Logo courtesy of Solano County

SOLANO COUNTY, CA (MPG) – Solano County Board of Supervisors is inviting the community to help identify local centenarians for recognition by the Board of Supervisors later this fall as part of the 20th annual Centenarian Commemoration Celebration.

Now in its 20th year, the program has become one of the County’s most cherished traditions, celebrating the lives, legacies and wisdom of residents who have reached the extraordinary milestone of 100 years or more. To date, the Board has honored 347 centenarians, representing more than 35,000 combined years of life experience.

“Our seniors deserve to be supported, protected and given every opportunity to thrive,” said Monica Brown, District 2 Supervisor and Chair of the Solano County Board of Supervisors. “From helping them remain safely in their homes to expanding access to services, we must continue investing in programs that honor their dignity and recognize their lasting contributions to our community.”

Each year, the celebration shines a spotlight on the remarkable stories of Solano County’s oldest residents, preserving their history, honoring their contributions and recognizing the invaluable role older adults play in shaping the community. As part of the commemoration, participating centenarians are invited to share their life stories through personal interviews, which are featured in a commemorative video presentation and preserved in a hardcover yearbook for families and future generations.

“This program holds a special place in my heart,” said John M. Vasquez, District 4 Supervisor and co-sponsor of the annual event. “Twenty years ago, the Board launched this effort by honoring my first-grade schoolteacher when she turned 100 years old. What began as a tribute to one incredible woman has grown into a countywide celebration of hundreds of centenarians whose lives continue to inspire us all.”

Over the years, the program has also recognized rare “super-centenarians,” individuals who live to age 110 or older. These individuals are exceptionally rare, with only about 60 people living in the United States at any given time and roughly 300–500 worldwide, and reaching this milestone occurs in only about 1 in every 1,000 centenarians. In that context, Solano County’s recognition of two super-centenarians — Marie West (2011) and Reta Wills (2021) — over the past 20 years is an extraordinary and uncommon distinction that underscores the uniqueness of the County’s centenarian community.

Contacting the County About Centenarians

If you know of a centenarian, or someone who is currently 99 years old and will be turning 100 by year’s end. please email [email protected] and/or call 707-784-6129 by or before Aug. 1. Relay the following information over the phone or in an email to the Supervisor, including name, address, phone number and best contact email address.