Neighborhoods Watch
There’s nothing like seeing community members come together to look out for each other. Vallejo’s Quarterly Citywide Neighborhood Watch Meeting took place January 25th and good information was plentiful.
Fighting Back Partnership is hosting Trivia Night, their 2nd Annual Fundraising Event:
When: March 24th, 2012, 6:30 PM - doors open @ 5:30 PM
Where: Vallejo Historical & Naval Museum, 734 Marin Street, Vallejo, CA
Cost: $25.00 per person
Contact: Marian at
mswanson@fight-back.orgPasta Pomodoro is hosting a community fundraising program:
Friends and family are invited to dine in & to-go
When: Monday, February 20th - Friday, February 24th all day
Where: Pasta Pomodoro Vallejo, 163 Plaza Drive, Vallejo, 94591 (707) 557-6100
Pasta Pomodoro will donate 20% of your bill to Fighting Back Partnership
Did you know that Vallejo has a neighborhood watch website, Vallejolamplighter.org? You can also find them on Facebook.
Donate, communicate, watch out for yourself and your neighbor.
Chandra
Bill Bloom Arts
Bill Bloom left a lasting impression on me about his work - he loves it and is eager to share his knowledge with others. I first became acquainted with him about seven years ago at Vallejo’s Wednesday Night Celebration. We stood adjacent to each other at the corner of Marin and Georgia, selling novels and ceramic art. If I even glanced sideways at one of his pieces, he would tell in great detail how that final product came to be. His excitement was infectious and I could not resist investing in one of his pieces which hangs on my office wall and beautifully entertains sunlight every morning. 
Bill teaches ceramics classes out of his work-live space on Marin Street. I’m sure he’d be happy to have you, and I just might see you there myself.
Chandra
Vallejo Welcomes WinCo
Vallejo is taking bigger steps into the 21st century by allowing WinCo to settle here. Hip hip! Hooray! Hip hip! Hooray! It’s great to see another grocery option here. Maybe when Fresh & Easy gets their act together they will follow. We shall see!
Chandra
Sardine Can for Breakfast
I have had two very good experiences at the Sardine Can. The funny thing about it is that I have walked by this restaurant for years during my walks along the waterfront. Every time I walked by, I thought, this place is a greasy spoon and kept walking. In meeting a friend of mine recently for coffee, we both decided that we were actually very hungry and she suggested the Sardine Can. Not much you can do to harm eggs, right?
Not only was breakfast delicious, I found a new spot to relax while I eat. The first time I visited I had a crab, avocado and cheese omelette, which was delicious, and shared the french toast with my friend. I thoroughly enjoyed my food and also got the chance to catch up on the latest with my companion and gaze out at the water from our table near the window. Ahhhhh.
I returned today with my husband and we both enjoyed a pancake breakfast and good conversation. I might also add that the home fries are the best. So I can definitely speak for breakfast, they have a solid menu which amounts to some good comfort food.
Where to find:
Sardine Can
0 Harbor Way
Vallejo, CA 94590
(707) 553-9492
Chandra
C Dyann Designs
Chatmon's Books
Hummingbird Bakery & Dessert Bar
Strawberry-Lemon Cake. Chocolate Chip Cookies. Bread Pudding. Oreo Cupcakes. Mmmmmmm. Yummmmm. 
I chose the Strawberry-Lemon Cake after trying a sample. Paired with a cup of hot green tea, I can say I made a great choice. This wasn’t my first visit to Hummingbird Bakery and Dessert Bar. I love that place. I would go everyday but who can justify eating a huge hunk of cake each day for 365 days a year? 
The cake and all the other pastries in this establishment are sweet for sure, but not nearly as sweet as the operators and owners, Anastasia Dominique and Zipporah Johnson as well as their employees. Half the battle with retaining customers is excellent customer service and these ladies and their staff have it. It appears to be no problem for either of them to come out from behind the counter to talk to patrons and ask for feedback on their food. The workers are pleasant, professional and helpful. Their dessert bar is clean, bright and inviting, and what I would consider one of the jewels of Vallejo. Located in an area between our struggling downtown and the busy and thriving Plaza Drive, it provides yet another location in Vallejo to sit and enjoy the company of family and friends, or to take some time for yourself to reflect on life over a sweet treat.
The only complaint I have is that they were actually offering some type of San Francisco 49ers cupcakes today…
Hummingbird Bakery & Dessert Bar is located at 2037 Springs Road, Vallejo CA. They can be reached at (707) 644-4885. You can also find them on Facebook, be sure to Like.
Chandra
Community Trust
So I’m just going to get this out in the open right away - we’ve been gone a long time. It’s true, we know. But we’re back to resurrect Sweet Home Vallejo because Vallejo is still as sweet as ever. Don’t laugh, it’s true.
I was walking by a credit union the other day and for the gazillionth time the name changed, this time to Community Trust. It stopped me dead in my tracks and made me ask, does Vallejo really have the trust of the community? We’ve seen a rise in theft and robberies, but we recently emerged from bankruptcy and re-elected Mayor Davis, which is one sign of increasing stability. Vallejo is still struggling to meet its potential, but some progress is underway with construction along the waterfront and the ferry building. Our police force could use a lot more personnel, but the number of neighborhood watch groups has grown exponentially in the past two years.
Vallejo is certainly not up to par with cities like Oakland, we’ve got a long way to go to get to that level! (Smile). We plan to continue to highlight the best that Vallejo has to offer in the meantime, so allow us to finally say Happy New Year and we’re glad you came back to visit.
Chandra
VALLEJO: MOVING FORWARD?
It’s been months since our last post. Wake up Vallejo!
Actually, a lot has occurred during that time and if you happen to take a walk to the ferry terminal, you’ll see there’s some construction going on. Better bring your hard hat! Thanks to an influx of federal stimulus funds, plans are underway for Vallejo Station, which is supposed to house an underground parking garage and a walkway connecting to the new bus terminal on Sacramento and Marin to the waterfront. Of course, I think the way it’s set up now where you have Vallejo Transit and other buses stop on Mare Island Way near the terminal as a destination point is perfect but hey, I don’t make the decisions. It’s the downside of being an outsider…..
For all those who wondered if Vallejo would have make a move as far as new buildings, the changes to the terminal itself are great. Wheelchair access is now available and Panama Red has a new outdoor concrete patio for patrons to sip on their tea and coffee outside. From the looks of it, more space and improved restrooms are also in the works for the building which desperately needs a facelift. I should note on the other side of town near I-80 and Solano, a shopping center is undergoing its own renovations with upgraded retail stores servicing residents nearby.
In an earlier post on this site, it has been said Vallejo sees itself as a beautiful girl with low self-esteem. Judging from the number of criticisms in print media and in online message boards or blogs, the persistent negative image especially in a difficult period, justifies the perception Vallejo is and will never be good enough to become a quality Northern California city. I say bull to that notion because Vallejo has over 120,000 people in it, not a small town as many people tend to believe it is. The current changes in the waterfront and the fact the Empress Theatre downtown has groups like The Whispers and Sheila E. performing should not only draw crowds to the venue, but the businesses around it like Havana Sol.
Yet, someone will find fault in these efforts. It’s part of the challenge of Vallejo moving forward but when has a few trite words stopped progress? The renovations at the waterfront are a good first step. The good people of Vallejo deserve more from their politicians and organizations for the betterment of this wonderful town which has the potential of being something much more than their neighboring cities. The jury is still out whether the waterfront renovations and Vallejo Station signals more progress or will it be the same old visions of what Vallejo should be stop it in its tracks? Guess we’ll find out.
Charles L. Chatmon
Chatmon's Books
Spring Has Come
This past winter, to me, seemed to be the longest winter ever. Vallejo has great weather, but the endless cold gave me a different perspective on things altogether. I always wanted to live near the water, but somehow since last November it just seemed to make the nights colder, and the ferry ride to work seem very uninviting. Until a week or so ago, all I thought about was getting home and under the warm covers with socks on. And I hate wearing socks.
Last weekend I cranked up the weed trimmer and slowly manicured the backyard. I didn’t realize how much I missed all the greenery, even though it had overgrown and was making my nose itch. The day was windy enough for me to not have to run from wasps and other flying friends, and although all of that raking was making my arms ache, my creative mind began to slowly unfreeze.
A little over a month ago multiple shootings, murders and other modes of violence made me want to stay indoors more than any cold day ever could. The gray skies matched the mood in our city. I began to wonder how I ever considered living in such a place. I had seriously declared Vallejo no-man’s land until day light saving’s time sort of snuck up on me. It’s amazing what a little light can do for your outlook.
I walked out of my home on Saturday morning and looked at the plant in this picture. This was the first shrub I planted when I moved to this house, and as many others have withered and died, this one continues to grow and amaze me with its beauty in the bright morning sunlight.
I believe that Vallejo has seen its winter. But just like all living things, it will surely see its spring. My block was once littered with vacant homes which now have occupants. Despite the fact that we are cash-strapped, we are still moving forward with transit expansion and small businesses that find the means to not only stay open but find time to plant flowers outside their doors.
What will you plant? How will you invite spring to your doorstep?
Goodie Goudeau
Recently, I sold copies of my book The Voices of South Central at the McCree-Goudeau Gallery in the Vallejo art district. I had a chance to sit down and listen to the experiences of Mr. Cleven ‘Goodie’ Goudeau. What I learned about this gentlemen I hope and pray our young people continue to emulate as he quietly recounted his journey from cartoonist to greeting card designer and producer of his own company, to the gallery he shares with his wife Jeanette. If you lived back in the 1960’s and 70’s, you may remember reading one of Mr. Goudeau’s greeting cards, very distinguishable from the Hallmarks or other brand name greeting cards in stores.
As I listened to Mr. Goudeau’s accounts of one Bay area newspaper refusing to hire him based on his skin color, to his first attempts of creating his cards without experience in the field and yet wound up a success because he fulfilled a need, to his travels around the world and the accolades he accomplished over time. I had a feeling of awe listening to him and another gentleman near Goodie’s age share stories about their challenges of racial prejudice, discrimination, and indifference.
The conservative phrase when it comes to people such as Goodie is to ‘raise yourself by your bootstraps’. For Goodie and those like him who overcome the odds and achieved a level of success, I appreciate all they’ve done and as I listened, I knew that with all our elders faced back then, I should have nothing, nothing to complain about. Our generation compared to those past, should pay attention and realize the struggle…will always be a struggle but never to give up regardless.
What we in this generation and those in the future must learn is to realize we do have the power to change our course in life, to manufacture products and services based on need rather than wanting things for ourselves. Goodie had no experience, no background in designing greeting cards, but he tried and from those few efforts built a line my older relatives recognize. We shouldn’t have to be pigeonholed into music or sports. That’s society’s game plan. What we can do is create more inventors, doctors, lawyers…even presidents. But this you have read before.
I salute men like Goodie for used his talents to create something positive for our elders and generations down the line. Reading his cards I was reminded that Black is Beautiful and it’s nothing to be ashamed about. It’s about pride; it’s about feeling good for one another when the world condemns you for who and what you are. It’s those messages we need to constantly keep on our minds and on our children’s minds. Let the world insist we create entertainers and athletes and nothing else. Then, let’s push ahead and defy those same voices by daring to dream, daring to live, daring to make a difference one for another.
Just like Goodie.
Charles Chatmon
Pomegranate Seeds Galleria - A Beader’s Treasure
I just don’t get around Vallejo enough these days. I was driving along Florida Street a couple of months ago and I noticed a bead shop. The thought of a bead shop in Vallejo just somehow didn’t register immediately -- I love beads, and I love making jewelry even more, so I had to repeat ‘bead shop’ a few times in my head before excitement truly set in. It actually took until Halloween, a day I just could not find a parking space in front of my own house, before I parked near the shop and walked through the doors.
I was immediately greeted by a warm smile and an introduction to the store. My mind was screaming ‘jackpot’ but that familiar anxiety also kicked in as I realized that I couldn’t buy everything in the store. I listened attentively during the tour, talked to another patron who was finishing a couple of projects, and the owner left me to gaze, caress and obsess over strands of my favorite gemstones.
Needless to say I have become somewhat of a regular at Pomegranate Seeds Galleria. Recently, I had the pleasure of sitting down with one of the store’s owners, Tonya Collins and learned as much as I could about what has quickly become one of my favorite neighborhood merchants.
Tonya explained that she had formed a partnership with her parents in 2007 to open a gallery and boutique. Fond of interior design and art, but acutely aware of shifts in the economy, the partners decided to focus on beads in February of 2009. Tonya is an experienced beader - she has lent her talent to Chabot College teaching bead craft and in assisting her fellow beaders in other bay area bead stores.
The owners of Pomegranate Seeds Galleria have a goal - they would like to establish a craft studio to include workshops in wire work, beading, jewelry making, seed bead classes, soldering. Candle making, soap making, and glass bead making workshops will be offered beginning late January.
Aside from just being nice and very helpful, Tonya is very business savvy and understands the business side of beading, jewelry selling and marketing. She’s an instructor at Women’s Initiative in Oakland and offered some solid advice for new beaders and jewelry makers - “Just jump in. If you are a left-brainer that doesn’t think you’re a right brainer, then beading is the place to start. I discovered my creative side by picking my first beads and stringing them. Pomegranate Seeds will welcome you wherever you are in your craft and help you achieve success!”
Pomegranate Seeds Galleria is located at 538 Florida Street in Vallejo.
