The Vallejo Weekly - Volume 9 Issue 7

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

7

#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

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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

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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.