The event featured 100 Davis businesses and non-profits and drew over 8,000 attendees 

By RORY CONLON — city@theaggie.org

The Davis Chamber of Commerce and Nugget Markets hosted their annual Celebrate Davis event in Community Park on May 16.

Bobbi Vaughn, the director of events and communication for the Davis Chamber of Commerce, estimated that 100 businesses and non-profit organizations participated in the festival and over 8,000 people attended. Vaughn said the purpose of Celebrate Davis is to host a family-friendly event that brings the community together.

“It’s a great snapshot of all the amazing, one-of-a-kind businesses we have in town,” Vaughn said. “It’s about celebrating the uniqueness of our community, and our business vendors reflect that.”

Their title sponsor for the event was Nugget Markets, a grocery chain with locations on East Covell Boulevard and Mace Boulevard. Nugget Markets gave out free tote bags, recipe cards and chocolate chip cookies at the event.

Rose Ross, an administrative assistant at the East Covell location, said Celebrate Davis is about giving back.

“We have such a strong community of loyal guests,” Ross said. “Outreach for us isn’t about ‘Come to our grocery store,’ it’s like, ‘Thank you so much for letting us be part of your community for so long.’ On June 16, it’s going to be 25 years since our Nugget was built, and it’s [become] a part of the community.”

Vaughn said the Chamber of Commerce added several new elements to make this year’s event unique.

“Last year, we did not have a car show, the Astro Botanicals or the artist’s alley,” Vaughn said. “We also didn’t have a drone show. Previously, at this event, we had fireworks to end the evening, and this year, we were fortunate enough to find enough sponsors to cover the cost of the drone show.”

Lori Willingham and her daughter run American Flat Soap Company, a small business featured in the lineup of local artisans and craftspeople at the festival. Willingham said that community events like Celebrate Davis help her reconnect with her customers.

“We love community events in our area, because we’re from a small town up in the foothills,” Willingham said. “You get to see people that you haven’t seen in a while and just get a sense of community.”

The Solano County Muscle Car Club showcased vintage Chevrolet Chevelles, Camaros and Novas at the festival. The club, which includes retired police and correctional officers, donated the proceeds from their vintage car show to the Natalie Corona Foundation — created to remember and celebrate the life of Natalie Corona, a Davis police officer who was killed in the line of duty in 2019.

Dlorean Cotten, who owns a 1966 Chevelle featured in the car show, said that the event brings the community together and also gives him a chance to connect with other club members.

“The value for me is just getting out of the house and hanging out with the fellas,” Cotten said. “I’m not necessarily in search of value or even attention, but it happens naturally, because people gravitate toward these cars.”

Russ Blackwell is the founder of the Russ Cheer Foundation, which focuses on single mothers, children’s suicide prevention and animal rescue. Blackwell said he came to the event to raise awareness on mental health and sell clothing out of his Kindness Mobile Thrift Shoppe.

“It’s a transformed mobility bus that we turned into a thrift boutique,” Blackwell said. “We go through a ton of donations of clothing and accessories to sell on the bus to support our foundation.”

Blackwell said the value of community events like Celebrate Davis is immeasurable.

“If you are someone that wants to promote kindness and goodwill, you can’t buy this,” Blackwell said. “This is something that’s going to come from within. Having the community come together in such a fashion to celebrate itself is absolutely amazing, and hopefully it can be an inspiration to other communities to do the same thing.”

Written By: Rory Conlon — city@theaggie.org

The event raised over $6,000 for Davis non-profit organizations  

By RORY CONLON — city@theaggie.org

The Davis Downtown Business Association (DDBA) and Davis Phoenix Coalition (DPC) hosted their first Big Day in Dining event from April 29 to May 1. During the event, proceeds from four downtown businesses were donated to 24 Davis non-profit organizations. 

Gloria Partida serves as the executive director for the Davis Phoenix Coalition, a non-profit that runs anti-bullying initiatives and advocates for the LGBTQ+ community. Partida said she first approached the DDBA with the idea for the event. 

“The businesses downtown are often sponsors for many of the non-profits in our area,” Partida said. “I thought it would be the perfect partnership to give back to businesses and also to have people come out and meet non-profits working in our area.”

The four restaurants that participated in the event were Woodstock’s Pizza, Upper Crust Bakery, Outpost Burger and Sophia’s Thai Kitchen. Businesses were given the option of donating a percentage of their proceeds or a flat donation.

Woodstock’s Pizza donated 20% of its proceeds with the goal of raising $5,000. Maricela Gloria, the interim general manager at Woodstock’s, said they first heard about the fundraiser in a DDBA newsletter. 

“It just seemed like something that was an easy thing to participate in, [to] be a part of the community and give back,” Gloria said. “So we were like, ‘Heck yeah, we want to do that.’ We host in-house fundraisers for clubs and organizations all the time.” 

Kevin Wan, the DDBA president and owner of Sophia’s Thai Kitchen, donated 15% of his restaurant’s proceeds. He said that amid funding cuts to non-profits, it’s important for local businesses to give back.

“We don’t exist without our community, without the people that come to our establishments,” Wan said. “These people have kids in schools, and they are part of community organizations that are also important to them. We all need to band together and help each other out when other sources of funding, especially government funding that used to be relied on, suddenly goes away.” 

Partida said her organization was nervous when putting their Pride Festival together, as anti-Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts under Donald Trump’s administration have alienated corporate sponsors across the country.

“There are many Pride Festivals across the nation that have seen very drastic drops in sponsorships, because those sponsors don’t want to be associated with DEI efforts,” Partida said. “Some of the big Prides like San Francisco and San Diego […] have seen as much as a 60% drop in some of the funding from big corporate sponsors.” 

Though the DPC was turned down by two of its sponsors when planning the Davis Pride Festival, Partida said that taking a more “grassroots” approach made the event possible. 

“A lot of our sponsorships come from local sources, businesses and donors in the community, and we’ve never been corporately sponsored in the classic sense,” Partida said. “Even though our fundraising is moving slowly, we’re hoping that we can make our budget.” 

The Big Day in Dining event coincided with a regional event called the Big Day of Giving, a 24-hour challenge that raises funds for 855 non-profits. As part of the Big Day of Dining event, representatives from non-profits tabled from 5 to 8 p.m. to solicit last-minute donations for the Big Day of Giving. 

Tracy L. Fauver, the executive director of Davis Community Meals and Housing, tabled at the event. She said that her organization, which provides food and shelter to 300 people daily, is trying to diversify its funding in the wake of budget cuts. 

“A few of the purely federal programs that we’ve received money from in recent years are kind of on hold,” Fauver said. “There’s no opportunities to apply for it, as there would typically be at this time. Our annual budget is about a million dollars, and at least $100,000 a year is in jeopardy.”

Fauver said that donors have already recouped half that amount through the Big Day of Giving. 

“We’re [at] a little over [$50,000], and that’s fantastic,” Fauver said. “It’s better than our organization’s ever done on the Big Day of Giving. Even though it feels a little bit like you’re in competition with other non-profits, I love the Big Day of Giving because it gives us an opportunity to get our story out and really focus on telling people about the great work that we do.” 

Written By: Rory Conlon — city@theaggie.org

Multiple intersections on 5th Street have come under scrutiny due to a high number of collisions 

By YUENJO FAN — city@theaggie.org

On April 21, the Davis Transportation Commission met to address traffic safety at the intersections of 5th Street.

Ryan Chapman, the assistant director and traffic engineer for the Davis Public Works Department, provided more information on the city’s need for safety improvements for traffic. Chapman mentioned how more safety measures are needed to decrease the risk of accidents, specifically at intersections with I Street, K Street and J Street. Moreover, data from the city concluded that the 5th Street intersections are extremely busy, seeing around 17,000 vehicles a day. From January 2020 to January 2025, 23 accidents were reported in the area.

“There is a collision pattern that has become more pronounced as time has gone on,” Chapman said. “What we started looking at was a solution to address these collision patterns without pushing the problem. We looked at a number of different alternatives, [such as] roundabouts, stop signs and traffic signals. In all of those cases, there were constraints or issues that would require additional time or a lot of functions that aren’t available to implement.”

With the majority of collisions occurring at J Street’s intersection with 5th Street, Chapman explained the traffic solution that could address the issue. 

“The proposal would restrict traffic on [streets] I, J and K to be ‘right turn out’ only,” Chapman said. “You would still be able to turn left on 5th onto those streets [and] still be able to turn right onto those streets. But if you were trying to exit, you would only be able to make a right-hand turn. […] Because none of the collisions we’ve seen have involved bicycles or pedestrians, we are not recommending restricting [their] movements, but it is something that we would continue to monitor.”

Davis resident Cindy Stover lives near the intersection of 5th Street and J Street and noted how she often hears traffic accidents. Addressing the commission, Stover underlined the increase in accidents while noting the neighborhood’s support of Chapman’s proposal.

“If you look at the past two years, we’ve seen a huge increase in the number of accidents,” Stover said. “The traffic volumes and the speeds have increased, so [accidents] are going nowhere but up. I think this is very timely that we do something that we do now. It’s getting worse and worse. The neighbors, the ones that live close to this intersection, […] fully support the proposed safety measures that Ryan [Chapman] and city staff are putting forward.” 

Transportation Commission Member Mark Huising also commented on the problem, questioning the reasoning for the excess vehicle traffic in a bike town. 

“There’s an opportunity here to ask ourselves why we have 17,000 vehicles on [5th] Street, when many people like to bike,” Huising said. “[Also], a major concern for many people is something we’ve alluded to. Who is brave enough to cross the street at J or K Street? It is not safe. These are discussions that we can’t shy away from.” 

Chapman’s traffic proposal would later be motioned and recommended to the Davis City Council.

Lastly, the meeting briefly touched upon an evaluation of the city’s speed bumps and the idea of constructing new speed bumps on Cowell Boulevard, between Roos Street and Dresbach Way. Following a neighborhood petition for additional speed bumps, the city sent out a subsequent survey, confirming that residents in the area largely support the idea. Construction is planned to be undertaken this summer. More information about this can be found online.

The Davis Transportation Commission meets at City Hall on the second Monday of each month. More information can be found on their website. 

Written By: Yuenjo Fan — city@theaggie.org

The Community Park Skate Park will be undergoing major upgrades in the coming years

By MATTHEW MCELDOWNEY — city@theaggie.org

On May 7, the city of Davis Parks and Community Services department held a community outreach meeting for the anticipated renovations for the Community Park Skate Park. After weighing community input, the city of Davis hopes to begin construction later in the fall. 

Although designs and specific additions for the renovation have not been confirmed, the Parks and Community Services Director, Deanne Machado, provided insight into the tentative timeline for this project. The city of Davis Parks and Community Services has recently received approval to allocate funding to the project’s contractor, Grindline Skateparks.

“We wanted to make sure that the people who were building the skate park are people with experience building skate parks and skating,” Machado said.

The city is doing so to rectify some of the issues with the current skate park since its original construction in 1992, according to Machado.

“It is voted one of the worst skate parks in the state of California, which I think is kind of funny and cool,” Machado said. “So, of course, we’re trying to change that narrative altogether and be like, ‘No, we want to have the best,’ right?”

Machado hopes that contracting Grindline Skateparks — a company that has constructed 400 skate parks worldwide — will allow the city to transform the current park into one that skaters of all levels can enjoy.

“People are going to come from other places to skate a Grindline park,” Machado said. ‘We’re certain of that.”

Melody Eldridge, the senior civil engineer responsible for contacting and sending proposals to Grindline Skateparks, described the goals for this ambitious renovation project.

“We really wanted something that was going to be used by the community,” Eldridge said. “That’s kind of the big feedback that we got on this existing one — just a lot of disappointment.”

Eldridge described the requirements that the city looked for when finding its contractor: expertise in skate parks and a proven track record of quality builds. 

As the city and Grindline Skateparks look into the community feedback they have received, they hope to interact with the students and residents of Davis to create a design that meets their wants and needs.

“We’re really trying to figure out the demographics of who uses it,” Eldridge said. ”Are you a beginner? Are you advanced? Things like transition versus street features — how do we want to use that space to best maximize what the community [is] using?”

In the coming weeks, a pre-design will be finalized, as they hope to accept future rounds of community feedback on the skate park before construction begins. To stay updated on the Community Park Skate Park renovation, the city of Davis website contains information on the project as it develops.

Written By: Matthew Mceldowney — city@theaggie.org

Duck Days, the outdoor festival, drew flocks to tour the wetlands and participate in fun activities for all ages

By MATTHEW MCELDOWNEY — city@theaggie.org

On April 26, Yolo Basin Foundation organized an outdoor festival that allowed Yolo County residents to have the unique opportunity to pet alligators, meet live bats and visit the hotspot that over 200 species of birds call home. 

Taking place at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Headquarters, crowds of families and students alike visited for a variety of programs and activities, including but not limited to live bats, raptors and alligators. 

Corky Quirk, a program coordinator, talked about the humble beginnings of Duck Days.

“When I first started, Duck Days used to be more of a birder event,” Quirk said.

Duck Days has changed significantly over the years as the Yolo Basin Foundation began to introduce exhibitors, live educational demonstrations and ambassador animals, according to Quirk.

“Duck Days is an outdoor nature festival for families to get people outdoors, enjoying the environment and learning a little bit along the way,” Quirk said.

A major part of this wetland-themed festival is inviting people to step out of their comfort zones in nature, according to Quirk.

“I love being able to change people’s perceptions,” Quirk said. “That’s a big thing for me. People tend to be hesitant about what they don’t understand, but […] once they learn more, […] their whole mindset can flip.”

Duck Days is not only a space reserved for families either — students from UC Davis participate as volunteers, exhibitors and visitors in this truly unique Davis attraction.

“We get a cross section of the community that comes,” Quirk said.

Anthony Roberson, a second-year wildlife, fish and conservation biology major, described his experience tabling at the Duck Days event for the UC Davis Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology. 

“It is really, really great,” Roberson said. “It is great to be with most people you wouldn’t think would be interested in learning about wetland habitats, marsh animals and the diet of bats until you see so many kids get excited seeing a blackbird or a bat up close.”

Roberson described this as the first time the museum has been able to collaborate with the Yolo Basin Foundation, but described his experience as an overall positive one as he hoped for collaborations in the future.

Caitlyn Left, a third-year microbiology major, had a similar experience as they described the kind of work they enjoy doing for the museum.

“Tours are usually pretty fun,” Left said. “The kids and parents get really excited and it’s always really exciting to show them what their favorite kind of animal looks like and show them what they wouldn’t think we’d have.”

Additionally, the Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology hosted a Meet the Bat Family event on May 18 on campus for those interested in learning more about their animals and the work they do. 

Events like ”Duck Days” and “Meet the Bat Family” are important to educate others about their mission at the museum, according to Roberson. 

“Animals are interesting,” Roberson said. “They’re important, and they’re everywhere. Humans are animals, too, and are a part of the environment.”

Written By: Matthew Mceldowney — city@theaggie.org

Bossa-Saurus and Katalysst join a lineup of diverse artists for the 2025 Davis Cherry Blossom Festival

By ALMA CULVERWELL — city@theaggie.org

The annual Davis Cherry Blossom Festival returned to Sudwerk Brewing Co. from May 3 to 4. This marks the festival’s 10th annual year hosting a lineup of local talent, cultural performances and a continued focus on community-driven activism. 

Founded by former UC Davis student and taiko performer Gregory Wada, the Cherry Blossom Festival began from his desire to create a space that celebrates Asian American identity through art and activism. 

Wada explained how the idea for the creation of the festival emerged from conversations about Asian American identity and the need for a space to share those experiences through art. 

“The festival sort of grew out of conversations we had about our Asian American identities and the complexities of those experiences that aren’t always captured in celebrations of multiculturalism that focus on nationality,” Wada said. “We wanted to have our own festival to tell our story, as well as have a place for others like us to do the same. I think that feeling of being able to use an event and art to say something about identity resonated with people.”

The festival has since evolved into a full weekend of live music, art installations, food vendors, workshops and fundraising. Proceeds from the event benefit non-profit organizations dedicated to social and environmental justice, selected annually by the festival team. Past beneficiaries have included the Asian Law Caucus, Earthjustice and the Asian Pacific Environmental Network. 

Wada explained how the 2025 celebration is unique from prior years and the new aspects of the festival that attendees could look forward to.

“This year we have a number of new events, including a kamishibai storytelling where you can learn about the history of taiko, a community jam session where you can play taiko with us and a short course on taiko hosted by the students of Bakuhatsu Taiko Dan at UC Davis,” Wada said. “We’ll also have community art pieces where you can hang your wishes on a tree.”

The event featured many bands, performers and more. Among this year’s featured performers is Bossa-Saurus, a jazz and R&B band formed by UC Davis students and alumni. Guitarist Nathan Sangria and vocalist and violinist Daphne Lee first began playing together at local open mic nights in 2022, eventually forming a full band with fellow students Bella Vasquez, Alia Tu, Mike Eckes and Zack Wilhite. 

Bossa-Saurus explained their excitement for the upcoming festival and what they are looking forward to seeing. 

“Although this is our first time performing at the Cherry Blossom Festival, many of us have attended in prior years,” Bossa-Saurus said. “We have very fond memories seeing different bands, artists and taiko groups perform, and we still cherish the souvenirs and crafts we got at the artists’ booths. This year, we’re especially looking forward to seeing the taiko performances and the Video Game Orchestra.”

Bossa-Sauras also described the significance of being a local performer at the festival.

“We know many different groups, organizations and volunteers put hundreds of hours into planning and outreach to make the Cherry Blossom Festival happen each year,” Bossa-Sauras said. “As a Davis-based band, we’re honored to have the opportunity to play at such an enriching event and spread our love for modern and classic jazz and R&B.” 

Also making their Cherry Blossom Festival debut is Katalysst, a folk-rock duo consisting of Alyssa Sanders and Kat Austin, who first met at the Whole Earth Festival in 2019. The band blends lyrical introspection with classical and folk influences, drawing inspiration from artists like Leonard Cohen, Modest Mouse and Fleetwood Mac. Sanders described how they met and the origins of their band.

“My band had come up from Los Angeles to perform, so it was kind of like the stars aligned for us to have a chance meeting,” Sanders said. “We ended up spending the evening together and started dating shortly after. It wasn’t until a year later that we started writing music together. I remember I called Kat one day and told her to sit down, because I had come up with the perfect band name. Thus Katalysst was born.”

Sanders also described the duo’s excitement to perform at the Cherry Blossom Festival for the first time. 

“We haven’t played at the Cherry Blossom Festival before, but we’ve attended in the past,” Sanders said. “Kat has been going for years since she went to college in Davis and has always loved it. We are very excited for all of the musical acts; there’s so many.”

Katalysst shared that while their long-term goal is to make a living through music, their current focus is to write songs that connect with people.

“We will always strive to write a perfect song that captures a feeling or a moment,” Sanders said. “And if we ever do, then there will be a million more perfect songs to chase.” 

The Cherry Blossom Festival is organized entirely by volunteers, many of whom are students or recent graduates. Wada emphasized the importance of community organizing in the planning process.

“The organizers are students and young working professionals, and all the time needed to put on the event can be challenging, but I’m so impressed by the spirit of this team,” Wada said. “For us, this really is about community organizing and building the kind of world we want to live in — one that celebrates diversity and embraces curiosity and compassion.”

Wada hopes that the festival will continue to grow as a platform for local artists and a space for cultural expression, collaboration and solidarity.

“One of my favorite aspects of the festival is when I hear how it’s changed an artist’s journey or helped them discover something about themselves or their political consciousness,” Wada said. “I love the many collaborations and new relationships that have sprung from this work.”

Written by: Alma Culverwell — city@theaggie.org