Businessman keeps his eye on what is importment – customers
Ben’s Friends of the Vine included in Rio Vista renaissance Visit California names Jelly Belly, Six Flags as hidden gems
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Ardagh Metal Packaging plant marks 40-year milestone in Fairfield
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Marie Burns and Sarah Karlen do have a dream of opening a tasting room at their Collina De Bella winery someday.
For now, however, they are happy to produce smaller batches of wine from their 17 acres of vineyards and modified-barn cellar on a private lane, a turn or two off Putah Creek Road on the Solano County side of Winters.
One of those wines, a syrah, won double gold at the recent Sunset Magazine International Wine Competition. They produce six varietals, but the white wines come from grapes they purchase from neighboring vineyards.
Their own grapes, from the beginning of the vineyard started by Ken Shaw and Katie England in the 1980s, have been sold to some of the best winemakers in Napa County, Burns said.
Burns gives a lot of credit to Chris Turkovich, of Turkovich Family Wines, for helping them out, just as he had helped England after the death of Shaw.
Equally important, Burns said, is Ravi Tumber, of Tumber Farms in Winters.
“He taught me how to drive a tractor; he taught me everything,” Burns said.
In time, Burns added, they would love to plant their own Vermentino and Arneis grapes – both Italian stocks: One that typically produces sweet and sparkling white varietals and the other typically produces dry full-bodied white wines.
The winery also brought home a silver medal for its 2023 Rose of Syrah, and the 2024 Rose of Tannat won gold medals at the International Women’s Wine Competition and the Experience Rose Wine Competition this year.
The tannat, Burns said, will soon be introduced to the general public. Of French and Basque dwescent, the tannat grapes are widely used in blends with Cabernet Sauvignon or Cabernet Franc, but more recently has stood on its own.
Right now the Collina De Bella wines are sold direct to consumer, and introduced more generally by pouring at a variety of farmers markets and other events, such as the Winters Art & Wine Stroll. They will be taking their wines to the Dixon Art & Wine Stroll in August.
Some of their bottled wines are offered in local Winters stores, she said.
“The goal is to have our own tasting room in the next five years and I think we are in line for that,” Burns said.
The vineyard is about a half-mile from Lake Solano, part of the Winters Highlands American Viticultural Area formed in 2023.
It crosses Putah Creek to include Solano and Yolo counties.
It is the 269th AVA to be approved in the United States, of which 149 are in California. That includes Suisun Valley and the Solano County Green Valley AVAs, as well as the Wild Horse Valley AVA, which is comprised of parts of Solano and Napa counties.
The name, Collina De Bella, means
“beautiful hill,” and from their vantage point, Burns and Karlen can see the Vaca Mountains and the Sierra Nevada.
The area rises slightly along the foothills of the Northern Coastal Range, cooled by the Berryessa gap.
Burns said she loves the natural splendor of the farm, and particularly the variety of wildlife that come to visit.
She moved to the location when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, but she and Karlen have turned that isolation into a community-based enterprise, one that has allowed her to meet more people than she would have ever thought.
“It isn’t something I set out to do,” Burns said. “I wasn’t even a wine drinker.”
Burns and Karlen are not enologists by training. Each is a neuroscientist who met 23 years ago when Burns was on the faculty at UC Davis and Karlen was a graduate student working in Burns’ lab.
Karlen went off to her own adventures for about 10 years, but came back.
Burns purchased the vineyard in 2020.
“We created the winery in 2023,” Burns said.
Roughly 18% of the 5,000 wineries in California are women-owned, as of 2023, the industry reports.
Burns said their training in reading scientific reports and coming to understand those complexities have helped in the learning curve of becoming winemakers – from the soils on up.
Karlen also entered the UC Davis wine certification program.
T hey each continue to work in academia, and work at turning what was once a kind of hobby into a new lifestyle on the weekend.
“It is a way to get out of the lab and out in the country,” Burns said. “It’s a different kind of life from academics.”
She said “so we only harvest on Saturdays, and move into the wine cellar on Saturdays and Sundays.”
But Burns admits, “farming is hard ... It is much, much harder than I ever thought.”
It is not just learning about what they can control, but dealing with what they cannot, not the least of which is the weather.
Evacuating from wildfire threats has been part of that, too.
STORY BY TODD R. HANSEN
Rick Writer always knew he wanted to run his own business.
He quips he did not play well with others.
However, he admits it is actually his attention to the needs of “others,” namely his customers and longtime staff, who have allowed his Eagle Eye Engraving company to stay in business for more than 40 years.
“The secret of success is surrounding yourself with people who can,” Writer said.
Those people, for Writer, are Robin Suggs, his “left brain,” “right hand,” associate for the past 38 years; and Jill Dunham, who has been with the company for 32 years.
Writer has a location at 761 Jackson St. in Fairfield, and one at 400 Elizabeth St. in Vacaville, though he was located on Merchant Street for many years before deciding to downsize.
That first Vacaville building, about 3,400-square-feet, had been built in 1894, Writer said, and ironically, housed another engraving business, Kingpin Engraving, for 25 years before he bought it.
“I got a good deal ... but it was a monster,” Writer said.
His first shop was on Travis Air Force Base. He also had places at the McClellan, Mather and Castle airbases.
“I had up to six locations at one time,” Writer said.
He opened at Travis in a temporary space in 1984 and moved into a permanent location in 1989. With the military’s penchant for recognitions and departure gifts, it was a match engraved in the wild blue yonder.
Just as importantly, however, was his company’s ability to turn projects around quickly, often in one day.
“We would try never to say ‘no,’” Writer said. “We are known for that, and still are.”
Writer has had that entrepreneur spirit since his youth.
He remembers riding his bike to a liquor store on the other side of West Covina so he could buy candy bars for a nickel apiece. He would then ride back to the neighborhood and sell them to the other kids for a dime.
He and a friend also would put on haunted houses and carnivals in the backyard.
“The featured ride was a wheelbarrow ride, and we would run as fast as we could,” Writer said.
What Writer really never had, he said, was artistic talent, which as it turns out, he did not need to work in the engraving business.
That’s because the centerpiece tool is the pantograph. The operator traces the lettering or images, and the engraving element does the rest.
“I learned my trade in about two weeks,” Writer said.
One of those weeks was in Cleveland, where the parent company of the place he worked for, Things Remembered, located in the newly opened Solano Town Center, did its training.
“And their goal was to teach us how to teach so we could pass those skills down to the next generation,” Writer said.
Things Remembered allowed mall shoppers to bring their items in for engraving while they completed their shopping. He recalls some very late nights on Christmas Eves.
Eventually, he and his business partner of what would be 22 years, Mary Robinson, went out on their own.
T he connection to Travis AFB, and Writer’s own fascination with the military,
led them to name the company Eagle Eye Engraving, combining the eagle image with the perceived need for precise engraving skills.
Writer borrowed $12,000 from his mother, Josie, to open his first shop off the base. She took a loan out against her home.
“And I paid her back with interest,” said Writer, adding his mother would move up to Solano County
and worked for him for 15 years.
Over the years, computer engraving – and now laser engraving – have advanced the technology of the businesses. But for Writer, the old way is still the best way.
And there are engravers he knows who take the craft to a higher level – a truly artistic level.
One of those is Wade Dickenson, who Writer knew from his Things Remembered days.
“He did the inside of a gold ring and he put wheat stocks in it. It was just amazing,” said Writer, who still farms out some projects to him in San Francisco.
He has similar relationships with other companies, many of them local.
Over the years, Writer said, they have engraved messages and images on just about everything, “from a $5,000 watch to a $25 plate.”
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And Writer is quick to give a lot of credit for his and his company’s success to his wife, Ellie, who was a nurse at NorthBay for more than 30 years.
Their daughter, Kimberly Kibler, is also a local registered nurse, and they have a son, Justin Kibler. Both are from his wife’s first marriage, but they are his children.
He even stepped away from the business to help raise one of the grandchildren.
While Writer could never imagine he would last 40 years in the business, he cannot imagine closing its doors either. He said he has a loyalty to his employees, and the customers.
When the time is right, he said, he could see selling the buildings, and even the business.
But that is not engraved in stone.
Visitors to Ben’s Friends of the Vine won’t get to meet the canine in person, but they can hear all about the pup who bears the business’ name.
Andrea Cross, owner of Ben’s, adopted Benson from a shelter in 2009 when she was living in Los Angeles. He was her constant companion who often accompanied her to work.
Benson died four years ago. Three years ago, Cross opened Ben’s Friends in honor of the dog’s spirit of unconditional love
where his acceptance of everyone, exuberant joy for life, and the love of good food and the company of great friends would be celebrated.
The concept has been very popular in Rio Vista.
“We have been overwhelmingly embraced by our community in the last three years and we are humbled and forever grateful for the continued support and outpouring of love,” Cross said.
The future looks even brighter.
“We plan to continue to serve our community with consistent, friendly service with fine food and wine that exceeds expectations,” Cross shared. “We plan to continue to have many community events with free music, wine pairing events with local wine makers, and partnering with other local businesses to promote the downtown.”
Ben’s Friends is also active with local associations promoting downtown Rio Vista – RV Downtown Association, RV Chamber of Commerce, and Rio Vision.
The vibe at Ben’s?
“Unique, comfortable and eclectic,” Cross said. “You feel as if you’re in your own home or that of your best friend.”
The community also plays a key role personally. Cross’ husband just went through a life-threatening heart episode.
“The outpouring of love, support, prayers for him was incredible,” Cross said. “We received hundreds of messages of well wishes and truly believe the power
of collective love and prayer is what brought him through.”
Friends of the Vine is a clue that the business serves wine. There are also sweet and savory treats.
“Our menu consists of the freshest, best quality, local ingredients we can find,” Cross said. “We feature fresh salads, wraps, many vegetarian and vegan options, charcuterie boards, bruschetta, hummus and naan, olive tapenade, ahi poke (the house favorite, no doubt!), assorted quiche with puffed pastry, fresh baked and house made desserts and much more. Everything is made on site and fresh daily.”
Cross said things are changing in Rio Vista, which she calls a diverse and growing community. Her goal when opening was to be a catalyst for other businesses to see the potential in Rio Vista. Multiple retail stores have opened downtown including The Clutterbug, The Treasure Chest, Finder’s Keepers, Garden & Homestead Anywhere, along with local eateries Hap’s Taps, R ichard’s Ice Cream and most recently Butteri Gelato.
“It’s exciting to see the downtown come alive,” Cross said.
Dogs are welcome at Ben’s Friends.
“We haven’t met a dog we haven’t immediately fallen in love with,” she shared. “We offer free homemade doggie treats to all of our four-legged friends.”
Cross moved to Rio Vista in 2020. Her mother has lived there for almost 20 years.
She sees the renaissance in Rio Vista as a team effort that includes the City Council, Planning Commission and energy of new businesses partnering with existing businesses.
“We’re working together to put Rio Vista on the map as the place to come to enjoy the river, great food, music, the arts, and the best people in the world ... the community of Rio Vista,” she shared.
Ben’s Friends of the Vine is at 122 Main St. Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Learn more at www.bensfriends ofthevine.com.
DAILY REPUBLIC STAFF
Two iconic Solano County tourist destinations have been named by Visit California as hidden vacation gems.
Jelly Belly, in Fairfield, was No. 5 on the list of 15 locations, while Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, in Vallejo, was right behind at No. 6.
“On the Jelly Belly Factory Tour in Fairfield, you can see how 100-plus flavors
are made,” Visit California states in its description of the candy-making kingdom.
“At Station No 9, take note of a small, white, closed-off room. Inside, the “bad” BeanBoozled flavors – like Stinky Socks or Liver-and-Onions – get their shells.”
Apparently the aroma of these special beans “proved to be problematic in the open so they were sequestered in their own space.”
It has been about 22 months since the Chicago-based Ferrara Candy Company announced its acquisition of Jelly Belly.
Jelly Belly, its start dating back to 1869 in Illinois, has facilities in California, Illinois and Thailand, and distributes to more than 60 countries. It started making jelly beans in 1976, and hit the jackpot when President Ronald Reagan expressed his love for them.
Ferrara has been headquartered in Chicago for about 117 years. It manufactures 20 brands such as Black Forest, N ERDS, SweeTARTS and Trolli.
Visit California highlighted Shark Experience as a good reason to stop in at the amusement park, the roots of which is Marine World.
“Develop a new appreciation for the apex predator at this Vallejo theme park that started as Marine World.
Walk through the tunnel-style Shark Experience and see multiple species: nurse, sandbar, zebra and “spotted wobbegongs” swirling overhead and beside you,” the description reads.
It offers as a fun fact that there are 380 shark species in the world, and most of them are docile.
“Here, you might see them snoozing or gently interacting with caretakers in diving gear,” Visit California states.
The top hidden gem on the Visit California list is Faery Falls, and the magical hike to the site.
“This 1.5-mile hike in Siskiyou County, near the town of Mt. Shasta, starts with a walk along the Ney Springs Canyon Trail, dotted with tall leopard lilies. Keep an eye out for the ruins of John Ney’s 1889 mineral springs resort. Another quarter-mile upstream you’ll reach 50-foot-high Faery Falls. The double-tiered cataract cascades over a mossy cliff,” Visit California states.
The rest of the list includes:
• Feed a Giraffe – B. Bryan Preserve: T his Mendocino County preserve cares exclusively for endangered African hoof stock (zebra, antelope and giraffe). Every tour ends with a giraffe feeding, including the self-guided car version. Choose from guided or VIP tours, or stay in one of the private cottages. Better yet, book the painting tour: While you feed a giraffe, he licks a tennis-ball-and-paintbrush contraption to create an abstract artwork you can take home.
• Become a Puppy – Universal Studios Hollywood, Los Angeles: The
newest ride at this iconic park doesn’t require any knowledge of the “Secret Life of Pets” movies to appreciate, but it does transform you into a stray pup who suddenly needs a home. Your cardboard box–style car takes you through neighborhood scenes from the movie, while cool imaging technology reveals your new doggy ears and paws. Pay close attention to the 64 animatronic critters featured on the ride, each in their own highly detailed vignette: say, a cat playing the piano, or a rabbit riding a drone. Ride a few times to see each of the diverse families who might adopt you at the end.
• Enjoy Your Own Private Tahoe –Wylder Hope Valley: T his resort south of South Lake Tahoe possesses endless on-site ways to play outdoors. In summer, fish, mountain bike or rent stand-up paddleboards. In winter, tramp around the resort on snowshoes. Stay in a yurt or a cabin and enjoy the lawn games and firepits in the evening.
• Try to Sniff the Stinky Socks –Jelly Belly Factory.
• Splash All Day – California’s Great America: You could easily spend an entire day at the Santa Clara theme park’s recently expanded 18-acre South Bay Shores water park. It features four high-speed drop slides, two tube slides, a
wave pool, a lazy river and a new lagoon that has eight more kid-sized slides. To really kick back, rent a cabana with free Wi-Fi, charging stations, TVs and waiter service. Open May through September.
• Swap Cool Rocks – Gilroy Gardens: At some theme parks, fans trade collectibles with staffers. At the tree-loving theme park in Gilroy, kids can bring in an object they’ve found in nature to the Green Barn – like a rock, plant or seashell – and chat about it with a staffer. Kids earn points for the object, which they can use to swap for another object or bank for a future visit.
• Meet a Giant Tortoise –Fresno Chaffee Zoo: T his sprawling zoo offers affordable experiences starting at just $5 per person. Feed a hungry giraffe or touch a slippery stingray. Be sure to check out the Fresno zoo’s newest attraction, the Kingdoms of Asia area, which features sloth bears, Malayan tigers and Komodo dragons.
• Watch Pelagic Red Crabs –Monterey Bay Aquarium: T hese tiny crustaceans are a joy to watch swimming backward in the Monterey aquarium’s Open Sea area. The crabs are relative newcomers to the region – they started washing ashore during a 2015 El Niño. They then became part of a study by aquarium scientists who are exploring the effects of microplastic pollution on the ocean floor.
• Pedal Through a Magic Portal – SkyPark at Santa’s Village, Lake Arrowhead: Ride a pedal car through an ice cave at this Lake Arrowhead park that is much more than a holiday hotspot. During the holidays,
Faery Falls in Siskiyou County, near the town of Mount Shasta, is the top hidden gem on the Visit California list.
you’ll find Santa and a Christmas village, but year-round you can ride nifty go-karts around a track, go ziplining, try bouldering or skate on the all-seasons rink. Parents can enjoy craft beer at the on-site pub.
• Pilot a Riverboat – Disneyland Resort, Anaheim: At the classic Mark Twain Riverboat, superfans know that a few savvy visitors help pilot the boat each ride – and get a cool certificate afterward. For more takeaway treasures, head to the reimagined Jungle Cruise; ask a cast member politely (and maybe add a joke) to score a souvenir map of the ride. While in Anaheim, don’t miss the new Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Park next door – and come hungry. Inspired by Marvel heroes Ant-Man and The Wasp, the Pym Test Kitchen offers supersized and miniaturized cuisine, like a huge chicken fi let sandwich topped with a diminutive bun.
• Get The Wiggles Out –DUPLO Playtown at LEGOLAND California, Carlsbad: Little kids can sometimes get sidelined by ride height requirements at theme parks, but preschoolers rule at this hilltop play area within the Carlsbad park. Tots will love exploring 10 different playhouses – such as a barn, grocery store and hospital – that are outfitted with slides, mazes and lots of bigger DUPLO plastic bricks for building. It’s also home to the LEGOLAND Express, a mini train geared to ages 5 and under.
• Zipline Over the Savannah – San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Escondido: Not all safaris require a jeep. At the sister property of the San Diego Zoo, located in Escondido, the Flightline Safari is actually a zipline that glides over the park’s Asian and African savannah habitats. Stretching along two-thirds of a mile, it’s also one of the longest on the West Coast. During the hour-long experience, you’ll fly about 130 feet above the ground, and get a literal bird’s-eye view of giraffes, rhinos and other wildlife below.
• Frolic With the Otters –SeaWorld San Diego: W hiskered and wiggly, California sea otters are natural comedians. The five who live at the San Diego theme park are all rescues – one of them, Nova, is even a shark bite survivor. Get acquainted with them during a VIP encounter that lets you feed them. Trust us, they’ll be hungry: These critters with super-fast metabolisms can put away about 25% of their body weight each day.
» Biz COMMUNITY
Driving down Highway 12, through Rio Vista, motorists often journey past the heart of the town, home to unique shopping such as the Clutterbug.
The store launched on the Mendocino coast in 1999.
“We were going to call the shop The Cluttered Closet because our first location was only 600 square feet,” Barbara McNeely said.
“Right before we opened at that first location, a visitor strolled by the shop and exclaimed, “My, my, aren’t you the clutterbug?” (in a warm, southern drawl). So we went with that name and have stayed with it in all our various locations.”
Clutterbug has been serving the Delta communities since January 2023 after moving from the Mendocino coast.
Shoppers are quick to note the shop only carries handmade items made locally.
“We also have earned high ratings for our excellent customer service and that our displays are ADA accessible,” McNeely said.
Clutterbug vendors have to meet standards for high quality, handmade local gift items that range from personal accessories, home decor, garden art, candles, jewelry, clothing, etc.
Each artist is required to change out their displays bi-monthly to keep their gift selections fresh and interesting.
Participating artists must be local and
handfashion the items themselves, which are approved by the owner before being a part of the shop.
“Rio Vista is a quiet 1950-like town ... think “Mayberry” alongside the Sacramento River Delta region,” McNeely said, adding there is not much tourism except for people who are there to fish or camp.
The recent bridge closures impacted Rio Vista severely.
“Our town turned into a virtual ghost town on those 55-hour weekend closures,” McNeely said.
That is just one of the challenges. Others include many commercial buildings are owned by out of town folks who do not keep up their properties, she said.
“Our town’s main street (four blocks) have vacant storefronts, which cause our town to look blighted. Local support from folks living here in the Delta area is sporadic at best,” McNeely said.
The town can be quiet but there are a few
business folks working very hard on changing these conditions to make Rio Vista a more happening city, she said.
Among the Clutterbug artists are Roxanne Stiles-Donnelly who has lived in Rio Vista 40 years.
She started teaching herself fiber arts in 2020 during Covid. She knits, crochets and weaves, and is saving up to buy a bigger loom with the goal of making rugs and more.
Judy B Creations spent 20 years in Washington and sold wholesale to Ventures at Pikes Market and their kiosk at SeaTac.
She makes beanies, hats, scarves and recently added scrubby wash cloths and back scrubbers.
The Clutterbug is at 200 Main St. The shop is open Thursday through Monday from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It’s closed Tuesday and Wednesday. For more information, visit www.clutterbug riovista.com.
ome companies recycle aluminum cans. Companies like Ardagh Metal Packaging turns recycled metal into new cans.
“Since opening its doors in 1985, the Fairfield plant has upheld AMP’s mission to provide high-quality, infinitely recyclable aluminum cans to some of the world’s most recognized everage companies,” the company said in its celebration of 40 years in business in Fairfield.
The plant is located at 2433 Crocker Circle.
Its legacy began when the first employees were hired in June 1985, and just two months later, the first pallet of cans rolled off the production line in
“As we celebrate 40 years of the Fairfield plant, we honor not just decades of production, but generations of dedication,” Matt Polen, plant manager, said in a statement.
“This plant has always been more than bricks and steel. It’s a place where families have built futures, where values are passed down, and where a sense of pride runs deep through every shift. Here’s to our proud past and the family spirit that continues to shape our future,” Polen added.
The Fairfield firm has always looked for opportunities to give back to their community, “often partnering with local elementary schools.”
That includes field trips so students can learn more about the lifecycle and sustainability of the
“The plant’s outreach often overlaps with Ardagh Metal Packaging’s partnership with Project Lead the Way Together they have made a significant commitment to advancing STEM education and STEM programs in communities like Fairfield,” the company stated.
“Over the past 40 years, this plant has been more than just a workplace, it’s been a second home,” Environmental Health and Safety Supervisor Eric Berkheimer said.
“I’ve seen the Fairfield Ardagh plant go through many changes, from technology to leadership, but one thing that’s never changed is the sense of family here. We’re built on trust, hard work, and genuine care for one another. That same spirit extends beyond our walls – I’ve always loved how committed we are to giving back to the Fairfield community. That’s what’s kept me here all these years.”
AMP Fairfield recently held an anniversary celebration for team members and their families.
It featured carnival games, face painting and delicious food.
“As the Fairfield facility marks 40 years of excellence it stands as a testament to the power of local investment and innovation in American manufacturing. Here’s to the next 40 years, and beyond,” the company said.
Solano Transportation Authority’s (STA) Solano Mobility provides 17 Mobility programs for employers, commuters, older adults, people with disabilities, and veterans. The Solano Mobility Call Center provides personalized assistance and information about transportation options, a variety of transit services, incentive programs, and mobility options for getting around in Solano County and beyond.
Solano Mobility’s Employer Commuter Program provides commuter incentives and subsidies to encourage alternative transportation use for
2-for-1 Solano Express Incentive
residents and employees in the county through eleven regional and two local programs. The Solano Economic Development Corporation also partners with Solano Mobility to promote STA’s commuter benefits via direct mail, social media, business retention and expansion visits, and in-person events.
$125 Clipper Card for monthly Solano Express Pass Purchase
Capitol Corridor + Lyft Ten-Ride Passes ($20)/Lyft Connections (max $25)
Bucks for Bikes
60% Reimbursement (max $300) for new Commuter Bike + Helmet
Commute Challenge Gift Card Rewards for Logging Alternative Commutes ($10, $25, $50)
Equitable Access to Justice
First/Last Mile
100% subsidized rides to/from Solano County Court appointments for Jurors & Collaborative Court Participants
Solano County Transit Hub Connections (60% off Lyft up to $20 or low-income subsidy 80% off Lyft up to $20)
Guaranteed Ride Home Ride Reimbursement for Qualified Emergency up to $100/100 miles
Solano Express
Guaranteed Ride
Solano Mobility Express
Vanpool Pilot
Uber Voucher for Solano Express riders to use when bus cancels/is late
Professionally driven vans traveling between Dixon, Vacaville & Sacramento during commute hours; $50/month introductory rate
Vanpool (Traditional) STA Subsidy ($200/month); MTC Subsidy ($500/ month)
Additionally, the Employer Commuter Program leads Solano County’s participation in Bay Area Bike to Wherever Days (BTWD) events each May. The Bay Area Bike to Work Day began 31 years ago in 1994, which, since the pandemic, has expanded to Bike to Wherever Day. This year, the Bay Area will celebrate with a 120,000-mile collective bike challenge for the month. Sign up to Pledge to Ride in May and take the Bay Area Bike Challenge at solanomobility.org/ btwd2025.
Below is information on some of the commuter programs offered by Solano Mobility.
Benicia Lyft STA will pay a portion of your Lyft rides throughout the city of Benicia and to Springstowne Center in Vallejo. These rides are valid only to specific destinations and between the hours of 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. for Benicia residents. To qualify you must be an older adult (65+), a veteran, or ADA eligible. If your pick-up or drop-off is outside the specified areas, the discount is not valid. Contact the Call Center to sign up.
Riders pay $5 for Lyft rides within the city limits of Benicia plus the difference in fares over $20 between 6 am and 11 am. Visit solanomobility.org for the Lyft codes.
For more information about Solano Mobility programs, please visit www.solanomobility.org or contact the Call Center Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 800-535-6883.
The City of Suisun City has partnered with Lyft and the Solano Transportation Authority to provide subsidized Lyft rides for residents to get around Suisun City and to specific geofenced areas outside of the city during the hours 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Suisun Lyft program one-way ride costs vary from $3 to $1.50, depending on where you are traveling and if the program participant qualifies for the low-income fare. Visit solanomobility. org for the Lyft codes. Residents must contact the Call Center to sign up for the low-income fare.
Where will you live when you retire? It is a question that you — or your parents — might be thinking about. Even if you are madly in love with the home you have built your life in, there may come a time when you consider moving somewhere new.
If a retirement community is an option, you have no shortage of choices. Communities catering to people 55 and older are growing steadily. Yet that does not mean one is right for you. For starters, there are financial implications. Will a home in a particular community hold its value? Will your family be able to sell it easily? Remember: You are choosing a place where you may spend your remaining years.
How do you know you are making the right choice? Here are seven questions to consider.
1. Will you be happy living among only people your age?
An age-restricted community may feel odd if you are used to having younger people nearby. You might also find there are restrictions regarding children and grandchildren, notes John Brady, co-author of Baby Boomers Guide to Selecting a Retirement Community and founder and editor of Topretirements.com. “There may be rules about how long the grandkids or visitors under age 55 can stay with you,” he says. What if your adult children need to move home for an extended period? Find out whether the community’s rules will allow that.
2. What other restrictions could cause problems?
Closely review the covenants, conditions and restrictions of the homeowners association (HOA). There may be rules about what changes you can make to your house or even what color you can paint your front door. More crucial might be questions relating to your estate plan, says Debra Greenberg, director and product management executive, Personal Retirement Solutions, Investment Solutions Group at Bank of America. If you
plan to leave your home to family members, the age restrictions could complicate their ability to live in the community. It is a good idea to discuss this with your estate attorney before you buy, Greenberg suggests.
3. What are the total costs?
Out-of-pocket expenses for these communities may go beyond the price of the house and association dues. Special assessments and other fees could be an unpleasant surprise, and you could find yourself paying extra to use amenities such as golf courses or tennis courts. Future renovations could also cause your dues to rise unexpectedly. Looking at how much costs have risen in the past can help you know what to expect.
You may find additional clues in the HOA minutes and audited financial statements. The minutes can alert you to ongoing community concerns. The financial statements will show whether the association is financially solvent. Once you estimate the total costs, consider whether you can afford them. “You do not want to be strapped for cash or forced to dig into your savings,” Greenberg says.
4. What is the potential resale value?
One important factor is whether you are buying a condominium or a single-family home — the latter tends to fetch higher prices. Also consider the health of the local housing market. If homeowners in the community you are investigating are having trouble staying current on their mortgage payments, it could lead to foreclosures and depressed prices. Look around the area to see how other nearby properties are faring.
5. How should you pay for your retirement home?
If you buy, you will need to decide whether to pay cash or finance the purchase. If you are selling another home, it may seem simplest to use the proceeds to buy the new one outright. Depending on your tax and income needs, however, it might be better
to use part of the cash from the sale as a down payment and finance the balance with a mortgage. Check with your tax advisor about your options.
6. How good is local healthcare?
Make sure there is a respected community hospital or academic medical center nearby. Ask residents about their doctors and check the state and national ratings of hospitals. If you want to have easy access to care as your needs increase, a continuing-care retirement community could offer a smooth transition from independent housing to assisted living or 24-hour nursing care. Keep in mind that having medical services on the premises generally results in higher costs.
7. How will this affect other retirement goals?
As with any major financial decision, buying a home in a retirement community is not a decision to make in isolation, says Greenberg. Balance the cost of your new home against the things you most want to accomplish. It is all part of the process of reviewing potential trade-offs before you buy, rather than after, she adds. “This is where it is really helpful to be forward thinking.”
For more information, contact Merrill Financial Advisor
Eric F. Gonzales in the Napa, CA, office at 707.254.4606 or eric_gonzales@ml.com.
