Rio Vista Newspaper December 21, 2011

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Weekly Direct Mailer Paper riovistabeacon.com Volume 14 Issue 51 925.550.7811 [email protected] December 21st, 2011 Happy Holiday’s from the Beacon 7:00 am to 9:30 pm FREE Coffee Christmas Eve & Day from 8 am to 10 am! Bringing back Menudo Christmas Eve & Prime Rib Christmas Day! Happy Holidays!! Open Christmas Day!! PRST STD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID EDDM Retail Merry Christmas order your Holiday Rib Eye Roast &Seafood We have Chicken and Pork Tamales for the Holidays A Few New California Laws 2012 Employment Credit Check Law Employers can no longer request credit reports for Californians unless they are working or seeking work in a financial institution, law enforcement or the state Justice Department. The law also exempts anyone who (1) has access to people’s bank or credit card account information, SSN number and date of birth, (2) has access to an employer’s proprietary information or trade secrets, (3) signs a check, creadit card, finan- cial contract, or transfers money for an employer, Continued on Page 2 Home for the Elderly Golden Star Home 707-374-4087 408-616-0734 Live –In Registered Nurse Quality Care: Private or Shared Rooms, Hospice Respect, Ambulatory and Non-Ambulatory Care License # 486801846 www.goldenstarhome.com Demonstrating the spirit of Thanksgiving and Christmas, Soroptimist’s Students of Achievement for November-December both thanked their families for assis- tance and support in their reports to the club. Mayra Román and Jack Cronin were chosen for the honor By the RVHS Mathematics department. Mayra is the daughter of Julia and Leo Román and has three sisters, Ana, Veronica and Daniela. She was born in Lodi and has lived in Rio Vista for three years. She is an honor roll student and a member of the National Honor Society. She is also a member of Interact and secretary of the Culture Club, and plays soccer and volleyball. Mayra’s favorite subjects are mathematics and art, and she hopes to attend the College of Saint Mary in Omaha, Nebraska, to major in mathematics and become a high school math teacher. Jack Cronin says he has lived in Rio Vista “nearly my whole life.” His parents are John and Jane Cronin, and his siblings Blake and Hannah. Like Mayra, Jack is a member of the National Honor Society and Interact. He also belongs to AFS, and JSA. An avid sportsman, he competes in Football, basketball, golf and high school rodeo. He is active in 4-H and as a volunteer for Solano County Ag Day. Jack’s favorite subjects are Math and Economics. He hopes to attend UC Da- vis or Cal Poly SLO. Soroptimists of Rio Vista thank these two young people for their contributions to the community, and for their reporting on high school activi- ties and events. Students of the Month are Thankful for Assistance and Support John C Chevy Chase Christmas Vacation Roxanne Paton Christmas Story Kathy and Caylee Borges Miracle on 34th Street Owen Derury Polar Express Question on the Street Twas the Night Before Christmas to Shop Rio Vista ‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through Rio Vista Not a creature was stirring, not even a Bass The wreathes were hung on the businesses doors with care, In hopes that customers soon would be there; The shop owners were nestled all snug in their shops, While visions of buying local danced at their doorstops; And one shop keeper in her ‘kerchief, and another in their cap, Had just settled down for a long night ahead with a nap When out on the streets there arose such a clatter, They sprang from their shops to see whats the matter. Away to the windows they flew like a flash, Tore open the doors and waited for the dash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen rain Gave the luster of dusk of objects to claim, When, what to their wondering eyes should appear, But a city of customers, shopping local this year, With some drivers, so lively and quick, They had come shopping for their last minute picks More rapid than eagles these shoppers came, And they whistled, and shouted, and called the businesses by name; “Let’s shop at Pets 4 All, Donnelly’s, and Robin’s Nest they are chic Eat at Lucy’s or Foster’s its unique Keep shopping at Books of Rio, and Radio Shack Eat at Pizza Factory, The Point or Tortilla Flats, Don’t forget Lira’s Supermarket They help you shop on a budget. Remember to shop for yourself this year, Like at Awender’s, Tradin Post, give them a cheer You get the idea, get out there and shop local Support all businesses in Rio Vista it’s very thoughtful We heard everyone exclaim, as they went home for the night We will continue to support our city in 2012 and everything will be alright “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.” What is your favorite Christmas Movie? (asked after the Christmas Parade)

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Rio Vista Newspaper December 21, 2011

Transcript of Rio Vista Newspaper December 21, 2011

Page 1: Rio Vista Newspaper December 21, 2011

Weekly Direct Mailer Paperriovistabeacon.com

Volume 14 Issue 51 925.550.7811 [email protected] December 21st, 2011

Happy Holiday’s from the Beacon

7:00 am to 9:30 pm

FREE Coffee Christmas Eve & Day from 8 am to 10 am!

Bringing back Menudo Christmas Eve & Prime Rib Christmas Day!

Happy Holidays!!

Open Christmas

Day!!

PRST

STD

ECRW

SSU

.S. P

OST

AG

EPA

IDED

DM

Ret

ail

Merry Christmas order your Holiday Rib Eye Roast &SeafoodWe have Chicken and Pork Tamales for the Holidays

A Few New California Laws 2012Employment Credit Check LawEmployers can no longer request credit reports for Californians unless they are working or seeking work in a financial institution, law enforcement or the state Justice Department. The law also exempts anyone who(1) has access to people’s bank or credit card account information, SSN number and date of birth,

(2) has access to an employer’s proprietary information or trade secrets, (3) signs a check, creadit card, finan-cial contract, or transfers money for an employer, Continued on Page 2

Home for the Elderly

Golden Star Home

707-374-4087408-616-0734

Live –In Registered Nurse

Quality Care: Private or Shared Rooms, Hospice Respect,

Ambulatory and Non-Ambulatory Care

License # 486801846 www.goldenstarhome.com

Demonstrating the spirit of Thanksgiving and Christmas, Soroptimist’s Students of Achievement for November-December both thanked their families for assis-tance and support in their reports to the club. Mayra Román and Jack Cronin were chosen for the honor By the RVHS Mathematics department.

Mayra is the daughter of Julia and Leo Román and has three sisters, Ana, Veronica and Daniela. She was born in Lodi and has lived in Rio Vista for three years. She is an honor roll student and a member of the National Honor Society. She is also a member of Interact and secretary of the Culture Club, and plays soccer and volleyball.

Mayra’s favorite subjects are mathematics and art, and she hopes to attend the College of Saint Mary in Omaha, Nebraska, to major in mathematics and become a high school math teacher.

Jack Cronin says he has lived in Rio Vista “nearly my whole life.” His parents are John and Jane Cronin, and his siblings Blake and Hannah. Like Mayra, Jack is a member of the National Honor Society and Interact. He also belongs to AFS, and JSA. An avid sportsman, he competes in Football, basketball, golf and high school rodeo. He is active in 4-H and as a volunteer for Solano County Ag Day.

Jack’s favorite subjects are Math and Economics. He hopes to attend UC Da-vis or Cal Poly SLO. Soroptimists of Rio Vista thank these two young people for their contributions to the community, and for their reporting on high school activi-ties and events.

Students of the Month are Thankful for Assistance and Support

John CChevy Chase

Christmas Vacation

Roxanne PatonChristmas Story

Kathy and Caylee BorgesMiracle on 34th Street Owen Derury

Polar Express

Question on the Street

Twas the Night Before Christmas to Shop Rio Vista‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through Rio VistaNot a creature was stirring, not even a BassThe wreathes were hung on the businesses doors with care,In hopes that customers soon would be there;The shop owners were nestled all snug in their shops,While visions of buying local danced at their doorstops;And one shop keeper in her ‘kerchief, and another in their cap,Had just settled down for a long night ahead with a napWhen out on the streets there arose such a clatter,They sprang from their shops to see whats the matter.Away to the windows they flew like a flash,Tore open the doors and waited for the dash.The moon on the breast of the new-fallen rainGave the luster of dusk of objects to claim,When, what to their wondering eyes should appear,But a city of customers, shopping local this year,With some drivers, so lively and quick,They had come shopping for their last minute picksMore rapid than eagles these shoppers came,And they whistled, and shouted, and called the businesses by name;“Let’s shop at Pets 4 All, Donnelly’s, and Robin’s Nest they are chicEat at Lucy’s or Foster’s its uniqueKeep shopping at Books of Rio, and Radio ShackEat at Pizza Factory, The Point or Tortilla Flats,Don’t forget Lira’s SupermarketThey help you shop on a budget.Remember to shop for yourself this year,Like at Awender’s, Tradin Post, give them a cheerYou get the idea, get out there and shop localSupport all businesses in Rio Vista it’s very thoughtfulWe heard everyone exclaim, as they went home for the nightWe will continue to support our city in 2012 and everything will be alright“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.”

What is your favorite Christmas Movie?(asked after the Christmas Parade)

Page 2: Rio Vista Newspaper December 21, 2011

California LawsContinued from Page 1

(4) has access to more than $10,000 cash, or (5) is a manager in ‘certain indus-tries’.Law effective January 1, 2012. California Handgun Open Carry Law Open-carry citizen handgun ban. Supported by cops who cannot tell whether openly carried weapons are loaded or not. Violators pay $1,000 plus 6 months in jail (misdemeanor). Gun rights advocates vow to carry rifles and shotguns instead. Californians can still get permits for concealed weapons. Law effective January 1, 2012.California Human Trafficking LawEnforces mandatory disclosure of efforts that companies take to eradicate slav-ery and human trafficking from their entire supply chains. Being watched as a prototype of future legislation in other states and nations. Law effective January 1, 2012. Internet Sales TaxGovernor Brown signed into law that out-of-state Internet retailers must collect California sales tax on transactions if the retailer has a presence in the state. Law effective Summer 2012.California Renters Right to Recycling LawApartment building landlords will have to start providing recycling services for 7 million California tenants. Law effective 2012. Read “California Renters Recy-cling Law”.

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The Planning Commission was established to fulfill a variety of Planning and Zoning issues. The Commission’s responsibility is to make decisions regarding development regulations including zoning issues. The Commis-sion consists of seven members appointed for four year staggered terms and meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. There are three vacancies to fill with the terms expiring January 2016. Applica-tions are being accepted until December 28, 2011. Applications are avail-able on our website at www.riovistacity.com under Government/Commis-sions & Committees or at City Hall, One Main Street.

ATTENTION

Letters to the EditorDear Editor:

Now that the schools are getting out for Christmas Vacation/Winter Break, our children will be around holiday dinners and parties where there will be alcohol served. Most teens who drink, get their alcohol from “social” sources – parents of other teens, older siblings and other relatives and friends. We Don’t Serve Teens, a national campaign to reduce underage drinking, is focusing on the social sourc-es that may provide teens with the access to alcohol. The campaign’s centerpiece is www.DontServeTeens.gov, a website sponsored by a coalition of public and pri-vate sector organizations, including the Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency. The message to neighbors, relatives, and friends is “Don’t serve alcohol to teens. It’s unsafe. It’s illegal. It’s irresponsible.”

The legal drinking age in the United States is 21. Drinking can cause serious health and safety consequences – as well as legal consequences for the per-son providing the alcohol. Studies show that adults strongly support this law – a recent national survey showed that most parents said the drinking age should re-main 21 or be raised. But parents need help to make sure their teens don’t have access to alcohol.

For more information on stopping teens’ easy access to alcohol, practical tips on talking to kids about alcohol and alcohol advertising, and what to say to friends and neighbors about serving alcohol to teens, visit www,DontServeTeens.gov.Sincerely,Beth RobertsATOD CoordinatorCity of Rio Vista

Dear Editor,

This past Saturday’s first annual “Very Delta Christmas Party” for local children was an overwhelming success! This is the Discover the Delta’s first event orga-nized and run by our new Junior Auxiliary. Over 150 children from around the Delta came by to play games, make crafts, enjoy our jumpy house, take a trip on our hay ride and of course ..... To see Santa!! A special thanks to our Junior Auxiliary made up of over 20 High school students and headed by: Kathleen Ben-jamin, Shay Cecchini, Kristianna Lea, and Jacob McGlue. Also, a heartfelt thanks to Captain Ken Jenkins and the crew from The River Delta Fire District.

We look forward to many more community building projects throughout the year.

Thanks for sharing our information with your readers, and as always please feel free to call with any questions.

My best,Laura Gregory LeaExecutive DirectorDiscover the Delta Foundation

Rio Vista City Council Special MeetingCANCELLATION NOTICEWednesday, December 28, 2011 Rio Vista 94571 5:30 pm. City Council Chambers–– One Main StreetNotice is hereby given the Special Meeting of the Rio Vista City Council normally held on the fourth Wednesday of each month Is tobe cancelled in December (for Wednesday, December 28, 2011, at 5:30 p.m.) due to holiday schedules.

Have a Safe and Happy Holiday Season! Please Don’t Drink and Drive!

As you know, the holiday season can be joyous, hectic, celebra-tory — and expensive. And while you certainly enjoy hosting family gatherings and giving presents to your loved ones, you’ll find these things even more plea-surable if they don’t add a lot more weight to your debt load. And that’s why you’ll want to follow some smart money-manage-ment techniques over the next few weeks.

To begin with, try to establish realistic bud-gets for both your en-tertaining and your gift giving. When you host family and friends, don’t go overboard on your ex-penditures. Your guests will still appreciate your efforts, which, with a little creativity, can create a welcoming and fun expe-rience for everyone. As a guiding principal, keep in mind these words attrib-uted to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the famous German poet and philos-opher: “What you can do without, do without.” Set a budget and stick to it.

And the same rule applies to your gifting. You don’t need to find the most expensive presents, or overwhelm recipients with the sheer volume of your gifts. This is espe-cially true if you, like so many people, have been affected by the tough economy. Everyone you know will understand that gifts don’t have to be lav-ish to be meaningful.

Manage Your Money Carefully This Holiday SeasonFurthermore, by sticking to a budget, you won’t be tempted to dip into your long-term investments to pay for fabulous parties or mountains of gifts. It’s never a good idea to tap long-term investments for short-term needs, but can be especially bad when your investment prices are down, as they may well be this year.

So, if you want to stick to a budget but you don’t want to raid your invest-ments, how can you pay for your holiday season expenses? If you can spread out your pur-chases, you may be able to pay for them from your normal cash flow. But if that’s not possible, you might want to consider “plastic” — your credit card. Using your credit card does not, by itself, need to amount to a financial setback, espe-cially if you’ve chosen a card that offers favorable terms and you’ve already shown the discipline not to over-use that card. Just try to minimize your credit card usage over the holidays and pay off

your card as soon as you can.

Of course, you can make your holiday sea-son much easier, finan-cially speaking, if you’ve set up a holiday fund to cover your various ex-penses. While it’s too late to set up such a fund this year, why not get an early start on the 2012 holiday season? All you need to do is put away some money each month into an easily accessible account, separate from your everyday accounts. You don’t have to put in a great deal, but you do need to be consistent, which is why you may want to have the money moved automatically, once a month, from your checking or savings account to your holiday fund. When next year’s holiday season rolls around, you might be pleasantly surprised by how much you’ve accu-mulated.

But for now, following some common-sense money management practices can help you get through the holiday season in financial shape — and that type of result can get your new year off to a positive start.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.Member, SIPCJohn StofletFinancial Advisor700 Main St, Ste 103Suisun City, CA 94585(707) 426-9410

Page 3: Rio Vista Newspaper December 21, 2011

For All YourHolidayFloral NeedsOrder Christmas CenterpiecesGift PlantsSpecial Order Garland & More!Send Christmas Arrangementsto Distant Family and Friends

Tuesday-Thursday 9-5Friday 10-6, Saturday 10-2Monday by Appointment*Closed Christmas Eve Day

33 N. Front Street

707 374-2120

DONNELLY

FLORAL &EVENT DESIGN

Hours:

Happy Holiday’s from the Beacon

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Rio Vista Little League Try Outs Wednesday, January 4th Pizza Factory 5:30PM – 7:30PMWednesday, January 25th Pizza Factory 5:30PM – 7:30PMSaturday, February 4th Egbert Field 9AM – 1PMSign-ups are also available on the website. Try-Outs will be Saturday, February 4th Egbert Field 9AM – 1PM –more details on division times at a later date Please check the website for the most up-to-date information. http://www.eteamz.com/riovistalittleleague/

Treasure’s Corner

Public Service Announcement Leaves

Due to staffing shortages, the city is no longer able to provide services to pick up tree leaves in front of each residence. Homeowners will need to dispose of leaves in such a way as to keep gutters and streets in front of their residence clear in order to maintain clear passage for rain water to flow to the storm drains. For your convenience, the city has provided bins in which leaves and other green waste can be dropped off at the city Corp yard, located at 789 St. Francis Way, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday each week.

Christmas TreesThe City of Rio Vista is happy to provide residents with two drop off points for Christmas trees. There will be bins placed at de Flores Park and in the lot behind city hall for Christmas tree disposal only. Trees can be dropped off in these bins between December 26th and January 8th. Please do not put anything other than Christmas trees in these bins. For your convenience, the city has provided bins in which other green waste can be dropped off at the city Corp yard, located at 789 St. Francis Way, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday each week.

In the prior Treasurer’s Corner, I mentioned two options for filling the City Manager’s chair: engaging temporarily someone from within City Hall or making a run for the roses (the long-term City Manager) right now. Neither option seems very feasible. Now we’ll look at a third option… and discuss a possible selection process.

The advantages of hiring an interim City Manager from outside include s/he could have much more experience than a bright-eyed up-and-coming CM… and perhaps even experience with a similarly distressed city. S/he could hit the ground running. And we have a lot of ground to make up.

S/he probably wouldn’t have an agenda, other than wanting to be successful in turning around the good ship Rio Vista. Sadly, one has to break some eggs to make an omelet; and s/he might have to take some giant steps to correct things. Some of these might be brutal; but in so doing s/he would create a city that would be more appealing (and less risky) to a prospective long-term City Manager.

And these people are comparatively easy to find. In fact, several citizens have already looked around at who is available, and there appears to be a

Selecting the Next City Manager [Part Two]number of them.

In looking for the long-term City Manager, the selection process should involve a professional search firm specializing in public administrators (which would not be necessary in the search for an interim City Manager, above). In the Big Search, the firm can be used to handle the entire process, from advertising the opening to vetting the final candidates, to any portion of the process in between. I’m not sure we have anyone on board who is skilled in this job, so we would probably want to look at a soup-to-nuts assignment… which will be expensive. But then we all understand how expensive it would be to bring the wrong person on board.

It’s been suggested that a citizens committee be formed. Depending on who are chosen to be its members, the committee could be very effective in their interviews and selections… or not. Depending on who are chosen, its recommendations could win the trust and support of the public… or not. If the committee members are simply “political appointees”, they might not have experience in management-level recruitment. But if the citizens committee were made up of one or two former mayors (No matter what you may think of their past choices, these

are people who have experience in hiring a City Manager) and of people with high level experience in management, whether private or public sector, that committee would gain the confidence of the public and could make very wise choices.

The City Council’s job then would be to review the outcome of the search firm and the citizens committee and, if the Council were happy with their recommendations, make the final choice, extend an offer, and begin negotiations.

We are at a critical hinge-point in our City’s life. What we do now is going to mean the difference between our continuing on our present path versus our growing our city’s health, welfare, reputation, and pride. If you have thoughts on the above, or any other aspect of the quest for new Leadership, let our Council members know, by writing to them, speaking out at public forum, writing Letters to the Editor… or button-holing them on the street. This is your town.

Hale Conklin

Page 4: Rio Vista Newspaper December 21, 2011

Happy Holiday’s from the Beacon

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Rio VistaBeacon

Happy Hol idays

Serving You in TWO Locations210 Main Street

Rio Vista(707) 374- 4861

1720 North Texas StreetFairfield

(707) 423-1965

Open 7 Days a Week 5:30 am to 2:00 pm

��������������������� �� ���������

Peter’s SteakhouseFull Bar * Banquet Facilities Open 11 am– 7 days a week

203 Second ST., Iselton, CA 95641(916) 777-6004

www.peterssteakhouse.net

Watch Monday Night FootballUpstairs on our 50” Flat Screen TV$1.00 BBQ Ribs & $1.00 Hot Dogs

New Year’s Eve CelebrationDinner & Celebration

$50 per person/ $90 per coupleIncludes: Dinner, Wine, Party Favors, Raffle

Ticket, Midnight Champagne Toast

New Year’s Celebration only $10 per personIncludes: Party Favors, Raffle Ticket, Midnight

Champagne Toast

Make Your Reservation NowTickets on Sale

LOOK

Bring this ad in for

10% OFFCoupon for Christmas Items

Expires January 2012

Happy Holidays from

707-374-3373327 # B Main Street * Rio Vista

Wednesday thru Sunday 11 am to 5 pm

Featuring a widearray of items

including furniture,home goods, home

decor, clothing, antiques and much

more

Social Butterfly Consignment

707-374-3373107 South Second Street * Rio Vista

Wednesday thru Saturday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.Sunday 12-5 p.m.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Excluding sale items

Bring this ad in for

10% OFF

“There’s something for everyone at Social Butterfly)

Featuring a wide array of items

including furniture, home goods, home

decor, clothing, antiques and much

more

Social ButterflyConsignment

“There’s somethingfor everyone at Social Butterfly”

Don’t Forget That Special Guy This Christmas:

$5 OFF Entire Purchase $50 and Under; $10 OFF Entire Purchase $51 - $100Come have a fresh hot cup of coffee

and danish on us in DecemberAssorted Knives, Hats, Wallets.

Great Stocking Stuffers!Open Christmas Eve until 6:00

Winter Hours Mon- Sat 12-6

Happy Holidays!

Page 5: Rio Vista Newspaper December 21, 2011

Page 5

New Store Opens in Oakley, Wants to Serve Delta ResidentsXccessories 4 Everyone is a new store that has just opened a few weeks ago in Oakley. Located at 1625 Main Street, just right over the Antioch Bridge, Xccessories 4 Everyone, certainly does live up to it name. Mike Matas is the owner and decided to open his store in Oakley due to the fact that he likes that East County residents shop the smaller retail-ers. Also wanting to pull business from Rio Vista and the Delta. Matas is not new to this type of busi-ness, he owned stores in Louisiana and sold them a few years ago and moved back to California. This past year his wife passed and that is when Matas decided to open up another store so that he and his two teens Melissa and Antonio would have jobs. Xccessories 4 Everyone, has just about everything that you would need for your cell phone, iPads, and laptops. For example; chargers, cases, skins, data cables, USB LCD protectors, hard cases, silicone bluetooth, headsets, hands free, charm speakers, memory cards,screen repairs, car mounts, 3-D covers. For; AT&T, Verizon, Metro PCS, T-Mobile, Sprint, Boost, Nextel and more These products are high end fashion accesso-ries, with three different price ranges for the everyone’s affordability. All of the products will come with a one year warranty, and if Mike doesn’t already have it on the wall, he will special order it for you at no extra charge. What sets them apart from the rest, the best quality, right price and best service. Xccessories 4 Everyone is open M-F 10-6, Sat 10-5 closed Sunday and they can be reached at 925-435-6565. Stop by and happy shopping.

Now Open in OakleyXccessories 4 Everyone

Finally a Place to find Everything you Need for What you

HaveYou Made your Choice Now Feed it

Chargers, Cases, Skins, Data Cables, USB LCD Protec-tors, Hard Cases, Silicone Bluetooth, Headsets, Hands

Free, Charm Speakers, Memory Cards, Screen Repairs, Car Mounts, 3-D Covers, Water Proof

AT&T – Verizon – Metro PCS –

T-Mobile – Sprint – Boost – Nextel

Apple – Blackberry – HTC – Huawei – LG – Motorola –Nokia – Samsung – Sanyo – Sony Ericsson

20% OFF Till December 31st (must bring ad in)

Use your Christmas Money

925-435-65651625 Main St. Oakley

Mike Matas Owner of Xccessories

Bridge over Troubled WaterBy Pastor Ella Ray ToscanoThis is the time of the year when many invita-tions come in the mail or by phone. I guess they come by email or Face-book but those I ignore. I have not moved into the social networking protocol. I still believe an invitation is something special and personal and it requires a response. There are Invitations to events that celebrate milestones. No matter the reason, it is not advisable to decline an invita-tion to something that occurs only once. No matter how busy we are we should always make room for special times because they do not hap-pen again. I remember missing an 80th. birthday party because I had the wrong date and I had misplaced the invitation. This was a very special person and it was a once in a lifetime event and I missed it!There are many Christ-mas parties and special events that have led up to this weekend. Some have had more than their share of invitations and some have had very few. The one invitation that remains constant is the invitation offered by the churches. All churches have special events this weekend some more than others. Our Congrega-tional Church on Sacra-mento Street invites all to a Christmas Eve Com-munion and Candlelight service at six. We also are inviting Christians to share Christmas morn-

ing in a worship of Carols and scripture at eleven A.M. Christians invite others to share Jesus. This is what we do at 230 Sacramento Street. This is what other churches in our town do. We invite all to worship.. Accepting an invitation to worship Jesus is one of the best gifts you can give yourself this weekend. Jesus is inviting us to come and see. Scripture tells us that many are invited but few will come.This weekend we cele-brate the greatest invita-tion given. God has come to earth and all are invited to celebrate a birthday unlike all others. He has come and he has invited us to come and worship Him but once again many are invited but few there be that will come. There are those who are de-stroying his invitation and burying it under unbelief. Nativity scenes in pub-lic places have become the target of unbeliev-ers. There will always be those who have refused the invitation from God. However those who have shown disrespect to the invitation from God need not discourage those who have heard the invita-tion and have responded saying…”I will worship the newborn King.” Fol-lowing Jesus keeps our eyes on things that bring us love. Following means moving in God’s direction. Followers can pass by in prayer for those who have refused the invita-tion …and they keep

moving on.God loves us so much that that he has shown up in person. He has come down to show us how to love. He tells us that we are to focus on who he is and not those who wish to occupy his space. No one can occupy the place of God without loving Him. The love that jesus came to show us is avail-able all the time if we ac-cept the invitation by the Holy Spirit to go and see this Christ Child whom we celebrate this weekend in a day called Christmas. When one says, “Yes,” to the invitation to worship Jesus Christ and be a fol-lower the Star of Bethle-hem is real. I like to think that star is the Holy Spirit, the presence of the living Christ guiding us.This weekend is Christ-mas 2011. It is the time to celebrate our gift that ar-rived from heaven ,,,God came in the form that he created because his created beings needed to be saved from their sins. Nothing could fix his people so he had to come down here himself. He loved us enough to send the very best....HIMSELF! Accept the invitation to follow Jesus this Christmas. When he says, “Come,” rise up and follow! Don’t miss the main event of this week-end. Christmas 2011 will never come again. Merry Christmas

WE ARE OPEN NEW YEARS DAY 9:00 AMSteak & Eggs $5.45

Hot Turkey Sandwich $6.95(Open Face)

NEW YEARS EVE 8:30 TILL ????Steak and Lobster $19.95

Music By Jason Carmel

Regular Menu Available (NO PRICE GOUGING)

Page 6: Rio Vista Newspaper December 21, 2011

Residential & Commercial ServicePlus...Boats & RVs

How Clean Are Your Carpets?

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707-374-3696Call Today!

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Page 6 Delta Tea Party Patriots Next Meeting The Delta Tea Party Patriots will meet on Tuesday, January 17 6:30 Pm at the Veteran’s Memorial Hall, 610 St. Francis Way, Rio Vista. Guest speaker will be Assemblyman Tim Donnelly of the 59th District. For more information: http://del-tatpp.org or [email protected]. Solano County Democratic Women in ActionSaturday, January 14, 2012 at noonFuso’s, 535 Main Street,VacavillePark in the Downtown Library/Senior Center lot, and enter through the rear door.Cost: $20 Meet local Democrats in politics Learn about local Democratic activities & local, state & national election issuesSpeakers: Hilary Crosby, California Democratic Party Controller Natalie Woodard, Democratic ActivistOrganized by Women of the Northern Solano Democratic Club (NSDC)Tickets: Planning this event is easier if we know you’re coming, so please use the NSDC website: http://northernsolanodems.org & click on the join/donate tab for Pay Pal & select DWiA, or send your check to NSDC, PO Box 192, Fairfield CA 94533 by 1/11/12Tickets will also be sold at the door. Please consider a donation for those who need help buying tickets.

Red Velvet CheesecakeIngredients

1 pound milk chocolate, chopped1/2 cup butter1 9 ounce package chocolate wafer cookies (40 to 45 cookies)1 cup semisweet choco-late pieces1 cup slivered almonds1/2 cup packed brown sugar1/2 cup butter, melted4 8 ounce packages cream cheese, softened1 8 ounce carton dairy sour cream1/3 cup granulated sugar1/3 cup buttermilk1 1 ounce bottle red food coloring (2 Tbsp.)4 eggs2 egg yolksChocolate leaves (op-tional)Powdered sugar (op-tional)Unsweetened cocoa powder (optional)Fresh raspberries and/or small whole strawberries (optional)

Voted # 1 Holiday Dessert for 2011Directions

1. In a medium saucepan, melt chocolate and 1/2 cup butter over low heat; transfer to a bowl and cool completely.2. Place wafer cookies, chocolate pieces, almonds and brown sugar in a large food processor. Cover and process until finely ground. Add the 1/2 cup melted butter; cover and process until well combined. Trans-fer crumbs to a 10x3-inch springform pan with a removable bottom. Press crumbs onto bottom and up the sides of the pan, leaving a 1/2-inch space at the top of the pan. Set aside.For filling:3. In a very large mix-ing bowl, beat the cooled chocolate mixture, cream cheese, sour cream, sug-ar, buttermilk and red food coloring with an electric mixer on medium to high speed until combined. Add 4 eggs and 2 egg yolks all at once. Beat on low speed just until combined.4. Pour filling into crumb-

crust lined springform pan. Place springform pan in a shallow baking pan on the oven rack. Bake in a 350 degree F oven about 1 hour, or until 2 inches of outside edge appear set when shaken gently.5. Remove springform pan from baking pan. Cool cheesecake in pan on a wire rack for 15 min-utes. Use a small metal spatula to loosen cheese-cake from sides of pan. Cool 30 minutes more. Remove sides of pan. Cool for 1 hour; cover and chill at least 4 hours.6. To serve, use a paper doily to decoratively sift powdered sugar and cocoa powder on the top, if you like. Garnish the center with chocolate leaves and fresh raspber-ries, if you like. Clean knife between each cut. Makes 20 servings.Bake and chill up to 24 hours. Garnish just before serving.

DELTA PHARMACY & GIFTSFilling all your pharmaceutical needs and so much more. no need to travel out of town for the unique gift for a special some-one. So stop by today and see our wide selection of gifts items, that are perfect for any holiday. We feature a staff that places customer service at the top of the list. We feature a staff that places customer service at the top of the list. We’ll even wrap a gift you purchase at our stores FREE! So, shop Delta Pharmacy & Gifts!

FREE GIFT WRAP With Minimum Purchase, Sale Items Excluded

407 Main Street, 707-374-5135 Fri-9:00 am -7:00 pm Sat-9:00 am -5:00 pm Closed Sunday

Personal Injury and Worker’s Compensation Cases Accepted

Dr. Jospeh E. Awender327 Main Street • Rio Vista 94571

707-374-1412 • Emergency 707 374-3497

Come in for a Complimentary History &Examination (value $125.00)

Symptons of Whiplash, recent or long-standing, include the following:

* Headaches* Arm and Leg Pain

* Neck Pain* Chest Pain

* Tingling in the arms and legs*Numbness

Had a Whiplash?

Why Suffer Any Longer?Chiropractic treatment can help you recover without

further pain and suffering and prescription drugs

Awender Chiropractic, Specializing in hard to solve health problems for over 50 years

Nice home in Trilogy with 2br/2ba and patio. $1,150/mo. includes HOA and gardener plus deposit $1,000 Must be 55 yrs. old and above. Call Evelyn Home (707)374-6321/Cell (510)691-3457.

New Home in Trilogy2/br 2/ba Includes Hoa/Gardner $1100 mo. $1000 dep. washer/dryer,refrig. included Available now. Call 707-374-2451 or 916-813-5622

For Rent For Rent

Thank You Rio Vista For Our 1st Year!

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy and Safe New Year

Low Cost Vaccination ClinicComing January 21st

(More Info to Follow)

New Winter Hours Mon– Sat 10-5

Classifieds

1st Tuesday at 7:00 pm

10:00 am

Page 7: Rio Vista Newspaper December 21, 2011

Christmas Services in Rio VistaHere is a list of some of the local Churches Christmas Service times

Windborn Church300 Main StChristmas ScheduleOur Christmas Eve candle-light serviceWill be on Saturday, December 24th at 5:00 p.m.!On Sunday December 25th, Christmas morning,We will have ONE simple worship service at 10:30 a.m.,There will be NO Sunday School.

St. Brigid’s Episcopal ChurchCall for Christmas Schedule 707-374-2667At 218 California Street

Rio Vista Church of ChristPhone: 707-374-6741 Address: 57 North 3rd. St.

Call for Christmas Schedule

Union Baptist Church of Rio VistaWorship Service & Sunday schoolIn the SanctuarySunday, Dec 25, 10:30 AM

Calvary Chapel Rio Vista(707) 374-5203 610 Saint Francis Way, Rio Vista, CA Call for Christmas Schedule

First Congregational Church230 Sacramento StreetInvites all to Christmas Eve Candle Light Service at 6:P.MChristmas Day 11.A.M. Share the Gift of Jesus

Page 7

at 230 Sacramento Street

Invites all to Christmas Eve Candle Light Service

at 6:P.M. and

Christmas Day 11.A.MShare the Gift of Jesus

Pastor Ella Ray ToscanoChurch Phone 707- 374- 2033

Member of the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches NACCCemail [email protected]

Congregrational Preschool Mon- Thurs.

Real Estate Q & AFAITH IN CHANGEQ. I want to either either rent out or sell my home, I haven’t decided. In any case, I pre-sume I should wait for spring as this seems a bad time with Holidays upon us. Do you find winter a bad time for selling? J.T. Rio VistaA. We sell and rent homes every month of the year, with clients observing different personal criteria that motivates them toward change. For instance, families with kids in school may elect to wait until May or June, where a job transfer or retirement may bring you in any month. An inves-tor shops prices and returns, not time of year, and the holidays can make you desirous of more room to accommodate loved ones is a grander fashion.At my house, Thanksgiving means having dysfunctional grandkids over to break your decorator items and drop food in the floor, and these kids are teenagers. Our daughter just sits there and smiles and says “oh well”, meaning she’ll do nothing about it, while her husband is digging in the liquor cabinet for yet another drink of my best scotch. When he has several drinks, he can’t stop talking so dinner is monopolized by his droning on of his droll experiences and misconceptions of reality. During this time he not only doesn’t observe that the food needs to be passed around the table, the food he takes he doesn’t eat, he’s too busy with talking. Our daughter stares at her plate and eats; the kids ignore their father and are rowdy and hyper with spilling and dropping on the floor. It’s like having dinner with a herd of feral cats. Maybe next year they can walk on the table and claw the

furniture.While all of this is being observed, our son has been drinking with his Sister’s husband and they decide that cranking up some music and having an “air guitar” competition would be appropriate. My wife tries to maintain decorum and asks if anyone cares for des-sert, and I’m looking at the group and deciding when they were small that perhaps I should have maintained “the beatings shall continue until morale improves” mentality in raising them. I pass on desert and retire to my recliner to watch some football and wait for these people to eventually find maturity when I realize that a drink has been spilled on my expensive leather chair, and now I get to deal with that. I can elect to have faith in the future that perhaps Christmas will be better, or I could elect to move and suggest that we spend the holidays at their house since my new house might be too small, and they won’t have the address.So you see, there are lots of reasons to move around the holidays.Q. I was looking at the rentals in your front win-dow, and saw boats advertised. Are you a boat dealer? P.Y. Rio VistaA. No, I’m a yacht dealer. Here’s the story; I’ve had my boat for sale without much luck, so I listed it with a yacht dealer, a “mom and pop” operation in Alameda. During the listing, we chatted a lot and he encouraged my wife and I to get a sales license and work part time with him. The wife and I studied and took the state exam, and passed first try. That was in August, and since then the Broker I’m supposed to be working for ran out of money and had to abandon his office and advertising. So, he suggested we partner up; he has listings and I have the office, so now I’m a partner. I haven’t sold a boat yet. You call that “big hat, no cattle”.We are selling real estate, let us sell yours. 707-374-6491 or visit: www.richards-realestate.com

Sam Richards: Richards Reality

Page 8: Rio Vista Newspaper December 21, 2011

PLEASE BE GREEN & KEEP YOUR RECYCLABLES CLEAN!For information on what is recyclable, please go to

www.riovistadisposal.com

Ask the Recycling Guy!

What do I do with my Holiday tree?

RECYCLE IT FOR FREE! There are two easy ways to recycle your Holiday tree.

1. Place take your tree to the Rio Vista Corp Yard, located at 789 St. Francis Way. Please cut your tree in half if they are over 5 feet & pleaseno tinsel or �locking. *Please note that the Corp Yard is open Monday-Friday8 am to 4 pm.

2. Take your tree to the Recycling Center & Transfer Station at 1300 Loveridge Road in Pittsburg. Limit 1 tree per vehicle.

*Holiday trees must be free of lights, ornaments, tinsel and �locking. Flocked Trees are not recyclable.

If you have any questions, please contact Rio Vista Sanitation Serviceat 707.374.5644 or visit us at www.RioVistaDisposal.com

Is wrapping paper & ribbon recyclable? MOST wrapping paper is NOT recyclable. It often is dyed and laminated. Wrapping paper can also contain non-paper addictives. In addition, ribbonis NOT recyclable and can damage the recycling machine if put in your bluerecycling toter. Unfortunately, please throw your wrapping paper away but save & REUSE your ribbon.

Rio Vista Sanitation Service

12 Tips to Save Energy and MoneyHomes can consume a large amount of energy. Here are 12 ways you can lower your energy bill, lower cost and help the environment in the process:

1. Lights out: Turning lights off when not in a room means using less energy. The power plant will produce less power and emit less pollution. 2. Turn off water: Take a second to turn the handle to off while doing dishes or brushing teeth to save on water use. 3. Upgrade Insulation: Insulation helps keep warmed or cooled air inside the home. Check the attics and walls.4. Check for cracks: Check windows and doors for air leaks and take action to block air loss. 5. Change light bulbs to CFLs: These funny looking new bulbs cost a bit more, last longer and save money in the long run. 6. Instant water heater: These compact units heat water only on demand. You will only heat water when you need it. 7. Zero-Voc paints: Paint can be toxic. Traditional paints emit fumes for years. Zero-voc paints, however, are safe at less cost. 8. Unplug appliances: Even if an appliance isn’t in use, it is still using a small amount of power. Unplug appliances when they’re not in use. 9. Non toxic laundry detergent: Every year gallons of toxic chemicals make their way down our drains and into our water supply. Free and clear detergent will help our rivers, lakes and oceans. 10. Energy effi cient appliances: Energy Star appliances meet a strict standard of energy usage. Switching to an energy effi cient washer or dryer can save you money and energy. 11. Wash in cold water: Once you have those Energy Star appliances, wash in cold water when you can and use less energy.12. Recycle: Keep bins in the garage for glass, paper, cardboard, plastic. Take a few minutes to sort trash and save the environment.