Solano County Business Journal

Journal

Wooden Valley embodies Solano’s wine image:

PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE

PLUS 36 Oaks Country Retreat is nestled in Vacaville’s rolling hills

Board & Brush Creative Studio lets people get crafty

Cordelia Junction Antique and Collective Mall to close soon

WELCOME TO THE BUSINESS JOURNAL

Hello, and welcome to the 2023 Solano County Business Journal. In these pages, we hope to familiarize Daily Republic readers with all the wonderful local businesses and entrepreneurs who make the local community so exciting.

Solano County’s story is one of hard-working people improving their own lives and their neighbors’ and making the California dream come true by uplifting each other. Here we offer stories of merchants and businesspeople who have worked themselves into the fabric of their communities and enriched the entire region. Da ily Republic staff writers have scoured the Solano landscape and found a rich diversity of businesses driving the local economy forward. From a family of winemakers working the land for generations to the newest entrepreneurs creating innovative ways to engage customers, Solano’s hardworking business community has created the building block of prosperity all around us.

We here at the Daily Republic see ourselves as part of that tapestry as well. Beyond our journalistic mission, we’re also one more Solano business, tied together with the rest of the community in commercial enterprise, and our employees are your neighbors and customers. By bringing you these

stories, we hope to strengthen all those bonds that connect us to each other on a day-to-day basis. When we go to those unique spots that only locals know, it goes beyond mere buying and selling and turns into neighbor helping neighbor.

Here you will find stories about people who create things (wine, olive oil, furniture), people who help get you over the stresses of a hard day and people who pamper you (and your pets). You’ll find bankers, real estate agents, educators and crafts specialists. You’ll find people rooted in the land and traditions of the past, and you’ll find people pushing the envelope into the future. You’ll find, in short, a slice of the wide variety of what the Solano County business scene can offer the wider community it serves. And we’re just scratching the surface at this point; there are many more stories out there.

We do hope you enjoy this Business Journal, and future versions of it, too. In a world where bad news can push its way to the forefront all too often, we’re proud to offer stories of your neighbors who contribute positively to their communities. So, sit back, and learn a bit about the folks who are working hard for you, and all the products and services they offer. We truly hope it will be enlightening.

Sebastian Oñate

Publishers: Foy S. McNaughton and T. Burt McNaughton

Editor: Sebastian Oñate

Advertising Director: Louis Codone

Special Project Manager: Nancy Meadows

Distribution: Bob Franks

Contributing Writers: Aaron Geerts, Todd R. Hansen, Susan Hiland

Photo Editor: Robinson Kuntz

Advantages of Senior Living

Growing older doesn’t mean closing the book on adventures. At Rockville Terrace, we offer ample amenities to ensure your loved one’s needs are always met. Our amenities include a luxury dining experience, extensive library room, theater room, daily activities, full-service salon and spa, and much more.

Services:

WOODEN VALLEY EMBODIES SOLANO’S WINE IMAGE: PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE

Richard “Chick” Lanza is seen in one of Wooden Valley Winery’s oldest vineyards in Suisun Valley. The vineyard’s gamay vines were planted in 1982, the same year that the Suisun Valley appellation was established.

DAILY REPUBLIC STAFF

Chick Lanza would drive the family’s label-yellow, 1954 metal paneled Ford van on to the flightline at Travis Air Force Base, careful never to get closer than 50 feet to the plane waiting for his cargo of 288 1-gallon jugs of wine. The loadmaster took over from there.

Lanza remembers the wine would go to Tinker Air Force Base in Del City, Oklahoma, and to Hawaii and many other locations.

“A lot of it went to the servicemen,” Lanza said.

He also delivered to Oakland and other Bay Area cities, and went as far as Red Bluff to a Basque sheep ranch – the name

ROBINSON KUNTZ/DAILY REPUBLIC

lost to time.

“I’d have a regular route ... just like a milkman,” said Lanza, 83, sitting in on a recent interview with his son, Ron, the second oldest of four sons who now run Wooden Valley Winery.

Ron Lanza handles the business and marketing side of the operation.

The oldest of the brothers, who is called Rick, but who is named after their great-grandfather Mario, is the winemaker. Ryan Lanza, Ron’s son, has just joined the winemaking staff and marks the fourth generation to work under the Lanza Family label.

Actually, many of the brothers’ 12 children – seven boys and five girls – have spent work time in the vineyards and winery.

Larry and Ken run the vineyards, and Ken Lanza also adds craftsman skills to the operation; he made the chandeliers that hang in the main tasting room.

The winery is located at 4756 Suisun Valley Road.

Chick’s boys started working at the winery when they were 7 or 8 years old, maybe even a tad younger. Back then, the wine was bottled by hand, which meant the bottles also were washed by hand.

“So it was instilled in us,” Ron Lanza said. “And we all have the same goal.”

This is the 90th anniversary of the Suisun Valley operation, which dates back to 1933 and the end of Prohibition, and brothers Salvadore and Manuel Brea.

Mario Lanza, Richard “Chick”

Wooden Valley Winery’s Ron Lanza is seen in front of a photograph of a Lanza family gathering, which took place around 1950, inside Mario’s Room at Wooden Valley Winery.

ROBINSON KUNTZ/ DAILY REPUBLIC

Lanza’s father, was friends with the Breas. He bought into the company in 1944, and became sole owner in 1955.

Mario’s Room is a new feature at Wooden Valley, a tasting room for small, private events. It exudes the history of the oldest operating winery in the county.

“As you look around the room, you’ll see remnants of yesteryear ...” a wall sign reads. Next to it are other poster-styled signs with photos and more history.

An intricate, gold-colored cash register sits on a side table, part of the barter a local man used to pay off a wine tab.

“The hooks on the walls held steam lines attached to the boiler in the back of the building – the pitting in the floor is from years of wine spillage that would eventually erode the concrete.”

“This is Mario’s domain.”

Ron Lanza was going to grind out the pittings, but decided to leave the history in place. As a boy, he remembers the room filled with barrels.

It was also the room where the local Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agent would sit and complete the tax stamps. Every winery in the state was required to provide the agents

a space to work.

In the next year or two, the family will build a new processing facility in the back of the winery.

FROM MARSALA TO EXIT FORTY ONE

Ron Lanza said the wines being produced by his family’s winery are better than ever –and have to be to compete with the newer wineries in the valley and the wine-producing industry in general.

It’s a leap, taken in measured smaller steps for the past seven decades, from simply producing Marsala – a Sicilian-rooted fortified wine like port, which Wooden Valley offers, and sherry, Madeira and Commandaria – to a 20-wine cellar of choices that includes the Wooden Valley’s own signature petite sirah: The varietal that many believe is becoming the signature wine of Suisun Valley.

“Exit Forty One isn’t just any red wine; it’s a feeling that can transcend beyond the name, place, or experience. It’s the lifestyle and culture of adventure ... it’s Suisun Valley’s essence in a bottle,” the winery states on a dedicated page on its website. It is one of two petite sirah choices made by the family.

Exit 41 drops visitors off of Interstate 80 into Suisun Valley.

Oro, another red wine, is a premier vin de table that also has risen to the top of the winery’s most wanted list.

Chick Lanza said it was not until the 1970s that the family offered much more than the simplified labels of red and white wines. He also noted that at the beginning, the winery purchased its grapes, much of them from Green Valley growers, but vineyards also had appeared alongside the fruit and nut trees of Suisun Valley.

There were growers such as Ben Volkhardt, Lorenza “Lorie” Cravea, Roy Mason and Claus Mangels, among others.

“We had a lot of fruit in those days; we didn’t have a lot of grapes,” Lanza said.

Now Wooden Valley grows 15 varieties of grapes on about 400 acres.

And while the bedrock winery of Suisun

Customers sit inside the main tasting room at Wooden Valley Winery in Fairfield

AARON ROSENBLATT/ DAILY REPUBLIC

Valley and the Solano County’s emerging winemaking industry has been overshadowed, to a degree, by the Caymus-Suisun brand in recent years, Wooden Valley remains the linchpin of the local vintner consciousness.

“As first, they are going to be in a leadership role, and they have not backed down from it,” Roger King, of King Andrews Vineyards and the first president of the Suisun Valley Vintners & Growers Association, said about the Lanza family.

“Yes, Caymus-Suisun has come: They are a big international (wine company), but they will never be first,” King said of the Wagner family in the

King said he talked to Ron Lanza years ago about his family needing “to own the valley,” if only by perception,

The winery was not actually the first winery in the valley. The Mangels family – and specifically German immigrant Louis Mangels –can probably lay claim to that, in 1893, though there were others before that in Green Valley. However, Wooden Valley is the longest-tenured continuously operating winery in the valley.

Ron Lanza said the family understands the accountability that comes with that distinction.

“We have a lot of responsibility of being the oldest winery left; we have a lot of responsibility for setting the tone for the valley ... and it behooves us to do what’s right here,” Lanza said.

The milestone marker of that leadership is the American Viticultural Area designation for the Suisun Valley in 1982 – a vision that Chick Lanza saw for the valley that few if any others did at the time.

“I thought, ‘who cares about an AVA;’ it didn’t change what we got paid,” Ron Lanza admits.

To get the designation required a number of steps, including completing a climate study. Much of that information was provided by Jim DeTar, but originally accumulated by his father, Vern DeTar, both county and regionals farm advisers.

The climate report, Lanza said,

A vintage cash register is displayed inside Mario’s Room at Wooden Valley Winery in Fairfield. Mario’s Room is a new tasting room at Wooden Valley Winery.

AARON ROSENBLATT/ DAILY REPUBLIC

— Ron Lanza

“and he’s done just that.”

A delivery truck is seen at Wooden Valley Winery.

ROBINSON KUNTZ/ DAILY REPUBLIC

caught the attention of another winemaker, Chuck Wagner, who began growing grapes in the valley in 2015 for his Napa operation. The first vintage of Caymus-Suisun Grand Durif also was 2015, and he opened the Caymus Cordelia Winery in 2018. His valley winery on Suisun Valley Road opened last April.

The AVA encompasses 12,100 acres, of which about 6,000 are plantable acres, said Lanza, quick to credit the management and marketing skills of King for leading the fledgling association into the future.

“He was the smartest guy around and so we made him the president, and his suggestions really benefited Suisun Valley and our farms,” Lanza said.

The Williamson Act, which gave farmers a much needed property tax break, and the work of Tom Hannigan to help save the valley through agriculture zoning also were steps along the way.

The result is a growing reputation for quality wines.

“We are finally being recognized for the quality we make and getting paid for it,” Lanza said.

The Suisun Valley Vintners & Growers Association lists 14 wineries working in the valley, but not all are from the valley. The price for land, however, is expected to attract more.

But wineries are not the only thing on the wish list.

“We still need a few more things in Suisun Valley,” he added. “We need a few more places to eat and we need a few more places to stay in the valley.”

Don’t look, however, for a Wooden Valley Lodge to sprout up any time soon. Others are working on those valley needs.

AT HOME AND BEYOND VALLEY BORDERS

Farming and selling grapes is still the biggest part of Wooden Valley’s portfolio. Lanza said 75% of the grapes grown are sold to outside wineries and other interests, and more

ROBINSON KUNTZ/ DAILY REPUBLIC

than 50% of the business income comes from those sales.

“We have a big East Coast market – supporting big wineries and amateur (winemakers), too,” Lanza said.

It also has found a market, more recently, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Chick Lanza said he could have never imagined it ever becoming as big as it has –remembering there was a time when locals came to the winery with their own bottles to fill them up directly from the barrels. If they didn’t have a bottle, they could buy a jug for 10 cents.

“When we took over, we sold wine mostly by the barrels,” Lanza said. Many of the winery’s own bottles were repurposed Coke and A&W syrup jugs.

“In the ’50s, everyone was making a living on their farms ... Now this is an entertainment business,” Lanza said.

The winery welcomed 27,000 visitors in 2022, and more are expected this year.

“Every year, it’s up a little, but last year was a pretty big jump,” Ron Lanza said.

A big part of that is Caymus. Lanza said he knows that because the people trying Wooden Valley wines tell them they came to the valley to visit Caymus-Suisun.

“We were heading in the right direction with our association, but Caymus gave us a big shot in the arm,” Lanza said.

Moreover, more than 50% of the Lanza Family wines are sold to members of the Wooden Valley Wine Club, and more than half of the membership lives in Solano, a fact, Lanza said, that is very much appreciated by the family. It shows the support the winery has had throughout its lifetime in the valley.

Lanza and his brothers have made sure the history of the winery stays out front. Farming grapes and making wine is important, but raising families is even more important.

“And I always wondered what they (Mario and Lena Lanza) would have thought to see this place now.” 

A tractor is seen at Wooden Valley Winery.

36 OAKS COUNTRY RETREAT OFFERS RESPITE IN RURAL VACAVILLE SETTING

The pond at 36 Oaks Country Retreat was bubbling with fresh rain water – a rare event since most of the year it is empty. It made for a refreshing and soothing moment in time as it splashed across the rocks.

36 Oaks used to sport 36 oak trees on the property but over the years it has dwindled down to a few hardy survivors.

“When we moved in in 1979 we counted all the oaks and there were 36 of them,” owner Linda Tipton said.

Tipton has owned the property amid the rolling hills along Gibson Canyon Road for 43 years. Unexpected life changes 23 years ago caused her to rethink everything.

“I was having a very rough time and a friend told me I should get a massage,” she said. “The massage changed my life.”

After feeling herself recharged, her mind cleared and she thought about what she was going to do next with her life. She realized that she wanted to help others.

“My life was transformed after that massage,” she said.

It took some planning with an eye to laws and rules in the county, but she did her homework on how to open a spa business

Owner Linda Tipton stands in a spa room at 36 Oaks Country Retreat in Vacaville.

Tile art adorns a wall above a bathtub.

Bath oils are on display at 36 Oaks Country Retreat.

STORY BY SUSAN HILAND  PHOTOS BY AARON ROSENBLATT

that would give visitors a relaxing and enjoyable afternoon without going far from home.

Tipton added on a 480-square-foot room to her home – big enough to fit two massage beds along with some space for a couch and chairs.

The retreat is full of nooks and crannies where visitors can find solace and peace in nature.

Up a bit of a hill surrounded by trees, waving grasses is her retreat, which offers visitors a chance to get a massage, sit and read by a pond or take an afternoon nap in one of three humble rooms.

Tipton’s business has thrived and grown despite some setbacks. The property survived the wildfire two years ago that hit many farms and homes in the valley and the pandemic, which shut her down for nearly three months.

“It has been really challenging, and actually the fire was a bigger issue than the pandemic,” she said.

Tipton offers spa packages, which include time to enjoy the gardens, gazebos and country grounds, complimentary tea service and the use of 36 Oaks robes/slippers and towels. You are welcome to bring in a picnic and drinks with any of the packages.

There is also the option for à la carte, which offers a variety of facials.

There is also an option for an eight-hour retreat or a 24-hour stay. Both can be customized to the visitor’s liking.

There is a hammock set up in the summertime, which drifts gently on the breezes between two trees.

“I offer different packages with times from two hours to four hours,” she said.

Tipton does not serve food or wine, so it’s a bringyour-own picnic but well worth the time to curate your own snacks for a few hours of relaxation in the country watching birds and squirrels.

The day spa is at 6963 Gibson Canyon Road in Vacaville. For more information on 36 Oaks Country Retreat, go to https://36oaks.com. 

An outdoor patio takes in the sun at 36 Oaks Country Retreat.

PHOTOS

BUILDING BLOCKS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: HOUSING, WATER, POWER, WORKFORCE

Solano County has benefitted in countless ways from Lake Berryessa’s water bounty.

“It is certainly one of the most important things, but it can’t carry us alone,” Chris Rico, president and chief executive officer for the Solano Economic Development Corp., said in a recent interview.

However, there are other building blocks necessary for successful economic development with which Solano is not flush: housing – and particularly multifamily development – and power.

In fact, the county recently missed out on Upside Foods, the Berkeley-based technology company looking to grow sustainable cultured meat, but the county did not have the energy

DAILY REPUBLIC STAFF

TOP: Lake Berryessa near Markley Cove in 2016.

ABOVE: Construction continues on apartments in Suisun City in April 25.

BY ROBINSON KUNTZ

infrastructure in place to land the $400 million project.

Instead, another warehousing project is under construction at

“Right now, supply can’t meet demand. So it’s fine to say everyone needs electric cars and a charger in their garage, but right now PG&E can’t supply the

The answer to providing enough power may be home grown with firms such as Larsen & Toubro Limited Inc. in Fair-

He pointed to work being done on improving the efficiency of power storage and distribution, and thinks improvements in those critical areas will be accelerated in the

Micro-grid development is going to be an economic

“I think the future of energy will be developed and stored

Additionally, there is a need to develop the “kind of workforce that will attract the right kind of businesses,” in the same vein as Solano Community College has created a bio-manufacturing training program, plus establishing a quality of life profile that will attract young

“And those are things we want, too,” said Rico, who recently purchased a home overlooking the Vallejo waterfront. He and his partner, Rafa, enjoy riding their bikes, exploring music, art and culture and take in the geography.

“It’s amazing,” Rico, in an interview last year, said of Solano County’s diversity, which includes its seven cities. “The geography is spectacular. There are so many interesting

things here.”

So Solano County does have many of the assets necessary to attract companies.

It has a lower cost of living relative to the Bay Area as a whole; it is connected by highway, rail, port and air access; has high-quality health care; high-quality public schools and a strong university presence. It is close to major markets, and is well positioned for redevelopment, notably Mare Island.

Travis Air Force Base is also a huge asset, not only because those airmen transitioning out of the military typically have the higher skill levels needed for the workforce, but it also has a center of innovation that could, and should, attract private partnerships.

Companies looking to relocate or expand also are looking at workforce diversity as a critical piece, and Solano County has one of the most diverse populations in the state.

However, more than 140,000 of those residents are working outside the county. One of the keys moving forward is to find a way to keep that talent at home.

So the good news is that Solano County can build on what is has to improve its profile, but it is going to take investment in housing and power.

The target industries that emerged from a yearlong EDC economic study are fruit and vegetable preserving and specialty food manufacturing; support activities for crop production; pharmaceuticals and medicine manufacturing; beverage manufacturing; and architectural and structural metals manufacturing.

Rico added that is why it is critical that areas that are

Chris Rico is the president and CEO of the Solano Economic Development Board.

available for development must be made shovel-ready, with water, sewer, power and other infrastructure in place to land the businesses.

To that end, grant applications – $750,000 for priority production areas and $400,000 for priority development areas –have been submitted and Rico is confident they will be awarded.

Additionally, Benicia has applied for a $750,000 grant to redevelop its waterfront. That offshore area also is viewed as a potential wind power location.

“And getting these grants will set us up for future money,” Rico said.

Perhaps part of the economic development outlook, Rico added, is also a refocused perspective, especially when it comes to judgements about multi-family development and apartment lifestyles.

Rico, 52, was raised by his mother in Manhattan Beach in Southern California, though he grew up in Ohio, and has spent time living in San Francisco as well as the Los Angeles area.

“We were those people who were in a rental townhome, side by side,” said Rico, emphasizing that good people come from all kinds of housing outlines.

He said he has heard a lot from Solano residents saying “they don’t want those kinds of people living next to them,” when discussing proposed multi-family development projects. He takes it personally.

“I just wish people would stop vilifying people who live in apartments,” Rico said.

Rico also hears from the

business and industry speculators looking at the area, and by reputation they know “Solano County has not done a good job in building multifamily housing.”

Developments like those proposed for Lagoon Valley and Middle Green Valley are important because executivelevel housing is also a must for companies that are looking to relocate or establish something new.

But that is only part of the picture, and when it comes to young professionals, well, they are not looking for their grandparents’ homestead. They have a different dream.

“Gen Z does not want to buy houses; they want to live in a cool apartment near cool downtowns with things to do,” Rico said.

He said Sacramento is doing a great job in meeting those needs and young adults –including droves from Solano County – are going there.

The snapshot is not unlike what Fairfield wants to create with its Heart of Fairfield plan, which has in its design more residential options and a downtown filled with restaurants, entertainment and niche shops. Vacaville shares a similar vision. 

Construction continues on a warehouse in Fairfield in April.

ROBINSON KUNTZ/DAILY REPUBLIC

Gen Z does not want to buy houses; they want to live in a cool apartment near cool downtowns with things to do.

— Richard Rico

FAMILY PREPS TO CLOSE DOORS AT CORDELIA JUNCTION ANTIQUE AND COLLECTIBLE MALL

The Cordelia Junction Antique Mall spans 12,000 square-feet of a winding labyrinth of shopping enjoyment. Several train cars were attached to the the sides of the building to make it a unique shopping experience.

Maurice “Maury” and Barbara Epps owned the mall for decades off Interstate 80. Maurice died in 2013, followed by his wife Barbara soon after, and the running of the mall was taken up by their children.

Antiques and collectables are on display at the Cordelia Junction Antique Mall in Fairfield.

STORY BY SUSAN HILAND PHOTOS BY AARON ROSENBLATT

Daughter Cheryl Baugus oversees the dozens of dealers who showcase their goods and merchandise at the mall. She took the reins from her parents, who operated the mall since its debut in 1983.

Family owned and operated for more than two decades, the store is the largest antique and gift collective on I-80 between San Francisco and Sacramento.

On June 30, Baugus will be closing the doors for good on the beloved antique mall.

“I have been doing this for 30 years,” she said. “It is time to retire. I plan on doing nothing.”

Next door to the mall was the Monorail Restaurant, which she says was her father’s business during the 1990s. The antique mall was her mother Barbara’s passion.

“Mom did many things in life but she always had an antique store,” she said. “Even out at the ranch.”

Her parents owned a ranch in the valley for decades.

“She would trade for these beautiful things,” she said.

Karen DeRenzi worked for Baugus’ parents and continued to work for her.

She remembers coming in after the Napa earthquake, convinced they would have a lot of work to clean up, but instead

only one picture frame broke.

“That was amazing,” she said. She knows the customers are going to be sad to see them go because they have been coming for years and told her so.

“I have had people tell me they came in with their parents when they were children to have lunch at the restaurant,” she said.

Dealers Sandy and Steve Littlefield came from Woodland to display their goods in the mall. They have been doing this for 25 years and have loved it.

“They have such a variety of stuff here. The things that they accept are so different than anywhere else,” Sandy said.

Things like gemstones, comics, jewelry and more graced the three stories of shopping space.

“We will take our items back when they close. Not sure what we are going to do with them when that happens,” Sandy said.

Her husband wondered where else they would find a place like the Cordelia Junction Antique Mall.

“We will never find somebody like these guys. It is like we all grew up together,” Steve said.

The Littlefields have no plans to stop antiquing and selling, because for them it is the thrill of the hunt.

The last day for the mall will be June 30. They plan to continue to have dealers bring in items until the last day, when they will all come and take them back. 

The Cordelia Junction Antique Mall in Fairfield.

An antique radio is on display at the Cordelia Junction Antique Mall in Fairfield.

SOLANO BUSINESS LETS PEOPLE GET CRAFTY WITH DIY PROJECTS

Briana Mason turned her love of DIY projects into a career in a lifechanging moment in 2021.

“I became a stay-at-home mom during Covid. I have always been a person that worked,” she said. “So being at home was a drastic change for me.”

Mason needed to do something, but it wasn’t until a trip to the hospital after giving birth to her last child that her life took a turn she never expected.

“I had the baby and the family was coming for a visit, but I ended up getting sick and going in the hospital,” she said.

The whole family had planned to go to a Board & Brush Creative Studio for a class. They would all work on a DIY home décor project, but that got canceled.

The family wanted to get together and do something after Mason recovered and went home. The idea of the DIY project had never gone away. She thought about it and decided to do the Board & Brush Creative Studio project with the family.

“In the car on the way home afterward, I realized I fell in love with all of it,” she said.

Mason called and emailed the Board & Brush Creative Studio company immediately, explaining that she wanted to open a franchise herself in Fairfield. It took a little more than a year, with a flight out to Wisconsin headquarters, but in February she finally held the grand opening for her own Board & Brush Creative Studio.

“I have been a manager for retail stores so I wasn’t worried about teaching people

Briana Mason manages Board and Brush Creative Studio in Fairfield.

STORY BY SUSAN HILAND

PHOTO BY AARON ROSENBLATT

to do something, because that is what I did before,” she said.

Mason is a native of the Bay Area and has lived in Fairfield since high school. Her degree in business management, her years in fashion retail management, and her passion for DIY all came together for this new venture.

She and her husband work at it together but she admits he is not a DIY person.

Board & Brush workshops are great for experienced DIYers and newbies looking to be creative, learn new skills and empower themselves, she explained.

People can create hundreds of different items from signs and trays to porch planters and doormats. Visitors get all the tools they need to get a project going and finish it within a few hours.

“They take it home the same day, unlike, say, pottery where you have to wait a week; this isn’t like that,” she said. “You take it home that day.”

Board & Brush Creative Studio is at 1500 Oliver Road, Suite C, in the Fairfield Corners shopping plaza. The plaza, tucked in a mixed residential neighborhood and shopping district, offers easy and ample parking.

Workshop capacity is 24, with most workshops taking place on the weekend. They are primarily open for private parties during the week.

Mason teaches the classes, guiding everyone on power tools, painting, stencil art and assembly. She wasn’t worried about her teaching skills and getting into her own business, but the back-end skills of running a website and getting information out to the public were a different story.

That turned out to be not such a huge learning curve, and with the help of Board & Brush it all came together. She can even update the calendar on her phone with ease.

Each “Pick Your Project”

workshop lasts about three hours and costs $73 to $78, depending on needed supplies, with pre-registration required.

Board & Brush issues new designs on the first of every month. There are now more than 800 designs to choose from.

The Board & Brush franchise began as a holiday “girls’ night out” in Hartland, Wis., with wine and crafts in founder Julie Selby’s basement turned into a business idea and then a reality in early 2015.

Selby had a passion for helping women and couples follow their dreams to be business owners and empowering workshop attendees to try a DIY project to put them on a path to new confidence and creativity, according to a press release from the company.

The company was named the No. 1 franchise in the DIY/Paint & Sip Studios category for 2022 and 2023 by Entrepreneur magazine.

Board & Brush has more than 260 locations, according to Mason.

“They are all over, even here in California,” she said.

Mason visited with other franchise owners before opening her own shop to get a feel for being her own boss and how it worked.

“Everyone was so helpful and really honest,” she said.

The response and support she received made the move to open her own franchise an easy decision.

“People wanted to go to the studios but it is hard to schedule and so people wouldn’t drive 30 minutes to do it,” she said.

Mason said she hopes being close to one will encourage people to get crafty and learn new skills that beautify their homes.

For information, call 707-389-4156 or visit https://boardandbrush.com/ fairfield. Updates can always be found on the studio’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ boardandbrushfairfieldca. 

Solano-Napa SBDC ]

SOLANO’S WDB AND SBDC PROVIDE VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR BUSINESSES

Whether you have been in business 20 years or launching your first startup, entrepreneurs can find a beacon of resources at the Workforce Development Board of Solano County.

The Workforce Development Board’s main office at 500 Chadbourne Road, Fairfield, is home to the WDB’s business-services team and the Solano-Napa Small Business Development Center. Both organizations exist in Solano to help local business owners grow and thrive.

Business services manager April Ziomek-Portillo describes her team as “specialists of talent.” The free recruitment and retention support is especially valuable and includes hiring fairs and on-the-job training programs.

The Solano-Napa SBDC is best known for its no-cost, one-on-one business advising. The SBDC also offers monthly virtual trainings and business roundtable groups at no cost to entrepreneurs.

“One silver lining of the pandemic is that it has brought a light to the many resources available here at the WDB and SBDC,” said SBDC Director Tim Murrill.

To learn more about the Solano-Napa SBDC, visit solanonapasbdc.org or call 707-646-1071. To learn more about the Solano WDB, visit solanoemployment.org or email Ziomek-Portillo at aziomekportillo@ solanowdb.org.

CAL MARITIME SECURES $1M IN FEDERAL FUNDING

SOLANO EDC

California State University Maritime Academy has secured $1 million in federal funding through the offices of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., for an Academic Microgrid Project.

The funding will assist in the acquisition and installation of a photovoltaic (PV) system on campus to serve the university’s basic and emergency energy needs, generate energy cost savings, and act as a tool of education for academic research and development.

“We are extremely grateful to Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Sen. Alex Padilla for their support and advocacy of Cal Maritime,” said Cal Maritime President Thomas A. Cropper. “This project will be a learning and living opportunity for Cal Maritime faculty, students, staff and neighboring communities, and will result in environmental, social, educational, and economic benefits for years to come.”

Cal Maritime supports CSU’s larger sustainability goal to implement sustainability

PROJECT BENEFITS TO CAL MARITIME’S CAMPUS

• Reduce Cal Maritime Carbon footprint

• Minimizing dependency on grid power

• Reduce campus electricity costs

• Serve as a sustainability platform for academic research and curriculum

• Generate renewable energy credits

initiatives in operations, curriculum, and the community.

“I am pleased that funding for Cal Maritime’s academic microgrid project was included in last month’s federal spending bill,” Feinstein said. “Upgrading this 92-acre campus to an independent, renewable energy system will benefit not only campus sustainability efforts but also the local community and environment. I commend President Cropper for his commitment to advancing sustainability in education and for continuing the school’s legacy as an integral part of the CSU system.”

“I am proud to have secured funding for California State University Maritime Academy’s Microgrid Installation Project, which will help the university meet its energy goals and better prepare for emergencies,” Padilla said. “Installing a solar energy microgrid is both sustainable and a strategic resource for campus resilience. This project will also support academic research and outreach programs within the surrounding community.” 

SOLANO COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRAINS ‘FUTURE

FALCONS’ IN STEM

SOLANO EDC

uture Falcons” is a program for K-12 students intended to increase interest in college and Solano College specifically.

The pilot event was held on Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Vacaville campus and was Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) themed. The event was organized by Solano College chemistry faculty Dr. Commodore St. Germain and Brothas Raising Up His (BRUH) CEO Edward Russell Jr., and funded using Student Equity and Achievement (SEA) funds.

There were 12 participants ages 8 to 17 from Vallejo, Fairfield and Vacaville and are from traditionally underrepresented groups in STEM or first-generation students.

The Future Falcon students participated in a DNA presentation and discussion and then extracted DNA from bananas. After lunch they met in the lab again to discuss college, Solano College, and STEM.

This was a quote from a parent after the event: “Any time the conversation has come up (my daughter) has always said she doesn’t want to go to college in the past. Today she said she could see herself going to that college! Thank you! Thank you for opening that door for her!”

LEMONADE DAY COMES TO VACAVILLE

If there’s anything more American than apple pie, it’s a youngster opening up a first lemonade stand and becoming a small business owner. While Vacaville’s youths have fearless ambition covered in this regard, Lemonade Day Vacaville is an opportunity for them to gain valuable business knowledge and know-how to bolster their entrepreneurial spirit.

For many, what comes to mind as a first business venture is the classic lemonade stand. This simple concept is the overarching theme of Lemonade Day, which is not just a celebration, but a national, hands-on learning program that teaches kids about the many facets of business ownership. Come Saturday, May 20, Lemonade Day will finally make its way to Vacaville.

BY AARON GEERTS

“Lemonade Day was discovered by communications manager Noelle Buckband,” explained

COURTESY PHOTOS

Children celebrate Lemonade Day. Lemonade Day Vacaville is coming May 20.

Vacaville Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Debbie Egidio. “She’s always searching the internet, seeing what other chambers are doing and other programs we can possibly bring to our area and she came across Lemonade Day. Lemonade Day is a national, branded program, and as a chamber, we were able to get the licensing for the city of Vacaville to hold the program for us. So, this will be our very first Lemonade Day and we’ve been planning since Noelle found it last summer.”

According to Egidio, there are about 90 other cities nationwide that participate in Lemonade Day, with Vacaville being only the eighth city in all of California to bring this program to its kids.

How it works is each child that registers will get access to the Lemonade Day curriculum, which includes lessons on how to create budgets, profit-making goals, customer service, interactions with investors as well as giving back to their community. Alongside all that, the – quite literally – small business owners will select a mentor to guide them through the process while also acquiring problem-solving skills and developing self-confidence in their abilities.

“The kids will either pick up a physical workbook or use the Lemonade Day app that we encourage them to use because it’s a little more engaging and interactive for them. And there are about four hours of lesson plans and learning that lead up to Lemonade Day. It’s everything from talking about financial literacy, to making a plan, to product development, pitching to your investors to help you make your product a reality, how to design your stand and what it looks like, picking a location and all of those lessons that are part of true, business entrepreneurship,” Egidio said.

“Each child has a lot of independence in how they interact with the program. They’ll have an adult mentor that’s either a parent, older sibling or even a neighbor that takes them through the lesson plans. It’s truly designed to be fun, but also educational. They’ll go through these lesson plans and pick a spot in the city of Vacaville where their stand will be.”

These lemonade stands will be popping up all across Vacaville featuring different stand designs, lemonade flavors and business practices (one can

view the map of all the stand locations at lemonadeday.org/vacaville).

With such a widespanning event, Egidio hopes friends and families opt to go out to support and visit multiples of these young entrepreneurs’ businesses. Of course, this abundance of communal fun and support can only serve as inspiration for these youngsters to delve deeper and learn more about business and what it means to be a productive member of society.

“It’s happening all over Vacaville, so no matter what neighborhood you live in, ideally there’s a stand close to you. Some will be downtown, some will be in the outlet areas and others will be in neighborhoods and parks. They’re just all over and very diverse,” Egidio said. “Another piece of this is the optional contests for the kids. There’s the ‘Best Tasting’ contest we’ll have the week before on May 13 at the Town Square from 2 to 3 p.m. That’s just another way for kids to think about their products, how to make them unique and how they compare to others. There’s an incentive too because there’s a cash prize they can pump back into their business. Then there’s also a ‘Best Stand’ contest that will happen on Lemonade Day itself. That’s all done by submitting photos. Finally, we have the ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ award where the kids have to turn in their business results. Basically, it’s how did their sales go and what takeaways they had.”

Youngsters participating will range from kindergarteners all the way up to eighth-graders and the hours of operation will be around 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (specific hours are up to the young business owners).

Egidio went on to emphasize the tagline of Lemonade Day Vacaville, which is “Spend Some, Save Some and Share Some.” The spending aspect is for kids to spend money on their business – and perhaps a little on themselves as a reward. Saving is for the kids to learn how to set money aside for the future, while sharing is all about giving back to the community.

To register or for more information regarding all aspects of this – hopefully – new Vacaville tradition, one can visit the website lemonadeday. org/vacaville. 

SOLANO MOBILITY CALL CENTER IS HERE TO HELP

• First-Last Mile Program

• Sustainable Transportation Emissions Program (STEP)

• Guaranteed Ride Home Program

Programs for Older Adults, Veterans and People with Disabilities

participant must be a resident of Solano County, 60 years of age or older, or ADA-eligible. Customers pay 40% of the ride; only 20% if they qualify as low income.

Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAV) are available.

Participants must have used an alternative transportation mode to get to work on the day they use Guaranteed Ride Home.

The Solano Transportation Authority’s Solano Mobility Call Center provides personalized assistance and information about transportation options to get around Solano County and beyond.

In addition to providing commuters and Solano County employers with information on a variety of transit services and incentive programs, the Call Center provides seniors, people with disabilities, veterans and students with a range of mobility options. Below are a list and information on some of the many programs offered by Solano Mobility.

Older adults, veterans, and people with disabilities:

• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Eligibility Program

• Intercity Taxi Card (ITX) Program

• Medical Trip Concierge Program

• Veterans Mobility Program

Getting around Solano County:

• Clipper Card Sales

• Transit Information

• Travel Training

• Transit Trip Planning

Options for commuters:

• BikeLink Locker Sales

• Carpools

• Clipper Card Sales

• Solano/Yolo BikeLinks Map Vanpool

Commuter Benefits for Employers and their Employees:

• Bucks for Bikes

• Commuter Benefits Program

ADA eligibility: The Americans with Disabilities Act Eligibility Program determines eligibility for anyone unable to use fixed-routes public transit service because of their disability. ADA-eligibility allows access to curb-to-curb paratransit service throughout Solano County, as well as participation in the Solano Intercity Taxi Program.

Intercity Taxi Card program: For ADA-certified individuals, this program offers the ability to purchase discounted fare for intercity taxi trips within Solano County using a pre-paid debit card (PEX card). Eligible residents may purchase $100 of taxi funds for $40 ($20 if low income eligible).

Travel training program: Learn to ride public transit on your own or with friends with the Travel Training Program. This program provides one-on-one instruction and group training designed to teach people how to travel independently on fixed-route public transportation in their community. This FREE service teaches everything, from how to read a schedule, to how to pay for your travel.

Medical Trip Concierge program: For seniors over 60 years old, the Medical Trip Concierge Services program provides 20 reduced-cost trips per month to medical and other essential appointments around Solano County, utilizing Uber & Lyft through GoGo Grandparent. A

Mobility programs expanded to include veterans: The Veterans Mobility program, started in April 2022, offers veterans of any age access to Veterans Affairs (VA) and medical facilities within Solano County, including Travis Air Force Base, as well as three specific locations in Contra Costa, including the Martinez VA Clinic. This program also provides wheelchair accessible vehicles if required. Solano County Veterans can access VA and medical facilities by participating in STA’s subsidized Medical Trip Concierge (GoGo) Service or the Solano County Intercity Taxi Card (ITX) Program.

Commuter and Employer Programs

First/Last Mile Program: The First/Last Mile program assists Solano County residents and employees who have challenges connecting the first or last portion of their commute between twelve Solano County transit hubs and their homes or places of employment. Program participants receive 80% off their Lyft connection, up to $25.

Get a Guaranteed Ride Home during an emergency: The Guaranteed Ride Home program provides an alternative option to get home in case of an emergency by allowing registered users to take a Lyft, Uber or taxi. The GRH program can be used six times in a year, no more than three times in a month, for up to $100 per trip.

STA expanded the Guaranteed Ride Home Program in September 2022 to assist Solano Express riders whose route is missed or canceled. The new program is called Guaranteed Ride (GR), and participants register for the program by joining Solano Mobility’s Commute Solano Network for the Solano Express line they ride at commuterinfo.net. Participants receive an Uber Voucher valid for four rides during the month. Rides must be within 100 miles and cost less than $100.

Vanpool subsidies: With the high cost of gas, it makes sense to share your commute with 7-15 people who live and work near you. Forming a vanpool is a great way to share the cost of commuting. New, qualifying vanpools traveling to or from Solano County for work can receive from $200 to $600 in monthly subsidies. Twenty new vanpools have recently taken advantage of this program traveling from Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Vacaville and Vallejo to Richmond, San Francisco, St. Helena and Treasure Island.

Earn rewards: Everyone who lives or works in Solano County can win! Sign up for free at commuterinfo. net. Log your alternative commutes (transit, rideshare, active transportation, telework) to earn free gift cards. Be sure to include your home and work zip codes.

For more information about the Solano Mobility Call Center or a specific program that we offer, please visit www.solanomobility.org or call Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 800-535-6883.

WHY YOUR BUSINESS NEEDS A BUSINESS BANKING ACCOUNT

As a business owner, do you mix personal transactions and business transactions? It is a common issue; one survey found that more than a quarter of small businesses say they comingle finances. And it is easy to see why; given the wide range of priorities a small business owner oversees every day, using a bank account that is already set up often seems like the easiest and most logical choice.

It can also happen organically as your side business gains steam and becomes your primary business; many owners conduct business the way they always have, even as their organization grows and has new needs.

So, while it might seem simpler to only manage one account, that is not actually the case. Here are five reasons you should consider separating your business account from your personal account.

A BUSINESS ACCOUNT SIMPLIFIES BOOKKEEPING AND TAXES.

Where you see the ease of just having one set of records, your accountant sees a web of confusion as they try to sort out which transaction are personal, and which are businessrelated. Not only does it make it harder to get a valuation on your business and track cash flow, but it can cause difficulty when you are determining what

items might be tax-deductible.

That is because it can be challenging to decipher exactly which expenses are your business vs. personal. This confusion means you could miss deductions you should be taking – or worse, it would be difficult to separate transactions if you were to get audited. Separate accounts mean you have a clear trail for all your expenses.

A BUSINESS BANKING ACCOUNT OFFERS YOU ACCESS TO MORE FEATURES.

Business accounts are designed to provide various business functions and therefore offer more choices. For example, you will have more flexible cash withdrawal limits and access to easy-to-use invoicing and payment acceptance. You will also have access to the support of a business banker, who can help advise you on a wide variety of business issues, from loans to a variety of merchant services.

A BUSINESS BANKING ACCOUNT MIGHT BE NECESSARY FOR YOUR COMPANY STRUCTURE.

If you have incorporated your business as a partnership, corporation or even an “incorporated” sole proprietorship, the IRS requires that you have a separate business account. These company structures can be advantageous for tax reasons; however, it

is always wise to talk to an accountant about benefits and potential disadvantages when making any move for tax purposes.

Even if you remain a “sole proprietorship,” which does not legally need a business account, it still can be important for other reasons. In particular, the IRS has guidelines for determining whether your venture is a “business” or “hobby” for tax purposes. The first item on its list of nine distinguishing factors is “whether you continue the activity in a businesslike manner and maintain complete and accurate books and records.”

A BUSINESS ACCOUNT HELPS YOU PREPARE FOR FUTURE GROWTH.

When funds are co-mingled it can be hard to get a handle on your cash flow, both how much is coming in due to your business rather than income from other sources – like your spouse’s salary – as well as what is going out. Most entrepreneurs find that keeping a watchful eye on expenses is one of the best ways to successfully help the business grow, but without a separate account, it is impossible to know what expenses are for what part of your life.

With a clear summary at the end of every month, you can identify areas you can cut or places you might be able to realize additional opportunities through new investments or an infusion

of cash, such as expanding a promising product line with a bank loan.

A BUSINESS ACCOUNT MIGHT BE NECESSARY FOR A LOAN.

When your business needs a loan, it can be difficult to obtain without having a preexisting relationship with a financial institution. Business owners use loans for a variety of purposes, including buying a car, starting a business, or consolidating debt. There are two main types of business loans: secured and unsecured. A secured loan is supported by collateral, such as fixed assets, accounts receivable, or equipment. This means that if you fail to repay the loan, the financial institution can seize the collateral. An unsecured loan does not require collateral, so it is riskier for the financial institution. As a result, unsecured loans often have higher interest rates than secured loans.

Whether your main goal is to sort out your finances, streamline your bookkeeping or build your credibility, a business bank account can play a key role.

If you want to find out more about how a business account can help you achieve your goals, contact Valley Strong Credit Union today to talk with a specialized business banker about the benefits of opening a business account.

[ Lainey’s Furniture for Living ]

YOUR HOMETOWN COMFORT STORE

In the heart of downtown Vacaville, you will find an unexpected surprise. Lainey’s Furniture for Living has been providing quality furniture and unsurpassed customer service to Solano County and surrounding areas for nine years.

This locally owned gem carries living room, dining room, bedroom, office and outdoor furniture with choices and customizations that fit every style. Lainey’s also has the largest selection of reclining furniture in the area.

The true surprise is their large selection of accessories, home decor and gift items for every occasion. Many gift items are hand-crafted and locally made. There is unique wall art, area rugs, charcuterie boards, and garden decorations in every corner of this furniture store.

Lainey’s Furniture attracts customers from all over Northern California. Customers as far north as Auburn and Chico, and as far south as Carmel, find the selection and service at Lainey’s well worth the travel. The sales staff is friendly and knowledgeable, making the furniture buying process easy. The 25,000-square-foot showroom has everything needed.

Scott Reynolds† Attorney/Managing Partner California Super Lawyer*

Doug Spletter† Attorney/Partner

Sandra Sp ector Attorney

Todd Lowell Attorney Alfonso L. Poiré Attorney/Partner

My Insurance Solutions improving the lives of our aging population

Did you know that there are approximately 10,000 people turning 65 every day? The Medicare population is expected to increase from 54 million to more than 80 million by 2030. According to an AARP survey, 40% of seniors plan to “work until [they] drop,” and one in three Americans over age 65 rely on Social Security benefits as their sole income. To complicate things, many of these baby boomers are dealing with chronic illness, like diabetes, obesity and arthritis, and three out of five have been diagnosed with multiple chronic disorders.

Medicare can be very confusing, and with a lack of education and proper planning our seniors are in a very vulnerable position. Add to this the growing Medicare fraud, call centers, misleading TV commercials and celebrities talking about benefits that are not available in all areas and you could say we have a perfect storm. Still, the problem of not knowing who to trust and where to go to get real help exists all over the country.

The satisfaction that I am helping baby boomers understand Medicare and our complicated health care system is amazing, but with 7,000 people turning 65 in Solano and another 17,000 in Contra Costa this year, we have a huge opportunity. There is a need for more agents who want to see our

senior population thrive and enjoy their retirement. At My Insurance Solutions we have a proven system to help new agents reach any level of success, working full- or part-time, by providing mentorship, ongoing training and marketing support.

Join us in helping to make a difference in your community!

For more information, contact Susan Lucas with My Insurance Solutions at 707-828-0059 or susanlucas@myinsurancesolutionsinc. com.

The law can be approachable, Reynolds Law can help

Reynolds Law LLP, founded in 2015 by attorney Scott Reynolds, is a full-service law firm that provides exceptional legal services to businesses and individuals through its team of attorneys, paralegals and support staff.

The firm has offices in Fairfield, Vacaville, Roseville and Redlands –in Southern California – to serve the needs of its clients throughout the state.

“At Reynolds Law, we focus on estate planning, probate and trust administration, business, real estate, land use, tax and litigation,” said Angelia Clarady, operations director. “Reynolds Law strives to provide our clients with outstanding, personalized service to achieve their goals. Although we are best known for excellence in estate planning, trust administration and

probate, we provide superior services to our business clients needing to form entities, negotiate contracts or ensure business continuity through succession planning via shareholder agreements or mergers and acquisitions.”

Call or text us at 707-425-1255.

Jill Blechschmidt of McGuire Real estate ready to help homebuyers

Just in time for the spring homebuying season, there are positive signs of inflation easing, with the Consumer Price Index experiencing a significant deceleration of 5% increase for the 12 months ending in March – its lowest level in nearly two years. Some experts even suggest that inflation may no longer be considered an emergency issue, as it appears to have reached an inflection point at 5%.

This is good news for the housing market because it indicates the potential for lower mortgage rates. The Fannie Mae Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI), which measures consumer confidence in the housing market, shows that 40% of consumers feel it’s a bad time to sell a home, with unfavorable mortgage rates being the primary reason cited by homeowners for this pessimism. With lower mortgage rates, we’ll see improved buyer purchasing power and higher consumer confidence, both of which bode well for the housing market.

Buying or selling real estate is a personal decision and should be done when it’s right for you, regardless of market conditions. If you’re in the market to buy or sell a home this spring, seek a trusted Realtor who can provide reliable information, engage in critical thinking, and help you make informed decisions to fulfill your real estate dreams.

Vacaville Auto Body Center ]

CUSTOMER SERVICE IS IMPORTANT TO US

Vacaville Auto Body Center is a family owned and operated auto body repair facility that has been a mainstay from when it opened its doors in 1994 until today when readers of the Daily Republic name the company the Best Body Shop/Auto Collision Repair shop in Solano County.

Owners Robert and Marlo Skinner say they and their team focus on doing what is right by customers. They do that by providing excellent service, a high level of personal attention for each customer, and a lifetime warranty.

“Customer service is very important to us; no one wants to be in an accident and we try our best to guide our customers through the process,” the Skinners say. “Our goal is to repair your vehicle back to pre-accident condition. We love our customers.”

That high level of customer regard led to this year’s honor, the Skinners say.

“Our customer service is outstanding and we truly care about our customers,” they say.

MeetMeat theMarket

Il Fiorello Olive Oil Company

ARTISAN OLIVE OIL PRODUCER

Il Fiorello is an artisan organic olive oil grower and miller, located in Suisun Valley. We produce organic oils for ourselves and mill for 350 other customers. Community Day is a festival when small growers and neighbors bring their olives to the mill and share in the excitement of the fall harvest season.

We are known nationally and internationally for our single varietal oils and unique guided tasting experience. We have been honored with more than 200 awards for our products. The opportunity to enjoy a flight of unique oils with a singular extravagant food pairing is available daily, with reservations. Enjoy our monthly From the Farm menu, paired with organic and sustainable wines and signature cocktails. Farm-grown seasonal pairings are our specialty.

Open daily, come in and peruse our retail room with our Organic Oils, Balsamic Vinegar Reductions, house made jams and jellies, and lavender products. The Visitor Center is open 9 to 5 p.m. Tours begin at 10 a.m., followed by our unique tasting experience. Make reservations online, www.ilfiorello. com, or give us a call at 707 864-1529.

Touro University California ]

TOURO MARKS 25 YEARS OF EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE

Touro University California this year is celebrating its 25th anniversary, complete with a fall gala that raised thousands of dollars for the university’s Diversity Scholarship fund.

“It really has been a remarkable journey,” Shelley Berkley, senior vice president of the Touro University System, said during the gala. “Twenty-five years can seem like a lifetime for some (but) that time hasn’t passed without a lot of work being done to take Touro from its humble beginnings, to becoming the beacon of hope and inspiration for thousands of students nationwide.”

TUC started in a small, shared space in San Francisco in 1997, prior to a 1999 move to the recently closed Mare Island Naval Shipyard. A quarter-century of work, which continues to this day, has gone into transforming the former military installation into a campus suited for college students.

What started as a single program has since blossomed to nine areas of study with the addition later this year of a pair of undergraduate degree programs to compliment the current roster of graduate programs: Osteopathic Medicine, Medical Health Sciences, Pharmacy, Education, Nursing, Physician Assistant Studies and Public Health.

Provost and CEO Dr. Sarah Sweitzer spoke of the amount of work that has gone in to making Touro what it is today.

“It has been a labor of love, and a lot of hard work to transform this historic site into a growing university with three colleges and nine areas of study which serve as an anchor institution in Solano and surrounding counties,” Sweitzer said during the gala.

Dr. David Duncan, a member of the first graduating class from Touro University California, spoke at the event and shared his pride of having been part of the process for all these years.

“We (students) were taking a risk, the school was taking a risk,” Duncan said of the pioneers involved in the university’s opening. “We made it work, though. It’s a great honor for me to be part of this family. I’m proud of my university and everything it’s accomplished in the past 25 years.”

Tails of the City Dog Salon

A NEW BREED OF GROOMING SALON

Tails of the City Dog Salon has been making pets look pretty since 2004. However, it wasn’t until 2020 that it started to make their groomers feel just as dandy as the pups they pampered.

For nearly 20 years, Tinamarie, the salon director and owner, has been catering to pet parents everywhere with high standards of care, quality grooming, clean and functional facility with a great atmosphere for customer service.

Today, Tails continues to thrive by not only serving the pet client, but the groomer client as well. After watching the big box stores come onto the scene, and the way they were sales- and volume-driven with very little care or comfort offered to their groomers, it was obvious in the results that the groomers were not motivated and not loving their craft due to the high number of dogs they were required to groom in order to make a decent paycheck.

With trial and error working with independent self-employed groomers since 2006, Tails has finally found the right balance between groomer and salon by perfecting the compensation formula. By adopting a model where the groomer is actually a client of the salon, paying for services such as client referrals and self-serve dog wash, both the salon and the groomer are sustained creating a synergetic and symbiotic relationship.

Tails of the City has become a community of business owners with a common goal and joint passion for pets and making them look great. By adhering to the standards Tails has put in place, groomers reinforce and perpetuate the great reputation the salon holds with pet owners, thus encouraging more returning clients and happy referrals. Dedicated, hard-working groomers get a chance to own their own business without reinventing the wheel.

[ Jim Stever Realty ]

LONGTIME SOLANO COUNTY RESIDENTS

Jim Stever Realty provides Listing, Sales and Property Management Services.

What sets us apart:

• Personalized, attentive service with thorough communication.

• Expert knowledge of the industry and local real estate market.

• Experience dealing with all aspects of the real estate field

• Established relationships with local services providers of all types.

• Member of the National Association of Realtors

• Member of the California Association of Realtors

• Member of the Northern Solano County Association of Realtors – we subscribe to a high standard of professionalism and code of ethics.

• Member of the California Apartment Association.

• Darla has numerous Property Management Certifications and is a Certified Mediator through Strauss Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our past, present and future clients for their trust in us and, above all, their loyalty.

DID YOU KNOW?

Remote working has been associated with a greater work-life balance since the start of the pandemic more than two years ago, but a recent survey suggests that perception may be misleading. According to an Airtasker survey of more than 1,000 full-time employees, roughly half of whom worked remotely, a greater percentage of remote workers reported struggling with work-life balance compared to in-office workers. Twenty-nine percent of remote workers reported struggling with work-life balance, and that’s not the only areas where they’re struggling more than employees who go to the office full-time. A greater percentage of remote workers reported being overly stressed during the workday compared to in-office workers. More remote workers than in-office workers reported high levels of anxiety during the workday as well.

Sweet Pea’s

[ All Day Fun & Play

WE PROVIDE QUALITY, DEPENDABLE CARE

Sharise DeLove says she strives with All Day Fun & Play Child Care Centers to provide a balanced developmental program for ages 1 month to 12 years of age.

“Each child’s developmental growth is our number one priority,” DeLove says, and has been since the company opened its doors in 2001.

All Day Fun & Play Child Care Centers offers a year-round program for children and their families with the goal of providing positive experiences in a structured environment that enhances each child’s physical, social, emotional, intellectual and imaginative-creative growth, DeLove says.

“We believe that children should be treated with respect, cherished and nurtured. With parents and educators working together as a team, we can contribute to a positive learning experience,” DeLove says. “We put forth much effort into children’s positive experiences and needs.”

Mission accomplished, at least as far as Daily Republic readers are concerned: All Day Fun & Play Child Care Centers was selected as the Best Child Care Center in the DR’s 2023 Readers’ Choice survey.

One of the things that makes All Day Fun & Play Child Care Centers stand out from among its competitors is the spirit of teamwork and cooperation DeLove says is essential for children and staff members. With this, she says, the intent of the staff is to work together with parents toward developing the whole child – thereby preparing children for the transition to their next level.

“Our goal is to provide quality, dependable care that is loving and caring in a safe environment for all children,” DeLove says. “I personally am enthralled with this opportunity to help children with their developmental needs.”

[ Sweet Pea’s ]

TIME TO PLANT YOUR ORGANIC FOOD GARDEN

The days are longer, the sun is shining and it’s time to start planting your organic food garden.

One of the biggest perks of organic gardening is that you know what is in your food. Plus, growing vegetables, herbs and flowers organically means your garden becomes a wonderful haven for birds, bees and butterflies.

Growing an organic garden is easier than you might think. Just follow the tips we’ve put together in this “organic gardening for beginners” guide and you’ll soon be on your way to a delicious harvest.

• Choose a location with lots of sun.

• Choose an organic soil.

• Choose three to four vegetables and herbs that you love, then buy three to four of each of those plants.

• Water the soil so that it is moist.

• Add lady bugs and praying mantis to help with bug control.

• Tend to your garden daily to ensure all of your plants have the necessary love and attention.

• Be patient and watch your garden flourish.

Solano County’s Largest Full Service Truck Shop

For over 18 years, We have been passionate about repairing and servicing gas and diesel powered trucks, RVs and all types of trailers.