Volunteer Suisun City Battalion Chief Hired to Lead Humboldt Dept.

For nearly 20 years, Ken Woods has volunteered as a firefighter for the Suisun City Fire Department while working his "day job" at the state Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau.

Not only did his volunteer training help him rise to the rank of Battalion Chief in the Suisun City department (which is still a volunteer command post), he was recently hired to be the full-time, paid Fire Chief of the Humboldt #1 Fire Protection District, outside Eureka.

We always say that our volunteers are just as good, if not better, than many paid career firefighters. Ken just proved it by coming in at the top rank!

We're going to miss Ken here in Suisun City, but Humboldt is getting a top-notch professional to lead their fire department! We couldn't be prouder!

Audrey Wong of the Daily Republic has a story posted on the paper's website that starts like this:

SUISUN CITY - Ken Woods loves firefighting so much he worked as a firefighter for nearly 20 years without earning a dime.

All those years have led to Woods, 48, earning the rank of battalion chief, a volunteer position, in the Suisun City Fire Department.

'It's a real sense of helping the community because I live here and care about my neighbors,' Woods said. 'I can directly contribute to their well-being and make a difference in their lives in a situation where they're going through a rough time. I can affect their lives in a positive way.'

Woods will have new neighbors later this month, however. He has accepted the position of chief in the Humboldt Fire Protection District near Eureka and will begin the job Oct. 20.

In addition to leaving the Suisun City department, Woods is retiring after 27 years with the state Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau.

See the full story at www.dailyrepublic.com

The Daily Republic's Brad Zweerink took the great picture of Ken above.

Visit Suisun Valley for Great Local Getaway

If you haven't visited the Suisun Valley lately, you should - particularly this time of the year with fall coming on, the grape harvest in full swing and the wine tasting rooms open for business.

Our own Suisun Valley is being touted more and more these days as a great "staycation" destination. "California Travel Insider" Barbara Steinberg shared the Valley with her readers in these posts:

• Suisun Valley: Undiscovered and Only 50 Miles Away (Of course, it's much closer for Suisun City residents!)
• Suisun Valley California Fall Fabulous

After you visit the Valley, bring your family and friends to the Suisun City Waterfront District for an equally rewarding - though very different - dining and outdoor experience!

Drug Drop-Off Days - Oct 6-10, 2008

The days of dumping your old prescription drugs into the toilet to get rid of them are officially over in California.

Today, you can only get rid of expired or unused pharmaceuticals through special drop-off events coordinated through a local law enforcement agency.

Suisun City is teaming up with the Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District and our Solano County Local Task Force for Integrated Waste Managementpartners to present Pharmaceutical Drop-Off Week from Oct. 6-10 at the Sheriff's Coroner's Office at 520 Clay Street, Fairfield. You can go by the office anytime from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday next week to drop off your old prescriptions.

>>Click here for all the details>>

This is being coordinated as part of a statewide effort called "No Drugs Down the Drain" to educate the public about how to properly dispose of old pharmaceuticals. Research has shown that pharmaceutical waste cannot be removed from wastewater before it is released into state waterways, and that it is evident in concentrations in fish and other wildlife.

The California Integrated Waste Management Board in coordination with local task forces are working on a more permanent solution to this disposal challenge. But until that's in place, hold onto your expired or unused prescriptions and use one of these periodic events.