Prebula, who was formerly the finance director and assistant city manager for Benicia before becoming Suisun City manager in April 2024, explained that Suisun City has seen virtually no meaningful growth for 50 years.

He said the city’s growth stalled due to the building of the Highway 12 bypass that cut off Suisun City from Fairfield in 1984 and the state dissolving redevelopment agencies in 2012, which cut off the city’s primary funds for new construction. 

Prebula said Suisun City currently operates with a $33 million general fund — a little over half of Benicia’s general fund, despite the two cities having similar population sizes. 

To keep the city above water, the City Council came up with a “three-pronged approach” to try to save the city, Prebula said. First, the city passed a tax measure that added a 1.75% transaction use tax. Next, the city started to develop 14 different infill projects on vacant or underutilized land which include developing a 34-acre site for homes and repurposing a “park and ride” lot for mixed use. 

The sales tax and urban infill bought the city a few more years, but the City Council needs “something else” to make the city sustainable long term, Prebula said. 

“Something else” ended up being California Forever. Last year, the City Council started exploring annexing 22,000 acres of land owned by the billionaire-backed group. California Forever previously sought to rezone the land to build a new city of 400,000 residents via a ballot initiative in 2024. The group later withdrew the petition after a scathing impact assessment and dismal polling. 

California Forever submitted a formal application for development to Suisun City in October 2025. 

The proposed project would involve Suisun City absorbing the land to build a walkable, medium-density community on 15,737 acres. The project would take several decades, with the hopes of bringing in around 150,000 new residents within the next 20 years.

Deputy City Manager Jim Bermudez, who also participated in the call, said the California Environmental Quality Act process for the project started in fall 2025 to study how it would impact water quality, transportation, and also operating costs of the area. 

The first draft of the environmental impact report is expected to be published this fall, Bermudez said. At that point, the public will be invited to comment on the report’s findings and on the project. 

The city is aiming to have the environmental impact report certified by winter 2026, and then they’ll hold project approval hearings in spring 2027. Bermudez said they’re looking at 2027 or 2028 for approval from the Solano Local Agency Formation Commission, which is the county body that decides the boundaries of each city. 

Prebula said he sees the plan as a promising option for Suisun’s City’s longevity. 

“Suisun City needs growth, it needs industry,” Prebula said, adding that the county does as well. 

Many residents, including Rio Vista’s city manager, have raised concerns about the project. One persistent rumor is that California Forever is going to build data centers in the city’s proposed industrial area. 

Prebula acknowledged that “data centers are allowed by zoning in their project right now.” But he emphasized that the Suisun City Council “has no desire for data centers.” 

He added that the City Council has the ability to “clamp down” on any data center proposals during development agreement negotiations.

“I have never, in the 18 months of doing this, talked to a data center or hyperscale company about any part of the specific expansion plan,” he said.

Instead, Prebula said they want to work with advanced manufacturing companies, which are companies that use new technologies like artificial intelligence and robotics to improve the precision and speed of manufacturing. He said they recently toured a factory owned by Hadrian, an aerospace and defense manufacturing company that uses AI software to run its factories. He also said they’re also looking at “Lockheed Martin-style of companies, but not Lockheed themselves.”

Community concerns about California Forever’s plans have persisted for years after a 2023 New York Times article uncovered that a group of Silicon Valley investors were behind the secret purchases of over 60,000 acres of farmland near Travis Air Force Base. 

Now with the California Forever project running through Suisun City rather than the county, activist groups like Solano Together and California ForNever are calling for a citywide advisory vote to let Suisun City voters weigh in on the expansion plan. 

Prebula acknowledged California Forever did not approach the community in the right way initially. 

“Do I think they came into this years ago when they started buying property in the right way? My answer to that is no,” said Prebula. “Many people, including myself and Jim, have told them that was not the way to come into the community.” 

But Prebula said he’s “agnostic” on the idea of an advisory vote because there are benefits and drawbacks of doing them. 

“They’re expensive if done on the off-cycle … and you get the opposition spending a lot of money to say one thing, and then you get the proponents spending a lot of money in the other [direction],” said Prebula. “It ends up being a lot of whose message gets louder and more spread out, and who spends more money.” 

He said that he prefers that they continue to hold smaller community forums about the project, rather than hold a vote that provides “a data point that can be expensive, but not really helpful.” 

Regarding Travis Air Force Base, Prebula said that they were “going to do everything humanly possible” to protect the military base, and set the expansion zone far from the city and the base. 

He also briefly discussed California Forever’s plan to revitalize the shipbuilding industry in the county by building a new hub near Collinsville. 

“Shipbuilding is the county’s jurisdiction, it’s important to know,” Prebula said. He said that area would not be annexed, and Collinsville would remain a county unincorporated area. He said that if that aspect of California Forever’s project does move forward, the city would work with the county to build infrastructure that goes to Collinsville. 

This would include widening Highway 12. Environmentalists have raised concerns that widening any of the highways in the area would negatively impact the surrounding marshlands and preservation areas. 

“A community of this size is going to have to expand Highway 12, I mean that’s a given,” said Bermudez. 

But Bermudez said that the environmental impact report would include a list of mitigation requirements that would be imposed on the developer. 

Prebula acknowledged that this was an ambitious and fast-moving project, so he understood why there was a lot of community concern.

“We’re essentially becoming Vallejo on steroids, as far as size goes,” Prebula said.

But he emphasized that the City Council was just looking at voting on the project’s first phase of a 20-year buildout with a target of 150,000 residents, not a 400,000-resident city like California Forever originally pitched in 2023. He said anything built beyond that would trigger another environmental review, along with new maps and water and transportation analysis. 

“We put that speed bump in intentionally because if [California Forever] doesn’t prove out well, and if the Council says 150,000 is enough, they can’t go anywhere,” Prebula said. “There is no guarantee for them beyond that.” 

Among the new allegations, the California School Employees Association has accused the district of violating the Brown Act, the state’s open meeting law, by taking a secret vote to reject a memorandum with the union in March. CSEA represents roughly 600 classified staffers who tend to be the lowest paid in the district, such as food service, office and maintenance workers.

The board’s decision to reject the memorandum relates to allegations the union has made in recent months that the school district violated a law forbidding it from transferring union work to third parties, contractors, or managers without first bargaining with the union.

The union has been fighting the district over the pending layoffs, and had pushed back against the district’s decision to close three schools next school year. 

The school board’s vote from December to close the schools was also the subject of a Brown Act complaint from CSEA after the Vallejo Sun discovered text messages that appeared to show the district discussed the decision during a closed session meeting before taking a public vote. The district denied that it broke the law but agreed to revote publicly. 

The board reaffirmed its decision to close three schools to an outraged crowd during a meeting last month.

CSEA made its latest accusation in a letter on April 28.

District spokesperson Maral Papakhian told the Vallejo Sun in an email that the district received the letter, and is consulting with legal counsel about it. 

“VCUSD takes compliance with all applicable laws and transparency requirements seriously,”  Papakhian said. “Because this matter is currently under review, we are limited in what we can discuss publicly at this time.

CSEA Senior Labor Relations Representative Nathan Jennings told the Vallejo Sun that the district secretly voted down an agreement which sought to prevent “bosses from taking the jobs of union workers,” in accordance with the Educational Employment Relations Act. According to CSEA, it reached the tentative agreement with the district in September. 

“The issue of these district discussions behind closed doors is the most egregious aspect,” Jennings said. “We don’t trust them to follow the law based on how this went down. When we come to agreements at the bargaining table are they just going to go behind our backs and reject them secretly through the board? That’s the concern.”

In its letter, CSEA claims that during a bargaining session over proposed layoffs on March 17, Assistant Superintendent Matthew Chamberlain said that the school board rejected the agreement at a meeting on March 10.

CSEA has accused the board of making its decision “unlawfully in closed session,” because the matter was not put on the agenda nor discussed during the public meeting.

David Loy, legal director of the First Amendment Coalition and an expert on the Brown Act, told the Vallejo Sun that if the board voted in a closed session meeting on an agreement with a union, “it would be a significant Brown Act problem.”

Closed session meetings are common in Vallejo and other local agencies to discuss private issues such as legal matters protected by attorney-client privilege. But, according to Loy, the decision to ratify or reject an agreement with a union is not a private matter, and must be discussed in public.

Loy also said that, if the school board had indeed rejected the agreement in closed session, its failure to report taking this action would also violate the Brown Act. The act requires local agencies to announce any matter they will discuss in closed session on an agenda, and, following closed session meetings, report back to the public any action taken. But the board’s alleged discussion and decision on the agreement doesn’t appear on the March 10 agenda, and its alleged decision to reject the agreement wasn’t announced publicly.

“Even if they had been allowed to go into closed session to discuss this matter, they would have had to list the item on the agenda and they would have had to do some reporting out on their action,” Loy said. “So that’s a potential Brown Act problem as well.”

CSEA’s recent accusatory missive is called a cure and correct letter. Such letters must be sent within 90 days of an alleged Brown Act violation and a local agency has 30 days to respond, either agreeing to correct the matter by voiding its decision and revoting in public or refuting the accusation.

The district has until May 28 to respond to CSEA’s letter. If the district doesn’t respond, or denies the accusation, CSEA will then have 15 days to take the matter to court.

“If you fail to cure and correct as demanded,” the letter reads, “such inaction may leave the union with no recourse but to seek a judicial invalidation of the challenged action and future audio recording of closed sessions.”

The union not only objected to the board’s alleged Brown Act violation, but claims the district violated the education code by “delaying ratification” of its agreement “without justification.”

CSEA has challenged the action with the state Public Employees Relation Board, or PERB, which oversees labor relations for California public employees. The union alleges the district failed to bargain in good faith when it  “undermined ratification” of the agreement.

Jennings, who has worked with CSEA since 2012 and has come to hundreds of agreements with school districts, said he has never seen a board reject an agreement after a district and CSEA have come to consensus. He also said that he hasn’t seen a school board wait to ratify an agreement for months, as labor agreements are generally quickly brought before school boards. 

“I’ve never seen anything like this before,” Jennings said. “We believe the district deliberately torpedoed our September agreement.”

Meanwhile, the board has proceeded with the planned layoffs. The district approved a resolution to eliminate roughly130 full-time CSEA positions in February. 

The school board unanimously voted to finalize its decision to lay off CSEA members on Wednesday, with student trustees Beroj Arbab and Zanyah DeLeon opposed. The student trustee votes are symbolic and hold no formal power.

The 130 full time positions represent more than 130 staffers, as many CSEA members work part time. But the district has also created new positions, transferring or demoting some CSEA members into them. In response to an inquiry regarding how many total CSEA members were affected by the current resolution, Papakhian sent a chart showing 51 CSEA members would be laid off and 39 would be demoted. Additionally, 36 people are listed as transferring jobs and 17 retired or resigned. 

Jennings said many of these demotions, transfers, and decisions to retire or resign occurred under pressure from the district. In total, the district also said it rescinded 30 of the planned layoffs it had originally planned in February. 

CSEA members have often spoken out against the layoffs in recent months in meetings, and held rallies opposing them in February and March. 

On Wednesday, four CSEA members and community members again spoke out against the layoffs before the board approved them.

Shortly before the board voted on the layoffs, Vallejo CSEA chapter Vice President Nicole Arenal, an academic support provider who is slated to be laid off, said that the board members’ vote would not be forgotten.

“If this board approves these layoffs, this vote will follow you,” Arenal said. “It will follow you when families call schools and no one has time to answer. It will follow you when students lose trusted adults. It will follow you when safety concerns grow. It will follow you when the remaining staff are overwhelmed and tasked with doing the impossible.”

Arenel also delivered a letter during the meeting addressed to Superintendent Rubén Aurelio from parents, community members, and staff expressing a vote of no confidence in Chamberlain, the main negotiator during bargaining sessions with CSEA. The letter, which Arenel said was signed by over 1,000 people, blamed Chamberlain for deteriorating trust between the district and labor, and criticized his competence and his reliance on expensive outside legal counsel.

“We are calling on the district to take immediate and decisive actions to address these concerns,” Arenel said, “up to and including the removal of Matthew Chamberlain from his position.”

Earlier in the day, the district issued a press release recognizing Chamberlain for receiving the Nels Nelson Award from the Association of California School Administrators Region 6 on April 22. The press release stated that Chamberlain has launched “several impactful initiatives” including a mentorship program for new administrators, and new professional development workshops “focused on equity and inclusion.”

Jennings said that although the layoffs have been approved, the union plans to fight to get workers back their jobs by disputing them through PERB, which has the power to force agencies to reinstate laid off workers if layoffs occur in violation of labor law.

“It’s absolutely not over,” Jennings said. “We’re doing everything we can for our workers and the Vallejo community.”

The city disclosed that the Connolly Corridor project, the first project the Mare Island Company expected to initiate in alignment with the 2004 Draft Mare Island Specific Plan, had been paused during a City Council meeting on April 27.

City of Vallejo long range planning manager Hector Rojas said during the meeting that the Connolly Corridor project is delayed while mediation between the city and the Vallejo Flood and Wastewater District resolves infrastructure-related issues affecting Connolly Street and broader Mare Island.

Rojas said that city staff is negotiating a new development agreement that will apply to land holdings represented by Mare Island Company, because two prior agreements that were approved at different times for different parts of the island don’t fully align with the island-wide planning framework being developed through the new Mare Island specific plan.

Development on Mare Island has been highly anticipated to boost Vallejo’s economic productivity and reduce the burden of special taxes paid by Mare Island property owners. The announcement of the hold on the Connolly Corridor project was met with disappointment and anger from public speakers at the meeting.

Mare Island Brewing Co. founder Kent Fortner said during the meeting that he found the new specific plan too long-term and fanciful. “I'm extremely disappointed to hear that the Connolly Street corridor is currently at its pause and not moving forward due to market conditions,” he said. 

Fortner opened a brewery at the north end of the partially refurbished Coalsheds on the Mare Island waterfront in 2020. He pointed out that previous plans for the island called for the Connolly Street corridor to be finished by 2027.

The major sticking point in negotiations between the city and Mare Island Company is the poor condition of the sewer system, which was already deteriorating when the Mare Island Naval Shipyard was decommissioned in 1996.

After the Navy base closed, it started transferring its land to the city of Vallejo. The city sold 677 acres of it to housing developer Lennar in 1999 for $1 but received a promise from Lennar to spend $260 million in infrastructure improvement. Lennar subsequently built all the housing developments on the west side of the island but did not address the preexisting infrastructure.

As part of that purchase, Lennar agreed to an acquisition agreement with the city, which states, "Lennar shall be solely responsible for all costs incurred in connection with the development of the Acquisition Property, including all costs of infrastructure."

Another developer, the Nimitz Group, bought all of Lennar’s properties in 2019. That company, in partnership with the Southern Land Company, bought another large parcel of land on North Mare Island in 2022 for $3 million. They formed the Mare Island Company to manage the development. 

A disposition and development agreement signed by the city and the Mare Island Company as part of the North Mare Island sale provides for “construction and installation of new backbone infrastructure improvements, including sanitary sewer and storm water.”

The severity of the problems with the sewer system were known when housing developer Lennar and Nimitz Group purchased the property.

A Mare Island Reuse Infrastructure Study published in 1997 noted that the island’s sewer system was in very poor condition. The first version of the Mare Island Specific Plan adopted in 1999, and a study conducted in 2017, both refer to the 1997 report and repeat the assessment that the sewer system would require substantial upgrades and improvements in order to support reuse and redevelopment. 

The development agreement between Lennar and the City of Vallejo signed in 2001 provides for the developer to complete infrastructure improvements, but also allows the developer to request extensions, which were granted multiple times through 2019.

A city staff report published last month states that when the first phase of the Connolly Corridor design approval pre-application was submitted to the city in 2024, the sewer district raised issues related to ownership of sewer and stormwater infrastructure, sewer capacity, and the need for an overall Connolly development plan and infrastructure rehabilitation plan. 

The district advised that the first phase of the Connolly Corridor project does not create capacity concerns, but that the full area needed a broader planning and infrastructure framework.

The sewer district does not have funds to address the island-wide sewer infrastructure issues, and Mare Island Company is balking at taking responsibility for infrastructure improvements that they inherited from Lennar.

Sheryl McKibben, a Mare Island Company spokesperson, said in an email that the company’s position is that there is distinction between current and future infrastructure. “The Mare Island Company is responsible for new infrastructure and infrastructure improvements on land the company develops,” McKibben said. “Outside of that narrowly defined case, the Mare Island Company is not responsible for improving or maintaining Mare Island’s existing infrastructure.”

At a sewer district board meeting on April 21, general manager Mark Tomko noted that Mare Island infrastructure is deteriorating faster than the pace of improvement.

Sewer district general counsel Claire Collins said the district thought Lennar would begin infrastructure repairs in 2003, but the developer was not held accountable to complete the repairs because the development agreement lacked financial assurances that she said would typically be included in a master plan. “But it's not the case here,” Collins said. “We as a community are stuck between a rock and a hard place.”

Collins said she has been working with the city attorney to find an appropriate mediator for “this unicorn of an issue,” and that it’s not easy. She said that settlement officers typically negotiate things like car accidents and slip and fall settlements, but this situation requires a talented mediator who understands the legal and political challenges and the business challenges with a third party.

Another outstanding issue between the city and Mare Island Company that may be renegotiated in the new developer agreement is the payment of 5% of gross lease revenues from subleases, which would typically exceed $400,000 per year. 

City officials say that Mare Island Company hasn’t been making the payments. Vallejo Planning and Development Services Director Christina Ratcliffe wrote in a memo to the city Planning Commission in 2023 that Lennar stopped making the payments in December 2017, and that the Mare Island Company’s continuing obligation to pay to the city a portion of its rent revenues has yet to be resolved. 

This issue was raised by Mare Island Special Tax Elimination Alliance member Daniel Boone during the City Council meeting. Boone said “We've documented for you over and over again, missing $9 million that the city never bothered to collect from Lennar and Mare Island Company.”

Boone’s group has been seeking relief for Mare Island homeowners subject to the Mare Island Community Facilities District (CFD), a special tax district enacted by the city and developer Lennar in 2002 to fund police and fire services on the island.

Boone sent an email to Vallejo City Council members in 2025 with attached files to support his argument that each fiscal year, the city is to review the revenues generated from property or activities on Mare Island, and to apply that amount against the services budget the city has projected for Mare Island to calculate the amount of CFD taxes Mare Island taxpayers will pay. 

Boone deduced that 15 years of annual payments from Lennar would equal $6 million, which he said has not been accounted for by the city, and estimated the uncollected lease revenue payments from Mare Island Company at $2.8 million.

McKibben, the Mare Island Company spokesperson, said that the company disputes that the obligation to pay the city a percentage of the “gross net revenue” still applies. “It is our expectation that the new Development Agreement will reallocate the rights and obligations of the parties, including Mare Island Company’s provision of various community benefits to the City,” McKibben said.

Meanwhile, construction on another long-delayed Mare Island project may soon resume. 

Lennar Mare Island ceased work on the Coral Sea Village subdivision when the Nimitz group came to Mare Island in 2019. Construction is expected to resume later this year, in spite of calls by some Mare Island residents to put that project on hold due to limitations of sewer capacity.

Mayor Andrea Sorce closed last month’s meeting by acknowledging the public’s frustration with the stalled pace of Mare Island development. “I think there's a lot of good things happening, and I think there's also a frustration of this kind of repeated deja vu,” she said. “We're always, kind of perpetually, six to 12 months off from the next big thing.”

Source called for a post-mortem to identify the deficiencies in the agreements and any enforceable elements that the city may have missed. She said that the city has “a crappy CFD from 2002” and a “crappy development agreement from the 90s.”

According to a city press release, the discharge came from a secondary containment tank during maintenance activities involving the facility’s chemical storage system. Sodium hypochlorite, an ingredient in household bleach, is routinely used in the drinking water treatment process. 

As a result of the discharge, water department personnel immediately initiated emergency response, isolation, mitigation, and repair procedures. The incident was fully stabilized and cleanup was completed by 7:30 p.m., according to the press release. 

The city said that the quality of Vallejo’s drinking water was not impacted and there was no interruption to customer water service. The plant remained fully operational during the incident. 

“We are grateful for the rapid and professional response of our Water Department staff and emergency response partners,” city water director Beth Schoenberger said in a statement. “Their actions ensured the incident remained fully contained and did not impact public health, the environment, or our customers' water service.”

Chris Ambrose, a supervising hazardous materials specialist with the county, said that the county also sent out a health inspector as a result of the discharge.

Four workers were exposed during the discharge, according to Ambrose, but as of the inspector’s afternoon visit that day, there had been no hospitalizations. 

Ambrose said the release was deemed a medium risk to public health and the environment. But he added that the risk to the environment can really be viewed as low because the spill was localized to the secondary containment, which is built to contain such releases, and it stayed on the property.

“For many sites like this one, it’s very rare, if none at all, for a spill of this quantity,” Ambrose said. 

The city said that the Vallejo Water Department is conducting a thorough internal review of the incident and is evaluating the infrastructure to strengthen system reliability and improve safety protocols.

Ave got her start in music when LaRussell handed her the mic at a performance in Vallejo in 2022. Two years later, she performed in a video of “Hyphy2020” at one of La Russell’s backyard shows which reached 3 million views. She also performed with LaRussell at Super Bowl LX in February.

Another hip-hop event will take place on Saturday night at Carnalitos Customs, where  DJ So Fresh will present a '90s and early 2000s hip-hop and R&B concert and kickback, featuring performances by Richie Bridges, Alcian, Hof Jae, Rasel, Lekaot7, Jaden Dixon, Buwan, Augi, Opineismyname, Excalibur, Rich Musiq, Lyrical Ja, Hous3, and Candid.

If you prefer a live performance with brunch, two options are coming up on Sunday.

Bambino’s will host Vallejo's Drag Brunch - Asian American and Pacific Islander Celebrations, hosted by Amelia Need Moore and Lotus from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. It’s a chance to embrace the vibrant spirit of the LGBTQ+ community and enjoy a brunch experience like no other.

Then the Ben Flint Trio will play jazz after brunch offerings at the Empress Marquee Club. Brunch will be served from 11 a.m. and the music will begin at 2 p.m. Pianist and composer Ben Flint Ben will be joined by Eric Von Buchau on vibes and Kevin Goldberg on bass, creating an elegant trio sound built around piano, vibraphone, and acoustic groove. 

One of the Vallejo Museum's biggest and most popular annual fundraisers is coming up on Sunday. The Vallejo Garden Tour will begin at the museum, where you can pick up a map of the participating gardens that have been selected by master gardeners who will be on hand to answer questions. 

Another garden-themed event this weekend is the biannual Vallejo Piecemakers Sew Amazing “Garden Party” Quilt Show at the Vallejo Veterans Memorial Building. This year’s theme is “Garden Party.” Over a dozen quiltmakers will be represented. Quilting demonstrations, vendors and a refreshment bar will be on site. The event will be open on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Plus, on the northern edge of Vallejo, the Solano Land Trust will host the 18th Annual Lynch Canyon Kite Festival on Sunday at Lynch Canyon Open Space Park.  Lynch Canyon has trails for hiking, biking and equestrian use among the windswept rolling hills between Fairfield and Vallejo, making it the perfect place to fly a kite. Bring your kite, sturdy walking shoes, drinking water and a picnic lunch, but leave your dogs at home to protect wildlife, rare plants, and free-range cattle.

And the Walk It & Shop It  event will take place in downtown Crockett on Saturday afternoon. Store owners will host a sidewalk pop-up showcasing featuring art, jewelry, music, fashion, skincare, woodworks, and more by local artists and makers

This is only a brief sampling of things to do in the Vallejo area. Scroll down the list below to find more art exhibits, live music and creative and recreational activities. Check our events page for an even more comprehensive listing of upcoming events and late-breaking updates. 

Let us know about new upcoming events at events@vallejosun.com, or sign in to our event platform and enter your event directly.

Explorer Club

Wednesday, May 13

Join Park Ranger Lou for a fun, badge-earning mapping adventure tracing a route from the library to the Napa River. For ages 11 to 14, held every second Wednesday through May.

• Wed, 2 to 3 p.m.
• Vallejo John F. Kennedy Library
• 505 Santa Clara St, Vallejo

Youth Chess Club

This monthly chess club for players up to age 17 is a fun and casual way to learn the game of chess, sharpen skills, and compete against other players.

• Wed, 3 p.m.
• American Canyon Library
• 300 Crawford Way, American Canyon

Read to a Shelter Pet

In collaboration with Solano County Animal Control, kids and families are invited to read aloud to adoptable animals, helping them feel loved while building reading confidence.

• Wed, 3 to 3:30 p.m.
• Vallejo Springstowne Library
• 1003 Oakwood Ave., Vallejo

The Makerspace: Open Use

Drop in to The Makery at JFK Library to use 3D printers, a vinyl cutter, digital production equipment, drawing tablets, and more. Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult.

• Wed, 3 to 5 p.m.
• Vallejo John F. Kennedy Library
• 505 Santa Clara St, Vallejo

Alibi LGBTQ May Book Club: Butter Honey Pig Bread by Francesca Ekwuyasi

Host Richard May leads the May LGBTQ Book Club discussion of Butter Honey Pig Bread by Francesca Ekwuyasi — a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award and Governor General's Literary Award. The novel follows three Nigerian women across three continents, exploring motherhood, trauma, queer love, and family. Books available in-store, at bookshop.org/shop/alibibookshop, or on audio at Libro.fm/alibibookshop.

• Wed, 5:30 p.m.
• Alibi Bookshop
• 624 Marin St, Vallejo

JazSynergy

Jazz Synergy brings deep blues, soul, and jazz to the Empress Marquee Club, featuring Simon Russell on keys, Wilson Brooks on drums, and Paul Branin on guitar. Doors and dinner at 5:30 p.m.; music at 6:30 p.m.

• Wed, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
• Empress Marquee Club
• 324 Virginia St, Vallejo

Heat Pumps 101

Learn about ultra-efficient, all-electric heat pump water heaters and heat pump home heating and cooling systems.

• Wed, 6 p.m.
• American Canyon Library
• 300 Crawford Way, American Canyon

Vallejo Run Club

Join the Vallejo Run Club on our weekly Saturday morning and Wednesday evening runs. Our group meets, rain or shine, next to the Vallejo Ferry Terminal. We run 1-3 easy miles. Beginners to ultra marathoners welcome!

• Wed, 6:20 to 7:20 p.m.
• Vallejo Ferry Terminal
• 289 Mare Island Way, Vallejo

Besom Buddies Broom Makers

A monthly broom-making workshop where crafters of all experience levels create functional, handcrafted brooms — from classic corn brooms to hearth sweepers. No prior experience needed.

• Wed, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
• The Exchange
• 617 Marin St, Vallejo

KARAOKE

Karaoke every Wednesday, hosted by Glen Snyder.

• Wed, 7 to 10 p.m.
• The Rellik Tavern
• 726 First St, Benicia

Wednesday Night Open Mic

A friendly space for both beginning musicians and seasoned professionals. Comedians and poets also welcome. First come, first serve sign-up. 3 songs or 15 minutes. We run through the roster until people run out of songs or energy.

• Wed, 8 to 11 p.m.
• Townhouse Cocktail Lounge
• 401A Georgia St., Vallejo

Thursday, May 14

English Conversation Club

Practice your English conversation skills with other adult learners in an informal and friendly setting. No registration required!

• Thu, 10 to 11 a.m.
• Vallejo Springstowne Library
• 1003 Oakwood Ave., Vallejo

Benicia Certified Farmer's Market

Solano County's largest independent certified farmers market, established in 1993 along Benicia's Historic Waterfront. Browse fresh produce, specialty foods, food trucks, wellness products, and crafts. Thursdays April 30 to Aug. 27, 4 to 8 p.m.; Sept. 3 to Oct. 29, 4 to 7 p.m.

• Thu, 4 to 8 p.m.
• Downtown Benicia
• First Street, Benicia

Glenn Lowe

Bay Area singer-songwriter Glenn Lowe performs mostly original music, influenced by Leo Kottke, Motown, '70s rock, '80s pop, Train, the Wallflowers, David Gray, and Dave Matthews.

• Thu, 5 p.m.
• The Rellik Tavern
• 726 First St, Benicia

Greg Rahn

The Greg Rahn Band plays jazz, rock, and fusion at the Empress Marquee Club, featuring Frank Acosta on guitar, Darryl Anders on bass, and Rich Aguon on drums. Doors and dinner at 5:30 p.m.; music at 6:30 p.m.

• Thu, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
• Empress Marquee Club
• 324 Virginia St, Vallejo

GarageLand Rodeo

Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll performances and dance tunes.

• Thu, 6:30 to 9 p.m.
• Lucca Bar & Grill
• 439 First St., Benicia

Police Oversight and Accountability Commission Regular Meeting

The City Council, the Vallejo Police Department, and City Leadership staff have made a firm commitment to our ongoing police reform efforts. One of the key aspects of our ongoing efforts is the establishment of a model of independent oversight for the Vallejo Police Department.

• Thu, 6:30 p.m.
• Vallejo City Hall, Council Chambers
• 555 Santa Clara St., Vallejo

Growing an Herb Garden French Potager

Learn to grow, maintain, and use a French kitchen (potager) herb garden. Presented by Mary Jo McKown and Cathy T. Wise, UC Master Gardeners of Solano County.

• Thu, 7 to 8 p.m.
• Benicia Public Library
• 150 East L St., Benicia

DJ Sekhmet & DJ Minos

DJ Sekhmet and DJ Minos spin the best '80s and '90s dance music.

• Thu, 8:30 p.m.
• The Rellik Tavern
• 726 First St, Benicia

Friday, May 15

Glen Cove Community Garage Sale

The Annual Glen Cove Community Garage Sale is Saturday, May 30. Explore the neighborhood for treasures; maps emailed in advance and available at Glen Cove Center, 122 Robles Way, from 8 to 11 a.m. on the day of the sale.

• Fri, 9 a.m.
• Glen Cove Neighborhood
• Glen Cove Parkway, Vallejo

Fiesta Fridays

Townhouse Cocktail Lounge presents Fiesta Fridays with reggaeton, salsa, cumbia, banda, and Latin house, plus tequila, margarita, and taco specials.

• Fri, 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.
• Townhouse Cocktail Lounge
• 401 Georgia St., Vallejo

Bray

Bray, of '80s band Neon Velvet, performs solo. Reservations recommended; limited seating.

• Fri, 4:30 p.m.
• The Rellik Tavern
• 726 First St, Benicia

Poker Night & Fundraiser

A poker night fundraiser benefiting Milestones of Development, which supports adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Buy-in: $50; re-buy: $20; non-playing guest: $20. Early bird special: pay by May 11 for 200 extra chips. Professional tables and dealers, food, cocktails, and prizes. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

• Fri, 5:30 to 10 p.m.
• Milestones of Development
• 1 Florida St., Vallejo

Live Music Friday: Sherita Perez

Texas singer-songwriter Sherita Perez, a Synapse Star Search winner in Nashville, performs heartfelt originals and covers at the Coal Shed Brewery.

• Fri, 6 to 8 p.m.
• Mare Island Brewing Co. Coal Shed Brewery
• 850 Nimitz Ave., Vallejo

The Inflatables

The Inflatables — Brooks Lundy, Ryan Glick, and Charlie Hinton — play rock.

• Fri, 6:30 to 9 p.m.
• Lucca Bar & Grill
• 439 First St., Benicia

Community Forum - Malcolm X Day 2026

Ethnic Notions Fine Art Gallery and Benicia Black Lives Matter host a community dialogue for Malcolm X Day, moderated by Chamia Larae, with Vallejo City Council members Tonia Lediju and Alexander Matias, Solano County Supervisor Cassandra James, and Brandon L. Greene, Esq. Includes a book discussion of The Sword and the Shield by Peniel E. Joseph and a Reparations Framework overview. RSVP: 707-334-3060.

• Fri, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
• Ethnic Notions Fine Art Gallery & Multicultural Bookstore
• 930 Marin St., Vallejo

Sound Sessions | Open Mic Night

Sound Sessions is a monthly open-mic series welcoming performers, poets, singers, and storytellers. Sign up for a 5 to 7-minute slot at the door. Bring whatever form your creativity takes — acoustic guitar, poetry, spoken word, comedy.

• Fri, 7 to 9 p.m.
• The Exchange
• 617 Marin St, Vallejo

4 The Hustle Concert W/ Badform, Time7essENT, Handlin & Undawolf!

4 THE HUSTLE is an all-ages concert series featuring BADFORM, TIME7ESS ENT, HANDLIN, and UNDAWOLF.

• Fri, 8 to 11 p.m.
• Noble Cinema Studios
• 1509 Solano Ave, Vallejo

MISERY! Based on the novel by Stephen King

Bay Area Stage Theatre presents MISERY, William Goldman's stage adaptation of Stephen King's thriller, directed by Jeff Lowe. Novelist Paul Sheldon, rescued from a car crash by his obsessive "number one fan" Annie Wilkes, must find a way to escape. Runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m., through May 17.

• Fri, 8 to 10 p.m.
• Bay Area Stage Theatre on Broadway
• 515 Broadway St., Vallejo

GAS MONEY

GasMoney is an alternative funk-rock band from Sonoma County influenced by Led Zeppelin, Boston, Rush, and Deftones.

• Fri, 8:30 p.m.
• The Rellik Tavern
• 726 First St, Benicia

Saturday, May 16

The Gift Shop Reset @ the Museum of History

The Museum of History Benicia clears space during Benicia's Citywide Neighborhood Garage Sale, with items priced $1 to $40. First 15 purchases receive a free book; spend $40 and save $10; free sticker with any purchase while supplies last. Doors open at 8 a.m. Info: info@mohbenicia.org or 707-745-5435.

• Sat, 8 a.m.
• Benicia Museum of History
• 2024 Fir Rd, Benicia

Vallejo Run Club

Join the Vallejo Run Club on our weekly Saturday morning and Wednesday evening runs. Our group meets, rain or shine, next to the Vallejo Ferry Terminal. We run 1-3 easy miles. Beginners to ultra marathoners welcome!

• Sat, 8 to 9 a.m.
• Vallejo Ferry Terminal
• 289 Mare Island Way, Vallejo

Bark in the Park

Bring your pup and join a Community Walk with the American Canyon Police Department! FEATURING Adoptable dogs from the Napa County Animal Shelter, Ripple Effect Animal Project, American Canyon Vet Hospital, K9 Suds on the Run, Brewed AC, and a guest appearance by the American Canyon Fire Department.

• Sat, 9 to 11 a.m.
• Wetlands Edge Park
• 2 Eucalyptus Dr., American Canyon

Farmers’ Market

Shop here for a great selection of California-grown greens, fruits & veggies, as well as some nice specialty booths with baked goods, tamales and food trucks with down-to-earth prices. Sometimes you can find local honey, homemade soap and other goodies here.

• Sat, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Downtown Vallejo
• Georgia and Marin Streets, Vallejo

Community Coffee Tasting

Sample coffees from around the world side by side, browse local vendor crafts and confections, and enjoy made-to-order crêpes and live music at Moschetti Coffee Roaster.

• Sat, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Moschetti Coffee Roaster
• 11 6th St., Vallejo

Letting Go Art Experience

The Letting Go Art Experience is a guided, immersive workshop using art-making, breath, music, movement, and meditation as tools for release and reconnection. No prior art experience needed; no pressure or expectations.

• Sat, 9 a.m. to noon
• Mare Island Art Studios
• 110 Pintado St., Vallejo

18th Annual Kite Festival

The free Annual Lynch Canyon Kite Festival welcomes all ages at Lynch Canyon Open Space Park, a working ranch with rolling hills perfect for kite flying. No dogs allowed; no drinking water on site. Bring a kite, water, a picnic, sun protection, and sturdy closed-toe shoes.

• Sat, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Lynch Canyon Open Space Park
• 3100 Lynch Road, Fairfield

Sew Amazing Quilt Show

Vallejo Piecemakers Quilt Guild invites you to our biannual quilt show. This year’s theme is “Garden Party.” There will be vendors, demonstrations, and refreshments.

• Sat, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Vallejo Veterans Memorial Building
• 420 Admiral Callaghan Ln, Vallejo

Teen Advisory Board

Ages 13-17 join the JFK Library's Teen Advisory Board and have an impact in your community while earning service hours. Hangout with other teens, enjoy snacks and bring your ideas. This group is responsible for planning and promotion of teen events.

• Sat, 10 a.m. to noon
• Vallejo John F. Kennedy Library
• 505 Santa Clara St, Vallejo

Mobile Recess Program

A free Vallejo Recreation District program bringing organized play, sports, and crafts to neighborhood parks every Saturday, supported by Measure P funding. This week at Glen Cove Park.

• Sat, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Glen Cove Park
• 501 Glen Cove Pkwy., Vallejo

Thrift Swap Market

Join our Community Garage Sale and find some amazing treasures. Browse great deals on household items, collectibles, toys, furniture, and so much more. Free to the public! A perfect way to shop, sell, and connect with your neighbors.

• Sat, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Children's Wonderland Parking lot
• 360 Glenn St., Vallejo

Storytime at the Museum

Hi Everyone! Come join the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum for stories and singalongs. Children ages 0-5 may take home a new book while supplies last. Feel free to stay and explore the museum after storytime.

• Sat, 11 a.m. to noon
• Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum
• 734 Marin St, Vallejo

Walk It & Shop It Crockett

Crockett store owners host a sidewalk pop-up featuring art, vintage, jewelry, music, fashion, skincare, woodworks, and more. Collect signatures from each participating store for a chance to win the town raffle. Free, all ages.

• Sat, noon to 5 p.m.
• Monarch Store
• 1308 Pomona St., Crockett

Kitty Meet and Greet – Pet Adoptions

Community Cat Advocates brings adoptable cats and kittens to Vallejo PetSmart every Saturday, noon to 3 p.m. All animals are dewormed, flea-treated, vaccinated, tested for FeLV/FIV, microchipped, and spayed or neutered. Questions or applications: cca.adoptionteam@gmail.com or communitycatadvocates.org.

• Sat, noon to 3 p.m.
• PetSmart
• 952 Admiral Callaghan Lane, Vallejo

Saturday Drawing Club

A casual weekly gathering. Hang out and draw together! Bring your own pencils, pens and paper. Limited supplies will be provided. For all ages and all experience levels. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please no ink or paints. The art gallery is open during the Drawing Club. Free, everyone is welcome!

• Sat, noon to 2 p.m.
• City Arts Gallery
• 420 Virginia St., Vallejo

Sea Chantey Sing

Two simultaneous sea chantey sings: an a cappella session in the hold of the C. A. Thayer (limited to 49; ADA inaccessible — reservations required at casey_fenton@nps.gov) and a parallel session in the Coal Sheds (ADA accessible). All are welcome to lead songs; admission is free. Food and drinks available at Mare Island Brewing Company nearby.

• Sat, noon to 4 p.m.
• Mare Island Promenade
• 860 Nimitz Ave., Vallejo

Blue Skies No Candy — New Works by Donna Wallace Cohen

Mare Island Art Studios presents Blue Skies No Candy, a solo exhibition of new work by Donna Wallace Cohen in the Small Gallery. Open every Saturday and Sunday after May 10, noon to 4 p.m.

• Sat, noon to 4 p.m.
• Mare Island Art Studios
• 110 Pintado St., Vallejo

MIAS Spring Show 2026

Mare Island Art Studios' annual Spring Show features work by more than 20 resident artists in the Tim Rose Gallery, spanning a range of mediums, styles, and personal expressions.

• Sat, noon to 4 p.m.
• Mare Island Art Studios
• 110 Pintado St., Vallejo

Valleo Jazz Jam

Vallejo Jazz Jam provides a supportive, non-competitive space for musicians of all ages and levels to explore jazz standards together, held monthly on the third Saturday. $10 donation to cover venue rental. Questions: pkutza@pacbell.net.

• Sat, noon to 2 p.m.
• Mira Theatre
• 51 Daniels Ave, Vallejo

May Paint-Along!

Paint a floral acrylic artwork on an 11x14" canvas with step-by-step instructor guidance. All ages; all materials provided. Registration required.

• Sat, 1 to 3 p.m.
• Vallejo John F. Kennedy Library
• 505 Santa Clara St, Vallejo

Unauthorized Rolling Stones

Rudy Colombini & The Unauthorized Rolling Stones celebrate 25 years of delivering a full-throttle Stones concert experience, having shared the stage with Elton John, Journey, Train, and Chaka Khan. Food by Gaga's Rollin Diner: seafood and steak sandwiches, seafood baskets, ribs, burgers, and sides.

• Sat, 1 to 4 p.m.
• Vino Godfather
• 1005 Walnut Ave., Vallejo

Sunhunter

Crowd-charming shape-shifting chameleon.

• Sat, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
• Lucca Bar & Grill
• 439 First St., Benicia

Ticket To The Limit

Come party with us and... Ticket To The Limit

• Sat, 4:30 p.m.
• The Rellik Tavern
• 726 First St, Benicia

Big Ave's Album Release Function

Big Ave celebrates her brand new self-titled album with an all-ages release party at Noble Cinema Studios.

• Sat, 5 to 8 p.m.
• Noble Cinema Studios
• 1509 Solano Ave, Vallejo

Bryan Girard Jazz Trio

Saxophonist Bryan Girard is joined by Tim Campbell on keyboard and Carrie Jahde on drums for an evening of hard-swinging, groove-oriented jazz standards at Manny's. Advance dinner reservation recommended at mannyssteakhousevallejo.com.

• Sat, 5 to 8 p.m.
• Manny's Steakhouse
• 295 Mare Island Way, Vallejo

Joyce Grant

Vallejo singer Joyce Grant returns to the Ferry Taproom with her powerful blend of jazz, blues, and R&B.

• Sat, 6 to 8 p.m.
• Mare Island Brewing Co. Ferry Taproom
• 289 Mare Island Way, Vallejo

So Fresh Kickback

DJ So Fresh presents a '90s and early 2000s hip-hop and R&B concert and kickback at Carnalitos Customs, featuring performances by Richie Bridges, Alcian, Hof Jae, Rasel, Lekaot7, Jaden Dixon, Buwan, Augi, Opineismyname, Excalibur, Rich Musiq, Lyrical Ja, Hous3, and Candid. Carnalitos street food on-site. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; performances begin at 6 p.m.

• Sat, 6 to 10 p.m.
• Carnalitos Customs
• 905 Tennessee St, Vallejo

Don Arbor

Don Arbor & The Bay Area All Stars CD release party featuring Curtis Ohlson, Kevin Hayes, Tal Morris, and John R Burr.

• Sat, 6:30 to 9 p.m.
• Lucca Bar & Grill
• 439 First St., Benicia

MISERY! Based on the novel by Stephen King

Bay Area Stage Theatre presents MISERY, William Goldman's stage adaptation of Stephen King's thriller, directed by Jeff Lowe. Novelist Paul Sheldon, rescued from a car crash by his obsessive "number one fan" Annie Wilkes, must find a way to escape. Runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m., through May 17.

• Sat, 8 to 10 p.m.
• Bay Area Stage Theatre on Broadway
• 515 Broadway St., Vallejo

Pop Fury

Pop Fury is a Bay Area band that transforms pop anthems into heavy rock versions with thunderous riffs, pounding drums, and soaring vocals.

• Sat, 8:30 p.m.
• The Rellik Tavern
• 726 First St, Benicia

Cheeks in The Jungle 2!

Safari-themed party at Chris' Club with DJ Taybottlez. Free entry before 10:30 p.m. for guests in theme; $15 after. Ages 21 and older; security strictly enforced.

• Sat, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.
• Chris' Club
• 656 Benicia Rd., Vallejo

Sunday, May 17

Rooted Vallejo Cleanup - Downtown

Rooted Vallejo, Vallejo Main Street, and local businesses host a downtown beautification cleanup from Provisions on Virginia St. to York St., covering the area between Sonoma Blvd. and Sacramento St. Free coffee for volunteers provided by Provisions.

• Sun, 9 to 11 a.m.
• City Parking Lot
• 301 Virginia St., Vallejo

Vallejo's Drag Brunch - AAPI Celebrations

Vallejo's monthly drag brunch celebrates AAPI Heritage Month, hosted by Amelia Need Moore and Lotus.

• Sun, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Bambino's Vallejo
• 301 Georgia St. #suite 122, Vallejo

Vallejo Garden Tour 2026!

A self-guided tour of diverse gardens in and around Vallejo, selected by master gardeners who will be on hand to answer questions. Starts at the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum where maps are distributed. A fundraiser for the community museum.

• Sun, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum
• 734 Marin St, Vallejo

Sew Amazing Quilt Show

Vallejo Piecemakers Quilt Guild invites you to our biannual quilt show. This year’s theme is “Garden Party.” There will be vendors, demonstrations, and refreshments.

• Sun, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Vallejo Veterans Memorial Building
• 420 Admiral Callaghan Ln, Vallejo

Vallejo Project Open House

Vallejo Project invites community members, educators, healthcare advocates, local leaders, and supporters to attend a special Open House. on Sunday. The event will showcase an original communal living housing model designed to bring people together in safe, dignified, and healing ways while addressing the root causes of instability through community care and wellness-centered living.

• Sun, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Unity Garden
• 2160 Sacramento St, Vallejo

Ben Flint Trio

Sunday Brunch & Jazz at the Empress Marquee Club features keyboardist Ben Flint, Eric Von Buchau on vibes, and Kevin Goldberg on bass. Brunch served from 11 a.m.; live music 2 to 4 p.m.

• Sun, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Empress Marquee Club
• 324 Virginia St, Vallejo

Blue Skies No Candy — New Works by Donna Wallace Cohen

Mare Island Art Studios presents Blue Skies No Candy, a solo exhibition of new work by Donna Wallace Cohen in the Small Gallery. Open every Saturday and Sunday after May 10, noon to 4 p.m.

• Sun, noon to 4 p.m.
• Mare Island Art Studios
• 110 Pintado St., Vallejo

MIAS Spring Show 2026

Mare Island Art Studios' annual Spring Show features work by more than 20 resident artists in the Tim Rose Gallery, spanning a range of mediums, styles, and personal expressions.

• Sun, noon to 4 p.m.
• Mare Island Art Studios
• 110 Pintado St., Vallejo

Love in Action - Free Food, Clothing

Revival Center Ministries hosts Love in Action every first and third Sunday, offering free groceries, men's and women's clothing, coats, and hygiene products to anyone in need.

• Sun, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
• Revival Center Ministries 
• 910 Tennessee St., Vallejo

Live Music Sunday with Micah Hammac

Vallejo Artist and Singer-Songwriter with original songs wandering through grief, growth and a life full of stories.

• Sun, 1 to 3 p.m.
• Mare Island Brewing Co. First Street Taphouse
• 440 1st St, Benicia

GTS Band: Got the Soul!

GTS Band has been performing Latin, funk, and soul since 1985 — with stints at Lou's Pier 47 in San Francisco and the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas and performances alongside Tower of Power, Pete Escovedo, and Maria Muldaur. Their Vino Godfather set covers Santana, James Brown, Tower of Power, Aretha Franklin, and more. Food by Lasagna con Amore: lasagna Bolognese, lasagna pesto, Italian meatballs, caprese salad, and Italian desserts.

• Sun, 1 to 4 p.m.
• Vino Godfather Winery
• 1005 Walnut Ave., Vallejo

The Billy Martini Show LIVE at The Warehouse!

The first Billy Martini Show of the season at The Warehouse. Get there early for a seat. All ages; no cover. Carpooling encouraged — parking is limited.

• Sun, 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.
• The Warehouse
• 5 Canyon Lake Dr, Port Costa

MISERY! Based on the novel by Stephen King

Bay Area Stage Theatre presents MISERY, William Goldman's stage adaptation of Stephen King's thriller, directed by Jeff Lowe. Novelist Paul Sheldon, rescued from a car crash by his obsessive "number one fan" Annie Wilkes, must find a way to escape. Runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m., through May 17.

• Sun, 3 to 5 p.m.
• Bay Area Stage Theatre on Broadway
• 515 Broadway St., Vallejo

Music at the Chapel: American Canyon High School Choir presents A Soundtrack of the Year

The American Canyon High School Chamber Choir presents A Soundtrack of the Year, a choral reflection of their year together spanning diverse genres, cultures, and time periods.

• Sun, 3 to 4 p.m.
• St. Peter’s Chapel
• 1181 Walnut Ave., Vallejo

Doug Houser

Doug Houser performs acoustic music spanning past and present.

• Sun, 4 p.m.
• The Rellik Tavern
• 726 First St, Benicia

Silent Book Club

A relaxed, semi-social book club where you read your own book in good company — no discussion required. Bring a book and enjoy 90 minutes of quiet reading time.

• Sun, 5 to 6:30 p.m.
• Bookshop Benicia
• 636 First St, Benicia

MISERY! Based on the novel by Stephen King

Bay Area Stage Theatre presents MISERY, William Goldman's stage adaptation of Stephen King's thriller, directed by Jeff Lowe. Novelist Paul Sheldon, rescued from a car crash by his obsessive "number one fan" Annie Wilkes, must find a way to escape. Runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m., through May 17.

• Sun, 8 to 10 p.m.
• Bay Area Stage Theatre on Broadway
• 515 Broadway St., Vallejo

Salsa & Bachata Class

Beginner-friendly Salsa & Bachata lessons by Cuban Rhythm and Rumba instructors every Sunday, 8 to 9 p.m. at H Lounge. Class ticket includes admission to the Rumba Sundays party at 9 p.m. Ages 21 and older.

• Sun, 8 to 9 p.m.
• H Lounge
• 472 Benicia Road, Vallejo

Rumba Sunday's

Weekly Latin music party at H Lounge with DJ Mobeezy and guests spinning salsa, bachata, reggaeton, hip-hop, and more. Party starts at 9 p.m.; free entry with the Salsa & Bachata class at 8 p.m.

• Sun, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
• H Lounge
• 472 Benicia Road, Vallejo

Tuesday, May 19

Baby Bounce

An interactive storytime for babies ages 0 to 18 months and their caregivers, featuring songs, rhymes, books, and lap activities. Stay-and-play time follows.

• Tue, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
• Vallejo John F. Kennedy Library
• 505 Santa Clara St, Vallejo

Español en Coro

A relaxed Spanish conversation club for learners of all levels. Practice through conversation, games, and activities with fellow learners and occasional native speakers.

• Tue, 5 to 6 p.m.
• Vallejo John F. Kennedy Library
• 505 Santa Clara St, Vallejo

Sewing Workshop

JFK Library hosts a guided sewing workshop making Quilt-As-You-Go coasters using fabric scraps and quilt batting — all materials provided, or bring your own scraps. Four sewing machines available; participants should know basic machine operation. Registration required; call 866-572-7587.

• Tue, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
• Vallejo John F. Kennedy Library
• 505 Santa Clara St, Vallejo

Books on Tap

Discuss books by AAPI authors in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Choose any book that fits the theme and join the conversation. Questions: sdouglashoyt@solanolibrary.gov.

• Tue, 6 to 7:45 p.m.
• Vallejo Springstowne Library
• 1003 Oakwood Ave., Vallejo

Community Session - The Vallejo Police Department Evaluator Team

The Vallejo Evaluation Team invites community members to a listening session on Year Three of the VPD reform program under the Agreement with the California Department of Justice. Share your perspectives on VPD improvements and what further action is needed. In-person only; a summary of notes will be posted online.

• Tue, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
• Vallejo City Hall, Council Chambers
• 555 Santa Clara St., Vallejo

Artist's Way Group Next Chapter: "The Book of Alchemy"

Alibi Bookshop's community creativity group returns, this year exploring Suleika Jaouad's The Book of Alchemy — a guide to journaling as a catalyst for creative expression. Open to all levels. Meets Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m.

• Tue, 7 to 9 p.m.
• Alibi Bookshop
• 624 Marin St, Vallejo

A more detailed list of upcoming events can be found here.

Submit your event listings for inclusion to events@vallejosun.com

Advertise your events on the Vallejo Sun website by contacting ads@vallejosun.com

The recommendations came during a flurry of more than $10 million in funding requests to the committee, as Vallejo faces a growing budget deficit which threatens the funding for various programs within the next year.

Measure P is a tax passed by Vallejo voters in November 2022 to address blight, illegal dumping, homelessness and roads and provide fire and police protection and keep public spaces clean. The committee can recommend for or against using the revenue generated – about $19 million this year – for current and upcoming expenses, although the City Council has the final say on how to spend those dollars.

The most controversial item of the evening was the police department’s request for up to $302,500 to use Flock Safety’s automated license plate reading technology during the next fiscal year. 

Police officials said the department has only 39 sworn officers actively working on patrol duty, of the 77 sworn in total, and relies on Flock’s technology to help investigate incidents and identify people and vehicles suspected of being connected to criminal investigations. 

The city has for years faced criticism over working with Flock Safety due to growing concerns over how the company stores and secures its data. Vallejo police were found to have previously shared license plate data with agencies outside of California, in apparent violation of the law. 

The committee unanimously voted Monday to recommend approving this request, despite multiple residents asking to reject it. Several said the committee had the opportunity to reject using public funds for police surveillance technology.

Resident Jose Carrizales pointed out that Flock Safety’s attorney was present at the meeting but did not provide data about the efficacy of its technology. He said  that multiple cities have ended contracts with the company, including several in Santa Clara County, due to its data being used for immigration enforcement.

“I want to know what I’m paying for,” he said. “They chose not to inform this committee. Just because they say so, we’re supposed to trust.”

However, the committee unanimously recommended against using $480,000 in Measure P funds on the city’s contract with Axon Inc., which provides body and vehicle cameras and the Police Department’s digital evidence management system. The department said the contract is an important part of its ongoing reform work as it helps improve transparency and garner community engagement and trust. 

The contract in 2025-26 was covered by special revenue funds which are running out, according to city staff. The city signed a five-year agreement with Axon but has, within the last two years, needed to seek out funds to cover the full duration of the contract.

Some residents also opposed this request, comparing Axon’s influence to Flock as its products can be used for new measures of surveillance in policing. 

A resident who identified themselves as RJ said that Axon’s technology creates a feeling of never-ending surveillance, and noted that the for-profit company continues to research using AI facial recognition software. “Technology like body cameras, in-car cameras and Tasers offer no guarantees of better behavior to the public and can be misused,” they said.

Resident Eric McGovern said that he was concerned about the amount of money being requested for use with Measure P funds in one night.

“The items for the police in particular are $1.8 million, if all [are] accepted tonight,” he said. “There are a lot of priorities and there is not necessarily enough money to fund all of them.”

Committee chair Jackie Jones said he thought that if this program is valuable to the city, the City Council can find a way to cover it using the general fund. 

“I understand the city is out almost $30 million, and I think a lot of stuff is being pushed over onto Measure P,” Jones said, referring to what is currently a nearly $29 million deficit for 2026-27.

“There should be some cuts in the city,” he said. “We are making some very poor decisions with General Fund monies. If we can’t afford some things, then we can’t afford them.”

Assistant City Manager Nalungo Conley said all of these items qualify for Measure P funding, but simply had not been brought to the committee earlier in the year as it can be a lengthy process.

“We are looking at a point where critical services cannot fully be funded under the general fund,” Conley said. “It is a hard choice for the committee to listen to all of these items, but this is where we’re at. There are still hard choices that the council will have to make about critical services. It does not rest on this committee to make those choices, though.”

The committee also voted unanimously to recommend against spending $250,000 on hiring Danny Murphy Consulting LLC as full-time independent evaluator for the city’s police reform efforts. The contract is part of the city’s settlement agreement with the California Department of Justice and was previously covered under a mid-year adjustment in 2025-26.

This article was originally published by ProPublica in partnership with KQED.

Jason Agan was impossible to miss at Angelo Rodriguez High School. The San Francisco Bay Area teacher was loud and gregarious, a fixture on campus since the Fairfield school opened in 2001. He ran the student government and called himself the man behind the curtain, organizing pep rallies and prom. He taught AP calculus, so advanced math students ended up in his classroom, jostling for his approval and letters of recommendation. Some considered him a mentor who inspired a love of math — and even a second father.

But for years students also whispered about Agan’s behavior, according to interviews with 14 Rodriguez High graduates, most of whom he had taught. He touched some of them in public in ways that made them uncomfortable, they said, including hugging students and massaging their shoulders. And he seemed fixated on enforcing the dress code, calling out girls whose shorts were too short. 

Nearly two decades into Agan’s tenure, and on the heels of the #MeToo movement, students had enough. At least 11 students and one parent submitted written complaints about his behavior to school administrators in 2018, drawing at least two warnings to stop, a KQED and ProPublica investigation found. By January 2019, the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District had taken steps to fire him, suspending him without pay.

Agan pushed back, and nearly a year later an independent panel convened by the state to hear his case deemed him “unfit to teach.” The panel’s decision meant that the popular educator was officially out of the job where he had spent his entire teaching career. 

But the panel’s review only addressed his employment at this one school district, and its finding was not shared publicly. It would be up to the state’s teacher licensing agency to determine whether additional discipline would be imposed, including whether Agan could keep teaching in California public schools. 

Over the next three years, Agan was hired at a second school and then a third. During that period, the state issued a one-week suspension of his teaching license for his behavior at his first school. Then, Agan faced another accusation of unwanted touching — this time, by an eighth grader at his second school, according to school records. The state’s teaching credentialing agency did not inform the other schools or the parents of students in Agan’s classes of the full extent of what went on at Rodriguez High. 

Agan, now 47, did not respond to multiple requests for an interview, and someone at his address hung up when a reporter rang his apartment buzzer and identified herself. Nor did he respond to questions sent via email or certified mail to his home about students’ accusations and his job history. He previously denied any sexual motivation in touching students, telling the independent panel that he was simply offering students support and encouragement — not massaging them, according to records obtained by the news outlets.

A broad look at California’s Commission on Teacher Credentialing by KQED and ProPublica shows a pattern of delays and inaction, combined with a lack of transparency, that have allowed educators to continue teaching after school districts reported them to the state for sexual harassment or other misconduct of a sexual nature. Agan’s case is one of at least 67 in which the state has not revoked the professional licenses of educators after school districts determined they had sexually harassed students or committed other types of sexual misconduct, according to a review of available records from 2019 through 2025 obtained by the news outlets. At least 14 of those educators were rehired by other schools, and of those, at least 12, including Agan, still work in education, according to a review of school websites and employment records provided by schools. 

Anita Fitzhugh, a spokesperson for the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, said the state automatically revokes teachers’ credentials when they are convicted of sexual criminal offenses, but not necessarily when a district determines they have committed sexual misconduct. She said the state Legislature — not the licensing agency — determines the type of misconduct that results in automatic revocation. 

The agency appoints a committee to assess noncriminal cases of misconduct, she said. Agan has not been accused of a crime. 

“The Commission’s authority balances protecting students as well as the legal rights of educators who have been accused but not convicted of specific crimes,” Fitzhugh said in a written statement. 

“If our job as teachers is to keep children safe, we have to be held accountable for things we do that could harm them.”Alicia DeRollo, former commissioner on California’s teacher licensing agency

The agency’s disciplinary process is unique among licensing bodies in California in how much is kept secret, Fitzhugh said. The fact that a teacher has been disciplined is noted on a state website of credentialed educators, but the database does not explain why.

In contrast, the licensing bodies governing dozens of other professions in California, including doctors, nurses, police officers and lawyers, make the reasons that disciplinary actions were imposed easily accessible on their websites. And at least 12 states, including Oregon, Washington and Florida, do the same for teachers.

“If our job as teachers is to keep children safe, we have to be held accountable for things we do that could harm them,” said Alicia DeRollo, a longtime teacher who served as one of 19 commissioners on California’s teacher licensing agency from 2011 to 2020.

Amid this gap in oversight, Agan found two new jobs and remains in the classroom.

Student Complaints Start Piling Up 

For 17 years, Agan taught at Rodriguez High, a sprawling open-air campus nestled alongside rolling hills where cows graze. The school serves the racially diverse commuter town of Fairfield, halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento.

Then in 2018, several sophomores in his accelerated math class reported him to school administrators. 

One girl alleged that he took her phone out of her back pocket while she was sitting down taking a test and that he would massage girls’ shoulders in class, according to school records. Assistant principal Gary Hiner cautioned Agan to be careful, sharing that students had told him they were uncomfortable when the teacher walked around class and touched them, according to a summary Hiner wrote about the spoken warning.

In March 2018, a father emailed another administrator after Agan wore a shirt to school that used the Pi symbol to spell out “Pimp.” The father wrote that a teacher should not be wearing a shirt making light of someone who “sexually exploits people for profit.”

This time, assistant principal Allison Klein emailed Agan, reminding him that school was not the place for “physically touching students, inappropriate innuendo, or jokes in poor taste.” 

But the next school year, more students complained, records show. In October 2018, a student told her school counselor and then Hiner that Agan had come up behind her and started massaging her neck beneath her long hair. The student said she felt violated and froze, unsure of what to do, records show. She talked to her peers about Agan to see if others had similar experiences, and told Hiner those classmates said he also made inappropriate comments and touched students in his leadership class.

The student was so distraught she asked to transfer out of the math class and had a panic attack two days later in the school psychologist’s office, school records show. Neither Hiner nor Klein agreed to be interviewed.

Within weeks, at least nine more students submitted written complaints, alleging that Agan had massaged their shoulders and singled out female students for what they wore.

“This was a case of someone overstepping boundaries, and we’re not afraid to call this person out,” said Julia Steed, who was a 15-year-old sophomore when she wrote to school administrators alleging that Agan “had tendencies to touch students,” including palming her head during class. “We were like, ‘Oh no, we’re not dealing with this.’”

Steed, now 23, told KQED and ProPublica that she and her classmates were emboldened by the #MeToo movement to speak out as teenagers across the country were gaining more awareness of boundaries and consent. By the end of 2018, the Fairfield-Suisun school board approved the superintendent’s recommendation to fire Agan.  

Agan objected and demanded a hearing, something tenured California public school teachers facing termination are entitled to. His case would be evaluated by an independent panel, which would decide whether to uphold the district’s recommendation. 

School districts rarely fire tenured teachers because losing a case is expensive and the teacher can wind up back in the job. Instead, many districts negotiate settlements that allow teachers to resign.

But in Agan’s case, Kris Corey, the Fairfield-Suisun superintendent at the time, said she and the school board believed they had a strong case for termination. 

“The board said, ‘We don’t care how much this costs. We are going to a hearing,’” Corey said. “It’s the principle of the matter. This is not OK.” 

For eight days in the Fairfield-Suisun district office beginning in July 2019, the three-member panel, including a teacher selected by Agan, heard testimony from students, teachers and administrators. 

“This was a case of someone overstepping boundaries, and we’re not afraid to call this person out.”Julia Steed, Rodriguez High graduate

Seven students, three administrators, a former guidance counselor and a parent spoke against Agan. Six of the students told the panel that Agan made them uncomfortable by touching them or commenting on their clothing, including calling one girl “short shorts.” Four of them, including Steed, said they did not feel comfortable going to Agan for extra help with math because they did not want to be alone with him. Several also said they refrained from speaking in class to avoid attracting his attention.

Four former students, three teachers and a staff member spoke on Agan’s behalf. The former students described Agan as a supportive mentor and caring teacher and said they felt at home in his classroom. All four students said he squeezed, rubbed or touched their shoulders, but that his actions did not make them uncomfortable. 

One of those students told KQED and ProPublica that her opinion about the teacher’s behavior has changed in recent years. She said she had considered his physical contact normal while in high school. But her perspective shifted as she got older, she said.

“I went to college and talked to people and realized it wasn’t normal,” said the former student, now in her 20s. “Looking back at it, I would have jumped to the other side, to be quite honest.”

During the hearing, Agan testified that he would have stopped touching students’ shoulders if he had been clearly warned, according to a summary included in the panel’s decision. He said he became comfortable with his leadership students, and his actions carried over to math students even though he wasn’t as close with them. He denied massaging students’ shoulders and said students misinterpreted “squeezes or shakes” as massages. He said he did not intend to make students feel uncomfortable and regretted that some students did not feel safe in his class. 

One of the administrators, former director of human resources Mike Minahen, told the panel that the details students shared with him during his investigation “weighed heavy” on him. He said it was unusual for high school students to “break the code” and come forward to make a complaint about a teacher, “especially a leadership teacher who has influence over student activities throughout the entire school.” Minahen, who has retired, declined to comment.

In November 2019, the panel unanimously decided Agan should lose his job. Even the teacher chosen by Agan agreed. 

“The likelihood of recurrence is high,” the panel wrote in its decision. “Over time he has shown that he cannot or will not exercise good judgment.” 

One of the panelists told KQED and ProPublica that she voted to terminate Agan’s employment in part because his alleged behavior continued even after administrators issued warnings. 

“His actions were making students, particularly young women, want to not take advanced math classes. They didn’t want to be touched,” said the panelist, who spoke on the condition of anonymity so as not to jeopardize her job in education. “All that directly impacts their access to good colleges because he was a calculus teacher.”

In December 2019, school district officials sent documentation of Agan’s firing, along with details of their investigation, to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, California’s educator licensing agency, as state law requires for public school teachers who resign or are fired for misconduct. The educator licensing agency would decide whether Agan would be disciplined further, such as receiving a public warning, facing a suspension or losing his license to teach in a California public school.

The disciplinary process typically takes one year, according to the agency. 

It would take the state licensing board nearly 500 days to decide what to do in Agan’s case. 

How Agan Returned to the Classroom 

As the state considered the matter, Agan applied for a job at a Sacramento middle school about an hour away from Rodriguez High in May 2020. It was a time of heightened teacher shortages, especially in subjects like math, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Agan provided stellar letters of recommendation from former teaching colleagues in his application, which school representatives provided to KQED and ProPublica in response to a public records request.

“Math is a difficult subject for many and my actions were meant as a means of encouragement.”Jason Agan in a job application

Any school searching Agan’s name on California’s credentialing database would have seen a clean record and valid credentials indicating he was legally fit to teach. That’s because while the state licensing agency knew Agan had been fired for what the district described as sexually harassing students, California law prevented the agency from disclosing information about the case. Nowhere in the online public records did it say that Agan remained under investigation by the agency — let alone any details of his employment record. 

In his application for the middle school job, Agan acknowledged that he had been fired after being “accused of inappropriately touching students on the shoulders during class.” He wrote that he disagreed with the dismissal and explained that he would often place his hands on students’ shoulders while helping them. 

“Math is a difficult subject for many and my actions were meant as a means of encouragement; a way to say, ‘It’s ok that you’re having trouble, keep trying,’” Agan wrote, adding that he recognized his actions “made some students feel uncomfortable.”  

Agan started teaching at Ephraim Williams College Prep Middle School that fall. The 175-person school is part of the Fortune network of charter schools. Administrators at Ephraim Williams at the time of Agan’s hiring did not respond to questions about how the school vetted him.

Former Fortune human resources consultant Rick Rubino, who helped the middle school recruit, interview and hire candidates at the time Agan was applying, said the school was not aware that Agan’s former employer concluded that he had sexually harassed multiple students. “Do you think any reasonable school district or principal would hire that person?” Rubino said. “No. So clearly, Fortune School did not get that information.”

Rubino said he “would guarantee that somebody at Fortune called the principal at the school where Jason Agan was teaching in Fairfield and got a good report.” He said he does not remember making that call himself. 

The former principal at Rodriguez High did not respond to questions about a reference check. But a Fortune School spokesperson, Tiffany Moffatt, said school officials follow “​all​ ​state​ ​guidelines​ ​and​ ​regulations​ ​and​ ​conduct ​thorough​ ​vetting,​ ​making​ ​decisions​ ​based​ ​on​ ​the​ ​information​ ​available​ ​to​ ​us.​”

It wasn’t until near the end of Agan’s first school year at Ephraim Williams that the state licensing agency issued its decision regarding his actions at his first school. In May 2021, the state suspended Agan’s license for seven days; two of those days fell on a weekend. The sanction — along with a red flag icon — appeared in the state’s public database of credentialed educators. This would be the only visible clue schools would have of anything amiss in Agan’s work history. 

Corey, the former superintendent of Fairfield-Suisun Unified, told KQED and ProPublica that she was “flabbergasted” that he had only been suspended for seven days. 

“It was a real mismatch of what happened,” Corey said. “What a disservice it was to those girls.” 

Steed, one of Agan’s accusers, said students had done the right thing and shared their concerns about Agan with their school, only for adults at the state level to give him the opportunity to teach elsewhere. 

“What’s even the point of going through this whole process?” she said. 

A Middle School Student Details Unwanted Touching 

In September 2021, a month after Fortune students returned to in-person learning, an eighth grader at Agan’s second school complained about his conduct. 

The student told her doctor during a routine physical that Agan had touched her lower back, according to a summary of the complaint. 

The girl’s mother told KQED and ProPublica that she reported the incident to the principal, who connected mother and daughter with Rubino, Fortune’s human resources consultant. The mother told Rubino that Agan was giving her daughter a disproportionate amount of attention. 

The girl, who is now 17, spoke to KQED and ProPublica on the condition that only her middle name, Sherelle, be used because she is a minor. Leslie, the student’s mother, is also being identified by her middle name to protect her daughter’s identity.

In that same meeting, Sherelle told Rubino that Agan removed his hand from her lower back after she asked him to stop, and he returned to the front of the classroom. But he came back moments later and placed his hand on her shoulder, according to a letter of warning Rubino wrote to Agan after interviewing the girl. 

“I felt disrespected. I felt uncomfortable. I felt mad,” Sherelle told the news outlets about the incident. “I felt like even speaking up didn’t matter.” 

In his letter, Rubino directed Agan to stop touching students and “dial back” his praise for the girl. Rubino also cautioned that failure to comply could result in further disciplinary action, up to suspension or termination. 

Agan denied the allegations in a written response to Rubino obtained by KQED and ProPublica. “I would like to be on record that I dispute it being listed as a ‘fact’ that I touched [the student] on the lower back,” Agan wrote. “I have been extremely diligent in avoiding personal contact with scholars due to my previous experience.” 

Leslie had texted Rubino expressing concern about how Agan was vetted for the job after she said she saw online posts by students at his former school alleging that he had touched them inappropriately.

“Actually, I was the one who investigated the matter in the Fairfield Suisun School District when Mr. Agan was a candidate,” Rubino texted back that same day in messages reviewed by KQED and ProPublica. “I also checked social media and Google to see if I could find any information about the incident in Fairfield, but I did not find anything.” 

Rubino did not answer subsequent questions about the details of his investigation or how much he knew about Agan’s conduct at the teacher’s previous school.

After the state licensing agency recommends educators be disciplined, California law allows it to release its findings, which include a summary of the case, to current supervisors and prospective employers who request it within five years. Fortune appears never to have asked for such findings, according to the logs of these requests between 2020 and 2024 provided by the agency to KQED and ProPublica. A Fortune spokesperson did not say why the charter school did not ask for the information.

“The whole education system would rather protect him.”Leslie, the mother of a student who complained about Agan’s conduct

Leslie said her daughter’s experience at Ephraim Williams only worsened after she reported Agan. Math has always been Sherelle’s favorite subject. But as the school year went on, her grades in Agan’s class plummeted. She needed help but said Agan ignored her. 

With just weeks left in the school year, Leslie pulled her daughter out of Ephraim Williams to finish eighth grade at another school. 

She only learned about Agan’s disciplinary history when KQED and ProPublica contacted her in January. “The whole education system would rather protect him,” Leslie said. “You let him loose on all these kids.” 

Fitzhugh, spokesperson for the teacher licensing agency, said the commission is “committed to keeping all students and schools safe” but is bound by the law in how it disciplines teachers. “The Commission stands ready to implement any additional public protections that the Legislature authorizes,” she said. 

Starting the following year, in 2022, records show that Fortune offered Agan a role supporting new teachers rather than assigning him his own classroom. Fortune administrators did not respond to questions about why he was offered the position, which he declined because he had received another job offer in the Bay Area. 

“Thank you for the last two years,” Agan wrote, resigning from the school. “It has meant more to me than you could ever know.” 

By August 2022, Agan would begin teaching at Clifford School, which serves students in pre-K through eighth grade in Redwood City. He received tenure in 2024.

Wendy Kelly, deputy superintendent at the Redwood City School District, declined to answer questions about Agan’s hiring or say whether the school district was aware he had been accused of misconduct at two previous schools. She told KQED and ProPublica that the district, when hiring, typically calls candidates’ immediate supervisors and checks the database of licensed educators. 

She said school districts rely on decisions by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to “put the best people in the classroom.”

“I was pleased to see that the suspension was only seven days,” Kelly said of Agan’s discipline. “I have to trust that when the CTC reinstates the teacher that the issue has been either resolved, learned from, there’s been consequences in place, which is why they’re employable to the next organization.”

How We Reported This Story

KQED and ProPublica obtained detailed teacher disciplinary records from school districts after filing public records requests with the 300 largest districts in California. We asked for records of sexual misconduct complaints from 2019 through 2025, including any reports to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. More than 150 districts provided records. If the district determined that an educator had committed misconduct that it characterized as sexual, including sexual harassment by unwanted touching, sending sexual electronic messages and making sexual remarks, we checked the state licensing database to see whether the state had revoked the teacher’s license or imposed other discipline. 

Another student recorded a video of the incident which was broadcast on KTVU. The teacher was identified as 41-year-old Noah Dove.

Dove had a history of allegations of misconduct around children and the lawsuit alleged that Elite had been warned about Dove’s propensity for violence. 

According to the lawsuit, Dove, who is 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighs 200 pounds, had become angry when the student, who was 13 years old at the time, used her cellphone to obtain a login code for an exam she was about to take on a school computer. 

When Dove, visibly upset, stood behind the student she tried to explain why she was using the phone. But Dove grabbed her jacket, pulled her to the floor and then began dragging her by her heels toward the entrance to the classroom, according to the lawsuit. 

The lawsuit argued that Scoot Education, the staffing agency that arranged for Dove’s employment, failed to conduct an adequate background investigation before hiring him. 

“Scoot did no investigation, because if they would have looked, they would have realized that he had a restraining order against him for harming a child,” the family’s attorney Daniel Russo said in an interview. “And then the DA’s office dropped the ball completely and never prosecuted this jerkoff.” 

Vallejo parent Robin Horca accused Dove of abusing her daughter several times over a period of a year in 2019 when the six-year-old was on play dates with Dove’s daughter at the family’s home. Horca reported the incidents to police but the Solano County District Attorney’s office declined to prosecute because the main evidence in the case was the daughter's account. Dove denied the allegations. 

Horca filed a request for civil restraining order based on the allegations of abuse and an encounter with Dove in which she alleged that he had behaved aggressively toward her and her daughter. The court granted the order in February 2020 and those records were publicly available before Dove was hired by Scoot.

Then in late February or March 2024, two adult “yard monitors” at Vallejo Charter School observed Dove pulling a six-year-old student by the arm so forcefully that her feet were lifted up off the ground, one of the monitors told the Vallejo Sun. 

The two yard monitors formally reported the incident and said that Dove was told that he could no longer work at the school.

According to Russo, one of the monitors who witnessed the incident was also a parent of a student at Elite. When she learned that Dove had been hired at her child’s school she immediately notified officials at Elite about Dove’s behavior at Vallejo Charter School. Elite continued to employ Dove and weeks later he dragged the student from a classroom. 

The family’s lawsuit argued that Elite failed to take action to protect the student from foreseeable harm and that Scoot Education was negligent in performing their duty to conduct thorough background checks to ensure the safety of students. 

Russo said he felt confident that they would have prevailed at trial but they decided to resolve the case through a mediation process and avoid costly litigation that could have stretched on for years. Talking about the incident also required the student to revisit the trauma so a faster resolution was a better option for the family, he said.

In mediation, Elite offered a settlement amount of $115,000 and Scoot Education offered $85,000, according to court documents.

The lawsuit also named Solano County and the county Department of Education as defendants due to the county’s oversight of Elite Public Schools’ charter. But the family dismissed the agency and the county as defendants in the case, according to court documents.

Dove was also a defendant in the lawsuit, but, according to Russo, he avoided their attempts to serve him with a court summons. The family published the summons in the Vallejo Times-Herald but Russo said Dove never responded or showed up to court.

Russo said that unfortunately the settlement involved dismissing claims against Dove as well. “There’s no personal consequence and he’ll probably go to work for another school district and beat some other kid, it’s insane and irrational,” Russo said.

The Vallejo law office Maas & Russo is expected to receive $50,000 from the settlement for Russo’s fees as the family’s attorney. Other litigation expenses totalling nearly $13,000, that include private investigation costs and filing fees will also come out of the settlement, according to court documents.

The remaining balance of about $137,000 will be held in an account until the student turns 18. Russo said that the student’s mother is a single parent and they are working with the court to see if they will release some of the funds so the family can purchase a vehicle. Otherwise the student plans to use the money to pay for her college education, Russo said. 

The data shows that visits to the emergency room for tick bites in the western U.S. peaked last year in May, with around 31 tick bites per 100,000 emergency room visits. This year it’s even higher, with visits for tick bites already at 35 per 100,000 visits. Though this is low compared to other regions in the U.S. — the northeast has around 198 emergency room visits so far — it represents an upward trend from the last three years, when visits for tick bites averaged around 25 per 100,000 in early May.  

The largest demographic group admitted for tick bites are children under 10, according to the tracker. The second largest group tends to be seniors. 

The CDC noted that this data is not comprehensive. The data comes from the National Syndromic Surveillance Program, which collaborates with federal, local, and state health departments to collect and analyze the data. Depending on how much or how little data a local government collects, these results could underestimate how many people are actually being admitted for serious tick bites. 

Solano Public Health officials said that people often don’t report tick bites, so it’s difficult for the county to definitively identify regions where tick bites occur more frequently. But they said people who live by or frequent areas with tall grass are at a higher risk of encountering ticks and getting bitten. 

Residents say that they’ve noticed more ticks at Vallejo and Benicia parks. 

“I just had one on my shoulder yesterday. They're everywhere,” said Kelly Weaver, who takes her dog to the Wardlaw Park dog park and its surrounding trails by Jesse Bethel High School. She said she’s never encountered a tick in the actual dog park, but on the trails she said you’re “guaranteed to get them on you and your animal.” 

“I hate them with a purple passion,” she added. She said that while she very rarely finds ticks on herself, it’s not uncommon for her to pick two or three of them off her dog whenever they hike.

Janie Alvord also takes her dog to Wardlaw Park; she said she’s never had an issue with ticks inside of the enclosed small dog park, where they keep the lawn neatly mowed. But her pets have encountered ticks from the tall grass around the Blue Rock Springs Golf Club. She said she also avoids certain trails around Benicia Community Park, like the one that runs alongside Lake Herman, due to the high number of ticks.

“Lake Herman is terrible,” Alvord said. “I took my grandkids down there and went fishing a few years ago and there were ticks everywhere. I don’t like ticks. They’re quite a pest.”

Ticks are dangerous because some species carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease — a devastating illness if left untreated, said Katariina Tuovinen, a research grant director and science committee member for the Bay Area Lyme Foundation. In California, American dog ticks and western blacklegged ticks are the most common types, with the blacklegged tick carrying the risk of Lyme disease. 

Solano Public Health noted that most ticks in Solano County test negative for any known disease, and they only see “a handful of Lyme disease cases annually” in the county. 

The symptoms for Lyme disease can vary a lot. A person typically knows they’ve been bitten by a tick because they’ll develop a circular or bulls-eye looking rash. In early stages, the symptoms might feel like the flu, with fever, chills, fatigue, and muscle aches. 

But Tuovinen said if it’s left untreated, the infection can progress to more complex symptoms, like pain or numbness in the arms and legs, extreme joint pain, poor memory, and heart palpitations. Eventually, a patient could develop long-term arthritis, nervous system problems, severe headaches, chronic fatigue, and inflammation of the brain or heart.

A person can have all or only a few of these symptoms, said Tuovinen, and people often confuse the symptoms for another illness. She said that’s why Lyme disease is sometimes called a "great imitator."

If it’s caught early enough, most cases of Lyme disease can be treated with a full course of antibiotics. Only about 10-20% of patients have recurrent symptoms after treatment.

Other species of ticks can carry other disease-causing pathogens. One such example is the lone star tick. Normally found in the Southeast and the Midwest, the lone star tick has since expanded into California due to climate change, said Tuovinen. 

A bite from an infected lone star tick can cause alpha-gal syndrome, which is a severe reaction to red meat and dairy. Tuovinen said there’s no cure for alpha-gal syndrome; the person would just have to avoid eating red meat like beef, pork, lamb, venison, and rabbit, and avoid any further tick bites, which could worsen the allergic reaction.

That’s why being vigilant is important. Tuovinen recommends using insect repellent with DEET on the skin, and covering clothes in permethrin, an insecticide that can provide protection for up to six weeks. When hiking, she said stay in the middle of trails and avoid tall grass. She said always check yourself and your pets after being outdoors, and take a shower and dry your clothes in a hot dryer for an hour after a hike. 

If you do find an attached tick on your skin, the Bay Area Lyme Foundation advises against yanking it off. Instead, use tweezers to slide between your skin and the tick's mouth to gently pry it off, which could take several tries. Ticks can be disposed of by flushing them down the toilet, or wrapping them in tape and putting them in a bag for testing. Tuovinen said it’s important to keep an eye out for any Lyme disease symptoms if you realize you’ve been bitten. 

Tuovinen added that unfortunately, climate change has made it so that encountering ticks has become more common, as they thrive in warmer temperatures. 

“We are seeing increases in tick activity with longer seasons and broader distribution,” Tuovinen said. “Tick season in California is now year-round.”

The Police Oversight and Accountability Commission voted unanimously Thursday to adopt the policy, requiring only one new change: editing the use of the word “frivolous” to “without merit” for complaints found to be meritless or filed to harass other people. 

The policy outlines the procedures for accepting, classifying, investigating and resolving complaints against Vallejo police personnel. The department has cited several changes in this policy, such as the use of complaint tracking software with the ability to monitor complaint expiration timelines.

The commission first reviewed the revised policy on March 30, which includes having a new online public portal where community members can submit complaints, available in multiple languages. The police department said its Professional Standards Division will still oversee the handling of all complaints and will perform annual audits of the process.

The policy was also submitted for feedback to the Jensen Hughes Group, the independent evaluator selected by the California Department of Justice to oversee police reform, and other city departments. 

The commission also gave feedback during a meeting on April 9, when Vice Chair Renee Sykes said she felt the members were in a time crunch to address many questions from the public and get their own comments to Police Chief Jason Ta by the May 10 deadline.

The Vallejo Police Department held a town hall on the policy on April 30. About 20 people attended and brought up concerns about how complaints about officers move forward in the legal process, including to the state Department of Justice, if necessary. Sykes also attended this meeting to hear from residents, as did City Attorney Veronica Nebb.

Housing and Community Development Commissioner Brianna Rogers asked at that meeting about the department’s policy to prioritize criminal investigations over administrative complaints. Noting the Oakland Police Department misconduct and sexual abuse scandals – where multiple officers were accused of tipping a woman off to prostitution stings in exchange for sex – she asked if the department prioritizes complaints which could indicate an officer might face criminal charges.

The department said the chief, when reviewing serious allegations, would likely remove the officer from active duty and place them on administrative leave and focus on criminal allegations ahead of an administrative complaint. The complaint policy requires supervisors to investigate personnel complaints and alleged misconduct to “with due diligence to investigate the complaint within one year.” Ta added the Police Oversight and Accountability Commission has the authority to independently investigate any complaint “within its jurisdiction.”

The Vallejo Police Department has a history of improperly handling internal affairs investigations. Former Vallejo police Capt. John Whitney testified that the department kept a separate filing cabinet for certain misconduct complaints that the department illegally withheld from attorneys requesting information to support a criminal defense. Former Deputy Police Chief Joseph Gomez alleged that the department had a backlog of officer misconduct investigations approaching the one-year deadline and he was fired when he tried to address it. That lawsuit was later dismissed. 

Other public comments received within the last month criticized that the complaint policy remained largely unchanged in structure. Sherianne Grimm wrote to the commission on March 30 that she thought the process was rushed, and that the revised complaints policy still relies heavily on internal control, as the chief retains final authority over disciplinary decisions and the Disciplinary Review Panel includes employees within the chain of command.

Grimm said she thinks this represents an inherent conflict of interest, which could only be addressed by having an independent police oversight body such as the nearby example in Oakland. She said that without having subpoena power or other tools the commission’s civilian oversight role is “largely symbolic.”

Grimm also criticized the lack of clarity in the policy expressing the commission’s specific role handling complaints, as it can recommend independent investigations at its discretion. 

The commission’s role and functions are defined by the municipal code “and are not intended to be substantively outlined within operational policies specific to the Police Department,” according to the department’s response to community questions posted in Thursday’s agenda.

This concern was echoed Thursday in public comment by Sana Sethi, an organizer for the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California. Sethi noted the ACLU’s March 30 letter outlining its issues with the complaint policy, and added the ongoing concern that during the April 30 town hall, the department did not discuss in depth how the commission will be involved.

“There are many reasons that language must be formally included,” Sethi said. “We urge POAC to make direct line edits to spell out all of POAC’s responsibilities and duties. Failing to do so does feel like a wasted opportunity.”

The police response to the ACLU’s concerns, posted with Thursday’s agenda, said the department will notify the commission about complaints being received and logged. Ta will forward complaints reporting serious incidents to the commission within two business days. 

The policy also requires that Ta provide a confidential quarterly report to the commission on all “disciplinary matters,” and report on any serious incident or bias incident, the department said. Ta cannot make a disciplinary decision on serious incidents until the commission makes a recommendation, and if he disagrees with any recommendation he would have to provide justification in closed session.

Resident Robert Schussel said in public comment Thursday that the commission’s lack of independent power renders the body “a dead fly without any power” and added, “I don't think the public has much faith in the policy.”

The club will host its 70th anniversary pool party on Sunday, June 7 at 2 p.m. at Cunningham Aquatic Complex. Anyone in the community is welcome to attend free of charge. There will be a BBQ, fun relay races and other in-pool games, a photo slideshow of the club through the years, and Vallejo Aquatics 70th Anniversary merchandise for sale.

The club is described on its website as a diverse and welcoming swimming community committed to developing athletes of character. They foster a culture of accountability, respect, and sportsmanship that empowers their members to develop a strong work ethic, a positive mindset, and the motivation to achieve their goals in the pool and beyond. 

The club’s six swim groups for kids are based on age and swimming ability. The Hammerheads group, for ages 5 to 8 years old, focuses on building comfort and confidence in the water and learning the basic swimming strokes. The most elite group for high school-aged youth is the Thresher Sharks, which focuses on peak performance, competing at the highest levels, and preparing for collegiate swimming.

In addition, the club offers Learn to Compete Clinics for athletes ages 4 to 12 of all skill levels, from the newest and most hesitant swimmers to kids who are completely confident in the water. The clinics begin teaching basic swimming skills and progress to competitive racing techniques. They emphasize pool etiquette and safety, prioritizing fun, and learning what it means to be part of a team.

There is also an adaptive version of the Learn to Compete Clinic exclusively for swimmers with special needs.

The club offers a Masters Swim program for adults of all abilities. “If you want to keep swimming throughout your adult life, we can keep you in the water,” Head swim coach Sophie Waterson said.

The Vallejo Aquatic Club is part of Pacific Swimming, the third largest of USA Swimming's 59 regional associations, which provides club members opportunities to compete in regional and national swimming meets and championships.

Grant funding is available to help qualified members pay dues and competition fees. “We really try to serve the undeserved,” Waterson said. “We get a lot of kids that wouldn't have this opportunity if it wasn't for someone giving it to them, and we're that someone.”

The difference between a club membership and simply going to the pool to swim by yourself, is training by professional swimming coaches. Waterson said that camaraderie is also a benefit of club membership. “You have people working out with you, which is really nice when you're just lap swimming,” she said.

All of the club’s swimming classes and clinics are held at the Cunningham Aquatic Complex, which has an outdoor heated Olympic sized pool, and is one of the only pools in the country with a hydraulic flooring system that allows the shallow end of the pool bottom to be raised or lowered.

Club secretary Stephanie Jones said that her 13 year old daughter Jasmine has been attending the club’s swimming programs for six years and has participated in regional championships. She said that swimming is a life skill and the full body workout is great exercise. “Anytime you play a sport, you have to learn how to set goals for yourself, and those are all great skills for our young people to learn,” she said.

Jasmine said that her swimming experience has been a lot of fun. "It helped me build my confidence,” she said.

City staff presented multiple options for the Vallejo City Council in a special meeting Tuesday night to address the estimated $28.5 million for the 2026-27 fiscal year, including raising property transfer taxes. 

Assistant City Manager Nalungo Conley said the deficit has developed due to multiple factors, such as a 9% decline in both the transient occupancy tax and in the utility user tax –- as people use less gas and electricity – despite other gains like a 8% increase in franchise taxes amid hikes on fuel, garbage and other costs. 

The council indicated in February that staff must come up with more ways to cut costs, and in the following months the deficit projection grew by nearly $9 million. A majority of councilmembers also rejected several suggested mid-year budget adjustments in March.

To address this year’s funding gap, city staff suggested updating the city’s property transfer tax rate. The city’s current rate, which applies once to property sales, is $3.30 per $1,000 of property value, which brings the city about $2.47 million in annual revenue, Conley said.

The council could choose one of several options to present to voters to upgrade that tax and collect more revenue. Conley presented several models with different costs to homebuyers and rates of revenue growth. 

For example, in one “moderate increase model” a buyer purchasing a property for about $500,000 would pay $7-$10 per $1,000 in value - with a $3,500 to $5,000 price tag. 

With a tiered increase model of $5, the buyer might pay $2,500, which could bring the city up to $7 million more per year. 

At the highest rate, or $15 per $1,000 in value, Conley said buyers might be taxed $7,500, bringing the city at least $10 million more per year.

But Conley said that the revenue from choosing one of these updated models would take time to grow. 

The tax would need to be approved by a majority of voters in November and would kick in next January. Therefore the revenue during 2026-27 would only be boosted by several months of gains from the new tax model before the city can enjoy a full year of improved revenue starting in 2027-28.

“It does add on to the cost of a home, but the city of Vallejo has some of the cheapest housing prices in the county, and Solano County has some of the cheapest housing prices in the region,” Conley said. 

According to Zillow, Vallejo home values average around $521,000, compared to about $577,000 across Solano County and nearly $790,000 in nearby Contra Costa County.

City staff also suggested other potential revenue increase options, such as more aggressively pursuing revenue from code enforcement fees for buildings not up to standard. Mayor Andrea Sorce approved of this strategy, and added she thought the property transfer tax update could be done while keeping the city competitive. 

Councilmember Alexander Matias said he wants to follow Benicia and Fairfield’s examples of pursuing a business license tax update to capture more revenue from retailers. He suggested that staff explore how the city could present a similar opportunity on the ballot to Vallejo residents.

Resident Rebecca Trumper said during public comment the city ought to start with “priority-based budgeting,” which she said means considering the community’s most pressing needs and services while using the known revenue available. She said the community’s priorities appear to be strongly focused on improving economic development opportunities, as well as improving public safety and increasing affordable housing options.

Resident Anne Carr said the city should consider selling some assets it holds, such as schools it purchased from the school district. She suggested selling 400 Mare Island Way, rather than using it as collateral for the city’s former bankruptcy loan.

Councilmember Helen-Marie “Cookie” Gordon asked about that property’s status. City Attorney Veronica Nebb said that during the city’s 2011 bankruptcy the building was purchased and later pledged as collateral, and cannot be sold as it is encumbered. To unencumber it would endanger the “very favorable interest rate,” Nebb said, and require a costly refinancing process.

Conley agreed, saying that “Selling 400 Mare Island Way will not generate enough revenue.”

Conley said staff will bring these and other suggested fiscal strategies back for consideration in an upcoming meeting. 

The Measure P Oversight Committee, which oversees funds collected through a 2022 sales tax measure, will meet next week to discuss numerous funding requests, including spending about $500,000 on pilot projects “targeting economic development,” according to the meeting agenda. Measure P funds are projected to total $24 million for the 2026-27 fiscal year, Conley said.

Councilmember Tonia Lediju said she wants staff to weigh whether Measure P funds are the right choice to use on certain city services and projects which will require more funds in coming years.

“It’s no different than looking at a grant and ([asking], when that grant ends, how will services continue in the community?” Lediju said. “I want staff to consider, are these ongoing expenses and where should they really lie in our budget?”

This year’s deficit debate also takes place as the city just hired Harry Black as interim city manager. Black formerly served as Stockton’s city manager and brings fiscal management experience from his posts as chief financial officer for the cities of Baltimore, Maryland and Richmond, Virginia. He will review the city’s revenue growth recommendations within the coming weeks, according to the city.

Expect jewelry, fashion, sculpture, painting, artisan vendors, and live entertainment. The Cinco de Mayo performers will include Los Diablos Oaxaqueños del Valle de Napa, Ballet Folklórico Nekzayolin, and Ballet Folklórico Quetzalli.

City Arts Gallery will open a new group art exhibit, Fantasy, that will feature works by over a dozen local artists, plus some of Jerry Garcia’s work from the previous show. Beer and wine will be available for purchase.

And on the outskirts of the downtown, a solo exhibition of original pen-and-ink drawings by Miro Salazar will be on display at the McCune Room in the lower floor of the John F. Kennedy Library.

Musical attractions at Art Walk will include Don Bassey and Friends playing blues, roots and Americana music with special guests Volker Strifler and Kevin Hayes at Vallejo Brewing Company’s outdoor beer garden. Then at 7 p.m., the doors of the 4th Corner Speakeasy will open for the folksy Americana rock ‘n roll of Brian Travis, with special guest CJ Lawrence. 

Art Walk attractions will blend into Mother’s Day at the Vallejo Museum on Friday night when Greg Ballad & The Dream Set Band deliver smooth neo-soul vibes at the Askari's Place: A Mother's Day Soulful Experience event.

Then on Saturday evening, the 4th Corner Speakeasy will host blues guitarist Alvon Johnson at a Mother's Day Celebration. Bring your mom and she gets in free! Dinner by Earls BBQ will be available.

Johnson will be back on Saturday at the Empress Marquee Club for a Mother's Day Brunch where he’ll perform a Frank Sinatra tribute with smooth jazz standards backed by a full band. Brunch will begin at 11 a.m. and the live live music will begin at 2 p.m.

On Sunday afternoon, Top Shelf Classics and Talk of the Town will deliver a Mother's Day concert of Motown, classic soul, and R&B at Vino Godfather. Both groups are known for dynamic and harmonic vocals. Enhanced food options will be available from two caterers, Lasagna con Amore and Soulful Comfort. Plus, a Mother's Day Sip & Paint will be held in Vino Godfather's outdoor garden.

Outside of Vallejo, the VOENA Children’s Choir will perform at A Spring Serenade fundraiser at the Inn at Benicia Bay on Saturday evening. This Mother's Day weekend benefit dinner will feature a signature cocktail and a six-course meal with wine pairings. 100% of the proceeds will support scholarships, international exchanges, and artistic opportunities for youth. 

Latin DJs San Pacho and Bolo will perform in American Canyon at The Ruins, a repurposed abandoned cement factory with exposed architecture, graffitied walls and an open air stage, on Saturday from 3 to 9:30 p.m.

This is only a brief sampling of things to do in the Vallejo area. Scroll down the list below to find more art exhibits, live music and creative and recreational activities. Check our events page for an even more comprehensive listing of upcoming events and late-breaking updates. 

Let us know about new upcoming events at events@vallejosun.com, or sign in to our event platform and enter your event directly.

Napa River Ecology Center Community Open House

Wednesday, May 6

Join Parks Foundation staff and board for a behind-the-scenes tour of the future Napa River Ecology Center site before construction begins. Light refreshments, future-use plans, mosaic tile donor wall previews, and the Outdoor Connection Mobile Classroom with an augmented reality watershed table will be on hand. Napa Valley Vintners will be special guests.

• Wed, 4 to 6 p.m.
• Napa River Ecology Center
• 205 Wetlands Edge Rd., American Canyon

Game Night at the Library

Drop in at JFK Library for game night featuring board games and other activities. All ages welcome.

• Wed, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
• Vallejo City Hall - Vallejo Room (JFK Library lower level)
• 505 Santa Clara St, Vallejo

Vallejo Community Meeting

Join ACLU of Northern California as we share updates around what's happening with Vallejo's Police Oversight and Accountability Commission and discuss how we can advocate for police accountability and transparency. We'll also have opportunities to build community and get to know your neighbors!

• Wed, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
• Zoom

"Poetry 4 Da Mind" Open Mic Poetry

An open-mic poetry night featuring poet Jacalyn Eyvonne, hosted by Swiss TheBigCheez. Doors open at 6 p.m.; open mic starts at 7 p.m. Sign up early by texting your full name to 832-758-6898.

• Wed, 6 to 9 p.m.
• Lucky Garden
• 860 Tuolumne St., Vallejo

Vallejo Run Club

The Vallejo Run Club meets rain or shine next to the Ferry Terminal for 1 to 3 easy miles. Beginners to ultra marathoners welcome!

• Wed, 6:20 to 7:20 p.m.
• Vallejo Ferry Terminal
• 289 Mare Island Way, Vallejo

American Canyon Book Club

The American Canyon Book Club welcomes readers of all backgrounds for in-depth monthly discussion of a chosen title.

• Wed, 6:30 p.m.
• American Canyon Library
• 300 Crawford Way or 3421 Broadway St, American Canyon

Geoff's BIRTHDAY BASH

Timm Walker, Willy Jordan, Eamonn Flynn, and Dave Shul play blues, soul, and old-school funk.

• Wed, 6:30 p.m.
• Empress Marquee Club
• 324 Virginia St, Vallejo

Wednesday Night Open Mic

Weekly open mic welcoming musicians of all levels, plus comedians and poets. First-come, first-served sign-up; 3 songs or 15 minutes per performer.

• Wed, 8 to 11 p.m.
• Townhouse Cocktail Lounge
• 401A Georgia St., Vallejo

Thursday, May 7

English Conversation Club

Practice your English conversation skills with other adult learners in an informal and friendly setting. No registration required!

• Thu, 10 to 11 a.m.
• Vallejo Springstowne Library
• 1003 Oakwood Ave., Vallejo

Veterans' Benefits and Title 38 of the CFR

Clyde Gambles of the U.S. Military Veteran Family Resource Center presents on veterans' benefits and Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

• Thu, 10 a.m. to noon
• Vallejo John F. Kennedy Library
• 505 Santa Clara St, Vallejo

Genalogy Society of Vallejo-Benicia's Annual Potluck

The Genealogy Society of Vallejo-Benicia holds its annual summer potluck at noon. Bring a labeled dish to share; drinks provided. Share discoveries, photos, or artifacts from your family history research. Contact president@gsvb.org with questions.

• Thu, noon
• Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum
• 734 Marin St, Vallejo

Benicia Certified Farmer's Market

Solano County's largest independent certified farmers market, established in 1993 along Benicia's Historic Waterfront. Browse fresh produce, specialty foods, food trucks, wellness products, and crafts.

• Thu, 4 to 8 p.m.
• Downtown Benicia
• First Street, Benicia

Supervisor Cassandra James' Community Engagement Series - District 3

Supervisor Cassandra James hosts a District 3 community engagement session, with Vallejo City Council District 3 Member Tonia Lediju and the Solano County Sheriff's Office also in attendance.

• Thu, 6 p.m.
• Glen Cove Elementary
• 501 Glen Cove Pkwy., Vallejo

2nd Planet

A diverse music experience in the styles of Contemporary Jazz, Rock, R&B and Funk.

• Thu, 6:30 to 9 p.m.
• Lucca Bar & Grill
• 439 First St., Benicia

The Cut & Paste Society

Transform forgotten fragments into fresh narratives in our monthly collage workshop. Each session offers a chance to explore new techniques, experiment with composition, and create something uniquely yours in good company. All materials provided.

• Thu, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
• The Exchange
• 617 Marin St, Vallejo

David M'ore

Born in Argentina and forged in the Los Angeles club scene, David M'ore plays high-voltage blues rock shaped by Jimi Hendrix, Ritchie Blackmore, Johnny Winter, and Gary Moore. Doors open for dinner at 5:30 p.m.; show at 6:30 p.m.

• Thu, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
• Empress Marquee Club
• 324 Virginia St, Vallejo

Friday, May 8

Wetlands Trail Clean Up Day

Help clean up the Wetlands Edge Trail during National Wetlands Month, hosted by the American Canyon Community & Parks Foundation. All ages welcome; no pre-registration required. Gloves, bags, and pickers provided; light refreshments served. Volunteers sign a waiver (parental signature required for minors).

• Fri, 9 to 11 a.m.
• Wetlands Edge Trail
• 2 Eucalyptus Dr., American Canyon

Succulent Swap

Calling all gardening enthusiasts! Share your love of succulents with us at the American Canyon Library by bringing in your succulent cuttings and swapping them with the community.

• Fri, 11 a.m.
• American Canyon Library
• 300 Crawford Way, American Canyon

Fish Fry Fundraiser

Fried basa, potato chips, kale salad, bread and a drink. This fundraiser will help support the non profit Genesis House residential drug and alcohol treatment facility.

• Fri, noon
• Genesis House
• 1149 Warren Ave., Vallejo

Fiesta Fridays

Townhouse Cocktail Lounge presents Fiesta Fridays with reggaeton, salsa, cumbia, banda, and Latin house, plus tequila, margarita, and taco specials.

• Fri, 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.
• Townhouse Cocktail Lounge
• 401 Georgia St., Vallejo

Dauntless Heroesofthe Regiment

Author Marie Silva Vallejo discusses her book Dauntless: The 1st & 2nd Filipino Infantry Regiments — the story of the roughly 7,000 Filipino Americans who volunteered to fight in World War II and the secret clandestine missions that preceded the liberation of the Philippines.

• Fri, 1 to 4 p.m.
• Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum
• 734 Marin St, Vallejo

2nd Friday Art Walk & Cinco de Mayo

The Solano AIDS Coalition and U.N.I.D.O.S. join Vallejo Art Walk for a Cinco de Mayo celebration of local visual and performing arts. Expect jewelry, fashion, sculpture, painting, and cultural performers including Los Diablos Oaxaqueños del Valle de Napa, Ballet Folklórico Nekzayolin, and Ballet Folklórico Quetzalli. Local galleries, artisan vendors, and live entertainment throughout downtown Vallejo.

• Fri, 4:30 to 9:30 p.m.
• Downtown Vallejo
• Georgia and Marin Streets, Vallejo

Fantasy: A Group Exhibition Opening Reception

Step into a world of imagination at the opening reception for Fantasy, a captivating group exhibition showcasing the vibrant talent of our local creative community. Featured Artists: Gabrielle Dahms, Ava Dominguez, Jerry Garcia, Zachary Seth Greer, Crystal Joy Henry, Gabe Narciso, Nicole Missng Ng, Nikulas, Miro Salazar, Snoby Design, James Stansil Sr., Ren Takeda, Caroline Takeda, TJ Walkup, and Roberta Weir. Come view the exhibition, enjoy the community atmosphere, and support the local arts scene. Beer and wine will be available for purchase.

• Fri, 5 to 9 p.m.
• City Arts Gallery
• 420 Virginia St., Vallejo

Pen & Ink Drawings and Studies by Miro Salazar

A solo exhibition of original pen-and-ink drawings by Miro Salazar, presented during the 2nd Friday Art Walk. The McCune Collection is in the lower level of the JFK Library building; enter via the lower plaza at Georgia & Santa Clara streets. Coffee, tea, and refreshments served.

• Fri, 5 to 9 p.m.
• The McCune Collection
• 505 Santa Clara St, Vallejo

Don Bassey and Friends

Don Bassey and Friends — featuring Erin Bakke, Pato Milo, and special guests — bring live music to Vallejo Brewing Company every second Friday during the Art Walk.

• Fri, 6 to 8 p.m.
• Vallejo Brewing Company
• 430 Virginia St., Vallejo

Themed Paint Along - Flower Setting

A guided two-hour painting class with instructor Desireee Lozada. Each session features a themed artwork to follow along with; all materials provided. Beginners and experienced painters welcome.

• Fri, 6 to 8 p.m.
• Vallejo Community Center
• 225 Amador St., Vallejo

Sustainable Solano: Teen Cooking Classes - Stir Fry & Summer Rolls

Sustainable Solano hosts a hands-on teen cooking class covering stir fry and summer rolls, with basic knife skills and food prep techniques. All supplies and aprons provided. Instructor: Chef Stephanie Jordan. Closed-toe shoes required; no long or fake nails or dangling jewelry.

• Fri, 6 to 8 p.m.
• Vallejo Community Center
• 225 Amador St., Vallejo

S.R. Laws

Northern California singer-songwriter S.R. Laws performs heartfelt, story-driven music influenced by John Hiatt, Rodney Crowell, Neil Finn, Chuck Prophet, and Ron Sexsmith.

• Fri, 6 to 8 p.m.
• Mare Island Brewing Company - Coal Shed Brewery
• 850 Nimitz Ave, Vallejo

Pardon The Interruption

New-wave/prog-pop troubadours from Sonoma bring their energetic, distinct sound to Lucca Bar & Grill.

• Fri, 6:30 to 9 p.m.
• Lucca Bar & Grill
• 439 First St., Benicia

Indie After Dark Presents: Brian Travis with special guest CJ Lawrence.

Indie After Dark presents Brian Travis, a two-decade international touring veteran with six independent albums of original folk-influenced rock, with opener CJ Lawrence at 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m.

• Fri, 7 to 10:30 p.m.
• 4th Corner Speakeasy
• 431 Georgia St, Vallejo

Rumors Friday Evening

Neil Simon's beloved farce directed by Clinton Vidal. Four couples arrive at a lavish anniversary party to find their host injured and his wife missing, setting off a cascade of misunderstandings and outrageous lies. Doors open one hour before curtain.

• Fri, 8 to 10 p.m.
• Historic BDES Hall
• 140 West J St., Benicia

MISERY! Based on the novel by Stephen King

Bay Area Stage Theatre presents MISERY, William Goldman's stage adaptation of Stephen King's thriller, directed by Jeff Lowe. Novelist Paul Sheldon, rescued from a car crash by his obsessive "number one fan" Annie Wilkes, must find a way to escape. Runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m., through May 17.

• Fri, 8 to 10 p.m.
• Bay Area Stage Theatre on Broadway
• 515 Broadway St., Vallejo

Askari's~ Place A Mother's Day Soulful Expedience

An intimate R&B concert featuring Greg Ballad & The Dream Set Band, with special guest Sharday delivering smooth neo-soul vibes.

• Fri, 8 to 10 p.m.
• Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum
• 734 Marin St, Vallejo

Epic Dance Party Boogie Nights

Ariel Marin headlines with funk energy and soulful vocals, joined by James Earley and special guest Niecey Living Single, a Bay Area award-winning R&B and soul vocalist. Doors open for dinner at 6 p.m.; show starts at 8:30 p.m.

• Fri, 8:30 to 10:30 p.m.
• Empress Marquee Club
• 324 Virginia St, Vallejo

The Coyote Ugly Hoedown

Get them bandanas, Cowboy hats, boots and daisy Dukes out May 8. The Coyote Ugly Hoedown coming to town! Get your best fits together for a good old time time with the rootingest tootingest shootingest folks in town. Tequila blasters, Mechanical Bull and the Coyote Ugly Contest rockin at the Chris Club. DJ TAYBOTTLEZ in the mix to get them boots quaking and booties shakin'. 21+, Security Strictly Enforced

• Fri, 9 p.m.
• Chris' Club
• 656 Benicia Rd., Vallejo

Perreo ‘Mamis Outside' Mothers Day Weekend

A Mother's Day weekend perreo dance party. No cover for mamis before 11 p.m.

• Fri, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
• My Office Bar & Grill
• 2414 Sacramento St, Vallejo

Saturday, May 9

Ancop Charity Golf Tournament

The ANCOP Charity Golf Tournament raises funds to send children to school. Registration is $150 per golfer (18 holes, 4-person scramble, buffet lunch, and prizes); non-golfer buffet lunch tickets are $30. Registration deadline: April 25.

• Sat, 7 a.m.
• Blue Rock Springs Golf Course
• 655 Columbus Pkwy., Vallejo

Vallejo Run Club

The Vallejo Run Club meets rain or shine next to the Ferry Terminal for 1 to 3 easy miles. Beginners to ultra marathoners welcome!

• Sat, 8 to 9 a.m.
• Vallejo Ferry Terminal
• 289 Mare Island Way, Vallejo

Bay Area Ridge Trail Guided Hike

The Solano Land Trust guides a 5-mile out-and-back hike along a future section of the Bay Area Ridge Trail across Vallejo Swett Ranch, connecting Blue Rock Springs Park to Hiddenbrooke. Terrain includes cross-country hiking, ranch roads, and paved roads. Parking: $6 for Vallejo residents, $8 for non-residents.

• Sat, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Blue Rock Springs Park
• 650 Columbus Parkway, Vallejo

Sky Zone Vallejo Grand Opening & Summer Play Pass

Sky Zone Vallejotrampoline parkis now open, offering high-energy indoor activities such as trampoline experiences, freestyle jumping, ultimate dodgeball, mega launch slides, ziplining, and more.

• Sat, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sky Zone
• 105 Plaza Dr, Vallejo

Farmers’ Market

California-grown produce, baked goods, tamales, food trucks, and specialty booths at down-to-earth prices.

• Sat, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Downtown Vallejo
• Georgia and Marin Streets, Vallejo

Community Coffee Tasting

Sample coffees from around the world side by side, browse local vendor crafts and confections, and enjoy made-to-order crêpes and live music at Moschetti Coffee Roaster.

• Sat, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Moschetti Coffee Roaster
• 11 6th St., Vallejo

UBC Mother's Day Prayer Breakfast

Union Baptist Church hosts a Mother's Day Prayer Breakfast under the theme "The Power of Prayer" — a morning of spiritual renewal and sisterhood.

• Sat, 9:30 a.m. to noon
• Union Baptist Church
• 128 Encerti Ave., Vallejo

NAMIWalks Solano

NAMIWalks Solano is a roughly 1-mile community walk at Glen Cove Waterfront Park to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and support mental health services in Solano County. All are welcome.

• Sat, 10 a.m. to
• Glen Cove Waterfront Park
• Whitesides Dr., Vallejo

Mobile Recess Program

A free Vallejo Recreation District program bringing organized play, sports, and crafts to neighborhood parks every Saturday, supported by Measure P funding.

• Sat, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Highlands Park
• 101 Regents Park Dr, Vallejo

Saturday Crafternoons: Hanging Flower Lanterns

Join this month at Saturday Crafternoons where we will be making gorgeous hanging paper flower lanterns.

• Sat, noon
• American Canyon Library
• 300 Crawford Way, American Canyon

Kitty Meet and Greet – Pet Adoptions

Community Cat Advocates brings adoptable cats and kittens to Vallejo PetSmart every Saturday, noon to 3 p.m. All animals are dewormed, flea-treated, vaccinated, tested for FeLV/FIV, microchipped, and spayed or neutered.

• Sat, 12 to 3 p.m.
• PetSmart
• 952 Admiral Callaghan Lane, Vallejo

Saturday Drawing Club

A casual weekly gathering. Hang out and draw together! Bring your own pencils, pens and paper. Limited supplies will be provided. For all ages and all experience levels. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please no ink or paints. The art gallery is open during the Drawing Club. Free, everyone is welcome!

• Sat, 12 to 2 p.m.
• City Arts Gallery
• 420 Virginia St., Vallejo

Family Day with Vallejo Watershed Alliance

Celebrate 20 years of the Vallejo Watershed Alliance with an elevated exhibit experience at the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum. Partner agencies on hand include Friends of Vallejo Flood & Wastewater, Greater Vallejo Recreation District, Solano Resource Conservation District, and Friends of Lake Chabot. VWA and partner agency family members admitted free.

• Sat, 12 to 3 p.m.
• Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum
• 734 Marin St, Vallejo

The TuneRiders

60s-80s Rock R&B & Americana along with amazing harmonies.

• Sat, 1 to 3:30 p.m.
• Lucca Bar & Grill
• 439 First St., Benicia

Sixteen Scandals

Sixteen Scandals makes its Vino Godfather debut with high-energy '80s pop/rock and dance hits. Food by Fredrick's Catering: BBQ tri-tip, chicken, hot dogs, sandwiches, and sides.

• Sat, 1 to 4 p.m.
• Vino Godfather
• 1005 Walnut Ave. #500, Vallejo

SAN PACHO + BOLO at The Ruins

Get ready... SAN PACHO + BOLO headline a day party at the Napa Valley Ruins in American Canyon on 5/9!

• Sat, 3 to 9:30 p.m.
• Mallen Way
• American Canyon

A Spring Serenade

VOENA presents A Spring Serenade, a Mother's Day weekend benefit dinner featuring a signature cocktail, six-course meal with wine pairings, and performances by VOENA's young artists. Proceeds support scholarships, international exchanges, and artistic opportunities for youth. The Inn at Benicia Bay underwrites event staffing so 100% of proceeds benefit VOENA.

• Sat, 5 to 8 p.m.
• The Inn at Benicia Bay
• 145 East D St., Benicia

Live Music Saturday with David Bustamante & Bobby Santos

Bay Area singer-songwriter and DAKILA bandleader David Bustamante performs a duo set with percussionist Bobby Santos, featuring ukulele and songs from his catalog including the recent single "Mama Ko."

• Sat, 6 to 8 p.m.
• Mare Island Brewing Co. Ferry Taproom
• 289 Mare Island Way, Vallejo

Walking Mirrors Benefit Show

Walking Mirrors is a rock supergroup led by Mark Nelson, featuring Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Craig Bartock (Heart), guitarist Aidan Nelson, and Jeff Campitelli & David Sikes. Benefit show for the Hamann Foundation.

• Sat, 6:30 to 9 p.m.
• Lucca Bar & Grill
• 439 First St., Benicia

Alvon Johnson - Mother's Day Celebration

The "Ambassador of the Blues" Alvon Johnson plays a Mother's Day celebration of blues guitar and jazz standards. Moms get in free. Earl's BBQ dinner (ribs, chicken, hotlinks, and two sides) available; doors open at 5:30 p.m.

• Sat, 7 to 10 p.m.
• 4th Corner Speakeasy
• 431 Georgia St, Vallejo

Rumors Saturday Evening

Neil Simon's beloved farce directed by Clinton Vidal. Four couples arrive at a lavish anniversary party to find their host injured and his wife missing, setting off a cascade of misunderstandings and outrageous lies.

• Sat, 8 to 10 p.m.
• Historic BDES Hall
• 140 West J St., Benicia

MISERY! Based on the novel by Stephen King

Bay Area Stage Theatre presents MISERY, William Goldman's stage adaptation of Stephen King's thriller, directed by Jeff Lowe. Novelist Paul Sheldon, rescued from a car crash by his obsessive "number one fan" Annie Wilkes, must find a way to escape. Runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m., through May 17.

• Sat, 8 to 10 p.m.
• Bay Area Stage Theatre on Broadway
• 515 Broadway St., Vallejo

Townhouse Divas Drag Show

Come join Vicodonia Knightingale, Charity Kase and Holotta Tymes every 2nd Saturday night at the Townhouse Cocktail Lounge! These are the Divas you want to see!

• Sat, 10:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.
• Townhouse Cocktail Lounge
• 401A Georgia St, Vallejo

Sunday, May 10

Mother's Day Brunch with Alvon Johnson

Alvon Johnson performs a Frank Sinatra tribute brunch at the Empress Marquee Club, with smooth jazz standards backed by a full band. Brunch served 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; live music 2 to 4 p.m.

• Sun, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Empress Marquee Club
• 324 Virginia St, Vallejo

St. Peter's Chapel - Self-guided Tour

St. Peter's Chapel — home to the largest single-location collection of Tiffany stained-glass windows — is open for self-guided visits and quiet reflection on the 2nd and 4th Sundays. Volunteers on site to share history. Private guided tours of the chapel, Admiral's Mansion, and more available through mihpf.org/tours.

• Sun, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• St. Peter’s Chapel
• 1181 Walnut Ave., Vallejo

Mother's Day with Top Shelf Classics - May 10th at Vino Godfather

Top Shelf — five dynamic vocalists with background singers, dancers, and award-winning musicians — joins Talk of the Town for a Mother's Day afternoon of Motown, classic soul, and R&B at Vino Godfather. Food by Lasagna con Amore: lasagna Bolognese, lasagna pesto, Italian paninis, and desserts.

• Sun, 1 to 4 p.m.
• Vino Godfather
• 1005 Walnut Ave. #500, Vallejo

Mother's Day Sip & Paint

Artist-instructor Jena Webber guides a Mother's Day "Wild Flowers" painting class on a 16x20 canvas in Vino Godfather's outdoor garden, with live music from Talk of the Town and Top Shelf next door. First glass of wine and desserts included; all art supplies provided.

• Sun, 1 to 3:30 p.m.
• Vino Godfather
• 1005 Walnut Ave, Vallejo

Rumors Sunday Matinee

Neil Simon's beloved farce directed by Clinton Vidal. Four couples arrive at a lavish anniversary party to find their host injured and his wife missing, setting off a cascade of misunderstandings and outrageous lies.

• Sun, 2 to 4 p.m.
• Historic BDES Hall
• 140 West J St., Benicia

EnSPirits

EnSPirits is a collaborative alternative jazz/R&B project pairing multi-hyphenate artist Victoria Theodore (Stevie Wonder, Beyoncé, Lin-Manuel Miranda) with composer-producer Dave Tweedie (Disney, Hulu, No Doubt, Les Claypool).

• Sun, 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.
• Lucca Bar & Grill
• 439 First St., Benicia

MISERY! Based on the novel by Stephen King

Bay Area Stage Theatre presents MISERY, William Goldman's stage adaptation of Stephen King's thriller, directed by Jeff Lowe. Novelist Paul Sheldon, rescued from a car crash by his obsessive "number one fan" Annie Wilkes, must find a way to escape. Runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m., through May 17.

• Sun, 3 to 5 p.m.
• Bay Area Stage Theatre on Broadway
• 515 Broadway St., Vallejo

Live Music Sunday with Nathan X Moody

Bay Area multi-instrumentalist Nathan X Moody plays funk, soul, rock, pop, jazz, and blues — a genre-spanning performer who has played everywhere from San Francisco street corners to the French Quarter of New Orleans.

• Sun, 6 to 8 p.m.
• Mare Island Brewing Company - First Street Taphouse
• 440 First St., Benicia

Salsa & Bachata Class

Beginner-friendly Salsa & Bachata lessons by Cuban Rhythm and Rumba instructors, 8 to 9 p.m. every Sunday at H Lounge. Class ticket includes admission to the Rumba Sundays party at 9 p.m. Ages 21 and older.

• Sun, 8 to 9 p.m.
• H Lounge
• 472 Benicia Road, Vallejo

Rumba Sunday's

Weekly Latin music party at H Lounge with DJ Mobeezy and guests spinning salsa, bachata, reggaeton, hip-hop, and more. Party starts at 9 p.m.; free entry with the Salsa & Bachata class at 8 p.m.

• Sun, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
• H Lounge
• 472 Benicia Road, Vallejo

Monday, May 11

JFK Junk Journal Club

A free adult club for junk journaling, scrapbooking, and art journaling. Stickers, scissors, glue sticks, and paper provided; bring your own supplies too.

• Mon, 5 to 6:30 p.m.
• Vallejo John F. Kennedy Library
• 505 Santa Clara St, Vallejo

Congressman John Garamendi May Zoom Townhall

Congressman Garamendi is holding a Zoom townhall to answer all your questions: Are you struggling with the increasing cost of gas, food and other basic needs? Are you interested in asking me about the latest development in Trump’s war of choice in Iran? Are you scared of Trump gutting your health care and food benefits? Do you want to know how I’m working to bring jobs back to the district? We will be speaking about this and more on Congressman Garamendi's Zoom Townhall.

• Mon, to 7 p.m.
• Zoom

Tuesday, May 12

Slow Stroll at Wetlands

The Parks Foundation and American Canyon Soroptimists host a leisurely monthly walk along the flat, packed-gravel Wetlands Edge Trail — about one hour at a social pace. Meet at the trailhead near the information kiosk. Light layers and walking shoes recommended. All welcome.

• Tue, 10 a.m.
• Wetlands Edge Park
• 2 Eucalyptus Dr., American Canyon

Baby Bounce

An interactive storytime for babies ages 0 to 18 months and their caregivers, featuring songs, rhymes, books, and lap activities. Stay-and-play time follows.

• Tue, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
• Vallejo John F. Kennedy Library
• 505 Santa Clara St, Vallejo

VTown Community Resource Fair

The free V-Town Community Connect Fair, hosted by a local Leadership Vallejo group, features tacos, live DJ music, and connections with local nonprofits, community partners, and resources.

• Tue, 4:30 to 7 p.m.
• Vallejo John F. Kennedy Library
• 505 Santa Clara St, Vallejo

Campanelli Youth Chorus

A choral music class for ages 7 to 17 covering musicianship, sight-singing, and vocal training. No audition or prior experience required; drop-ins welcome. Scholarships available through Vallejo Choral Society. Instructor: John Montanero.

• Tue, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
• Vallejo Community Center
• 225 Amador St., Vallejo

Español en Coro

A relaxed Spanish conversation club for learners of all levels. Practice through conversation, games, and activities with fellow learners and occasional native speakers.

• Tue, 5 to 6 p.m.
• Vallejo John F. Kennedy Library
• 505 Santa Clara St, Vallejo

City Council Regular Meeting

City Council meetings are hybrid (in-person and Zoom) and broadcast on VCAT. Agendas are posted at cityofvallejo.net at least 72 hours in advance for regular meetings. Meetings are generally held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month.

• Tue, 7 to 11 p.m.
• Vallejo City Hall and Zoom
• 555 Santa Clara St, Vallejo

Artist's Way Group Next Chapter: "The Book of Alchemy"

Alibi Bookshop's community creativity group returns, this year exploring Suleika Jaouad's The Book of Alchemy — a guide to journaling as a catalyst for creative expression. Open to all levels. Meets Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m.

• Tue, 7 to 9 p.m.
• Alibi Bookshop
• 624 Marin St, Vallejo

Video obtained by the Vallejo Sun shows a van turning from Del Mar Avenue onto Tuolumne Street and striking two girls and their grandmother shortly after dismissal at 1:30 p.m. on Monday as they were walking in a crosswalk, knocking them to the ground. 

“He wasn’t going very fast,” said Bill Smith, the neighbor who captured the video who has lived across the street from Cooper for almost 40 years. “Thank God; if he had been it would have been a totally different situation.”

Multiple witnesses told the Vallejo Sun that police and medical staff showed up shortly after the incident. Neither the twin girls nor their grandmother suffered major injuries. Smith said the driver cooperated with law enforcement and was “very apologetic.”

The girls’ mother, Yien Saelee-Blair, told the Vallejo Sun that the incident traumatized her daughters. 

“For sure there’s post traumatic trauma,” Saelee-Blair said a few days after the accident. “They think it’s going to happen again. They don’t want to go back to school yet.”

Melvin Blair, the girls’ father, said that a representative from the Vallejo City Unified School District reached out to the family following the incident to check in, offered to provide therapy sessions, and made accommodations so that the girls could do their school work from home for a few days. The girls returned to school this week.

Laura Iriarte, a kindergarten teacher at Cooper, said that she thinks the city needs to make the streets near the school safer, in particular Tuolumne Street.

“Cars are flying down Tuolumne right now,” Iriarte said. “We need better signage with better visibility.” 

Neighbors agree. Amy Gallejos, who lives nearby, said it’s “scary crossing that street” and that a few years ago a car bumped into her while she was walking in the same area where the twins and their grandmother were hit. 

Smith said it feels like students at Cooper are “playing dodgeball” against traffic when they’re going to and from school because it’s so busy and people drive quickly. On a visit to Cooper last week, this reporter witnessed over 175 cars pass through the intersection outside the school during the five minutes after school let out.

Blair, who lives on Tuolumne Street, said that the accident isn’t the first time in recent months a vehicle has harmed his family in the area. A vehicle slammed into and totaled his mother’s car along with the fence outside his family’s home in early March, Blair said. He shared photos with the Vallejo Sun showing the damage.

“We care about the children but we also worry about adults,” Blair said. “Multiple neighbors I know walk and exercise here daily. Their safety is also our concern.”

For traffic going south on Tuolumne Street, there’s a sign alerting drivers to a reduced speed limit when students are present, from 35 mph to 25 mph. There’s a similar sign for traffic going north as well, but it’s obscured by the branches of a sycamore tree. 

Gallejos said she’d like to see signs that show how quickly a driver is going, flashing lights at the crosswalk, and ideally, a police officer stationed nearby to issue traffic tickets. She also wants speed bumps installed, but she and other neighbors told the Vallejo Sun that that idea has been nixed because there are two nearby hospitals, and ambulances need to drive quickly down Tuolumne.

In response to emailed questions about how the city can better deal with traffic and pedestrian safety along Tuolumne Street and near Cooper, city spokesperson Robert Briseño said the city is working on the issue, but it’s unclear when exactly it will take action.

“The city is currently reviewing the situation and working with our traffic engineer to develop an appropriate solution,”  Briseño said. “Once a plan is finalized, we will move forward with implementation as quickly as possible. At this time, the timeline is not yet known, as this process will take some time.”

Vallejo school district spokesperson Maral Papakhian said that while traffic modifications such as signage falls outside the district’s jurisdiction, district leadership is bringing the issue up at joint meetings with city officials. 

Papakhian said the district is currently looking into the situation as well to see what improvements can be made, which could mean assigning a crossing guard to the school.

“We are also in communication with site leadership to assess any additional safety measures that may be appropriate at the school level,” Papakhian said. “This includes reviewing current supervision and arrival/dismissal procedures. We do have crossing guards at some locations across the district, and we are evaluating the needs at Cooper as part of this broader review.”

Smith, a retired garbage truck driver, doesn’t want to wait for the city or the school district. Starting from the day after the accident, Smith has volunteered as a crossing guard during arrival and dismissal. He sets up green signs at the busy intersection which read “slow,” dons a fluorescent green vest, and carries a stop sign to help keep pedestrians safe as they cross the street.

Smith’s wife, daughter and grandchild all attended Cooper and he still advocates for the school. When district leadership was considering closing the campus earlier this school year, Smith put up a giant sign reading “SAVE COOPER” outside his home. He said he started volunteering as a crossing guard because it “needed to be done.”

Community members are grateful. Blair said Smith’s presence has eased his and his family’s mind.

“Thanks to Bill for all he’s done,” Blair said. “He doesn’t even know us, but he didn’t need to know us to help us out.”

In December, the district decided not to close Cooper, and to close Pennycook, Highland and Lincoln elementary schools instead. According to Papakhian, this means 150 to 200 additional students will attend Cooper next school year.

“Obviously something has to change,” Blair said. “We need to be sure there’s more of a safety net because there’s going to be even more students next year.”

Smith said that he’s happy to help by volunteering but he could really use more help. There’s portions of the intersection he’s unable to cover during the school’s busy arrival and dismissal period. “If I could get one more person on the other corner over there it sure would make it a lot better,” Smith said.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the grade taught by Laura Iriarte.

The board of the Community Action Partnership of Solano Joint Powers Authority, or CAP Solano JPA, voted 4-3 to approve the contract with Abode during its meeting Thursday. Abode also has a contract with the Solano County Behavioral Health department. 

The selection comes after conflict of interest concerns derailed the selection process leading to formal protests from the top two applicants.

In September, the CAP Solano JPA issued a request for proposals (RFP) for a coordinated entry system operator and received proposals from four applicants. The agency selected a community panel to review the proposals and present their recommendation to the board for final approval at the November meeting. 

In November, the community panel recommended Abode Services based on a half-point lead in the scoring process with the current operator Caminar as the runner-up. But one member of the community panel wrote a letter to the board alleging that then-CAP Solano JPA Executive Director DeShawn Waters had influenced the panel’s scoring decisions in favor of Abode, where he had worked a year prior. 

The agency’s legal counsel advised the board that Waters’ prior employment relationship with Abode did not constitute a conflict of interest because it did not involve a financial benefit, but the board directed agency staff to conduct a second panel. 

Waters resigned days before the agency’s February meeting. The second panel also recommended Abode Services for the contract over Caminar, this time by a slightly higher margin. 

Several community members who had faced homelessness or housing insecurity in Solano County spoke during February’s meeting about the help they had received from Caminar employees including those who had recently worked to place a number of Solano county residents in the newly opened 47-unit permanent supportive housing project on Broadway Street in Vallejo. 

Representatives of partner agencies also spoke positively about Caminar’s work and the importance of maintaining continuity of service so agencies and organizations can build on existing work. And some community members relayed unfavorable experiences that they had had working with Abode Services.

The board, which has a voting member from each of the seven Solano County cities and one from the county Board of Supervisors, was split 4-4 on a motion to approve the second panel’s recommendation and voted to postpone the decision.

During Thursday’s meeting, Solano County principal management analyst and JPA staff member Megan Richards presented the board with four options along with the potential for legal challenges or audits and possible consequences associated with each action. Richards indicated that adopting the review panel’s recommendation was the most defensible path while the options to change the process or redo the process entirely involved delays or required careful reasoning.  

Richards identified the fourth option, awarding the contract to a non-recommended agency, as the highest risk due to the potential for bid protests or audit findings that could require the agency to return funds for not following federal procurement guidelines.  

A number of Abode Services employees spoke Thursday about the organization’s current work in the county and the benefits that the organization can offer in taking on the coordinated entry system operator role. 

Tina Susan, a woman who had received services from Abode, also spoke favorably about the organization.

“I experienced professionalism, integrity and genuine care,” Susan said. “These aren't just employees following the script. When you find people who listen, who are honest and generally want to know, that's gold.” 

The impact of the public comments along with the board members’ individual experiences interacting with both service providers was apparent in the board’s discussion on Thursday. 

Vacaville City Councilmember and JPA board member Ted Fremouw said that he listened carefully to the comments in a previous meeting from community members impacted by homelessness about how Abode had failed. He said that although those comments were only one side of the story, he is concerned that Abode may underperform. However, he said as a contractor who has worked on city, county and state projects, it is also important for the agency to maintain a consistent and fair process so providers are not deterred from working with the county.

Solano County Supervisor and JPA board member Cassandra James said that despite the risks she would support awarding the contract to Caminar.

“I am concerned that shifting providers at this time will widen existing gaps.” James said, adding that she had witnessed Abode staff members laughing when an unhoused individual was speaking during public comment.  

“That moment was not only inappropriate,” she said. “It raised serious concerns for me about how individuals who are experiencing homelessness may be treated within our system.”  

James said that she was impressed with the work of Caminar employees and the relationships they have built with partner organizations and with unhoused community members. She said that the conflict of interest of the first panel had led to problems in the second panel because a panelist with lived experience of homelessness in Solano County had not been included.

Vallejo City Councilmember Tonia Lediju said that she was also concerned about the lack of local lived experience on the panel. “You're talking about humanistic needs being met without having individuals on your panel who live in the community,” she said. “Every community has its own marker. Every community is different.” 

Richards pointed out that while a consultant, View Community Advisors, arranged the second panel the panelists were selected with direction from the board’s executive committee. 

Benicia City Councilmember and CAP Solano JPA board member Lionel Largaspada was the panel’s only local representative. 

“I think the scores reflect the quality of the responses,” Largaespada said. “While I understand the points you're making about lived experience – and local lived experience is super important – but this is about a system, the operations and so forth. In the end, everyone had a chance, they all put their submissions in.” 

Lediju also asked what accountability measures would be in place to monitor the performance of the selected contractor.

Richards acknowledged that the board has been asking about the agency’s accountability processes. She said that the staff does include certain accountability mechanisms when drawing up contracts. She said that staff is currently going through the agency’s contracts to design an improved set of monitoring systems that go beyond metrics and instead look at the changes that actually take place as a result of the service provided.

However, she said, applicants need to be notified of any new reporting requirements early on in the selection process, so when those monitoring systems are complete, they will be incorporated as new contracts are awarded. 

Abode’s current contract with the Solano County Department of Behavioral Health began Dec. 1, 2023, and runs through June 30, 2026 at a cost of $26.1 million. The contract covers permanent supportive housing services, rapid rehousing, homelessness outreach, housing services for those recently released from incarceration and housing navigation, among other services. 

Dixon Mayor Steve Bird urged board members to follow the established procedures. 

“The credibility of our process is on the line right now, folks, if we can't conduct the proper RFP and a process to select somebody, we're not doing our job,” Bird said. “You know, it's nice to have more than one bite at the apple, but multiple bites at the apple is not the way to do it.”

Caminar CEO Mark Cloutier, who attended the meeting, said, “It was an elaborate process of reflection and reconsideration, and there was a real thoroughness that I really respected. And I think the board was asking all the right questions, and I accept the conclusion they came to.”

Kara Carnahan, Abode's vice president of programs for Alameda, Napa, Solano, and Sonoma counties, also attended the meeting. “I think there were a lot of really valid points tonight,” she said after the meeting. “The point that really resonated with me was that if there is not an equitable and fair process that is transparent, then in future RFPs providers won’t feel safe or they won't want to apply.” 

“We deeply appreciate the great effort that the JPA put forth to ensure the selection process was measured and fair,” Karnahan said in a statement on Friday. “Abode currently serves more than 700 people in Solano County and, more than anything, we’re eager to continue our work to help those in need in this community and pursue our mission to solve homelessness.”