Category Archives: Solano youth

Solano Youth Coalition seeking members to address race, equity in coming school year – The Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

Solano County Office of Education is accepting applications for members to serve on its Solano Youth Commission, an organization aimed at raising community awareness of social and health issues facing teens.

In past years, SYC members have focused their efforts around issues related to alcohol, tobacco and drug prevention as well as mental health awareness, violence elimination and healthy relationships. This year, the focus will be something very topical: addressing racism and unconscious bias.

In the past week, the issue of race has been on the forefront of many people’s minds. The deaths of individuals like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of police officers have prompted widespread protests in all 50 states calling for widespread changes in the criminal justice system, and Vacaville High School publicly condemned videos that surfaced this week of students using racial slurs.

Source: Solano Youth Coalition seeking members to address race, equity in coming school year – The Reporter

Virtual girls robotics camp starts Monday in Solano – Daily Republic

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A free virtual Girls in Robotics Leadership Camp is being offered to middle school girls starting Monday.

The camp is being put on by the Solano County Office of Education in partnership with the Vacaville School District and the University of California, Davis, Computing-Science, Technology, Engineering and Math division.

It runs through Friday.

Source: Virtual girls robotics camp starts Monday in Solano

FS Kids Art Online Gallery is excited to announce a new online art contest for all Solano County kids! – Daily Republic

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By Kelly Pidgeon James

A new kids art contest begins on May 25th for all kids 17 and under living in Solano County. Each contestant can submit one drawing or painting depicting how their city is standing up against Covid-19. The entries will be sorted into online galleries for each of Solano’s seven cities as well as a gallery for kids living in unincorporated Solano. At the end of the contest, the mayors of each of the seven cities will select the winning entry from their city’s gallery to represent the city on a poster which will be hung in various public buildings throughout Solano County.

Source: Good News: FS Kids Art Online Gallery is excited to announce a new online art contest for all Solano County kids!

Facebook groups help high school seniors get ‘adopted’ – Times-Herald

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With the pandemic limiting high school graduations to very little pomp under a bad circumstance, getting “adopted” by a stranger puts a boost into the joy barometer, one American Canyon High School graduate confirmed.

Oh sure, Kaylee Davis was admittedly “kind of embarrassed,” stepping from her Vallejo home to see a Kona Ice truck and congratulatory cupcakes, not mention various food, beverages and bathroom essentials that previously arrived.

Still, “it’s kind of nice,” the 17-year-old said. “It is weird to have this much attention.”

Source: Facebook groups help high school seniors get ‘adopted’ [Times-Herald, Vallejo, Calif.]

Weirdest . . . school year . . . ever – Daily Republic

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By Bill Hicks

Part of the reason “high school” movies succeed is because the students are easily relatable, no matter when the story is set – today, the 1980s or the ’50s.

There are the students into sports, the students into academics, the students involved in band, and the students not really into it at all – no matter the era, school experiences have generally been unchanged for decades.

Except for this year.

Source: Weirdest . . . school year . . . ever

High school, college graduates can see their names, faces in lights – Daily Republic

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By Amy Maginnis-Honey

Dae Spering made a joke on Facebook recently about putting a photo of her son Wiley Lloyd, who is graduating from Vacaville Christian High School, on the Downtown Theatre marquee.

After all, the Class of 2020 has missed out on many rituals in their last year of high school. Some will even graduate with their class – virtually – rather than have family and friends cheer when the graduate’s name is called.

Source: High school, college graduates can see their names, faces in lights

Dixon May Fair junior livestock auction finds home online for 2020 – Daily Republic

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By Amy Maginnis-Honey

The future of Spam and Sparkles looked uncertain Friday.The same for Rusty the steer.

Spam and Sparkles are two pigs who were raised to be auctioned at the Dixon May Fair. The fair has been canceled for 2020 due to the novel coronavirus and related stay-at-home orders and social distancing requirements.

Efforts to keep the livestock auction fell into place Saturday night. Chico-based Bidcal.com will bring the auction online.

Source: Dixon May Fair junior livestock auction finds home online for 2020

In a crisis, Vallejo schools providing free meals – Times-Herald

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By Thomas Gase

There was no hoarding or long lines. And no, there wasn’t any toilet paper, sanitary supplies or soap.

However, there was a ton of food and it was free thanks to the Vallejo City Unified School District, which, along with shelf stable provisions donated by the Food Bank, is providing for families in need during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Meals and provisions will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis for breakfast and lunch in a “grab-and-go” routine from 8 to 9 a.m. for breakfast and 11 a.m. to noon for lunch.

Source: In a crisis, Vallejo schools providing free meals – Times-Herald

Solano fair association postpones Youth Ag Day due to Covid-19 – Daily Republic

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By Todd R. Hansen

The 18th annual Youth Ag Day has been postponed due to concerns over the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The Solano County Fair Association announced Wednesday the event scheduled for Tuesday will not occur.

“It is hoped that this is merely a postponement of the event, and not an outright cancellation,” a statement released by the association states.

“This decision to postpone was informed by evolving guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as state and local public health agencies. The SCFA has been following CDC warning level guidelines, but the rapidly changing situation has made it difficult to predict future conditions,” the statement said.

Source: Solano fair association postpones Youth Ag Day due to Covid-19

A special two hours for special-needs kids in Solano County – Times-Herald

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By Richard Bammer

The December holidays are a special time of year for billions of people worldwide, but Silveyville Christmas Tree Farm in Dixon became an especially magical yuletide universe of its own Friday morning for more than 100 Solano County special-needs children.

In its 28th year, the annual Special Needs Day at the Silveyville Road farm serves to brighten the holidays for these children. Most come from Solano public schools, from Vacaville and Dixon to Fairfield and Vallejo school districts, plus some from programs managed by the Solano County Office of Education in Fairfield.

By 10 a.m., teachers and parents herding excitable groups of children, 130 in all during the two-hour event and ranging in age from 3 to 18, walked happily through the farm’s gates, oblivious to the light rain falling, temperatures in the mid-50s and gloomy skies.

Source: A special two hours for special-needs kids in Solano County – Times-Herald

High School Students Can Apply to Visit Japan – Daily Republic

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By Arletta Kelley Cortright

The Fairfield – Nirasaki Sister City Program invites all interested high school students and their parents to attend an information meeting on Wednesday, December 11th, at 6 PM in the Fairfield Adult Recreation Center. Students can learn about participating in the 2020 summer exchange visit to Fairfield’s Sister City, Nirasaki, Japan. During the three-week stay, students live with host families and travel to Kyoto, Tokyo, Hiroshima, and many local historic and cultural sites in the Nirasaki area. This exciting opportunity is open to all high school students who reside in Fairfield or attend a Fairfield high school. Applications for the exchange group will be available at the meeting. In addition, the regular monthly Sister City Committee meeting will follow the information meeting at 7 PM, and students are welcome to stay for that meeting as well. The Adult Recreation Center is located at 1200 Civic Center Drive, Fairfield. For more information, email fairfieldsistercity@gmail.com.

Source: Press Release: High School Students Can Apply to Visit Japan

Youth runners push themselves in annual Doug Butt Run – Daily Republic

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By Bill Hicks

Schoolchildren from across Fairfield and Suisun were running throughout Laurel Creek Park, Wednesday, which is exactly what the namesake of the annual Doug Butt Run would have wanted.

In a 2009 Daily Republic article about the former Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District physical education teacher’s death, Butt was described as a “titan on the fitness scene in Fairfield.”

But it was this run, the former FSUSD elementary cross country meet, which now bears Doug Butt’s name that his two passions are combined – his love of fitness and his desire to share that love with the schoolchildren he taught for so many years.

Source: Youth runners push themselves in annual Doug Butt Run

Youths invited to apply for classical music competition – Daily Republic

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By McNaughton Newspapers

The Solano Symphony Orchestra will hold its annual Young Artists Competition on Saturday, Nov 9, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 1600 Union Avenue in Fairfield. Classically trained musicians between the ages of 12 and 21 are invited to apply and compete in four categories: vocal, piano, winds and strings.

The first-place winner in each category will win a monetary prize and the chance to perform as a featured soloist with the Solano Symphony Orchestra during its “Salute to Youth” concert, under the direction of Semyon Lohss, on Feb. 9.

Source: Youths invited to apply for classical music competition

Saddle up your support for teen programming – 2019 PAL-beque at Jelly Belly! – Daily Republic

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By Heather-Rae Sanderson

Get ready to chow down on Saturday, September 14, 2019 6:00p.m. as we round up resources and support for local teens and their families with a community PAL-beque at Jelly Belly, One Jelly Belly Lane, in Fairfield.

“Wow, I wish they had all that when I was a teen!”

We hear that all the time when we share what happens at the PAL Center. Here is your chance to help Fairfield PAL continue and grow! Join us Saturday, September 14 for a PAL-beque at Jelly Belly, in Fairfield! One hundred percent of the funds raised will go to providing local teens with meaningful experiences and programs!

Source: Good News: Saddle up your support for teen programming in Fairfield and join us for 2019 PAL-beque at Jelly Belly!

Vallejo Immersive Learning Center holds party for Hydro S.T.E.A.M. camp – Times-Herald

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By Thomas Gase

This summer at the Vallejo Immersive Learning Center on Georgia Street, kids taking part of a Hydro S.T.E.A.M. camp have learned about the “Four C’s” — communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity.

On Saturday afternoon they were able to learn about a fifth “C” — celebrate.

S.T.E.A.M. which stands for science, technology, engineering, art and math, is a focused community education center that offers academic enrichment and academic support. In a technology-based economy, the center teaches citizens young and old to develop skills necessary for the future.

Source: Vallejo Immersive Learning Center holds party for Hydro S.T.E.A.M. camp – Times-Herald

Solano 4-H scheduled info night at Vacaville school – Daily Republic

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By Daily Republic Staff

The Solano County 4-H Youth Development Program will host a 4-H information night next week in the multipurpose Room at Alamo Elementary School, located at 500 S. Orchard Ave.

This informative gathering begins at 7 p.m. Thursday and is an opportunity for families who are interested in learning more about the 4-H Youth Development Program.

Organizers will introduce the Solano County 4-H Program with an overview of programs, resources and activities offered. Participants will meet Solano County 4-H staff, 4-H adult volunteer leaders and 4-H members. The 4-H Youth Development Program is open to all children and teens ages 5 through 19.

Source: Solano 4-H scheduled info night at Vacaville school

Solano residents build a bright future, graduate from pre-apprenticeship program – Times Herald

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By Thomas Gase

Each year, Solano County employee ability specialist Nel Sweet Davis likes to give members of a pre-apprenticeship construction training program a memento before they start their five-week training course. Quite simply, the memento is just piece of a random lost jigsaw puzzle.

On Friday morning nine members of this program were able to start seeing the entire board.

A graduation ceremony was held by the Workforce Development Board of Solano County, the Northern California Laborers’ Training Center and Benicia Unified School district to honor participants who completed a five-week training course. The course was designed for residents of Solano aged 18 to 24 and interested in the construction trade.

Source: Solano residents build a bright future, graduate from pre-apprenticeship program – Times Herald

Pro tennis event at Solano Community College helps advance USTA program – The Reporter

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By Matt Miller

Young tennis fans will get to learn about the game again this October when the NorthBay Healthcare Men’s ProChampionship returns to Solano Community College.

The professional tournament benefits the Chris Cammisa Tennis and Education Foundation, a nonprofit that not only helpedestablish the men’s and women’s tennis programs at Solano College, but also provides tennis and a related educational program tounderserved youth in Solano County.

One of the ways of reaching out to youth during the tournament is by using the U.S. Tennis Association’s Net GenerationProgram. The mission of “Net Gen” is to introduce children to tennis — a sport they might not normally be exposed to but couldpotentially play the rest of their lives. Racquets, balls and pop-up nets are all provided.

Source: Pro tennis event at Solano Community College helps advance USTA program – The Reporter

Fairfield PAL invites local teens to assemble this summer at PAL! – Daily Republic

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By Heather-Rae Sanderson

The Fairfield PAL (Police Activities League) is planning for an EPIC summer and local teens, ages 13-18 years old, can sign up. PAL will be open all summer on Mondays-Thursdays from 3pm to 9pm and Fridays from 3pm to 10:30pm. The PAL Center offers basketball, boxing, martial arts, video games, billiards, arts and crafts, a music studio, flag football, cooking classes, soap hockey, community service, leadership opportunities and more. Memberships can be purchased for only $10.

Thanks to the Kaiser Permanente Foundation and 100 Women Who Care About Solano County, the PAL program will also offer healing center engagement programming designed to help student develop stress management techniques throughout the summer.

Source: Press Release: Fairfield PAL invites local teens to assemble this summer at PAL!

Phoenix Spark initiative gains strength after 3 years – Daily Republic

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By Ian Thompson

Phoenix Spark has seen three years of nurturing ideas into innovations.

It has allowed airmen the time, the technology and access to outside expertise to develop ways to improve how the Air Force does business defending the country.

That, in turn, empowers airmen to realize that they can make a change.

Three years after it started at Travis Air Force Base, Phoenix Spark, which was developed under the Air Force-level AFWERX program, has seen 25 other similar cells established at other Air Force bases in the U.S. and overseas.

Source: Phoenix Spark initiative gains strength after 3 years