Small Town Exhibits a Community that Cares

DIXON , CA (MPG) - “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” (Aesop) Do people reach out with their random acts of kindness more when there is a crisis? It certainly seems to be happening in Dixon.

Miniature fruit and vegetable give-aways have been seen in front yards and near neighborhood corners including one on Hillview Drive, a street lined with upscale homes. Mary Norris opened a 'Community Sharing Stand' and offered free basil, potatoes, plums, lettuce, lemons, and onions, and apples from her garden and contributions from neighbors. The small stand had signs saying to take what you need; leave what you can. She even put out a market umbrella to protect the produce as well as the browsers as sun protection.

Norris recruited Eat Well Farms for a helping hand, who kindly agreed. She is assisted by her family to clean and restock daily.

That happy rush of warmth one feels after doing--or even witnessing an act of kindness--has physical benefits, too. Kindness stimulates the production of serotonin which heals wounds, calms, and increases happiness. In addition, blood pressure is affected because the body releases oxytocin, a 'cardio protective' hormone that releases another chemical called nitric oxide in the body that dilates blood vessels, thus reducing blood pressure. Oxytocin also increases self-esteem and optimism that contributes to our mood and overall well-being.

One Dixonite got a sweet thank you and gift basket from her neighbor just to thank her for being a nurse. The woman was deeply touched by the surprise act. There are also 'Booze Fairies' delivering booze (or blessing) baskets of goodies during the pandemic to lighten people's spirits in Dixon. This is a large group whose purpose is to "keep us all fed and hydrated and meet new friends," according to a Facebook post.

Often, people don't set out to do a specific act of kindness; they just know help is needed and they take action.

People like Mike Sandrock and Dan Mattingly. Anyone who gets their exercise walking down A Street near Pitt School Road knows about the avalanche of pine needles that has been nearly tripping people up.

You might have missed the bright red trucks with the dozen orange-garbed CalFire crew who, for 20 years, have worked to trim, weed, and clean the median strips on the larger avenues in town.

But, this week, blowing away those pine needles there were two men dressed in normal guy-on-the-weekend attire with tennis shoes, shorts, and T-shirts using gas-powered leaf blowers to clean the long block between South Lincoln and Pitt School Road.

I did a double-take and noticed they weren't teens and their muscles lifted the heavy blowers easily. I went around the block so I could park my car and see what they were up to but in that short amount of time, they had finished. The long, wide sidewalk was cleaned.

Not quick to take credit, Sandrock and Mattingly, volunteers from the Estates Drive neighborhood gave kudos to another neighbor, Carol Von Kaenel, who coordinated the effort. She made the contacts with the city crews to come pick up the rubbish if the neighbors did the clean-up.

"We were just tired of looking at it," Sandrock said at first. "There are only 16 homes in here and we all know each other, so we're pretty tight-knit." Then he said there are people who can't get up on their homes to clean the gutters from the stacks of pine needles so these two neighbors do what they can to help. The two men also voluntarily cleaned a block-long mass of weeds and debris out of a large water-flow area behind their homes.

"I feel good that it looks better but I'm angry the city can't do better," Mattingly said. The City normally would maintain via the fire crews but with a prolonged fire season, more fires, and the fire crews work popularity with other cities, they are not available. City Engineer Joe Leach is looking for solutions.

"I think it's awesome for people to take ownership. It's a great thing," Leach said.

In writing about the Chamber's search for a new Administrator, I was reminded of the act of kindness that keeps giving back each month for the Chamber of Commerce. Kevin Johnson, who leases the building from the City of Dixon, sub-leases to the chamber−the sole occupants since the building opened more than a decade ago. His charge? One dollar a month. No wonder he was chosen one of Dixon's Citizen of the Year.

In this pandemic when many businesses and services are financially challenged, having virtually no rent for a vital organization such as the Chamber, affords them to recruit a high quality professional which ultimately, will help support not only Dixon businesses but our May Fair Parade as well.

If any of our readers learn of another act of kindness they'd like to share, please call the Dixon newspaper office at (707) 678-8917.