Category Archives: Activism

Activism, HSNB

Mayor Sorce Tours Shelter

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Our fabulous Mayor Andrea Sorce got a tour of the shelter today and could not resist this kitten, which we both had the privilege to hold. There were a lot of gorgeous cats looking for homes in this area. I know everyone only sees me with dogs, but I grew up and have often had cats in my life, even if I don’t currently. My volunteering at the shelter is to work for all of these animals, so it’s great that our city and mayor are such softies for our animal companions who cannot speak for themselves!

Activism, Foster Dogs, HSNB, Pets

Pit Puppy Fosters

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I’m fostering two of these four puppies. One of them needs medications for his injured eye and I asked to take the skinniest of them all (sometimes known as the “runt”). I wish we had other foster parents who might consider taking the two healthier puppies and/or interested parties who wish to foster to adopt all of them eventually. These dogs are not old enough to mingle with other dogs because they still await a second Parvo shot. It is important that they get some fresh air and exercise, which is much harder to do within the shelter, given all of the competing priorities.

The plan is to foster two of the four puppies that were recently brought to the HSNB shelter for a few months before we go on vacation and get ready for the big move back to the house under renovation. At that point they will be old enough to get their most important shots and can mingle with other dogs. Usually, I try to foster more special behavioral or physical needs dogs. The alternative for these guys would sadly be staying inside for the next few months without much exercise. This is not ideal for growing puppies, obviously.

I hope people remember that fostering is an option for cats and dogs to improve these animals’ lives and also assist local shelters from exhausting finite resources like we have at HSNB.

Activism, Foster Dogs, HSNB, Pets

Calvin and Hobbes are now Neo and Elliott

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This teacher in Oakley on the left, adopted these two littermates. She’s here with her friend, Erin. Shea and I had the pleasure of fostering these two brother chihuahua mixes for four months.

I know they will be well-loved, and we are so thrilled that they are being adopted together! That was part of the challenge, but this woman has a great yard and patio for them to enjoy as their new home. I know they will be great company for her and continue to be company for each other the rest of their lives!

Activism, Italian, Italy, Politics

Italian Citizenship

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I think my mom would be very proud that my daughter and I have started the ball rolling to pursue our Italian citizenship. By extension, that also means European Union citizenship. I was inspired by friends and family who have pursued this themselves. I probably should have started the process long ago. I did have a couple of false starts with the Italian Consulate in San Francisco, which wasn’t very communicative. The momentum is here now as I’ve signed a contract with a reputable organization that can make this dream come true. Many people don’t know that I grew up in Italy and Spain in part, even though I was born here in California, as my father was. My mom was from Italy herself, and my first language was Italian when I was growing up in Sardinia, where my little brother was born. I’ve owned property in Italy for years now in Calabria, where most of my family continues to live. I do plan to continue living in my home in Vallejo indefinitely (the one that I’m waiting to move back in after it’s renovated). Backward American politics certainly has something to do with this decision, but there are several pragmatic reasons also. My mother had acquired dual citizenship herself long before she died.

Activism, Tobacco

Billion Lives Symposium 2025

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In April 2024 I was invited to attend the End Game Summit hosted by Action on Smoking in Health in Washington DC. It was a wonderful experience and I really got to see a lot of DC that I hadn’t seen before. That was my first real “trip” after the fire.

I also met Dr. Jeremiah Mack when I was wandering around the national mall. He had recognized my beard and me from the summit. He also lives in the Bay Area. We hung out a bit at the museums and then he told me about this symposium, which I was not aware of in time in 2024. I’m so glad I went and that it is on my home turf. I took the day off my remote job and went into San Francisco like a real commuter, which I hadn’t done in many years, taking the ferry both ways. I was a ferry rider for four years in New York City years ago.

Not judging well how long public transportation would take me when I got off the ferry, I did cheat a little and take Uber in both directions, but I did not want to be too late to the symposium, nor did I want it to miss the next of the infrequent ferries back to Vallejo.

Here are pictures from my commute and the lobby of UCSF:

Here are pictures from the symposium itself, with just a handful of the amazing fellow activists in this area, from all over the country. Some of them are involved with tobacco control globally, too.

Activism, GCCA, Politics

Glen Cove Community Association’s Spring 2025 Meeting

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GCCA hosted another successful community meeting, which focused on safety. We had the wonderful IHART program representatives explain what they are doing for our city, including outreach, with the hopes that the program expands. We also had the Deputy Police Chief speak for a while on updates for the understaffed Vallejo Police Department.

We had the honor of the mayor of Vallejo, Andrea Sorce, and the President of the Vallejo City Unified School District, John Fox, speak at the event, as well as representatives from the Cultivate Community Food Cooperative and a representative from SolTrans about the bus routes that are very likely going to be changed, including the 8 line which comes through Glen Cove.

Our microphones lasted right until the last few minutes. Thanks go to Shea for recording this session so that we could live stream it on Facebook and then save the recording here.

Activism, Foster Dogs, HSNB, Pets

New Foster Jonah!

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New foster Jonah from HSNB is available for adoption. This very sweet and adorable wired-hair terrier mix adult has been with us for a few days and is a joy to have around. He plays with our other two fosters, the litter mates Calvin and Hobbes, as well as Snoopy. He’s growing on Bonnie as well, and I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before he wins her over.

Video compilation of Jonah’s first days while we foster him and his interactions with Bonnie and Snoopy and the other two fosters, Calvin and Hobbes.