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Fairfield Downtown Association
1000 Texas St.
Suite D
Fairfield
California
94533

Phone:
707-422-0103
Fax:
707-422-1256

Email

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FAIRFIELD DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER
August 2001

Tenth Annual Tomato Festival
Thanks to all the merchants who decorated their storefronts. The judges had a tough time deciding on a winner. First place was awarded to Max¹s Espresso and Bagels for its interpretation of the Killer Tomatoes, with second place awarded to Stamp Heaven for a fanciful look at MacGregor¹s garden. Certificates of Honorable Mention go to each of the other merchants who decorated, including Napadashery, Phil¹s Men¹s Shop, Second Debut, Second Time Around, Pacific California Realty, Math Masters, Kitchen Tune-Up, Kristina¹s Boutique and Gordon¹s Music & Sound. Thank you all for your creativity and enthusiasm.


The weather was wonderful, with Saturday warm but not unbearable. Sunday was cooler and attendance was down somewhat, but the crowd seemed to have a good time. Kids and parents alike enjoyed the bands and the many vendors. The contests were well attended (with the exception of Emily¹s ridiculous idea for Tomato Decorating, which had people scratching their heads!), and enthusiasm was high.
Winners were: Best Homegrown Tomato: Shelby LeDoux-1st, Seth Lippencott-2nd Tomato Decorating: Mackenzie Huston Tomato Costume: Jessica Johnson-1st, Alina Cole- 2nd and Anissa Chachere- 3rd. Tomato Eating Contest: Boys under 7: Michael Coudnight Girls under 7: Corbyn Brooker Teen girl: Chantelle Crowhurst Teen boy: Vince Linares Adult female: Dana Chapman (2nd year!) Adult male: Steve Nolasco

The Cooking Contest had a tremendous variety of dishes, including salsa that stimulated the taste buds. Winners are: Commercial/ Restaurant Division- Salsa: Peter Garcia, The Clubhouse at Rancho Solano- 1st; Emilio Barajas, Fusilli Ristorante- 2nd; Linda Auclair, LA Salsa Co.- 3rd. Appetizer: Peter Garcia, The Clubhouse at Rancho Solano- 1st; Emilio Barajas, Fusilli Ristorante- 2nd; Piero Tropeano, New York Pizza Kitchen- 3rd. Main Dish: Emilio Barajas, Fusilli Ristorante- 1st, Peter Garcia, The Clubhouse at Rancho Solano- 2nd; Piero Tropeano, New York Pizza Kitchen- 3rd Individual Division: Salsa: Joey Salgadoe- 1st, Wendy DiBella- 2nd; Cathy Duran- 3rd. Appetizer: Andrea Garcia- 1st, Yolanda Garcia and Carroll Foster- 2nd, Leticia Guerrero-Levise- 3rd. Main Dish: Andrea Garcia- 1st, Leticia Guerrero-Levise- 2nd, Marge Thayer- 3rd.

Special Congratulations to Carroll Foster of Foster and Neal Legal Assistance on Jefferson Street and Emilio Barajas of Fusilli Restaurant on Jackson Street for representing the Downtown Association Members so well in the cooking competition.


If you have comments or suggestions about the Tomato Festival, please contact a member of the committee so your thoughts can be shared. The committee members are Mimi Weddington- 425-6464, Darryl Carter- 427-3940, George Fernando- 426-2659, Cathi Jasso- 428-1105, Bob Reich- 428-7760, John Dutcher- 421-8411 and Emily Low- 422-0103.

The committee is beginning its work organizing the October 6th Candy Festival and Fall Craft Faire, and FDA members are invited to help organize the event.

Chamber Mixers Return to Downtown
On Monday, October 15, 2001, the Fairfield Downtown Association in cooperation with Fairfield Center for Creative Arts will present a Chamber Mixer. The Chamber Ambassadors will provide a portable bar and will take care of liquor licensing and set-up.

Downtown Merchants will be able to set up tables featuring their goods and services. A member of the sub-committee will contact you soon to reserve your space and request your donation of a door prize. If you are a Downtown Restaurant, please plan to bring samples of your cuisine to share.

SAVE THIS DATE. This is a wonderful opportunity to introduce the business community to your company. Encourage your employees to attend and meet their fellow Downtown-ers.

Farmers Market
There are plenty of weeks left in the market season for Downtown Merchants to particpate. Call Emily or Sharon at the office and reserve a 10x10 canopy. We¹ll put up the canopy on Thursday afternoon and provide a table; you just need to bring your brochures or products and get to know the market customers. Invite them to your stores to see the rest of your inventory!

Transitions
Pottery Works will close shortly. Owners Grace and Booky Chuatakoon will operate the business from their home.
Home Tech Medical has closed, and will consolidate the business in a larger, more distribution center friendly facility in Richmond.
Lorcky¹s Restaurant is nearing grand opening. Employees are being hired and trained.

Changes at the FDA Office
Ruth Anne Harris, who was helping out on a temporary basis has found a more permanent position. Sharon Trujillo has joined the staff as our permanent part-time Administrative Assistant! Sharon is a native Fairfielder, born at Travis AFB. She and her husband Don have two children. You will hear from her frequently when she recruits volunteers for events. She will also handle collection of dental insurance premiums and other administrative tasks. Don¹t hesitate to call her if you need copying or use of the Pre-Sort Mail stamp.



FDA WEBSITE
Steve Garson, of Garson Design Services has our new website almost complete. For the time being, you can view the site by logging onto www.GarsonDesign.com/fda. Currently, the site includes pages for each Downtown event and a directory of Downtown businesses. The newsletter will be posted there monthly, and information about membership in the Association can also be found there. Opportunities for linking your own website to the FDA site are available, and Steve also offers a significant discount to Downtown merchants who want to develop a website. You can reach Steve at 428-1743.

Eye Care Made Affordable
Dr. Mark Christensen, a Downtown Optometrist, offers FDA members, their employees and dependents a 25% discount on his professional services. The discount is applicable to eye exams, eyewear, contact lens fitting and follow-up charges. The discount does not pertain to the cost of contact lenses, only the professional fitting costs. Dr. Christensen is located at 744 Empire St, Suite 102. Phone the office at 425-2187 for more details.

Solano County Administration Center Update
Plans for construction of a new Solano County Administration Center in Downtown Fairfield are moving forward with requests to the Federal Government for matching funds grants for development of the project. Interested citizens and business people are asked to assist in the lobbying effort by writing their legislators to encourage passage of the bill to permit the grants. A sample draft of the letter is on file in the FDA office. If you would like to send a letter to one or more of your representatives in Congress, call Sharon, and she will be happy to help you.

Construction of the new facility is expected to take approximately 18 months. The majority of County employees will remain in their current locations during construction. The only employees that will be temporarily relocated during construction are those in the Department of Environmental Management with about 55 employees. Because that office is immediately adjacent to the construction site, it will be necessary to move it during construction. However, they will return as soon as the new facility is complete.

The project itself will result in a net increase of approximately 150 County employees in the downtown center. Through 2010, the County estimates an additional increase of 100 employees downtown. In addition, more County offices and parking downtown mean more visitors to the County offices, and, potentially, more customers for your businesses.



Downtown Business Branches Out
By Mark Marino, Phil¹s Men¹s Shop
Prepaid Legal Services Plan for Professionals has come to Downtown Fairfield. This new legal services plan is aimed at the small businessperson and covers businesses of up to 8 employees and the owner¹s home and family!

Unlimited phone consultation, business phone calls and letters written on your behalf. Three debt collection or third party letters a month.

Review of any personal legal documents up ten pages

Review of up to three business contracts or document set-up to 15 pages. Will preparation for business owner.

Legal Shield: 24/7 access to an attorney if you are arrested or detained.

Motor Vehicle related problems: 2.5 hours consultation with driver's license, they will handle small fender benders up to $2000,which saves having to report an accident to your insurance company. Representation for certain vehicle related criminal charges.

Trial defense services for civil or job related criminal charges 17.5 pre-trial and 57.5 in court time. 75 total hours going up 60 hours a year until in the fifth year of the plan 335 hour is the cap for Lawsuit protection!

IRS audit protection up to 50 hours, 3.5 hours pre trial time, and it includes schedule C audit protection! Access to the Gosmallbiz.com web site for answers on any business question usually within 24-48 hours, this brings you the expertise and advice of big business to grow your small business! All of this covering your home, family and business for $45 a month! For more information contact Mark Marino at 877-700-0417

The following Downtown Business Owners have agreed to run for the Board of Directors positions now available:
Grace Manago (Nainoa¹s Taste of Hawaii), Paul Manzo (The Family Attic) and George Romero (Hi Tec Cellular & Paging).
Watch the mail for your Board of Directors election information.



FDA Meeting Schedule
The FDA Board meets the first and third Thursdays of each month. Meetings start at 8:30 AM in the meeting room at Barb¹s Deli (735 Texas St) and adjourn promptly at 10:00 AM.

These meetings are not limited to Board members. All FDA members are encouraged to attend and make their opinions, wants and needs known to the Board.

Fairfield Downtown Association Board of Directors
707-422-0103
Chair: George Fernando
Redi Office Emporium -426-2659
Term expires June 2003
Vice Chair: Rev. Darryl Carter
Carter¹s House of Bar-B-Que - 427-3940
Term expires June 2003
Treasurer: Nino Giacalone
Fusilli Ristorante - 428-4211
Term expires June 2003
Mimi Weddington
Stamp Heaven - 425-6464
Term expires June 2002
Cathi Jasso
Pacific California Realty - 428-1105
Term expires June 2002
Richard Lockwood
Touch of Faith - 425-3393
Term expires June 2003
Tony Brantley
Brantley¹s Taekwondo - 429-3744
Term expires June 2002
Tim Sieferman (Associate Member)
Bank of the West - 422-6800
Term expires June 2003
Bob Reich (Associate Member)
Fairfield Center for Creative Arts - 428-7760
Staff: Emily Low & Sharon Trujillo - 422-0103
City Liaison: Rich Atkins - 428-7572



Just a thought...
We have roughly 250 members in the Fairfield Downtown Association. If each member took responsibility for recruiting one volunteer for each event (the member, an employee, a relative, a friend etc), we¹d have a wonderful volunteer base! We have a Promotions Committee of eight people, but we need lots of volunteers to make our events successful. Each of us knows lots of people who might be willing to give a couple of hours to help with an event. They may just be waiting for an invitation.

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