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Christmas always makes me reflect on the year past, and plan for the year to come. This year, though, my reflection is more about people and relationships than it is about projects and accomplishments. My thoughts have turned to friends, family, and the things we do to help each other. What a joy to have friends and neighbors there when I need them! And even more of a joy to give back when others need me.
In this special holiday update, we have gathered stories about how our community helps our own families, friends and others in need during the holiday season. I don't pretend that this is a complete storybook; these were submitted by readers and there are many, many more examples. In 2016, let's keep it going, appreciate our friends and family, and give to others in gratitude.
Have a fantastic holiday!
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City Offices Closed for Holidays
Seasons Greetings from our families to yours! City offices will be closed for the holidays from Thursday, December 24, 2015 through Friday, January 1, 2016. Offices will re-open on Monday, January 4, 2016. The Senior Center will be open 9 AM - 2 PM during this time, except on Christmas Day and New Year's Day (Fridays).
FOR AFTER-HOURS ASSISTANCE, PLEASE CALL THE FOLLOWING:
- For Emergency Calls Only dial 911
- For non-emergency call American Canyon Police and Fire Dispatch (707) 648-0171
- For an urgent Public Works or Parks related matter call the answering service at (707) 995-8674
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Bring your Own Bag American Canyon
Our Single-Use Plastic Bag Ordinance kicks off on JANUARY 1, 2016. In most cases, retailers will no longer be giving out single-use plastic bags after the first of the year. Need a new, reusable bag? The City of American Canyon has one for you FREE of charge. You may pick up your bag during normal business hours at City Hall, the Public Safety Building on Donaldson Way East, the Parks and Recreation Department offices on Benton Way, and the Senior Center on Elliott Drive. For more details about this city-wide ordinance, click here. (The Senior Center will be open during the holiday break as noted above.)
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Cubs and Scouts Food Pantry Collection
The Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts worked together and collected more than one ton of food for the food pantry here in American Canyon.
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Local Groups Help Those in Need
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Natalie Correll & Cathy Dacaney
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| | Karina Servente & Natalie Correll |
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Each year, the American Canyon Mom's Club participates in the Family Resource Center's Adopt-a-Family program. In March 2015, the Mom's Club Board came up with a new idea to raise funds by participating in the Community Wide Yard Sale in May. Before they knew it they had a garage full of all kinds of items from their club members and they raised $1,600 to adopt four local families for the holidays. The pictures show several members enjoying the shopping spree for their adopted families!
City employees also participate in the annual event and this year we contributed more than $500 in cash and gifts to two American Canyon families.
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Global Literacy Outreach
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Global Literacy Outreach (GLO) utilized space at the American Canyon Welcome Center to do some gift giving and to spread holiday cheer. More than 100 families participated with kids getting Christmas gifts and free Santa photos while parents enjoyed coffee and desserts.
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Season of Giving Community Event
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This time of year seems to bring out the best in all of us. With American Canyon's diverse population, we celebrate many holidays and easily get in the "Holiday Spirit" - shopping, dining, worshiping, decorating, etc. But some in our community can use a little help during this holiday season. The Season of Giving is a celebration of our community's willingness to support each other. The effort is led by the American Canyon Kiwanis Club, but many non-profits, businesses, city officials, churches and individuals in our community come together to provide holiday assistance for needy families and seniors of American Canyon.
The Season of Giving was a success again this year. Families and Seniors were treated with snacks, games, and carolers. The American Canyon High School Choir engaged the kids in the twelve days of Christmas. Our own Joan Bennett read T'was the Night Before Christmas. To top off the event, Santa and Mrs. Claus came with cookie treats and presents for the children. The American Canyon Emergency Food Pantry provided families with two boxes each of food items raised through the Boys and Girls Scout Community Food Drive, the Safeway "End Hunger" Drive, and donations from businesses and individuals of our community.
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Saturday, December 19th Season of Giving Mayor & First Lady Garcia selfie with Key Club Volunteers Isabel Radana, Tammy Lam, Rebecca Richards with ACHS Chamber Choir background
Lions Club Volunteers Ben Anderson, Fran Lemos, Nelia Medeiros, Karina Servente, and Rich Peterson
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Operation Cookie Drop
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| The Travis Cookie Drop provides holiday cheer to Travis Air Force Base Airman living in the dorms. The Cookie Drop is for all service members who are away from home for the holidays, especially the young airmen who are away for the first time. The DoubleTree generously donated 200 cookies for the drop. Click here to read about the event.
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Recology Holiday Schedule
Recology American Canyon will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day - if your regularly scheduled pickup service is on a Friday your cans will be emptied on the Saturday after the holiday.
Streetsweeping isn't effective during rain so you you won't see the sweepers when it rains. They're doing their best to to get caught up when it dries out. If you have concerns or questions about this call Recology at 552-3110.
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Speaking of Disposal...
Traditionally, yuletide songs are sung around a sparkling Christmas tree or a roaring log fire -- not a sewer. Pouring cooking oils down sinks and flushing wet wipes down toilets can cause blockages, leading to flooding of homes and streets. We borrowed this video from Southern Water in England to help pass along the message! Spoiler Alert - it's a really fun video!
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Slow Down for the Cone Zones
Between now and the New Year there are several active construction zones in town on American Canyon Road East, Newell Drive and Flosden Road. On American Canyon Road East a contractor is installing fiber optic cable with just minor periodic lane closures; the turf in the medians on Newell Drive is being replaced with water-efficient plants and the overhead spray irrigation will be switched to drip irrigation. This project saves water while meeting the new State requirement limiting irrigation of ornamental turf in road medians. Lastly, the southbound lanes of Flosden Road* from American Canyon Road to the southern city limits will get some much needed improvements. Grinding, overlay and new striping will be completed by a contractor during the next two weeks and should only take a couple of days depending on the weather.
*As of this newsletter print time the Flosden Road project is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday (December 29 & 30) - the first day ONLY a detour will be in place and part of the southbound Flosden lanes will be completely closed to traffic. Please watch for signage and the traffic flagger in the area for directions.
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Sandbag Station Available During Holidays
During the holiday closure our Public Works Department has made available a self-serve sandbag station in the empty lot next to City Hall (the north end of the City Hall parking lot). Bring your own shovel and gloves, we have sand and bags available for residents and businesses.
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Holiday Auto Burglary Prevention
The American Canyon Police Department wishes you all a happy holiday season. We want everyone to be able to enjoy the season and the spirit of giving safely so we have put together some tips that may help protect you from becoming the victim of a vehicle burglary. Most auto burglaries happen when valuable items are left in plain sight. During the holidays we often see an increase in this type of crime. Following a few simple suggestions could mean the difference in you being a victim or not.
Don't leave valuables in your car
If you must leave valuable items in your car while out and about, place items out of sight before reaching your destination or move them inconspicuously.
Leave no trace
Don't leave any sign that there might be valuables "out of sight" in your vehicle, such as docking stations or connector cables. Leave nothing in "plain sight" that might make your vehicle worth investigating by a thief; not even loose coins or a CD.
Try to park in busy, well-lighted areas
Try to park in well-traveled areas. Auto-burglars prefer breaking into cars where they will not be observed or attract notice.
Lock ALL your vehicle's doors
Even if you plan to be gone for only a brief time, lock your doors. Every year, we have items stolen from unlocked vehicles where the owner was only going to be gone "just for a second". It only takes seconds to steal your stuff! It's not at all uncommon for thieves to walk down a row of parked vehicles and check vehicle doors to see if they are unlocked.
Set any alarm or anti-theft device
If you have one, use it! Car alarms can be an effective deterrent to an auto-burglar, who most often chooses the easiest target. If they have two cars to choose from, one with an alarm and one without, they will likely burglarize the one without (unless you've left out valuables that are just too good to ignore!).
Items Most Commonly Stolen from Vehicles
Backpacks, gym bags, briefcases, day-planners
Cash/coins, checkbooks and credit/debit cards
Wallets and purses (even when hidden under a seat or in an unlocked glove compartment)
Laptop computers, iPods and MP3 players, and docking stations
Cell phones and chargers
Portable GPS navigation systems, Stereo/CD players and faceplates, amps, speakers (even when bolted down)
Jewelry, keys, mail (identity theft), tools
Anything of obvious value
What to do if something is stolen out of your car
As soon as you notice something's stolen (or that your car has been broken into) do not touch/adjust anything in, on, or around the car. As soon as possible, call the police to report the incident.
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Season's greetings from the Parks and Recreation Department!
We've had fun hosting some exciting new events this year, as well as our traditional favorites. Wishing everyone a fun and safe New Year!
And the Winners are...
People's Choice Category Winner:
1918 Elliott Drive |
Twinkling Category Winner:
339 Summerwood
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Brightest Category Winner:
54 Sarcedo Way
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Congratulations to our Holiday Decorating Contest winners: Twinkling (home with the most twinkling lights) - Victor Zamora at 339 Summerwood Drive; Colorful (Home with the most multi-colored lights) - Ivy Edora at 26 Sarcedo Way; Brightest (Home with the most white lights) - Theresa Sicad at 54 Sarcedo Way; People's Choice Award - Rhonda McIntyre & Richard Harp at 1918 Elliott Drive. Thank you to all who participated and Eagle Vines Realty for sponsoring the event. Click here to view the American Canyon Eagle article about the winners. (Photos: Noel Brinkerhoff/American Canyon Eagle)
Click here to view our Fall/Winter Activities Guide with all the classes and events happening in September 2015 through March 2016.
Upcoming activities:
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Class
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Ages/Grades
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Activity Date/Time
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Cost
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Location
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All ages |
Jan. 16th, Feb. 27th,
or Mar. 26th 4 - 5 PM
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$10/class |
Varies |
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15+
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January 4-7 M-TH 8:30 AM - 5 PM
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$175 |
Phillip West Aquatic Center |
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6-17 |
Session 2: Jan 9 - Mar 12 Saturdays 12 - 1:45 PM
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$130
($30 materials fee paid to instructor)
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Senior Center |
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4-7 |
Session 3: Jan 3 - 24 Sundays 12:30-1:30 PM
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Residents: $40/month
Non-Residents: $45/month |
Community Center Gym |
For more information contact us at: (707) 648-7275
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