JACO Enironmental: Will pay you to come by and take away your old refrigerator or freezer. Call 800-299-7573 for information and to schedule pickup.
  
• Potrero Hills Landfill (Highway 12 east of Suisun City): Open seven days a week, but charges to take items ($25 for each TV or computer monitor; call for other prices). 707-429-9600
• Freon Free (409-D Railroad Ave., Suisun City): Open weekdays, but charges to accept items. Will come and haul away refrigerators and other large appliances. 707-429-9013
  

If you are a Costco member, click here to learn about their free mail-in electronics recycling program.

If your items are still usable, you may want to look into the Freecycle program, which matches useful items with people who can use them. >>Click for more information on reuse options.>>

Dumping unwanted TVs, refrigerators, and other electronics and appliances along roadways, on vacant lots or in waterways is illegal and damages the environment. Violators will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Treecycle the Christmas Tree

HERE'S HOW TO GET RID OF THE TANNENBAUM

With the Christmas holiday winding down, it's time to think about removing live cut Christmas trees from your house before it becomes a fire hazard.

In Suisun City, you can get rid of your live cut tree this way:

• Call the Boy Scouts at 707-421-5308 to schedule a whole tree pick up for January 6, 13 or 20. The Scouts ask for a $5 donation for trees under 6 feet tall, and $10 for larger trees or those that are flocked or tinseled.
• Cut your tree to fit inside your green waste toter for regular curbside collection. The toter lid must close. For more information, call Solano Garbage Company at 707-437-8900.

For either method, please remove all ornaments, nails, tinsel, stands and metal spikes from the tree to prevent injury to collection staff or grinding equipment.

Alas, artificial Christmas trees are not recyclable. Please dispose of them in your regular garbage toter.

>>Check out the Treecycling Fact Sheet at Earth911.com>>

Designate a Driver

DON'T DRIVE DRUNK THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

The holidays are a terrific time for family and friends to gather together and celebrate. The Suisun City Police Department urges you to take a simple step to keep yourself and other motorists safe: Designate a driver.

A Designated Driver refrains from drinking alcohol, and is responsible to getting their riders safely to their destination. This is a statewide effort to reduce the number of alcohol-related collisions and fatalities on California's streets and highways.

The California Office of Traffic Safety even offers some great recipes for festive non-alcoholic drinks so designated drivers can celebrate without becoming impaired.

In 2007, 1,616 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes in California. Additionally, 203,866 people were arrested for driving under the influence.

If you've had even one drink, don't risk getting behind the wheel. The Suisun City Police, California Highway Patrol and other law enforcement agencies will heighten their vigilance for drunk drivers during this holiday period.

If you see a suspected drunk driver, call 911 to alert the Highway Patrol.

Christmas Tree Safety

SIMPLE STEPS HELP ENSURE A SAFE HOLIDAY

We want everyone to have a safe and happy holiday season. The Suisun City Fire Department would like to help make sure that Suisun City residents are safe and secure by offering some simple tips to ensure a safe holiday:

• Make sure your artificial Christmas tree is labeled, certified or identified by the manufacturer as fire retardant.
• Check to see that your live cut tree has fresh, green needles that don't fall off easily when touched.
• Cut about 1 to 2 inches off the trunk of your live cut tree before placing it in a stand that can hold water.
  
• Make sure to add water daily because trees consume lots of water, and can dry quickly indoors.
• Place your tree at least 3 feet away from a heat source, such as fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights.
• Make sure the tree is not blocking any exits.
• Use lights that carry a label from an independent testing laboratory.
• Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. String no more than 3 strands of mini string lights, and a maximum of 50 screw-in bulbs.
• Never use candles to decorate a tree.
• Always turn Christmas tree lights off before leaving home or going to bed.
• Get rid of the tree when it begins to drop needles. Dry trees are an extreme fire hazard. Use an after-Christmas community disposal program to remove the tree from your property.

>>Click here for more Christmas tree safety tips>>
>>Click here for holiday safety information from the National Fire Protection Association>>

Helping Neighbors Keep Suisun City Strong

Suisun City has a tradition of working with neighborhoods and the community to ensure the quality of life for our residents.

Nowhere is this stronger than in the Police Department, which has worked consistently to arm residents with the tools they need to be proactive in ensuring crime does not become a significant problem in any neighborhood. Suisun City has a network of neighborhood watch groups that organize residents to work constructively with police.

On Tuesday December 23, the Police Department will host a general neighborhood watch meeting to bring together residents from across the City to coordinate efforts.

The meeting, which is open to anyone in Suisun City, will take place from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Suisun City Library Community Room, 601 Pintail Drive. The new library is located between Suisun Elementary School and the Fire Station.

Plan to attend this important meeting on Dec. 23 because building a safer city means building safer neighborhoods, and now is the time to work together.

'Christmas at the Waterfront' in Pictures

Anyone who has ever tried to take pictures at night of any type of event can appreciate how hard it can be to get decent shots of something like Suisun City's 'Christmas at the Waterfront.'

This year, we actually turned to someone for some professional help. >>Here's a link to a catalog of those shots.>>

ABANDONED TILE GIFTS

During 'Christmas at the Waterfront,' Home Depot sponsored a terrific booth that allowed children to paint a tile as a special holiday gift. They all turned out great and everyone had a lot of fun!

But 16 of them were left behind to dry and never claimed. If yours is one of those, come by City Hall and ask for Anita Skinner or call her at 421-7309 during regular business hours.

Christmas Through the Lens

A LOOK AT HOW NEWS PHOTOGRAPHERS WORK

On Wednesday, Daily Republic photographer Mike Greener posted a selection of his favorite photos from Suisun City's "Christmas at the Waterfront" on the DR Photo Department's blog entitled "Words on Pictures."

Mike was assigned to cover every community Christmas celebration in the area.

In addition to the very nice photos, he included a narrative discussing how the chose the images he did for the paper, including this candid observation:

"Suisun City's Christmas on the Waterfront was a really awesome display but my decision to not show the boat aspect in the paper was a mistake in the end."

For anyone who has ever wondered how photojournalists decide what makes the paper, this is a must-read blog post! >>Click here for the posting>>

Go Inside the Salvation Army Community Centers

SPARKLING SF CENTER SHOWS POTENTIAL FOR SUISUN CITY

Everyone knows The Salvation Army. In the least, we recognize the annual Christmas kettle drive and know they do a lot of great work all over the country and the world.

But their work in recreation community centers wasn't really on a lot of people's radars locally until The Salvation Army showed interest in reopening the local recreation center shuttered by the YMCA.

The review committees paid a visit to The Salvation Army's San Francisco center as part of the research done into selecting a new partner to operate our local center. Committee members were very impressed with what they saw, especially considering the SF Center is located in the Tenderloin District.

The San Francisco center is one of The Salvation Army's Kroc Centers, a network of community centers created through a massive $1.5 billion endowment from Ray and Joan Kroc, the founders of McDonald's. The Kroc Centers are truly impressive; definitely Cadillac examples of what recreation-based community centers can be when they are built from the ground-up on large tracts of land. The Salvation Army runs these centers at a very high service standard.

That's the important part for any future relationship here in Suisun City. The center on Pintail Avenue at East Wigeon likely will never be a full-blown Kroc Center. But that same approach, commitment and outlook would be applied here in Suisun City on a somewhat smaller scale.

Daily Republic reporter Ian Thompson and photographer Brad Zweerink toured the San Francisco center this week and filed their report in Thursday's paper. >>Check out the Daily Republic web site for a peak inside the center.>>

Planning Commission Approves 'Fresh & Easy' Facade

NEW GROCER WILL ENHANCE SUNSET SHOPPING CENTER

SUISUN CITY - The Planning Commission unanimously approved changes to the exterior facade of the proposed Fresh & Easy location to allow the grocer to begin improvements at the Sunset Shopping Center.

Fresh & Easy, a small-scale grocer focused on regionally fresh produce and easy to prepare food, has proposed to open a store in about half of floor space previously leased to Albertson's, which closed locally in 2006.

The Community Development Department worked with the applicant to break what previously was a large single space for a store sign into two pieces to accommodate two tenants. Weingarten Realty anticipates leasing the remaining 15,000-square-foot space in the anchor tenant location to another business.

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market is a local, neighborhood store providing fresh,
wholesome foods at affordable prices to everyone. It is a company of Tesco, the UK’s largest retailer and one of the world’s leading international retailers. Tesco is investing $2 billion dollars over 5 years in the U.S.

The company has opened a number of locations in Southern California, and has plans for a significant number of store openings in the Bay Area and Sacramento regions. >>See proposed locations on the company website>>

$2,820 for Non-Profits in First Suisun City Christmas Tree Auction

LOCAL BUSINESSES LAUNCH NEW HOLIDAY TRADITION

Eighteen local non-profits raised $2,820 for their groups through the Suisun City Waterfront Christmas Tree Celebration and Tree Auction held Saturday as part of the Christmas at the Waterfront event.

Sponsored by the Suisun City Business Group and the Suisun City Historic Waterfront B.I.D., the celebration and auction offered local residents a real fun opportunity to help local non-profits while being able to take home a beautifully decorated tree to plug right into their home holiday decor.

Particularly given the dour economy, the results of this first local tree auction show the generosity of the Suisun City community.

The $2,420 total haul for the non-profits included $350 in prize money awarded by the business organizations to the first, second and third prize winners.

Groups participating were:

• Cassa of Solano County
• Twilight Rotary Club - Early Act Club
• We "R" Family Childrens Christian Center
• Sullivan Middle School Band Boosters
• Kiwanis Club of Suisun City
• NorthBay Healthcare Foundation
• Solano Christian Academy
• Fairfield Civic Theatre
• Wednesday Club
• Armijo High School Indian Softball Boosters
• Kassondra R. Seney Relief Fund
• Victory Outreach
• Relay for Life - Papa Joe's Pit Crew
• Fairfield-Suisun Community Action Council
• Armijo High School Band Boosters
• Cancer Support Group
• Westwind 4-H Club
• International Order of the Rainbow Girls #7

Congratulations to every group involved, and thank-you for decorating such beautiful trees!

A very special thank-you to the Suisun City Business Group and the Suisun City Historic Waterfront B.I.D. and their committee that brought this event together and worked tirelessly to make it such a success. This wouldn't be possible without you!

We can't wait until next year!

Last Push for Firefighters Toys of Kids Drive

TOY DROP-OFF DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, DEC. 12

Time is running short to bring in a new, unwrapped toy for the Suisun City Toys for Kids drive. Friday is the last day the Firefighters Association will accept toys to be delivered this year.

Toys for children of all ages - from infants and toddlers to young teens - are needed to make Christmas brighter for local families that may go without this holiday season.

To participate, drop-off a new, unwrapped toy in the collection bin at

• Ace Hardware - 252 Sunset Avenue, 94585, in the Heritage Park Shopping Center, Sunset Ave. @ Highway 12
• Athenian Grill - 750 Kellogg Street, 94585
• Virgil's Bait & Tackle - 201 Main Street, 94585
  
• A&J's Pub and Grill - 605 Main Street, 94585
• Suisun City Fire Station - 621 Pintail Drive, 94585, @ East Wigeon Way

Your contribution will help make the Christmas season brighter for Suisun City's children.

"Beauty & the Beast" at Suisun City's Harbor Theater

MULTIPLE SOLANO YOUTH THEATRE
PERFORMANCES ON DEC. 6, 7, & 13

The Solano Youth Theatre is putting 10 performances of the classic "Beauty and the Beast" in December utilizing three different casts in Suisun City's Harbor Theater, 720 Main Street. >>Click for Directions>>

These talented young people from across the county have worked diligently to put this complex production together! When you come to the Suisun City Waterfront District, stop for a meal or snack at one of the 12 terrific restaurants - many within an easy walk of the theater!

Showtimes are:

• Saturday Dec. 6: 4:30 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.
• Sunday Dec. 7: 1 p.m., 4:30 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.
• Saturday Dec. 13: 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 4:30 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are

• $10 Adults
• $5 Children & Students
  

Tickets are available online and, if there are any left, at the box office starting one hour before showtime.
>>Click here for online ticketing information>>

Christmas at the Waterfront Schedule

ENJOY SKATING, FESTIVE LIGHTS, FIREWORKS &
DECORATED TREE AUCTION!

Come celebrate the Christmas season with Christmas at the Suisun City Waterfront!

Here is the schedule for Saturday Dec. 6:

• Noon to 8 p.m. -- Skate rink open on Promenade along Main Street at Common Street (across from Veterans' Hall)
• 2 p.m. -- Festival opens: Christmas Street Faire, Children's gift-making booth, Suisun City Waterfront Christmas Tree Celebration & Silent Auction, Main Street Merchants Open House & Santa Hat Stroll, Hay Wagon Rides

Harbor Plaza Performances

• 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. -- Solano Youth Theatre Touring Company
• 4:10 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. -- Dan O. Root II Elementary School Chorus
• 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. -- Armijo High School Jazz Band

Welcome the Season!

• Approx. 5:15 p.m. -- Solano Yacht Club's Lighted Boat Parade
• After parade -- Tree lighting and fireworks spectacular (end of Solano Street)
• Approx. 6-8 p.m. -- Photos with Santa at the Harbor Theatre
• 6 p.m. -- Bids close at the Suisun City Waterfront Christmas Tree Celebration & Silent Auction (in tent on Solano Street adjacent to Air, Land & Sea Travel and The Athenian Grill)

Plan to enjoy the Main Street Merchants Open House & Santa Hat Stroll! >>Click here for interactive map of participating businesses>>

Come back on Sunday Dec. 7 to skate from Noon until 6 p.m.!

Skate Rink Arrives in Suisun City

OPENS AT 6 P.M. FRIDAY FOR WEEKEND FUN

The first-ever outdoor skate rink arrived at the Suisun City Waterfront District this morning amid the early December fog and chill. There's nothing like 30-degree temperatures to bring a skating mood!

The rink will be open

• 6-9 p.m. Friday (Dec. 5)
• Noon - 8 p.m. Saturday (Dec.6)
• Noon - 6 p.m. Sunday (Dec. 7)

Prices, with skates included:

• Children (under 12) $2
• Adults (ages 12-54) $3
• Seniors (55+) $2

All skaters will need to sign a completed waiver before entering the skating surface.

We'd like to thank all our sponsors who made this exciting new Christmas at the Waterfront element possible:

• Jelly Belly
• Anheuser Busch, Fairfield
  
• Solano Garbage
• Main Street West Partners
• Hudson Business Networks, Inc.
• Suisun City Business Group
• Suisun City Historic Waterfront BID

The Salvation Army is Top Contender to Re-open Center

OFFICIALS LAUNCH DISCUSSION ON OPERATIONS AGREEMENT

The Suisun City Council has identified The Salvation Army as its top pick for further discussions regarding taking over the community center shuttered by the North Bay YMCA. This step allows both parties to focus on bringing back youth and family programs that are vital to supporting and strengthening the Suisun City community.

The City Council Ad Hoc Committee and Citizens’ Advisory Committee assigned to review proposals from seven organizations wanting to re-open the facility, unanimously selected The Salvation Army as the top choice based upon its commitment to families, communities and the high level of service evident in more than 360 recreation centers it operates across the nation.

In making this determination, the top priorities of the City Council Ad Hoc and Citizens’ Advisory committees were to ensure:

• Commitment to a safe place for children when schools are closed;
• Commitment to partner with other community groups for facility usage;
• Maximum access to programs regardless of ability to pay;
• Pool operations;
• Basketball court usage; and
• Fitness center, including machines and free weights.

Representatives of the City and The Salvation Army have begun discussions on a financial arrangement to take on operations of this facility that meets the fiscal and service needs of both parties. Program and facility assessments are also underway. Timelines for reopening the facility are expected to become clearer after the first of the year.

After a rigorous series of interviews and site visits, The Salvation Army rose to the top of the list because of the quality of its operations, its desire to provide services not otherwise available in the community, and its commitment to becoming part of the community. Specifically, the committees were impressed with The Salvation Army’s commitment to provide a safe and fun environment for children, its flexibility in programming and membership rates, its wide base of financial support, and its worldwide reputation for enduring high-quality programs. The Salvation Army prides itself on providing support services to families to ensure their success economically and as a basic building block of society.

“The Salvation Army is much more than ‘bell ringers’ during the Christmas holidays and service providers to the homeless and other people in crisis,” said City Manager Suzanne Bragdon.

“Their services are far-reaching and include the operation of more than 360 community recreation facilities similar to what is being proposed in Suisun City. They will be a welcome addition to our community.”

About The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army is a faith-based Christian organization that has actively supported those in need without discrimination in the United States for 128 years. Nearly 29 million American receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through a broad array of social services ranging from providing food for the hungry to relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter for the homeless, and opportunities for underprivileged children. About 82 cents of every dollar raised is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide.

For more information about The Salvation Army, visit www.salvationarmyusa.org.

Police Make Burglary Arrests

SUISUN CITY POLICE ARREST SEVEN IN TWO SEPARATE CASES

On December 1st, Suisun City Police Department Officers arrested seven individuals on two separate cases. The arrests began just after 3 a.m. when officers were dispatched to the area of Klamath Dr. regarding a report of juveniles looking inside parked cars. The suspects ran once the officers arrived, but the officers were able to apprehend them. The investigation confirmed various acts of theft and vehicle tampering. Four 16-year-old boys were arrested. Two reside in Suisun City; the third resides in Vallejo; and the fourth resides in Fairfield.

At about 10 a.m. a resident in the 1100 block of Lawler Ranch was awakened by a subject ringing his doorbell. Before he could answer his door, the subject began kicking the door to gain entry. The resident yelled out and the subject fled. The resident captured a good description of the getaway vehicle and called the Suisun City Police Department.

Suisun City Police Department Officers located a vehicle on Hwy 12 that was similar to what the resident had reported. A stop was made and three suspects were detained. The investigation confirmed the burglary attempt. The investigation also confirmed that numerous residences in that area had previously been identified as potential target homes. John Alcutt, a 25-year-old resident of Richmond, was arrested on charges of burglary, conspiracy, and a violation of probation. Garland Callum Sr., a 39-year-old resident of Berkeley, was arrested on charges of burglary and conspiracy. Callum’s 17-year-old son, a resident of Fairfield, was also arrested on charges of burglary and conspiracy.

These acts of theft and burglary are a reminder of the increase in crime many cities experience during the holidays. To help deter these types of crimes, residents are always encouraged to immediately telephone the police if unknown or suspicious vehicles or people are observed. It is exceptionally helpful when citizens are able to safely provide detailed information to the Dispatch Center about the suspicious vehicles or persons observed, as illustrated by the Lawler Ranch incident above. Further deterrent is realized by knowing and talking with your neighbors, starting or joining a neighborhood watch program, and by using quality theft prevention devices.

Anyone with information about these crimes can telephone Suisun City Police Department at (707) 421-7373.

First Holiday Lights Come on Tonight

The first twinkle of holiday lights come on tonight (Monday, Dec. 1) in the Suisun City Waterfront District!

Thousands of lights wrapped around trees and on the wreaths lining Main Street, Kellogg Street and the Marina Promenade will be lit tonight as a warm-up to Suisun City's official welcome of the Christmas holiday season.

Thousands of more lights will be turned on for the first time on Saturday night during the annual "Christmas at the Waterfront" spectacular from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 6. In addition to the Lighted Boat Parade, Santa's arrival, tree lighting and fireworks, we've added an outdoor skate rink and the Suisun City Waterfront Christmas Tree Celebration and Auction.

Enjoy the festive lights, and celebrate the season safely!

Dredging to Improve Suisun City's Marina

REGULAR MAINTENANCE KEEPS MARINA VITAL

The Suisun City Marina is getting deeper day by day as two dredge rigs perform routine silt-removal to ensure this waterway remains Central Solano County's premier public marina.

The Roy G. Garren Construction team is working 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. six days a week to get thousands of cubic yards of accumulated silt out of the bottom of the waterway.

The dredge work also will clear Whispering Bay and the slough serving the homes along Marina Boulevard.

Improving the marina and keeping it suitable for a wide variety of boats is essential to the economic health of the Waterfront District, and the viability of the Solano Yacht Club, which routinely draws fellow boaters from across the Bay Area to Suisun City.

"It is a critcal asset that is more important than ever as we work hard to attract new restaurants and businesses to Harbor Square, solict new ventures to four remaining waterfront sites, and market to visitors to come and stay at our soon-to-be-opened waterfront hotel - all occurring during more than challenging economic times," said Recreation and Community Services Director Mick Jessop.

All work must be completed by December 31, 2008.

>>More on Suisun City's dredge work from Solano EDC>>

Suisun City Tops in National Night Out

The 2008 National Night Out rankings are out & Suisun City ranked No. 2 IN CALIFORNIA and N0. 20 IN THE NATION for our terrific community event and neighborhood block parties!

National Night Out is an annual tradition here in Suisun City. On the first Tuesday of August each year, the entire community comes together to unify around the conviction that criminals do not run our neighborhoods - residents do!

A very special thanks to the Suisun City Police Department for organizing this terrific annual event, which is recognized regularly for its high quality and broad public support and participation.

For more information on how to get involved in a Neighborhood Watch where you live, contact Community Services Officer Pam Greenwood at 707-421-7373.

Save While Supporting Suisun City Businesses

WATERFRONT BUSINESSES LAUNCH DISCOUNT PROGRAM

The Suisun City Historic Waterfront BID has launched a brand new discount program called "Passport to Savings" to reward frequent customers and provide an easy way to support local businesses while saving a little of the green.

The program is amazingly simple:

• Visit a participating business to get your very own Passport to Savings card.
• Then, visit the BID website at www.suisunwaterfront.com to see the latest discounts offered by participating member businesses.
• Go to the business and cash in on the savings!

The program was launched just in time for the busy Thanksgiving shopping weekend! There are already 18 businesses offering 24 different discounts and promotions on everything from discounts on car service at Hi-Tech Auto to a free haircut at Bellezza Hair Studio, a free gift at Air, Land & Sea Travel, discounts at Waterfront Comics and meal discounts at El Capitan Coffee Co., Athenian Grill, La Cabana, and many, many more!

Check out the web site today before you head out shopping, then support your local Suisun City Waterfront District businesses!

Christmas at the Waterfront

HOLIDAY SEASON KICKS OFF DEC. 6

Ring in the holiday season with "Christmas on the Waterfront" in Suisun City. This day-long festival is the most unique holiday celebration in the region with unique features found nowhere else.

The fun gets underway at 2 p.m. when the Christmas Street Faire opens offering a wide array of unique gifts and delicious food. We have an all new gift-making opportunity for children to make a unique present of their very own for that special relative made possible through a partnership with Home Depot.

Also new this year is the special outdoor skating rink! Bring the family down to the Waterfront District for this truly unique and festive opportunity!

Of course, we'll have the Lighted Boat Parade, Christmas tree lighting, spectacular fireworks, a festive bonfire, haywagon rides, and performances by the Dan O. Root II Elementary Chorus, Armijo High School Jazz Band and Solano Youth Theatre's Teen Touring Company.

>>Click here for the day's full schedule>>

You won't want to miss the very special Suisun City Waterfront Christmas Tree Celebration and Auction. Come enjoy and bid on fully decorated Christmas trees trimmed by local nonprofit groups. The silent auction starts at 2 p.m. with bids closing at 6 p.m. All proceeds go to the decorating nonprofit, and you'll get a tree ready for your living room or business.

Come enjoy the holiday season in Suisun City's Waterfront District!

Skate Suisun City's Waterfront District

NEW CHRISTMAS TRADITION STARTS THIS YEAR

Outdoor skating in Suisun City? Absolutely!

Imagine gliding across the slick surface on a pair of ice skates overlooking the beautiful Suisun City Marina and Harbor Lighthouse. Holiday music wafts through the air as festive lights twinkle.

Starting at 6 p.m. Friday Dec. 5, the rink will be open right on the Waterfront Promenade across Main Street from the Veterans Memorial Building at Common Street. The rink will be open during the "Christmas at the Waterfront" spectacular on Saturday Dec. 6 from Noon to 8 p.m. and on Sunday Dec. 7 from Noon to 6 p.m.

A family of four can skate for only $10, with the skates included! Adults are $3 and children (up to age 12) and seniors are $2, all including free use of skates.

We'd like to thank our business partners who made this terrific opportunity available at such an affordable price:

• Jelly Belly
• Anheuser Busch, Fairfield
  
• Solano Garbage
• Main Street West Partners
• Hudson Business Networks, Inc.
• Suisun City Business Group
• Suisun City Historic Waterfront BID

The Daily Republic recently lauded the new skate rink:

"Cheers to Suisun City for once again showing the way when it comes to celebrations across Solano County. The City always seems to be the most innovative when it comes to putting on community events. This holiday season is no different."

Come enjoy the skate rink and help us make this a new annual tradition!

Free Flu Clinic on Friday

Adults and children can get free flu shots on Friday (Nov. 14) from 2-6 p.m. at West Wind Church, 207 Marina Center, Suisun City. The church is located in the corner of the center at Lotz Way and Port Way.

The free flu shots and the flu nasal mist will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. Everyone is welcome to attend this clinic.

Solano County Public Health is providing the free clinic, and will conduct it as a disaster training exercise as it continues to prepare its staff for handling large-scale immunizations.

>>Click for Google map to clinic>>

Another clinic specifically for older residents will be held on Nov. 21 from 8 a.m. to Noon at the Suisun City Senior Center. The flu mist will not be available at the Senior Center clinic.

>>Click here for link to general information about the seasonal influenza>>

UPDATE: Main Web Site is Down

After tons of work and troubleshooting over the past week or so, the City's main web site is back up and stable!

We appreciate all of your patience during this period!

Suisun City's main website at www.suisun.com is down this morning due to a server crash problem. We are working hard to get it back up and running.

Your patience is appreciated.

Visit the Suisun Wildlife Center

The Suisun Wildlife Center will host an open house 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday (Nov. 8).

The Center - perched on the edge of the Suisun Marsh at Peytonia Slough - is a care and release facility for animals native to the area, particularly specializing in infant animals abandoned by or separated from their parents. The staff and volunteers from this terrific nonprofit educational foundation also host a wide range of field trips and nature experiences for area school children.

Located at 1171 Kellogg Street in Suisun City, the Center has a number of resident animals on display. If the weather cooperates, the Center's resident golden eagle will make a special appearance at noon & 2 p.m.

After you stop by the Center, you can go right up Kellogg Street to a trio of terrific restaurants for your breakfast and lunch needs, including Bab's Delta Diner, Athenian Grill and Joy of Eating. Park and walk around the Waterfront District and the beautiful Promenade.

A trip to the Suisun Wildlife Center also makes for a great day trip destination, especially if you can couple it with a train ride on the Capitol Corridor to the Suisun City station or with a stop at the Jelly Belly factory just down Cordelia Road from the Suisun City Waterfront District.

Sandbag Stations Deployed

The Suisun City Public Works Department is out in the field getting the community ready for the upcoming winter rain season.

In addition to unclogging storm drains and making sure the canals are flowing free, Public Works has set up two self-serve sandbag stations for City residents around the clock. If your property is prone to localized flooding, now is a good time to visit one of the stations to get the sandbags that you need. (If you have empty sandbags and a shovel, bring those as supplies sometimes run low.)

They are located behind the Fire Station on Pintail and behind City Hall adjacent to the Solano Yacht Club. >>Click here for a map of the locations>>

We also have a ton of resources for residents to get ready for the rains, including:

• Tips to prepare and safeguard your property
• Steps the City is taking to prepare the community
• Resources to track upcoming weather systems and monitor emergency situations, should any arise.
• Bookmark this Winter Weather information page and visit often
  

Take a few minutes to get prepared before the next storm rolls into the area.

Initial Ruling Finds Suisun City Wal-Mart Project Complies with All Laws

FINAL RULING EXPECTED WITHIN 90 DAYS

SUISUN CITY — Solano County Superior Court Judge Paul L. Beeman issued a tentative ruling that the City of Suisun City fulfilled every legal obligation when the City Council considered and approved the Walters Road West Project, which is proposed to house a Wal-Mart Supercenter.

Judge Beeman heard oral arguments during a brief hearing Monday morning. A final ruling must be issued within 90 days.

The proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter is expected to help Suisun City capture much-needed sales tax dollars that City residents currently spend in other communities. Suisun City currently sees approximately 70 percent of sales tax available from its residents leak to other communities.

“Every time a Suisun City resident spends sales tax in another community, they are helping to pave that city’s streets and protect that city’s residents,” said City Manager Suzanne Bragdon. “We want Suisun City residents to buy the goods and services they need in Suisun City so those tax dollars can benefit our neighborhoods.”

On February 12, 2008, the Suisun City Council unanimously approved the environmental studies and application for the Walters Road Project. The approval included a determination that this project will not negatively impact any Travis Air Force Base operations.

“We are very pleased that Judge Beeman’s tentative ruling supports the diligent work by our staff and consultants to comply with every state and local regulation, including 1,600 pages of analysis,” City Manager Bragdon said. “We expect that within the next three months, this project will receive the legal green light to move forward.”

Don't Forget the Batteries When You Change the Clock

At 2 a.m. tomorrow (Sunday Nov. 2), we switch back to Standard Time. Don't forget to "fall back" before you go to bed tonight (Saturday Nov. 1) by setting the time back one hour.

The Suisun City Fire Department encourages City residents to use this annual adjustment as the time to change the batteries in your smoke detectors. It's also a good time to check to make sure the detector is still functional.

Studies from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) indicate that one out of four alarms may not be functional because of the age of the alarm, as well as dead or missing batteries. The NFPA strongly recommends that smoke alarms be replaced every 10 years.

The following are simple steps residents can take that will greatly reduce the risk of fire-related injury and property loss:

• Change the batteries in smoke alarms every six months or when the low battery signal is heard.
• Test your alarms weekly using the units’ test buttons to ensure batteries and all alarm functions are working properly.
• Never remove the unit’s batteries to stop an unwanted alarm or “nuisance” alarm, such as those caused by cooking smoke or burned toast. According to the NFPA, half of the deaths in homes equipped with smoke alarms occur because the smoke alarm did not sound – usually when batteries are dead, disconnected or missing.
• Replace older smoke alarms after 10 years or in accordance with manufacturer’s warranties.
  

Watch the Kids on Halloween

Suisun City residents are encouraged to show extra caution when driving through City streets on Friday night as our children celebrate Halloween.

Two great ways to celebrate the annual trick-or-treat holiday are

• The 57th Annual Suisun City Costume Parade and Contest. Sign-up starting at 4 p.m. for the parade and judging at Driftwood and Main Street then enjoy the festive 5 p.m. trip down Main Street to Harbor Plaza for awards and candy. This free family tradition is great for all ages!
• The Solano College Theatre is putting on "Spooktacular" - a terrific haunted house inside the historic Lawler House at 718 Main Street, between the Harbor Theater and Harbor Square. The haunted house runs 5-6:30 p.m. as a G-rated family event, and 7-10 p.m as PG-13 fun for the thrill-seekers. $5 admission, $2 if you come in costume.

Follow these tips for a safe Halloween:

• Try to use face-makeup rather than masks to allow for maximum vision
• Drive more slowly, particularly on residential streets, watching for children running into traffic or acting erractically
• Provide children who are trick-or-treating with lightweight flashlights to navigate darkened streets
• Don't use candles in displays of dried season material
• Avoid long or flowing costumes that could pose a tripping hazard
  

Hollywood Came to Suisun City on Wednesday

A production company filming a portion of an episode of the ABC reality-based series "Wife Swap" came to Suisun City on Wednesday to shoot with the Suisun City Fire Department.

The crew was in town for several hours before they headed off to other parts of the Bay Area to continue their work.

Now before you start asking all your friends and neighbors if they were involved: None of the principals involved in the episode were from Suisun City.

The crew phoned Fire Chief Mike O'Brien late Tuesday asking if the Fire Department would put one of the show's participants through the paces. With the opportunity to put Suisun City on a nationally televised entertainment show - and the requisite high level conversations - he quickly said, "Yes."

Chief O'Brien, Captain Greg Bounds and Lt. Greg Renucci put them through the paces of putting on 45 lbs. of fire gear at the firehouse before taking them to the Waterfront District to practice handling a live fire hose with 125-pounds of pressurized water pouring from the nozzle. We even paused by the recently painted water tower for general shots of the fire truck rolling by.

We have no idea yet when the episode will air or how much of the Suisun City footage will survive the editing process. We'll be sure to keep you posted when we find out because we're sure everyone is going to want to see this!

But at least for a few hours today, Hollywood was right here in Suisun City and we did our best to make sure we offered a good close-up.

The Daily Republic wrote a story. See it at www.dailyrepublic.com

Suisun City Marina Dredging Approved

The silt and mud collected in the Suisun City Marina over the past 6 years will be sucked out in a dredging project that is expected to start Nov. 17.

The Suisun City Council unanimously awarded the $1.3 million project to Roy G. Garren Construction of Roseburg, Oregon, the lowest of three bidders who showed interest in the Suisun City job. The bid came in more than $300,000 lower than the engineer's estimate for the work.

The City Council met in a special meeting Tuesday to consider the contract because of the short window set by state and federal environmental regulators as to when dredging in the environmentally sensitive Suisun Slough can be conducted. Regulators limit any dredge work to the fall months to avoid peak spawning seasons for various species that make their home in the Suisun Marsh.

Improving the marina and keeping it suitable for a wide variety of boats is essential to the economic health of the Waterfront District, and the viability of the Solano Yacht Club, which routinely draws fellow boaters from across the Bay Area to Suisun City.

"It is a critcal asset that is more important than ever as we work hard to attract new restaurants and businesses to Harbor Square, solict new ventures to four remaining waterfront sites, and market to visitors to come and stay at our soon-to-be-opened waterfront hotel - all occuring during more than challenging economic times," said Recreation and Community Services Director Mick Jessop.

The dredging project will involve two dredgers working seven days a week for 18 hours each day to move 120,600 cubic yards of siltation from the marina to Pierce Island. The project includes the Marina Village marina area for which homeowners pay an annual assessment.

Halloween Fun Goes Large in Suisun City

If you can't find some way to celebrate Halloween in Suisun City this year, you aren't trying very hard. In fact, you would have to work pretty hard to avoid some great new events for this Halloween season!

The new Suisun City Library is celebrating its first Halloween with a night of family fun from 6-8 p.m. Thursday. This children-oriented event will feature a costume parade, stories, crafts, a haunted house and photo booth. A great new community tradition for Suisun City families at your library!

For the first time, Solano College Theatre is presenting "Halloween Spooktacular" at the Lawler House! The Theatre converted the venerable farmhouse into a haunted mansion that will be open for very special - and scary - tours from 5-10 p.m. Thursday & Friday! The tours are G-rated family friendly from 5-6:30 p.m. But after 7 p.m., the scare-factor goes PG-13 and isn't for the faint at heart!

The Halloween Spooktacular is $5 per person, $2 if you wear a costume.

Plan to join the 57th Annual Costume Parade and Contest sponsored by the Suisun City Firefighters Association. This is the grand-daddy of all Suisun City Halloween events with hundreds of costumed children, teens and adults parading down Main Street. Sign-in for judging at Driftwood Drive and Main Street starting at 4 p.m. Friday with the parade starting at 5 p.m.

For more information on all of these events, visit www.suisun.com!

Statement regarding Officer Engelberto Rubio, Jr.

February 5, 2009 Update:

In January, a Colusa County jury acquitted Mr. Rubio on all counts.

Source: Colusa County Sun-Herald.com

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December 1, 2008 Update:
Officer Rubio resigned his position with the Suisun City Police Department for personal reasons in early November, and is no longer an employee of Suisun City.

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On Oct. 16, Suisun City Police Officer Engelberto Rubio Jr. began a 30-day unpaid administrative leave after the Suisun City Police Department learned of impending child abuse charges in Colusa County, his county of residence.

Rubio surrendered to authorities on Oct. 22 in Colusa County on allegations of felony infliction of corporal injury upon a child and misdemeanor child endangerment charges.

"This is a very difficult situation for the Suisun City Police Department, as it is with any employer," said Public Information Officer Scott Corey. "We can't control what happens to our employees during their off-duty hours. Obviously, we expect them to conduct their affairs in a lawful and ethical manner."

Rubio was hired approximately three months ago and was in the midst of an 18-month probationary assignment standard for all newly hired Police Department employees.

When the Colusa County District Attorney's Office contacted the Suisun City Police Department earlier this month to notify officials regarding the allegations, Rubio was removed from street patrols and assigned to administrative duties.

On Oct. 16, the Colusa County District Attorney Office indicated there was sufficient evidence to bring charges. Rubio began an unpaid leave to provide time to resolve the matter.

If the charges are not resolved during his leave, Rubio may either resign or be terminated from his Suisun City employment.

Suisun City Dancer in 'High School Musical 3'

Tiffany Mallari, grew up in Suisun City and got her start as a dancer and performer at Dance Directions - a long-time Waterfront District studio, is starring in Disney's "High School Musical 3."

Here's how Amy Maginnis-Honey started her story on Tiffany in today's Daily Republic:

SUISUN CITY - Look closely at Disney's 'High School Musical 3' on the big screen and you will see two local dancers with featured roles in the film.

Tiffany Mallari, who grew up in Suisun City and now lives in Southern California, and Tyler Welling, an Armijo High School senior, share the silver screen with the movie's main characters.

Mallari credited her 'dance mom,' dance teacher Lisa Clark Schmelling of Dance Direction in Suisun City, for helping her grow as a performer.

'She always looked out for me and was there when I needed advice,' Mallari said. 'She pretty much helped raise me since I was 4.'

For the complete story about Tiffany and Tyler, see www.dailyrepublic.com

McCoy Creek Bikeway Now Open

The newest link in Suisun City's expanding recreational trail system was officially opened Thursday in a small Pintail Avenue ceremony.

The $300,000 McCoy Creek Bikeway provides an important new access for residents in the heart of Suisun City's residential area directly to the Sunset Avenue shopping hub. The dedicated bikeway allows children, seniors and families a safer way to use non-polluting alternative transportation options.

The new trail was completely funded through grants:

• Transportation for Clean Air Program, issued by the Solano Transportation Authority
• Bicycle Transportation account gran, issued by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority
  

The McCoy Creek Bikeway runs from Pintail Avenue to the Central County Bikeway, a 2-mile long Class I bike path that runs along the north side of Highway 12 from Walters Road to Marina Boulevard. By connecting to the Central County Bikeway, the 0.6-mile McCoy Creek link allows residents to easily reach

• Sunset and Heritage Park Shopping Centers
• Lawler Ranch commercial area
• Lambrecht Sports Complex
• Residential neighborhoods
• Local schools
• City parks

By the first of the year, pedestrians and bicyclists will be able to access the Waterfront District with its Amtrak Station, Marina, Promenade, dining, shopping, and outdoor activities using a continuous recreational trail that won't require a single crossing of Highway 12. An extension of the Bikeway from Marina to the Waterfront District Amtrak Station is now under construction.

The newly opened trail along the west side of McCoy Creek is the first phase of a trail that will be extended north along the creek to Blossom Road. Plans call for the bikeway to extend all the way to Railroad Avenue. City staff is pursuing grant funding to complete these projects.

Effort to Reopen Former YMCA Facility Moves Forward

Suisun City's efforts to select a new operator for the former YMCA facility on East Wigeon Way at Pintail Drive continues to move forward.

Following City Council direction this week, City staff and the appointed City Council ad hoc committee will begin discussing financial and other deal points terms with the two finalist operators to determine all potential costs and obligations associated with reopening the facility.

Five community members - primarily former members of the North Bay YMCA - are part of the review process and serve on a Citizens’ Advisory Committee (CAC). Those members are John Miller, Robin Underwood, Robert Watts, Ruth Forney and Brad Stanhope.

With input from the CAC, Ad Hoc Committee and City staff, six interests that the City should be looking for in a replacement operator were identified. They are:

• Commitment to have a safe place for kids when school is closed.
• Commitment to partner with other community groups for facility usage.
• Maximize program access to members of the community regardless of their ability to pay.
• Pool operations.
• Basketball court usage.
• Fitness Center – Machines & free weights.

Based on those six interests, the Ad Hoc Committee reviewed the proposals and invited five operators to an interview. Staff and the Ad Hoc Committee conducted the interviews and then pared it down to the top two candidates.

Those two candidates were invited to a second interview where the Ad Hoc Committee and Citizen's Advisory Group conducted a more in-depth discussion/interview.

The Council Ad Hoc Committee then visited each candidate's local facility. These interviews focused on the programs and services that the operators propose to bring to Suisun City.

To date, the focus of the process has been on services, programs and general financial capability. As directed, staff will continue to diligently move forward with the financial discussions with the top candidates.

We appreciate the patience of everyone committed to this process as staff and City Council work through this selection process.

Police Warn Residents of Phone Solicitor Scam

GROUP CLAIMS TO RAISE MONEY FOR NON-EXISTENT SUISUN P.A.L.

SUISUN CITY — Residents should be alert for a fund-raising scam purporting to be raising money for the “Suisun P.A.L.”

The Suisun City Police Department was contacted on Tuesday, October 21, 2008, in reference to a group of individuals soliciting monetary donations for the Suisun P.A.L. or Police Athletic League.

“The City of Suisun City does not sponsor or participate in a Police Athletic League and has not requested assistance with fund-raising from any organization or group,” said Police Operations Commander Tim Mattos.

The Police Department urges anyone who is contacted with a request to donate money to “Suisun P.A.L” to obtain any contact information from the solicitor, and notify the Suisun City Police Department at (707) 421-7373.

Pro race driver Memo Gidley takes on Suisun City 'Widow Maker

So what does a professional race car driver do for fun? Apparently, if you are Memo Gidley, you try your hand at personal watercraft racing at the Suisun City 'Widow Maker.'

The Suisun City Waterfront District hosted the Diablo Jet Ski Action personal watercraft racing series on Saturday. It was the third race of the year in Suisun City.

Describing himself as a self-proclaimed rookie watercraft racer than Jose Guillermo "Memo" Gidley - Indy Car driver, Grand Am racer, Lemans racer, Champ car racer, Formula Racer, and Team Doran-Dallara professional race car driver!

DJSA Grand Pooba Jim Lambert, who didn't recognize this car racing 'rookie,' gave him the full personal watercraft safety rundown, warned him to be careful so he'd make it to work on Monday and made him wear a rookie ribbon to warn the more experienced racers. He even came up with a funny nickname for the rook!

Only after he'd placed 3rd in his division did Gidley give Lambert an autographed photo and thanked him for the great day.

You must check out Jim's hilarious account of the day!

Memo had such fun, he even posted a piece about his Suisun City experience on his website!

Share Your Rockin' Halloween Display

We're looking for the best Halloween displays in Suisun City!

E-mail us your address, a picture and other details about your Halloween display, and we'll put it up on the City's website!

You put a lot of work into your display.  Share the word, and maybe discover other fun displays across town.

E-mail us your info, and we'll keep you in the loop when we add yours and other displays to our map, which should hit the website on Tuesday Oct. 21.  E-mail us at scorey@suisun.com

By the way, we're planning to do the same for Christmas displays after Thanksgiving!

Help the Senior Center Help Our Seniors

The Suisun City Senior Center provides a vital social, care and support system for hundreds of local senior citizens.

The Center keeps older adults plugged into a social network and lifestyle, particularly during the upcoming holiday season, when isolation and loneliness can be particularly acute.

The Center staff and volunteers serve Thanksgiving Day dinner to about 200 people.  About the same number are expected for the Dec. 20 Christmas luncheon.  Center Director Karen Mickens is rallying community support to make these vital community events possible, a task made all the more challenging with recent economic challenges

Here's how to help Karen pull this off:

• Cash: to purchase food, decorations, door prizes and entertainment.
• Food Items: turkeys, pumpkin pies, yams, corn, string beans, gravy, ground beef, hot dogs, cakes, cookies and any other holiday treats.
• Decorations: table settings and décor, napkins, streamers and holiday gift wrap.
• Door Prizes: at both events each participant will get a “ticket” for a chance to win a prize.
• Service: volunteers on Thanksgiving Day to serve food and help with clean up.
  

If you can help with any of these needs, contact Karen Mickens or Kathleen Shrader at the center at 707-421-7203.

Suisun City Water Tank Tagged ...... sort of

A crew tagged the Suisun-Solano Water Agency water tank on Wednesday with bold blue lettering.

Hired by the Suisun City Historic Waterfront Business Improvement District, the crew from Clear Image Sign Co., located in Suisun City, is installing one of the largest signs to ever grace a major Suisun City entrance.

"This is something our members have been asking us to do for some time now," said Garry Rowe, president of the Suisun City BID. "Waterfront District merchants said they needed more visibility from Highway 12, and this was one way we could start to accomplish that goal."

The sign will be clearly visible to the tens of thousands of daily Highway 12, and should end the age old complaint that people drove clear through Suisun City without realizing they'd even been in the city. The massive paint job should be completed by Friday.

The emblem on the water tank will be that of the Waterfront District, a new identity for the Old Town/Downtown area that the Suisun City BID and the City are working hard to promote as a regional destination for high-quality dining across a number of cuisine choices.

The Waterfront District also is a fantastic place to locate your business, whether you need retail or office space. >>Learn more about the fabulous Harbor Square project>>

>>Learn more about the Suisun City Waterfront District>>

For the record, the paint job was approved by the Suisun-Solano Water Agency board and performed in cooperation with Suisun City and Solano Irrigation District staff.

Suisun City Fire Crew Battling So Cal Marek Fire

A crew of four Suisun City Fire Department volunteers is protecting homes northeast of Burbank as part of the 1,272 firefighters battling the Marek Wildland Fire.

Firefighters Hank Seguin, Greg Renucci & Nick Lott along with Engineer Gary Hall took Engine 247 south as part of a Type 1 strike team from Solano County assigned to structure protection. The crew will be deployed for 10 days, and may be reassigned to another fire burning across the arid hillsides of Southern California as the need arises.

The Suisun City Fire Department also has a 4-person crew standing by to deploy the brush truck with a second strike team, if it is summoned. California Department of Forestry officials are balancing the need to control the blazes in Southern California with the very real risk of wildland fires breaking out in Northern California. >>Click here to link to CDF fire incident info>>

Suisun City is very fortunate to have such dedicated people serving in our Fire Department. Keep them in your hearts and prayers as they complete their dangerous missions.

Jet Ski Races Return to Suisun City

The high-speed marine excitement of Diablo Jet Ski Action returns to the Suisun City Waterfront District this Saturday (Oct. 18) for a full-day of racing.

This is the third set of races DJSA has run in Suisun City this year - a venue that has proven to be a favorite with the racers, complete with creative and colorful nicknames. >>All the race info can be found here.>>

This is a great chance to come discover everything going on in the Waterfront District, including the progress on the Hampton Inn & Suites hotel & Harbor Square - the dining, retail and office anchor at Main & Solano streets.

It's also a great time to check out one of the great Waterfront District restaurants.

La Cabana reviewed by "Burritowings" blog

La Cabana, a stalwart favorite of the Suisun City Waterfront District dining scene, got a recent mention on the Burritowings blog, which focuses on burrito eateries.

The trio of visitors to our fair City visited La Cabana on their way to Collins Music & Collectibles just down the street.

Word it getting out! Suisun City has perhaps the most diverse dining options in a pedestrian-centered environment in Solano County.

Hiking Rush Ranch

Just southeast of Suisun City is one of the region's real gems: Rush Ranch.

The Ranch is an excellent place to learn and appreciate the history of Solano County, and enjoy the natural wonders that surround us.

The "Hikin' the Bay" blog recently posted pictures and descriptions of the terrific hiking available on the Ranch. (Good news: Our little treasure is becoming a region favorite.)

Offering sweeping vistas of upland hills and the Suisun Marsh, the Ranch's three hiking trails offer varied terrain and degrees of difficulty to suit just about any trekker.

If you've never been to The Ranch, or if it's been a while, you'll want to go on the 3rd Saturday of the month when they have blacksmithing demonstrations and hay-wagon rides from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. They also offer a guided nature walk starting at 9 a.m.

Key Link:

• Rushranch.net

Museum Train Ride to Pumpkin Patch

One of the truly terrific local family activities is the annual Pumpkin Patch Festival at the Western Railway Museum on Highway 12 east of Suisun City.

From the museum, you take a ride on an antique electric railway train along an express track 5 miles into the country to pick through hundreds of pumpkins! It's a trip the entire family will love!

The festival runs weekends through Oct. 26, so don't dally. The Hipwaders, a terrific band oriented specifically for kids, and Limber Jim Bartz Band are playing the festival!

I spotted this announcement on the Univision website.

Key links:

• Western Railway Museum
• Pumpkin Patch Event page