By Daily Republic Staff
Twelve winners in the 2020 Clean Air Calendar contest will receive $30 Amazon gift cards.
The deadline to submit entries is May 10.
The annual contest is sponsored by the Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District and is open to students who live within the air district, which includes Dixon, Rio Vista and Vacaville in Solano County. The district also includes Winters in neighboring Yolo County.
Source: Air quality calendar contest opens to Solano students
By Daily Republic Staff
Visitors to the Solano Town Center Gallery can view and bid on artworks from Solano County Office of Education students.
Students from the Solano County Office of Education have visited the gallery each Friday over the past several months to create their own masterpieces.
Proceeds benefit a special-needs class.
Source: Town Center Gallery showcases Solano student artists
The Vacaville Twilight Soroptimist club just completed a G.R.E.A.T. (girls realizing empowerment and talents) Academy. Girls in the 8th, 9th and 10th grade from Solano County were invited to spend 2 Saturdays in March with mentors from the Soroptimist Club. The program included curriculum from the Soroptimist Dream it Be it; Career Support for Girls program. A grant from SIA provided funds to support this program with money for the venue, materials, food, and prizes.
Over the two days 8 Chromebooks were given away and over $200.00 in gift cards. Speakers included Dr. Matt Holve, MD, speaking on stress management, President Michelle Strand making a presentation on nutrition, and other Soroptimist members speaking on a variety of problem-solving skills, goal setting, and self-care.
By Todd R. Hansen
Education, mental health, bullying and homelessness topped the biggest concerns of Solano County youth, according to survey results presented Tuesday to the Board of Supervisors.
The survey results and other information was provided in a presentation by the Solano Youth Voices, a program under the umbrella of the Children’s Network of Solano County.
Nathen Jordan, 17, one of the council members for Solano Youth Voices, and Alyssum Maguire, the coordinator, made the presentation.
Source: Solano youth list education as top concern; mental health 2nd
By Richard Freedman
Talk about sheer madness… but in a good way.
Roughly 3,200 third graders representing every Solano County school district swarmed the fairgrounds Tuesday for the 17th Annual Ag Day.
The cornucopia of animals, insects, plants and information was a rousing success, said Mike Ioakimedes, executive directive of the Solano County Fair Association, adding that it’s a ninth-month logistical challenge.
“The goal is to expose the kids to health eating and healthy lifestyles … and let them know milk doesn’t come from the grocery store. It comes from a cow,” Ioakimedes said.
Source: Thousands of third graders swarm Solano County Fairgrounds in Vallejo for Ag Day – Times-Herald
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
Seven 4-H’ers, covering such diverse topics from “how to make a chocoflan cake” to “how to reel in channel catfish,” won showmanship pins for their presentations at the Solano County 4-H Project Skills Day that took place Saturday at Sierra Vista Elementary School.
The annual event is an opportunity for 4-H’ers to show what they’ve learned in their projects and demonstrate their showmanship skills, according to Solano County 4-H Program representative Valerie Williams. Evaluators, all 4-H volunteers, scored the youths on their display, presentation, knowledge and interaction.
The showmanship winners included three from the Sherwood Forest 4-H Club in Vallejo, three from the Suisun Valley 4-H Club in the Fairfield-Suisun City area; and one from the Tremont 4-H Club in Dixon.
By Nick Sestanovich
Sometimes, all it takes is a simple “thank you” to make someone’s day. The Acacia branch of the Vacaville Neighborhood Boys & Girls Club recognized this when they began writing cards of appreciation to local police officers Monday.
Ana Sanabria, the club’s supervisor, said the assignment was inspired by the Jan. 10 shooting of Davis police officer Natalie Corona.
“That really hit me,” she said. “Although we see police officers every day, we don’t thank them enough. We never know when it’s going to be their last time serving for the community.”
Moreover, Sanabria is also majoring in criminal justice at Solano Community College, which has given her a greater appreciation for law enforcement.
By Nick Sestanovich
Come Feb. 15, Ulatis Community Center will be kind of like the movie “A Quiet Place.”
The difference is there won’t be any monsters, just sixth-grade boys and girls dancing and trying not to talk to other boys and girls as they collect beads.
The Vacaville Community Services Department will be hosting “HUSH” day: A special dance for sixth-graders where they will be given a specific amount of heart beads upon entry.
Source: Sixth-graders to play game of silence for community dance – The Reporter
By Daily Republic Staff
The Solano Resource Conservation District continues efforts this month to engage more than 2,000 Solano County children in its Watershed Explorers, Biomonitoring and School Water Education Programs.
These programs will continue through May and include students from each of Solano County’s seven cities and school districts.
The Watershed Explorers program transforms third-graders into local watershed scientists who learn the value of Solano County water and collecting ecological data on behalf of researchers across the country.
Source: Solano district continues projects that include 2,000 child, teen scientists
By Fairfield Suisun Rotary Club
The Fairfield Suisun Rotary Club will partner with Kaiser Permanente this year to present its Fifth Annual Teen Good Character Awards, it was announced today.
“Kaiser Permanente has been a consistent partner with us through the years in providing quality programs to our youth. We are excited to co-sponsor this program with them this year,” said Kendall Hillman, Rotary Club President.
The Awards Ceremony will be held February 8, 2019, at the Kroc Center in Suisun starting at 6 PM.
Source: Good News: Kaiser and Rotary Team Up to Salute Good Teen Character
By Kimberly K. Fu
‘Tis the weekend when costumes simple to fantastical are worn in abundance, treats are gobbled by the cauldron-full and reality, for just a moment, is suspended as kids — and adults — engage in some whimsical fun.
Halloween is just around the corner and you’re invited to grab your family and friends and head over to any number of celebrations in Vacaville and beyond. There’s so much to do and see in Solano County. Below are just a few happenings scheduled for today through the Big H, which is Wednesday.
Source: Enjoy Halloween events throughout Solano – The Reporter
The Peña Adobe Historical Society will host “Kids Day at the Adobe” at the Peña Adobe Park in Vacaville, on Saturday, November 3, 2018 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The park is located at 4966 Pena Adobe Road in Vacaville’s rural southwest section just off of Interstate 80 to the left of the Lagoon Valley Park entrance.
Come see the historic Peña Adobe, one of the oldest structures in Solano County. Dating back to 1842, the Adobe was once the home of the Juan Felipe Peña family, who with the Vacas, settled in Vacaville over one hundred seventy five years ago. Stop in the adjacent Mowers-Goheen Museum, and see local artifacts that include Peña family children’s toys, ladies dresses from the turn of the century and a woolly mammoth bone!
Source: Peña Adobe Presents “Kids’ Day at the Adobe” Saturday, November 3, 2018
By Reporter Staff
Travis Credit Union is holding its 12th annual Financial Education Forum on Friday at Solano Community College. The event seeks to provide education to local youth about financing opportunities for college. The event is hosted in partnership with Travis Credit Union, the California Student Aid Commission and Solano Community College. This year, nearly 400 students from 11 local high schools in the Solano, Napa and Yolo areas are expected to participate.
Friday morning, participating schools are provided transportation to Solano Community College. During the forum, students will hear from various financial leaders and experts on college financing opportunities (such as Cal Grants). Students will also participate in a resource fair and receive a tour of the Solano Community College campus.
This year’s event features a keynote speaker from co-founder and director of the LEGACY Youth Project in Napa, Carlos E.C. Hagedorn. Carlos has spent the last 20 years as a local educator and community organizer. Carlos and his work was also featured in the 2015 documentary “The Mask You Live In” about masculinity in America.
Source: Students to experience Financial Education Forum – The Reporter
By Daily Republic Staff
The fourth annual Teen Summit will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Harbison Center at the Nut Tree, 1681 E. Monte Vista Ave.
The main focus is leadership and helping teens find their own superhero power. There will be interactive workshops, free snacks and lunch and community service credit.
Speaker Jose Cordon turned to poetry and songs and found solace and inspiration in the written word after previously spiraling down a dark path. With the help of family, teachers and the written word, Cordon says he has learned how to use his anger in a positive way.
Source: Summit aims to help Vacaville teens tap into their own superhero power
By Daily Republic Staff
A new fund has been established through the Solano Community Foundation “to support underserved and at-risk youth in Fairfield,” according to a statement released Wednesday by foundation.
Nonprofit organizations that serve Fairfield youth, as well as public schools, are eligible for grants through the Great Expectations Fund.
“Funding will be provided to support programs or projects that provide low-income and at-risk children (ages 5 to 20) with academic and cultural enrichment activities and experiences which help broaden their view of the world,” the statement said.
Source: New youth charity fund set up through Solano foundation
By Daily Republic Staff
Two members of Suisun Valley 4-H are again throwing their time and efforts to the food bank’s Empty Bowls fundraiser.
The pair, Alex Merodio and Olivia Frenkel, want to make a bigger impact this year.
Frenkel received the Soroptimist International of Central Solano County Violet Richardson award earlier this year. It honors a young woman who is making a difference in her community. She is a senior at Rodriguez High school.
Source: Solano teens give time, talent to food bank fundraiser
By Susan Hiland
Simaima Suba, 19, of Fairfield, is one of the 19 classmates who graduated from the first Youth Pre-Apprenticeship Construction Training Program on Friday.
For the last five weeks, she has trained in four industries certifications, HAZWOPER certification, and fundamentals in construction, concrete-pouring techniques, trades math, fitness and more, according to Leonard Gonzales, executive director of the Laborers Training Center.
“I hope to try concrete work first,” Suba said. “I am so excited. I can’t wait to get started.”
She was also interested in hazardous waste work and thought that would be something new, exciting and dangerous.
Source: 1st class graduates from pre-apprenticeship training program
By Joel Rosenbaum
Back to school time can become an expensive undertaking for any family and members of the United States armed forces are no exception.
That’s why Operation Homefront steps up to help
Its mission, according to their website, is to “build strong, stable, and secure military families so they can thrive, not simply struggle to get by, in the communities they have worked so hard to protect.”
Thursday, Michelle Hagge, program manager for Operation Homefront, was at Travis Air Force Base at First Street Church along with the base’s Airman and Family Readiness Center to outfit children with school supplies.
Source: Operation Homefront helps Travis Air Force Base families with school supplies
By Daily Republic Staff
One hundred Solano County students will get a back-to-school shopping spree Saturday at the Solano Town Center mall.
The event partners the Salvation Army of Solano County with Applebee’s and Old Navy.
Children will arrive for a free breakfast followed by shopping. Each will receive a backpack full of school supplies.
Blake Austin College has donated free hair cut certificates for each child.
Source: Volunteers sought to help with back-to-school shopping
By Rachel Raskin-Zrihen
Solano County is the 115th most educated area in the country, out of 150 areas measured, according to a newly released WalletHub study.
That’s the bad news.
The good news is that Solano County’s gender education gap is the nation’s second largest favoring women, after Anchorage, Alaska.
“With the fall semester drawing near and higher levels of education correlating with higher median weekly earnings, the personal-finance website WalletHub this week released its report on 2018’s Most & Least Educated Cities in America,” the announcement said. “To determine where the most educated Americans are choosing to settle, WalletHub compared the 150 largest U.S. metropolitan statistical areas, or MSAs, across 11 key metrics. The data set ranges from share of adults aged 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher to racial education gap to quality of the public school system.”
Source: Solano County’s education gap by gender is second smallest in the nation
