Good job and good publicity for the upcoming Betty White fundraiser for HSNB in today’s Vallejo Times-Herald. Nice to get our picture in the paper from last year’s dinner.
Local Paper Story on Upcoming Shelter Fundraiser
Category Archives: Activism
Q1 Glen Cove Community Association Newsletter
For our neighborhood quarterly newsletter, I write the President’s Letter article these days. This quarter I actually wrote a few articles in this issue about what the GCCA volunteer Board does for our neighborhood. I’m proud of how professional our team delivers this online periodical each time. Check out the dynamic slide-show version of our newsletter here!
Below is the PDF version which is less interactive. For years of archives, check out the GCCA newsletter archive.
Xmas Light Holiday Winners in Glen Cove
This morning my colleague at Glen Cove Community Association, Nancy, and I gave out prizes to the top three Christmas Light contest winners in our neighborhood of Vallejo. I was not one of the judges, but had the honor of handing out the prizes as President of GCCA. It turns out Shando and I knew Andy and Carlton who won the first prize, nominated by their development representative Dina (who joined us for the photo). Only at the 11th hour did Shando and I even realize we knew the first prize winners. Such a small world. They moved into their home a few weeks before we did in 2020. All the prize winners were wonderful and warm. We thank them for their spirit and spending a few minutes with us on Christmas Eve.
Vallejo Grand Victorian Homes Tour 2023
For the first time, Shando and I attended the Grand Victorian Homes Tour, although there are some exceptions to that specific style among the fabulous houses and structures on the tour. The Naval Chapel on Mare Island was one of them, and there were a few mixtures of Craftsman and Mid-Century Modern which were very appropriately included. It was great hanging out with friends who had a similar interest and who were willing to walk the downtown area to see more than a half-dozen of the homes participating. We ended up at the wine tasting place on Mare Island where the last two structures were located. Regrettably, due to it being so close to the winter solstice, it got dark after the first few hours, so we did not take in the full view of many of the homes, but knowing the city better now, I can imagine what some of the views would be on a regular basis, including the amazing sunsets from many vantage points. As with the Garden Tour that happens each May, I loved getting decorating ideas and talking about utilitarian things with other geeks of that nature.
I’m also glad that the funds for this event go to a good cause, and furthering cultural awareness in Vallejo.
Here are some of the details that we loved. In the mid-century modern house, there was an Audrey Hepburn room and a Marilyn Monroe room with their own xmas trees. The Audrey one has her costume for Breakfast at Tiffany’s if you look closely.:
Repurposing Community Board Stand
Our Glen Cove Community Association installed this lovely community board up by the shopping center that one sees as one enters our neighborhood. The intention is to keep the public aware of our goings-on. The first sign that was shipped to us was damaged on top, so GCCA brought me the old stand. They figured that since I had offered to save on storage costs for the organization by using space in my garage, I’d take this extra piece as well. Using my garage as storage also saves me time when we get the microphone equipment ready for the community meetings. So instead of putting this weather-friendly post outside, I found a place to repurpose it IMMEDIATELY, and I love the results. This makes for a very stable plant holder!
Glen Cove Community Association Holiday Party
Here in Vallejo, there’s a fabulous restaurant called Provisions that we rented out for our holiday party. Many of our current Board members/development representatives were able to attend with their plus ones.
Most of us who attended are featured in these pictures, but after two attendees left I remembered to start taking pictures.
Union City Call to Action for Tobacco Retail License in
I’m returning to my old stomping grounds on Tuesday, December 12, to speak about a timely Tobacco Retail License update for that city. My alma mater, James Logan High School is there (the only high school in town still), so many formidable years of my life were shaped by Union City, where I also lived.
Cumulatively I also lived in the adjacent cities of Hayward and Fremont for decades. The goal is to thwart Big Tobacco from continuing to sell poison to youth illegally.
Even if one child is spared the addiction of nicotine addiction for his or her life, this journey to the East Bay will be worthwhile.
Unless one’s looking for it, one cannot imagine what branding is being used to market to kids, becoming environmental waste clogging our waterways, manufactured with cheap metals, plastics, battery acid, and other toxic, carcinogenic, leaking substances, including containers that will take thousands of years to decompose. Even if one child is spared the addiction of nicotine addiction for his or her life, this journey to the East Bay will be worthwhile.
2023 Photos with Santa Part 2
Thanks to the volunteers who helped out and donated their time, including my husband, Shando. He brought Snoopy and Peaches in the morning.
This video also gives some perspective of the fabulous space we were graciously permitted to use for our event, Tony’s Cakes is going to move to 418 Georgia Street, Vallejo from their current location on Springs Road. This is all of course for the benefit of HSNB.
I’m grateful that every year we have at least one family bring cats for HSNB’s Photos with Santa. This year was no exception. Santa was absolutely fawning over this kitten and another cat that this family brought.
Santa almost made Mrs. Claus jealous when he danced with his neighbor. Uh oh! Drama!
I stole this idea from Mrs. Claus and Trundy, but the Santas gave me a chance to do a cute ELF MOMENT with my husband.
Vallejo Mayor Robert McConnell, adorned in his Madhatter Parade garb, joined the Santas for some photos.
This is a group of photos with some of the kids and families I photographed myself. Some of these kids start as super shy, so we try to bring them casually up to the Santas to meet them, offering to allow them to remain with their parents if they prefer. Meanwhile, other kids run over and immediately reach out to hug the Santas, which just “sleighs” me. I have so many good memories from these events. I just wished I could capture more of these moments, but we were very busy on a good day to raise funds for homeless cats and dogs in our area.
Here are some of the other precious dog pictures from yesterday with the Santas for HSNB in Vallejo. The grey Pit, Misty, was adopted from HSNB when she was 4 months old. She’s now 11!
Bonded Pair Foster
These are two dogs that we’re fostering (bonded father and son) who will be available for adoption in January. One of them has cherry eyes and needs surgery, so that’s scheduled to be done. They are 6 and 3 years old, Peanut and Zorro. Peanut has tan spots and Zorro looks to be Pomeranian, which I assume comes more from his mother.
Front Page Fundraising Article
Brenda, Tom, and I are quoted in the article on the front page of the Vallejo Times Herald for the Photos with Santa event yesterday. Precious baby Rowan on the cover (with the pumpkin hat) is the child of a wonderful female couple who are both trained as vet techs and have a grown child. I told them about how I’m a gay dad myself. The article content is below with appropriate credits for photos and story:
Three-month-old Rowan takes a snooze as she gets her picture taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus in downtown Vallejo during a Humane Society fundraiser on Saturday. Santa will return for a second visit on Dec. 2. (Chris Riley/Times-Herald)
By Thomas Gase | tgase@timesheraldonline.com | Vallejo Times Herald November 25, 2023 at 3:18 p.m.
Just two days past Thanksgiving, Saturday was officially the time to get that picture with Santa and break out that list: A new toy truck, doll, video game, book …Or a new pet, suggests the Humane Society.
Downtown Vallejo and Tony’s Cakes was the site for the annual Humane Society of the North Bay photos with Santa event, a major fundraiser for the organization to help spread awareness while also adding holiday cheer.
Vallejoan Olivia Lizotte showed up to have her picture taken as a walk-in appointment.
“It’s a nice event and it’s important to have our picture taken but it’s also important for the Humane Society, which I hear needs some help,” Lizotte said. “So it feels good to help out.”
Sarah Rojas was there with 4-year-old a clearly delighted Angelica Martinez, who was constantly jumping up and down with a huge grin after getting her picture taken.
The organization was asking for a suggested $25 donation for any pictures. Board president Brenda Mooney said that the group made approximately $800 last year in donations.
“I love being able to come her and see the folks of the community,” Mooney said. “We had nine reservations but much more drop-ins. It’s nice that Tony’s Cakes is allowing us to use their space and we have a ton of volunteers helping out. It’s a fun event and it all goes to benefit the animals and the shelter. We also have some books available at the tent that tell people about the animals we have ready for adoption.”
Mooney said that there are approximately 25 cats, 20 small dogs and 40 large dogs ready to be adopted.
While the organization has its share of walk-ins, treasurer Joseph A. Hayden said the event also has its regulars. “There was someone here at 9 a.m. this morning that said they had their picture taken on the cover of a Times-Herald newspaper last year, so they wanted to come again,” Hayden said. Hayden said that some people stop by and want to have their picture taken, but aren’t sure how their pet will respond to Santa.
A dog named Cow nervously sits with Santa and Mrs. Claus to get their picture taken as part of a fundraiser for the Humane Society of the North Bay on Saturday in downtown Vallejo. (Chris Riley/Times-Herald)
“All we ask them is to please try,” Hayden said. “There was one dog that did not want to come inside and they were afraid. But we came out to them and then the dog went right to Santa.”
Thomas Bilbo, who is playing Santa in Vallejo once again, said it’s important for the staff to serve the needs of the pets visiting —not the other way around.
“We go to them. There was one dog that wouldn’t come inside,” Bilbo said. “But we went out to the street. We go to where the dog is mentally and physically. Some dogs get scared and it’s important to realize that pets are important creatures that also have feelings and fears.”
Bilbo — who has six cats with his partner — has been dressing up as Santa since 1995, and for this event since 2015.
“I did it first in Mississippi, then San Francisco, and now Vallejo,” Bilbo said. “I have 16 gigs this year, and it’s all for charity. It helps organizations with their money. If I’m out there raising awareness for their [sic] organization if they need help, then that makes me feel great.
“But the best part of the day for me is seeing all the kids and parents enjoying the day,” Bilbo said. “That and the camaraderie that goes on between the staff. We’ve been working with each other for years, not only at this event but also at the Mad Hatter Parade. We all get into the Christmas spirit.”
The Humane Society will continue the pictures with pets and Santa next Saturday — once again at Tony’s Cakes, located at 418 Georgia St. Pictures are available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.