City Of American Canyon Online Community Forums

Paul: Do not worry about these "guests" who do not have the balls to post under a real name while they bash your casino. You have been a wonderful asset to these forums and I commend you for puting yourself out there and not wavering when you are attacked, they do not have any merit to their words, afterall they hide behind the Internet. I would like to publically thank you for your hard efforts.

To those who attack Paul, show some respect for his opinions.

My last posting was based on a previous post that was very negative to the Casino...(somehow it disappeared almost immediately and probably should have)
I personally was offended, by most likely the same "Guest" that called Rancho "the armpit".
Therefore: We now have 2 armpits!
Nasty comment...

I deleted that post. When anybody posts on these forums I get a copy in my email with a log. When I read it I did not feel it was appropriate, therefore I removed it.

It was the Card Room that donated to the 4th of July event. Please read prior posts. The card room is a strong employer and stable business. It has been here almost 30 years, about 18 years prior to American Canyons incorporation.

California cardrooms have been in existence since the 1800's- ever watch an old western?

The cardroom also has a dealing school, where we create jobs- you know, that idea that council has been wanting in American Canyon, more local jobs! We have now 5 dealers that work in my card room that started out in the card room school. One is a single mother who is now making twice what she made in her prior job, over 50K a year. Additionally we recently had 3 students go to the Oaks Card Room, and out of 30 or so who tested, 3 were hired after the audition- all of them from the school here.

THe card room is one of the very few local places to meet other members of the community and have a friendly social game of poker.

The owner of the property intends to revamp the entire site within 24 months or less, so plan on a completely different look with the site being redeveloped.


What this has to do with the 4th of July is beyond me other than providing just over 5% of the total private funds raised is beyond me.

I for one attend the local poker parlour at least twice a month. It's good clean wholesome entertainment with clean restrooms and a very accomodating staff.

It's cheaper than driving to Cache Creek, and the rates are the same 3/6 and 4/8. For 50 to 100 dollars you can sit there for hours having a great time and getting to know locals.

The only reason you are bashing it is to be mean. I will admit some weeding needs to be done in the front, but what does your yard look like? And remember commercial buildings on a major highway get dirty from all of the pollution. The card room provides a recreational venue for adults that doesn't hurt anybody or violate the 10 commandments. What more could you ask for?

It could become a strip club. Now that would be most awesome.

I have to agree about signage, or lack of it. When I was going to the park at 8 am and again at 9.30am we saw several cars looking for the park. If I had not been at the festivities the year before I would have difficulty finding it, I got lost last year looking for the entrance into the park. I appreciate most people in the city possibly knew where to go but lack of signs is just something to take note of for the future.

My neighbors told me about the 4th of July parade and celebration. I thought it was put together nicely. The music was good. I'm from central america, as is my wife- so we enjoyed the different groups and cultures represented.
I thought the guy doing the announcing did a great job. Who is he?
There seemed to be a good mixture of booths for the kids, adults and teenagers seemed to be hanging around.

Some of you mention there were too many churches and realtors. Most of us came here because of a good, reliable realtor. My wife and I are also interested in knowing about the faith groups in town and we were able to meet some church members. I don't see anything wrong with them being there. Why is their atttendance a problem for some of you?

I think the event was organized fairly well, despite some of the comments I am reading here. Just my two cents.

Response to my2cents...

Unfortunately, your being new in the community does not give you the opportunity to compare prior year events to this 4th of July celebration. Up until a few years ago the Lyon's Club (a non-profit) ran the entire event. The booth spaces were very affordable. I would say almost every non-profit in AC had a booth. From the elementary school PTA's, Boy Scouts, Church groups, & VFW these were the vendors of the past. There was such a selection of food vendors it was difficult to decide what to eat. I use to run a booth which probably brought in $200 a year, but the money wasn't important it was you wanted to be there because that was a time when everyone in AC came together. My kids were like Issa, who kept asking for more money. It was a long day with no booths closing until dark. The city contribution for fireworks is very generous now, previously the city donated $5,000 and through year round fund raising efforts the Lyon's Club was able to provide a real community event. My question? What happened? The good thing, there is always next year.

You are correct about my fresh perspective, so I am not tainted like the rest of you.
If the club who ran it before decide not to do it again, that's ok. Did the new committee decide to reject any of the community groups from attending? I went to the pancake breakfast at the little place on Elliott, with my neighbors. I met the Mates family who run the Scouts, they said it was too much work to have a pancake brekafast, be in the parade and also have a booth. Maybe this is the reason and you are making false assumptions?
I asked about the food and they said some people made a big stink last year about the way food was (or wasn't being) properly handled. How does this become the problem of the organizers? should the blame go to complainers who made the food handling an issue?

Again my two cents. Your arguements seem to be very one-sided.

Anyways the person who appointted herself to lead up the committee, really has bumbled every fundraiser and has been asked to step down off committee's because of her lack of following through.

People are angry, because she put herself in several positions to promote her business not because she cared about the children or the community. What most of us want is an apology, or at least her owning up to her inability to follow through with committments she promised to people.

That being said, the 4th of July is over. It is time to move on and numerous people are ready to step-up to the plate to improve on this years 4th of July for next year. And there is no guarantee that there won't be any mishaps, but it definitly only can go up from here.

I am glad "My 2 Cents" that you and your family found the 4th to be culturally stimulating. I am equally as glad that you and your family had a great time.

You mentioned that teens were there at the park, but did you notice if they were doing anything other than standing and talking?

As for the booths, there is nothing wrong with churches and realtors except that in most towns they have booths that are interactive with the crowd and not just informational.

While I was there most families came and went within an hour or less. The people here on this forum just want it to be better. Since you have only been here for a short time, you are not aware that for the last 8 months the director has been standing in front of the council at every meeting telling them about all of the wonderful money being raised, entertainment coordinated and the many booths that have been sold.

Then when all was said and done there wasn't any signage to help people or remind people of the event and there wasn't really anything that was really memorable.

If you put yourself out there and you constantly rebuff inquiries as to the status of an event and it turns out like nothing that was promoted then there is a problem.

Some people like yourself who are new found it to be fun and enjoyable, but most who have been here for awhile or have been to other celebrations found it to be flat and dull. I am sure your comments are just as appreciated as the suggested improvements.

I am also glad that your realtor told you about the event.

I think your being very kind to say that you and your family were there for about an hour. My family could only take it for 15 minutes. That was enough!

The reason I bring up my realtor telling me about the event, is that he's from the Prudential office in Benicia. How did he know about the event and not residents?

The teens at the park on the 4th, were doing exactly what they do at almost every other function. Stand around and "chilling" as they say.

I thought it was good idea when they began to dance on the stage, I would have loved to partake, but I have two left feet.

I would like to invite all of you unhappy campers, and new residents to the City of Vallejo's Fourth of July next year. There is a parade that runs through downtown Vallejo at 10am. It ends at the Vallejo Waterfront where there are booths and games and food vendors. It is followed by a wonderful fireworks display over the water. The only downside that some of you might have....I dont think there are any signs advertising the event. So this is your only invitation. Hope you can make it and see ya next year!

Thanks for the invite I heard that Vallejo had the best Fireworks last year.

Ok enough is enough. Now you want us to go to another city for the 4th of July. Par for the course! Yes this year's festival was the worst I've ever seen in over 10 years. But it will make next year's that much better.

There is lots of room for improvement. So there should be a large turn out at the next 4th of July meeting... Right!

It would have been nice if alll the papers would have decided to publicize as well. Oh they al ldid except the Post

Actually the post had it listed for two months:

May/June Issue pg 4 Title 4th of July Celebration full article

June/July Issue pg 20 under Recreation Title 4th of july with full details.

You can download these back issues by going to http://www.napasolanopost.com

The Post is a newspaper. The responsiblity of a community newspaper it to support the community, local businesses and provide information that will effect us. Whether good or bad.

Cindy Coffey may have her opinions at council, but I do not believe she has once negated her responsiblities as an editor of a "community" newspaper. I realize you may find this hard to believe. Maybe you should take time out to read the post. There are many writers in the Post who are from this community, serve on commissions or community organization, and just want to keep you informed.