Trustees hear update for monitoring health of students, staff
Bulldogs look to continue MEL dominance A7
Protocols in place as in-person instruction for all resumes in Fairfield-Suisun district Susan Hiland
shiland@dailyrepublic.net
FAIRFIELD — Trustees who govern the public schools in Fairfield and Suisun City got a final update Thursday on safety and other measures related to the pandemic as campuses prepare to reopen. Superintendent Kris Corey went over new and updated policies for handling the health of students and staff. The Fairfield-Suisun School District will adhere to the most recent guidance from the California Department of Public Health. That guidance includes requirements related to wearing masks, maintaining physical distancing, ventilation, hygiene practices, cleaning, food services and school visitors. Masks are optional outside but must be worn indoors. This includes adults and students. People exempted from wearing a face-covering due to a medical condition must wear a non-restrictive alternative, such as a face shield with a drape on the bottom edge, as long as their condition permits them to do so. If a child or teen fails to bring a mask to school,
dailyrepublic.com | sunday | August 15, 2021 | $1.50
Giveaways help get children ready for school Susan Hiland
shiland@dailyrepublic.net
FAIRFIELD — The start of the school year is always a little stressful. This year is no exception, but parents got some help from two sources this weekend at the Fairfield-Suisun School District School Resource Fair at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church and the Mount Calvary Church Baptist Backpack Giveaway. B e r n a r d o Rameriz, 6, of Fairfield, is heading to his first year of
Aaron Rosenblatt/Daily Republic
Virginia Holsworth leads Boy Scouts Troop 482 on a tour of beaver habitats along Laurel Creek, Wednesday.
Scouts clean stretch of Laurel Creek,
See School, Page A10 one will be provided. Recent evidence indicates that in-person instruction can occur safely without minimum physical distancing requirements when
learn about beaver habitat
Todd R. Hansen
See Health, Page A10
‘It’s amazing. I really like beavers and otters.’
thansen@dailyrepublic.net
FAIRFIELD — Dusk had settled onto Laurel Creek when the excitement level rose among the nine members of Scouts BSA Troop 482 who on Wednesday had walked and cleaned up a mile or so of the stream’s banks. Popping a head out of the dark, breeze-rippled water, not far from its lodge, a beaver could be seen. Moments earlier, a pair of whiskered river otters were spotted in the creek as well. The appearance of the two aquatic mammals was the climax to the tour the scouts were guided on by Virginia Holsworth, who has made protecting the beavers and their self-constructed habitat on the creek one of her life’s missions. Her Facebook page has more
Transfer of Mare Island cemetery to VA begins one answer. “There’s probably a patriotic, a historical MARE ISLAND — and a practical, fiscal, Transfer of the Mare answer to that,” he said. Island Naval Ceme- “It’s incredibly importery in Vallejo to the tant with regard to Department of Veterans preserving and mainAffairs has begun. taining the site as a true The move, announced national monument.” this week, Describing comes after the oldest naval more than three cemetery on the years of politiWest Coast as cal wrangling. “a phenomenal Rep. Mike piece of property Thompson, D-St. that recognizes Helena and the sacrifices Vallejo’s repof many Amerresentative in icans,” where Congress, who thompson three Medal of was instrumental Honor recipients and in seeing the process “the family of (U.S. through, said he’s cele- national anthem writer) brating it as a victory. Frances Scott Key” are “Mission accom- buried, Thompson said plished,” the represen- it’s “a huge feather in the tative of California’s 5th hat of Vallejo to have this Congressional District incredible treasure in said in a phone inter- our backyard.” view Friday. When asked The Mare Island what this turn of events Naval Cemetery’s will mean to Vallejo and current saga began the surrounding area, he See Island, Page A10 said there is more than
Rachel Raskin-Zrihen
special to the daily republic
— Taran Flowers, 11, the newest member of Scouts BSA Troop 482
than 200 followers, and she maintains a website to provide information about Laurel Creek and other waterways in which beavers make their homes in the Fairfield area. “It’s amazing. I really like beavers and otters,” said Taran Flowers, 11, the newest member of the troop, which is trying to rebuild after the Covid-19 pandemic prevented them from meeting in person and participating in their usual group activities. Flowers sketched many of the dam sites along the creek. Art is
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Todd R. Hansen
thansen@dailyrepublic.net
FAIRFIELD — The City Council will conduct a public hearing Tuesday on redistricting the six council representative district boundaries during a meeting that also includes consideration of joining a joint powers authority to convert the Waterscape Apartments for moderate-income housing. an Additionally,
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Redraw of council district boundaries on City Council’s meeting menu ordinance will be introduced and a public hearing conducted to “prohibit spectators at illegal speed contests, exhibitions of speed or sideshows.” The council is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. in the chamber at City Hall, 1000 Webster St. The public session follows a closed session at 5 p.m. during which the council will be updated on labor negotiations.
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The Waterscape Apartments are located at 3001 N. Texas St. The city has been approached by the Community Improvement Authority of the California Statewide Communities Development Authority about joining a joint powers authority and “to enter into a public benefit agreement for the issuance of bonds associated with acquiring Water-
scape Apartments for the provision of moderate-income housing,” the staff report to the council states. The Series A bond is proposed for $77.55 million, and a Series B bond is proposed for $3 million to cover acquisition, transaction and developer fees for the project, the staff report states. The project concept See District, Page A10
WEATHER 100 | 65 Patchy smoke. Five-day forecast on B12.
INDEX Classifieds B7 | Columns B4 | Comics B11 | Crossword A8 | Diversions B1 | Living A11 Military B5 | Obituaries A4 | Opinion B3 | Religion B10 | Sports A10 | TV Daily B6
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just one of his many interests. Ultimately, he would like to be a baker. Steve deRosier, one of the adult troop leaders who came along on the tour, said the pandemic has been tough on scouting all over Fairfield and the county, and everywhere else for that matter, but it is beginning to build back up. “One of the notable things about (Flowers) being the newest (troop member) is since January we have picked up four new members. Covid has obliterated the scouting troops,” deRosier said. He said Troop 482, now 25 members strong, conducted Zoom meetings, missing only one, and “at least we were able to give them some activities.” It was his son, Trevor, 15, the senior patrol leader, who organized
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