Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Wake Up & Rise Up! for January 13th, 2026!


Check out the latest:
- Traffic [511.org]
- Weather [wunderground.com]
- Air Quality Index [map.purpleair.com]
- Sunrise / Sunset schedule [timeanddate.com/sun/usa/vallejo]
- Near Earth Objects [cneos.jpl.nasa.gov]

News -
- Vallejo Times Herald [timesheraldonline.com]
- Vallejo Sun [vallejosun.com]
- Benicia Independent [beniciaindependent.com]
- Fairfield Daily Republic [dailyrepublic.com]
- The Vacaville Reporter [thereporter.com]
- Rio Vista Beacon [riovistabeacon.com]
- Napa Valley Register [napavalleyregister.com]
- Center for Biological Diversity [biologicaldiversity.org/news/breaking]
- Indy Bay newswire [indybay.org]
- Sonoma County Gazette (sonomacountygazette.com) 
- Petaluma Argus-Courier (petaluma360.com) 
- Sebastopol Times (sebastopoltimes.com)
- Community Voice in Sonoma Valley (thecommunityvoice.com)
- Diablo Gazette (diablogazette.com)

Community Calenders
Art Vallejo [artvallejo.org]
Visit Vallejo [visitvallejo.com]

Be sure to support -
- Global Center for Success [globalcenterforsuccess.com]  
- Vallejo Together [vallejotogether.org]
- Food Banks of Contra Costa & Solano Counties [foodbankccs.org/blog]


Other community resources -
- The Ecological Center [ecologycenter.org]
- Regional in Nature activity guides from the East Bay Regional Park District [ebparks.org/whats-new/rin]


- Vallejo Poet Laureate Jacalyn Eyvonne: [facebook.com/jacalyn.eyvonne.author]
- Vallejo Poet Laureate Kathleen Herrmann: [facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091732097112]


Facebook pages
- Vallejo Arts Network [facebook.com/groups/138984779625625]
- Vallejo City Politics [facebook.com/groups/833317280051203]
- Solano County Community Awareness [facebook.com/groups/215277106946851]
- Vallejo Arts & Entertainment District / Downtown [facebook.com/groups/861179877227914]

- National Day Calender [nationaldaycalendar.com]

- Edible East Bay [edibleeastbay.com]
- Slow Food East Bay [slowfoodeastbay.com/events]


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Community News 

* "Vallejo City Council set to discuss homelessness issues; Proposed encampment sweep pause, warming center on agenda" (2026-01-08, https://www.timesheraldonline.com/2026/01/08/vallejo-city-council-set-to-discuss-homelessness-issues/)
* "Vallejo City Council to elect new vice mayor Tuesday" (2026-01-12, https://www.timesheraldonline.com/2026/01/12/vallejo-city-council-to-elect-new-vice-mayor-tuesday/) 

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* "Newest Miss Vallejo Tri-City prioritizes cultural pride and education; Stevie Nettles aims to push for education and cultural pride in her one-year reign" (2026-01-10, https://www.timesheraldonline.com/2026/01/09/newest-miss-vallejo-tri-city-prioritizes-cultural-pride-and-education/) 
- image caption: Miss Vallejo Tri-City 2026, Stevie Nettles being crowned by two former titleholders Sydney Allen and Tonya Johnson. (Photo by Essex Cook)


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* "Pro-Inclusion Napa launches yard sign project promoting respect and kindness" (2026-01-06, https://napavalleyregister.com/news/pro-inclusion-napa-yard-signs/article_56038b68-1a71-48a0-838f-9fc376902a39.html) 

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* "Napa artist uses love of painting to build a business" (2026-01-12, https://napavalleyregister.com/business/napa-painting-class-teacher-jose-martinez/article_ada11cbd-5982-47b7-9e5c-fe61ce506535.html)
- image caption: Jose Martinez of Napa Valley Painting poses with students from one of his classes. Martinez is on the far right, bottom row. 


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* "Vallejo asks community for input on improving waterfront" (2026-01-12, https://www.timesheraldonline.com/2026/01/12/vallejo-asks-community-for-input-on-improving-waterfront/):
Vallejo wants to improve its waterfront and is asking on the community for help.
The Vallejo Waterfront Grant Implementation Plan will identify locations for new planting and irrigation upgrades funded by a grant for urban greening from the USDA. The city is asking for input that is “essential to help prioritize these improvements” according to a news release.
This month the city will host community workshops to share the project scope and goals, identify areas for planting and irrigation improvements along with pedestrian amenities. The workshops will also be a way to hear the communities ideas and preferences.
Round One of the workshops will take place Thursday, Jan. 22 at 6:30 p.m. in the Vallejo Room of the JFK Library.
Round Two will take place on Monday, Jan. 26 in a Zoom conference. The zoom site is Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83214707066.
For Additional Information, contact Oscar Alcantar, Interim Public Works Director for the City of Vallejo: oscar.alcantar@cityofvallejo.net Office: (707) 648-4105

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* "Vacaville Parks and Rec Commission hears Arts and Culture priorities" (2026-01-08, https://www.thereporter.com/2026/01/08/vacaville-parks-and-rec-commission-hears-arts-and-culture-priorities/)

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* "Moschetti Artisan Coffee seeks permission to buy its city-owned parking lot" (2026-01-10, https://www.timesheraldonline.com/2026/01/10/moschetti-artisan-coffee-seeks-permission-to-buy-its-city-owned-parking-lot/)

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Is your yellow coffee cup, with a happy face and "have a good day," passe?
Is the Disneyland 1970 mug sitting in your kitchen cabinet gathering dust?
Maybe it's a ceramic vessel used for coffee your ex left behind.
All three, and more, are welcome at the Jan. 18 Coffee Mug Swap in the Dona Benicia Room at the Benicia Library, 150 E. L St.
There is no limit to the number of coffee mugs one can bring. Those who just want to donate the mugs can take them by the library beginning Jan. 14.
Start the new year with a new mug.

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* "Volunteers sought for 2026 Point In Time homeless count" (2026-01-09, https://www.timesheraldonline.com/2026/01/09/volunteers-sought-for-2026-point-in-time-homeless-count/):
The City of Vallejo and Solano County are looking for volunteers to help conduct the 2026 Point in Time Count, a census of people experiencing homelessness.
The Point in Time Count is conducted nationally every two years for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This year’s count will take place on Jan. 29 between the hours of 7 a.m. and noon.
Volunteers help in surveying, data collection, and engagement with the unhoused community. Volunteers’ contributions provide invaluable insights that aid in the development of targeted solutions. The Point in Time count provides data used to determine funding from the state and federal government to help provide better programs and services to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
The 2024 Solano County Point in Time count was a community-wide effort conducted on Jan. 31, 2024.
For that snapshot in time, it is estimated that there were 1,725 people either in shelters or living on the streets of Solano County. The 2024 count tallied 682 people experiencing homelessness in Vallejo. Homelessness increased 50 percent in Vallejo between 2022 and 2024.
Homelessness grew 6 percent in the Bay Area in 2024 and 18 percent in the country.
For more information, reach out to the City of Vallejo at homelessness@cityofvallejo.net, or call Cap Solano JPA at (707) 784-6687.

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The city and the North Cordelia/Green Valley Landscape and Lighting Maintenance District are seeking volunteers for a Jan. 24 trash mob.
The project is to pick up trash around the Cordelia Library, from 9 to 10 a.m. Parking is available nearby at 5050 Business Center Drive.
All supplies will be provided. If it is raining, the event will be cancelled.
To register, contact Program Coordinator Karen Rees at krees@fairfield.ca.gov or call 707-428-7767.

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* "Newly renovated American Canyon Library addresses shifting community needs" (2026-01-05, https://napavalleyregister.com/eagle/news/american-canyon-library-renovation/article_68bd9afc-88e1-43e2-892c-adbca3547149.html)

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Valley Internet brings two projects to the Solano County Planning Commission on Thursday.
Headquartered in Suisun Valley, the company proposes to construct and operate a wireless communication facility consisting of a 50-foot-tall, self-supporting lattice tower and associated equipment within a 1,450-square-foot fenced lease area located in an unincorporated area of Fairfield, in the Cordelia Hills area, about 1.15 miles southwest of the city limits, between Interstate 80 and Interstate 680.
"The proposed project is part of a broader initiative funded by the American Rescue Plan Act to expand access to reliable, high-speed internet in underserved and unserved areas of rural Solano County. This effort aims to improve digital connectivity to support critical services such as telehealth, remote education, emergency communications, and economic development in rural communities," the staff report to the commission states.
[...]
Valley Internet also is requesting a use permit to construct a 35-foot lattice tower wireless facility powered by solar and battery systems. The facility includes antenna arrays, microwave dishes and ground equipment in an unincorporated area of Fairfield. The property is accessed from Highway 12.
[end excerpt]

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* "PG&E undergrounding Napa County power lines, but poles to remain; AT&T: No plans to bury fiber-optic cables in Mount Veeder" (2026-01-09, https://napavalleyregister.com/news/napa-wildfires-electricity-pge-undergrounding-mount-veeder-wildfires-power-lines-mcloughlin-eberling/article_72c045c3-4ca0-4322-a56a-5f91da929bab.html) 

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Caltrans is scheduled to enter a phase of its Highway 29 sinkhole repair project that will bring evening and nighttime traffic changes to the heart of the Napa Valley.
A sinkhole near Glos Lane north of Oakville was caused by a failing culvert that passes under the highway. Caltrans plans to replace the culvert over the next few months.
Initial work is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, through Saturday, Jan. 10, with a break on Sunday, Jan. 11. Crews are to resume work on the same schedule from Monday, Jan. 12, through Saturday, Jan. 17. All work depends on weather conditions, a Caltrans news release said.
One-way traffic control is to be in place and drivers should expect delays, the release said. Caltrans also announced a detour option that exits and reenters Highway 29 using Oakville Cross Road, Silverado Trail and Rutherford Road.
The distance between Oakville Cross Road and Rutherford Road on Highway 29 is about 2 miles. The distance between the two points using the detour is about 8.5 miles. 
Caltrans expects to close Highway 29 at the construction site at some point, but as of Jan. 2 had yet to announce the dates or times. The agency said work on replacing the culvert could continue until spring.
Napa County Public Works road updates say the culvert replacement project "could potentially be a major traffic disruption." Highway 29 and Silverado Trail are the only two north-south roads traversing Napa Valley.
Caltrans discovered the sinkhole in the center of Highway 29 in September. It made a temporary patch and put up orange cones to shift traffic partially to the shoulders.
Crews are to remove the failing culvert and install a cast-in-place culvert in its place.

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“Advocacy- how to get what you want from local/regional government” will be the topic of the Carquinez Village Speaker Series to be held at 10:30 am Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, at the Benicia Public Library, 150 East L St. in Benicia.
The featured speaker will be Monica Brown, Solano County Supervisor for District 2, which covers the City of Benicia, the southern half of the City of Vallejo, Cordelia, and Green Valley. On Jan.6 the Solano County Board of Supervisors elected Monica Brown as Chair for 2026.
Brown will help distinguish the services provided by city, county, state and federal levels of government. Her suggestions can help leverage the most influence that a citizen might request. Strategies will include how to build relationships, gather facts and statistics and mobilize supporters.
The program is free and open to the public. A question and answer session will follow the presentation.
The Dona Benicia room at the Benicia Library has an Assisted Listening System. To get access to this system the city must be contacted in advance. Hearing access can be provided by contacting Suzanne Thorson at 707-746-4382 or by email at adacoordinator@ci.benicia.ca.us.
The mission of the Carquinez Village is to help Benicia and Vallejo seniors to stay in their homes and to enrich their lives through connecting, supporting, and inspiring them.
More information about the Carquinez Village is available at https://www.carquinezvillage.com/ or by calling 707-297-2472.

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* "Solano County implements new mental health law" (2026-01-10, https://www.timesheraldonline.com/2026/01/10/solano-county-implements-new-mental-health-law/):
Solano County has officially implemented Senate Bill 43, a significant update to California’s mental health framework that took effect Jan. 1, following a two-year local deferral approved by the Board of Supervisors, officials announced Friday.
The delay allowed county agencies time to prepare, train staff, and engage community partners ahead of the law’s rollout, a press release from the county explains.
SB 43 modernizes the state’s landmark Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act, expanding how counties can respond when a person is unable to care for their own safety or medical needs due to serious mental health conditions, severe substance use disorders, or a combination of both. With implementation now underway, Solano County departments are operating under updated practices in coordination with healthcare providers, behavioral health services, law enforcement, and community organizations, the county noted.
“This law provides new guidance when someone cannot care for their own safety or medical needs,” said Jennifer Mullane, Chief Deputy of Behavioral Health for Solano County Health and Social Services. “Our focus remains on connecting people to appropriate and timely behavioral health support.” [end excerpt]

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* "Trump targets funding for child care and hospitals, Bay Area dollars fill gaps; Making up the difference: Local sales tax increases" (2026-01-07, https://www.timesheraldonline.com/2026/01/07/trump-targets-funding-for-childcare-and-hospitals-local-dollars-fill-gaps/) 

* "Court says Trump administration illegally blocked $7.6B in clean energy grants to Democratic states; 'Defendants freely admit that they made grant-termination decisions primarily — if not exclusively — based on whether the awardee resided in a state whose citizens voted for President Trump in 2024' " (2026-01-12, https://www.thereporter.com/2026/01/12/trump-clean-energy/)

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* "Solano cities plan ICE protests" (2026-01-09, https://www.thereporter.com/2026/01/09/solano-cities-plan-ice-protests/) 

* "Citizens shows up to protest, ‘crush ICE’ ; Approximately 200 people line up with flags, signs and whistles to voice angerment over ICE officials’ shooting of Renee Good" (2026-01-10, https://www.timesheraldonline.com/2026/01/10/citizens-shows-up-to-protest-crush-ice/)

* "Hundreds gather in Vacaville to protest ICE; The nationwide protests were sparked by the death of Renee Nicole Good" (2026-01-10, https://www.thereporter.com/2026/01/10/hundreds-gather-in-vacaville-to-protest-ice/) 

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* "Solano County employees to walk out Tuesday Two-day strike planned over stalled contract negotiations" (2026-01-12, https://www.timesheraldonline.com/2026/01/12/solano-county-employees-to-walk-out-tuesday/) 
* "Solano County braces for labor strike" (2026-01-10, https://www.timesheraldonline.com/2026/01/10/solano-county-braces-for-labor-strike/)
* "County workers protest at Supervisors meeting; Union members take turns urging board to negotiate" (2026-01-06, https://www.timesheraldonline.com/2026/01/06/county-workers-protest-at-supervisors-meeting/) 
* "County workers set strike dates; Four major unions choosing to strike at the same time on Jan. 13-14" (2026-01-05, https://www.timesheraldonline.com/2026/01/05/county-workers-set-strike-dates/) 

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* "Bay Area rallies protest U.S. incursion in Venezuela; Organizers decry ‘illegal attempt at regime change’; local politicians also signal strong opposition" (2026-01-05, https://www.timesheraldonline.com/2026/01/05/venezuela-bay-area-protest-san-jose/) 

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* "Rio Vista, Suisun tensions rise over CF plans" (2026-01-08, https://www.timesheraldonline.com/2026/01/08/rio-vista-suisun-tensions-rise-over-cf-plans/)

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* "Authors kick off speaker series with Vallejo’s founding family history; As a part of Mare Island Historic Park Foundation’s 2026 speaker series, authors Rose Marie Beebe and Robert Senkewicz detail the family’s stories" (2026-01-08, https://www.timesheraldonline.com/2026/01/08/authors-kick-off-speaker-series-with-vallejos-founding-family-history/) 

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* "Shorebird study includes Suisun numbers; Marsh numbers a mixed bag with some species showing growth, others a decline in nesting" (2026-01-06, https://www.timesheraldonline.com/2026/01/06/shorebird-study-includes-suisun-numbers/)

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* "Napa County Master Gardeners: Navigating backyard fungi" (2026-01-06, by Cindy Watter UC Master Gardener of Napa County, via https://napavalleyregister.com/arts-and-entertainment/home-gardening/uc-master-gardeners-napa-county-fungi/article_92a44d6e-1ac2-4798-a1f7-00feee1e018a.html) 

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* "Visible Comets 2025: See 2 Bright Comets in October 2025" (2025-10-16, https://starwalk.space/en/news/upcoming-comets) 

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Community Calendar



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At the Ethnic Notions Fine Art Gallery & Multicultural Bookstore
930 Marin st. in Vallejo // [facebook.com/ethnic.notions]

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Sara's Playhouse
21+ // FREE!
Wednesdays, 6 to 8:30pm 
At Kings Events @kingsevents707 
537 Georgia st. in Vallejo
Hosted by Sara Anders @iamsaraanders [facebook.com/lifestylesbysara] [facebook.com/SaraBlake7272], & Shaadie 
With Games, Music, and More!
To Uplift & Inspire with Unscripted Family Fun. NO PHONES

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V-Town Bikes
A local community group that meets up and rides bikes in Vallejo. Check them out on Facebook at:

Solano County Top 10 Bike Rides & Ten Great Bike Rides & Walks in Benicia
[https://sta.ca.gov/documents_and_report/solano-county-top-10-bike-rides/]

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Drawing Club
Saturdays 12 to 2 pm
All ages. Free!
City Arts Gallery, 420 Virginia St., in Downtown Vallejo - across from Treebed Design, just off Marin Street
A casual gathering where artists of all experience levels can hang out and draw together. Bring your own pencils, pens and paper. 
Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please, no ink bottles or paints.

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Moschetti's Coffee Tasting
Saturdays, 9am to 2pm

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Community Sound Healing (for Stress Release)
Every 2nd Saturday of the month
At the South Vallejo Arts & Cultural Complex
Sponsered by GVRD, & One People Tribe

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* "Vallejo’s ‘Fight Club’ offers open Friday fight nights; PAL Boxing has been an outlet for youth and offering boxing classes for over 50 years" (2025-08-05, https://www.vallejosun.com/vallejos-fight-club-offers-open-friday-fight-nights/) [archive.is/U0EdG]

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at The Exchange
617 Marin Street // @theexchangevallejo // [theexchangevallejo.com]
Welcome to Vallejo’s Creative Clubhouse - where work and community naturally mix.
Tools • Desks • Good Company 


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At Gentleman Jim's
21+ // 1324 Lincoln Road East, in Vallejo // [facebook.com/people/Gentleman-Jims-Vallejo/100087941410944]



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Solano County Black Owned Businesses (updated 2022)

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The Sparrow Project — First Baptist Church Vallejo
Free meals for the community so that nobody in Vallejo goes hungry. 

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Loma Vista Farm 


Vallejo Peoples Garden 
Sunday 9am-11am
1055 Azuar Dr., Mare Island


Unity Garden 
Sunday 10 am-1 pm 
2166 Sacramento Street


Kyles Temple Community Garden
Mondays 3-5 pm
2807 Sonoma Blvd.
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Benicia Community Gardens 
a project of Sustainable Solano 

Swenson Garden is located on the grounds of Heritage Presbyterian Church, 1400 East Second St., Benicia

Avant Garden is located at 400 First St., Benicia
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* Forrest Deaner Native Plant Botanic Garden 

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including Vallejo, Benicia, Contra Costa County, etc. 

Sonoma Valley farmer's markets
list from West County Gazette, October 2024

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And some music too!
* Sly & The Family Stone mash-up [archive.org/details/lenlow-do-your-thing-to-the-music-2021]
* Bob Marley Rainbow Remix [youtube.com/watch?v=QxKcPp2TcmQ]
* Duran Duran Pressure Off [youtube.com/watch?v=5qFhSWA9Cz4]


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STATE PARK PASSES
🌲 Check Out a State Parks Pass—For Free!
Library cardholders can  borrow a California State Library Parks Pass and enjoy free vehicle day-use entry to over 200 state parks! Just use your Solano County Library card to check out a pass—perfect for day trips with family or friends.
Passes cover entry for one vehicle (up to 9 passengers) or one motorcycle. Stop by your local library to borrow one today!
✨ Learn more at here [parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30806]. 
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California Fishing Passport
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The $1 Taco Tuesday is STILL happening!! (as of Tuesday, November 4th)
Take-out only, at Mi Jalisco, 1400 Tennessee St, Vallejo // (707) 652-5259

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Ribbon Cutting, Grand Opening of one and only Soccer Field in Vallejo 🎉 Contact Eduardo Paniagua, owner of La Cuchara Restaurant, 105 Couch Street, Vallejo (707) 654-8284 to get information about using the Soccer Field

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2025 Citizen Science Project: sampling the Napa River in Vallejo
Napa River water quality
Vallejo's Napa River has a long history of pollution from industrial sources, the local wastewater plant and rainwater runoff. Companies have been fined for violating water pollution laws during recent years. We want to sample the Mare Island Strait to better understand what's in the water, so we can work on improving the river strategically.

Why native plants?
Native plants are not only beautiful, they also benefit our ecosystem in multiple ways. Native plants require less water than non-native plants, and their robust root systems help filter and clean water before it runs off or percolates into the ground. Native plants don't rely on chemical fertilizers, an they provide food and shelter for native pollinators and wildlife.

Our free native plants are available to residents in 94590 or 94589 zip codes, where many neighborhoods have histories of discriminatory housing practices and increased pollution burdens.
Questions? Comments? Want to collaborate or volunteer? Contact annie @ocefoundation.org (510) 910-4535

Our Children's Earth [www.ocefoundation.org]
Rose Foundation for communities & the environment
California Sportfishing Protection Alliance


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Support the Monarch Migration
Help Monarch Watch Get Milkweeds in the Ground
Monarch butterfly numbers are at an all-time low. Many pollinators are declining as well. Loss of habitat threatens the monarch migration. Your support for habitat threatens the monarch migration. Your support for habitat restoration will help sustain monarchs, pollinators, ground-nesting birds and other wildlife. Over 70% of our native plants and more than 30% of our crops are pollinated by insects.
Your generous contributions allow us to work with nurseries to produce and distribute  hundreds of thousands of milkweeds each year. Donations are used to underwrite our Free Milweeks for Restoration program through which we distribute milweeds to organizations that lack funds for habitat restoration.
Donate to Monarch Watch: monarchwatch.org/donate
To apply for free milkweeds, please visit monarchwatch.org/free-milkweeds
To obtain milkweeds for gardens, please visit our Milkweed Market via milkweedmarket.org
Visit Monarch Watch online at monarchwatch.org or connect with us via Facebook, Instagram, or X.com (Twitter) for the latest monarch news and information.

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* "How to avoid bee-killing pesticides" [environmentamerica.org/center/articles/how-to-avoid-bee-killing-pesticides]. To save the bees, you should avoid toxic bee-killing pesticides called neonicotinoids. Use our guide to identify which pesticides contain neonicotinoids.

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* "Californians Urged to Observe and Report Monarch Butterfly Sightings" (2025-09-04, https://www.calparks.org/press/californians-urged-observe-and-report-monarch-butterfly-sightings)

California Biodiversity Day is celebrated from September 6th to September 14th

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Green House Calls [https://risingsunopp.org/programs/ghc/]
Provided by BAYREN and Rising Sun Center for Opportunity
(510) 665-1501 ext. 300
Our Climate Careers program provides energy and water efficiency services, called Green House Calls, to households throughout the greater Bay Area and city of Stockton
The best part? It won’t cost you anything. Really.
 Take part in an in-person or virtual Green House Call by completing our 15-minute online survey to determine your personalized efficiency needs.
What do I receive when I participate in a Green House Call?
As part of your Green House Call, you’ll receive:
LED light bulbs
High-efficiency bathroom and kitchen faucet aerators and high-efficiency showerhead(s) (same pressure, less water)
A toilet leak detection test
Your choice of: a smart power strip ($70 value), two smart energy plugs, OR a single burner induction cooktop
One smart LED light bulb
Energy savings tips booklet 
Foam weather tape 


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The Vallejo First 5 Center // at 3375 Sonoma Blvd. Suite #10 in Vallejo // [https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/first5/vallejo_first_5_center.asp]

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Solano County Behavioral Health 

Healing Through Stories: A Discussion Panel
May 22 | 2 PM – 3:30 PM
John F. Kennedy Library, Vallejo
Hear powerful personal stories and insights on healing, recovery, and resilience.

Movie Night: Inside Out 2 + Discussion
May 29 | 5 PM – 7:30 PM
601 Texas Street, Fairfield
Enjoy a screening of Inside Out 2, followed by a short, thoughtful discussion on emotions and mental wellness.

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National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Solano County
EDUCATION * SUPPORT * OUTREACH * ADVOCACY
www.NAMISolaoCounty.org
NAMI Solano County is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization
Organized in 1985, NAMI SOlano County is a grassroots non-profit organization dedicated to assisting those living with mental illness and their families.
NAMI Solano County is an affiliate of NAMI National and NAMI California. WIth renowned programs, classes, dedicated volunteers, workshops and conferences, publications and online resources, we seek to improve the lives of those affected by mental illness.
Funding Provided by Solano County Board of Supervisors, Health and Social Services and also funded by the Mental Health Services Act.
P.O. Box 3334, Fairfield, CA 94533
(707) 438-9510
info@NAMISolanoCounty.org

Our Mission -
- Education: Our programs provide the tools, awareness, and coping skills needed to overcome the challenges faced by people and families affected by mental illness.
- Support: Our groups are facilitated by trained family members and indivduals who have firsthand experience coping with mental illness.
- Outreach: We strive to end discrimination and stigma for all those persons affected by mental illness through broader education and collaboration with the whole community.
- Advocacy: We advocte for the rights of those living with mental illness and their families on the local, state and national levels, striving to raise awareness of mental health issues and improve access to quality care.
Learn more about NAMI and mental illness at www.nami.org/Learn-More

Help us stomp out stigma! Volunteer with us!
As a volunteer organization, it is our community (like you!) that conducts all our local activities, classes, fundraising, advocacy, service projects and support.
- Participate in our annual Holiday Gift Bag project which has delivered more than 10000 bags filled with gifts and hygiene items for those living mental illness.
- Lend your voice to improve officer and consumer safety. Respected by local law enforcement, NAMI is welcome at Law Enforcement Crisis Intervention Trainings.
- Advocate for better treatment and services for those with mental illness by writing letters and meeting with legislators and community leaders.
- Be visible at community events. Speak out to educate and reduce stigma.
Learn more about volunteer opportunities and sign up on our website - www.NAMISolanoCounty.org
Demonstrate your ongoing support of Mental Health in Solano County. 

Become a member. Membership benefits include: 
- "Members Only" section of our website
- Membership with NAMI California & NAMI National
- Periodic newsletter 
- Friends and a support network of peers
Membership is annual, $40 for individuals, $60 for household, $5 for those in need.
Make checks payable to NAMI Solano County.

Our Resource Line: (707) 422-7792
The Resource Line offers non-judgemental support, Compassionate listening, and information and/or referrals on multitude of mental health issues and resources, including:
- Understanding mental illness and its effect on individuals, families, and friends.
- Understanding the mental health laws and systems, how to obtain mental health services, and how to overcome obstacles to getting help with mental health problems.
- NAMI education classes and programs.
- Support groups for individuals and their families, offered by NAMI and other organizations.
- Referrals to services available from agencies within Solano County.
- Referrals to commonly requested community resources, including: legal services, financial assistance, housing, job training and placement, and social support and activities.
Resource Line volunteers have years of lived experience and personal knowledge of the problems individuals and families are facing.
Our Resource Line is not answered immediately. Please leave your name, phone number, and a brief message. Someone WILL return your call!

Monthly General Meetings
Featuring Educational & Supportive Speakers
All are Welcome!
Last Monday of each month at 6:30pm
(No Meeting in May or December)
Check our website for the monthly meeting topic and other details.
www.NAMISolanoCounty.org

Education Classes, Support Groups, Speakers, and Outreach
Please email or call for details, dates and registration
info@namisolanocounty // (707) 438-9510
Education & Groups are Nationally Acclaimed, and Always Free of Charge, Taught by trained facilitators who have lived experience with mental illness.
- Family-to-Family: A 9-session educational class for family members of those living with mental illness.
- Basics: A 6-session class for parents/caregivers of children and teens with mental health conditions. (on-line)
- Peer-to-Peer: An 8-session course for adults living with mental health challanges.
- In Our Own Voice: A presentation by trained speakers who share their stories of living with mental health challenges and achieving recovery.
- Mental Health 101: A multi-media, culturally diverse informative presentation showcasing mental health signs and symptoms.
- Ending the Silence:  A 50-minute presentation designed foe teens to educate about the warning signs of mental health conditions and how to help.
- NAMI on Campus (High School & College): These student-;ed clubs raise mental health awareness and reduce stigma on campusthrough peer-led activities and education.
- Connection Support Group: A support group for adults living with mental health challenges.
- Family Support Group: A Support Group for family members, friends and advocates of people living with mental illness.



In-Person General Connection Support Group
Every 1st Tuesday at 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Looking for support with a mental health condition or in need of some mental health support? Join our in-person peer support group!
NAMI Solano County is inviting you to the next scheduled in-person General Connection Group meeting. 
Find hope, help & sharing in a safe, confidential environment.
This is a free and confidential support group for any adult (18+) that has a mental health condition or is simply having a hard time and needs extra support. This is an ongoing, drop-in group, focused on support and skill building through sharing experiences, resources, and comfort. Participants do not need to reside in Solano county to join!
Click the link below to view the flyer with more details.
Every 1st Tuesday at 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM Pacific Time
NO REGISTRATION NEEDED – LOCATION BELOW
Location: La Clinica North Vallejo
200 Hospital Drive, Vallejo - Building 170
Phone: 707-641-1900
NOTE: Try to arrive early to give yourself time to park and/or find the building.

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Bay Area Rescue Mission 
Fighting homelessness. Changing Lives.

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California Commission of the Status of Women
[women.ca.gov] // (916) 651-5405

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A Shared Blessing on 1610a Springs rd accepts donations. They distribute food and clothing to the homeless and needy in Vallejo.

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Gaylesta: The Psychotherapist Association for Gender and Sexual Diversity (https://gaylesta.org/)

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4th Second's Youth Empowerment Program [4thsecond.org/about-us] - youth center on Tuolumne st. [instagram.com/4thsecondyep]


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Common Ground IAF
We work on concrete issues that we can do something about. Once potential issues are identified, we do research and power analysis to develop practical, achievable solutions. We measure success with a triple bottom line: Are we bringing about change? Are we developing leadership? Are we growing the power of people to act on their values?
Join us on Monday, September 30 from 6:30–8:00pm at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church (1905 Florida Street in Vallejo) for our Common Ground Civic Academy.

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Recology Vallejo American Canyon
2021 Broadway Street
Vallejo, CA 94589
707.552.3110 Monday to Friday, 8 AM – 5 PM
recology.com/vallejo
facebook.com/recologyvallejoamericancanyon


One of the most effective ways to help our planet be healthier is by adopting sustainable practices such as the five Rs: refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, and rot.

WHATBIN.COM
Recycling saves precious resources, such as water and trees, and reduces energy consumption.
Materials such as paper, glass, and some metals and plastics are remanufactured and made into new products. Recology accepts a variety of materials for recycling.
The Recology website whatbin.com is an excellent tool to know, without a doubt, what goes in which bin. 
YOUR PLASTIC BOTTLE CAPS CAN BE RECYCLED!
Once the plastic bottle is empty, screw the cap back on and put it in your blue bin.
Caps must be on the plastic bottle to be recycled, or they fall through the sorting machines and end up in the landfill. 
COMPOSTABLE PLASTICS AREN’T
Compostable plastics are marketed as a green alternative to plastics. They are supposed to break down into compost. However, the reality is that we do not yet have the infrastructure to break these materials down. These items can’t be recycled either because they are not plastic and should not be mixed with plastic. Please put them in the landfill bin. Better yet, employ reusable containers and utensils.

PET WASTE GOES IN THE LANDFILL BIN
Our cats’ and dogs’ poop can contain harmful parasites and bacteria. If flushed or composted, these can end up in our waterways or food systems. And no one wants that.
Please put pet waste in the gray bin, even kitty litter that may be labeled “flushable.”

LANDFILL FACTS
When waste is sent to the landfill, nothing is sorted out.
This is why it’s especially important to keep recyclables, food scraps and other compostables, and hazardous waste out of the gray bin. Landfills can only hold so much material, and when they’re filled up, more dump space must be found.
Putting recycling in the landfill means wasting a lot of materials that could be used for new products.
Putting food scraps, yard trimmings, and other compostables in the landfill increases emissions of harmful gases, such as methane.
Putting hazardous materials, such as paints, solvents, and batteries in the landfill can start fires and release toxic compounds into the air.
Sort your discards to get the full benefits of recycling and composting and help protect the environment.

FARMS, NOT LANDFILL -
By participating in curbside collection for composting, you keep food scraps, yard trimmings, and food-soiled paper out of the  landfill, thus reducing methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas. Recology collects these materials and turns them into nutrient-rich compost that nurtures soils on local farms. In this way, composting helps close the loop on food production, making it an effective way to return valuable nutrients to the earth and promote healthy ecosystems.
Pick up Recology compost for use in your yard at 2021 Broadway, 8 AM – 3:30 PM Thursday – Saturday. Limit 2 bags while supplies last. Reusing, recycling, and composting are powerful ways to take action and make a positive difference for the planet.

CLEAR CLUTTER FOR FREE!
Use your annual Dump Coupon or one of your four free Bulky Item Pickups to remove big or heavy items that won’t fit in your bins.
The Dump Coupon, which you should have received in the mail, is good for a one-time use at the Devlin Road Transfer Station through the end of the year. You may drop off one load up to and not exceeding 1,000 pounds. The original coupon must be presented with an ID that matches the address of your Recology account.
A single-family residence Bulky Item Pickup is equivalent to 2 cubic yards (3ft x 3ft x 6ft): approximately 12, 32-gallon bags of trash and 3 oversized items such as furniture, mattresses, or a refrigerator.
Freon removal charges apply. Schedule a pickup by calling 707.552.3110 or emailing vallejocustomerservice@recology.com. 


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Places to Visit

* "21 San Francisco tourist spots every local should visit; From a landmark-themed mini golf course to a Liberty ship and world-famous prison, these guidebook-ready destinations are fun for everyone" (https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/2023/tourist-spots-sf/) [archive.is/ahkLY]

Highway 1 Road Trip [highway1roadtrip.com]

* "These are 15 of the Bay Area’s best-kept secrets; Our guide to the odd museums, hidden arcades, under-the-radar hikes and cactus gardens that make the region so fascinating" (2025-10-23, https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/2025/bay-area-best-secrets/) [archive.is/brVqY]

* "This waterfront park was a landfill. Now it’s one of the most unique hikes in the Bay Area" (2025-09-18, https://www.sfchronicle.com/totalsf/article/albany-bulb-park-art-21043940.php) [archive.is/9yhdI]

* "This historic town — with beer, beavers and a shipwreck — is the Bay Area’s secret getaway" (2015-10-16, https://www.sfchronicle.com/totalsf/article/martinez-downtown-city-east-bay-21092983.php) [archive.is/syxJD]

Placer County [visitplacer.com]

Rancho Cordova [visitranchocordova.com]


Roaring Camp Railroads
Choose your adventure back in time... to ancient redwoods or the sparkling Pacific Ocean.
See giant California coastal redwood trees from two historic railways. Step back in timie to an 1880s' western town and visit Roaring Camp's Main Street complete with train depot, general store, blacksmith, marshal's office, train museum and other vintage shops. Have an authentic western meal at Georgie's Cookhouse or the chuckagon barbeque.
Two historic railways are operated by Roaring Camp... the Redwood Forest Train and the Beach Train. The Redwood Forest Train runs daily year-round (except Christmas) and takes passangers on a six-mile, 75-minute ride through majestic, old-growth redwood trees hundreds of years old.
The Beach Train operates seasonally from April through September. It travels through California's Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park following a scenic river gorge and ending at a seaside amusement park along the beach of Santa Cruz. Travel time in one direction is one hour.



Visit Petaluma

* Petualuma Downtown [petalumadowntown.com]
* Charles M. Schulz Museum [schulzmuseum.org]



Point Reyes National Seashore



Owens Valley Paiute Shoshone 





Mono County: California's Great Beyond 


Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve


Visit Dogtown, Mono County (now a ghost town) 


Visit Mammoth [visitmammoth.com]




Travel Guide to Route 66: The Mother Road 

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Thrift Stores

Hidden Treasures Boutique
at 1010 Tennessee Street, in Vallejo
* "House of Acts connects recovery and community in Vallejo; Hidden Treasures Boutique offers free and low cost clothes while supporting people in House of Acts’ programs" (2025-08-21, https://www.vallejosun.com/house-of-acts-connects-recovery-and-community-in-vallejo/) [archive.is/mN1ct]


J&L Treasure Chest
714 Marin st., in downtown Vallejo
Open Wednesday thru Saturday 10am 'til 4pm

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KDRT 95.7 FM in Davis [kdrt.org/listen]
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The 707 FM radio show in Sonoma Co. (norcalpublicmedia.org/radio-programs/the-707).
The 707 is an all-new half-hour weekly radio show and podcast airing Fridays at 6:00 PM on KRCB 104.9 FM. Hosted by Michelle Marques with contributions from the KRCB News Team, the show offers compelling interviews and stories from Sonoma County and beyond. Expect rich soundscapes, moving stories, and fresh perspectives on the North Bay community. The 707 is your new go-to for all things local, lively, and unmissable!
Suggestions for guests or topics? Email the707@krcb.org

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The Watershed Nursery Cooperative:
California Native Plants and Habitat Enhancement Services
The Watershed Nursery has extensive experience growing California native plants for gardeners, landscapers, and revegetation projects.
We are committed to providing dependable service and quality site-specific gene-stock for Northern and Central California. The measure of our succes extends beyond the high quality material that leaves the nursery to the establishment of diverse, healthy, functioning ecosystems.
The Watershed Nursery was founded in 2001, by wetland and environmental scientists who, after many years of working in local restoration projects, discovered the need fo high quality California native plant material. We developed our collecting and propagation protocols to enhance genetic diversity of our plant material to facilitate greater resilience in the face of varying site and climatic conditions. Nursery propagation, container selection, and harden-off procedures are designed to maximize out-planting success.
We take pride in providing exceptional customer service and superior native California plant material. We are passionate about improving local habitat via gardens, landscapes and wildlands. We are also dedicated to providing clean plants through our phytosanitary BMP practices.

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Mutual Aid & Skill Share
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