This is an archive of "Around Vacaville" written by John Rico for the Vacaville Reporter Newspaper.
Mr. Rico was the Publisher of the Reporter from 1935 to 1973.
His love for his community continued throughout the years as he chronicled Vacaville's history
in his personal weekly column: "Around Vacaville".
Mr. Rico passed away in October of 2001.

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Latest additions: 2013-02-08 21:02 The Vacaville Cousins Who Gave Their Lives / Rico, John [922] [RICO-1979-922] PERHAPS YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW - Writing about past wars, and especially those bits of news which saddened many Vacaville families, is not what any writer would choose to elaborate on. But from time to time such informative information may be beneficial to residents here today. Detailed record - Similar records 2013-02-08 21:02 It's Only Rubbish - But It Has a Story / Rico, John [921] [RICO-1979-921] THE END OF AN ERA - When you travel Vacaville's miles of streets today, you are definitely going to notice a change. The Basic fiber trash barrel has vanished, a casualty of bureaucracy. Detailed record - Similar records 2013-02-08 21:02 Vacaville's Past Rests Upon A Peaceful Hill / Rico, John [920] [RICO-1979-920] AT REST - PEACEFULLY UPON A HILL - While I do not cherish the assignment of reporting the obituaries in this newspaper, I do so having been a resident here for more than 60 years, and having known thousands of neighbors, friends and relatives who have gone to their last rewards. Detailed record - Similar records 2012-02-14 20:31 Perhaps We Are Just a Bit Spoiled / Rico, John [919] [RICO-1979-919] THE ROUTE WE TRAVEL - While it may be true that our present energy problem is proving Ulcerating to some motorists, it perhaps would be wise to re-examine some of the routes we had to travel to get where we are today. Detailed record - Similar records 2012-02-14 20:31 'Esther Days' Will Long Be Remembered / Rico, John [918] [RICO-1979-918] BOOK LEARNIN - Vacaville residents cannot say they have been deprived of access to book learning throughout our past history. Events will prove that as far back as 1858 there were attempts made to provide a library service to the few people who resided here. The Women's Christian Temperance Union also had a part in seeking to provide such facilities here. Detailed record - Similar records 2012-02-14 20:31 Those Mountain Retreats Are Being Invaded / Rico, John [917] [RICO-1979-917] WHERE THE H--- IS GRAEAGLE? Perhaps you have noted bumper stickers imprinted with those words. A lot of Vacaville residents know of this Plumas County unique hide-away, population 350, elevation 4300 feet, nestled among thousands of acres of pine trees. Detailed record - Similar records 2012-02-14 20:31 Time Marches On - Memories Ever-Present / Rico, John [916] [RICO-1979-916] IT SEEMS LIKE ONLY YESTERDAY - Today the sirens will shriek; stores will close for a few hours; there's going to be a jovial mood in the atmosphere. It's an event which I alone will categorize as a momentous one - I am 70 years of age. Detailed record - Similar records 2012-02-14 20:31 The Old Frying Pan May Soon Fade Away / Rico, John [915] [RICO-1979-915] LET'S DINE OUT - Never in the history of the United States have the three words: "Let's dine out" been so prominently used. This common 1979 trait comes about because the lady of the house who at one time worked over a hot stove, now has steady employment helping to bolster her husband's income. Detailed record - Similar records 2012-02-14 20:31 High Winds, Fire, Dry Grass: Black Thursday / Rico, John [914] [RICO-1979-914] A DAY TO REMEMBER - The sun was shining brightly over Vacaville on that September 16th back in 1965, but it was barely visible. It was being blotted out by dense clouds of smoke. The Black Thursday fire was on a rampage, and men and machines were helpless to stop the fiery tongue as it worked its way south toward Vacaville. Detailed record - Similar records 2011-12-26 22:14 School Problems Are Nothing New / Rico, John [913] [RICO-1979-913] THE NEVER ENDING SCHOOLS PROBLEMS The increasing costs of education, plus divergent opinions on curriculums, are a constant sore spot not only in Vacaville but throughout the United States. Detailed record - Similar records 2011-12-26 22:14 Main Street Keeps Rolling Along / Rico, John [912] [RICO-1979-912] MAIN STREET - AN ORIGINAL NAME - The task of designating street names at times may be an arduous chore, but when Main Street received that title about 125 years ago there was no problem. It was the only business thoroughfare in Vacaville and it was the main one. Detailed record - Similar records 2011-12-26 22:14 Remember When a Day's Pay Was $1.25? / Rico, John [911] [RICO-1979-911] LET'S TALK INFLATION - If you noted the following prices in today's newspaper, you would know someone was out on a lark and wanting to have some fun. But, these prices actually appeared in advertisements in The Reporter back in 1932: pound of coffee 19c, loaf of bread 10c, pound of beef stew 9c, pound of bacon 14c, fresh pumpkin pie 15c, head of lettuce 4c, can of olives 9c, pound of butter 22c, bunch of vegetables 2c, a pack of cigarettes 10c, and you could send Junior to the Vacaville Theatre for 10c. That all added up to $1.24. Detailed record - Similar records 2011-12-26 22:14 Fire and Bulldozers Erase Our Past / Rico, John [910] [RICO-1979-910] TIME HAS TAKEN ITS TOLL - In recent years there have been efforts exerted in an attempt to salvage some of the older buildings in the community, both business and residential. Detailed record - Similar records 2011-12-26 22:14 Inflation Poses Problem for Vaca Retirees / Rico, John [909] [RICO-1979-909] MAYBE, PERHAPS, IF, AND BUT - I don't know how much confidence you can place in learned economists, but nevertheless, some of their utterances make good food for conversation. As a guest of Obie Ladd and his Heart Federal Savings, I had an opportunity to listen to remarks by noted economist, Ezra Solomon, who hangs out at Stanford University, He addressed a large group at the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco. Detailed record - Similar records 2011-12-23 11:22 Never-Ending Problems - Sewage and Trash / Rico, John [908] [RICO-1979-908] THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL - A friend of mine asked me one day if there were any problems in compiling this article, once each week, year-in, year-out for more than 30 years. My immediate reply was: "Oh, there's always something to write about." Well, this is one week when I will scrape the bottom of the barrel for a subject. Let's talk about our environmental problems of Yesteryear. Detailed record - Similar records 2011-12-23 11:22 Push-Button Phones Ended a Unique Era / Rico, John [907] [RICO-1979-907] A NOTICEABLE CHANGE - Back in 1876 when Alexander Graham Bell announced he had been successful in transmitting sound through wires, little did he dream that his discovery would skyrocket into one of the largest industries in the world. Furthermore, Bell would be astounded at the figures which show the giant American Telephone and Telegraph Company reported net earnings for the first nine months of 1979 at $4.1 billions. That's something to talk about. Detailed record - Similar records 2011-12-23 11:22 Christmas - A Time for Remembering Friends / Rico, John [906] [RICO-1979-906] I fail to become excited over poetry, but the lines above are of interest because they were written in 1960 by a man who was not only familiar to me, but to the entire community. It was the late C.J. Uhl, extensive rancher and Vacaville councilman and mayor who wrote this bit of wisdom, and although written nearly 20 years ago, his thoughts could well fit into today's atmosphere. Detailed record - Similar records 2011-12-23 11:22 1980 - A Year of Demoralizing Frustration / Rico, John [905] [RICO-1981-905] 1980 - A YEAR TO FORGET - In this year of 1980, ringing out the old and ushering in the new simply does not have the gusto of years gone by. There seems to be a definite malaise disturbing too many people. Detailed record - Similar records 2011-12-23 11:22 Days When 'Fruit Tramps' Invaded Vacaville / Rico, John [904] [RICO-1981-904] WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? - Without becoming embroiled in the discussions now under way in Vacaville as to whether home building should be limited or unshackled from a myriad of restrictions, I want to go back into our history and review what has taken place so that residents here today can evaluate the trends of the past 90 years. Detailed record - Similar records 2011-05-28 17:16 The Simple Hoe Became a Victim of Progress / Rico, John [903] [RICO-1981-903] Bowed by the weight of centuries he leans Upon his hoe and gazes on the ground, The emptiness of ages in his face, And on his back the burden of the world. Detailed record - Similar records 2011-05-28 17:16 Vacaville, Fairfield, Suisun - People County / Rico, John [902] [RICO-1981-902] AND AWAY WE GROW- Years ago, in fact in 1910, when Vacaville residents traveled to San Francisco using old Highway 40, they needed to be alert in passing through Fairfield else they would have missed the few buildings there marking that hamlet. The population of Fairfield in 1910 was 834, and although Vacaville at that time was no booming metropolis, it claimed a population of 1177. Many Vacaville resident, seeking merchandise and services in those days gone by, would travel to nearby Suisun, which had more to offer than did Vacaville or Fairfield. But, look what's happened since those days. Detailed record - Similar records 2011-05-28 17:16 Familiar Names of Yesteryear Buried in History / Rico, John [901] [RICO-1981-901] LIKE FALLING LEAVES - Most of today's residents of Vacaville, being newcomers, would express an opinion that many of the store owners throughout the business community have been here for a long time. But, it is surprising, and a fact, that the mortality rate up and down those streets, has been exceptionally high. Detailed record - Similar records 2011-05-28 17:16 The 'Hostages' We Held In 1942 / Rico, John [900] [RICO-1981-900] REMEMBER THE HOSTAGES WE HELD? The American people were relieved and gratified at the release of 52 hostages held in Iran for 444 days. The events leading up to the captive actions and the eventual release, have been printed many times, and shown equally as many times on television. But let's take a trip back into 1942 and briefly review the roll the American government took in holding hostage several thousand innocent Japanese, 333 of them being residents of Vacaville, which included old men in wheel chairs, women, children and babes in arms. Detailed record - Similar records 2011-05-28 17:16 Revenue Bonds Win Vaca Preference / Rico, John [899] [RICO-1981-899] THE FRUGAL VACAVILLE TAXPAYERS - Despite the fact we continually hear about the burdens of taxation, it can be said taxpayers within the City of Vacaville have been extremely frugal in expenditures for improvements throughout the past 130 years. In fact the total sum in general obligation bonds issued for civic improvements ever since those days when the Vacas and Penas first set foot here, is less than $2 million dollars. Detailed record - Similar records 2011-05-28 17:16 Finding a Use for Two New Words / Rico, John [898] [RICO-1981-898] REWRITING THE DICTIONARY - In searching through the many dictionaries we have in the Reporter editorial department, I was a bit disturbed when the words "screwee" and "screwor" were not listed. Perhaps those new words can be found in a book of slang. I went to the trouble of purchasing S. I [...] Detailed record - Similar records [>> more]