By Barry Eberling | DAILY REPUBLIC | January 09, 200
Tomatoes grown in the Suisun Valley and other Solano County agriculture inspired some slogans for the county by Daily Republic readers. Photo by File 2007
FAIRFIELD - 'The Bay Area's Best Kept Secret?' 'The Crossroads County?' 'Solano -- It Will Blow You Away?'
Readers responding to a story in the Daily Republic Sunday have sent in e-mails and made phone calls suggesting possible slogans for Solano County. They have tried to distill the essence of the county into a few words that might attract visitors.
For Mike Galli, Solano County is the 'Heart of Northern California.' It is 45 minutes from San Francisco and Sacramento and 55 minutes from San Jose and Santa Rosa.
'We are the center of it all,' he wrote.
Demetra Thomas agreed. But in addition to the geography, she also sees plenty to do within the county. People can shop; enjoy parks, trails and mountains; visit Jelly Belly and Anheuser-Busch; and buy fresh produce and vegetables.
'If you enjoy the city atmosphere but you just don't want to live there, then Solano is the place for you,' she said.
Thomas tells her friends who visit that Solano is the 'Bay Area's Best Kept Secret' and they agree, she said.
Carolie Simpson wants a slogan with some romance, one that gives Solano 'somewhat of a mystique that might make those who don't know anything about it, want to know about it.'
She suggested 'California's Secret Garden,' 'The County of Bounty' and 'Truly Nature Blessed.'
She also offered several slogans that play off one of the county's most distinguishing features -- the Delta breezes that take the edge off the summer heat. Simpson came up with 'Easy, Breezy Solano County,' 'Solano Means Land of Warm Breezes' and 'Solano County -- It Will Blow You Away.'
Stan Katzman, who recently moved here from San Jose, views Solano County as 'California's Middle America.'
'This title represents the diversity of the area -- manufacturing and agriculture, recreation for all ages, a bit of flag waving, a strong military presence and a diverse and tolerant population,' Katzman wrote.
Fay B. King sees Solano as the 'Crossroads County,' a place with much to do and where major transportation corridors such as interstates 80, 680 and 505, and Highways 12 and 113 converge.
'You can't miss much in Northern California coming to or leaving Solano County via one of our roadways,' she wrote.
Ernst Bak wrote that the county can forge an identity by having pedestrian-friendly communities. High-rise condominiums located in pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods create much needed opportunities for people to mingle and socialize, he wrote.
'Pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods in all of Solano County's cities will be worth a visit,' he wrote. 'Perhaps many visits.'
Graham Wadsworth suggested that Solano County is the 'Land of Sweet,' from Jelly Belly in Fairfield to the fruits grown across the county.
'Each city could probably come up with something they find sweet -- sweet rides at Marine World, sweet fishing at Rio Vista,' he said.
Others suggested that Solano County is the 'Land of Diversity.' The county has both ethnic and geographic diversity, allowing visitors to experience the Central Valley, Bay Area, Wine Country and Delta without driving far.
Reach Barry Eberling at 425-4646, ext. 232, or beberling@dailyrepublic.net.
