By Richard Bammer

The so-called “Great Compromise” saved the Constitutional Convention, and, very likely, the Union. Written by Connecticut delegate Roger Sherman, it called for proportional representation in the House, and one representative per state in the Senate (later changed to two). The compromise passed 5 to 4, with one state, Massachusetts, “divided.”

And as it turned out, the word “democracy” does not appear at all in the Constitution, largely written by James Madison, the “Father of the Constitution,” a man who never earned a law degree but once said that, under the Constitution, the nation’s strengths will be “derived from the superior power of the people.”

Those facts may not be germane to the 2017 Solano County Essay Contest, open to all students countywide in grades seven to 12, but they may spark interest in some who try their hand at thinking and writing about the contest’s topic:

Source: Annual Constitution Essay Contest under way

By Susan Hiland

Students benefitted Sunday from two generous people who are working hard to make a difference in the community with what they call “The Giveaway.”

Tara Cruz graduated from Sem Yeto’s Young Mothers program and as a young parent she found herself utilizing county programs, including backpack giveaways.

“I have always held a job since I was 14, but there were still times that my job wasn’t paying enough for me to take care of my daughter and pay bills so I went back to school to further my education,” she said.

Source: Backpack giveaway helps area youth get back to school

Travis Credit Union is once again offering “Mad City Money,” a simulation and financial boot camp for high school students that teaches basic money management in a safe, fun setting.

A presentation on budgeting likely could put teens and young adults to sleep, yet the 3 1/2 hour hands-on simulation appeals to teens (14-24) and gives them a taste of the real world-complete with occupation, salary, spouse, student loan debt, credit card debt, and medical insurance payments. Participants get an instant family and then move about the stations to purchase housing, transportation, food, clothing, household necessities, day care and other needs.

Teens and young adults learn that erasers and calculators are important tools for creating a monthly budget.

Source: Travis Credit Union offering financial boot camp for teens

By Richard Bammer

It may never be easier for area youth to learn how to land and keep a job. Or possibly be hired on the spot.

A Youth Employment Resource Fair will be held May 6 at the Solano Community College campus, 4000 Suisun Valley Road, Fairfield.

The free event, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., is open to all Solano County youth ages 16 to 24.

Workshops will cover a variety of topics to better prepare job seekers for interviews and employment. They include resume- and cover letter-writing, team-building, social media etiquette, and financial literacy training provided by Travis Credit Union.

Job Squad, a Fairfield-based grassroots organization, will provide a boot camp of sorts, teaching a variety of job skills along with a panel of employers available to provide candid feedback about employer expectations and perform mock job interviews.

Source: Youth Employment Resource Fair to help prepare job seekers

By Ian Thompson

Wednesday was a bad day to be a weed at the urban garden being cultivated by some of the Travis Air Force Base Youth Center’s children.

Six-year-olds Jaxon Dieball and Keegan Reinhard were two of eight children getting the raised garden beds next to the center ready for a visit from judges for a basewide best urban garden contest as well as a best watermelon contest.

“This is a great opportunity to get outdoors and to have that opportunity to care for the Earth,” Youth Center Director Carrie Basaca said.

Source: Travis base starts Earth Day early with urban garden contest

By Todd R. Hansen

A University of California Cooperative Extension program chart left Solano County Supervisor Erin Hannigan feeling a little hungry for more.

Hannigan continued her push to develop nutritional education in the area schools Tuesday, telling Morgan Doran, director of the three-county UC Cooperative Extension Capitol Corridor, that a nutritional adviser is needed in the county.

“We really need to work on that,” Hannigan said. “Solano County . . . we just heard about this a week ago . . . has the highest rates of child obesity, the highest rate of diabetes, a lot of really bad long-term health consequences as a result of poor nutrition.”

Source: Nutritional education, 4-H diversity are Cooperative Extension targets