A Vallejoan's Spirit of Compassion

Vallejo resident, Judy Lafear recently returned from a journey which will benefit individuals and families battling blood cancers such as: leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Strangely what actually began as a personal fitness goal for her quickly blossomed into a lot more- when fate took a sudden twist. This story illustrates her true spirit of compassion.

Not long ago, the quality of life of one of her family member was completely changed by the selfless act of an organ donor. In gratitude, Lafear sought to find a cause in which she could give back. She found the Team In Training^® organization which raises funds for the 'The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society'.  http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org.

The organization offered her a dual opportunity to meet her physical fitness goals and raise funds to aid others. Lafear made a serious and a thorough investigation of the organization:  She interacted with the organizational staff, other volunteers and she listened intently to the honorees stories. Her heart was touched and she took action.

Judy shared what she learned with me in two valuable messages:

•1. Be aware of what a blessing it is to have your health:

A serious diagnosis affecting your health or the health of a love one can have a huge impact on the family.

•2. Recognize the importance of giving back.

Recognize that we all have had or will need assistance at some time. Each of us can help someone in need. We can give of ourselves physically or we can provide financial support.

Judy became emerged in a cause she sorely came to believe in. She made a commitment to a run a 26.2 mile marathon in Anchorage, Alaska. The Mayor's Marathon took place in June. Although she had never run a marathon in her life, ironically everything she has done until then seemed to have prepared her for this major feat. Most recently she has participated in two, local, shorter distance events. In San Francisco, the Bay to Breakers and in Vallejo, The Touro University Mare Island. In preparation for the challenge she utilized the streets, hills and bridges of the city of Vallejo and Solano County. While she was aggressively training for the Mayor's Marathon she suffered a serious leg injury.

Neither her painful injury nor the stitches dampened her spirit nor hindered her determination. On her return, Judy blissfully reflected on her group's efforts and accomplishments. She summed up the experience and stated, "It was really a worthwhile cause and it was an awesome experience.

In retrospect it was no surprise that she maintained a steady pace and persevered to the finish.

Judy Lafear, Vallejoans salute you!

Author's note: Judy Lafear is a past president of Vallejo's Mare Island's Toastmaster's Club. 

Come to Historical Downtown Vallejo Every Wednesday Night July through August and enjoy the Wednesday Night Street Fair. Free to All. Enjoy a different and popular band each week. Fun for all ages. Activities for the kids. Farmer's market. Classic and Vintage Cars on display. Food Vendors. Beer and Wine. For further information: Go to www.VallejoMainStreet.com

Come one, come all.

All Vallejoans and tourist are cordially invited to attend our city's all day 2008's, Fourth of July celebration. There will be activities planned for all ages. The festivities will kick off at 10:00 a.m. on the corner of Tennessee and Broadway with a parade presented by the Vallejo Parade Association. The parade theme this year is 'DREAMS'. The Reviewing Stand will be located in the 300 block of Georgia Street. The parade will feature giant puppets honoring our city's history and its name-sake General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo and his wife Doña Francisca Benicia Carrillo.

All other activities will continue at the Marina Green located in proximity to the Vallejo Waterfront. You can expect to enjoy beautiful weather and comfortable temperatures. Temperatures should be in the mid 70's during the day and in the  mid 50's in the evening.

  Scheduled Performances Include:

The Steve Logoteta's Band

The Vallejo Symphony Orchestra Brass Ensemble

The Askari Sowonde Productions

            Special Events You Do Not Want To Miss!

Our 12th Annual Great Vallejo Ducky Derby

The Boy Scout Troop 77 Color Guard Presentation

The Finale: Find Your Favorite Spot Before Dusk And Enjoy Some Spectacular Fireworks After Dark (Sponsored by Food 4 Less).

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You will find for your personal enjoyment: Children Activities, Vendors Booths, Food Concession Booths, Beer and Wine and more.

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A Special Thanks To:

 'Food 4 Less'

 'TEAM SUPERSTORES'

'Time-Herald'

'Lennar Mare Island'

'Triad Community'

Have a Great Fourth of July.

This may be the opportunity you've been dreaming  about!

                               Plenty Of Room For  Living, Great For Entertaining  & Great investment!

                                                See This 2496 sq. ft.  4 bdrm/ 3 Full Bath  Built in 2005

                              · Imagine living the American dream on the historical Mare Island.

·  Now imagine a quality built spacious home at a fraction of the original price.     

You will love its yesteryears' architectural design w/ its nostalgic front porch.  Gourmet Kitchen w/ Island, Plenty of Cabinets, Pantry, Granite counter tops everywhere & Granite in all baths, Master suite w/ sunken tub,  upstairs laundry & air conditioning.  Lots of  extras you will enjoy.

Historical Mare Island golf course  and Touro university only a few blocks away.

OFFERED AT  ONLY  -  $445,000

See today or gone tomorrow!

Directions: west on Tennessee, cross mare island bridge continue west on ‘G' St. left @ Azuar,  Right @ flagship & right @ Kirkland

Memorial day is not just a day for barbeques and fireworks. It is a day of remembrance. It was a day set aside to give honor to soldiers that have participated in protecting our boundaries and maintaining the freedoms we all enjoy. Many of these soldiers made the ultimatum sacrifice and laid down their lives as an indication of the love for this country.

Last month I was in Annapolis. Maryland. While I was there I made my second trip to Washington D.C. My purpose was not to visit as a tourist but as a grateful citizen. I wanted to pay tribute to all our soldiers the living and the dead. 

Every citizen should have the opportunity to visit our nations' capital. Thereare so many monuments as a reminder of history. Thee most touching monuments for me are the Vietnam Wall with thousands and thousands of names representing a lost lives.The other two are the Korean War Monument and the new World War Two Monument. It certainly help me to understand the great sacrafice so many brave men and women have made on our behalf. I am indebted to each soldier that the monuments represents and to those soldiers that have no monument.

Freedom Is Not Free.

Call a veteran this week and thank them for their service to this country.

You will be glad you did. Please tell me about your call.

Have a safe, happy and memorable Memorial Day

Are Foreclosures like bad apples? Unfortunately we are all affected by the housing market in one way or another. All homes in the neighborhood are adversely affected. Foreclosed Homes and Short Sales become the comps for the area.  These homes were once only the exception but they now are the rule. The bigger tragedy is Foreclosed Homes prices have resulted in the plummeting prices of other homes in the area. An immediate resolution is needed in order to restore our local, state and national economy to a sense of normalcy.

California State SB926 emergency legislation by Senator Don Perata designed to aid the ailing  housing market and slow foreclosures failed on Wednesday.

Had the measure been successful it would have simply required the Governor's signature and it would have been activated immediately.

THE BILL was basically designed to:

•·        Ease the foreclosure crisis

•·        Remedy the sub-prime problems

•·        Prevent further lose of home values

•·        To restore the State tax revenue base.

A two-third majority vote was required. The final tally of 25-14 resulted in a razor-thin lost. Twenty-seven votes were needed to pass the Bill. It was clearly a party line split. All the Senate's (25) Democrats voted for, while 14 of the 15 Republican were opposed. It is sad in deed that there is no immediate resolution in sight to remedy the State's current dilemma.

 Those that have not been impacted or don't think this is situation is a crisis probably have nothing to lose. For those of us that do, I highly recommend you contact your local or state representative regarding this matter. I leave you to ponder the question: Is the current housing market crisis the modern day Titanic? 

Critical times require critical measures. 

UPDATE: See and Hear First Hand Sixty Minutes House of Cards- Stockton, CA