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DAILYREPUBLIC.COM | Well said. Well read.
Joe Biden taps into Democrats’ abortion fury with midterm wipeout looming Bloomberg News
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Lifelong friends Tori Fowler, JoAnn Junes, Joni Hazen, June Peabody, Shannon Bechtel and Rosalie Sarretti from Vacaville came out for the 11th Annual Mother’s Day Artisan Fair in Suisun City, Sunday.
Moms take spotlight during Artisan Fair in Suisun City Susan Hiland
SHILAND@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET
SUISUN CITY — Moms got a full day of honors Sunday with brunch, shopping and some mimosas in downtown Suisun. The Flanigan family of Suisun City came out for a brunch and some shopping for Mom, Cherisse. “This is the first friendly outdoor activity we have done since Covid,” she said. It also was a first for daughter Colleen, who is only 15 months old and came to the downtown with her parents for her first trip to the marina. “I think we are just going to hang out here for Mother’s Day,” said Dad, Chris Flanigan. Organizers said they were expecting between 3,000 and 5,000 people Sunday for the 11th annual Mother’s Day Artisan Fair, Laura Cole-Rowe, president of the Suisun City Historic Waterfront Business District, said. Cole-Rowe helped process payments for the champagne
Susan Hiland/Daily Republic
The 11th Annual Mother’s Day Artisan Fair catered to thousands of visitors at the marina in downtown Suisun City, Sunday. and mimosas that were served in a commemorative Mother’s Day glass. “This is a great event because it gives people a chance to visit the restaurants and see the waterfront,” she said. “We haven’t had this event since 2019 so it is really great to have it again.” Cole-Rowe said there were 70 vendors this year. Organizer Brenda Moss planned the return of the Artisan
Fair for months and said she was happy to see so many people come out and enjoy the day. “It is one attraction families can get inspired by and enjoy the restaurants,” she said. “Everyone is just so happy to be out again. Families and everyone get to interact with each other without masks.” Former Suisun City Councilman Mike Segala couldn’t stay away. “Now the waterfront is becoming the place to go for dining,” he said. “The Maple Bar is the newest place and it is very unique.” Tori Fowler and a group of friends came out with their moms for the day. “We have known each other since high school back in 1983. Our moms became friends and we all stayed friends,” Fowler said. “Years ago we decided to do Mother’s Day together.” Visitors got to enjoy the sounds of live music with Kyle F. Turner and hear Zak Fennie, an indie/ alternative singer-songwriter based out of Napa Valley.
WASHINGTON — White House officials are seizing the political opportunity in Democrats’ doomsday scenario, the end of nationwide abortion rights, to try to salvage a midterm election thought to be all but lost for President Joe Biden’s party. An expected Supreme Court decision overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade decision next month will give Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris the chance to convince abortion rights supporters that voting is the best
way to channel their frustration, one Biden adviser said. It’s a message the White House believes will resonate with suburban women, minorities and young voters, whose support could be key to staving off a loss of Democrats’ House and Senate majorities, the adviser said. The person asked not to be identified discussing internal strategy. Harris, the highestranking woman to ever hold federal elected office, demonstrated in a fiery, nine-minute speech last week how Democrats See Fury, Page A8
Jill Biden, Trudeau make visit to Ukraine Los Angeles Times KYIV, Ukraine — As air-raid sirens wailed repeatedly Sunday in the capital, Kyiv, and in cities and towns across Ukraine, U.S. first lady Jill Biden made a foray into the embattled country, meeting her Ukrainian counterpart near the Slovakian border. The day also saw another high-profile Western visit from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who traveled to a suburban town outside Kyiv where evidence has emerged of gruesome atrocities committed by Russian troops during a monthlong occupation. And U.S. diplomats returned
to Kyiv for the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine in late February, with the U.S. Embassy tweeting a photo of acting Ambassador Kristina Kvien’s arrival. Meanwhile, rescuers in an eastern Ukrainian village dug through the rubble of a bombarded schoolturned-shelter where up to 60 people were missing and feared dead, according to Ukrainian officials. If confirmed, the death toll would be the worst known in a single strike since Russian missiles last month slammed into a train station in the eastern city of Kramatorsk. As fighting raged in See Ukraine, Page A8
Dixon May Fair officials pay tribute to legendary volunteer Donnie Huffman has cancer K athy K eatley Garvey DIXON — Legendary volunteer Donnie Huffman of Vacaville, founding president of the Friends of the Dixon May Fair, drew applause, appreciation and tears Thursday when fair officials and fellow members of the friends group honored him with the unveiling of the “Friends Plaza” banner. Huffman, 82, who has terminal cancer, rose from his wheelchair and thanked everyone for their support. “I loved every minute of it,” he said. The banner, soon to be a bronze plaque, includes an image of Huffman taken by his son Don Jr. The text reads: “Dedicated to the hundreds of local volunteers supporting agriculture programs for the youth of Solano County. Friends of Dixon May Fair Since 2000.” It lists 19 names, topped with Donnie and his wife, Tootie. The couple celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary April 16.
The newly named Friends Plaza fronts the Leber Stage. Patricia Conklin, CEO of the Dixon May Fair, thanked Huffman and the friends group for all their work in making the fair what it is today. A toast followed the ceremony, and then the gates of the 145th annual fair opened to the public. The Friends of the Dixon May Fair, an all-volunteer organization and the fundraising arm of the Dixon May Fair, raises money by selling beverages. They use the proceeds for building and grounds improvements, exhibitor awards (including belt buckles and trophies), and college scholarships. Since 2000, the friends group since 2000 has awarded more than $230,000 to Solano County students majoring in an ag-related field in a California college or university. The friends group’s buildings and grounds improvements at the fair, valued in the millions, include building the RV park, the Pig Pavilion, the Wine Pavilion and the Friends Plaza. Their funds paved the Midway and numerous other projects. Huffman’s roots with fairs run deep and span three decades of
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service. He earlier served as president/founder of the Friends of the Solano County Fair, established in 1993. A tireless supporter of agriculture, and of youth groups, including 4-H, FFA and the Grange, Huffman also served as a Vacaville 4-H leader, lending his expertise on hogs and other projects. The Solano County 4-H Program honored him with its “Friend of 4-H” award. Huffman served 11 years (200313) as emcee of the popular Dixon May Fair Hog-Calling Contest, in which contestants aimed to get their hog into “four-squeal drive” or “hamward bound.” The event drew national attention. Among those present at the Dixon May Fair ceremony were his wife, Tootie; daughter Shelli Huffman Vasquez of Vacaville and son Don Huffman Jr. of Napa; sister Sharon Hulse of Fairfield; granddaughters Kristy Vazquez and Sarah Lincoln; and great-grandchildren Hunter Lincoln, 7, and Kensley Lincoln, 3. After the ceremony, Donnie Huffman presented his decorated Friends of the Fair badge and credentials to Hunter.
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See Tribute, Page A8
Kathy Keatley Garvey/Courtesy photo
Donnie Huffman, founding president of Friends of the Dixon May Fair, sits by the newly unveiled banner at the Friends’ Plaza by the Leber Stage, Thursday.
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