Local Column: Life's Too short

Hire A Solano College Grad

The Solano Community College Alumni Association was formed just a year ago and is already adding to its plethora of benefits. The Hire-a-Grad program will help link companies with alumni with the skills and training employers are looking for. They are also hosting a Career Fair next month.

The Hire-a-Grad program will also help students connect through mentorships, internships, and job-shadowing opportunities. They work with the SCC Career Center and the Solano Workforce Development Board but are partnering with both of these for the Career Fair, Thursday, April 18, from 10 am to 2 pm at SCC, 4000 Suisun Valley Road just off Interstate 80 near Cordelia.

SCC became even more popular during the long recession because it was a smart choice for local students to get a much more affordable AA college degree or save on the traditional 4-year expense of a state or private university by getting their basic education requirements completed there.

For a couple years, I worked on fundraising events for the SCC Scholarship Foundation and even though I have been a member of Sac State’s Alumni Association, I will pledge my support for the great education I received on my way there via SCC. While there are no membership dues at this time, their website offers a donation avenue at alumni.solano.edu

For more information, contact Director Curt Johnson through the website or for the Career Fair information, send an email to April Ziomek-Portillo, Business Services Coordinator at aziomek@solanowdb.org.

Notary to You

Local Dixonite Teresa Schilling has hardly rested from her retirement at Travis Credit Union before pursuing her mobile notary business, ‘Notary to You.’ I don’t know about you but with the sale of our homes and social security papers, etc. we have had to use a notary several times just in the last couple years.

At least one of those occasions when we were not in a title company, we used Teresa who came to our kitchen table and within a brief amount of time, all the paperwork and fingerprints were completed. What a helpful service on crunch time or busy schedules.

Just a couple years ago, a Notary was sent to our home for paperwork and we found out later, the company handling our transaction had charged us $400 for that. When we objected, we were told that the woman had travelled from Roseville. If only we had known, that would not have happened as I knew of Teresa’s business through Dixon Networking Associates and Teresa lives here in Dixon. Now, you know as well. To reach her, call (707) 693-5577.

Hearing Mom

Cherish your mom while she’s alive. No, it’s not Mother’s Day yet but you can always show appreciation for your mother any time. I sent up a prayer of gratitude to Heaven again today when I remembered her words this morning. I was busy planning an event for some school children when I heard her sweet voice come…

“Don’t split your audience.” “Make sure there is room for foot traffic flow and have a plan of how your attendees will walk.” “Have a focal point.”

I grew up with a mom who was joyously active in her work at the Bureau of Reclamation in Tracy. She coordinated or worked on numerous events including the annual Christmas party where my sister and I were Santa’s helpers and the Easter Egg Hunt where my older brother Doug served as the bunny.

I didn’t even realize I was listening to her back then but because of time she spent with us, she passed on her skills and wisdom. So much more detail goes into pulling off a successful event that many realize. Good events happen but great events take work.

Thanks, Mom. And, thanks to the many organizers who take the time to do a great job for our local events from Spring Fun Runs to Easter Egg Hunts to Pancake Breakfasts!

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Debra Dingman, an award-winning journalist and author, is a 26-year Dixon resident temporarily residing between a southern California beach and her Dixon home. Her book Learning A+ Living, Adventures & Rewards of a Mom Entrepreneur, is published by WestBow Press and is available now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and on TWMpublicrelations.com.