Gold Mine: May 2023

Plumbing Fixtures 4 Less offers supplies, renovation work

SUSAN HILAND SHILAND@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

Jack Douthit began his plumbing career in 1969 after getting out of the military.

“I needed a job,” he said.

So he went to work for a plumbing supply house for a few years, then he went to work with NorCal Plumbing for about five years. It was when he was working with Jim Plumbing that he was asked to join the plumber for some hands-on work. After that he

was hooked.

He opened his own business in 1983: Plumbing Fixtures 4 Less in Suisun City at Railroad Avenue. After about 15 years he decided to move his business to a large, 2,500-square-foot building on his property.

“It is basically a short jog to work,” he said.

Douthit works with his son, Johnny Douthit, doing odd renovating jobs here and there for customers.

He said the pandemic was surprisingly not a problem for his business.

“People were home working and they found that they had projects that they wanted done,” he said.

Douthit sells strictly plumbing supplies like water heaters, faucets and parts.

He said his prices are about 5 to 10% less than Home Depot’s prices.

“We aren’t a retail store nor a wholesale store, we are right in between,” Douthit said.

Anyone looking to find parts, pieces or have a small project – they might have what you are looking for.

COURTESY PHOTO

My name is Mary Felix and I’ve been passionate about senior care for eighteen years, and responsible for distinguishing

as the

with award winning

Solano-Napa Habitat for Humanity provides housing for low-income people

SUSAN HILAND SHILAND@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

Solano-Napa Habitat for Humanity has worked hard to give low-income families places to call home for nearly 33 years.

Since being established in 1991 as a way to address the shortage of affordable housing for low-income households in the area, Habitat has built 21 homes and refurbished 31.

Then, in 2002, it absorbed Napa’s Habitat for Humanity and became Solano-Napa Habitat for Humanity, according to executive director Andrew Killeen.

“We provide safe affordable house for low-income people,” he said.

Each Habitat is an affiliate of the larger Habitat for Humanity organization.

“So everything is relying on fundraising and donations,” Killeen said.

The pandemic put a wrench in the annual fundraiser, Habitat in the Vineyards, which was its biggest fundraiser in the fall.

“We went virtual for a couple of years, and then a hybrid-type of fundraising,” Killeen said.

Another popular fundraiser before the pandemic was the Swing Fore the Homes Golf Tournament.

“We have sponsors also who are a big help along with donors,” he said.

Fundraisers are planned for the coming year but they still need some final touches.

Solano-Napa Habitat for Humanity continued to follow the traditional Habitat model of building single-family homes from the ground up in partnership with local low-income families, so they could be sold to those families with affordable financing (most often a 0% interest, 30-year mortgage resulting in monthly payments of no more than 30% of the

household income).

“We sell the homes to the families and they pay it back in sweat equity and a with a mortgage,” Killeen said.

The financial crisis in 2008 and 2009 changed the model of building new homes to refurbishing homes.

“They had an abundance of inventory on the market, so Habitat also began applying its Partnership Housing model to repairing houses, so low-income homeowners could age in place, or so that vacant homes could be made available at an affordable price to low-income households,” he said.

At about the same time, SolanoNapa Habitat for Humanity also began exploring the opportunity to open a Habitat ReStore.

“ReStore resells gently used house items and building items,” Killeen said.

Donating items to a ReStore can be used as a tax deduction.

In collaboration with other nonprofit partners, Solano-Napa Habitat for Humanity has built two six-bedroom/three-bathroom houses in Dixon and Rio Vista, which have become safe, decent, affordable and permanent housing for 12 formerly homeless veterans.

They are waiting on the permits to start work building new homes at Woolner Avenue in Fairfield.

“We could still use some volunteers once that gets started,” Killeen said.

Habitat welcomes new volunteers to help build the homes. Donations in cash or materials is also accepted. To make a donation to ReStore, call 707863-0692.

To donate or volunteer on any of Habitat’s projects, visit www.solano napahabitat.org.

AMY MAGINNIS-HONEY/DAILY REPUBLIC FILE (2021)

Reggie Sironen, once a homeless veteran, helps with a garden from Sustainable Solano at the Habitat for Humanity veterans home in Rio Vista, May 1, 2021.

SEEDS

SPINACH

SPROUTS

TOMATO

VINEGAR

PUZZLES Crossword

ACROSS

1. Midway between south and southeast

4. Fathers

9. Wine grape

14. Al Bundy’s wife

15. Organic compound

16. Venezuelan state

17. Interest term

18. Experts

20. Central cores of stems

22. Smooth and glossy

23. One-time S. Korean city

24. One from Damascus

28. Short message at the end of an email

29. It cools your home

30. Oh, God!

31. Intestinal pouches

33. Men

37. Popular English soccer team (abbr.)

38. Former CIA

39. Arrange in steps

41. A baglike structure in a plant or animal

42. The Great Lake State

43. Dog-__: to mark a page

44. Stop moving

46. Ancient Dead Sea region

49. Of I

50. Clerical vestment

51. Songs sung to a lover

55. Charges

58. Popular design program manufacturer

59. Where to park a boat

60. One who values reason

64. Slang for cigarette

65. Sailboats

66. Actress Zellweger

67. Screen material

68. Country music legend Haggard

69. Puts together in time

70. When you hope to arrive

DOWN

1. An involuntary and abnormal muscular contraction

2. Philly’s rail service

3. Leaves a place

4. No longer be a part in

5. Guitar players use them

6. Cease to exist

7. General’s assistant (abbr.)

8. Shaking of the earth

9. Strong winds

10. For each one

11. A bog

12. The creation of beautiful or significant things

13. Affirmative

19. Pie _ __ mode

21. Nonclerical

24. Inspirational football player Hamlin

25. Learning environment

26. Khoikhoi peoples

27. Bring out or develop

31. Shows up

32. Theatrical device

34. Loads

35. Popular Hollywood alien

36. Distinguishes

40. College dorm worker

41. Secondary or explanatory title

45. Resembling wings

47. One who delivers a speech

48. In the middle

52. Loop with a running knot

53. Airborne (abbr.)

54. Beloveds

56. Ordain

57. Breed of small cattle

59. Very small period of time (abbr.)

60. Revolutions per minute

61. They __

62. Longtime ESPN anchor Bob

63. A place to stay

SOLUTION ON PAGE 15

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS ANSWERS

Each