This Week in Suisun City - Community Meeting, Wildflower Train, Live Theater

SUISUN CITY, Calif. - Here is a capsule look ahead at what's going on this week in Suisun City:

• Wednesday, April 18, 7 p.m. - Community meeting on youth, crime and drugs at the Nelson Community Center
• Wednesday, April 18 - Scenic Limited Wildflower Train, Western Railway Museum
  
• Thursday-Sunday, April 19-22 - 'Distracted' by Solano College Theatre at the Harbor Theater. This is the closing weekend for this show that has gotten tremendous reviews!
• Saturday, April 21 - Earth Day in Suisun City presented by Mission Solano.  A full day of activities for the whole family on Sheldon Plaza.
•  Saturday, April 21 - Native American Walk presented by the Suisun Wildlife Center at Rockville Hills Park
• Saturday, April 21 - Vintage Comet Wine Tasting Train, Western Railway Museum
• Saturday and Sunday, April 21-22 - Scenic Limited Wildflower Train, Western Railway Museum

Mark your calendar for these upcoming events:

• April 28 - Rush Ranch Open House
• April 28 - MS Walk: Solano County
• April 28 - Prescription Drug Take-Back Day
• May 13 - Mother's Day Artisan Fair

For more about all these events, go to www.visitsuisuncity.com or "Like" us at www.facebook.com/SuisunCity

Solano Land Trust Seeks Rush Ranch Docents

SUISUN CITY - Solano Land Trust is recruiting docents to teach about the ecology of Rush Ranch and Suisun Marsh. This is a brand new docent program that will complement the existing education and recreation programs at Rush Ranch.

do·cent, noun, \ˈdō-s^ənt, dō(t)-ˈsent\: a person who leads guided tours
ecol·o·gy, noun \i-ˈkä-lə-jē, e-\: a branch of science concerned with the interrelationship of organisms and their environments

No prior experience is necessary. New docents will receive four days of training, each covering a different topic about the marsh. The training dates are

• Thursday, June 9th from 6:30pm to 8pm
• Wednesday, June 15th from 6:30pm to 8pm
• Saturday, June 18th from 2pm to 5pm, and
• Thursday, June 23rd from 6:30pm to 8pm.

All trainings will be on-site at Rush Ranch: 3521 Grizzly Island Road, off Highway 12, about 2 miles south of Suisun City.

Rush Ranch is recognized as one of the best remaining brackish tidal marsh habitats in the United States, and therefore it's protected as part of the San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (San Francisco Bay NERR). Sarah Ferner of NERR will be the expert trainer for new docents. She'll share what makes Rush Ranch so special – how it’s exceptionally rich in plants and animals; why these plants and animals depend on Rush Ranch for survival; how the marsh provides essential habitat for commercially important fish and crabs; how it filters mud from the Bay's murky waters; and how it protects the shoreline from flooding. Docents-in-training will reflect on the ways the marsh was important for Native American food and travel, and how Rush Ranch continues to serve as a living laboratory for scientific research.

Docents in this new program will share insights about the marsh, guide and inspire children and adults, and join the Solano Land Trust community.

Solano Land Trust is a public benefit organization dedicated to protecting working farms and natural areas in Solano County. 2011 is Solano Land Trust’s 25^th Anniversary. Since 1986, it has permanently protected over 20,000 acres of land for the current and future residents of Solano County.

RSVP on or before Thursday, June 9th by contacting Natalie DuMont, Solano Land Trust Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator, at 707-432-0150 x200 or volunteer@SolanoLandTrust.org.

Get the Rush and Birds of Prey Workshop and Hike at Rush Ranch

Bring your whole family to Rush Ranch south of Suisun City, Calif., this Saturday, March 19th from 9am to 1pm for Get the Rush, and stay from 1pm to 5pm for the last Birds of Prey Workshop and Hike of the season.

Starting at 9am, enjoy an easy and informative guided walk along the marsh trails. Learn about the marsh and local human history. Meet your guide at the map outside the Nature Center. >> Where is Rush Ranch? >>

Between 10am to 1pm, travel back in time as you enter the historic Rush Ranch Blacksmith Shop. Join in an interactive demonstration with a smithy. Learn about traditional blacksmithing tools and equipment, and see the forge in the center of the ranch. Make your own iron nail or other keepsake!

Also from 10am to 1pm, visit Little Bear at his table full of Native American tools that he hand-crafted himself. Ask him about his life experiences and the history and culture of Native Americans.

From 11 am to 1pm, ride around the ranch on a wagon drawn by strong but gentle horses. Everyone is welcome, but the wagon is specially equipped for persons with limited mobility, including a solar powered wheelchair lift. These wagon rides allow those with limited mobility to experience the freedom and excitement of exploring beautiful open spaces like Rush Ranch, with highly trained horses and experienced drivers.

Stay from 1pm to 5pm to join birds of prey expert Larry Broderick for his last presentation and hike of the winter migratory season. In the Nature Center from 1-3pm, Broderick will give a presentation about raptor identification and interpretation including a season wrap-up and highlights from this incredible year. He gives beginning and experienced birders easy ways to identify year-round and migratory raptors. He shares useful handouts on raptor information and identification, and brochures on where to spot them.

Then after a 30 minute social break, from 3:30-5pm he'll lead a hike up Suisun Hill where eagles, falcons and hawks seek out ground squirrel colonies. Broderick has 25 years experience studying, researching, rescuing and rehabilitating birds of prey, and loves to share his knowledge. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced birder, you’ll be entertained as Broderick shows over 100 photos, demonstrates wing beat patterns, and takes you for a hike showing you how to spot birds of prey in the wild.

The blacksmith demonstration and Birds of Prey workshop take place rain or shine. Rain usually cancels other events.

Rush Ranch is owned and operated by Solano Land Trust.

For more on events & things to do near Suisun City, California, go to www.VisitSuisunCity.com

Horse lovers Fandango will steal your heart

Horse lovers Fandango will steal your heart
By Barbara Steinberg

At Rush Ranch Open Space, Access Adventure is busy breeding the most beautiful horses I have ever seen. I am not a horse expert...but you don't have to be an expert to know that this 6-month-old colt, Fandango, is really something special. Michael Muir (great-grandson of John) is the magic behind this darling. But the real stars were his parents - a Royal Night Friesian and Spotted Leopard Appaloosa. Until a year ago, I had never heard of either. But now I am a frequent visitor to Rush Ranch and met Fandango when he was just days old.

Newly weaned, he's renewed his interest in two-footed friends. But even though he's a growing boy...he's still very much like a baby. And during our visit, couldn't help but take a little nap. Check out the slide show.

Rush Ranch is an easy drive from Sacramento, With or without Fandango, it's a very special place and great hikes along Suisun Marsh. Come out next weekend for "Celebrate Adventure" and learn more about Access Adventure, their programs, and, of course, the horses.

Barbara has posted a nice slideshow of Fandango photos,too.