California Wildfires - Rocky Fire

http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/western-wildfires/california-wildfires-12-000-evacuated-rocky-fire-rages-grows-n402916
I never thought about where firefighters slept when they are our fighting these enormous wildfires in California, until a firefighter friend posted a picture showing where he was sleeping while out on the Rocky Fire in Clear Lake, CA.   STAY SAFE CHARLES and all of the other firefighters !!
from Charles "This is where Im sleeping tonight. The good old air conditioned sardine can"



Here is an inside shot I found

Maynard E. Spurgeon Obituary

Obituary for Maynard E. Spurgeon

Maynard E.Spurgeon, 51, died peacefully with his family at his side as he took his Screamin' Eagle to the sky. He lived most of his life in Benicia.

He worked as a mechanic for over 35 years, working for Ford, the last seven years working for the Stevedoring Services of American berth 58 at the Port of Oakland. He was a member of Machinists Local 1414.
His interests included riding his Harley, building his Cobra car, fishing, hunting, traveling, golfing, concerts, Raiders games, and partying with his many friends and family. He inspired others how to enjoy the best of life.
Maynard is survived by his beautiful wife Kim Spurgeon; father Jim Spurgeon; mother Sharon (Chuck) Lutz; and Aunt Betty Spurgeon; son James Spurgeon; daughter Elizabeth (Nathan) Springer; brothers Don and Carl Spurgeon; his brother Carl's wife, Marcella Mia Spurgeon, who he referred to as his sister; and Shannon Evans.

His grandchildren Ariana, Ashlyn, Nathan Jr., Alison Springer; and Isabella Neely. His nieces and nephews: Justine and Adam Spurgeon; Josh Evans; Matthew Evans and Alexis Gentry.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents John "Maynard" and Edith Cook, and his brother Shane Evans.
Memorial services will be held August 10, 2015 at 6pm, Passalacqua Funeral Chapel in Benicia.

Kids learn and compete in Vallejo healthy cooking competition

2015 Jr. Chef Challenge - Vallejo, CA


Team captain Olivia Jones samples the homemade salad dressing of young chef Benjamin Ceryes, left, as the team from Mare Island Health and Fitness Academy competes in Saturday’s 2015 Jr. Chef Challenge at the Norman C. King Community Center in Vallejo. MIKE JORY – VALLEJO TIMES-HERALD

 

Elsa Widenmann Elementary School teammates Bianca Verdin, left, and Lesly Contreras, each 10, show their knife skills slicing melon and potatoes during Saturday’s 2015 Jr. Chef Challenge at the Norman C. King Community Center in Vallejo. Student teams from three Vallejo schools and two Fairfield schools showed off their culinary skills and cooking abilities in the event, sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association. MIKE JORY – VALLEJO TIMES-HERALD

Kids learn and compete in Vallejo healthy cooking competition


Learning to cook and eat healthy brought some 32 students to the Norman King Community Center in Vallejo to compete in the 2015 Jr. Chef Challenge. It was the third time the event’s been held in Vallejo, organizer Vicki Williams said.

Students of the Kids/Teens Cook with Heart program have been working toward Saturday’s event for weeks, organizers said.

Audience members and team members alike seemed to be excited about the challenge, which included participants age 10 to 18 10 competing in five rounds of meal preparation, said Williams, who is with the American Heart Association, which, along with Kaiser Permanente, sponsors the event.

“The first round is knife cuts — how to safely cut veggies and fruits,” Williams said. “The second round is appetizers, in this case salad with dressing. The third round is about etiquette, the fourth is culinary questions and answers and the fifth is an entre.”
Contestants were from Vallejo’s Loma Vista, Mare Island and Elsa Widenmann elementary schools, David A. Weir Elementary School and the Matt Garcia Learning Center in Fairfield.
The winner is selected by three judges, based on a combination of all parts of the competition. Loma Vista Elementary School went on to take the victory, and with it tickets to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. As the winning school, Loma Vista gets to keep the trophy for a year.

Williams said she founded the challenge in 2011 through the Napa/Solano area of Kaiser, as part of an effort to fight childhood obesity.
“It seems to be making a difference,” she said. “Based on a survey, more people seem to be eating more vegetables and drinking less sugary drinks, and being more conscious of what they’re putting in their bodies.”
The hope is to make eating healthy more easily accessible, she said.
“There’s a perception that to eat healthy is expensive,” Williams said.

Led by working chefs like San Francisco chef Robert Edward of Oakland, event participants learned about what ingredients can be used to make food tasty yet healthy — a message that seemed to be getting through on Saturday.

“I think it’s great,” said 11-year-old fifth-grader Marshalinn Louis, who said she was at Saturday’s event to cheer on her defending champion Widenmann classmates. “I want to do the cooking next time.”
The aunt of one of the contestants said what her niece has learned is helping the whole family, which is precisely the point.

“My niece has been working so hard, and to see her develop and blossom, it’s been so nice,” said Vallejo resident Hollie Harsh. “She’s learning how to cook, in healthy ways, and it’s real good.”
Call Rachel Raskin-Zrihen at 707-553-6824

By Rachel Raskin-Zrihen, Vallejo Times-Herald


Posted: 04/25/15, 7:11 PM PDT
Updated: on 04/25/2015

Jeffrey A. "Jeff" Forney Obituary

Jeffrey A. "Jeff" Forney
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/pressdemocrat/obituary.aspx?pid=121959501

Past away December 28, 2008 with his loving family by his side. He died due to complications following three brain surgeries at the age of 40.

Survived by loving friend Kim Neely. Devoted son of Audrey and the late (Robert) Wheeler of Penngrove, Bill Forney (Linda) of Healdsburg. Cherished brother of Clinton Forney (Dana) and Andrea Proulx (Albert) all of Penngrove. Adored uncle of Ben, Matt, and Grace Forney and Lucas and Payton Proulx. Beloved grandson of Luella and the late Carl Hadermann. He was also the grandson of Carl's first wife the late Bernice Hadermann. Beloved grandson of the late Lee and Elsie Forney. Survived by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

He graduated from Petaluma High School where he was very active in the Future Farmers of America and achieved the California State Farmer Award and various other achievements. Jeff became a partner of Electrical Equipment Company (EEC) and was a master at his craft in the electrical engineering field and well respected by all. In later years he donated his time by judging the agriculture mechanic projects at the local fairs and events.

Jeff had a lively spirit and enjoyed hobbies which included dancing, playing cards, sports, gardening, cooking, abalone diving, skiing, boating and wakeboarding. He was also an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting and fishing and especially loved his family and many friends. Jeff's approachable personality, hard working attitude and trademark laugh enabled him to gain the love and respect of everyone he came in contact with.

Friends and family are invited to attend the Funeral Service, Saturday, January 3, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at Herzog Hall, 175 Fairgrounds Drive, Petaluma, CA. A Visitation will be held on Friday, January 2, 2009 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the PARENT-SORENSEN MORTUARY & CREMATORY, 850 Keokuk St., Petaluma, CA (763-4131). In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Petaluma FFA, c/o Petaluma High School, 201 Fair St., Petaluma, CA 94952; 4-H Foundation of Sonoma County, P.O. Box 1283, Rohnert Park, CA 94927, or your favorite charity. Private Interment: Cypress Hill Memorial Park, Petaluma, CA. .Published Online in the Press Democrat from Dec. 30, 2008 to Jan. 1, 2009

VJO Swim Masters 6/23/2014

VJO Swim Masters

Started on 6/23/2014 with the VJO Swim Masters.  After watching the swim team for the last couple of years, I never realized how much the kids actually swam.  The first night, I thought I would die, but slowly it is getting easier.  We swim for 60 minutes on Mondays and Wednesdays.  We are pretty much swimming 1 mile during practice.  1 mile = 66 laps (25 yards per lap).

Definition of a mile


(in yards or meters)# of laps of a 25 yard or 25

meter pool in one mile# of laps of a 50 yard or 50

meter pool in one mile

15006030

16506633

176070.435.2



Read more at: http://swim.isport.com/swimming-guides/how-many-swimming-laps-are-in-one-mile

Coach Wayne "Tuffy" Williams

My daughter, Alexis, has been so blessed to become a swimmer on the Vallejo Aquatics Swim Team. Her first coach has been so inspirational to both Alexis and me. He has been coaching for 43 years now, and recently decided to retire to spend more time with his wife and family. Tuffy Willams Hammerheads Coach Tuffy has been coaching with the Vallejo Aquatic Club in his present capacity since 1982. Prior to 1982, he coached with VJO from 1977-1980 and 1970-1971. He is responsible for the entry level training groups. Hundreds of swimmers benefited from Tuffy's years and breadth of experience. Tuffy is an American Swimming Coaching Association (ASCA), Level II coach. He is a 1963 graduate of Bishop Alemany High School in San Fernando Valley. He graduated from California State University at Northridge with a degree in Physical Education. Tuffy has been an educator in the Vallejo Unified School District since 1970. He worked in VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) from 1968-1969. He also served his alma mater, Bishop Alemany, in 1967-1968. This extensive teaching background benefited all swimmers under his tutelage.

Start VJO Swim Master

 Well after a few weeks of contemplating if I could swim with and keep up with some of the other parents at VJO Master program, I signed up.  Yesterday I swam against Alexis 3 different laps ...she beat by a hand length first lap and after that she gained each time.  I lost...all three.  Another Dad, Christian, lost to his daughter too.  The Master group is up to about 12 now.   So tonight is the first night for me.   Monday and Wednesday 7:30 - 8:30pm....let's make some health changes.  Let's go VJO ,and Coach Monica.