Vallejo Week ly Vo l u m e 9 I s s u e 3 8 September 23, 2021
P h o t o C o u r t e s y o f : S . Q u i n n J r.
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NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH WEEK 4: TEACH YOUTH ABOUT PREPAREDNESS
Text, don’t talk. In an emergency, phone lines may be tied up. It may be easier to text and this leaves phone lines open for emergency workers.
Over the last three weeks we covered: 1. How to: Make a Plan
Where Will We Meet?
2. How to: Build a Kit
Decide on safe, familiar, accessible
3. Low-Cost, No-Cost Preparedness
places where your family can go for protection or to reunite. If you have
We’re on our final week - week 4, and
pets or service animals, think about
we want to get our YOUTH involved!
animal-friendly locations. Consider places in your house, in your
Talk to kids in your family about their
neighborhood, and outside of your city
role during a potential emergency
or town so you’re prepared for any
and what to do in case you are
situation.
separated. Reassure them by providing information about how they can get
Practice, Practice, Practice!
involved.
Write down your emergency contacts and plans. Make sure everyone in the
We recommend having the following
family has copies and keeps them in a
discussions with your young ones:
safe space, like in a backpack, wallet, or taped in a notebook. Put them in
Who Will We Contact?
your cell phone if you have one. Hold
Pick the same person for each family
regular household meetings to review
member to contact. Pick someone out
and practice your plan.
of town - they may be easier to reach in a disaster.
We recommend printing out the “Family Communications Plan” at Ready.Gov!
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NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR A VALLEJO CITIZEN REPRESENTATIVE TO THE SOLANO COUNTY COMMISSION FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS
County’s Commission page, by clicking
The City of Vallejo is requesting
be announced at a later time. Applicants
applications to serve as Vallejo’s
must attend the interview in order to be
representative to the Solano County
considered for appointment.
here. Applications must be received no later than close of business on Friday, October 1, 2021. City Council virtual interview dates will
Commission for Women and Girls. Vallejo residents who are interested
Application forms and supplemental
in serving on this Commission are
questionnaires are accessible in several
invited to submit an application for
ways:
consideration. • The City’s Boards and Commissions The mission of the Solano Commission for Women and Girls is to improve the
page, here. • At City Hall, Office of the City Clerk,
economic status, health and social
555 Santa Clara Street, 3rd Floor,
welfare, and overall quality of life for
Vallejo, CA
women and girls in Solano County.
• By e-mail at dawn.abrahamson@ cityofvallejo.net, or by phone at (707)
The Commission is comprised of 17 women and girls, 15 adults, and two
648-4527 • By US Postal Mail: City of Vallejo,
youth members. The Commission
C/O City Clerk, PO Box 3068, Vallejo,
meetings are held on the third Thursday
CA 94590
of every month (year-round) at 6:00 p.m. For more information on the Commission, please visit Solano
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WATER WISE TIP OF THE WEEK:
SET MOWER BLADES TO THREE INCHES! Setting mower blades to three inches encourages deeper roots and saves SIXTEEN to FIFTY gallons per day. Learn more at SaveOurWater.org.
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COLUMBUS PARKWAY TREE REMOVAL On November 7, 2005, the Planning Commission approved the Vesting Tentative Map for Waterstone/ Bordoni Ranch, a 434-unit single-family residential subdivision. The City Council approved the Master Plan for the project on November 29, 2005, however, due to a settlement agreement with a neighborhood group, the plan was modified in July 2007. The Vesting Tentative Map went to all environmental requirements through the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the environmental impact report (EIR) in 2012. The Vallejo Planning Commission approved it in September 2012. One of the Vesting Tentative Map conditions requires that the Developer widen Columbus Parkway and make appropriate frontage road improvements. The Developer will improve the critical intersections during the project phases, which will require the removal of trees along Columbus Parkway. An arborist report created through Tri Point homes, and prepared by Bartlett Consulting, labels all of the trees that will be removed as part of the contracted Developer improvements. To learn more, visit myvallejo.com.
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COMMUNITY CLEANUP Hate trash? Us too. Come hang out with us and #GiveLitterTheBoot! Saturday, October 2, 2021 Quincy Alley, Vallejo (meet at Quincy Alley + Sutter Street) 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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RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Did COVID impact your ability to pay rent? California has expanded its Emergency Rental Assistance Program. If you are behind on your rent or utilities due to COVID-related hardship, you may be eligible to have 100% of what you owe paid. Click here to take the quiz and see if you qualify, learn where to get help if you need it, and apply online. To learn more about eviction protections and other resources, please visit HousingIsKey.com.
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THE PB VOTE IS NOW!
Alternatively, residents can visit polling
The Cycle 7 Participatory Budgeting
• Saturday Farmer’s Markets,
(PB) vote is happening now through October 7. Vallejo residents, including those living in the unincorporated areas, are invited to vote on which community projects to improve the City will go to Council for funding approval. Residents are allowed to vote for up to two projects on the 11-proposal ballot. Projects fall into the following categories: • Infrastructure (e.g., road repair, waterways, etc.) • Purchase of equipment (e.g., diggers, trucks, technology equipment, etc.) • Programs and services (e.g., youth basketball, housing services, etc.) Residents 14 years and older can vote online at www.pbvallejo.org, or inperson in City Hall, and a cell phone number and valid Vallejo address are required for online voting.
booths at: Downtown Georgia Street, Saturday, September 25, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. • Mare Island PedalFest, 850 Nimitz Avenue, Sunday, September 26, 8:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. • Vallejo Waterfront Weekend, Vallejo Waterfront, Saturday, October 2, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Learn more about the projects on the ballot by visiting the voter guide(s) by selecting your preferred language here (English, Spanish, Filipino). The Cycle 7 ballot is the outcome of a 6-month process in which Vallejo volunteers and City staff liaisons screened, evaluated, and researched over 800 ideas submitted by community members. Individuals or organizations interested in serving as poll workers or joining the Get Out the Vote (GOTV) outreach team can register online. For additional information, visit www.pbvallejo.org.
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SPROUT FILM FESTIVAL Join The Arc Solano at their third annual Sprout Film Festival on September 26 at the Empress Theatre! Doors open at 2:00 p.m., and the films begin at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person and can be purchased online. There will be a silent auction including gift cards, items from local businesses and artists, and amazing “experiences” - like tickets to San Diego Comic-Con, one year of Blues Guitar lessons, a virtual wine tasting, and a two night stay in Calistoga. For more information, click here.
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BEAUTIFY VALLEJO REGISTER FOR THE TRASH DASH! You’re invited to Keep America Beautiful’s third Annual TrashDash™ - Plogging For Our Planet event! WHO: All ages are welcome! WHAT: 3rd Annual Keep America Beautiful TrashDash WHERE: In our community WHEN: September 2021 HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE? Grab a bag, gloves, and a litter picker if you have one and pick up litter in your neighborhood, local park, or on a nearby trail or beach. With all the ploggers signing up, we expect to be cleaning up TONS (literally!) of trash during the month of September. Please make sure you’re registered! Once you’re finished, share your experience on Instagram – be sure to tag @KeepAmericaBeautiful and include the hashtags #DoBeautifulThings and #TrashDash. Register Now to End Litter. Improve Recycling. Make A Difference.
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BOUNTY OF THE COUNTY RETURNS Bounty of the County, a celebration of Solano County agriculture and chefs, is back, and will feature a different restaurant each week starting September 27, running through November 7. Each restaurant will highlight in-season ingredients grown on local farms in a special, free-sample item, that will be given to restaurant customers that week. Sustainable Solano will highlight the event with weekly videos, including cooking demonstrations by the chefs and farm profiles. Vallejo’s own Michael Warring restaurant will be featured in this celebration. Be sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram for cooking class demos, and farm highlights!
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DIGNITY DAY The Solano Dream Center and Christian Help Center are partnering for Dignity Day on September 25, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 2166 Sacramento Street. Services for this day include: • Mobile showers • Free hair cuts • Bag lunch • Free clothes • Health checks • Spiritual care • Mental health services • Housing help Bus services will be provided. For more information, call (707) 435-3995
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SEPTEMBER IS PEDESTRIAN SAFETY MONTH: BE PREDICTABLE, LOOK OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER As part of Pedestrian Safety Month, the Vallejo Police Department will support efforts throughout September to improve pedestrian safety and help reduce crashes and injuries. Pedestrians are more and more at risk on the road. Based on data from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), 2020 had the largest ever annual increase, 21 percent, in the rate drivers struck and killed pedestrians. In California, pedestrian deaths accounted for 27 percent of all traffic-related deaths in 2019. “It’s simple: slow down and stop for pedestrians. They have the same rights to the road as everyone else,” Vallejo Police Sergeant Jeff Tai said. “If you’re walking, be mindful of vehicle traffic and be predictable. We should all be looking out for one another.” Violations include right-of-way at crosswalks, illegal turns and not stopping for signs or signals (e.g., right turn on red or red light running), and speeding. Click here for steps drivers and pedestrians can take to greatly reduce the risk of getting injured or in a crash, including staying off the phone when behind the wheel or walking. 24
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HELP REIMAGINE CITY PARK! How would YOU reimagine City Park? We want to hear from you! Whether you are a regular visitor or have never visited the park, we want to know what experiences would best help you connect to this amazing park. Please take a few moments to complete the short survey.
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CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY WEEK IS SEPTEMBER 19-25
To search for car seat programs in your
As part of Child Passenger Safety
the OTS website. You may also contact
Week, the Vallejo Police Department
your local CHP Area Office to schedule
(VPD) wants to make sure your child
a free safety seat inspection.
county, the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) has a dropdown menu on
is in the right child safety seat. Child Passenger Safety Week is September
Funding for this program is provided
19-25 and focuses on educating parents by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National and caregivers about the importance of choosing, installing, and using the
Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
correct car seat. Click here to read the press release. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among children, and nearly half of car seats (46%) are misused. California law requires a child to be properly secured in a safety seat until they are at least 8 years of age. Children 8 and older, who are at least 4 feet, 9 inches in height, may ride in the back seat of a vehicle in a properly fitted safety belt. Children under the age of 2 must ride rear-facing or until they reach 40 pounds or 40 inches in height.
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LEARN MORE ABOUT THE VALLEJO POLICE DEPARTMENT CHAPLAINCY PROGRAM The Vallejo Police Department (VPD) Chaplaincy Program is a dynamic cohort of licensed/ordained clergy members that offer counseling, consultation, and others forms of human crisis intervention and support during citywide critical incidents. Chaplains are on-call and may respond to events including suicides or threatened suicides, death notifications, family disturbances, or any other incidences where their presence is appropriate or requested. Chaplains are also available to offer spiritual guidance and support to officers when requested and occasionally participate in Department ceremonies and special assignments. The VPD currently has nine chaplains that serve the City of Vallejo and support our residents and officers in times of need. If you are interested in our VPD Police Chaplaincy Program or would like more information, please contact Sergeant Gregg Rouse at Gregg.Rouse@cityofvallejo.net. Click here to learn more about our VPD chaplains.
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NIGHTMARE ISLAND VALLEJO Looking for a hauntingly good time this Halloween? Join us and prepare to scream... “Halloween’s NightMARE Island” is coming to a new location on Mare Island! NightMARE Island will be open every Friday through Sunday in October. For more information and tickets, visit, nightmareislandvallejo.com NightMARE Island is also collecting non-perishable food for our friends in need, as well as new and gentlyused Halloween costumes for our kids in need. All donations will be distributed through Vallejo Together.
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Vallejo Week ly WWW.CITYOFVALLEJO.NET Subscribe to the Vallejo Weekly, and other City communications, here. View previous issues of the Vallejo Weekly, here. Submit your positive community story or event for consideration in the Vallejo News section, here.