SUNDAY JANUARY 13 2008 DAILY REPUBLIC $1.25 FAIRFIELD- SUISUN Resolutions 2008 Perfect Packers section showcases woman’s path to a Patriots peak New England rolls past Green Bay crushes smoke-free life Jacksonville, 31-20 Seattle, 42-20 INSIDE SPORTS, B1 North Bay YMCA faces financial crisis

dized the costs of operating the North Bay YMCA by about $3.9 mil- Budget woes could lead to center’s closure lion since 1995, Griffith said. YMCA MEMBERSHIP Membership fees are a key finan- A family membership at the North BY CAROL BOGART to close. make it work financially,” Griffith cial component for the North Bay Bay YMCA is $75 a month. A single DAILY REPUBLIC Linda Griffith, vice president of said. YMCA, said Executive Director membership for youths ages 8-17 is risk management and legal affairs Griffith said it costs $1.6 million Rodney Chin, and membership is $30 a month. To learn more about SUISUN CITY — Mike Hudson with the parent annually to operate the North Bay dwindling. In October, the parent other membership plans, call 421- realizes what the future may hold YMCA, said closing the 12-year-old YMCA. The deficit for fiscal 2007-08 YMCA gave the North Bay YMCA 8746. Residents interested in serving for the North Bay YMCA if the cen- North Bay YMCA is “always an op- was $530,000, she said, and the par- 90 days to come up with a plan to on the North Bay YMCA advisory ter does not become more self-sup- tion” if the parent YMCA has to con- ent YMCA covered it. turn things around, Chin said. board can call board chairman Mike porting. Hudson, chairman of the tinue to shore up the North Bay This is not the first year the North “We’ve been given a tenuous re- Hudson at 429-9794. North Bay YMCA advisory board, YMCA’s finances. Bay YMCA has operated in the red. said the center could be forced “With any operation, you want to To date, the parent YMCA has subsi- See YMCA, Back Page VARIETY IS SPICE OF No money FARMING in budget, Hot summer days, lifecool summer nights Agricultural areas exemplify and fertile soils no time make Suisun Valley ideal for vineyards. Solano County’s diversity Daily Republic file (2005) in prison

BY DON THOMPSON THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SACRAMENTO — Car thieves, forgers, scam artists, drunken drivers and some drug dealers might never serve a day in prison – A farm even for repeat crimes – under worker, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s below, proposals to reduce ’s in- drives a mate and parolee population, cor- tractor rections department and law en- through forcement officials said. walnut It’s one of the many potential trees at consequences of abruptly upend- Sunrise ing the prison system to save a pro- Orchard in jected $400 million in corrections Vacaville. department costs over the next 18 Chris Jordan/ months. Daily Republic Schwarzenegger is asking state lawmakers to approve releasing nonviolent, non-serious, non-sex offenders from prison if they have less than 20 months remaining on their sentences. It’s part of the plan he announced Thursday to pare a $14.5 billion state budget deficit. Those offenders would be re- leased on “summary parole,” Brad Zweerink/Daily Republic where they would be subject to searches and drug tests but would Benjamin Gutierrez throws hay to sheep on Al Medvitz’s 3,600-acre ranch in the Montezuma Hills. not be under parole officers’ super- The Montezuma Hills are just one of nine diverse agricultural areas in Solano County. vision. They could be sent back to prison only if they were convicted of new crimes, not for routine pa- BY BARRY EBERLING Solano County in all its diversity, with role violations. DAILY REPUBLIC places so different they can feel like a The proposals would apply to world apart. Understanding the nine re- new convicts as well as to current FAIRFIELD — Craig McNamara gions could help save and boost the Dixon prisoners, said James Tilton, sec- grows walnuts on hot, flat valley land county’s $243 million annual farm econ- retary of the Department of Cor- near Putah Creek. Al Medvitz raises omy. rections and Rehabilitation. sheep on grassy, windswept hills near “They can’t be treated the same,” “There is going to be a popula- the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Richter said. “That’s like treating the tion that does not spend one day in These diverse operations have some- housing industry the same as pharma- Vacaville prison,” corrections spokesman thing in common -- they’re both in ceutical sales.” Oscar Hidalgo said. Solano County. The department said those con- Diversity is the name of the game in Winters TRAVIS victed of drug offenses, drunken AIR FORCE the county’s farm industry. Microcli- Fairfield BASE driving, white collar or property mates and topography create an array Walnuts are king in the Winters crimes such as vehicle theft, grand area near the border between Solano Suisun of unlikely places. Cattle can graze on City theft or receiving stolen property foggy hills near Vallejo during the sum- and Yolo counties. likely would serve little or no time. mer even as a Dixon farmer mops his “We’re blessed with Putah Creek,” Rio Vista Prosecutors said those crimes brow amid 90-degree heat in his tomato said McNamara, typically bring sentences of 16 field. who farms 450 months, two years or three years in acres. San Pablo Bay Vallejo Grizzly “No other California county has the Bay prison, depending on the circum- Putah Creek was access to the Bay, Delta, coastal range stances. The defendants may serve tamed 50 years ago by Benicia and to the soils of the Central Valley,” time in county jail while they await the massive Monticello said Kurt Richter of the UC Agricultur- trial, but would not be sent to state Dam, which created al Issues Center. prison after their conviction. Lake Berryessa reser- Richter and Alvin Sokolow came up AGRICULTURAL REGIONS OF SOLANO COUNTY “You rip people off, and prison voir. But prior to that, is no longer an option. That’s not with the nine farming regions listed in it raged during big Winters Dixon Ridge Montezuma Hills their recently completed, county-com- Western grazing Elmira and Maine Prairie Pleasants, Vaca and Lagoon valleys good public policy,” objected Va- missioned agricultural study. Suisun and Green valleys Jepson Prairie caville Police Chief Richard Word, president of the California Police To tour the nine farm regions is to see See Farming, Back Page Source: UC Agricultural Issues Center Chiefs Association.

See Prison, Back Page

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gmail.com. The Fairfield Cordelia Library will have ries, songs and crafts. Fairfield Civic go to http://www.scarletbrigade.com. 438-3500. ONDAY Vision Problem Support Group, 2-4 activities for children ages 5 and older. Center Library, 1150 Kentucky St. Info: 1350 Travis Blvd., Fairfield. Info: Daughters of American Revolution M 421-6503 or http://www.solano 438-3065. p.m. Monday, for people with serious 5050 Business Center Drive, Fairfield. Meeting 11 a.m. Wednesday. The library.com. Women’s Investment Group 6-8 p.m. vision problems such as macular Info: 784-2680. ICD Lecture 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday. A Chief Solano Chapter of the National RW Investment Group, a women’s degeneration, St. Mark’s Lutheran Baby Bounce 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Scarlet Brigade Band Fundraiser All free lecture for people who are living Society Daughters of the American investment group, will hold its monthly Church, 1600 Union Ave., Fairfield. day. Wednesday. The Fairfield High with or may be receiving an Tuesday. Songs, stories and finger Revolution will hold a meeting on meeting at the Country Club Estates Info: 425-5409. School Scarlet Brigade Band will hold a implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) plays for infants to 18 months. “Revolutionary DNA” with guest speak- Clubhouse. The group will learn about dine and donate fundraiser at Red will be conducted by Dr. Millind Dhond Fairfield Cordelia Library, the stock market and invest money as Robin to benefit the band. When diners at the Hilton Garden Inn. The lecture is er Katherine Hope Borges. Hostesses 5050 Business Center Drive, Fairfield. a group. Minimum investment is $25. present a flyer when paying for their free, but seating is limited. The lecture are Connie Lawson and Betty Rodden. The meeting is open to the public. COMING UP Info: 784-2680. meals, Red Robin will donate is part of the NorthBay Healthcare Courtyard by Marriott, 1350 Holiday 1800 East Tabor Ave., Fairfield. Info: Preschool Story Time 10:30 a.m. 20 percent of the bill to the school’s Advanced Medicine Lecture Series. Lane, Fairfield. Info: 374-4374 or 631-4245 or laura.rwinvestments@ Terrific Tuesdays 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. Tuesday. Preschool story time with sto- band programs. To download the flyer, 2200 Gateway Court, Fairfield. Info: 422-1400.

Prison:No YMCA:More members are needed

From Page One From Page One the North Bay YMCA. better job informing the com- Chin said 1,700 paid mem- munity about its services, and Nearly 40,000 criminals prieve that will allow us to put berships would be enough to more people use them, more were sent to prison last year together a recovery plan,” support the North Bay YMCA, donations and grant funding for non-serious, nonviolent of- Hudson said. but current membership is at will follow. fenses. However, some would Griffith said the North Bay most 1,100. One example is the swim- be excluded from early re- YMCA has not been given a One source of funding for ming pool at the North Bay lease because of a violent “drop-dead deadline,” but the the North Bay YMCA is its an- YMCA, which Griffith said criminal history or because of parent YMCA has informed nual community support cam- costs $275,000 a year to oper- their behavior in prison, the the branch that its financial paign, which Hudson said has ate. The center’s “Splash” corrections department said. picture must improve. The raised $28,000 toward its program offers free swim- “As far as I’m concerned, North Bay YMCA must have $33,000 goal. Chin said that is ming lessons when local this entire program is an act its budget for the coming fis- encouraging because the schools are on spring break. of insanity,” said Kern County cal year ready to submit in campaign is just halfway This year, “Splash” will be District Attorney Edward April, Griffith said. through its fundraising cycle. sponsored by the Kiwanis Jagels. “They will do less time Chin said various ideas for Hudson also is a member Club in Fairfield, Chin said. than they would if they were reducing the deficit are being of the Suisun City Council. Service organizations are sent to a local jail. . . . The floated. Chief among them is The city charges the North “really stepping up” to help message will get very strongly making the community better Bay YMCA $240,000 each the North Bay YMCA whittle to the criminal community aware of the programs of- year to lease what was once its deficit, Chin added. that, except for a crime of vio- fered by the North Bay the city’s community center. The Jr. NBA is one of the lence, you have nothing to YMCA. When asked whether the city best examples of urban serv- fear.” “Some people don’t even would back off a bit, Hudson ices programs offered by the Sending criminals to local know we’re here,” Chin said. said, “Undoubtedly the city North Bay YMCA, Chin said. jails is barely an option be- Hudson believes the North will end up contributing to the The program is aimed at cause most are so crowded Bay YMCA needs to change Y, but the question is, ‘How youths ages 5-14. that inmates serve a fraction its focus from health and fit- much?’” Longtime coach Derrick of their sentences, Jagels said. ness to programs geared to- To pay off the lease in full Johnson said, “I’ve seen some “I’d say, ’Send me to ward youths. through November 2017, Grif- kids come in here with no dis- prison,’ knowing I’m never “We can’t compete with 24 fith said, would cost $1.9 mil- cipline, some wayward chil- going to serve a day,” said Hour Fitness,” said Hudson, lion. dren, some under the wrong Ryan Sherman, spokesman who added that more youth To trim the deficit, the par- influences. At the Y, we get to for the California Correction- programs would result in ent YMCA “wants us to turn know the kids on a personal al Peace Officers Association, more donations and grant up the heat on our donors,” level. Most kids want to please which represents prison funding. Hudson said. us.” guards and parole agents. The North Bay YMCA re- Griffith said the parent Program director Deon Schwarzenegger’s plan cently established a Teen YMCA is working with the Price said, “The Y is a seed to would eliminate about 4,500 Drop-in Center for at-risk North Bay YMCA to help improve the quality of life for Mike McCoy/Daily Republic guard positions. Because of youth, funded for a year solve its financial problems. vacancies and attrition, Tilton these young people.” Melvin Mason and Dvon West play basketball at the North Bay through a Quality of Life estimated more than 1,000 “That’s a friendly process,” Hudson added, “These are YMCA in Suisun City on Thursday night. guards might eventually be grant from Suisun City, said she added. “That’s a collabo- kids who are focusing their laid off. city spokesman Scott Corey. rative process.” energies on a positive.” the Year. or early in February, “will Releasing long-term in- In addition, Chin said 150 Chin said the parent YMCA Players such as Dvon West A younger friend, Melvin give the kids somewhere to mates a few months early will youths play in the YMCA- has promised to loan the and his friend, Darius Wise, Mason, 13, said he comes to hang out and not ‘intimidate’ not boost California’s crime sponsored Jr. NBA basketball North Bay YMCA the services 16, are positive influences on the North Bay YMCA every the Y’s older members,” he rate, based on the experience program and many of their of two grant writers. Hudson younger players, Chin pointed day. He and his brother used added. of 13 other jurisdictions in the parents attend the games. believes the North Bay YMCA out. Wise is an International to try to “sneak in,” he said, The North Bay YMCA is lo- U.S. and Canada, according to Derrick West said he and his should hire a grant writer of Baccalaureate honors student prompting his parents to buy cated at 586 E. Wigeon Way in a study released Thursday by wife, Nina, haven’t missed a its own. at Armijo High School who a family membership. Suisun City and is open to all the National Council on Crime game since their son, Dvon, North Bay is Solano Coun- also plays varsity football. Two years ago, the North residents of Solano County. and Delinquency. first started playing when he ty’s only YMCA. It currently West helps out with the Bay YMCA had few programs “The research is over- was 10 years old. serves 8,000 people. Both North Bay YMCA’s after- for urban youths, Chin said. Reach Carol Bogart at 427- whelming that you can do this Dvon, now 15, and his par- Hudson and Chin believe that school program and last year The new Teen Center, sched- 6955 or at cbogart@dailyre- without endangering public ents are all active members of if the North Bay YMCA does a was named Teen Volunteer of uled to open later this month public.net. safety,” said Barry Krisberg, president of the Oakland- based research organization. “If people start trying to ter- rorize the community that Farming:Microclimates, topography create variety of spaces there’s going to be a crime wave, that’s not going to hap- From Page One last year’s drought conditions Pleasants, Vaca and Richter said. Richter said. pen.” pose challenges, Medvitz said. Lagoon valleys A farmer with walnut trees Yet Krisberg is among winter storms, spilling its Sheep-raising is in decline can’t change crops from year Elmira/Maine Prairie those who worry that convicts banks and flooding acre upon and more farmers are turning Rose Loveall-Sale grew up to year. Dixon Ridge farmers released early to summary acre. to cattle, he said. Still, he is in Pleasants Valley near Va- can switch among wheat, Elmira/Maine Prairie east caville and can remember the parole will not have adequate Those historic floods left “cautiously optimistic” about tomatoes, bell peppers, alfal- of Vacaville looks much like old days. rehabilitation programs or the behind rich, loamy soils, Mc- the area’s farming future. fa, sunflower and other crops. the flatlands of the Dixon “When I was young, it was support they need to re-enter Namara said. The creek today “If we could figure out a They have also got plenty of Ridge and is next to the Dixon all orchards,” she said. “It society. provides water for farms and way to do cheap irrigation, we Lake Berryessa reservoir wa- Ridge. “The state is basically say- was all stone fruits and wal- feeds into aquifers, he said. could have another agricul- ter for irrigation. But the soils are heavier ing, ’Good luck, and we hope Winters-region farming nuts -- a very quiet, out-of- This 63,000-acre flat area and less fertile. The region tural paradise out here,” Med- the-way area.” you don’t kill anybody,”’ said produces $13 million annual- near Dixon generates $64 mil- has its own farming strengths. vitz said. Most of the farming in big Christine Ward, executive di- ly, 7 percent of the county’s lion each year, 33 percent of Many farmers grow alfalfa, orchards is gone. Loveall-Sale rector of the Doris Tate Crime annual total. But that relative- the county’s annual farming corn and wheat, and ship it to these days sees more big Victims Bureau, based in ly modest slice is in part be- Suisun Valley total. Among the challenges dairies elsewhere in the Cen- houses on 20 acres and more Sacramento. cause of the area’s small size. listed in the study is develop- tral Valley. Hot summer days, cool horses. Agriculture has Releasing enough inmates The region tops Solano Coun- ment, both urban and rural “Hot days and cool nights to free up 22,000 prison beds summer nights and fertile changed in these coastal hill ty in per-acre annual value at residential. Interstate 80, and the Delta breeze produce next year, as Schwarzenegger soils make the coastal hill val- valleys that, unlike Suisun about $2,000. which is sort of a growth con- high-quality feed stuff for proposes, also could trigger ley near Fairfield ideal for Valley, don’t get the cooling A problem in the region is veyor belt, cuts through the dairy cows,” Richter said. changes to the $7.8 billion vineyards. marine influence. growing encroachment from Dixon Ridge. Having a dairy locate there prison and jail building pro- Suisun Valley is a distant Now there are small, niche rural residential homes, to use the alfalfa, corn and gram approved by lawmakers 45 miles from the cool Pacific farms, such as Loveall-Sale’s Richter said. wheat would boost the area’s and signed by the governor Ocean, so hot days are expect- Morningsun Herb Farm. On a Ryer Island last year. ed. Yet, the region’s unique mere 3 acres, the farm turns economy, Richter said. He Ryer Island is so far re- system of bays and gaps in the out several hundred thousand called dairies “processing Montezuma Hills moved from the hustle and hills allows cool breezes to plants annually for sale to the plants.” Medvitz and his wife, Jean- bustle of modern life that the kick up in the late afternoon, public and nurseries. But proposals for large nie McCormack, raise sheep only Solano County access is much like what happens in Richter called this area the dairies have caused contro- California Lottery and grow grains on more than by using the Real McCoy fer- the Napa Valley. “home of the hobby farmer.” versy in Solano County. Oppo- SuperLotto Plus/Saturday 3,600 acres near Rio Vista and ry. Temperature swings from That’s no put-down. Products nents say the dairies cause air the . The Sacramento-San Numbers picked day to night are often 35 de- from some of the farms are pollution and other stench 1, 10, 23, 41, 43 “It’s hilly grassland,” Med- sold at the farmers market in Joaquin Delta island is a few that can drift into cities. vitz said. “It’s not like the oak grees to 40 degrees, said miles north of Rio Vista on Meganumber 8 Roger King, a farmer and the San Francisco ferry build- Saturday’s jackpot estimate woodlands or mountainsides ing and served at Berkeley’s Highway 84. Levees hold back of eastern Solano. There’s not president of the Suisun Valley the waters of Miner and Western Hills (drawing 7:57 p.m.) $36 M Grape Growers Association. Chez Panisse Restaurant and a lot of surface irrigation wa- Steamboat sloughs from a The hills that separate Grapes can retain acidity in Cafe. Daily 3/Saturday ter. It’s pretty expensive to “There are a lot of very 24,000-acre area planted with Solano and Napa counties are the levels needed for fine Afternoon numbers picked 6, 3, 7 pump water from the river small producers who are do- such crops as grapes, alfalfa, used for cattle grazing. wines. Night numbers picked 5, 9, 8 into the hills.” ing some very progressive, wheat, corn, pears and toma- Suisun Valley has several Match three in order for top prize; combinations Montezuma Hills farmers small-scale, high-value pro- toes. for other prizes. Jepson Prairie have had to find their own wineries. Growers also sell duction,” Richter said. “It’s closer to the Dixon Fantasy 5/Saturday niche in the county’s agricul- grapes to wineries in other Ridge area than anything else Sheep and cattle graze in Numbers picked 6, 17, 18, 19, 32 tural world. This is a dryland counties, including those in in the county,” Richter said. this Central Valley area near Match all five for top prize. Match at least three farming area, with much of Napa Valley. Dixon Ridge This is one farming area in for other prizes. Highway 113 east of Vacav- the water used falling as rain. Local growers have faced Dixon Ridge has a combi- Solano County that has no fear ille. But it’s best known for the Daily Derby/Saturday Helping farmers survive low prices for the past few nation of good soils, climate, of being annexed by a city for vernal pools where such rare 1st place 3, Hot Shot economically are huge, elec- years, but King sees things access to water and large par- subdivisions. But its remote- creatures as fairy shrimp live. 2nd place 12, Lucky Charms tricity generating wind tur- getting better. cel sizes that allow farmers to ness also adds to transporta- “It’s more important for its 3rd place 10, Solid Gold bines and natural gas fields, “We’re starting into a very adapt to market conditions, tion costs because farm prod- natural resources,” Richter Race time 1:45.66 which are compatible with healthy leg of a new cycle, Richter said. ucts must be moved using a said. Match winners and time for top prize. Match farming. Some farmers have where supply is coming back That makes it one of Solano narrow bridge on the Yolo either for other prizes. leases with energy companies into balance and actually County’s most important County side. Reach Barry Eberling at On the Web: www.calottery.com that bring them extra income. coming short of demand,” farming areas. “Farmers are smart. 425-4646, ext. 232, or at But the falling dollar and King said. “It’s the most flexible,” They’ve got it figured out,” [email protected].