I’ve been doing activism against Big Tobacco for years as a volunteer. This week I got my official title as a Co-Chair of Tobacco Free Solano (TFS), a program of Vibe Solano (the Solano County Department of Health). It’s a two-year volunteer term. The picture below is a little gift package they sent which is very sweet. Little do they know I have no intention of watching the Super Bowl, but instead will be going to a play for Black History Month in Pinole, which was directed by my friend.
Attending a taco mixer with residents and various other businesses in the area at The Lodge, where we had our Vallejo Chamber of Commerce event a few months ago. I wore my hat as President of GCCA and went with one of my neighbors and HSNB volunteers, Carlene, to also represent the Humane Society of the North Bay. It was wonderful connecting with and hearing from staff and a few residents who joined us.
My councilperson Mina Loera-Diaz had this great town hall about the thefts downtown. I’m in the audience and was concerned not only for my city, but also specifically for the break-ins and thefts we’ve suffered at the Humane Society of the North Bay. Many of you know I’m on the Board and currently the Board Secretary. We’re working on getting much better cameras and lights, but we have been victims of people violating the space where we’re just trying to find homes for animals in our community. Here is the video link:
Went with fellow Humane Society of the North Bay volunteers Carlene Coury and Linda Overton. Linda is also on the Board with me. We got to see a lot of people we knew and schmooze with many of the Solano County movers and shakers.
The Benicia Chamber of Commerce, which HSNB has been a member of for 27 years, hosted the event in an amazing space called the Benicia Clock Tower. There are a bunch of art galleries in the area which appears to have been an old military complex and still serves as a shipping yard for big ships that deliver freight, including private automobiles, with its port at the mouth of the Sacramento Delta at the beginning of the Carquinez Strait.
My friend, neighbor and fellow activist Miguel Castillo joined me at this town hall. While I voted “No” for the regressive nature of this measure, it did win. I will always support spending money in my city and otherwise spending locally, but when I voted for it, I had no assurance of its proportion, planning, prioritization or accountability. This meeting addressed some of that, and I know my councilperson Mina Loera-Diaz wants the same transparency I do about the estimated extra $18M in revenue that the City of Vallejo is likely to get as a result of this measure’s passage.
Friday we had a staff holiday party for those who work at the Humane Society of the North Bay. I got to hold one of the shelter’s recent successful adoptees. She was surrendered to us with parvo, a life-threatening disease that often kills puppies, but thank goodness she survived the treatment the shelter provided for her. Shando and I donate a lot of our time to this great organization that helps the homeless cats and dogs in our area. Please consider supporting them with a donation at www.HSNB.org/donate
As President of the Glen Cove Community Association, I was happy to participate in a gift to Bob and Linda Taylor for their extraordinary contribution to the joy of our area. This may be the last year that they do the spectacle, which can be seen as a beacon of light from the nearby freeway.
GCCA is happy to contribute toward what must be an astronomical electric bill. Many know the story that this display began as a tribute to Bob’s daughter, who died in a plane accident years ago. She was a big fan of the holiday and decorations.
While we lived here last year, I regret I was too exhausted from the Photos with Santa in 2021 to participate. This year both Shando and I participated. We were highly impressed with the whole shebang. We intend to be even better prepared next year when there will hopefully not be as much rain. I’m glad we all muddled through though!
In a very poignant gesture, Santa Tom Bilbo put a big pink “Q” at the back of the float, which represented our solidarity with our brothers and sisters who were targeted for being LGBTQ (as all of this float’s participants were in that category or an ally). It is also a symbol against gun violence and assault weapons being available for civilians, to paraphrase Tom when being interviewed for Vallejo Times Herald.
Another day of Photos with Santa at the Vallejo Farmer’s Market benefitting the Humane Society of the North Bay.
