Small Business Saturday kicks off holiday season A3
Giving thanks for football: A closer look at city teams B3
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dailyrepublic.com | Well said. Well read.
Hudson happy to return to council; calls for fiscal responsibility Amy Maginnis-Honey
amaginnis@dailyrepublic.net
SUISUN CITY — Who would occupy the second seat on the Suisun City City Council remained a mystery until the Solano County Registrar of Voters certified the Nov. 3 results on Tuesday. Alma Hernandez easily won one of the seats on election night. The second seat was decided hudson by just five votes as Mike Hudson returns to the council by edging out Thomas Alder. Hudson answered some questions via email after the certification. Q: Why do you think voters chose you? The voters chose me because they wanted accountability and transparency for the financial decisions made by the City Council, including Measure S accountability. This is also a response to a large increase in crime, the desire to keep the community safe. Q: What are your plans for working with a mostly female council? (Hudson will be the only male on the dais.) I will work with everyone on the City Council. Our success will be based on the ability to pull together, utilizing everyone’s gifts and talents to the fullest extent, and to rise above divisive politics to solve the city’s
many financial problems. I am looking forward to working with everyone on City Council. Q: What was it like waiting for the final results? That was a tough one. I had to put my pride in the back seat and relax while the Registrar of Voters finished their process. It was a little like riding a roller coaster! Q; What is the first thing you want to accomplish? I hope to add my voice to the call for fiscal accountability and community security. I hope to make a difference in strategies dealing with homelessness, how the city deals with trash, road maintenance, and to bring fresh ideas on how the city can expand services to citizens. I would like to see City Council become more effective at time management. Q: You will no longer be limited to three minutes during public comments. How will you use that extra time on the dais? I hope to bring better data analysis of actionable information to City Council for better policy decisions. My objective will be to make my words count, to acknowledge public concerns, raise unspoken issues and to push for more openness in city administration.
Travis physician deployed to UAE dies in ‘vehicle incident’ Daily Republic Staff drnews@dailyrepublic.net
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE — A physician assigned to the 60th Medical Group at David Grant U.S. Air Force Medical Center died in a vehicle incident not related to combat while deployed at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates. The Department of Defense announced Saturday the death of Capt. Kelliann Leli, who was supporting Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. Leli, 30, of Parlin, New Jersey, died Friday while deployed to Al Dhafra Air Base. The cause of the incident is under investigation. “Our entire Travis family is beyond heart-
broken over the tragic loss of our teammate, Kelliann,” said Col. Corey Simmons, 60th Air Mobility Wing commander. “We are thinking of and praying for all her loved ones during this unfathomable time.” Leli was assigned to the 60th Healthcare Operations Squadron at Travis Air Force Base. She arrived at Travis in June 2016. Leli was a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. She earned her commission in 2012 before continuing her medical program. She was assigned to the Family Medicine Clinic at David Grant Medical Center. This was Leli’s first deployment.
Robinson Kuntz/Daily Republic
Suisun Wildlife Center Executive Director Monique Liguori stands inside the center’s new Birds of Prey aviary.
Volunteers rebuild Birds of Prey home at Suisun Wildlife Center
More work remains as center recovers from fire Amy Maginnis-Honey amaginnis@dailyrepublic.net
SUISUN CITY — There was an uninvited – yet welcome guest the morning of Nov. 20 as the Suisun Wildlife Center showed off its rebuilt Birds of Prey aviary. Somehow, an American Kestrel had found its way into the building and entertained visitors with some fly-bys. “It’s completely rebuilt, much better than it was,” said Monique Liguori, the center’s executive director. On hand were the men who had volunteered their time and talents to rebuild the aviary after the windswept June fire that destroyed it. The blaze caused other damage
to the center, including the loss of animal life. It also destroyed nearby homes. Bob Southward and his brother, Mike Southward, were two of the volunteers. So were Jeff Collin and Chuck Moore, who were not able to attend the ceremony. Mike Southward said the volunteers would show up on weekends and often put in four hours a day. They started in mid-September and wrapped up early this month. He also had helped construct the education building at the center, among other things. “I like the location,” he said of helping out at the center. “I’ve lived here all my life.” “He’s good people,” Liguori said. It was a labor of love for
Bob Southward, who grew up in Fairfield. He was saddened by the destruction and was amazed to learn the center has 17 acres it calls home. Bob Southward tackled the job of trimming the fennel, which smells similar to black licorice. “It’s a wonderful day,” Liguori told the volunteers, adding there was no way she could thank them enough for their work. Lowe’s also made a generous donation, she said. It was critical to get the Birds of Prey aviary built as those birds arrive at the center all year. It was James Hinchman’s first time volunteering at the center. See Wildlife, Page A9
Women compile history of NorthBay Hospice and Bereavement program Amy Maginnis-Honey
amaginnis@dailyrepublic.net
Aaron Rosenblatt/Daily Republic
From left, Gloria Queen, Jennifer Flam and Lynn Gallagher are compiling a 33-year-history of the NorthBay Hospice and Bereavement department.
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FAIRFIELD — Three women volunteered their time to put together the 33-year history of NorthBay Healthcare’s Hospice and Bereavement program. The result is six binders full of stories, photos, tender moments and more. It’s the story of the community-birthed program that continues to grow every year, and learning to adapt in the age of the novel coronavirus.
Lynn Gallagher joined Hospice and Bereavement in the beginning and was a member of its first class of volunteer graduates. She, Gloria Queen and Deb Daniels launched the project in 2012. “We didn’t know how this would evolve,” Gallagher said. It started with FYIs, an in-house newsletter. Queen went through those and made copies of different things. See History, Page A9
covid-19 pandemic
Hospitalizations worsen in state, raising new alarms Tribune Content Agency LOS ANGELES — The number of people hospitalized with coronavirus infections in California has doubled in just the last two weeks and is rapidly headed to breaking past its summertime high, according to a Times analysis. The surge in hospitalizations came as California surpassed another bleak milestone: More than 19,000 deaths related to Covid-
19, according to The Los Angeles Times’ independent county-bycounty tally. There were nearly 6,650 people with coronavirus infections in California’s hospitals as of Thursday, double the number that existed on Nov. 11, when 3,300 people were hospitalized. Thursday’s hospitalization numbers were 93% of the peak of Covid-19 See Alarms, Page A9