Mary Farmar Elementary educator chosen as Teacher of the Month by local radio station

(Originally published in the 1/31/16 edition)

   Lara Ruark, a kindergarten teacher at Mary Farmar Elementary, has been named December’s Teacher of the Month by Walnut Creek adult contemporary station KKDV.

   Ruark began teaching at Mary Farmar in 2006, but she left to teach in rural Alaska for three years before returning to Benicia in 2013.

   “I wanted to come back to the Bay Area and someone was retiring from Mary Farmar, so I got to come back to where I started,” she said.

   She has incorporated anecdotes about her life in Alaska to her students.

   “I like to build a strong community in my classroom, where we get to know each other,” she said. “I think I wore them down with stories about my giant snow dog— an Alaskan Malamute— and my life in an Alaskan village.”

   Ruark has also made her fun-loving personality a big facet of her teaching.

   “I was a drama kid growing up, so I really enjoy acting out stories and doing funny voices when I read books,” she said. “And I make up songs to sing to them when I am giving them directions or getting their attention.” 

   Ruark’s teaching style has gone over very well with students and especially their parents, one of whom nominated her for KKDV’s Teacher of the Month contest.

   A the end of the month, the radio station honors a regional teacher who is nominated by a parent. Beginning this year, the winning teachers are candidates for the Warren W. Eukel Teacher Trust Award, which honors teachers with annual monetary awards for more than 17 years. 

   Ruark learned via email that she was nominated and was pleasantly surprised.

   “I was a bit stunned when I found out because this sort of thing doesn't happen to teachers, much less me,” she said. “I feel very flattered and honored and at the same time, I just want to shout, ‘No way,’ which I think I did shout when I first read the email.”

   Her students were especially elated.

   “They were excited when I told them, and some of them told their parents but most of them didn't know what it meant,” she said. “When (Office Manager Debbie) Warren announced that I was nominated as Teacher Of The Month over the loudspeaker, their faces lit up and one little one started jumping up and down with excitement.”

   Additionally, KKDV stopped by to conduct a live interview with Ruark inside her classroom with coffee and sweet treats provided by the station and Nothing Bundt Cakes in Walnut Creek. 

   “I was only asked three questions but I felt on the spot and surprisingly shy,” she said. “I also felt that I needed to answer the questions in complete sentences because I was representing other teachers and that meant I had to sound smart.”

   “But it was fun, and I can now relate to movie stars and what it must be like when they get interviewed,” she joked. “OK, not really. They have way more questions to answer.”

   Ruark expressed gratitude to the family who nominated her.

   “I knew that my students loved me, but I never expected a family to go out of their way to contact a radio station with me in mind,” she said “Teaching is a hard job and some days, it can feel like you are spinning your wheels. So when this happened, it really showed me that I do make a difference. I wish all teachers could feel as special and valued as I do.”

Lara Ruark (Right) stands with Olivia Marek, the direct marketing coordinator of KKDV. Marek came into Ruark's classroom with treats and interviewed her live on the air. (Photo courtesy of Debbie Warren)

   

Budweiser Clydesdales galloping to Fairfield

(originally published in the 1/29/16 edition)

   Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium is well underway, as the nearly undefeated Carolina Panthers plan to take on Peyton Manning and his Denver Broncos. 

   In addition to the action on the field, there will be advertisements. Due to the NFL’s longtime relationship with Budweiser, even the most casual football fans have likely seen ads featuring the company’s majestic Clydesdale horses. And now, you do not even have to turn on your TV to see these magnificent steeds. You can see them in person at the Budweiser Brewery in Fairfield.

   The Clydesdales will be coming to Northern California for the Super Bowl and will be staying through Valentine’s Day, and they have chosen the Anheuser-Busch Fairfield Brewery and Tour Center as their temporary home. 

  “We’ve been hosting (the Clydesdales) for quite a few years now,” Jennivive Soriano, the tour center manager at the Fairfield brewery, said. “We try to get them at least once a year to come for a visit.” 

   The Clydesdales are an iconic symbol for the world-famous brewing company, dating back to 1933 when they toured America to celebrate the repeal of prohibition. They delivered beers across the company’s headquarters in St. Louis and ventured across the country, even stopping by the White House to deliver a case of Budweiser to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. 

   Many of the Clydesdales are raised in farms by three of Budweiser’s U.S. breweries in St. Louis; Fort Collins, Colo; and Merrimack, N.H. 

   “The hitch that is coming to visit us is a traveling hitch out of Fort Collins,” Soriano said.

   There will also be two Clydesdale Camera Days on Feb. 9 and 10 from 2 to 4 p.m. where guests will be able to pose with the horses. There will also be a daily hitch parade with eight horses and a red wagon daily from 1 to 3 p.m., Feb. 11 to 14. The horses will be paraded around the visitors’ parking lot. 

   “They’ll stop, and guests will have an opportunity to talk to the handlers and take photos with the full hitch,” Soriano said.

   Soriano says the events will allow people to see the beautiful horses.

   “They are a symbol of Budweiser’s heritage, tradition and commitment to quality,” she said. 

   The Clydesdales can be viewed from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Feb. 3 to 14 at the Fairfield Budweiser Brewery, located at 3101 Busch Drive. The events are open to all ages. For more information, visit BudweiserTours.com. 

Vallejo Symphony to feature final conductor audition

(Originally published in the 1/28/16 edition)

   In its search to find a new permanent conductor, the Vallejo Symphony Orchestra has reached its third and final audition. On Sunday, Marc Taddei will be showcasing three powerful pieces for the concert “The Composer’s Muse.”

   Taddei was appointed as music director of Orchestra Wellington in New Zealand in 2007 and has conducted every professional orchestra in the country. He also has conducted many of the major Australian orchestras, the Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong and the New York City Ballet. 

   Taddei began playing music in fifth grade and grew to love everything about the art form. 

   “It’s kind of a cliche but this idea of music expressing the unexpressable rings true,” he said. “In terms of the profession, what I like about it is very disparate people come together, and they have very little in common except a love of music, and they’re able to cooperate when there’s room in the concert platform to create something of beauty. For me, that’s a great aspect of music, and almost a microcosm of what society could be.”

   He has also had experience conducting for Hollywood and international movies. Taddei recorded for the soundtrack of last year’s holiday hit “Krampus” as well as Peter Jackson’s 2005 remake of “King Kong.” He also recorded for the New Zealand films “Under the Mountain” and “Dean Spanley” as well as the British Channel 4 film “Wagner’s Ring,” based on Richard Wagner’s opera cycle “The Ring of the Nibelung.”

   “It’s quite fun,” he said of the process. “It’s quite technical in terms of there being a monitor, a click track and other visual aids for the conductor. In a way, it’s an oppressive situation because the orchestra and producers will have limited time to put a movie together.”

   He also noted that conducting for live cinema could be quite challenging, especially for silent movies which he says do not have the same level of editing expertise as movies today. 

   “Silent movies, you conduct as the movie is playing without any click track,” he said. “The only visual indication you have is from the movie itself, and that’s fine. It takes a little bit of practice to do it. You have to go through the score in your head while watching the movie.”

   When Taddei saw an opening for a conductor with the Vallejo Symphony Orchestra, he applied. 

   “He wanted a regular post in California, and he chose us,” Vallejo Symphony Director Tim Zumwalt said.

   “I am an American even though I’ve lived in New Zealand for quite some time now,” he said. “I would like to return to my homeland and work with a fine orchestra such as Vallejo.”

   Additionally, Taddei’s brother and sister live in Oakland, so he figured it would be a good way to be closer to them. He also is impressed with Vallejo Symphony Orchestra’s professionalism.

   “What’s especially attractive about Vallejo to me, along with many other orchestras in the Bay Area, is that they have access to world-class musicians,” he said. “These orchestras have very high standards, and Vallejo is no exception to that.”

   “The Composer’s Muse” will feature lesser-known pieces by three legendary composers. The show will begin with a performance of Igor Stravinsky’s 1928 ballet “Apollo.”

   “It’s one of the most serene works of modernism,” Taddei said. “It’s a work that introduced Stravinsky to the greatest choreographer of the 20th century, George Balanchine, and because of this work, the two of them were able to collaborate for the rest of Stravinsky’s life.”

   The evening will continue with Ludwig van Beethoven’s song cycle “To the Distant Beloved.”

   “I wanted to do a work of Beethoven’s, but I didn’t want to be so obvious,” Taddei said. 

   Taddei described the piece as very influential to early Romantic composers like Robert Schumann and Franz Schubert. 

   The final piece will be Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 5.” 

   “Tchakovsky was the kind of composer that really brought western schooling to the folk idiom that composers were experimenting with in Russia at this time,” Taddei said. “Tchaikovsky had both the genius and the inspiration and the training to marry the German technique with Russian folk songs.” 

   Taddei described all three pieces as disparate masterpieces that encapsulate musical history. Additionally, there will be a performance by San Francisco-based baritone singer Haleigh Adams during the show.

   Zumwalt said the board will go on retreat after the final concert and then decide who will be its new permanent conductor.

   “The Composer’s Muse” will be performed 3 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 31, at the Hogan High School auditorium, located on 850 Rosewood Ave. Tickets can be purchased at BrownPaperTickets.com. For more information, visit VallejoSymphony.org. 

Benicia Unified to hold mental wellness subcommittee meeting Thursday

(Originally published in the 1/27/16 edition)

   Benicia Unified School District’s mental wellness subcommittee will be holding its monthly meeting Thursday. The topic will be “A Physically Healthy New Start.” 

   According to Mental Health Coordinator Jessica Garcia, the group is a subcommittee of the district’s wellness committee, which is based on California’s standards for healthy and safe schools.

   “We bunched up some of the component areas into three main categories and focus on the committees would focus on,” Garcia said. “The three subcommittees are physical wellness and then mental wellness.”

   The mental wellness subcommittee members consist of parents, students and district staff who meet on a regular basis to help guide the school district on how to work with mental wellness. 

   “Our focus this year is on self care and promoting self care not only to our students but the staff and parent educators as well,” she said. 

   Garcia says the subcommittee is working with training staff on handling mental wellness and new programs in the district and has surveyed students on what resources they need.

   “We’ve expanded our mentoring program from Liberty High School to Benicia Middle and Benicia High School,” she said. 

  Garcia says the subcommittee has been working to try and promote more participation in meetings.

   “It seems to be the same handful of people from the district and the community that comes to the meetings,” she said. “At the beginning go the year, we tried to shift the time a little bit later, thinking we would have more participation because maybe people weren’t done with work in at the time we were meeting and couldn’t get there.”

   “The last meeting that was held in December had a lot more participation than we had had from the beginning of the year, and we had students there as well as community members and a number of staff members who have been interested,” she added. “I think it’s starting to increase again.”

   Garcia believes the subcommittee will provide good support for students.

   “The first thing students need to learn their best is to feel safe and to feel emotionally safe,” she said. “The fact is it’s part of what we as a school district teach and promote and want to create awareness around. It’s not something a specialized administrator or that one really good teacher does alone. It is something that is taught and gets embedded into the culture of a school district by incorporating not only the educators but the students’ voice and the community around it.”

   The next mental wellness subcommittee meeting will be held at 4 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 28 at Benicia Middle School, located at 1100 Southampton Road. For more information, visit BeniciaUnified.org/Parents/Wellness or email Garcia at jgarcia@beniciaunified.org. 

   

Local musician remembers late Tower of Power founding member

(Originally published in the 1/26/16 edition)

   Mic Gillette, a founding member of the legendary Oakland-based funk band Tower of Power, died of a heart attack Jan. 17. He was 64 years old.

   In recent years, Gillette was a member of the Mic Gillette Band. The group featured his daughter Megan McCarthy on vocals and a variety of Benicia residents, including keyboardist and trumpeter Ryan Habegger, guitarist Jason Stewart and saxophonist Andres Soto.

   “I met Mic about five years ago,” Soto said. “My friend started taking trombone lessons from Mic, and we all played together at my friend’s wife’s birthday party.”

   A year ago, Soto learned that the Mic Gillette Band was looking for a new saxophone player, so he sat in on a few songs the group performed at Armando’s in Martinez and was asked to join the band in May. 

   “When I first joined, he put his arm around me and said ‘Welcome to the family,’” Soto said. “He treated the band as an extension of his family.” 

   Soto was thrilled to be working in a band with Gillette.

   “Growing up in Richmond, we idolized Tower of Power,” he said.

   Tower of Power formed in 1968 as The Motowns and quickly gained a reputation in the Bay Area after playing in clubs in Oakland and Berkeley. Within a few years, the newly christened Tower of Power went on to play large venues such as The Fillmore and scored six top 40 R&B singles in the process. Gillette was the lead trumpeter during the band’s peak period, and his trumpet lines on hits such as “What is Hip?,” “So Very Hard to Go” and “You’re Still a Young Man” are instantly recognizable to listeners. 

   “One of my fondest memories was standing next to him playing the introduction to ‘You’re Still a Young Man’ and hearing that amazing trumpet,” Soto said. 

   Soto enjoyed playing Tower of Power songs with one of its original members, and he also enjoyed being able to collaborate on original music with Mic.

   “One of the big thrills for me was playing with him and hearing our sound blend into a singular horn section whether it was on trombone or trumpet or tenor saxophone,” he said. 

   One of the things Soto said stood out about Gillette was his sense of accuracy in playing.

   “Mic was a very unique musician in that he could play trumpet and trombone with equal precision,” Soto said. “In particular, his ability to play high notes on trumpet as the lead trumpeter and also play trombone at the bottom end of the horn and the top end of the horn with equal precision was very unique.”

   Gillette was also a member of the Bay Area bands Cold Blood and Sons of Champlin and played trumpet with Blood, Sweat & Tears in the early ‘80s. Gillette also worked as a session musician, having played with legendary acts like The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Santana, Rod Stewart, the Doobie Brothers and numerous others. In 2008, he provided the horn arrangements for a few songs on Sheryl Crow’s holiday album “Home for Christmas.” Gillette would perform songs from many of his associated acts and would provide stories abut working with them at Mic Gilette Band concerts.

   “We did The Rolling Stones’ version of ‘Jumpin’ Jack Flash’ where he had done all the horn arrangements,” Soto said. 

   Gillette left Tower of Power in 1984 to raise his daughter. He rejoined the band from 2009 to 2011 but found a new calling with the Mic Gillette Band. As lead vocalist, McCarthy would bring her sons Maverick and Wyatt to shows, and Gillette’s wife Julia booked a lot of the band’s shows and wrote them checks.

   “It was a family operation,” Soto said. “At the core of his values, he was a family man.”

   Additionally Gillette founded the Music in the Schools program to promote the importance of music education, and he performed the national anthem on trumpet before a San Francisco Giants game in 2014.

   “He could do it all, and he did it all,” Soto said.

   A private memorial will be held up in Oregon in December. Additionally, McCarthy is looking to put together a musical memorial on May 7, which would have been Gillette’s 65th birthday.

   

Mic Gillette, holding grandson Maverick McCarthy, performs the Tower of Power classic "So Very Hard to Go" at the San Luis Obispo Jazz Festival in 2014.

Photo courtesy of Megan McCarthy

   

  

Stacy Holguin appointed as new Benicia Unified School District trustee at Thursday's meeting

(Originally published in the 1/26/16 edition)

   The Governing Board of the Benicia Unified School District voted 3-to-1 to appoint Stacy Holguin as its newest trustee, filling the vacancy left by the passing of Rosie Switzer in December, at its meeting Thursday.

   Holguin has served as vice president of the Benicia Education Foundation since 2008 and is also an adjunct professor at UC Berkeley. She was interviewed in front of the board by President Gary Wing along with two other prospective applicants, Ira Glick and Karina Guerrero. Wing first asked the applicants why they wanted to serve.

   “My interest around education overall really lies in the fact that I was a student who probably without a solid educational background wouldn’t have gone anywhere,” Holguin responded. “My focus on education has been an oversight in my life. My educational path is focused on furthering education for others, my volunteer work has all been in the district and school district and my career has been focused around public education.” 

   “Bringing that passion forward in my life, an obvious next step, having worked through so many parent positions and student-focused positions is looking to serve at a higher level, and this board of trustees is an opportunity to do that,” she added.

   Holguin said that a major emphasis for her will be college preparation for students.

   “I feel like I could bring a lot of prior work to the district in that area and really look at how to build a supportive community culture to further post-high school education for our students,” she said. 

   Wing then asked the applicants what school or committee activities they had been involved in and then describe their contributions and explain how it would enhance their service to the board. Holguin responded by saying that she and her husband moved to Benicia as her oldest son was starting kindergarten and vowed to stay until her kids graduated, and they would have to contribute to make sure they were getting the best possible education.

   “From the get-go, I served as everything from a parent room mother to several PTA positions, including treasurer and secretary,” she said.

   As vice president of the Benicia Education Foundation, Holguin said she has overseen several major projects, including direct fundraising and helping set the agenda for the organization. She also had facilitated discussions during the closure of Mills Elementary in 2005. 

   Wing then asked what the role of a trustee is.

   “I think one of the main purposes of this board is to set vision and direction for the educational establishment within Benicia,” she responded. “Part of that is building community and bringing together and collaborating with the various organizations that impact the educational system.” 

   Wing asked the applicants how they would respond to criticism and input from the community. Holguin said she would respond with empathy and grace and work with a team to see if there are actions that can be taken. Wing also raised the question of how the applicants would help ensure educational success for all BUSD students. 

   “One of the key factors is involving families and parents,” she responded. “We’re not reaching the bulk of parents, and we need to do some work as a school district to further engage the families and parents.” 

   In her final statement, Holguin stressed the need to take BUSD to a higher level. 

   “Benicia feels like we’re on the edge of becoming a great organizational community,” she said. “I think we’re on the precipice of really launching into something that is going to be new and exciting and will really launch our children to the next level and hopefully bring about the opportunity for BUSD to be the engine that drives Solano County to move our education program and our students into that next level.”

   The board voted to appoint Holguin for the next 11 months until she runs in the November election. If she wins, she will serve for the next two years to fill out the remainder of Switzer’s term. Afterwards, she will be back on the four-year rotation. Holguin took the oath of office administered by Solano County Superintendent Jay Speck and participated in the remainder of the meeting.

   In other business, Chief Business Official Tim Rahill provided a quarterly update on the Measure S bond where Roxanne Egan was introduced as the new bond director. 

Stacy Holguin takes the oath of office administered by Solano County Superintendent of Schools Jay Speck.

Photo by Nick Sestanovich

Train carrying hazardous materials derails in Martinez

(Originally published in the 1/24/16 edition)

   A train carrying sulfuric acid derailed in Martinez Wednesday morning near the Benicia Bridge. No leaks have been reported, although the incident has caused some concerns in Benicia as the Planning Commission plans to hold a hearing on Valero’s proposed crude-by-rail project in two weeks.

   A Union Pacific Railroad train was carrying the hazardous materials to sulfuric acid regeneration provider Eco Services in Martinez at 8 a.m. when three tanker cars were derailed along Mococo Road. It is unknown what caused the derailment. 

   The acid contained contaminated hydrocarbon, but no leaks were reported and no vapors were released.

   As with other train derailments and explosions, this has caused concerns in the refinery-heavy regions of the Bay Area, especially in Benicia where the Planning Commission is going to hold a meeting on Feb. 8 to consider a use permit for the crude-by-rail project. 

   Valero announced the project, which would extend three Union Pacific tracks onto its property to deliver up to 70,000 barrels of North American crude oil a day, in 2013 and was quickly met with backlash over its potential environmental effects. Adding fire to these concerns was an oil train explosion in the Canadian town of Lac-Megantic in Quebec that killed 47 people and destroyed more than 30 buildings in July of that year. Since then, oil train explosions in Casselton, N.D., and Lynchburg, Va., are just a few of the similar incidents that have gotten widespread publicity.

   The sentiments of Benicia have been echoed in other communities. In Pittsburg, the energy company WesPac Midstream LLC had proposed a project to convert a Pacific Gas & Electric tank farm into an oil storage facility which would have delivers from five 104-car oil trains a week. The project was struck down in December. 

   When reached for comment, Valero Public Affairs Manager Sue Fisher Jones said the Martinez derailment had no bearing on the city.

   “The incident in Martinez is not related to, nor does it have any impact on, our operations in Benicia,” she said.

  However, other residents like Roger Straw, who runs the anti-crude by rail blog The Benicia Independent, disagree. 

“The derailment in Martinez involved tank cars full of poisonous sulfuric acid, rolling downhill unattended, just like the runaway train in Quebec that killed 47 people and leveled a downtown,” Straw said. “What does that have to do with crude by rail?  Everything.  Rail cars have carried hazardous materials for years, and the risk to our communities is already great.  If we add to that risk two more 50-car trains every day full of toxic and volatile Bakken crude oil and/or impossibly heavy diluted tar-sands crude, two trains coming in and two more going out every day, we greatly increase the potential for a major loss in our own community and in those communities and wild spaces uprail from here.”

   “This accident at Benicia’s front door is a wake up call,” he added.

   The Planning Commission meeting will be held 6:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 8, at the City Hall Council Chambers, located at 250 East L St. 

Artists showcase selves with Art of a Community

(Originally published in the 1/22/16 edition. A correction was made regarding Mary Shaw's title.)

   It is time once again for Benicia citizens to see the beautiful and thought-provoking work that its community’s artists are capable of creating.

   Arts Benicia will be hosting its 22nd annual Art of a Community exhibition which showcases the work of artists from Benicia and surrounding areas. 

   “This is artists showing work that best represents them and putting their best foot forward,” Arts Benicia Exhibitions and Programs Manager Mary Shaw said. “We have a wide range of artists who do their work on weekends and others who do this as their life’s work. We try to welcome everyone.”

   The event will feature more than 200 pieces from approximately 170 member artists. Many of the artists hail from Benicia, including Mike Kendall, Diane Williams, Mark Eanes, Nikki Basch-Davis and Fred Schlatter. However, there will also be work from artists in areas like Napa and Sacramento. 

   “We are a regional arts center,” Shaw said.

   The art pieces will come in a variety of forms, including paintings, graphic design, photography, sculptures and textiles. A painting by Flora Baumann shows the Mothball Fleet on the Caruinez Straits and how it has been disappearing over time. Fiber artist Alexa Day has her own take on Claude Monet’s iconic “Bridge Over a Pond of Water Lilies” painting. There is even more abstract work, such as Tracy Cullen’s robotic mannequin wearing an Air Force fighter pilot uniform.

   “We received so much artwork that I actually considered setting up two separate portables,” Shaw said. “That is work in and of itself, so all the pieces are displayed in the gallery.”

   Shaw believes this is a good opportunity for artists to promote their own work.

   “When you put your work out there, you’re putting yourself out there,” she said. “You’re always hoping you can rise to a higher level with your own work.” 

   Overall, Shaw says the exhibition is the organization’s most important because it is a way to give thanks to the members who have supported Arts Benicia.

   “It shows what a wonderful community we have,” she said. “Arts Benicia is grateful we can have this interaction and be able to support artists’ endeavors. We wouldn’t be who we are without them.”

   The Art of a Community will be on display from Saturday, Jan. 23 to Sunday, Feb. 21 at Arts Benicia, located at 991 Tyler Street. An opening reception will be held tomorrow from 7 to 9 p.m., and an open house and Family Art Day will be held Saturday, Feb. 20 from 1 to 4 p.m. The open house will have information about the organization and how to become involved, and appetizers and desserts will be provided by First Street Cafe. The gallery is open from noon to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. For more information, call 747-0131. 

All photos by Nick Sestanovich

"Steam Powered Robotic Warrior" by Benicia artist Tracy Cullen

"There Was a Boy" by Vallejo artist JeanCherie

"Chasing the Goose" by San Jose artist Milo Abadilla

KRON 4 report highlights Benicia traffic violations

(Originally published in the 1/21/16 edition)

   Sometimes, Benicia manages to find a way to end up on local TV news channels, and in some cases it is not in the most flattering of lights. 

   On Friday, KRON 4 reporter Stanley Roberts visited Benicia for his “People Behaving Badly” segment. The issue: many drivers and cyclists were caught on camera not stopping at stop signs.

   In the report, Roberts’ dashboard camera manages to capture 16 separate incidents at various intersections where drivers and cyclists failed to stop at stop signs. In one instance, a cyclist pulls through two separate stop signs. 

   “There is no legal requirement that riders put their foot down when they stop,” Roberts said in the report. “However, there is a requirement that you at least appear to be stopping in a safe manner, not simply blowing past stop signs.” 

   “A bit of advice for drivers there: ‘STOP’ is not an acronym,” he joked. “It doesn’t mean ‘Slightly Tap on Pedal.’” 

   According to Benicia Police Lieutenant Mike Greene, KRON had sent out a news crew for the segment after receiving complaints over cyclists not obeying stop signs. 

   “We were very cooperative with their staff when they came down,” he said. 

   Greene says the department has handled such cases, but he believes the issue is not exclusive to just Benicia.

   “I think traffic in general tends to be a hot topic issue in any community,” he said. “We’re not immune from people violating traffic laws. Our officers are certainly out there enforcing traffic laws, and they will issue citations and warnings.”

   “We certainly know not everyone is going to obey all our stop signs in town,” he added. “That’s our purpose for having traffic units and officers working those kinds of assignments.”

   According to Greene, the Police Department has patrol officers out on the streets to enforce and emphasize the traffic laws as well as a traffic unit, although Greene says it has not been up to full staff in the last few months. Additionally, the community also brings traffic complaints forward. 

   “I think one of the biggest issues any community deals with is traffic-related stuff,” Greene said. 

   As Roberts noted in the report, the fine for disobeying a stop sign in Solano County is $229 and will result in a point on the driver’s record, which could contribute to higher insurance rates.

   Greene says the vast majority of drivers do obey stop signs, but he believes people who do not could create problems for themselves or other drivers. 

   “I would encourage everyone to follow that law,” he said. “People who don’t are willfully violating the law, take the chance of creating a hazard for themselves or somebody else and if they’re caught, they receive a ticket for that.”

   For more information on traffic laws, visit SolanoCourts.com/Courts/Traffic. 

Solano County Friends of Animals hoping to adopt out 1,000th cat this weekend

(Originally published in the 1/20/16 edition)

   Solano County Friends of Animals will be holding adoption events at Pet Food Express and PetCo this weekend. Active member Pat Holcomb says the group is hoping to adopt out its 1,000th kitty since the opening of the Cat Center at Pet Food Express 10 years ago this weekend.

   Solano County Friends of Animals is a volunteer-driven, nonprofit group that does not euthanize its foster animals.

   “We take in kittens that the Humane Society is trying to pass off to Fairfield, which is a kill shelter,” Holcomb said.

   Holcomb believes this weekend will be the best way to cap off a productive year for the organization.

   “This year has been kind of crazy,” she said. “We had a lot of adoptions before Christmas, a surprising number of adoptions this January and a long kitten season. We’re hoping to make this a celebration.”

   Holcomb says that the animals that are available for adoption have been spayed, neutered and tested for problematic diseases, and they are socialized and healthy. 

   The adoptions will take place from 3 to 6 p.m., Friday, Jan. 22; noon to 3 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 23 and noon to 4 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 24 at Pet Food Express, located on 838 Southampton Road. Kittens will be available to adopt for $75, and cats 1 year and older will be $40. Holcomb says there will be a special prize for the lucky 1,000th adoptee. Additionally, there will be more adoption events at PetCo in Vallejo, located at 161 Plaza Drive. The hours will be the same, although there will be no Friday adoptions. For more information, contact Solano County Friends of Animals at 552-3323. 

Trivia Bee to honor past winners

(Originally published in the 1/20/16 edition)

   The nominees for the 88th annual Academy Awards were announced last week, and while your favorite film might or might not receive the coveted Best Picture statue, there is a chance that you could win a shiny award of your own. You just have to be really smart.

   The Benicia Public Library will be hosting its 25th annual Trivia Bee fundraiser at the Clock Tower. As in past years, the contest will consist of teams of three members who will participate in three rounds of questions. The questions will be in the categories of history, geography, entertainment, local history, science and a wild card which has to do with the theme of the event. This year’s theme will be Hollywood and the Academy Awards. 

   “The first round is the easiest round, and then we disqualify some people,” Administrative Secretary Helaine Bowles said. “The first round is 14 questions on various topics, and 19 is the highest score that will compete in the semifinals. In the next round, there’s five teams left, and the third round decides who the first, second and third place is.”

   Additionally, this edition of the Trivia Bee will be honoring past winners of the contest. Bowles said the previous champions would be honored with special awards, but she would not give details on what exactly they would receive. 

   Even those who are not competing on teams will be able to participate on some level, Bowles said.

   “We normally have a total of between 250 and 300 people that attend the event,” she said. “They can play at their seats, but they have to be quiet because they can’t shout out the answers. If you’re there, you’ll see all the tables where people can write down their answers.”

   Once again, the audience is encouraged to dress up in accordance with the theme of the event. Last year’s theme was “Alice’s Adventures in Library Land,” so people came dressed as characters from “Alice in Wonderland.” This year, attendees can dress up like celebrities or people going to the Oscars. There will be a prize for the best costume. 

   Bowles hopes the contest will provide participants and attendees a chance to have a good time and support the library.

   “This is a major fundraiser for the library,” she said.

   Doors for the Trivia Bee will open at 6 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 27, at the Clock Tower, located at 1189 Washington St. Openings for teams are still available, so interested participants can call 746-4358 or check the library’s website for the registration form. The cost to have a team is $300, including a dinner catered by First Street Cafe. 

   For people who just want to watch, tickets will be on sale starting Feb. 1 at the library or through EventBrite.com. There will also be a no-host bar, silent auction and raffle. Early bird tickets are $30, but after Feb. 22 the price will go up to $40. A table can be reserved with the purchase of 8 or more tickets. 

Scottish poet to be celebrated at Rellik Tavern

(Originally published in the 1/19/16 edition)

   The Rellik Tavern will hold a special poetry night Monday, Jan. 25, to honor the 257th birthday of Scottish Poet Laureate Robert Burns titled “Robert Burns an’ All That.” 

   Burns, also known as the Bard of Ayrshire, was a poet and lyricist who is frequently regarded as a pioneer of Europe’s Romantic period, which was well-regarded for its heavy emotions and nostalgia. Burns wrote several poems and also rewrote old Scottish folk songs to give them new meaning. Although he died at the age of 37, Burns is believed to have authored more than 500 poems, many of which are still popular today. Burns’ works include “To a Mouse,” “A Man’s a Man for A’ That” and “The Battle of Sherramuir.” He is perhaps best known for his poem “Auld Lang Syne,” which was based on the melody of an old folk song. The tune has earned prominence as the song sung at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Day.

   According to Benicia Literary Arts President Lois Requist, the idea for the poetry night came from Rellik co-owner Tom Hamilton, who is Scottish.

   “Several years ago, he suggested that we have this event on Robert Burns' birthday, a worldwide tradition, in which Burns' poetry is read and food of the Scots is served,” she said. “We haven't had it every year, but when I talked to Tom in December, he thought he'd like to do it again.”

   The first hour of the event will feature readings by some of Benicia’s most celebrated poets, including past Poet Laureates of Benicia Requist, Don Peery and Joel Fallon, as well as Peter Bray, Johanna Ely, John Hamling, Kristine Mietzner and Tom Stanton. Afterward, there will be a break where patrons can enjoy Scottish foods. Among the items served are haggis, which Requist describes as an acquired taste.

   “Unless you've grown up with it, you might not like it,” she said.  “So Tom and The Rellik have served other things, like shortbread, cheese, etc. ”

   The second hour will consist of open mic for anybody who signed up for the event. 

   “We hope attendees will have a good time hearing live performances by local poets and writers,” BLA event team member Carolyn Plath said.  “They will present Burns’ work and/or their own original work, some of it inspired by Burns.”

   “Robert Burns an’ All That” will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., Monday, Jan. 25 at The Rellik Tavern, located at 726 First St. The event is free of charge. For more information, contact Requist at loquuu@gmail.com. 

Benicia Unified School District to consider computer science program at Thursday's board meeting

(Originally published in the 1/19/16 edition)

   The Governing Board of the Benicia Unified School District will consider the approval of a computer science education program agreement at Thursday’s meeting.

   Code.org, a Seattle-based nonprofit organization that encourages computer science education for K-12 students, has entered an agreement with several school districts nationwide to support expanding access to computer science programs to students. Under the agreement, Benicia Unified would have access to Code.org’s curriculum and updates as well as professional development and program support.

   The program would offer a variety of courses for K-12 students. Elementary school students would learn computer science fundamentals, middle schoolers would be able to take computer science in algebra and computer science in science, and high schoolers would be offered introductory computer science and computer science principles. 

   To participate in the program, the district would have to submit an application form, which can be found at code.org/educate/districts. The application would evaluate the district for participation eligibility and serve as a needs assessment. 

   The program would also determine which teachers are eligible to participate. The agreement notes that code.org has the right to deny teachers from participation. For example, if a teacher who has never taught science and will not be teaching science courses in the coming year, his or her application will not be accepted. A teacher’s hourly stipend rate for participating is $24.37. However, educators will only receive stipends for the hours they participate in professional development. The hours of professional development for eligible teachers are three phases for 55 hours for computer science in algebra and science, including 35 hours in person and 20 online. For introductory computer science and computer science principles teachers, the total number of hours is 94 for four phases, including 72 in person and 22 online.

   For more information, visit code.org/educate/professional-development. 

   In other items, Chief Business Official Tim Rahill will deliver a report on the Measure S bond’s status as well as an update, and Assistant Superintendent Marie Morgan will give an update on the Local Control Accountability Plan, which was approved by the Solano County Office of Education in June.

   The board will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21 in the Benicia Unified School District Board Room at the district building on 350 East K Street. There will be an earlier closed session at 6 p.m.

Discounts available at downtown Benicia restaurants for Restaurant Week

(Originally published in the 1/17/16 edition)

   The time has come again for Benicians to support their local downtown eating establishments at a lower cost for Downtown Benicia Restaurant Week. 

   This is the third year that Benicia Main Street has hosted Restaurant Week, which coincides with California Restaurant Month, put on by the nonprofit tourism organization Visit California. The month was designated for January to draw people to their local restaurants, whose patronage typically dwindles after the holidays. 

   “January is a rather slim month for restaurants, so it was a way to promote business for the downtown restaurants,” Susie Harper, administrative assistant for Benicia Main Street, said.

   Throughout the week, people can stop by Benicia Main Street’s offices to pick up a Dining Passport, or they can download it from the organization’s website. With this, they can enjoy discounts at Aroma Indian Cuisine, Dianna’s Cafe and Bakery, Double Rainbow, First Street Cafe, Got Plate Lunch, Kinder’s BBQ, Lucca Bar & Grill, Mai Thai, Rosanna’s Bakery, Sailor Jack’s, The Rellik Tavern, Union Hotel and Venticellos Ristorante Italiano. The discounts are typically 15 percent off a patron’s meal with a minimum purchase of $10, but Venticellos will be offering a 20 percent discount. Some of the deals will exclude purchases of beverages or alcohol.

   Additionally, Benicia Main Street will be holding a Dine Downtown Contest through its Facebook and Twitter pages where its followers are encouraged to take a picture of their meals and email the picture to info@beniciamainstreet.org for the opportunity to win $100 in Downtown Dollars, which can be redeemed at a large number of downtown businesses. The pictures can be taken at any downtown restaurant, not necessarily just the ones participating in Restaurant Week. The contest will run through Jan. 31, after which a winner will be chosen by random. 

   “The goal is to bring in business and help support the restaurants downtown,” Harper said. “It’s a rather quiet month after the holidays are over.”

   Restaurant Week begins today and will run until Saturday, Jan. 23. For more information, to download a Dining Passport or view discounts, visit BeniciaMainStreet.org. 

   

Rebel Rebel: A tribute to David Bowie

(Originally published in the Forum section of the 1/15/16 edition)

   I woke up Monday morning to look at my phone and saw a notification from my New York Times news application. It read something to the effect of “David Bowie, the legendary rock star, has died at 69.” I re-read it to make sure I was not misreading it in my sleepy state, but no. It was definitely referring to The Thin White Duke himself.

   I am honestly not affected by every celebrity death I hear about, but I spent nearly the entire day reflecting on Bowie. I drove to work listening to “Hunky Dory” and thinking about how the music world has taken a huge hit.

   The interesting thing is that while I definitely consider myself a Bowie fan, I have not yet reached the rank of “super fan.” After having heard a good number of his songs over the years and mostly associating him with his hilarious cameo in “Zoolander,” I only started exploring Bowie’s catalogue during my first semester of college, and I still have a long way to go. Nonetheless, even if I never liked a single Bowie song, I would still owe him a debt of gratitude because a lot of the other music I listen to is very much Bowie-derived.

   I think that is true for a lot of people. No matter how small your iPod playlist may be, there is a good chance you listen to at least one artist who was inspired by Bowie on some level. Many acts become popular but do not leave much of a legacy. This is not true of Bowie. He crafted an image that nearly every pop star of the post-MTV era has tried to emulate on some level, and he had perhaps the widest-ranging influence this side of The Beatles. His impact is not limited to one narrow genre but cuts far deeper from the college rock and hair metal bands of the ‘80s to the industrial sound of the ‘90s. Queen, Talking Heads, Prince, Duran Duran, U2, Echo and the Bunnymen, Psychedelic Furs, Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, The Cure, Madonna, Lady Gaga, The Killers and The Arcade Fire are just a few of the artists who have emulated Bowie in vocals, style or wardrobe. It is almost an “It’s a Wonderful Life” situation. If Bowie had not existed, many notable performers would not be making music or would sound very different, and we'd be a lot worse for it.

   Influence is just part of the story though. Even if Bowie had somehow managed to record without attracting an audience, then he would have left a legacy of excellent music. He projected a sense of charisma into everything he performed and had a vocal style that was unmistakably his, at least until others started copying him. He also worked with great producers and collaborators like Brian Eno and Mick Ronson to develop the glam rock sound he was known for. Whether he was knocking out great guitar-driven songs like “Suffragette City” or “Rebel Rebel” or beautiful melancholy pieces like “Starman” or “Life on Mars,” Bowie’s work in the ‘70s was unmatchable. 

   Bowie also had a knack for lyrics, whether it was “Space Oddity’s” heartbreaking tale of an astronaut who cuts off communication and floats into space or “Fame’s” biting look at the notion of being a celebrity. Even as Bowie went pop in the ‘80s with hits like “Let’s Dance” or “Modern Love,” he did not sacrifice the things that made him who he was.

   Finally, Bowie was cool. He was not concerned over his offbeat outfits or style being perceived as too weird. He existed as someone who appeared to be out of this universe, and with it he opened up the floodgates for countless performers to just be themselves. As sad as it is that Bowie is gone, it almost feels like he will always be around because his influence is never going away. My hope is that others can continue to carry the torch. 

CHP to encourage teen drivers to start smart at Benicia High School

(Originally published in the 1/15/16 edition)

   California Highway Patrol will be holding a Start Smart driving course for current and prospective teenage drivers at Benicia High School.

   The program is aimed to help newly licensed and soon-to-be-licensed drivers between the ages of 15 and 19 become aware of their responsibilities as drivers. Topics discussed include how to avoid collisions, passenger safety and what to do when involved in a collision. 

   According to the CHP, collisions are the leading cause of death among teens ages 16 to 19, and teen drivers were found to be at fault in around 66 percent of these collisions. 

   Participating teens must attend the program with their parents so they can be able to talk to CHP officers.

   “The CHP has found that when teenagers participate with their parents, the message is a lot louder and clearer about how they’re supposed to behave behind the wheel,” Vice Principal Kathrine Cole said. “With participation, kids get a certificate that can be turned into their car insurance and possibly offer a reduction in their fees.”

   The program will take place from 6 to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 28 at Benicia High, located at 1101 Military West. The class will be held in Classroom L-2, which is located by the faculty parking lot. The event is free, and interested participants should contact administrative assistant Rebecca Dart by calling 747-8325 and dialing the extension 2315. Interested people do not have to reach Dart but should leave their names. 

"Pacific Rim" to be experienced in five dimensions at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

(Originally published in the 1/14/16 edition)

   Fans of “Pacific Rim” will have a chance to see the science-fiction/monster movie hit of 2013 on the big screen again, only this time they will be experiencing it in a whole new way.

   Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo recently announced a new ride based on Guillermo Del Toro’s film in the Iwerks 5-D Theater. Whereas 3-D films are shot in a way that when viewers put on special glasses they feel like they are witnessing the action up close, “Pacific Rim 5-D” will make viewers feel like they are part of the action. The seats will move in accordance to the action that happens on screen, not unlike Disneyland’s “Captain EO” or “Star Tours” or past Iwerks rides like “DinoSphere” or “Stargate.”

   This is the first ride in the world based on “Pacific Rim.” The movie tells the story of colossal monsters called Kaijus who rise from the Pacific Ocean and wreak havoc on the planet in the 2020s. The United Nations approves the construction of Jaegers, giant robots piloted by humans, to stop the creatures. 

   “Bringing in an intense, high-energy and popular movie like ‘Pacific Rim’ to our Iwerks 5-D Theater is a great addition to our thrill lineup,” Park President Don McCoy said in a press release. “As Northern California’s most thrilling theme park, kids and adults alike will be blown away being part of the ground-shaking action.”

   “Pacific Rim 5-D” can currently be experienced in limited sneak previews throughout January with an official opening slated within the next month. A representative for the park could not be reached for comment.

   Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is located at 1001 Fairgrounds Drive and is open on weekends and select dates from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. or 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information on the ride or hours, visit SixFlags.com/DiscoveryKingdom. 

Jack London's time in Benicia to be celebrated, Jan. 31

(Originally published in the 1/13/16 edition)

   Jack London is one of the most celebrated figures in American literature. His many novels and short stories, including “Call of the Wild” and “White Fang,” captured the realism of survival, and his larger-than-life personality came through in a lot of his work.

   Throughout his 40 years, London lived in several places throughout the Bay Area, including San Francisco, Berkeley and Oakland, whose Jack London Square is named for the author. He also briefly lived in Benicia, and the city will be honoring him with a special event to commemorate the 100th anniversary of his death. 

   As part of its Capitol Neighbors Speaker Series, The Benicia State Parks Association will be presenting “Jack London in Benicia,” focusing on the author’s short time in the city in 1892. Around this time, the 16-year-old London had become an oyster pirate and purchased a boat called Razzle Dazzle.

   “He had a boat that he had docked down where the palm trees are now across from the Depot,” Donnell Rubay, Jack London scholar and event organizer, said. “Later he was a member of the Fish Patrol, which captured oyster pirates.” 

   Benicia figured prominently in London’s works. In “John Barleycorn,” the author’s autobiographical novel about his struggles with alcoholism, he wrote "I now made the old town of Benicia, on the Carquinez Straits, my headquarters.  In a cluster of fishermen's arks, moored in the tules on the water-front, dwelt a congenial crowd of drinkers and vagabonds, and I joined them.”

   London also used the city as the basis for his short story collection “Tales from the Fish Patrol,” where the Carquinez Straits are mentioned by name at the beginning of the story “Charley’s Coup.” 

   “He was a very colorful and interesting person, and Benicia during that time was a pretty exciting place,” Mike Caplin, the publicity director for Benicia State Parks Association, said. “The fit was a good one.”

   London’s time in Benicia is celebrated on signs and markers throughout the town, although Caplin says events centered around the writer have been very minimal.

   “The city is well aware of his ties to Benicia,” he said. “But they should really do a lot more, and that’s why I think that this is gonna be hopefully the first of more to come.”

   The idea to do an event centered around London came from Rubay, who has studied his life, and featured the author as part of the plot of her 2011 novel “Emma and the Oyster Pirate.” 

   “The thing about Jack London that is so dynamic for me is that he had this great over-the-top personality,” she said. “When you read his writing, you just marvel at the fact that this was a man who was almost completely self-taught. He had very little formal education. He spent most of his childhood working in factories, but he would read. He would get books from libraries and read them.”

   The event will feature three speakers. The keynote speaker will be Lou Leal, the historian at the Jack London State Park in Glen Ellen, where the author had lived in his later years until his death. The presentation will focus on London’s time in Benicia.

   Also presenting will be former Benicia poet laureate Joel Fallon who will talk about the author’s political writings. The event will close with local poet, handyman and Herald columnist Peter Bray portraying London and providing a perspective on what the legendary writer would think of today’s society. 

   Bray was very active in promoting the restoration of the Jurgensen Old Corner Saloon where London used to hang out when it was located by the Southern Pacific Railroad Depot at the end of First Street, Rubay said.

   “Peter was big on saving the building when it was down by the railroad station when it was only one floor, and it looked like a wreck,” she said. 

   The building was eventually moved to the corner of West E and First streets where it is currently occupied by the metaphysical supply store Angel Heart 4 You. 

   The main goal of the event will be to promote a greater interest in London’s works.

   “I’m guessing a large part of the audience will have read Jack London, but I’m also guessing that we’ll have people who perhaps have not,” Caplin said. “The aim is to have people leave wanting to go buy Jack London books.”

   “Jack London in Benicia” will take place 2 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 31 at the Benicia State Capitol Historic Park, located at 115 West G St. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 12 to 17 and free for children under 12. Books by London will be for sale, as well as the biography “Jack London: An American Life” by Earle Labor. For more information, contact Benicia State Parks Association at 745-3670.