Faces and Places
Vallejo resident, retired Navy veteran #StillServing
Vallejo resident and retired U.S. Navy Medical Corps Capt. Tom Snyder is being honored for his dedication to country and community in the VFW #StillServing campaign. The national Veterans of Foreign War #StillServing (vfw.org/stillserving) campaign recognizes veterans who continue to serve in their community after the military.
Snyder has dedicated his post-military life to the preservation and education of the history of those who went to sea in the name of our country. He co-founded the Society for the History of Navy Medicine to promote the research, scholarship and publication of all aspects of naval and maritime medical history. In addition he created the Albany Base Hospital No 33 Society, an alumni military group at Albany Medical College that offers camaraderie
and a place for veterans to swap sea stories and hear educational speakers.
Snyder also serves with the Naval Order of the United States, the oldest naval history organization in the country, and led its San Francisco Commandery of the Order. Finally, he is the surgeon of VFW Post 1123 in Vallejo.
Snyder says he is #StillServing because he is proud of his military service and the experiences it provided him and wants to give back to all the veterans who served this country in his own unique way.
Local students win national awards at Junior Theater Festival West
Local students won national awards and earned other recognition at the 2023 Junior Theater Festival West, which ran February 17-19 at UC Davis Health Pavilionin Sacramento.
Students representing Starbound Theatre in Vacaville
won a Freddie G Outstanding Production and On The Fringe Visual and Performing Arts in Vallejo student Coco Stats won a Freddie G Outstanding Individual Performance award.
As a Freddie G Outstanding Production recipient, the Starbound Theatre students performed for all festival attendees during the awards show.
Additionally, Starbound Theatre's Cassie Salvador and Sierra Meredith and On The Fringe Visual and Performing Arts' Molly Stats and Elisabeth Valentine were named Junior Theater Festival All-Stars, a select group of outstanding performers.
At the festival, each group performed 15 minutes of a Broadway Junior® musical for adjudicators.
On The Fringe Visual and Performing Arts presented selections from Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical JR. and Starbound Theatre presented selections from Seussical JR. actor Jade Jones (School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play, Round House Theatre); Broadway composer and lyricist Rob Rokicki (The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical), and Founder Bay Area Children's Theatre, Innovation and Creativity Speaker and Consultant Nina Meehan.
Said Meehan about On The Fringe Visual and Performing Arts, “This Matilda was filled with heart! The audience felt the passion of the young people as they `Revolted,' reminding all of us that young people have a strong and powerful voice in the world
to make positive change. This program is giving young people an opportunity to show their leadership, their heart, and their passion.”
Said Meehan about Starbound Theatre, “Starbound Theatre's Seussical JR. was a party from start to finish! This group showed us really unique character interpretations with strong soloists, backed by an energetic ensemble. Starbound is clearly delivering strong training for its young participants
along with instilling a clear love of storytelling.”
Added Rokicki, “Starboard's Seussical JR. was so much fun to watch! There was such strong ensemble work with lovely musicianship skills, along with clear and committed performances. This group showed us that their program back home fosters teamwork. Their program demonstrates how different ages and abilities can all come together to tell a pcompelling story.”