Vallejo W e e k ly Vo l u m e 9 I s s u e 3 4 August 26, 2021
Photo: The Grind Cafe
COMMUNITY CLEAN-UP THIS SATURDAY Join us on Saturday morning, and GIVE LITTER THE BOOT! Saturday, August 28, 2021 289 Mare Island Way, Vallejo 9 a.m. - noon Just show up - the community cleanup tool trailer will be there with all the tools you’ll need! Masks are encouraged. Be sure to tag us in your photos, and use the hashtag, #GiveLitterTheBoot! Interested in hosting a community cleanup? Send us an email at volunteers@cityofvallejo.net or (707) 648-8616 to get started.
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NOW HIRING: SENIOR ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN JOIN OUR TEAM! We’re looking to fill a recruitment for a full-time Senior Engineering Technician to: • Lead and perform a variety of the most complex technical engineering work including design and drafting work and design review; to perform duties involved in office engineering and construction inspection activities • Perform skilled drafting in preparation of plans for public works or water utility projects • Coordinate public works or water utility projects with applicable city, state and federal officials and other relevant agencies and parties • And more! • Visit governmentjobs.com/careers/vallejo to learn more and apply - but hurry - there’s less than one week left to apply. RECRUITMENT CLOSES ON MONDAY, AUGUST 30 AT 5 P.M.
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SUMMER DUMP DAY RESULTS The annual FREE Summer Dump Day was another trash-y success! You showed up, you patiently waited, and you made sure the following didn’t end up in our beautiful Vallejo community and waterways: • 732 tons of trash • 25 tons of metal/appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers) • 11 tons of e-waste • 12 tons of tires (887 tires!) • 12 tons of mattresses (237 mattresses!!) THANK YOU VALLEJO! And a BIG thank you to our partners - we couldn’t do it without you: • Recology Vallejo-American Canyon • Conservation Corps North Bay • Wotha Dabora MISS THE EVENT? Don’t forget residents are entitled to TWO FREE, CURBSIDE, bulky item pickups each year - so you can get rid of extra trash, appliances, furniture, mattresses, e-waste, and more - all year round. Click here to learn more. 6
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NOW HIRING: WATER DISTRIBUTION TECHNICIAN JOIN OUR TEAM! We’re looking to fill a recruitment for FIVE Water Distribution Technician positions to: • Perform and lead maintenance crews in the installation, connection, repair/maintenance, and relocation of water mains, service lines, valves, pumps, and fire services, and hydrants; cut and fit pipes and make water main taps; detect leaks and notify customers • Participate in the installation and maintenance of water services and meters; install backflow devices; test and certify backflow devices • Perform water quality field tests and collect water quality samples • And more! Learn more and apply at governmentjobs.com/ careers/vallejo - but hurry - there’s less than one week left to apply. RECRUITMENT CLOSES ON MONDAY, AUGUST 30 AT 5 P.M.
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JOIN OUR TEAM! Want to make a difference in Vallejo? Be a part of positive change? We’re hiring! And we’d love to have you Join our team! Closing Monday, August 30, 2021 at 5 p.m.: - Traffic Engineer (Public Works) - Water Distribution Technician (Water) - Senior Engineering Technician (Water) Closing Monday, September 6, 2021 at 5 p.m.: - Personnel Analyst II (Human Resources) Closing Tuesday, September 7, 2021 at 5 p.m.: - Senior Water Treatment Plant Operator Continuous Recruitments (open until filled): - Principal Planner (Planning + Development Services) - Communications Operator I (Police) - Police Cadet (Police) - Police Officer - Entry, Academy Graduate (Police) - Police Officer - Lateral (Police) - Police Officer - Recruit (Police) Learn more and apply at governmentjobs.com/ careers/vallejo!
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TAKE ME BACK TO CHICAGO WITH DANNY SERAPHINE The legendary music of Chicago comes alive with CTA featuring Chicago co-founder and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Danny Seraphine. With a world-class band and powerful horn section, CTA performs Chicago’s classic hits from the 70’s like 25 or 6 to 4, Feeling Stronger, and Saturday in the Park and also with the 80’s power ballad era including Hard Habit to Break, You’re the Inspiration, and Look Away. It’s a night of nothing but classic hit music with Danny Seraphine’s Take Me Back To Chicago Tour. This event will take place on August 28 at the Empress Theatre; doors open at 7:00 p.m. and starts at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are: $240 for 4 tables in front of stage, Orchestra is $50, Loge is $40, Lower Balcony is $30, and Upper Balcony is $25. For more information or to purchase tickets, click here.
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LA CLÍNICA OPENS NEW COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CENTER
By doubling their previous capacity,
La Clínica is excited to announce that
assistance for health insurance
its newest comprehensive health center
coverage as well as for programs such
is now open in Downtown Vallejo. As
as CalFresh and WIC. La Clínica sees
the only full-scope community health
patients with all types of insurances,
center in the city and the primary
such as private and MediCal, as well
source of care for thousands of its
as those without insurance.
community members will also have greater access to enrollment
residents, they are proud to invest in Vallejo and further cement their roots in
The new health center will also help
the community to be part of the solution
spur economic revitalization for the city
to build a healthy and revitalized Vallejo
by expanding foot traffic to the local
for all.
business and providing 100 full-time jobs for the people of the community, at
This new 26,000-square-foot facility
full capacity. This includes $7.8 million
will serve as a patient-centered medical
wages and benefits distributed annually
home that brings integrated services to
and more than $1 million of goods and
13,000 patients including dental care
services purchased annually.
and optometry services all under one roof in the downtown area. The new facility includes: • 24 medical exam rooms and 2 treatment rooms • 16 dental operatories • 8 patient consultation rooms • 1 optical suite with 2 exam rooms and eyewear display area • 3 conference rooms 15
5 WAYS TO REPURPOSE YOUR OLD MATTRESS Have you thought about how to recycle your old mattress? You’ve heard about recycling paper and plastic, but did you know you can recycle your mattress, too? According to industry sources, Americans dispose of up to 20 million mattresses each year, adding as much as 800 million cubic feet to landfills. That’s a lot of springs and foam! The average American discards about 1,600 pounds of trash per year, and mattresses take up a lot of space, with each bed occupying 20 to 60 cubic feet. So recycling your bed can help reduce your carbon footprint and helps existing landfills last longer. Most materials in a mattress can be repurposed once a bed is deconstructed (about 85-90%), and enterprising entrepreneurs are constantly developing new ways to reuse old bedding. No time to recycle your mattress? No problem! Our partners at Recology offer a Bulky Item Pick Up for households to schedule two free curbside pickups a year. To contact Recology to schedule your free Bulky Item Pick up, click here.
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VALLEJO BOOK FESTIVAL
on stage in the museum’s
The Vallejo Naval and Historical
the museum with several large
Museum hosts its second annual Vallejo Book Festival on Saturday, August 28, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This is a free event taking place at the Vallejo Naval and Historical
parking lot. Once again, there will be the Hall of History inside inflatable sculptures, including a giant green dragon, by Astro Botanicals. Masks and social distancing will be required inside the museum.
Museum.
The Vallejo Naval and Historical
They believe that children’s
promoting literacy, inspiring hope,
literacy is relevant to all aspects of society and can be addressed on many levels. Sharing the love of reading is the best gift you can give. They created this free children’s book giveaway event in March of 2020, which was
Museum is committed to and encouraging reading to all children. High-quality children’s books will be selected for cultural diversity and educational integrity. The festival will provide at least one free new book for children of all ages in an immersive,
wonderfully successful.
story-telling, and book reading
This year the event will take
books will be provided by Another
place both inside and outside. Book giveaways will be in front of the museum on the west side of the building. On the east side of the building, there will be a full day of story readings and
environment. New and used Chapter, Alibi Bookstore and a book drive. There will also be many lightly used books to choose from at all reading levels, including young adult and adult books.
song, dance, and performances 19
Solano County Dept. of Resource Management 675 Texas Street, Suite 5500 Fairfield, CA 94533
7 Days to a Fire Safe Home... Everyday over the next week we encourage you to take actions that could save your life, protect your loved ones and prevent your home and community from burning.
Solano County Office of Emergency Services (OES) 530 Clay Street Fairfield, CA 94533
JOIN US AND GET PREPARED! DAY 1: Prepare Yourself
Sign up for emergency notifications at: AlertSolano.com.
DAY 2: Prepare for Evacuations
Make an Evacuation Plan and pack a Go-Kit. Know where to go and where to meet others. Plan for your pets and livestock.
DAY 3: Harden Your Home
A few simple home projects can make your home resistant to ignition from burning embers (see the list inside).
DAY 4: Maintain “Zone Zero”
Remove combustibles from the first 5 feet around your home.
DAY 5: Prepare your Yard
Cut the grass, remove leaves and dead vegetation.
Do not use a mower or weed eater during Red Flag or Extreme Heat events. This increases the risk of wildfire ignition.
DAY 6: Create a Fire-Smart Yard
Plant choice, placement and care is important in a fire-smart landscape.
DAY 7: Prepare your Community
ht ps:/ w w.solanocounty.com/depts/oes/alertsolano/information.asp Sign up for emergency notifications at:
AlertSolano.com
We are all in this together. Join or start a Firesafe Council in your community today!
Defensible Space https://www.readyforwildfire.org/ Source: www.ReadyForWildfire.org
http://www.readyforwildfire.org
Zone 0 – Ember-Resistant Zone - Extends 5 feet from buildings, structures, decks, etc.
• • • • • • • • •
Use hardscape like gravel, pavers, concrete and other noncombustible mulch materials. No combustible bark or mulch Remove all dead and dying weeds, grass, plants, shrubs, trees, branches and vegetative debris (leaves, needles, cones, bark, etc.); Check your roofs, gutters, decks, porches, stairways, etc. Remove all branches within 10 feet of any chimney or stovepipe outlet Limit plants in this area to low growing, nonwoody, properly watered and maintained plants Limit combustible items (outdoor furniture, planters, etc.) on top of decks Relocate firewood and lumber to Zone 2 Replace combustible fencing, gates, and arbors - attach to the home with noncombustible alternatives Consider relocating garbage and recycling containers outside this zone Consider relocating boats, RVs, vehicles and other combustible items outside this zone
Zone 1 – Lean, Clean and Green Zone - Extends 30 feet from buildings, structures, decks, etc. or to your property line, whichever is closer.
• • • • • • • •
Remove all dead plants, grass and weeds (vegetation). Remove dead or dry leaves and pine needles from your yard, roof and rain gutters. Remove branches hanging over your roof. Keep dead branches 10 feet away from your chimney. Trim trees regularly to keep branches a minimum of 10 feet from other trees. Relocate wood piles to Zone 2. Remove or prune flammable plants and shrubs near windows. Remove vegetation and combustible items around and under decks, balconies and stairs. Create a separation between trees, shrubs and items that could catch fire, such as patio furniture, wood piles, swing sets, etc.
Zone 2 – Reduce Fuel Zone - Extends from 30 feet to 100 feet out from buildings, structures, decks, etc. or to your property line, whichever is closer.
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Cut or mow annual grass down to a maximum height of 4 inches. Create horizontal space between shrubs and trees. (See diagram) Create vertical space between grass, shrubs and trees. (See diagram) Remove fallen leaves, needles, twigs, bark, cones, and small branches. However, they may be permitted to a depth of 3 inches. All exposed wood piles must have a minimum of 10 feet of clearance, down to bare mineral soil, in all directions.
https:/ www.solanocounty.com/depts/oes/grs/default.asp SolanoCounty.com/GetReadySolano
2021
Fire Season is here...
IS YOUR HOME READY?
Wildfire will always be a part of the California landscape. Landowners and residents must consider how their home, gardens, and community play a role in achieving greater wildfire resiliency.
After a wildfire passes through a community
many are left wondering why one home survived and another did not. Whether you are a homeowner, contractor, or renter there is good news - research indicates that wise decisions regarding building material choices, design and installation options, and maintenance considerations can improve the odds that your home will survive a future wildfire. Hardening a home to withstand wildland fire exposure does not have to be costly, but it does require an understanding of the exposures your home will experience when threatened by a wildfire.
How homes burn...
What can you do? Homes survive wildfire through a combination of: • Defensible Space: a buffer you create between a building on your property and the grass, trees, shrubs, or any wildland area that surrounds it.
• Fire-Resistant Landscaping: fire-resistant plants strategically planted to resist the spread of fire to your home. These types of plants are often drought tolerant too.
• Home Hardening: use of fire and ember resistant construction materials, installation details, and maintenance to reduce the risk of ignition.
Use the suggestions in this guide to improve your home’s chance of surviving a wildfire. Source: University of California Cooperative Extension
Embers are the most common cause of home ignition. They are light enough to be blown through the air and can result in the rapid spread of wildfire by spotting (embers blow ahead of the main fire, starting other fires). If embers land on or near your house, they can ignite nearby vegetation, debris, or enter the home (through openings or vents). Radiant heat (the heat felt when standing next to a campfire or fireplace) can cause ignition of combustible material. Even if the radiant exposure is not large or long enough to result in ignition, it can preheat surfaces making them more vulnerable to ignition from direct flame contact.
Direct flames, one of the misconceptions about home loss during wildfires is that the loss occurs as the main body of the fire passes. Research shows the main flame front moves through anywhere between 1 to 10 minutes. Homes do not spontaneously ignite; they are lost as a result of the growth of small fires, either in or around the home or from home-tohome spread once the wildfire enters an urban area.
https:/ www.solanocounty.com/depts/oes/grs/default.asp
Source: Butler et al., 2003; Ramsay and Rudolph, 2003; Cohen 2008; Institute for Business and Home Safety, 2008
SolanoCounty.com/GetReadySolano
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