Each holiday bough offered by the Wreath Project costs $7 and will ensure that every grave site at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery is recognized and honored. Photo by Debra Dingman

Pony Rides and Pictures with Santa

Serenity Saddles, 7776 Nunes Road, is hosting a fun afternoon for the family from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Dec. 1. Pony rides and photos with Santa, taken by Allyson Macke Photography, will both be on offer for $5 per person. Attendees are also encouraged to bring unwrapped toys to donate to Toys for Tots.

For more information, visit Serenity Saddles’ Facebook page, or call 203-392-4102.

Christmas Down on the Farm

Lone Wulff Ranch, 26810 County Road 97D, Davis, is hosting the 2nd Annual Christmas Down on the Farm. From 12 to 6 p.m. Dec. 1, visit the historic ranch to enjoy hot cocoa, farm animals, a gingerbread house competition and even pictures with Santa. Tickets are available at $23.18 for adults, and $12.51 for kids 12-17; children under 12 get in free. 

For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit lonewulffranch.com, or call 530-756-1115.

City Meetings Agenda

The Dixon City Council, 600 E. A St., announced at its Nov. 19 meeting the upcoming board and commissions meeting dates throughout December. Chronologically, the City Council will meet at 7 p.m. on Dec. 3 and Dec. 17.  The Planning Commission will meet at 7 p.m. Dec. 10, followed by The Vacaville-Dixon Greenbelt Authority meeting at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 11. The final scheduled meeting of the month will be the Transportation Advisory Commission meeting at 7 p.m. Dec. 18; the Parks and Recreation Commission’s meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. Dec. 24, has been canceled due to the holidays.

For more information, visit cityofdixonca.gov, or call 707-678-7000.

AI Lunchbreaks

The Solano-Napa Small Business Development Center is hosting two Artificial Intelligence-focused business events at noon on Dec. 4 and 11. The Dec. 4 event, subtitled ‘Supercharge Your Social Media with AI,’ is a 30-minute session that introduces guests to easy-to-use AI tools that can streamline their social media management; Dec. 11’s event, subtitled ‘Create Custom GPTs for your Business,’ will teach attendees how to easily build a ChatGPT-based assistant to handle tasks like answering customer questions, streamlining workflow and assisting with marketing. Registration is free and both events are virtual, taking place over Zoom, so join in and elevate your business.

For more information, visit solanonapasbdc.org/events.

Winter Wreath Workshop

Park Winters, a boutique inn and private event venue in Winters, is hosting a holiday wreath workshop that will brighten any home. Located at 27850 County Road 26, Winters, the event will educate guests on the use of foraged or gathered materials to assemble beautiful wreaths with a natural, rustic charm. Taking place from 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 8, tickets are available for $100 per person.

For more information, or to secure a ticket, visit parkwinters.com, or call 530-669-3692.

Wrapping Paper Exchange

Dixon Public Library, 230 N. First St. is offering an opportunity to put all that extra wrapping paper to use. From 3 to 4 p.m., both Dec. 9 and 16, patrons can bring new or lightly used wrapping paper to exchange with the community; gift boxes, bows and ribbons will also be accepted. Entry is free to all, so stop by with the family, you never know what you will get.

For more information, visit solanolibrary.com, or call 1-866-572-7587.

Small Business Grant Opportunity

In partnership with Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, the California Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is offering a $10,000 grant opportunity for small business owners looking to unlock their full potential. Applying is free and gives applicants access to tailored resources to manage finances, improve marketing, and secure high-quality employees. 

Those interested in the grant can apply by registering for Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, completing any combination of courses, coachings and events associated with the platform, and applying for the grant through the incentives tab before 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 13.

For more information, or to register, visit digitalready.verizonwireless.com

The Wreath Project

The Wreath Project, in collaboration with RememberAVet.net, is securing donations for holiday boughs; each will go to a grave site at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, ensuring each grave is honored and recognized during this festive time. So far, they have maintained 100% coverage every year since 2006, making sure each headstone has an accompanying holiday bough; this year, they will need 35000 boughs purchased to reach their goal. Boughs cost $7; if you would like to volunteer your time as well, the public is invited to help place the boughs starting at 7:30 a.m. on Dec. 14, rain or shine.

For more information, visit wreathproject.org, or call (707) 249-5852.

Gretchen Higgins Food Drive

Gretchen Higgins Elementary, 1525 Pembroke Way, is hosting a canned food drive for those in need until Dec. 18. The school is asking donors to bring non-perishable canned goods, and to check the expiration date before donating; this event will, through community, raise awareness about hunger and provide food for the hungry.

For more information, visit Gretchen Higgins Elementary’s Facebook Page, or call 707-693-6380. 

Dixon Chamber Connections Networking 

The Dixon Chamber of Commerce is hosting a networking event from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Dec. 19 at The Farmstead at Dixon, 350 Gateway Dr. This in-person event is a great opportunity to connect with local professionals, entrepreneurs and business owners. With such a diverse range of potential connections, attendees are encouraged to bring plenty of business cards.

For more information, visit dixonchamber.org, or call 707-678-2650.