Local Trauma Care Now Here: Saving Lives in Solano County
By Katie Minke
No one plans to get in a car accident, or fall off a ladder, or become injured from a gun, a knife, or by other violent means. But these unfortunate circumstances occur and when they do, you want to be as close as possible to a trauma center that can provide life-saving care. The Vacaville area now has that life-saving care since Kaiser Permanente Vacaville Medical Center became a Level III trauma center in October 2011.
“Kaiser Permanente has been serving this community for more than 65 years,” said Max Villalobos, Senior Vice President and Hospital Administrator for the Kaiser Permanente Napa/Solano area. “And we know trauma care – we opened a successful program in South Sacramento in 2009 and are confident Vacaville’s trauma program will be just as successful.”
Kaiser Permanente is the largest health care provider in Solano County and provides a significant portion of the county’s emergency medical services – to members and non-members alike. “Our emergency rooms are and always have been open to all,” Villalobos said. “We believe we have a responsibility to continue to provide this medical care to those in Solano County who depend on us.”
So what exactly is a trauma center? At Kaiser’s Vacaville Medical Center, it doesn’t mean a new building, in fact, the hospital itself opened in 2009 and offers adequate space to accommodate more specialized physicians and equipment needed for more severely injured patients who are brought to the Emergency Room.
As a Level III trauma center, Kaiser’s Vacaville Medical Center will have additional life-saving equipment, procedures and skilled clinical staff to care for adult car accident victims, people who have fallen, and those with knife and gun wounds – pretty much all injuries except for complex neurological injuries, which will be stabilized and transported to the nearest Level I or Level II center. Now that the Level III center is open, work is under way to upgrade it to a Level II center at the Kaiser Permanente Vacaville Medical Center.
The Golden Hour
When someone is severely injured and needs to get to a trauma center, the first hour after the injury – the “golden hour” – is most critical. “Ideally, a patient arrives at a trauma center shortly after their injury occurs,” says Dr. Steven Stricker, Physician in Chief for the Kaiser Permanente Napa/Solano area. “Immediate care within that first hour significantly increases a patient’s chance of survival, and can mean the difference between life and death.”
Before the availability of trauma services in Solano County, critically injured patients were transported either by ambulance or helicopter to either John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, or the University of California, Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. In poor weather or heavy traffic, that trip can eat up a good portion of that important golden hour. “Our decision to launch trauma services at our Vacaville Medical Center was driven not only by our convenient location to Interstate 80 and our ability to fully support trauma care, but also on expected population growth in Northern Solano County,” Stricker added.
With the Kaiser Permanente Vacaville Medical Center being a state-of-the-art facility, launching trauma care is a natural progression for the hospital team. Staff members have been trained to care for the special needs of trauma patients and complex imaging equipment has been purchased that will benefit not only trauma patients, but all patients at the hospital who need more specialized care. “Being a trauma center really elevates the level of care in the whole hospital,” Villalobos said. “We are excited to bring this life-saving resource to Solano County.”
Katie Minke is a hard working member of the Kaiser Permanente Team!!
19th Annual Taste of Yountville Weekend Celebration
Yountville, the “culinary capital” of the Napa Valley will host the 19th Annual Taste of Yountville weekend celebration March 23 – 24, 2012 to showcase the town’s finest food, wine and fine arts. Taste of Yountville will culminate in a town-wide block party on Saturday, March 24 in which food and wine lovers can sip and sample local favorites while taking a stroll along picturesque Washington Street.
In addition to the signature block party, the Taste of Yountville weekend will play host to several special events throughout Yountville, including local fine arts events hosted by the Yountville Arts Committee.
The Yountville Arts Committee will present the popular “Napa Valley Open Studio Artists” events throughout Taste of Yountville weekend featuring two local artist fine arts shows and sales.
The Taste of Yountville Art Show & Sale Artist Reception will be held on Friday, March 23 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event will be a one-of-a-kind opportunity to meet 30 of Napa Valley’s most prestigious artists, and view their work on display, including fine art, ceramics, glass, jewelry and mixed media, at the Yountville Community Center. Admission is $5 and all works will be available for purchase with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the Yountville Arts Committee.
The weekend will culminate with the feature event on Saturday, March 24 with the 19th Annual Taste of Yountville block party, where the town’s well-known restaurants and wineries will be set up for a street festival along pedestrian-friendly Washington Street with savory bites and wine.
The event, hosted by ABC7 News Arts and Entertainment Reporter Don Sanchez, will take place from noon to 5 p.m., and admission is free. Tasting tickets to experience the town’s 12 restaurants and 20+ wineries are only $1 each.
A special garden tour of the French Laundry’s two-acre culinary masterpiece by culinary gardener Tucker Taylor is also available (check website for details). In addition, a one-day Passport will be available to visitors to get stamped along the event route during Taste of Yountville for a chance to win special prizes at day’s end.
The Yountville Arts Committee will also host the two-month long Gallery at Community Center Show & Sale in conjunction with Napa Valley Open Studio Artists at Taste of Yountville.
Key sponsors of the event include the Yountville Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Yountville, AM 1440 KVON and 99.3 THE VINE. For more information on Taste of Yountville and the weekend’s events, visit www.yountville.com.
A few of this year’s Taste of Yountville block party participants:
Bistro Jeanty
Bouchon
Bottega
etoile at Domaine Chandon
Hurley’s Restaurant & Bar
Lucy restaurant and bar at Bardessono
NapaStyle Paninoteca
Pacific Blues
Redd
Bell Wine Cellars
Cliff Lede Vineyards
Domaine Chandon
Girard Winery
Cornerstone Cellars
Goosecross Cellars
Hopper Creek Winery
Jessup Cellars
Somerston Wine Company
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We want to start off by offering a BIG thank you to all of our readers who voted for our Local’s Choice Awards. This is exactly what this magazine and website is all about – helping you to learn more about the community that surrounds you. We have to say that we feel honored by how we have been received in the community over the last three years and we hope that you will continue to look to our magazine and website to help you discover all that is happening in your backyard. So, thank you again for taking the time to vote in our first-ever awards issue and, if your pick didn’t win, we look forward to your nomination for 2013.
On to the winners though. Our voters have chosen 33 winners, over 11 categories – 1 winner per category per county (Napa, Solano and Contra Costa) in which we distribute our magazine. I know that there are plenty of our readers who live beyond the borders of those three counties and hopefully soon we can expand our reach into other counties that circle the San Francisco Bay Area, and beyond (we continue to work toward total world domination). We hope that the pages of this issue will help you discover some great businesses and people helping you to enjoy your community even more. Please let us know your thoughts and feel free to share your nominations for our 2013 award winners as well so we can start to compile that list.
Also in this issue we look toward the events for February and March. For some of you, February will always mean Super Bowl (Robert is one of those) and for others it may be Valentine’s Day, (Robert’s wife encourages him to focus on that as well!!) For others it’s Giants Spring Training (Deanna votes for this!), still others look forward to the long weekend of President’s Day (who does not enjoy a day off, or 2, or 3?) and of course Mardi Gras (who does not love a month-long party?). Then in March we have St. Patrick’s Day and everyone suddenly dons green and discovers their Irish roots or the spring equinox, which ushers in the start of spring (we personally love when the days get longer). So, whatever your fancy, as our mild winter thus far starts to fade, there is a cornucopia of things to enjoy. So, get out of the house, put the kids in the car and get to it!!
This year also celebrates Robert and Reginas’ and the rest of the family’s joy that Ramon, Rory and Veronica are officially “TEAM Briseño”! Congratulations!
Happy Anniversary to Clara and Larry! Happy Birthday to Stephen, Larry, Corrinne, Meagan, Gary T., Erin, and Dennis K.!
Cheers!
Deanna Baillie and
Robert Briseño
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Brotherly Love, An Unconventional Valentine
By Fran Miller
Wikipedia declares Valentine’s Day to be an annual commemoration celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. A thesaurus check reveals the word “intimate” to also mean close, cherished, familiar, devoted and chummy – words that I might use to describe a sibling relationship. So it follows that I commemorate this Valentine’s Day with an unconventional Valentine story based on two siblings (my boys) and the history and fortitude of their brotherly bond.
It was 15 ½ years ago when I returned home from the hospital with my newborn son Ben, merely two days old. My excitement over this new addition to our family was tempered by consuming anxiety over how this upheaval would affect Aaron, our preternaturally happy and social 16-month-old toddler. All of the child-rearing manuals, which I’d read fervently, cautioned about an older sibling’s natural jealousy and anger toward a new baby, and I was regretful about the imminent crushing of Aaron’s inherent joyful spirit.
As I sat with a swaddled Ben in my arms, Aaron was just awakening from his nap with his favorite object of affection, Bear, in hand. Bear was at one time a soft, fluffy, white stuffed animal that now, due to much love, was a mere shadow of its former self. My husband led Aaron out of his room to finally meet his new baby brother. We had been mentioning Ben frequently in family discussions in order to prepare Aaron for his new family member. At nearly one-and-a half years of age, Aaron was definitely a fully realized being, albeit with limited language skills, yet we weren’t sure how much of the “new baby brother” talk he had completely understood.
Aaron saw me first and smiled brightly, then toddled over to inspect the mysterious bundle in my arms. I pulled the blanket from Ben’s face and a look of sheer wonderment shone in Aaron’s eyes. “Baby!” he said. Then, he leaned down and delivered a gentle kiss so spontaneous and genuine that it took my breath away. Aaron then assumed his position of serenity: thumb-in-mouth, cheek resting against softness normally provided by Bear. This time, the softness came in the form of Ben’s whisper-thin hair-covered pate. Beloved Bear had found some competition.
At that moment, all of my ominous thoughts of the varying forms of sibling rivalry flew out the window. This was real love: unfiltered, innocent and perfect.
I cried. A hormonal barrage of tears, each droplet conveying a different emotion – Guilt that Aaron was seeing me hold another baby in my arms. Sadness that he would no longer have his parents’ undivided attention. Pleasure in seeing my delightful first born, after being away for two days. Relief that my sibling rivalry fears were dissipated. Astonishment at the profound display of sincerity that I was witnessing.
It was not a fluke. Aaron’s adoration of his younger brother continued unabated. Where other mothers were afraid to leave their young siblings alone together, I counted on Aaron to look after Ben during brief moments when I left the room. They would sit, hand-in-hand, watching Sesame Street. For nearly a year, their close proximity elicited Aaron’s Pavlovian thumb-in-mouth, cheek-against-head response. Bear might have maintained his position as number one comfort item, but when Ben was near, Bear was an afterthought.
As they grew, Ben assumed the position of admirer, designating Aaron as “Brudda.” They shared everything – toys, books, and clothes – rarely disagreeing on anything. When they did, Ben often deferred to his older brother who he assumed knew all. When selecting our family dog 12 years ago, it was Aaron, with Ben’s approval, who made the final choice. When trying new foods, Ben would wait and watch Aaron’s reaction. When waking in the middle of the night on Christmas Eve to sneak a peek at Santa’s offerings, Ben would never consider tiptoeing into the living room without first rousing Aaron.
And so it continued. Which classes did Aaron like most? Which were most challenging? Which should be avoided? Which sports programs were Aaron’s favorites and which were his least favorite? Was sleep-away camp fun, or was there homesickness? Ben has benefited from Aaron’s place as first-born and first-doer – a role Aaron has assumed gracefully. Through the years they continued to look after one another and they reveled in their time spent together. Their preference for their own company was sometimes revealed during pre-school and elementary school play dates when I would occasionally find myself entertaining the third-wheel guest. Even later, when the rare yet inevitable restructuring of certain friendships took place, they had each other’s backs and knew they could always count on one another.
Many families bring along their children’s friends for vacations in order that one sibling or another not be left out or bored, a practice in which we have never felt the need to partake. Their similar ages and interests always ensured compatibility and endless entertainment – whether taking in the sites on big city streets, playing football on warm sandy beaches, or hiking mountain trails. Though their approaches to life are invariably different, it is their differing approaches that provide perpetual amusement – and always lots of laughter.
My boys are now high schoolers, on their way to college independence, and in that brief introductory moment 15 years ago, I was fortunate to witness the origins of an unwavering devotion that has matured and transformed. Though their hobbies and endeavors have naturally diversified over the years, they continue to be constant companions – sharing friends, sharing new experiences and very soon, sharing a car. They have built a bond that will most assuredly endure through life’s highs and lows. I can’t think of anything more meaningful as a parent, than knowing I have fostered such a bond. For me, nothing connotes the essence of Valentine’s Day quite as well.
Fran is a freelance writer/editor based in Lafayette, where she lives with her husband Dan and boys, Aaron and Ben.
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Vines, Wines, and What’s Best About Springtime
By Andrea Firth
Vineyard owners and winemakers across Napa, Solano and Contra Costa counties work almost 24/7 during the long and hectic days of the grape harvest in the fall. Once the new vintage’s wine is put to bed in barrels, you might assume that winegrowers head off to a remote, quiet, sunny beach for a few weeks vacation and a well-deserved break. Not so. Unlike the grapevines that promptly shed their leaves and take the colder nights as a cue that it’s time for a winter rest, winegrowers do not have the luxury of a three-month respite to store up energy for the next growing season. There is always work to be done on the farm and in the cellar.
Local Happenings spoke with three winegrowers in the region about the harvest wrap up, winter work at the winery, and why they always look forward to spring.
“It never really stops,” says Ron Lanza who, with his parents Chick and Adrienne and his brothers Rick, Larry and Ken, owns and operates Wooden Valley Winery & Vineyards in the Suisun Valley of Solano County. The Lanzas grow several grape varietals on the 350-acres they manage throughout their eight-mile stretch of the valley. The 2011 harvest started in August for the early ripening varieties and continued at a demanding pace until the last of the red grapes were fermented and put in barrels in mid-November.
Dave Pramuk, a partner at Robert Biale Vineyards in Napa County, agrees that there is not much time to rest between seasons when you work in the wine industry. “After the harvest is done, you breathe a big sigh of relief and hit the reset button,” says Pramuk. The weather created some challenges during last year’s harvest as crews raced to pick Biale’s prized Zinfandel grapes before an early rainstorm hit the area in mid-October. “The grapes came in really fast. About 90% of the harvest happened in three days here.” says Pramuk, “And it was not until the end of November, when the last of the new wines were processed and put in barrels, that the 2011 harvest was wrapped up, “ he adds. “Winemakers do not even think about taking a break until that point.”
The 2011 harvest was a bit frenetic for Dave Parker, the owner of Parkmon Vineyards based in Moraga as well. Parkmon Vineyards is one of a handful of commercial wineries in the Lamorinda area of Contra Costa County, a triangle of three cities that includes Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda. Over the past five years, Lamorinda has established a burgeoning boutique winegrowing industry, sourcing grapes from many of the 100 backyard vineyards that are dotted throughout the three suburbs.
Parker and his crews were on the move at harvest time picking the grapes from the 1,500 vines in his own backyard along with grapes from eleven other small, suburban vineyards. Because several of the latter ripening grape varieties are grown in Lamorinda, Parker was also working to beat the onset of the October rain along with the onslaught of wild critters eager to get at the plump, juicy grapes. He and his crews completed the majority of the 25,000-pound harvest in a single week, and the last wine went in barrel the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.
Despite the intensity of the fall workload, all of these winegrowers transitioned almost immediately to their winter month activities—preparing the vineyards for the next growing season, readying wines for spring release and generally getting caught up.
Throughout the winter months, all the vines “get a haircut,” a hard trim called pre-pruning. On the first pass, the bare vines are cut back several feet, shedding the summer’s unruly growth. The neatly trimmed vines look like spindly fingers extending about six inches above the head of the vine at the top of the thick, brown trunk. While pruning methods vary, most vines will undergo a final pruning close to the onset of the spring growing season. “At that point the sap in the vine is beginning to rise, so we will often see a drop of moisture at the cut,” says Pramuk.
Bottling the harvested wines from the current and earlier vintages takes place in the winter too, starting with the white wines. “The young whites that are fermented early will typically be bottled in February and March,” says Lanza. He likes to bottle the early whites while the weather is still cool.
And, there is always work out in the vineyard and inside the winery, even as the vines stand dormant in the winter, Parker finds some relief in the fact that the time sensitivity and urgency of the harvest has been lifted. He uses the winter months to focus on sales, marketing and updating the company website.
As winter winds down, winegrowers like Lanza, Pramuk and Parker look forward to spring and the untapped potential that lies sleeping in the vines, ready to burst through when the first buds break.
Bud break is when buds on the vine open to reveal where a new shoot will soon emerge. Bud break typically coincides with the onset of spring in most vineyards. At Wooden Valley Vineyards, Ron Lanza expects some bud break around the first week of March. “Chardonnay and Pinot are the first grapes to come out, that’s when it all starts,” he says. Although vintages and seasons vary and microclimates and grape varieties differ, Lanza usually finds that shoots on the early vines are coming out by late March. “It’s fascinating to watch how fast the shoots grow, especially as it gets warmer. It’s incredible, within a month the shoot can grow up to a foot.”
What Dave Parker enjoys about spring in his vineyard, which extends up the hill behind his home, is the symmetry that he can see in the uncovered, trellised vines. “I am reminded of the order of things,” says Parker, “You get a real sense of the structure of the vines.” And when the rain cooperates, his vineyard cover crop of fava beans and alfalfa provides a lush green contrast to the naked vines.
“One of the most beautiful phases of the winegrowing cycle happens in early spring,” says Pramuk, “Just as the growing season gets started the wildflowers are in bloom and the bare vines are engulfed in swaths of mustard grass that often grows between the rows. It’s a spectacular sight.” Franciscan Friars, who spread mustard grass seeds along the trails between the missions, introduced the bright, yellow-tipped grass to the region 400 years ago, and it now grows wild throughout California. Fortunately, the non-native weed and the grapevines maintain a happy coexistence says Pramuk. In addition to serving as a beautiful backdrop in the spring, mustard grass provides nutrients and is typically tilled back into the soil in April as the ground dries.
All three vintners agree that one of the highlights of spring is the release of the new wines. “There is a built in anticipation for the new release wines which makes it an exciting time,” says Pramuk. At Biale Vineyards, spring marks the release of the winery’s Black Chicken Zinfandel. The popular red wine has a cult-like following and the 2009 vintage has been sold out for months. The 2010 Black Chicken is eagerly waiting in the wings for its introduction in April.
Dave Parker highly recommends trying the white wines released each spring. “The new white wines that come available are a good harbinger of what the vintage will bring,” says Parker. “Whites like Sauvignon Blanc, dry roses, or an unoaked Chardonnay are lighter in body, higher in acidity, and really refreshing on a warm spring day.” Parkmon will be offering a new vintage of a dry rosé made from locally-grown Sangiovese grapes in its spring release line up.
“Spring is the biggest release time for everything, whites wines and red,” says Ron Lanza, and he encourages wine lovers to experiment and to get out to try a variety of new wines. “What is great about the new white wines is the younger the vintage, the fresher and better tasting they are,” says Lanza. But he also finds spring a great time to try the newly released red wines from the 2009 and 2010 vintages. Wooden Valley Winery will have two of its award winning reds, a Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, available in the tasting room this spring.
Take a hint from the wine experts and take advantage of what spring has to offer. Drive through the wine country to witness the beauty of the vineyards early in the growing season and get a jump on the summer crowds and stop into the tasting rooms to experience the spring release wines.
Be the First to Taste It
Try these spring release wine picks from Ron Lanza, Dave Pramuk and Dave Parker.
From Wooden Valley Winery and Vineyards, Solano County
• 2011 Suisun Valley Sauvignon Blanc
• 2009 Suisun Valley Merlot—San Francisco Chronicle 2012 Wine Competition Gold Award
• 2009 Suisun Valley Cabernet Sauvignon— San Francisco Chronicle 2012 Wine Competition Silver Award
The Wooden Valley Tasting Room is open from 11:00 a.m. to
5:00 p.m. everyday. 4756 Suisun Valley Road, Suisun Valley, CA, www.woodenvalley.com.
From Robert Biale Vineyards, Napa County
• 2010 Black Chicken Zinfandel, also known as the “Spring Chicken”
• 2010 W. Moore Vineyard Zinfandel
• 2009 Basic Black—Biale’s special blend of Syrah, Petite Sirah, Grenache, Mourverdre and Barbera
Wine tasting by appointment, call 707-257-7555. 4038 Big Ranch Road, Napa, CA, www.robertbialevineyards.com
From Parkmon Vineyards, Lamorinda, Contra Costa County
• 2011 Rosato di Sangiovese Koelmel Vineyards—a crisp, dry rosé made entirely with Sangiovese grapes
• 2010 Voignier Parkmon Estate Vineyards,
• 2009 Debbie’s Cuvee Parkmon Estate Vineyards—the fourth vintage of this proprietary Grenache based blend
Parkmon Vineyards’ wines are available for purchase online, www.parkmon.com, and served at several restaurants in the Lamorinda area.
Andrea Firth is a freelance writer based in Moraga with her husband, two teens, and a dog named Pepsi.
Go Teams! Choose your own adventure this baseball season
By Matt Larson
It’s 2012. Election year. Time to think about the future of our country and remind ourselves what it truly means to be an American. If politics aren’t your thing, however, go to a baseball game! If you’re feeling particularly patriotic, feel free to drive a Chevrolet to a game and order hot dogs and apple pie, then go home and rent Captain America. If that’s too much, just the baseball game could suffice.
Living in the Bay Area affords some fantastic opportunities to watch great baseball – more opportunities perhaps than anywhere else in the world. Considering that, even the last decade or so, more record-breaking baseball history has been made right here in the greater San Francisco Bay Area than practically anywhere else in the world.
The Oakland A’s gained nationwide attention just 10 years ago when General Manager Billy Beane’s “moneyball” strategy led to an unforeseen 20-game winning streak. The story is now a very entertaining major motion picture nominated for 4 Golden Globes with lots of Oscar buzz as well. All thanks to the A’s!
The San Francisco Giants just claimed their first World Series championship here in the Bay in 2010. Many fans (old and bandwagon) are still representing that winning season today over a year later, and World Champions has become a synonymous phrase for the San Francisco Giants. But this kind of excitement isn’t too unusual for the Giants. Don’t forget about Barry Bonds’ record 73 home runs in a season in 2001, followed by his defeating Hank Aaron’s 755 career home runs (by seven) in 2007, never mind the asterisks of course.
Just outside of the MLB is another legendary baseball team in the greater Bay Area. Any ideas? Though not a trending Twitter topic as often as the A’s or the Giants, this team is just as deserving of some Local Happenings recognition: The Sacramento River Cats, Triple-A affiliate for the Oakland A’s. Since their Pacific Coast League inception in West Sacramento in 2000, the River Cats have won two Triple-A Championships (in 2007 and 2008 – back to back!) as well as 10 of 12 Pacific Coast League South Division Championships, including the past five years running. The Sacramento River Cats have a greater division-winning percentage than any other professional American sports team playing today.
As a Triple-A team, the River Cats have graduated 200-plus players to the major leagues over the past 12 years. Some of baseball’s top players have moved on to the big leagues from the minor league River Cats including Nick Swisher (who won the 2009 World Series with the New York Yankees and played with the Oakland A’s from 2004-2007) and Barry Zito (who won the 2010 World Series with the San Francisco Giants and played for the Oakland A’s from 2000-2006; he’s played for the Giants from 2007-present).
For years, the River Cats have been making big plays both on and off the field. Since starting their Sacramento career in 2000, the River Cats Foundation has been “pitching in to help those in need” within the Sacramento area. The Foundation has donated hours of time and generous funding to local schools and non-profit organizations. Under the 2005 Triple-A All-Star Game Legacy Project, the River Cats Foundation and River Cats Baseball contributed more than $250,000 of service, materials and funding toward the completion of the River Cats Independence Field – a baseball diamond in South Sacramento, complete with dugouts, restrooms and a snack bar, designed specifically for players with disabilities. The River Cats have also helped raise more than $80,000 toward the fight against breast cancer since 2004, represented when they wore pink jerseys on the field. In addition to many other charitable endeavors, this team has become a contributing member of the Sacramento family.
Speaking of family, the River Cats will be playing their big-brother team, the Oakland A’s, at Raley Field again this year. Before the River Cats begin their regular 2012 season on Friday, April 13th against the Reno Aces, the A’s will arrive on March 31st. It’ll be the fifth time they’re hosting the A’s, the first time since 2007, and thus far every game has sold out. (Tickets start at $12, so this one will probably sell out too.) Oakland A’s season ticket holders, River Cats season ticket holders, 36-game Founders’ Club ticket holders and those with 40-game flex plan Founders’ Club accounts get varying ticket deals. Check www.rivercats.com for details.
Now the question remains – with three great baseball teams to watch, which one will you support? If you live within Solano and Contra Costa county limits, you could easily visit all three this season.
The Oakland A’s are undergoing a major roster makeover for the 2012 season, but they’ve re-signed veteran Coco Crisp for a $14 million, two-year deal. “The deal with Coco kind of came out of nowhere,” says Jane Lee, Oakland A’s beat reporter for mlb.com. “During the winter meetings Billy Beane was saying how [Crisp] seemed like something of a long shot for the team, especially since they’re entering a rebuild.” Billy Beane is quoted saying, “Regardless of what we did, even if we brought in a bunch of young players, we would need a player like Coco to be a part of the club.” After five straight non-winning seasons, it will be interesting to see how the A’s adapt with their updated roster this year.
What most San Francisco Giants fans are anticipating for 2012 is the return of Buster Posey, their 2010 National League Rookie of the Year. Posey’s 2011 season took an abrupt turn for the worst when an ankle injury put him out for the season after only 45 games. He’s been in recovery ever since. “I’m running, hitting, throwing, catching, it’s all modified, obviously,” says Posey. “I’ve kept that goal in mind of being able to be back out there. That’s the motivation.” He also has the hopeful thoughts of thousands of fans to helps boost his spirits. Giants Broadcaster Mike Krukow adds, “You’re going to see him play first base or [designated hitter] … the importance for Posey is to keep that bat in the lineup, because with his bat everything changes, back to where it was in 2010; he makes everybody else better.” Second basemen Freddy Sanchez, who has been recovering from a dislocated right shoulder, is also expected to return this season. “I feel like I’ll be able to play,” he says. By the April 6th opener at Arizona we’ll have a better understanding what the 2012 Giants will look like.
Throughout the year, keep an eye on the Sacramento River Cats who will be pursuing their 6th consecutive division title. Just think: you could see the next Coco Crisp, Buster Posey or Freddy Sanchez in the making! Maybe even score an autograph or two. Check out the minor league stars perfecting their skills as they strive toward the big leagues.
So take yourself out to the ballgame! If the Mayans were right about the world ending this year, it could be your last chance! Invite some friends and family and make an all-American adventure out of it. Go see the Giants one day, River Cats the next, even watch the River Cats play the A’s pre-season. With three great teams surrounding us it’ll be hard not to attend at least one of the few hundred games we have to choose from. Buy some peanuts, buy some Cracker Jacks and root for the three home teams!
Matt Larson is a writer/actor/comedian who shamelessly promotes his Vallejo Comedy shows in his byline. He encourages you to visit www.vallejocomedy.com. Woot!
Since 2007 artisan vendors have gathered at the Oxbow Public Market to feature the best local products, satisfying the epicurean fancies of their Napa residents. Many restaurants have become established in this short time Oxbow has been operating, including Gott’s Roadside, offering the great, American classic burger; Kitchen Door with multi-ethnic faire; Hog Island Oyster Company, serving bivalves on the half-shell; or C Casa with refined taqueria cuisine.
Visitors can also find spices at the Whole Spice Company, chocolate at Anette’s, olives and olive oil at The Olive Press, specialty teas at Tillerman Tea, and organic ice cream at Three Twins Ice Cream.
Even a brief visit continues to illustrate why the Oxbow Public Market is the centerpiece of Downtown Napa’s redevelopment on both sides of the river.
610 1st St., Napa, CA 94559 • (707) 226-6529 • www.oxbowpublicmarket.com
According to many, Mi Pueblo Food Center in Vallejo is the “Best grocery store that Vallejo has!!!!” says one adoring fan. “The groceries are so cheap and fresh!” says another. “I absolutely LOVE this store!” says a third.
When deciding a venue that serves food of any kind, this day and age, Yelp.com is generally the place to go. Mi Pueblo Food Center rates at a very comfortable 4.5 stars from its 57 reviews. With such in-store attractions as Agua Fresca Island, a Mexican food court and simply great produce, seafood, meat and poultry, Mi Pueblo Food Center is worth anyone’s visit.
2055 Solano Ave.,Vallejo, CA 94590 • (707) 557-3484 • www.mipueblofoods.com
