Ridge Trail Service Day set Nov. 7

(Originally published in the 10/29/15 edition)

   The Benicia State Parks Association will be partnering with the sporting goods chain Recreational Equipment, Inc to host the annual Ridge Trail Service Day at the Benicia State Recreation Area on Saturday, Nov. 7.

   The Bay Area Ridge Trail is a multi-use trail that connects over 75 parks and open spaces along the San Francisco Bay. So far, over 350 miles have been completed with the plan of having the trail stretch 550 miles.

    However, since the trail spreads across public and private land, there is no single agency responsible for the overall maintenance with much of the work falling to volunteers, according to Bob Berman, the vice president of the Benicia State Parks Association. Since 2008, REI has partnered with the Bay Area Ridge Trail to host a Service Day at sites across the Bay Area, usually the first weekend in November. Volunteers will work to make improvements to the trail

   Berman says there are two projects that will be focused on in Benicia. The first is a split-rail fence adjacent to the Forest Deaner Native Botanic Plant Garden. 

   “The split-rail is in pretty bad shape,” he said. “ State Parks will be bringing over some sections of split-rails and will have to replace those that are in bad shape with new sections.”

   The other major project for the day will be to remove some of the weeds that have taken over the trail.

   “There’s been a lot of infestation of weeds like fennel,” Berman said. “It’s either on the trail or adjacent to the trail. We’re going to go through and try to clean out some of that fennel and remove it so the trail is more open.”

   The work will certainly be tough, but volunteers do not have to worry about going hungry. REI also has partnered with Chipotle Mexican Grill which will be providing a free lunch during the event. 

   “Volunteers get not just the opportunity to help out but also a token of appreciation in the form of a free lunch paid for and supported by Chipotle,” Berman said. 

   Berman says that the event is “truly a public/private partnership.”

   “This is a good example of a lot of different organizations working together to provide improvements for existing open space trails,” he said. 

   Above all, Berman says the event will be a good way for citizens to contribute to something valuable.

   “This is an opportunity for the public to go out and give back to the community and to help maintain an asset that’s being enjoyed by members of the public,” he said. “It’s a good time to get out there with your friends and neighbors and make new friends while doing hard but worthwhile work.”
   The REI Ridge Trail Service Day will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Benicia State Recreation Area. The event is free and open to the public. To learn more about what participants need to bring, visit RidgeTrail.org or contact Volunteer Manager Emily Bauska. 

   

   

   

Panther production of "Our Town" to debut next week

(Originally published in the 10/29/15 edition)

   The ubiquity of technology in today’s society is undeniable. Citizens young and old frequently check their phones for new messages and spend their time indoors watching the latest YouTube video. 

   It is because of this pervasiveness that Benicia High School drama teacher Christine Mani was influenced to select Thornton Wilder’s 1938 play “Our Town” as the first Panther Production of the 2015-2016 school year. It will have its first show Nov. 6.

   “I’ve seen how the use of technology, and cellphones in particular, has affected my students,” she said. “I’ve been teaching here for 17 years, and kids these days are so ingrained in their cellphones that they’re afraid to take chances and think outside the box. They don’t experience life in the way older generations would have. It’s interesting to remind them of what that’s like.”

   “Our Town” takes place between 1901 and 1913 in the fictional town of Grover’s Corner, N.H. The play is performed in a metatheatrical style with the main character being the Stage Manager who tells the audience about the town’s history and the lives of its citizens. Among the themes touched upon are death, alcoholism and social justice. “Our Town” won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in its first year and has generated numerous adaptations in film, radio, TV and even an opera.

   The play traditionally has been performed without a set or props, which Mani says this production will retain to an extent.

   “The set is very traditional,” she said. “We actually use chairs for many different reasons. They all have their own character to them. They don’t necessarily match. As minimized as it is, they each take on their own persona.”

   Mani also says that  instead of having physical props or playing prerecorded sound effects, the props will be done using Foley work, a technique where sound effects are done by hand.

   “It’s going to help fill the scene and the ambiance of the scene,” she said. 

   Mani also says she’s impressed with the cast, who have all shown strong enthusiasm for the play.

   “They’re phenomenally talented and they’re deep-thinking,” she said. “They walk in the door, and they ask me questions about the deeper aspects of their characters.”

   A standout moment for Mani happened during the callbacks, which occur after the standouts from the auditions are chosen to be determined for the final casting.

   “I had a girl literally cry in character at callback, and that was something I’ve never seen in 17 years,” she said. “She was able to get so deep in that character so quickly, understand the nuances of what was going on and and pull herself so deep that she could actually cry on stage at callback. It blew my mind.”

   Mani views “Our Town” as a chance for the actors to branch out.

   “The students I have tend to go to the goofy side sometimes, and I wanted to give them something that had a little more realism in it and was on the mature side of life,” she said. 

   Despite the play being written in 1938 and set in the early 20th century, Mani says “Our Town” still has value for today’s society, particularly its portrayal of parent-child relationships and small-town life.

   “It’s very parallel to Benicia’s own small-town life,” she said. 

   Ultimately, Mani hopes that the audience gains the same thing her cast has: an awareness of their own technological overuse. 

   “I had a student just the other day say ‘I’ve been consciously putting my cellphone down. When I go to pick it up and I have that urge, I have been consciously making that effort to abstain,’” she said. “It is nice to let one’s mind think thoughts. You can actually enjoy life without technology.”

   “Our Town” will be performed  Friday, Nov. 6 and Saturday, Nov. 7 and Nov.13-14 at 7 p.m. Sunadays, Nov. 8 and 15 at 2 p.m. All performances will be in Performing Arts Building at Benicia High School, located at 1101 Military West. Tickets are $14 for adults and $8 for students with ID and children. For more ticket information, visit BeniciaHighPerformingArts.org. 

Bookshop Benicia to host author event for Michael Cooper's "The Rabbi Knight"

(Originally published in the 10/27/15 edition)

   Bookshop Benicia will be hosting another Author Event, Nov. 15, with special guest Michael Cooper. He will be promoting his new historical fiction thriller “The Rabbi’s Knight.”

   “The Rabbi’s Knight” is set in Israel in 1290, right as the Crusades are winding down. The protagonist, Knight Templar Jonathan St. Clair, is stationed in the port city of Acre where he comes across a cryptic ancient scroll. After he learns that the inscription holds the key to unlock the secrets of Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, St. Clair works to learn Kabbalah- especially as the only person who can decipher it is being targeted for assassination.

   Currently a resident of Lafayette, Cooper has had a longtime connection with Israel, having emigrated there in 1966- the year before the Six-Day War that resulted in hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fleeing Israel- and continuing to live in the region for the next 11 years.

   “It was a country that was very different than anything i’d experienced in the United States,” he said. “At the time before the technology explosion worldwide incorporated into Israel, it was a very pastoral country”

   Cooper also recalled the excitement of being able to become immersed in Hebrew.

   “I had always been exposed to attempts to learn Hebrew without really being able to carry on conversations,” he said. “I was going to be able to immerse myself in the language and the culture in a wonderful country.”

   Cooper graduated from the Tel Aviv University Medical School and subsequently returned to the U.S., where he worked at Kaiser Permanente in Vallejo for 30 years as a consultant for children in the North Bay and East Bay. He currently works part time at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, where he says he still sees patients from the Benicia/Vallejo area.

   In the mid ‘90s, he said, two events inspired him to start writing.

   “I developed a desire to express myself beyond medical records and peer-reviewed journal articles,” he said. “Also, the assassination of  (Israeli Prime Minister) Yitzhak Rabin in 1995 struck me very hard, as it did for many people in regards to what it meant for the peace process. I wanted to figure out a way to have some catharsis and expression in regards to that without being too literal.” 

   Cooper published his first novel, “Foxes in the Vineyard,” in 2011. The book tells the story of a Boston University professor named Evan Sinclair who travels to Palestine on the eve of the Arab-Israeli War in 1948 to find his missing father. The book won the Grand Prize in the 2011 Indie Publishing Contest.

   Cooper said that “The Rabbi’s Knight” is actually a prequel to “Foxes in the Vineyard.” Jonathan St. Clair is even an ancestor of Evan St. Clair. 

   “I wanted to create this historical fiction narrative that begins with ‘The Rabbi’s Knight’ and ends with ‘Foxes in the Vineyard,’” he said. 

   Bookshop Benicia owner Christine Mayall said that after having hosted an Author Event with Cooper in 2012, he approached the store again after finishing his latest book.

   “He always said another book was coming, and he finally got it finished,” she said. “He told us, and we were glad to host him again.”

   Mayall said she was impressed by the historical aspect of his books.

   “He pulls in a lot of different elements and really does his research, makes it very interesting,” she said. “They’re very exciting tales.”

   Cooper is working on a third book that centers around Palestine in World War I in the waning years of the Ottoman Empire. He says the book, tentatively titled “Sins of the Father,” will complete the Israeli historical fiction trilogy.

   In addition to being a good read, Cooper also hopes “The Rabbi’s Knight” can provide some insight on the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the Middle East.

   “Ultimately, I would hope that putting forth these examples of coexistence between Muslims, Jews and Christians would lead to a sense that there has to be another way apart from listening to the extreme edges of the conflict,” he said. “That conversation has to take place for people who plan to bridge the gap, and it’s that yearning and hope that I would love the reader to come away with the idea that there can be an end to the violence and a reconciliation of peace.”

   The Author’s Event with Michael Cooper will take place at 4 p.m., Nov. 15, at Bookshop Benicia, located at 636 First Street. 

Depot may become national historic site

(Originally published in the 10/25/15 edition)

   The Southern Pacific Train Depot, located at the end of First Street, has been many things over the years: a train station, a haunted house and the home of Benicia Main Street. In a few months, it could be something else: a national historic landmark.

   The Benicia Historical Society is submitting an application for the building at 930 First Street to be recognized by the National Register of Historic Places, an official list of historic places across America that are deemed worthy of preservation. On Thursday night, the Historic Preservation Review Commission voted to approve the application, which means it will go through another few rounds before it can officially be added to the list.

   If selected, the Depot would share a list with over 90,000 buildings across the country. Benicia currently has nine sites on the Register: the Benicia Arsenal, the Benicia Capitol State Historic Park, Crooks Mansion, the Joseph Fischer House, the Old Masonic Hall, the Stamboul whaling bark site, the Von Pfizer General Store, the USCGC Storis and the Carr House on East D Street which was demolished in 2000.

   The Depot itself has a long history. According to Bonnie Silveria, the president of the Benicia Historical Society, the structure was built in Banta in the 1800s. In 1903, it was shipped over to Benicia where it served as a railroad depot for the Southern Pacific Railroad until 1930.

   “At that time, it came to the end of First Street out there by the pier, and then the railroad trains would be put on a ferry across to Port Costa,” Silveria said. 

   The building remained operational until 1958 as the home for the family of a station agent. 

   “They did bring trains down back when there was still industry on First Street,” Silveria said. “When I was a young girl, it was where you went to send a telegram.”

   The building was purchased by the city in 1975. By the late ‘90s, the building was in disarray and was frequently surrounded by floods. The city made an effort to restore the building, which was completed in 2001. It now houses the Benicia Main Street program with a gift shop and See’s Candies. 

   Once a building is placed on the Register, restrictions are put in place over what can be done to it.

   “If someone came in and bought it, they couldn’t tear it down or do improvements that aren’t within the improvements that can be done to a historic building,” Silveria said.

   The Depot will then need to be approved by Benicia’s Parks and Community Services department and then City Council. Afterwards, the application will be submitted to Sacramento and then Washington, D.C. for national approval. 

   “I would be very surprised if we didn’t make it,” Silveria said. “But then again, I’ve been surprised before.”

Pet adoptions expand to two days for Pups 'N' Purrz event

   Pups ’N’ Purrz will be holding its 3rd annual Adoption Day By the Bay, where people can pick up a new dog or cat from various animal rescue agencies at the store. The difference this year is that there will be more days to take a furry friend home.

   In past years, the event had been limited to just one day. James Long, the owner of Pups ’N’ Purrz says this caused spatial problems for the store.

   “There are so many groups that want to come out and support the community,” he said. “I realized that last year when I had two groups in front, one group that was next to the garden and another group that was in the back parking lot outside.”

   Long talked to his wife, Karen Baltier-Long, about what they should do to better accommodate the groups.

   “She said ‘When you do it this year, let’s just do a weekend event on Saturday and Sunday,’” Long said.

   The days may have changed, but the core of the event is the same as the previous two years: giving older animals a chance to find new homes by partnering with different groups.

   Long says he was inspired by Dogs Day By the Bay, an event held by the city in 2010 and 2011 at the green by the downtown waterfront.

   “For some reason, they decided not to do it anymore, so I took that idea and decided to do Adoption Day By the Bay,” he said.

   In 2013, Long got into contact with various Bay Area adoption agencies about the possibility of adopting animals out of his store.

   “I said ‘This is a dog friendly town. Would you be willing to come to the store and do either a monthly or bi-monthly adoption event in front of my store?’” he said. “They came by to check out what it was like on weekends, and they noticed there were a lot of people walking up and down the street, so I’ve been working with a lot of the rescue groups ever since.”

   This year, Pups ’N’ Purrz will be partnering with three dog and cat rescue foundations: Umbrella of Hope out of Pittsburg, CARES out of Vallejo and Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation out of Walnut Creek.

   “It’s a thank you to the community and rescue groups for coming out and supporting my store,” he said. 

   The dogs sold are mostly small or medium breeds and generally tend to be older. Long himself happens to own three senior chihuahuas: Molly, 11; Layla, 9; and Margo, 13. 

   “People don’t want to adopt senior dogs because of their age and health,” he said. 

   Therefore, Long said he is a firm believer in helping senior dogs find homes.

   Ultimately, Long believes that pets finding homes will not only benefit the animals but also their new owners.

   “It’s like a companion,” he said. “You go to work, you come home, there’s somebody to greet you at the door and give you all the love and support.”

   Adoption by the Bay will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7 and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 8 at Pups ’N’ Purrz, located at 422 First St. Umbrella of Hope will be adopting out cats and dogs in the store from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. that Saturday, and CARES will be there from 2 to 5 p.m. ARF will be at the store from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday with a mobile van containing smaller dogs, adult cats and kittens. People who adopt a dog or cat on those days will get a 10 percent discount off their first purchase.

City Council approves Benicia Water Reuse amendment

   After some discussion, City Council voted unanimously to approve an amendment regarding Benicia’s Water Reuse Project at its regular meeting Tuesday.

   On Aug. 18, City Council approved an agreement with engineering consulting firm Brown and Caldwell to conduct a feasibility study for Benicia’s Water Reuse Project. The project aims to reduce imported water by recycling up to 1.9 million gallons per day into Valero’s cooling towers.

   After approval of the agreement, the Council asked for clarification on five issues: defining the critical milestones for whether to proceed with the project, considering options other than Valero, the financial feasibility of the project, conducting prior outreach before going over the California Environmental Quality Act work and the environmental review scope of work. 

   In a Power Point presentation to the Council on Tuesday, Water Quality Supervisor Dan Jackson took to the floor to answer these questions. He identified the milestones of the project as well as the scheduled dates of when they will be completed. The scope of service would be decided at that night’s meeting, the city and Valero will decide if the alternative is feasible in March, the feasibility study will be completed in June, Valero will decide if the project will be supported in Fall 2016, a grant application will be submitted to the State Water Resources Control Board in December 2016 and it will be approved in early 2017.

   Under one possible scenario, Jackson said the total annual cost would be $1.4 million with the total capital cost being $27 million. 

   He also noted that without the Water Reuse project, the city imports 8 million gallons of water over the course of a year from the State Water Project and Solano Project. Half of it is potable water that is used outdoors and indoors, and the other half is raw water that goes to cooling towers and boilers or other uses at the Valero Benicia Refinery. The indoor water then is discharged into the Carquinez Strait after being treated by state standards, Jackson said.

   However, in a future drought under the Water Reuse Project, the indoor water will be recycled into the cooling towers, and the outdoor water will be reduced. 

   Jackson also noted that if Valero is unable to use all 1.9 million gallons, city staff will look at the top five users in the Industrial Park, and a public workshop will be held in December or January. 

   Councilmember Tom Campbell asked what the costs would be for the second, third and fourth steps of the project before the grant application.

   “By the time we get to that milestone, we probably will have spent a little more than half of 660,000,” Jackson said. “It’s probably more than that.”

   Campbell then asked if the ballpark figure was around $400,000. Jackson assured that it was probably a little more than that, but it wasn’t a definite amount.

   “Rather than answer it off the top of my head in a City Council meeting, we could analyze that more specifically and get back to you on that,” he said.

   City Manager Brad Kilger agreed that they’d need to come back with a more specific number.

   “When we originally brought this to you, we did discuss that this was a bit of an investment,” he said. “It was not a guarantee, and one of the reasons I was recommending it is we were not using general fund money. Every dollar is important, but this was coming out of wastewater capacity fees, and this is consistent with that.”

   Councilmember Alan Schwartzman asked if there would be any additional payments from Valero.

   “No,” Jackson responded. “This model was done solely with the city financing it through grants and loans and then recovering those costs at the time by charging the customer.”

   The Council determined that the scope of service was acceptable. The next step will be for the city and Valero to see if the project is feasible and then see if the city can meet the water quality criteria.

   In other business, the Council voted unanimously to read an amendment allowing the Community Sustainability Commission to engage in fundraising activities. 

Foundation hosts Halloween dance to establish Benicia teen center

(Originally published in the 10/21/15 edition)

    On Halloween night, the Kyle Hyland Foundation for Teen Support will be holding a teen dance party. All proceeds from the event will go to developing a local teen center named after Kyle Hyland, the Benicia High junior who took his life in December.

   The event is another step to raise money for a center where teens can not only hang out but also provide a place to receive help from peers and counselors with any stress or anxiety issues they are dealing with. Hyland’s mother, Barbara Gervase, said she had the idea to set up a foundation in her son’s name as she was planning for his services shortly after his untimely death.

   “It was a pretty quick thought because of everything that had gone on for him in his years as a teenager,” she said. 

   One of the main goals of the Kyle Hyland Foundation has been to promote awareness of suicide rates among teens. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the second largest cause of death for those between the ages of 15 and 34. A 2013-2014 California Healthy Kids Survey showed that 21 to 22 percent of 9th and 11th graders at Benicia High School answered “Yes” to the question of whether they had seriously considered suicide in the last 12 months. Benicia designated the week of Sept. 7-13 as National Suicide Week.

   Gervase set up the site KyleHyland.com to be a one-stop resource on statistics pertaining to mental health and suicide awareness.

   “There’s a lot of confusion about suicide prevention, mental health awareness and all the stress and problems our teenagers face on a daily basis,” she said. “If we can educate the greater community on those issues, it will only help the kids be able to thrive.”

   To help bring more emotional support to Benicia’s teens, Gervase’s goal is to open a teen center in her son’s name with plenty of activities geared toward high schoolers. Gervase says her vision for the center is a place where teens can play table tennis or pool, watch movies, play video games, perform music and create art, among other things. She feels that the center would provide a good place for teens to hang out, something she feels Benicia is lacking.

   “We have things for young kids, adults and senior citizens, but we don’t really have a whole lot for teenagers to do, especially those who don’t drive” she said. “There’s no movie theaters or mall. Kyle would frequently say ‘I can’t wait to get out of Benicia because there’s just nothing to do here.’ I hear that from a lot of other kids as well.”

   Gervase feels that having a teen center would be a good way to get teens off the street and have a place to destress and not feel pressured by school work. Additionally, she feels the center would provide support for troubled teens and give them people to talk to.

   “We think it’s important that kids have contact with caring adults in the community,” she said. “There’s a problem with connectivity at the high school, and it’s important for kids to know that adults care about them.”

   The center will provide counseling and mentoring programs to support teens. Gervase also says that there are plans to have educational workshops on mental health awareness, suicide prevention, child development and coping with stress.

   Gervase is still looking for a space to hold the center, which she would ideally like to be between 2,000 and 2,500 square feet. The closest she’s found has been the in the Benicia Youth Center on West K Street, next to the James Lemos Pool. 

   “They have 1,000 square feet that are being used as a storage room on the bottom floor,” she said. “It’s enough to get us started, but ultimately we’re going to need a bigger space than that.”

   To help raise funds for the center, Gervase started a crowdfunding campaign on YouCaring.com. As of press time, the project has raised over $17,000 online. Gervase says she has also received additional donations from local restaurants and the Benicia High P.E. department.

   Additionally, Gervase will also be holding a Halloween benefit dance party intended strictly for teens.

   “I was looking at availability at the Clock Tower, and the only night that was available was Halloween on Saturday night,” she said. “We thought it would be a good way to give back to the kids and give them a safe place to stay together and have fun.”

   The event will feature a performance by local indie rock band Echoes of Absence from 8 to 9 p.m. Afterwards, there will be a DJ spinning records from 9 to 11 p.m. There will also be a lip sync contest with a $50 iTunes gift card prize, photo booth, silent auction and lounge area where teens can watch black and white horror movies. All proceeds will benefit the Kyle Hyland Foundation for Teen Support.

   Gervase says her main message is for kids to feel supported.

   “I don’t want anyone to ever have to suffer the way we have with the loss of a child,” she said. “You’ve got to watch your kids and make sure they’re not stressed and they’re not suffering from anxiety. If they are, you need to get them the help that they need.”

   The Halloween Dance Party will be held from 8 to 11 p.m., Oct. 31 at the Clock Tower, located at 1189 Washington St. The event is open to Benicia High and Liberty High students and their guests between the ages of 13 and 19. Tickets are $10 per person and available at KyleHyland.com through Oct. 28. For more information on the Kyle Hyland Foundation, suicide prevention and the teen center, go to KyleHyland.com. 

   

   

Super Fright Night showcases Bay Area championship teams, local artistry

(Originally published in the 10/20/15 edition)

   Ever wanted to see a Vince Lombardi trophy in person? Solano County football fans can now rejoice.

   In honor of Super Bowl 50 being held at Levi’s Stadium on Feb. 7, Chevron is currently touring the Bay Area with its mobile exhibition “The 50 Tour: Champions of the Bay,” which will present the history of the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders alongside the combined eight Lombardi trophies won by both teams- five by the 49ers and three by the Raiders, including one from when the team played in Los Angeles. 

   The exhibit has had stops at Mountain View’s Art and Wine Festival, San Jose State University and Sonoma’s Harvest Fair. The tour will stop in Vallejo on Oct. 30 and Oct. 31.

   Given those dates, don’t expect just an exhibit.

   To coincide with the exhibit, the city of Vallejo will be hosting Super Fright Night on the Waterfront. In addition to displaying the trophies, Vallejo will be celebrating its multicultural and artistic community with a six-hour gala featuring rides, music, dancing, arts and crafts and a whole lot more. 

   The event will be produced by Frank Malifrando, the producer of the city’s Mad Hatter Holiday Festival and annual tree lighting. According to him, the city was approached by Chevron to showcase the Super 50 exhibit in Vallejo.

   “The dates available that they selected were Oct. 30 and 31,” Malifrando said. “At that time, we had a plan to have the exhibit on the Waterfront on those two dates.”

   After meeting with committee officials, it was determined that Vallejo would have to put on something big.

  “I had suggested that since it’s going to be aired on all the NFL channels, we need to showcase what our city is all about,” Malifrando said. 

   And thus, Super Fright Night was born, giving Vallejo citizens the opportunity to see the Lombardi trophies up close and have a fun time.

   “We manufactured the entire event around this exhibit,” Malifrando said. 

   The majority of funding for the event came from Malifrando, but funds have also come in from sponsors like Team Chevrolet and Vallejo’s fire department union. 

   “Businesses are coming forward to help offset the cost of putting it on,” Malifrando said. “The city is doing what they can to help as well, so this is a collaborative effort.”

   From 2:30 to 5:30, the event will be primarily cultural, to represent Day of the Dead as well as Vallejo’s diverse community. Attractions will include an interactive exhibit honoring Frida Kahlo, Mexican folk dancing and food trucks representing Vallejo’s diverse population, with offerings ranging from Mexican food to Filipino food to American hot dog stands. 

   Starting at 5:30, there will be a flash mob dance set to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” From there, the event will take a turn for the artistic. West African drummers and dancers as well as Cuban salsa dancers will perform at 6 alongside fire dancers. There will also be flame-shooting metallic sculptures set up by the Flaming Lotus Girls, an art collective whose works have been featured at Burning Man and the Coachella Valley Arts and Music Festival. The event will culminate with a laser light show at 7 that lasts for the rest of the evening. There will also be pony and train rides throughout the day as well as basketball courts.

   Malifrando says he expects attendance to be huge, especially with the trophies as well as Trunk or Treat happening in the area on Saturday. 

   “I think we’re going to get a turnout of 1,000, if not up to 10,000,” he said. “Vallejo is a very strong, supporting community. When we had the Giants’ World Series trophy, we had over 2,500 lined up without an event just to be photographed with the trophy. This is the eight Lombardi trophies, so we expect a big turnout.”

   Super Fright Night will take place from 2:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 30 and 31 at the Vallejo Waterfront, located on 289 Mare Island Way. For more information, visit HatterVallejo.com.

Scrutiny for county transit proposal

(Originally appeared in the 9/13/15 edition)

   A presentation by Solano Transportation Authority’s planning director updating Solano’s Comprehensive Transportation Plan prompted much discussion and drew plenty of concerns during a Planning Commission meeting Thursday.

   According to a report by Principal Planner Amy Million, the current CTP was adopted in 2005 to plan and prioritize the transportation needs of Solano County through the year 2030. Examples of completed projects in Benicia include the Rose Drive overdressing of Interstate 780, a bike path on the Benicia-Martinez bridge and pedestrian improvements to Industrial Park.

   STA Planning Director Bob McCauley delivered a Power Point presentation to the Planning Commission on the updated plan- called CTP 2040- that will be driven largely by the input of Benicia residents. 

   “What we do is really what you do,” McCauley said. “It’s very grassroots driven, as well as some state and federal regulations we have to deal with.”

   Among the projects that are included in CTP 2040 are the installation of traffic signals at the I-680 and Lake Herman Road intersection, widening Columbus Parkway from two to four lanes from I-780 to Vallejo’s city limits and constructing continuous bicycle and sidewalk facilities from the Benicia-Martinez Bridge to the Arsenal, according to the report.

   The project prompted a lot of questions from the planning commission board. Commissioner George Oakes asked about the scope of the I-680/Lake Herman Road interchange issue.

   “That interchange is reaching a traffic volume that’s so high that we need to have more signalization there to up the flow,” Public Works Director Graham Wadsworth said.

   Commissioner Elizabeth Radtke shared two concerns with the bike and walkway paths that connect to the Carquinez Bridge. One was with the route from the Benicia city limits to the north end of the bridge, and the other was with the section from downtown Martinez to the south end of the bridge.

   “You’re having to share the road with gas trucks and large vehicles, and at the end of the day you want to go home,” she said. 

   Radtke also mentioned the Benicia Bridge route to Fairfield from I-680, citing the lack of shoulder on that road. McCauley said it was not a priority, but it was important to bring up.

   Commissioner Donald Dean asked about the order of the projects on the list.

   “Is this a priority list or is this the entire list, and it’s not organized in any particular fashion?” he asked.

   “It’s not a prioritized list, but I think that city staff has identified two or three things on the list they say should be priorities,” McCauley said.

   He also noted that Benicia priorities would be articulated by the mayor.

   In keeping with the theme of citizen input, residents can visit solano2040.org to share their views fill out a survey listing their priorities.

   In other business, the commission voted unanimously to adopt new rules and procedures for public meetings. 

   

School board discusses merits of proposed BHS stadium design

  (Originally published in the 10/18/15 edition)

 A presentation on a proposed new design for the upper stadium at Benicia High School prompted much discussion and disagreement at the Benicia Unified School District’s board meeting Thursday night.

   The renovated stadium is another project to be funded through Measure S funds. Measure S was approved by voters in June 2014 to provide $49.6 million in bond funding to be spent on facilities at BUSD schools. Projects have included renovated elementary school playgrounds and the repainting of Benicia High School.

   To help the stadium reach its goal, construction will be done by Verde Design out of Santa Clara. That company’s owner, Derek McKee, delivered a presentation on what the new upper field would look like.

   The remodeled stadium would feature an all-weather track, bleachers that would fit up to 3,300 people instead of the current 1,960 and a modern sign welcoming “Panthers.” The total cost would be over $8.9 million. If approved, the construction would take place between June and October, 2016, with the overall completion scheduled for Oct. 24 of that year.

   One design element that hadn’t been decided on was the choice to use natural or synthetic turf. Ralph Caputo of the construction management service RGM & Associates gave a presentation on the advantages and disadvantages of each.

   The overall presentation sparked a healthy amount of debate from board members and citizens alike. Trustee Peter Morgan raised concerns about graduation chairs on the new footing.

   “Let’s just include chairs in the costs so we can pay for it through the bond money versus realizing that we need to buy other stuff to use it,” he said.

   Morgan also expressed concern about the safety of synthetic turf, noting that when women play soccer on synthetic turf, they suffer a far higher rate of injuries than men who play on natural turf.

   “Our first obligation is not to make the field available for play,” he said, “The first and foremost obligation is the safety of these children.”

   Trustee Gary Wing assured that they would be using natural rubber and not shredded tires for the synthetic turf.

   “We need a field that isn’t half dirt by the second game of the season,” he said

   Trustee Andre Stewart questioned why the field was receiving the highest priority over other aging sports facilities on campus. 

  “We’re looking at the football field, but I know the basketball court is not padded and we’ve talked in the past about tennis courts,” he said. “Is there a way to do all this at one time?”

   Chief Business Official Tim Rahill said that Geotech will be doing soil samples around the tennis courts and gym where the basketball court is at some point.

   “At some point we’re going to address those areas,” he said. “The magnitude of the upper track and field is greater.”

   Mary Beyer, a Benicia resident whose children are both student athletes, took to the podium to  voice her concerns about the stadium renovation making up a more sizable portion of the bond than necessary. 

   “There has to be some money for the school and education and not just a stadium,” she said. “That is not what I agreed to when I voted yes for the bond.”

   Craig Holden, Benicia High’s athletic director and head football coach, shared others’ views that the gym floor and tennis courts were in need of repair, but he also felt the stadium was the showcase project at the moment.

   “I want to make sure that things are done right,” he said. “If we jump out there and do 14 different projects at one time, then it slows everything down and I have no place to put those different sports programs. As athletic director, I’m looking at the big picture.”

   The item will be brought before the board again at the Nov. 5 meeting, where it will be voted on.

   In other business, the four principals of Benicia’s elementary schools presented their Single Plan for Student Achievement goals which were unanimously approved by the board.

Chamber hosts Halloween smash

  (Originally published in the 10/18/15 edition) 

 As Oct. 31 draws closer, Benicia will have no shortage of Halloween parties and events, both for kids and adults. Those wishing to celebrate in the historic part of Benicia will have a place to go.

   Benicia Chamber of Commerce will be holding its annual Halloween Party, Dinner, Auction & Costume Contest at the Clock Tower. As the name implies, this event will have all sorts of activities, including a gourmet pasta buffet provided by Alex’s Catering, a no-host bar and a live and silent auction.

   There will also be a contest. Cash prizes will be awarded to the winners in the categories of Best Couple or Group, Most Glamorous, Most Comical, Scariest and Most Original. 

   New this year will be a pumpkin contest in which participants will bring in their own carved or decorated pumpkins. Attendees will vote for their favorite Jack-O-Lantern to win a prize.

   “There’s so many talented and creative people in Benicia that we thought it might be fun if people brought in their pumpkins and showed them off,” Stephanie Christiansen, the president and CEO of Benicia Chamber of Commerce, said.

   The event is open to anyone 21 and older, and Christiansen believes the night will provide hours of fun with “creative costumes, good food and good vibes.”

   The Halloween Party will be held from 6 to 10:30 p.m., Oct. 30 at the Clock Tower, located at 1189 Washington St. Tickets are $40 per adult and will not be sold at the door. They can be obtained by visiting the Chamber of Commerce on 601 First St. or by calling the organization at 745-2120. All proceeds will go to the Chamber of Commerce.

   

Why make art? Artists respond in new exhibit

(Originally published in the 10/14/15 edition)

   Why do artists make art? It’s a simple question, but every artist has their own take on why they pursue art for a living. This premise is the focus of Arts Benicia’s newest exhibition “Why Make Art: Twenty-Five Benicia Artists Respond.”

   The exhibit can be viewed at 991 Tyler Street starting today with an opening reception to be held on Saturday. Longtime Benicia photographer and event co-curator Hedi Desuyo posed the question “Why make art?” to 25 local artists. They responded with short statements which will be on display next to their works of art and will be accompanied with portraits taken by Desuyo.

   Desuyo says the project began a few years ago when she started taking portraits of the artists. From there, she had the idea to do an exhibit.

   “I wanted the exhibit to be more than just artists’ portraits,” she said. “I wanted some of the artists’ work, but I also wanted a statement on why they make art.”

   In her more than 30 years with Arts Benicia, Desuyo has seen plenty of artists come through, and she has felt they’ve had stories to tell.

   “Over the years, you see people who have always been here and newcomers,” she said. “You see their work, but you say ‘Who are they? Why are they using this particular subject matter?’ So I started posing that question ‘Why do you make art?’”

   Desuyo began emailing local artists with the titular question, and they all responded with their own reasons. Desuyo says she is impressed with the responses she’s gotten.

   “You think you know people, but you don’t know what’s inside with a lot of them,” she said. “For me, that’s one of the most rewarding parts.”

    The featured artists include Sam Morse, Pam Dixon, Manuel Neri, Mernie Buchanan and over 20 other Benicia artists. Desuyo says that the artists represented are very passionate about their work.

   “There are people who see art more as an escape or a hobby, but the people here are all serious about it,” she said.

   The artists took liberties in how they chose to answer the question. Some were only a sentence long, others were longer and one response by Lee Michael Altman was written in the form of a poem. 

   The responses also included some humor. One statement by Anthony Riggs begins “I paint because I am possessed. I hate paint. It’s sticky. It’s difficult to control. I get it in my hair. Paint is colored mud.”

   Riggs’s statement goes on to say how in spite of all this, he loves to paint and will do it again each day.

   “They’re all statements from the heart,” Desuyo said.

    The featured artworks include paintings, sculptures and even more abstract work like a stone hanging by fish hooks from a piece of wood, which was designed by Mike Kendall. 

   Desuyo says she hopes the exhibit gives visitors a chance to see what art making is all about. 

   “To me, every brush stroke is a decision,” she said. “There’s the decision of ‘What color am I putting here?’ or ‘Which direction is the brush going to go?’ I think that’s really fascinating.”

   “Why Make Art” will be on display at  Arts Benicia Suite No. 114, located at 991 Tyler St., until Sunday, Nov. 15. An opening reception will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17. The gallery is open from noon to 5 p.m. on Wednesday through Sunday.

   

Reception to honor work of local artist

(Originally published in the 10/9/15 edition)

    Local artist Rolando Barrero will be hosting a reception for his latest paintings on Saturday. The paintings will continue to be shown for the rest of the month.

   Barrero has been painting watercolor portraits for over two decades, picking up several awards along the way. Most recently, he took second place in the Great Petaluma Paint Out competition on Sept. 26 for his painting “Across the Bridge.” Back in April, he won first place at the American Arts Foundation’s 23rd Annual Art Extravaganza for “Getting Ready,” a watercolor portrait of a sailboat being hoisted into the Berkeley Marina.

   Barrero has become known for his paintings of street scenes and landmarks, which he feels have a simple charm to them.

   “I like to capture the essence of a place and the beauty of its surrounding environment,” he said.

   Many of his paintings have been of places in the Bay Area, including San Francisco, Berkeley and Alameda. A lot of these paintings have been of Benicia, where he’s managed to capture the Farmer’s Market, the Yacht Club and the Capitol building with his brush and canvas.

   “I like Benicia because it’s very historical,” he said. “Benicia’s also very supportive of the arts. They’re good people, and I’m glad to know a lot of them.”

   He noted that most of his paintings of Benicia have sold.

   Additionally, Barrero has done a lot of paintings and photographs in Europe, including places like Rome, Venice and Greece. Of these, Barrero says Venice is his favorite place.

   “It’s the only place in the world where when you step on the bridge, you have four sides to paint,” he said. “I’ve been all over the world, but Venice is the most pictorial.” 

   Barrero says his favorite painting was one he did of the Southern Pacific Train Depot at the end of First Street, but it has since sold.

   At his reception Saturday, Barrero will be featuring his newest paintings in an exhibit called “Street Scenes and Travel Sketches.” Among the newer Benicia paintings to be featured are those of the National Defense Reserve Fleet off the Carquinez and the gazebo in City Park. Additionally, he will be raffling off prints of his works.

   The reception will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturday at Plein Air Gallery to coincide with the Benicia Art Walk’s Day of the Dead event. The gallery is located at 307 First Street, and the event is free to the public. Barrero’s paintings will be on display until Nov. 1.

"Two Trains Running" brings race relations to the stage

(Originally published in the 10/9/15 edition. A correction was made regarding the start time for the champagne gala)

   “Two Trains Running”- a tale of race relations and small-business ownership- will be coming to Benicia Old Town Theatre next week.

   August Wilson’s play explores the changing attitudes of race in the late ’60s. It is set in a diner Pittsburgh’s mostly African-American Hill District neighborhood in 1969, one year after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. The characters who frequent the diner include a recently released prisoner, a retired house painter and a man who suffers from mental retardation.

   Dyanne Vojvoda, a publicist with Benicia Old Town Theatre Group, said the board had seen the play at Oregon’s Shakespeare Festival in 2013 and loved it.
   “Out of the 11 shows we saw, this one was unbelievably wonderful, she said.
   The play will be directed by Terrence Tyrie Ivory, a professor at Contra Costa College. Additionally, Vojvoda has spoken very warmly about the cast.

   “This is a wonderful cast,” she said. “They are committed to the project, and they love working with the director.”

   Although the play centers around African-American characters, Vojvoda says the themes can be universal to anybody.
   “Their issues are widespread,” she said. “People experience the same things they experience.”

   She also praised the play for its blend of drama and comedy.

   In addition to race relations, the play also tackles the livelihood of small business. 

   “Part of the story is that the diner is being bought by bigger real estate developers,” Volunteer Karen Lousa said. “This is a very contemporary theme.”

   Vojvoda says she hopes the play triggers a sense of nostalgia for people who lived in the era.
   “Audience members will be sure to experience a little bit of history as well as a little memory of their past,” she said. “We have a lot of messages that talk about generations, political movements and important issues.”

   “Two Trains Running” opens with a champagne gala at 8 p.m., Oct. 16. The event will be catered by First Street Cafe. From there, the play will be performed on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. until Nov. 7. All shows will be performed at the Historic B.D.E.S. Hall on West J Street. Tickets are available at beniciaoldtowntheatregroup.com. There will also be a special show and dinner deal from Nine O Seven Grill for $35.

Arbor Day event plants trees to help preserve Benicia's natural habitat

(Originally published in the 10/13/15 edition. Valerie Roberts Gray also contributed to this story.)

   Arbor Day is a chance to get your hands in the dirt, commune with nature and help plant trees that can withstand California’s ongoing drought conditions. 

   While traditionally held in April, Benicia’s annual Arbor Day event takes place this Sunday, Oct. 18.Volunteers from throughout the community are invited to join in helping plant native trees at the Benicia State Recreation Area from 9 a.m. to noon.

   The event is typically held in October in Benicia to coincide with the Native Plant Society’s annual sale, according to Tina Marchetti, the executive director of Benicia Tree Foundation.

   So far in 2015, the Benicia Tree Foundation has planted 480 trees. According to Marchetti, the organization plans to plant another 25 trees on Saturday and another 200 by the end of the year, bringing the total number of trees planted to 705.

   The trees will mostly be coast live oaks and California buckeyes, according to Marchetti. This includes over 100 oaks that will be planted at Lake Herman.

   The trees were grown from locally collected seed and will survive on rainwater once the rain season starts.

   Marchetti believes Arbor Day is an important holiday to celebrate because trees are vital to life, especially in Benicia.

   “Trees are critically important to the health and happiness of the citizens of Benicia especially when you consider the refineries and freeways,” she said. “They also create shade, habitat for wildlife and store stormwater, which is critical for a time of drought.”

   Events include communal tree planting, exhibitions, fairs, music performances and open days in garden centers. Arbor Day awards are also presented in communities, schools, and organizations throughout the United States.

   All ages are welcome to attend the event, and according to Marchetti, the tasks aren’t too daunting.

   “We’re planting seedlings, so there’s no heavy lifting involved,” she said.

   Participants should meet at the Forrest Deaner Native Plant Botanic Garden parking lot about 1 mile down State Park Road off I-780 at Columbus Parkway. An entrance fee will be waived for volunteers.  No experience is necessary. Gloves are encouraged to be brought.  Tools, instruction and snacks will be provided. 

   For more information, visit BeniciaTrees.org.