Speed Radar Signs to be Installed in Suisun City

SUISUN CITY, Calif. - New solar-powered speed radar signs will be installed on Pintail Drive this fall near two local elementary schools.

The signs are designed to remind motorists of the speed limit on the street and encourage them to comply. The new signs will create a safer environment for students walking or riding their bikes to and from the schools.

The Suisun City Public Works Department is seeking quotes from qualified contractors to install the new signs.

Contractors interested in providing quotes for this work are encouraged to submit a formal bid to the Public Works Department. All bids are due by 2 p.m. Wednesday October 27, 2010. >> Read more >>

GREAT Program Combats Gang Influence

POLICE TO IMPLEMENT CURRICULUM THIS SCHOOL YEAR

SUISUN CITY - The Suisun City Police Department is the first agency in the Solano County region to launch a new gang education program to help inoculate incoming sixth graders against gang lifestyles.

The Suisun City Council recently accepted a federal grant to pay for the Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) Program. The curriculum, taught by specially trained police officers, will be introduced at Crystal Middle School this school year, but may expand to the three elementary schools in Suisun City depending on scheduling.

“The Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District has been a great partner of ours in bringing these types of youth-oriented prevention programs to our schools,” said Police Chief Ed Dadisho. “The District recognizes the importance of implementing the GREAT Program as a preemptive anti-gang measure for our at-risk youth.”

The GREAT Program, which is administered by the federal Office of Justice Program’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, is a classroom curriculum intended as an immunization against delinquency, youth violence, and gang membership. GREAT lessons focus on providing students with life skills to help them avoid engaging in delinquent behavior and violence to solve problems.

>>Read More>>

>>About the Suisun City Police Department>>

Pedestrian Safety Project Opened for Bidding

NEW HIGHWAY SIGNALS PART OF SCHOOL SAFETY PROGRAM

SUISUN CITY - As part of the City's ongoing commitment to enhance safe routes to local schools, the Public Works Department is seeking contractors qualified to install new pedestrian signals at three key intersections.

New pedestrian countdown signals will be installed at three frequently used surface crossings on Highway 12

• Marina Boulevard
• Sunset Avenue/Grizzly Island Road
• Lawler Ranch Parkway/Emperor Drive

The new signals, known as countdown signals, will indicate to pedestrians the amount of time they have remaining to cross Highway 12 before the traffic signals change.

These key intersections are commonly used by students to travel by foot or bicycle to various school campuses in Suisun City. Suisun City Public Works has coordinated the installation of the new signal devices with Caltrans.

The intention is to have the new signals up as soon as possible to enhance the safety of students returning to school in the fall.

>>Read more about the project and see bidding information>>

UPDATE: Suisun City Firefighters Raise $11,484.40 to Save School Sports

SUISUN CITY — The Suisun City Firefighters Association collected $11,484.40 during its "Boot Drive" to help restore local school sports programs on Saturday April 24.

About 25 firefighters and their families were joined by more than 70 local school athletes, parents and coaches on Sunset Avenue near the Heritage Park and Sunset shopping centers. The Association had hoped to raise $3,000 to $5,000.

"It was a very successful day," said Fire Capt. Greg Renucci, who helped organize the event for the Firefighters Association.

All proceeds from the Boot Drive will go to the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District “Save Our Athletic Programs” effort to raise community donations to fund Middle and High School sports programs for the 2010/11 school year. The District recently cut all funding for sports programs to reduce its budget while preserving classroom instruction.

"We think sports are an important part of the school experience, so we want to do something to help," Renucci said. "This is just our part to support our local kids."

Residents are encouraged to stop by to visit. The sports programs could be fully restored if every household in Suisun City and Fairfield donated $18.

For more information, contact the Suisun City Fire Department at 707-425-9133.

>>Make a direct online, tax-deductible donation to the FSUSD SOAP Fund>>

ABOUT THE SUISUN CITY FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION

The Suisun City Firefighters Association has 43 members all of whom serve as volunteer firefighters in the Suisun City Fire Department. The Suisun City Fire Department is the largest urban fire service in California that is entirely staffed with volunteer firefighters.

In addition to staffing the Fire Department 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the Association sponsors a number of popular community events, including the annual Toys for Kids drive, Easter Egg Hunt and the Halloween Parade and Costume Contest that has been an annual favorite for more than 50 years.

Rodriguez Takes 'Steel Magnolias' on the Road

SUISUN CITY'S HARBOR THEATER HOSTS PRODUCTION

By Talia Sampson | Daily Republic | October 27, 2009 18:14

Cast members of Rodriguez High School's production of "Steel Magnolias" run through a dress rehearsal of the play Tuesday evening at the Suisun Harbor Theatre. The theater will allow the students to have a more realistic experience producing the play according to the school's drama teacher, Nathan Day. Photo by Brad Zweerink

SUISUN CITY - For the first time in about 15 years, a Fairfield-Suisun School District high school will offer a play off campus at a local theater.

Rodriguez High School's fall production of 'Steel Magnolias' will take place at the Suisun Harbor Theater, 720 Main St. in Suisun City.

'Our (campus) theater is a black box that was originally built to be an auto shop and they converted it into a theater,' said Nathan Day, the theater teacher and director for Rodriguez. 'It's nice to be able to offer the kids a more realistic theater experience where they don't have to set up chairs and take them down after the show to set up the room for class the next week.'

As a graduate of the Solano Community College theater program, Day stayed in touch with contacts from the program who let him know about the opportunity to perform at the Suisun Harbor Theater. The college program advertised 'Steel Magnolias' in its programs for 'The Producers,' which ended its run Oct. 18.

The drama club at Rodriguez High typically funds its shows through ticket sales, Day said, so though the cost of performing at the Suisun Harbor Theater is double the cost of performing at the school, he hopes to draw a larger crowd and sell more tickets.

'I know it's a gamble, and I said to my administrators that it's a gamble,' Day said. 'I am well aware this could blow up in my face, but I thought the pros outweighed the cons.'

>> Click here for showtimes and ticket information >>

To read the full story, go to www.dailyrepublic.com

Nominate a "Solano County Wonder"

OF COURSE, WE THINK SUISUN CITY IS PRETTY WONDERFUL!

Amy Blanc Elementary School third graders have launched a project to try to identify Seven Wonder of Solano County.

Of course, because it is the 21 Century, they have a web site and they want your help!

From their site:

Inspired by the book, The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs, by Betty G. Birney, in which a young boy living in tiny rural Missouri farming community is challenged by his father to to find seven wonders in his small town, the third grade students at Amy Blanc are trying to identify seven wonders in Solano County, California. If you live in Solano County or have ever lived or spent time here, then you are invited to submit a man-made or natural wonder for consideration.

We have some Suisun City suggestions:

• The Suisun City Waterfront District
• Suisun Marsh
• Suisun City Hall
• The Suisun City Harbor Lighthouse
• The wonderful, generous residents of Suisun City
• Suisun City Library
• Suisun Wildlife Center
• Rush Ranch

Here's a link to the kids' site where you can help them out! Their deadline is in April, and plan to announce their list in June.

A book for every child: Giveaway program is run by teens

TEENS BRING PROGRAM TO SUISUN ELEMENTARY

I spotted this in the Vacaville Reporter this morning. It's great to see local teens recognized for working with the younger kids.

By Ryan Chalk/ RChalk@TheReporter.com
Posted: 02/05/2009 01:00:54 AM PST

One book at a time, brothers Kyle and Brady Baldwin are bringing smiles to children's faces.

On Wednesday, Brady Baldwin, along with two other volunteers, visited two classrooms at Suisun Elementary School in Suisun City, to read stories to the students and give each one a book to take home.

Brady and his brother are the founders of My Own Book, a nonprofit organization designed to promote reading and distribute brand-new children's books to less fortunate children.

Inside Janet Robertson's first-grade classroom, Armijo High School seniors Sarah Doolittle and Blanca Guerra took turns reading stories as students got up, one by one, to pick out a book from one of the three boxfuls that Baldwin carted in with him. Once the students picked a book, Baldwin placed a personalized bookplate with their name on the inside cover.

"It feels really nice to see all the kids," said Guerra. "They really enjoy it and have fun with it."

The brothers started the organization a few years back as part of their Suisun Valley 4-H service project. Since then it has blossomed, with the pair and their devoted volunteers reading and distributing more than 16,000 books throughout schools in the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District and at Solano County Library branches.

Brady, who's brother Kyle is currently attending Bryant University in Rhode Island and doing outreach on the East Coast, said they get books from publishers and bookstores for free or at a discounted rate.

Their organization recently won a $10,000 grant sponsored by Best Buy, which will allow them to purchase and distribute 8,000 new books.

"Usually, the average children's book is pretty expensive," said Brady Baldwin. "We're trying to get a book to every child 8 and under. And if their family doesn't have the means to buy a book, they can give us their address and we'll send them a book."

This month, the brothers are promoting their National Share the Love of Reading Month event. They encourage every teen and adult in the nation to buy a children's book, read it to a child and then give it to him or her.

Anyone who knows of a child who needs a book can contact the brothers through their Web site at www.myownbook.net, or write to Brady Baldwin, 4657 Green Valley Road, Fairfield, CA 94534. Include the child's name and a personalized book plate will be added. Schools are invited to participate in the program as well.

Our thanks to the Vacaville Reporter for letting us link to their story and help spread the good news.

E-Waste Event Benefitted Suisun City Community

A HUGE SUCCESS! THANK YOU!

Dan O. Root II Elementary School held its first Free E-Waste Recycling event on Saturday and Sunday. While Suisun City has held community clean-up days for various neighborhoods, this was the first e-waste recycling event we've had in Suisun City for the general public. It will definitely not be the last.

The event had several goals: raise money for the school, remove e-waste for free, and collect food for the Solano Contra Costa Food Bank and coats for One Warm Coat Project.

The final statistics are still being compiled, but it's clear from the early figures that your response was fantastic, and your generosity was tremendous! Here are some specifics:

• $2,000 donated to Dan O. Root's PTO for student computer equipment
  
• Seven truck loads of e-waste
• Approx. 34,000 pounds of TVs, computer monitors and other devices with cathode tubes
• Approx. 20,000 pound of other e-waste
• Four barrels (that's 400 pounds) of food for the Food Bank. Enough to feed 300 people!
• Approx. 250 coats and other clothing items for One Warm Coat
  

Thank you so much for helping to keep electronic waste out of California's landfills and from being dumped illegally along local roads! Your outpouring of support for organizations that help the most needy among us also was fantastic.

Thank you Dan O. Root II Elementary School & PTO for sponsoring and hosting this important community event. Of course, thanks to Universal Waste Management for running the operation and handling all the e-waste.

We'll keep you posted about additional e-waste events as they are planned!

Free E-Waste Event at Dan O. Root II Elementary

DISPOSE OF ALL ELECTRONICS FREE JAN. 24 & 25

Dan O. Root II Elementary School is hosting a free electronic waste collection event open to all businesses and residents of California. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday Jan. 24 and Sunday Jan. 25, rain or shine.

Root Elementary is located at 820 Harrier Dr., Suisun City, 94585. Click for map>>

The event is being co-sponsored by Root Elementary, City of Suisun City, Solano County and Universal Waste Management, Inc.

To better serve the community Universal Waste is combining their E-waste drop-off events with a Food Drive & Coat Drive. So while you are cleaning out your garage of your old TV’s and computer monitors, grab a couple of non-perishable food items to donate to your food bank and a clean old coat you do not use to donate to one warm coat.

The state approved collector and recycler will take your old televisions, monitors, computers, VCRs, DVD players, fax, printing & copy machines. They will also accept cables, power cords, toner cartridges, cell phones, keyboards, mice, audio, visual and telephone equipment for 100% environmentally friendly recycling.

Large household appliances, batteries and fluorescent light bulbs will not be acceptable; however microwave ovens can be dropped off for a $5.00 recycling fee.

This event is a fund-raiser for Dan O Root Elementary School,so although not required, donations will be accepted and greatly appreciated.

It cannot be more convenient to do the right thing and dispose of these old electronic items correctly! Drive through the parking lot, pop your trunk, the UnWaste team will lift the old electronic equipment out, and you drive on your way. You don’t even have to get out of your car!

It is free, convenient, and the right thing to do. So come on out and help us save the planet, feed some people in need give free warm coats to families across the country and raise money for a great cause. We hope to see you there because together “Yes we Can” make a difference!

For detail’s about this event or an event near you visit www.unwaste.com or call (888) 832-9839.

We've got Cougar Pride!

While Crystal Middle School proudly proclaims itself the "Pride of Suisun," we've got a bit of Cougar pride as well.

For the next couple of weeks, the City Hall lobby will host a collection of student posters portraying various elements of just what it means to have PRIDE:

• Perseverance
• Respect
• Integrity
• Discipline
• Excellence

An initiative of Principal Dave Marshall, the Pride program instills in students a foundation of principles that will serve them well not only in middle school but for years to come.

We applaud all the students who took the time to create their thoughtful posters.

Come by City Hall anytime Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (until 7 p.m. on Tuesdays) and check out the art, and be inspired by Suisun City's kids!

UPDATE: The Daily Republic ran a nice story on the Crystal Middle School PRIDE program on A1 Monday Sept. 29, 2008. Visit www.dailyrepublic.com to check it out.

New Sidewalk Provides Safe Route to Crystal Middle School

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT COMPLETES WORK IN TIME FOR CLASSES TO START

SUISUN CITY — Just in time for the start of school, students have an enhanced safe route to Crystal Middle School using a new Marina Boulevard walkway recently completed by the Suisun City Public Works Department.

The new walkway extends from Lotz Way to Driftwood Drive on the east side of Marina Boulevard providing students an inviting alternative to a dangerous crossing to the west side of Marina Boulevard. The pathway solves an immediate challenge while Public Works plans a $1.5 million bicycle and pedestrian route along the south side of Highway 12.

“The safety of our children getting to school is a top priority, and underlies our commitment to the Safe Routes to School Program,” said Suisun City Councilman Mike Segala, who along with Vice Mayor Jane Day, have represented the City on the school ad hoc committee. “We have worked diligently with our school district partners to provide the off-campus improvements"

“This pathway is a common sense alternative to allowing children to continue to cross Marina Boulevard at a dangerous location,” Segala said.

The Marina Boulevard pathway, setback from Marina Boulevard to provide maximum safety for students, includes a solid permeable surface that meets Americans with Disabilities Act standards while providing adequate drainage during the rainy season. New crosswalks were added at Driftwood Drive to indicate the safest location for students to cross Marina Boulevard.

Previously, students going to Crystal Middle School or returning home along Marina Boulevard south of Highway 12 would often cross at Lotz Way, an intersection with no crosswalks near a curve in the roadway that limits drivers’ sightlines.

The Suisun City Public Works Department will work with Crystal Middle School administrators to educate students walking and riding bicycles to school about the new safe route.

Earlier this year, Suisun City was awarded a $900,000 state Safe Routes to School grant for a pedestrian and bicycle trail from Grizzly Island Road to Driftwood Drive separated from traffic along Highway 12. “This project parallel to Highway 12 will provide a safe route to Crystal Middle School for students that live in Lawler Ranch,” said Segala.

The Public Works Department is working on additional grants to fund the entire $1.5 million project cost.

Dan O. Root a Distinguished School!

California Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell announced Wednesday that Dan O. Root Elementary School in Suisun City was named as a California Distinguished School!

We knew our local kids and teachers were great, but it's fantastic that the state caught up with the good news!

Here's the link to O'Connell's announcement.

Here's a bit of what Daily Republic reporter Nika Megino wrote in today's paper:

"Dan O. Root Elementary School has been recognized as a 2008 California Distinguished School, state Superintendent of Schools Jack O'Connell announced Wednesday.

The Suisun City school is one of 343 exemplary public elementary schools in the state to receive the recognition. Principal Jodie Phan said it's an exciting time for the school.

'It's a huge honor for us as a school,' Phan said. 'We have programs in place to meet the needs of all our students and we're always looking for what's best for our kids.'

Schools become eligible for the recognition based on their Academic Performance Index and Adequate Yearly Progress results of standardized testing."

To read all of Nika's story, visit http://www.dailyrepublic.com

Congratulations to everyone at Dan O. Root Elementary and Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District!

Media: Flu takes toll on Suisun Elementary children

By Carol Bogart Daily Republic

SUISUN CITY - Flu is suddenly hitting children hard across the country, and those at Suisun Elementary School are no exception.

What was a mild flu season has taken a dramatic turn, said Dr. Ron Chapman, Solano County Health Officer.

Two weeks ago Suisun Elementary attendance clerk Terri Phillips might fill 'half a page' a day with the names of 14 or 15 absent students, she said. Now, she has days when she fills 2.5 pages, 30 names to a page, and a page and a half is not unusual.

Chapman has been following reports issued by the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, which tracks flu outbreaks. Severe pediatric cases are on the rise across the country, he said, with 20 children so ill they had to be hospitalized just in the past week.

'We watch the number of childhood cases very closely because it's an indicator of what's going on in the bigger picture,' said Chapman, who added that most of the 36,000 people who die from the flu each year are older than 65.

The flu strain causing at least 30 percent of the current spike 'mutated' from one that is in flu shots administered this year, Chapman said. Symptoms are those of a respiratory flu: cough, fever, muscle and joint aches, occasional headaches or dizziness, weakness and fatigue.

Suisun Elementary staff members call a student's family whenever the child is out sick. Phillips said. She has heard of symptoms such as 'hoarseness, stuffy nose and stuffy head, a lot of ear infections.'

At NorthBay Medical Center in Fairfield, spokeswoman Marilyn Ranson said one employee has four children and 'all four have the flu.' Pediatricians she contacted Tuesday said, as yet, they are not seeing an increase in children with the flu.

Statewide, however, severe pediatric cases have more than doubled in the past two weeks, with a 50 percent increase in those requiring hospitalization, Chapman said.

Nationally, 31 states so far are reporting widespread flu activity, Chapman said, while California is experiencing pockets here and there.

Children and others who have had the flu shot may experience less severe symptoms of the strain that has mutated, Chapman said.

'The way it's changed, it's similar to what's in the vaccine, but not the same,' he added. 'With 'partial coverage,' those infected may not get as sick as they might have otherwise.'

Reach Carol Bogart at 427-6955 or at cbogart@dailyrepublic.net.