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With no children in the house and very little spare time, Christmas decorating at my house tends to be limited to a couple pine-scented candles and holiday greeting cards standing on the kitchen counter. This year, however, we were blessed with a visit from a friend and his 8-year old daughter on Monday. We pulled out the boxes of Christmas decorations, gave her scissors and scotch tape, and let her go for it. The result is, well, very festive! I've got garland strung in the form of happy faces from the banisters, glass balls as tree toppers, snowflakes made of wire and tape, and a Christmas tree that is heavily decorated on the lower half. We are breaking all the Christmas decorating "rules" and I won't change a thing. Whatever faith or culture leads you to celebrate in the coming weeks, do it with gusto and enjoy.
PS: As promised, I've included some photos from a few of the community celebrations in town this season. American Canyon is such a giving community!
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Most City Offices Closed for Holidays
Most City offices will be closed for the holidays from Friday, December 23, 2016 through Monday, January 2, 2017, re-opening on Tuesday, January 3rd.
Public Safety Building:
- The office is closed but there is a phone on the building that connects with dispatch, an officer will be sent to meet you
- For non-emergency call American Canyon Police and Fire Dispatch (707) 648-0171
- For Emergency Calls Only dial 911
Senior Multi-Use Center:
- Closed, no programming will be held 12/23/16 - 12/26, & 1/2/17
- The Center will be open 12/27/16 - 12/30/16 for the Senior Nutrition Lunch Program
Phillip West Aquatics Center:
- Closed, no programming until January 3rd
The Public Works Department and Parks Assistance:
- Call our Public Works office at 707-647-4550, the outgoing greeting, during non business hours has quite a bit of information. You can also leave a message, we will follow up during regular business hours.
- Use AmCan Connect (on mobile devices; aka SeeClickFix) to report an issue that is not an emergency, such as graffiti, a pothole, a streetlight out or park maintenance and we will follow up during regular business hours.
- Call the Answering Service directly at 707-995-8674 for immediate assistance, they will contact the correct on-call person for you. This is how you would report a watemain break, stormdrain clogged, or a traffic signal not working.
- Power outage? Call PG&E at 800-743-5000
- Stray, injured or dangerous animal call Napa County Animal Control 253-4451
- Dead Animal, Street Sweeping, Garbage pick up call Recology 552-3110
- Need Sandbags? A self-serve sandbag station is available at City Hall located at 4381 Broadway. Bags and sand are provided, please bring your own shovel and gloves.
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Holiday Auto Burglary Prevention
The American Canyon Police Department wishes you all a happy holiday season. We want everyone to be able to enjoy the season and the spirit of giving safely so we have put together some tips that may help protect you from becoming the victim of a vehicle burglary.
Most auto burglaries happen when valuable items are left in plain sight. During the holidays we often see an increase in this type of crime. Following a few simple suggestions could mean the difference in you being a victim or not.
Don't leave valuables in your car
If you must leave valuable items in your car while out and about, place items out of sight before reaching your destination or move them inconspicuously.
Leave no trace
Don't leave any sign that there might be valuables "out of sight" in your vehicle, such as docking stations or connector cables. Leave nothing in "plain sight" that might make your vehicle worth investigating by a thief; not even loose coins or a CD.
Try to park in busy, well-lighted areas
Try to park in well-traveled areas. Auto-burglars prefer breaking into cars where they will not be observed or attract notice.
Lock ALL your vehicle's doors
Even if you plan to be gone for only a brief time, lock your doors. Every year, we have items stolen from unlocked vehicles where the owner was only going to be gone "just for a second". It only takes seconds to steal your stuff! It's not at all uncommon for thieves to walk down a row of parked vehicles and check vehicle doors to see if they are unlocked.
Set any alarm or anti-theft device
If you have one, use it! Car alarms can be an effective deterrent to an auto-burglar, who most often chooses the easiest target. If they have two cars to choose from, one with an alarm and one without, they will likely burglarize the one without (unless you've left out valuables that are just too good to ignore!).
Items Most Commonly Stolen from Vehicles
- Backpacks, gym bags, briefcases, day-planners
- Cash/coins, checkbooks and credit/debit cards
- Wallets and purses (even when hidden under a seat or in an unlocked glove compartment)
- Laptop computers, iPods and MP3 players, and docking stations
- Cell phones and chargers
- Portable GPS navigation systems, Stereo/CD players and faceplates, amps, speakers (even when bolted down)
- Jewelry, keys, mail (identity theft), tools
- Anything of obvious value
What to do if something is stolen out of your car
As soon as you notice something's stolen (or that your car has been broken into) do not touch/adjust anything in, on, or around the car. As soon as possible, call the police to report the incident.
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Holiday Decorating Contest & Tour
The holiday spirit is alive and well in American Canyon! The Holiday Decorating Contest & Tour had an amazing turnout with 25 entries! Thank you to our event sponsor, Eagle Vines Realty, for helping to boost participation with the raffle of a big screen TV and a Wine Cooler. Every participant also received a gift bag from the Parks and Recreation Department.
And the winners are....
Most unusual use of candy canes - Ivy Edora at 26 Sarcedo ($75 prize)
Most unusual use of gingerbread - Monica Magellan Ireta at 1913 Elliott ($75 prize)
Most unusual use of candy other than candy canes - Irene Winnie at 236 Folland ($75 prize)
The People's Choice Award - Patricia Nijem at 66 Goldfinch ($50 prize)
We're already planning fun new themes for next year and the possibility of adding a group category. Thank you to all who entered! We appreciate your hard work and for bringing the holiday spirit to American Canyon.
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Season of Giving
The 2016 Season of Giving was a resounding success! With the generous contributions of time, food and gifts from the following groups, assistance was provided to 101 families!
| Kiwanis Club |
Key Club |
Boy Scouts |
| Lions Club |
Girl Scouts |
Holy Ground Christian Center of American Canyon
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| Holy Family Church |
FilAm Club |
Family Worship Center of American Canyon |
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Tree Disposal
The Boy Scouts will be picking up Christmas trees this year on Saturday, Jan. 7th. Trees should be at the curb, with all ornaments and tinsel removed, by 7 AM. Flocked trees will be picked up too.
A $5 donation is requested for the pick-up and can be placed on your front door in a marked envelope.
You may also mail a check payable to Boy Scout Troop 62 to:
Boy Scout Trees
46 Goldfinch Drive
American Canyon, CA 94503
If you have questions or need more information please contact Debbie at (707) 853-1745.
You may also remove all decorations and cut your tree to fit in your yardwaste container.
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The American Canyon Fire Protection District, in conjunction with the United States Marine Corps Reserve is sponsoring the annual "Toys For Tots" drive. Anyone wishing to donate new, unwrapped toys for children up to age of 16, can bring them to the sites listed below through December 30th:
* Starbucks - 6050 Main St. and 101 American Canyon Road
* Safeway - 103 American Canyon Road
* In Shape Gym - 120 American Canyon Road
* Fast Signs - 100 American Canyon Road
* American Canyon Family Resource Center - 3431 Broadway
* Walgreens - 210 American Canyon Road
* WalMart - 7011 Main Street
* Dunkin Donuts - 410 Napa Junction Road
Firefighters are only accepting toys; anyone wishing to donate food or clothing can contact American Canyon Family Resou
rce Center at 3431 Highway 29, Suite A-5 or (707) 980-7024. Those wishing to provide a financial contribution in lieu of toys, please send checks payable to "U.S.M.C. Reserve Toys for Tots Program" to the American Canyon Fire Protection District, 911 Donaldson Way East, American Canyon CA 94503.
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Generous Groups Enrich American Canyon
In my last issue, I asked you to let me know how your group or organization has been helping others in the community. I'm happy to pass some of the responses on to you!
Khope International has been busy all year raising funds to support our community. Their big fundraiser, the Annual Reindeer Run (see photo above) as well as other events has provided donations to the American Canyon Food Bank, the Family Resource Center, American Canyon Boys & Girls club construction fund, Helping Hands, the American Canyon High School Link Crew, the Vallejo Christian Help Center and girls school in Nairobi and Mexico.
The American Canyon Community Church has been busy this holiday season participating in
Operation Christmas Child. They collected enough toys and small gifts to send 57 packages to children in Africa. They also baked enough cookies and candy to donate more than 40 containers to American Canyon Troop Support for our local men and women deployed during the holidays.
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