Contents

Welcome 07

Chamber Board of Directors 08

Chairman’s Circle 08

Dixon High School Hall of Fame keeps past
greatness alive 10

Bay Stamp and Engraving can personalize
anything for any occasion 12

The Creative Space can host any type of
celebration in Dixon 14

Western Health Advantage plans include more than
3,200 doctors and specialists 16

Busy Bee Studios offers yoga for variety of
levels and goals 18

Pace Solano helps adults with developmental
disabilities to work and attend social opportunities 20

Membership Directories 22

220 N. Jefferson Street, Dixon, CA 95620

707-678-2650 | dixonchamber.org

facebook.com/thedixonchamberofcommerce

Welcome!

Summertime and the living is easy! Here at the Chamber, we have been busy adding new programs and opportunities to help our members.

We hope you enjoy the Summer 2024 issue of Connections magazine. Featured in this issue are even more of our Chamber members, both businesses and nonprofits. The articles and the ads in this issue will also be posted to Facebook, Instagram, and Google My Business.

We will continue to promote our members in future issues for the significant contributions they make to the economic well-being of our community. They have invested in our community – please support them.

The Membership Directory contains the list of all Dixon Chamber of Commerce members as of May 20, 2024. There are two lists – one alphabetically and one by category, making it easier to find the goods and services you might need.

Please check out the Community Calendar on our website - www.dixonchamber.org. There you will find information on our new Chamber Networking Group, an opportunity to promote your business to dozens of other business people, make connections and promote your business!

For more information about how membership in the Dixon Chamber of Commerce can benefit you, call 707-678-2650 or email info@dixonchamber.org.

Respectfully,

Shauna Manina

President / CEO

2024 Board of Directors

Joe Bruch

Chair of the Board

Dixon Grocery Outlet

Jennifer Huff

Vice Chair

Silveyville Cemetery District

Ted Jorgensen

Treasurer

Dixon Tire Pros

Ben Ernest

Director

Montessori Charter School

Kathy Ernest

Director

Ramtown Karate

Devon
Camara-Soucy

Director

First Northern Bank

Rodolfo Pineda

Director

Universal Services

Crystal Rico

Director

Farmer’s Insurance

Karstin Stranger

Director

Almond Tree Mortgage

Dixon High School Hall of Fame
keeps past greatness alive

By Ann Piccininni

Long after the diplomas are handed out and the graduation caps are tossed in the air, the legacy of those who exemplified excellence at Dixon High School is cherished, remembered and honored through the Dixon High School Hall of Fame.

The nonprofit organization recognizes the outstanding contributions of alumni who have achieved distinction in sports, academics and community service.

“It was founded with the intention of recognizing the athletic program,” said Pam Gill-Fisher, an original Hall of Fame board member who continues to serve on the board. “We honor teams, athletes and coaches that have gone on to achieve great things.”

Inductees are inducted after at least 10 years have passed since their high school graduation, she said.

More than 250 people typically attend the annual dinner and awards ceremony held every November.

“The dinner is very well-supported by the community,” she said.

Four sponsorship levels are available at costs ranging from $500 to $5,000.

The next group of inductees is announced each year in May, at the end of the academic year.

People and teams from years past fill the Hall of Fame.

The 2023 Hall of Fame inductees included: Ed Seifert, Class of 1939; Warren Belden, Class of 1948; Wayne Stark, Class of 1952; Dennis Finney, Class of 1968; Les Cufaude, Class of 1971; Daniel Williams, Class of 1982; Neil Cooper, Class of 1997; Kayla Riede, Class of 2009; Kristen Berryhill, Class of 2010; the 1981 Boys Championship Soccer Team; Tony Rico, coach; and Del Luttges, special contributor.

Gill-Fisher said former Hall of Fame board member Alan Schmeiser, a retired rancher and triathlete who is a 1952 Dixon High School graduate, has been instrumental in researching the high school’s history and identifying potential Hall of Fame inductee nominees.

“You have to do something above and beyond everyone else to get inducted,” Schmeiser said.

He said the organization provides recognition for athletes deserving of special commendations while also bringing together the community as a whole.

“It has been accepted well since it started,” he said.

Any community member may nominate an inductee by visiting www.dixonhighhalloffame.com and submitting a nomination form.

Gill-Fisher, an emeritus at University of California Davis, was herself an athlete, an early inductee in the Dixon High School Hall of Fame and a longtime basketball coach at UC Davis. She also coached women’s volleyball and tennis and is the retired senior associate director of athletics at Davis.

Participation in sports contributes to the development of students’ character, fosters leadership and imparts the benefits of teamwork and sportsmanship, she said. Sports are an integral part of Dixon’s identity and culture, a tradition that remains ingrained in the city’s DNA.

“Dixon developed from the roots of a small community. Its members have been strong advocates of sports from the beginning of the community,” Gill-Fisher said. “The Dixon High School Hall of Fame has been sponsored for years by individuals and organizations. It is one of the things that has brought the community together.”

An agricultural area with roots built on dairy farming and ranching, Dixon has grown in population as neighboring towns and cities have become “closer” through the building of transportation infrastructure such as Interstate 80, she said.

Through these changes, Dixon has held onto sports as a constant, positive force that encourages community cohesiveness.

For information about The Dixon High School Hall of Fame, visit dixonhighhalloffame.com

Bay Stamp and Engraving can personalize anything for any occasion

By Ann Piccininni

Team championships, corporate accomplishments, memorable milestones, sentimental remembrances – Bay Stamp and Engraving creates finely crafted keepsakes for all of those occasions, often finessed with a personal touch.

The Vacaville company has been serving clients throughout the Vacaville and Dixon areas and beyond for 38 years.

“I started the business back in the 1980s in my garage,” said owner Paul Avakian. After its founding in July 1986 in the bay area, the company gradually expanded with acquisitions, adding employees and moving to Vacaville eight years ago. The shop is located at 1313 Callen Street A.

“I bought out several competitors over the years,” said Avakian.

One of those, Oakland Rubber Stamp Company, was founded in 1898. With a longtime following and dedicated clientele, that company’s name is prominently displayed on Bay Stamp’s website. Avakian said Bay Stamp continues to invoice several clients under that name, so strong is the bond with clients.

“We bought the history and legacy of that company,” he said.

Another of Bay Stamp’s major acquisitions was San Francisco Stamp and Seal.

Avakian said his entrée into the engraving and stamp business came about when he realized that his skills were well-suited to this niche market.

“I’m a master engraver. I was working in the aerospace industry as a machinist. I also have a graphics arts background,” he said. “Engraving kind of popped up.”

His garage-based business grew from a service he provided for friends to a full-fledged business that has a client list that includes several major companies and organizations.

“We’re a small business. We have one client that has 14 locations all over the United States,” he said. “We have a reputation as being the go-to engravers. People reach out from a 200-mile radius. We do a lot of specialty engravings for corporate awards and personalized gifts. Our clients include UC Berkeley and Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART). We do all of the BART stuff.”

The nearby Travis Air Force Base is another major client, he said.

The company also creates engraved signage that provides warnings and technical information for the safe operation of electrical and solar equipment as well as wayfinding and ADA compliant signage for businesses.

“We do a lot of industrial nameplates and signage for organizations, schools and corporations,” he said. “We have nine engraving machines. We’re very busy.”

Stamps, seals, stencils and ink are available through Bay Stamp and may be purchased online through the company’s e-commerce service.

Over the years, Avakian said, the look of engraved awards has moved from the standard trophy cups to more of an emphasis on plaques and personalized items.

“Award types have changed dramatically,” he said, adding that these days high-quality glass, cast acrylic and cherrywood are often-used materials.

“A lot of people bring things to us to engrave,” he said. “People invent their own occasions. For instance, there could be a backyard barbecue and people will have Yeti cups engraved. There are a lot of times that new things are being presented to us. We recently engraved a ceremonial sword that the Coast Guard wears with their dress uniforms.”

Keepsake gifts frequently given by companies include engraved drinking glasses and stemware, he said.

For information about Bay Stamp and Engraving, visit baystamp.com

The Creative Space can host any type of celebration in Dixon

By Ann Piccininni

Sometimes a blank slate provides the perfect inspiration for letting the imagination run wild. For the past two years, The Creative Space at 160 W. A Street in Dixon, has been enticing creatively-minded clients looking for a large venue to transform into their own carefully crafted events with all the trimmings.

“It’s essentially a blank canvas,” said Tori Hunt, co-owner of the company.

She said the company provides clients with indoor space that can accommodate up to 85 people along with round and rectangular tables, chairs, table linens, audio equipment, television and other incidentals that form the basic infrastructure for celebrations of all kinds.

“We rent space out for parties, bridal showers, quinceaneras, wedding showers, baby showers, corporate meetings, weddings and more,” Hunt said. All events have free admission.

Business has been brisk.

“We usually sell out every weekend,” she said. “We book months in advance.”

The interior features walls painted white and black, neutral colors that are easy to coordinate and complement with any color scheme. There also is a private parking lot where free parking is available.

An example of a recent event held at The Creative Space is the Sweet Eggscape Craft Fair in March 2024. Planned for June 2024 is The Food Truck Festival featuring food, music and desserts. The Summer Nights Vendor Fair is scheduled for July followed by the Fall into Autumn Harvest Market in September, the Sweater Weather Market in October and the Very Merry Christmas Market in December.

Hunt said The Creative Space also regularly presents Women’s Night Out, relaxing and fun events designed especially for ladies. A recent ladies night was themed with a ’90s vibe. Events feature craft-making such as painting, blanket-making and cake decorating.

Hunt, a married mother of four children, recently partnered up with the company founder.

“My cousin Sarah Johnson started it in 2022,” she said. Sarah and her husband, Shannon, also own The Collectors Corner in Dixon, where toys, games and other collectibles are bought and sold.

The Creative Space was initially established in response to the pandemic. Since then it has flourished and grown.

“I became co-owner in August 2023,” Hunt said. “Last summer, Sarah asked me to become a partner. We grew up together. We grew up like siblings. Both of our moms have been doing things together forever.”

Hunt and her husband, Josh, also own and operate Hunt’s Hauling and Junk Removal, another Dixon-based business started in 2019.

Hunt said she and Johnson, both well-suited to entrepreneurial ventures, work hard at serving the community via The Creative Space.

They share responsibilities evenly, Hunt said. Both handle the bookkeeping, marketing, and event set-up and tear-down.

“We split the duties 50-50. We clean and handle everything ourselves,” Hunt said.

The company offers “vendor packages” that entitle the buyer to attend all of the year’s events at a discounted rate.

There are also workshops and classes centered around the holidays and special events. This year’s Mother’s Day event, titled “Sweet as Can Bee Mommy and Me,” included a charcuterie class, a kids cookie decorating workshop, a photo booth with backdrop, and a Mother’s Day greeting card and jewelry-making craft session.

Hunt and Johnson also share their industry expertise, referring clients to caterers, professional party-planners and photographers to help make their unique events memorable and fun.

For information about The Creative Space or to book an event, visit www.thecreativespacedixon.com and www.facebook.com/TheCreativeSpaceDixon.

Western Health Advantage plans include more than 3,200 doctors and specialists

By Ann Piccininni

Comprehensive health benefits, essential to quality of life, are provided through a range of plans with flexible options available with Western Health Advantage, WHA. The leading non-profit HMO, based in Sacramento, just a few miles from Dixon, includes plan members throughout the northern California region.

A health plan created by doctors and hospitals, WHA covers individuals, employer groups and Medicare patients in northern California, providing coverage to more than 118,000 members and 5,000 employers.

Plans offer local access to leading healthcare facilities including NorthBay Medical Center, NorthBay Vaca Valley Hospital and Woodland Memorial Hospital, along with 10 additional Sacramento and North Bay regional hospitals.

Members may choose from a large selection of exceptional physicians, including specialists, through several medical groups: Hill Physicians Medical Group, Dignity Health’s Mercy Medical Group, Dignity Health’s Woodland Clinic, Meritage Medical Network, NorthBay Health, and Providence Medical Network. In all, members have access to more than 3,200 doctors and specialists.

Because WHA is a regional HMO, insured employees can easily get in touch with plan representatives to get questions answered and to find access to the best care when it’s needed. Members can call the WHA Member Services Team at 888-563-2250 with questions about accessing care and the plan’s many services. Members may also visit the HMO’s website at westernhealth.com or use the WHA’s mobile app.

“WHA makes accessing health care easy for our members, allowing flexibility when it’s most needed, with choices for specialty care across multiple medical groups and hospitals, using what we call Advantage Referral,” said Mark Gilroy, Western Health Advantage Community Relations Manager. “WHA plans include essential medical benefits, preventive and mental health services, support for managing chronic health conditions, as well as innovative wellness programs, fitness discounts and expanded virtual care options.”

WHA was founded by Dignity Health and NorthBay Health more than 25 years ago. Today, the company serves the following counties: Solano, Sacramento, El Dorado, Placer, Yolo, Colusa, Napa, Sonoma, Marin and Humboldt.

“As a health plan leader, we are committed to advancing the health and wellness of the communities we serve. We seek innovative ways to promote the health and well-being of our members, and residents throughout northern California and beyond,” Gilroy said. “We continue to offer proactive support to help ensure the quality, affordability and accessibility of health care across our regions.”

While WHA offers essential services when members are sick or injured, the company also provides a platform of health and wellness programs to help members stay healthy. Services include nutritional counseling, fitness discounts, mental health programs, coaching apps that are enhanced with the latest technology and global travel assistance.

As a non-profit HMO, Western Health Advantage maintains strong corporate giving and volunteering programs that forge key community partnerships and, ultimately, make healthcare more affordable, accessible and sustainable.

“Western Health Advantage’s community-based mission ensures that 90% of every dollar goes back into providing patient care,” Gilroy said. “By offering WHA plans to your workforce, you help support the health and well-being of your community.”

For information about Western Health Advantage, visit westernhealth.com

Busy Bee Studios offers yoga for variety of levels and goals

By Ann Piccininni

The pursuit of balance and purpose is what ultimately led to the establishment of Busy Bee Studios in Dixon, where clients can find instruction and inspiration in disciplines including yoga, pilates, dance and cardio exercises.

The business’ name derives from founder and owner Katrina Marsh’s personal experience as a business owner and entrepreneur.

“For me, personally, I love to be busy. I have to have my plate full,” Marsh said. “Yoga helped me with burnout phases. Yoga is all about balance.”

Busy Bee Studios launched in an Almond Tree Mortgage satellite office in downtown Dixon. The studios have since moved to the current location, 1115 Stratford Ave. in Dixon.

“We started in October 2021, towards the end of the COVID lockdowns,” Marsh said. “A lot of people were itching to get out of the house. We noticed that there wasn’t any yoga presence in Dixon.”

Marsh said she was introduced to yoga as a young child, watching and joining in when her mother practiced yoga at home with instructional videos. She grew up in Dixon, and earned two associate degrees, one in business administration and the other in legal studies.

“I used to be a paralegal. I think that refined my work ethic a lot,” she said, adding that her experience in the legal field is reflected in her organizational and time management skills.

Over the past two-plus years, Busy Bee Studios has expanded its services to meet the needs of the community.

Currently, in-person, virtual and private individual and group classes are offered at a variety of levels and with a variety of goals. Clients can choose from a menu of gentle flow, power flow and restorative yin classes, cardio dance and high fitness classes.

The location also features a collaborative space where practitioners offer related services such as massage therapy, reiki and ear seeding, otherwise known as auriculotherapy, a type of acupressure.

As Busy Bee Studios grows, Marsh’s endeavors expand as well.

“I co-own another business, Maganda Media Management,” she said. She and business partner James Young offer local businesses social media management and marketing expertise. The company’s website is at magandamanagement.com.

Her work is also featured as a contributing author in “Women Thrive Vol. 2,” a book available on Amazon and Kindle.

Marsh leads many of the yoga, pilates and cardio classes at Busy Bee Studios. Her journey to becoming a teacher began by necessity.

“I didn’t have a passion to teach. But I was very interested in the practice of yoga myself,” she said. “It was kind of my little escape.”

When she started the business, the role of teacher was hers alone.

“I was the only teacher for the first year,” she said, a situation that led to her discovery of a previously unexplored side of herself.

“I love teaching,” she said.

Today, Busy Bee Studios employs six teachers, including Marsh.

“Currently, we can hold about 30 people in classes and we have room to expand. We serve, primarily, Dixon. We’re rapidly expanding. We also get clients from the surrounding area, Vacaville and Woodland,” Marsh said.

The business’ initial location was “gorgeous,” she said, but with its downtown location was a bit more bustling than is conducive to mindful practices such as yoga. Marsh said she is deeply appreciative of the opportunity Almond Tree Mortgage afforded her at the time.

The new location on the northwest side of town works well.

“I’m going to stay in this space as long as I can,” she said.

For information about Busy Bee Studios, visit busybeeyoga.com

Pace Solano helps adults with developmental disabilities to work and attend social opportunities

By Ann Piccininni

Pace Solano, with administrative offices in Vacaville, has six locations throughout Solano County where services are provided to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities aged 22 and older.

The nonprofit organization provides day programming and employment and transportation services with the aim of giving everyone the support they need to reach for their dreams and realize their goals.

A behaviorist designs and delivers plans to support and assist the agency’s individuals with behavioral needs. Services include providing consultations, developing support plans and protocols, producing communications systems, prevention of crisis situations, and teaching staff how to best use collaborative approaches to achieve goals. In addition, Pace has one registered nurse, three licensed vocational nurses, and an occupational therapist to ensure everyone’s needs are met.

Pace Solano also provides transportation, a service that began in 1987 with three vans. Today, the organization has a fleet of 25 vehicles, all equipped to carry wheelchairs and other mobility aids.

Each day, Pace Solano Transportation provides rides for approximately two hundred individuals attending day programs. Transportation is also available to take program individuals to work or volunteer activities, shopping trips, out to lunch, to sports and cultural events and to other educational and recreational activities.

At Pace programs, both work and social opportunities are available. Classes cover a variety of topics from sign language, health and wellness, animals and nature, mathematics, safety awareness, historical and current events, self-advocacy, and life skills from gardening to cooking.

Social activities include shopping, dining, and field trips to places like the Oakland Zoo and the Berkeley Hall of Science. Also, individuals attend sporting events. Oakland A’s games are a popular favorite. Individuals are excited the A’s will be in Sacramento so they can attend more games.

The groups at Pace Georgia and Pace Fairfield also get regular visits from “Cuddle Buddies,” a program through the Humane Society of the North Bay. Each week a different dog and handler visits the sites.

“Many individuals do not have their own pets. This provides an opportunity for them to interact with animals in a safe environment. Individuals look forward to their visits each week,” said Pace Solano Executive Director Kelley Hanson.

Individuals work at a variety of local workplaces throughout Solano County, including Vacaville and Dixon Recycling Centers, Hunter Hill Rest Stop, City of Fairfield, Vacaville Opera House, Connections for Life, Round Table Pizza, the Village Plaza office complex, and Benicia High School, where individuals take care of the staff room’s vending machine.

Volunteerism is also important at Pace Solano. Individuals volunteer their time at Bridge Hospice, Empowered Aging, The Contra Costa Food Bank, and The Friends of Animals in Benicia, Calif. The Georgia group also tends a community garden plot, growing tomatoes, kale, zucchini, and lemon cucumbers. Staff and Individuals use the harvested vegetables for snack and cooking classes.

Pace Solano has been providing services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Solano County for over 60 years.

“The agency will continue to change and grow to provide services that are person-centered and goal driven for the foreseeable future,” Hanson said.

For information about Pace Solano, visit pacesolano.org