Vallejo W e e k ly Vo l u m e 9 I s s u e 7 February 19, 2021
Photo Credit: Christina Butler Photography
Vallejo Welcomes MCE
In Spring 2020, the Vallejo City Council
and send you your monthly bill. MCE’s
held a public hearing and voted to
generation service will replace PG&E’s
join Marin Clean Energy (MCE). MCE
generation service; it is not a new
provides clean-electricity service to
service or added fee.
more than one million residents and businesses in 36 member communities
Enrollment in MCE offers Vallejo
across four Bay Area counties: Contra
residents cleaner power at stable
Costa, Napa, Marin, and Solano. In
rates while significantly reducing
October 2020, City Council appointed
energy-related greenhouse emissions
Council Member Katy Meissner to
and enabling millions of dollars of
MCE’s board.
reinvestment in local energy programs. For current rates and cost comparisons,
How MCE Works
visit www.mceCleanEnergy.
MCE purchases your power source,
org/2021enroll
called electric generation. PG&E continues to deliver the electricity,
Discount programs such as CARE,
maintain power lines, provide repairs,
FERA, and Medical Baseline are
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Volume 9 Issue 7
unaffected by MCE enrollment; these
posted information on their social
customer services remain unchanged
media platforms, and run full-page ads
with MCE as they would with PG&E.
in the Vallejo Times Herald. They are currently running an advertisement
MCE will be offering several virtual
on the electronic billboard at the
workshops for residents and
Fairgrounds, visible from Highway
businesses to learn more about
80, in both directions. Vallejoans
the transition to cleaner energy.
interested in learning more about
A full list of these workshops and
MCE and reviewing rate comparisons
additional drop-in Q&A hours are
can visit, www.mcecleanenergy.
available on MCE’s website at www.
org/2021enroll/
mceCleanEnergy.org/2021enroll Follow MCE on Facebook Previously, MCE has held public community Zoom meetings, sent
Follow MCE on Instagram
mailers to all ratepayers in Vallejo,
February 19, 2021
3
Positive solutions for a Cleaner Community Community clean-ups inspire people to take pride in their neighborhood and maintain a clean community. Immediate removal of litter can keep it from growing into an unmanageable dumpsite. Littering is a common nuisance that negatively affects all urban areas. You can find food wrappers, empty soft drink and water bottles, plastic bags, handbills, cigarette butts, tissues, paper, and so many other types of litter on our streets, sidewalks, parking lots, roads, and highways. To make matters worse, littering is more prevalent in locations
Together, community members can make a difference! Clean communities have a better chance of attracting new businesses, residents, and tourists. We can set an example for others, especially children, by not littering and doing things such as carrying a litter bag in our vehicle and
where trash is already present.
securely covering trash containers to
But there is hope! Litter is an urban
litter. When visiting parks and other
dilemma that can be solved! Education is an important tool that can make people more aware of the dangers of litter. It encourages them to make an effort to put their trash in bins and receptacles. Educated people also spread the word to others they see littering and encourage and teach them to dispose of garbage the correct way.
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prevent wind or animals from spreading recreation areas, be sure to leave the place clean for the next person to enjoy. How can YOU get involved? ADOPT-A-BLOCK , join a Community clean-up or pick up a piece of trash when you see it. We are in this together, and together we can clean-up Vallejo! Volume 9 Issue 7
Survivor Returns to Thank Firefighters
On February 10th, more than a year
The crew responsible for the rescue
after his accident, Mr. Murphy and his
were presented with Challenge Coins
wife were able to meet and thank the
personally designed by Mr. Murphy
Firefighters who assisted him, and who
representing the date of his accident.
he feels saved his life after a complicated vehicle extrication resulting from a severe automobile accident.
February 19, 2021
5
Check out the latest job openings at the City of Vallejo by visiting www.governmentjobs.com/careers/vallejo 6
Volume 9 Issue 7
First Five Community Investment Fund: Annual Grant The County
•
Youth Development
Administrator’s
•
Safe and Stable Environments for
Office, as
Children
part of the County’s Human
All projects proposed for the Annual
Service Needs
Grants Fund must address one or
Assessment
more of the six most pressing needs
study and resultant Community
in the county. A total of $250,000 is
Investment Fund, has released a
available for July 1, 2020 through June
request for proposals for annual
30, 2021. The limit per annual grant is
grants of up to $50,000 per grant to
$50,000. Proposals will be accepted
address the most pressing needs in
from non-profit organizations, for-
Solano County. The Board created
profit organizations, and government
a Community Investment Fund to
entities.
address these top needs and make tangible progress toward measurable
A mandatory proposers’ workshop will
outcomes.
be held on February 22 starting at 1:30 p.m. via Zoom, registration before
Based on information the Board
event is required. Proposals are due
gathered from a year-long assessment,
March 16, 2020 by 5:00 p.m.
the top six human services needs in the County, includes:
For more information click here or email:
•
Mental Health
Megan Richards,
• Housing
First 5 Deputy Director
• Homelessness
MERichards@SolanoCounty.com.
•
Early Education
February 19, 2021
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#learning opportunities
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES IN A COVID WORLD
and recognizing how storm water, trash, motor oil, and other pollutants impact local watersheds.
The Watershed Explorers Program is an environmental
Newly developed, interactive,
education program that
virtual water lessons keep
has been offered to Vallejo
students engaged with
elementary school third
concepts that are linked to the
graders for many years, and its
Next Generation Science
popular curriculum continues to
Standards for California
serve students in the wake of
Schools. The program is
the COVID-19 Pandemic.
available to all Solano County students and is supported with
The primary goal of the
funding by several Countywide
Watershed Explorers Program
partners including Vallejo
is to aid students in developing
Flood and Wastewater
an awareness of the outdoor
District, the Vallejo Water
world by helping obtain,
Department, and the Vallejo
evaluate, and communicate
Public Works Recycling
information tied to a wide
Program.
range of water related topics and concerns. Specifically,
Teachers can click HERE to
students learn how drought
register for a class.
and runoff pollution influences living things in a watershed
For more information contact,
as well as how to describe
Allison Martin by email-
the path drinking water takes
education@solanorcd.org
from source to sink. Other
or by phone (707) 678-1655
educational topics include
ext.116
understanding drought 8
Volume 9 Issue 7
Watershed Explorers Program
• For Third Graders • Interactive Video Guides • Virtual Field Trips
The Watershed Explorers Program has been adapted for remote learning and continues to help third graders develop their powers of observation to better understand how drought and stormwater pollution impacts living things in a watershed. This NGSS-aligned program supports the social and emotional learning of students while also promoting watershed science as a foundation for Common Core instruction.
Program Activities 1.25 Hour Live Virtual Field Trips (includes breaks for movement and offline activities)
• • • •
Making Observations Exploring Phenology Nature Journaling Science Communication
Register Today: Contact: Allison Martin Email: education@solanorcd.org Phone: 707-678-1655 ext. 116
Virtual Water Lesson Watershed Explorers also receive a free 30 minute live, virtual lesson focused on Solano County Water.
Adapted for Virtual Learning Using • Live Streaming • Interactive Videos • FlipGrid Friendly Extension Topics
This program is available to Solano County students with generous support from our partners: Habitat Conservation Fund and Greater Vallejo Recreation District, Cities and County of Solano, Solano County Water Agency, City of Vallejo Water Conservation Program, Vallejo Flood and Wastewater District, Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District, Potrero Hills Landfill, and the CalRecycle City County Payment Program.
February 19, 2021
9
SOLANO BUSINESSES CAN ACCESS INTEREST-FREE MICROLOANS (UP TO $2,500) FOR ENERGY- SAVING UPGRADES
equipment, recommended contractors, or provide guidance on the application process. The qualifications are minimal and challenged credit is okay. Program Benefits:
As Solano County’s partner for BayREN energy programs, Solano
• Loans from $500-$2,500
EDC is excited to announce that
• 0% interest rate and flexible terms
Solano area businesses can apply for
Financing for all ENERGY STAR
interest-free microloans through the
certified products
nonprofit Mission Asset Fund (MAF).
• Quick online application process
Zero-percent interest loans of up to
• Opportunity to save on monthly
$2,500 are available for LED lights, air
utilities
purifiers, outdoor heaters, refrigerators, A.V. and many more ENERGY STAR
How to Apply: Interested businesses
rated appliances or equipment. Other
can submit an application online
energy saving measures may qualify
at missionassetfund.org/bayren
as well. The process can be conducted
or learn more by attending a free
online or done with the help of a MAF
webinar on February 23 at 10 am.
representative who can help each business find the right cost-saving 10
Volume 9 Issue 7
HOW DO YOU
REIMAGINE
YOUR PARK? GVRD wants
your ideas!
Online Community Meeting Children’s Wonderland, Richardson Park and Washington Park Join Us online Wednesday, February 24th at 6:30pm
We cannot do this without your help! GVRD is currently working with grant writers and devlopers with the vision to improve up to 6 of our parks. Being awarded one of these competitive grants could mean amazing changes to a park near you. Please visit the Reimagine Your Park page on the GVRD.org site to see proposed changes. RSVP for an online community meeting and take an online survey!
go to
GVRD.org
to participate
February 19, 2021
11
Vallejo W e e k 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.