League of Women Voters Benicia register more than 500 student voters

(Originally published in the 4/28/16 edition)

   To say that the 2016 general election is inescapable is an understatement. Even before Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex) became the first to officially announce his candidacy in March of 2015, the media had been fervently speculating who would become the next president, which was only inflamed by several others throwing their hats into the ring over the next year. Now, the race has dwindled down to five as of this writing: Democrats Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, and Republicans Cruz, John Kasich and Donald Trump.

What is perhaps even more exciting than this race is the fact that for many high school seniors, this is their first time voting. But it doesn't stop there: Solano County 18-year-olds will also be electing senators, congressmen, state senators, assemblymen, district supervisors, mayors and voting on ballot measures. To make sure students were prepared to vote in an informed way, League of Voters Benicia was there to help.

In March and April, the local chapter of the national nonpartisan organization aimed at encouraging civic engagement, visited more than 30 social science classes in high schools in Benicia, Vallejo and Fairfield, as well as Solano Community College. The campuses visited were Benicia High School and Liberty High School in Benicia, St. Patrick-St. Vincent High School and Jesse Bethel High School in Vallejo, and Fairfield High School, Sem Yeto High School and Matt Garcia Career and College Academy in Fairfield. 

Members of the Voter Services Team- including Susan Neuhaus, Harvey Rifkin, Peggy Lipper, Carin Coleridge, Gayle Vaughan, Eliza Wingate and Alvina Sheeley- delivered a Power Point presentation on the importance of voting, the offices up for election and the ballots on the June 7 primary. The presentations did not encourage students to vote for any particular candidate as the League of Women Voters is nonpartisan, but they did highlight how essential voting is. 

“We had a slide that said 'Denial and ignorance are the enemies of democracy' and had a picture of an ostrich with his head in the sand,” Vaughan said. 

They also showed a graph of the 2012 election in which the youth voter turnout was only 41.2 percent and encouraged them to beat that number. After the presentation, registration forms were given out, and more than 500 students ended up signing up to vote.

The presentations were also informative to the teachers as well. LWV had discussed California's semi-open primaries, in which those who registered under “No Party Preference” could request a Democratic, Libertarian or American Independent ballot, but not Republican, Green or Peace and Freedom Party ballots. 

“A couple of the teachers, once we said that, said ‘Oh, I think I need to change my registration,’ so some of them changed their registration so they could vote for the candidate they wanted,” Vaughan said. “The kids were very careful about that, and they asked a lot of questions.”

Since California requires two weeks of civic instruction on the voting processes in U.S. government and economics classes prior to the primary and general elections, Vaughan said the level of prior knowledge students had varied from class to class.

“Some classes had really gone over it and informed students how the process worked, while others had just gone over the government process,” she said.

The 2016 election is unique in that new voters will be affecting all three branches of government. They will not only be electing a new president but also a new California senator, as Barbara Boxer will be retiring after 24 years, which Vaughan noted is longer than this new crop of voters has been born. Additionally, who they elect as president could determine the next Supreme Court justice.

At the local level, Benicians will be voting for a mayor, Councilmembers, district supervisors and more.

“Not often do you get all levels of government in one election,” Vaughan said.
Vaughan said this election is exciting for 18-year-olds not only because it will be their first time voting but also because they have the power to really make a difference.

“This one is important because many things can be changed right now,” she said. “If you’re interested in making change, now’s the time to do it.”

Those looking to register to vote can pick up forms at the post office, library and City Hall. You can also register online by going toRegistertovote.ca.gov.

Rellik to bring piano madness to Benicia every Wednesday

(Originally published in the 4/27/16 edition)

   The Rellik Tavern has long been a prime spot for nightlife in Benicia. In addition to having a full bar, lounge area and tapas menu, it also is a place where patrons can enjoy live music, open mic nights, ‘80s dance parties and a whole lot more.

   Contributing to that whole lot more is the Rellik’s newest weekly event series, Dueling Pianos.

   Every Wednesday night from 7 to 10 p.m., the Rellik will rotate two piano players every week- some local and some just passing through town- who will perform renditions of virtually any song that is requested- emphasis on the any. Tonight will be the first such show, and Rellik co-owner Delando Pagan says he has been meaning to do a dueling pianos event for a while. He and his wife, Rellik co-owner Zoey, are big fans of the format.

   “Whenever we’re in Vegas, we never miss a dueling piano act up there,” he said. “We’ve been meaning to do this for a long time, and we finally got the right crew together.”

   The format of a dueling pianos event is pretty simple. Patrons will go up to one of two piano players and provide tips along with a written request for a song they would like to hear. The piano players will then go through the list and each play a song. What types of songs can be requested? Pretty much anything. Patrons will be treated to not only standard piano fare from Elton John or John Legend but a wide variety of songs from different artists, ranging from Franz Liszt to Franz Ferdinand. From heavy metal to hip-hop to country to dance-pop, nothing is forbidden. If you have ever wanted to witness piano-fied covers of Van Halen’s “Panama” or Sir Mix-a-Lot’s “Baby Got Back” in person, then Wednesday nights at the Rellik will be for you.

   However, you do not have to feel like you should listen to every song that gets requested. For example, if one of the pianists starts playing a Justin Bieber track and you do not want to hear it, then you can tip the opposite pianist to stop the song, and then the other piano player will play a new song.

   “It’s fun, it’s interactive and there’s a lot of sing-alongs,” Pagan said. “It’s part music and part comedy.”

   Pagan says the event will be a great way to celebrate birthdays or bachelor/bachelorette parties, and it will also provide something new to Solano County.

   “There’s nothing like that in Solano County right now,” he said. “I think the closest dueling piano act is in Danville and San Francisco, so it will be something fun for everybody on this side of the bay to come to.”

   Pagan says the nights will be a fun way for Benicians to experience something new and crazy.

   “Every time my wife and I have ever been to one, once you get caught up in it you’re pretty much there until it’s over,” he said.

   He also believes the event will draw people from outside Benicia as well.

   “Hopefully, it will become a destination every Wednesday,” he said. “People will come not just from Benicia but also outside the area. It will bring more people downtown to our little historic waterfront area.”

   “It will definitely be something new for Benicia,” he added.

   The Rellik Tavern is located at 726 First St. For more information, call 746-1137 or visit TheRellikTavern.com. 

Photo courtesy of Delando Pagan

Jason Marion, a pianist who plays at Venue in San Francisco as well as numerous gigs in las Vegas, will be one of the piano players in the Rellik tavern's Dueling Pianos nights. 

   

   

Benicia Main Street gets into the giving mood

(Originally published in the 4/26/16 edition)

   Winter is always seen as the season of giving- it is the season in which Christmas falls, after all. However, people really should be benefiting those in need throughout the entire year. Benicia Main Street recently came up with the idea to tie the concept of giving with the season of spring for its weeklong promotion titled Spring into Giving. 

   “We were just throwing around ideas that had to do with spring,” Deborah Housman, Benicia Main Street’s event coordinator, said. “We thought ‘The community is really giving, with a lot of different charities, so how can we tie a shopping promotion with a charity cause?’”

   Out of this brainstorming came Spring into Giving, a promotional event lasting from Sunday, April 30 to Sunday, May 7. The event will benefit Benicia’s Family Resource Center, a community center supervised by Benicia Police Department’s Special Operation Division. The center provides assistance for families and offers parent education and family support services.

   People who drop off suggested donation items at Benicia Main Street during the week will receive a discount card valid with 33 participating downtown businesses. These include Bookshop Benicia, Camellia Tea Room, First Street Cafe, First Impressions Salon and Spa, Pups ’N’ Purrz, Union Hotel, Christina S Fashion Destination, Venticellos Ristorante Italiano, Angel Heart 4 You, Roberto’s Fine Jewelry, Wellness Wisdom and many others. 

   The goal is to stock the Family Resource Center’s closet with emergency family products. Suggested donation items include diapers, baby wipes, baby shampoos and soap, feminine hygiene products, deodorant, bath towels, wash cloths, socks, hair brushes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, body wash and more. 

   “Spring into Giving is a win-win all around,” Benicia Main Street Executive Director Nancy Martinez said in a statement. “The public gets to learn about and donate to a great community cause, while supporting local downtown businesses.”

   Benicia Main Street is located at 90 Main St. and open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursdays and weekends. For more information, visit BeniciaMainStreet.org or call 745-9791. 

   People can also drop off donations at the Family Resource Center, located at 150 East K St. However, appoints should be made ahead of time by calling 746-4352. For more information, email Blanche Hillman at bhillman@ci.benicia.ca.us. 

Peppino D'Agostino returns to Benicia Historical Museum

(Originally published in the 4/24/16 edition)

   Internationally renowned guitarist Peppino D’Agostino will make his return to the Benicia Historical Museum on Saturday. Fresh off the release of his newest album “Penumbra,” the Sicilian-born musician is coming off more than three decades as an acclaimed acoustic guitar player. He has performed in 26 countries, worked with other greats like Tommy Emmanuel and Leo Kottke and was even named Best Acoustic Guitarist by readers of Guitar Player magazine in 2007.

   Before moving to Benicia in the ‘80s, D’Agostino grew up in Torino, Italy where he was drawn to music by his cousin.

   “I began playing guitar at the age of 10 when I heard my cousin Peppino (yes, same name) playing in a church,” he said. “I got a few lessons from him, and then I embarked on a journey of self-study and further exploration on the guitar and in music that continues today. ”

   Early on, D’Agostino was influenced by The Beatles and Italian pop songs and later by electric guitarists like Carlos Santana and John McLaughlin. 

   “After that first phase I discovered the acoustic guitar by listening to musicians such as Leo Kottke and John Renbourn,” he said. “Then I fell in love with Brazilian music, classical music (and) improvised music. Now I listen to everything from Bach, Mozart, Piazzolla and even some pop artists.” 

   D’Agostino believes that music can be a force for good and appreciates the stripped-down nature of the acoustic guitar.

   “Music helps us feel human again and lift all of us to a better state of mind and open our hearts to beauty and emotions,” he said. “Making music on an acoustic guitar is special because the sounds is essentially produced by your fingers in contact with the fretboard and then amplified by a wooden sound box without any special effects or pedals. It's real, beautiful and captivating. ”

   Since living in Benicia, D’Agostino has gotten to know a wide variety of talented local musicians, including Stef Burns, an electric guitarist who has worked with Alice Cooper and Huey Lewis and the News; Jeff Campitelli, a drummer for guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani; Annabelle Marie, the director of the choir group VOENA; and many more.

   “It's amazing to have so many people involved in music in a relatively small town,” D’Agostino said. “The Dunlop Company, one of the most well-known music accessories factories in the world is in town,  as is Masaki Liu at Onewaystudio who's one of the best sound engineer that I ever met, and AnneMarie Martins who's one of the best booking agents in the business.”

   He has also said that whether playing in a small town in America or a larger venue in Italy, he feels the warmth of the audience.

   “In both countries I have family, friends and fans that makes me feel at home when I perform,” he said. 

   D’Agostino has recorded several albums and toured extensively for the past few decades while still finding room for other projects. He recently completed the score for a documentary titled “Journey to Baja: A Tale of Three Travelers,” about gray whales, elephant seals and brown pelicans. The documentary will be shown at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

   “It was a wonderful experience to support with my music such a great American institution that works to protect ocean life for future generations,” he said.

   D’Agostino is thrilled to be playing at the museum again, and he hinted that there may be surprise guests. One of the confirmed collaborators for a few songs will be D’Agostino’s friend Steve Olsen.

   “He plays pedal steel guitar and violin beautifully,” he said. 

   The concert will be held at 8 p.m., Saturday, April 30 in Stone Hall at the Benicia Historical Museum, located at 2060 Camel Road. Doors open at 7 p.m., and there will be a ho-host bar. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased online at BrownPaperTickets.com or at the museum gift shop, Wednesdays through Sundays, 1 to 4 p.m. For more information, call (707) 745-5435. 

School board hears about further efforts to create safe, welcoming schools at Thursday's meeting

(Originally published in the 4/24/16 edition)

   Dr. Carolyn Patton, the director of special services to Benicia Unified School District, presented an update to the school board on the work being done to create Safe and Welcoming Schools at Thursday’s meeting. Three programs were highlighted, which fit in with Superintendent Charles Young’s goal of creating and maintaining schools that were safe and welcoming. 

   The three programs that were discussed were Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) at the elementary schools, the Second Step and Special Friends Supports program also at the elementary schools and the Sources of Strength program at Benicia High School.

   “Just a disclaimer: these are not all of the things we are doing toward these goals, so I don’t want you to think this is it,” Patton said. 

   Patton then talked about about the goals of PBIS, which academically covers topics like what students are expected to learn, how those lessons should be taught, what faculty should do if students do not learn it and how they should intervene. As Patton noted, those same topics could be applied at the social and emotional level. She then allowed Benicia Middle School teacher Faith Shaw, Liberty High School Principal Joann Severson and Robert Semple Elementary School Principal Christina Moore go over what their schools were doing in their PBIS training. 

   “It really is about teaching our kids behavioral expectations,” Patton said. “Just like we don’t expect kids coming into school knowing how to read, we shouldn’t expect them to come into school with the same behavioral expectations or understanding. We really need to teach those things and help reinforce them in a positive way.”

   Next to present was BUSD psychologist Kelli Leiner who talked about the Special Friends and Second Step programs at the elementary schools. Special Friends is an early mental health intervention program in which students and specially trained aides interact one-on-one in a playroom.

   “Students who are identified for this program are usually demonstrating some mild to moderate adjustment issues,” Leiner said. “There could be anything from being new to the school to a loss.”

   Second Step is a social skills program, usually consisting of groups of two to four students. Leiner then introduced Joan Burnett, a Special Friends aide at Robert Semple, who then introduced three students who had participated in the program.

   Patton then introduced Mental Health Coordinator Jessica Garcia to talk about a new program at Benicia High called Sources of Strength.

   Sources of Strength is a suicide prevention program consisting of 65 students and 11 faculty members including Garcia and three of the school’s counselors. The group meets every other week in peer groups to foster a sense of positivity for students dealing with anxiety or depression. The idea for the program was brought forth by Barbara Gervase, the mother of 16-year-old Benicia High student Kyle Hyland who died by suicide in 2014. 

   “I’m very happy that you agreed to finally bring that program to BHS,” Gervase said in a public comment before the presentation. “From what I’ve heard, it’s been going wonderfully well. One of the things that I’m asking from you is that if this program is working so well, then we need to make an effort to bring it to more kids at BHS because it’s limited.” 

   Gervase also recommended bringing the program to Benicia Middle School, as students tend to begin exhibiting mental health issues at the middle school level. 

   To demonstrate what students were learning, sophomore Amaya Clark talked about a 21-day challenge in which students were given journals to write about three things they were grateful for.

   “I noticed for the first day I kind of did broad things,” she said. “By the fourth day, I had to really think about things I was grateful and appreciative for, and I had to be more specific because I would have ran out of things. It just made me have an open mind and think ‘Wow, I really am grateful for this.’ It was a really good idea.”

   The board’s trustees praised the presentation. 

   “This is probably the best presentation I’ve ever seen, and I’ve been on the board 12 years,” Andre Stewart said. 

   Stewart said he has hired interns who did not know how to talk to adults.

   “This first thing you’re teaching them (PBIS) will teach them how to have presence, how to present themselves and how to talk to adults,” he said. 

   Stewart made the recommendation that the district work to provide more counseling support by hiring more staff. Currently, Benicia High has three counselors- Justin Keppel, Megan Guenther and Kathleen Wallace- to serve the needs of 1,700 students, which does not meet the California Department of Education’s recommended ratio.

   “I think you will be pleased with the recommendations coming forward in the LCAP,” Patton said. 

   In other business, the board voted to set the retention for Benicia High’s stadium renovation project at 10 percent because the project is substantially complex, and Young formally introduced Damian Scott as the new principal of Benicia Middle School. 

   

Benicia High students donate hair to benefit cancer victims

(Originally published in the 4/22/16 edition)

   On Thursday, the Multi Purpose Room at Benicia High School became a miniature barbershop where girls could get haircuts for a good cause. The Make the Cut event was part of hair care company Pantene’s Beautiful Lengths campaign in which eight inches of hair would be donated to the company to made into wigs for cancer victims.

   The event was the brainchild of junior Clare Rodgers, who had donated hair twice before and lost someone close to her to cancer.

   “My good friend Mille Duvall passed away from cancer and lost her hair,” she said.

   Rodgers began promoting the event on social media and put fliers around campus. She ended up getting seven participants, which was more than she expected.

   “I was expecting five people, so when we got seven, that was really awesome,” she said. “It’s great to see people support their friends.”

   Additionally, Rodgers sent out an email to Class of 2013 alumna Samantha Cruz, who works at Peter Thomas Hair in Berkeley. Cruz then brought along her co-worker Terra Allen to assist with the haircutting.

   “I have done cuts for people donating hair before but not as a whole event,” Allen said. “I thought it would be a really good opportunity to help others.”

   One of the participants was sophomore Lily Chase whose mother Theresa was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2008. Theresa was the first person to get her hair cut.

   “I’m glad my mom was able to get the first cut so I could show respect to her and her fight,” Lily said.

   Other participants were happy to help in any way they could.

   “I’d been growing my hair out for a long time with the intention of really growing it out,” sophomore Morgan Bundy said. “I wanted to do something good instead of just cut it.”

   Everyone agreed that donating hair was a strong way to provide support for the many people who have experienced such a widespread disease.

   “There are a lot of people who have been touched by cancer,” Allen said. “I recently found out my grandmother has two months to live, so I wanted to help out. It’s a very good cause.”

   To learn more about the campaign, visit pantene.com and click on the “Beautiful Lengths” tab. 

Photo by Nick Sestanovich

Terra Allen cuts sophomore Lily Chase's hair at Benicia High School's Make the Cut event, in which students donated 8 inches of hair to Pantene, which then makes the hair into a wig for cancer victims. Chase's mother Theresa was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and was the first to have her hair cut that day.

Sac State professor will cover California's geologic history tonight at Camellia Tea Room

(Originally published in the 4/21/16 edition. The print edition accidentally left out the headline.)

   Many talks by the Benicia Historical Society focus on the local history of Benicia and California as it pertains to people and places. Tonight’s lecture will focus on a different kind of history: California’s geologic history.

   Steven Skinner, an assistant professor of geology and geophysics at Sacramento State University will be delivering the talk. Skinner’s work has researched the history of subduction zones and rifted margins using field observations and geophysical methods. Other areas of interest include the tectonic applications of paleomagnetism and plate reconstructions. His line of work has brought him to study rocks in places like Antarctica, Peru and El Centro. 

   Skinner’s talk will go over the geologic history of California as it pertains to the tectonic assembly of the western coasts of America and Canada. His main focus will be the geologic events recorded in rocks around the Carquinez Strait.

   The talk will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. tonight at Camellia Tea Room, located at 828 First St. Admission is free for members and $5 for non-members. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, visit BeniciaHistoricalSociety.org. 

Benicia High revisits Dr. Seuss for spring musical

(Originally published in the 4/20/16 edition. The discount ticket price and phone number for additional information have been corrected.)

   Dr. Seuss needs no introduction. The famed author has done as much to shape the last five or six generations of children as any of their parents. Of course, his success is not limited to just books. His works have also inspired countless animated TV specials, movies, children's edutainment shows and even a theme park in Orlando.

   With all the media that he has inspired, it only makes sense that Dr. Seuss’ works would inspire a Broadway musical, which they did with “Seussical” in 2000. One rendition can be seen over the next two weekends as the newest Benicia High School Panther Production.

   “Seussical” is this semester’s spring musical at Benicia High. However, it is not the first time this play has been performed at the school, as it was also the spring musical  back in 2007. 

   “It’s the only play or musical that I’ve ever repeated in 17 years,” director Christine Mani said. “I decided to do it again because it perfectly fit the actors we have on hand. We have a lot of performers who are ready to push to the next level and have a part with a name.”

   However, this will not be the same “Seussical” that audiences saw in 2007. This version is more modern, with visual references to cellphones, video games and reality TV, although the script itself is largely the same.

   “We have it set in the very modern day, what would happen if Dr. Seuss wrote his books now and the technology we have available for us,” Mani said. “It’s still definitely a show that’s OK for kids, but it has a lot of references and enjoyment for the more mature humor.”

   The story centers around Horton, played by Hamish Dinsdale. The curious elephant discovers a speck of dust on which the inhabitants of a planet called Whoogle live. One of the citizens is a beta tester named Jojo (Pilar Gonzales) who tries to invent a new phone app but is punished for his individualism-- i.e., thinking too many “thinks.” In the meantime, Horton has to guard an egg left by vain reality TV star Mayzie La Bird (Maya Singh Sharkey). 

   As one can tell by the synopsis, the story is largely based on “Horton Hears a Who” and “Horton Hatches the Egg,” but the musical is filled to the brim with references and characters from other Dr. Seuss stories from “The Cat in the Hat” to “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” to “Gertrude McFuzz.” According to Mani, seeing these characters again, even in a new setting, will remind audiences of just how timeless Seuss’ works are.

   “It really is an honest story,” she said. “On the surface level, Dr. Seuss books seem very child-like, but they always have a very strong message behind them that doesn’t hit you over the head. It’s just one of those things that makes you say ‘Oh yeah’ and just agree with it.”

   “It does have those child-like elements in it that remind you of your youth,” she added.

   In addition to the hard work of the cast, director and set designers, the play will also utilize the talents of vocal director Vivian McLaughlin choreographers Staci Arriaga and Kevin Gruwell, and a live orchestra that performs backstage. The collaborative efforts of all will result in a show that everybody should go to- even if your name happens to be Marvin K. Mooney.

   “It’s colorful characters, lots of wonderful music, the dancing is superb, the singing is just fantastic and the story is relatable for people of all ages,” Mani said. “Even if people have seen it, it’s definitely a different ‘Seussical’ than anyone’s seen before.”

   “Seussical” will be performed on Friday, April 22 and 29 and Saturday, April 23 and 30 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, April 24 and May 1 at 2 p.m. All shows will be held in the school’s Performing Arts Building, located at 1101 Military West. Tickets are $14 for adults and $8 for students. There will be a $2 discount for tickets purchased in advance. Tickets can be purchased at the door or at BeniciaHighPerformingArts.org. For more information, call the school at 747-8325. 

(All photos by Nick Sestanovich)

Mayzie La Bird, played by Maya Singh Sharkey, holds the egg that Horton the Elephant, played by Hamish Hinsdale, sat on for 51 weeks.

Mayzie (Left) relaxes in Palm Beach with her assistant Renee the Beautician (Sydney Chow), leaving Horton to hatch the egg she laid.

   

   

   

   

District 3 candidate Gabe Griess to rock the vote with Vacaville music festival

(Originally published in the 4/19/16 edition)

   

   In 1992, MTV initiated its Rock the Vote campaign to encourage its audience of twentysomethings to get out and vote. The maneuver worked, as youth voter turnout in that year's presidential election increased by 6 percent over the previous presidential election in 1988. In 2004, the message was “Vote or Die,” and perhaps feeling threatened by this campaign, the youth made sure to vote, yielding a 10 percent increase from the 2000 election.

   However, with the lack of a youth-oriented voter campaign in 2012, the percentage of young voters that year was 41.2 percent, down 7 percent from 2008. As America experiences its most inescapable election in quite some time, this begs the question: is anyone “rocking the vote”?

   Well, Gabe Griess, a Democratic candidate for California's 3^rd State Senate District (which includes Benicia), certainly is. He is doing so with Polipalooza, a free political music festival at Vacaville's Buck Mansion aimed at encouraging the youth to get out the vote.

   “The number one goal of this campaign has always been to inspire participation at all levels, but the group with the most room for growth is young people, who voted at 8 percent last election cycle,” Griess said in a statement. “So we are hopeful this will motivate people to register to vote and continue to be civically engaged. Your voice and your vote counts!”

   Griess is a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate and veteran pilot of the War in Afghanistan. He is also a board member of the Solano Community College Educational Foundation, Rebuilding Together Solano, Vacaville Rotary Club and a trustee with the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post.

   The concert will feature six performers, three of whom come from Vacaville.

   The first local star to perform will be Lyndsey Elm, a former contestant on NBC's “The Voice” who got to be on Gwen Stefani's team. After the show propelled her into becoming a hometown hero, Elm has since sung the national anthem at a Golden State Warriors game, performed at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom's “Holidays in the Park” and recently released a new single “Nothin' On Me.” Her debut EP is slated to be released in the spring.

   The Used Blues Band are an award-winning blues group who perform popular blues and jazz standards, renditions of classic top 40 hits and selections from the Great American Songbook as well as their originals. The group has performed all over the Bay Area.

   Taryn Cross, a country singer who began performing at the age of 15 and is currently recording in Nashville, will also be playing. Cross has released two albums and had the opportunity to perform with country music superstars like Randy Travis and Eric Church.

   Also performing at Polipalooza will be San Francisco-based folk singer Steve Meckfessel, San Francisco soul singer Nina Grae, Chicago-based singer Sue Schultz and slam poet Neelam Kumar.

   Polipalooza will be held noon, Saturday April 23, at the historic Buck Mansion in Vacaville, located at 225 Buck Ave. The event is free for those who RSVP at VoteGabe.com/Polipalooza. Beer and wine will be served to those ages 21 and older, and food will be provided by chef Brian Wollin. Attendees must be registered to vote. For more information, visit VoteGabe.com/Polipalooza.  

Kamala Harris: City has right to deny Crude By Rail project

  (Originally published in the 4/17/16 edition)

   For the past three years, Valero’s proposed Crude By Rail project- which would extend Union Pacific Railroad tracks onto the refinery’s property to deliver barrels of North American crude oil by train instead of by boat- has triggered a debate in Benicia and beyond. Several notable figures have given their opinions on the project, its most recent opposing statement being delivered by California Attorney General Kamala Harris regarding the city’s right to deny Valero a land use permit.

   Harris- who is also the Democratic frontrunner in the U.S. Senate race to succeed retiring Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Ca)- had previously criticized the project in 2014 over what she saw as inadequacies in the Draft Environmental Impact Report. On Thursday, Harris submitted a letter to Principal Planner Amy Million authored by Deputy Attorney General Scott Lichtig. In the letter, Harris and Lichtig repeatedly noted that despite Valero’s assertion that the Interstate Commerce Commission Termination Act would prohibit the city from taking public safety risks into account in determining whether to approve or deny the project, both the Planning Commission and City Council have a right to deny the permit.

   “Due to these impacts, city staff has concluded that the project's benefits do not outweigh its significant and unavoidable environmental impacts,” Harris wrote.

   However, the letter also noted the argument of city staff that federal pre-emption would prohibit Benicia from considering rail-related impacts to make its decision. Harris did not agree with this notion.

   “Where, as here, an oil company proposes a project that is not subject to STB regulation and over which a public agency retains discretionary permitting authority, it would be a prejudicial abuse of discretion for that agency not to consider all of the project's foreseeable impacts in exercising its authority,” Harris wrote.

   Harris also noted that the most serious impacts of the project should not be ignored.

   “For Benicia to turn a blind eye to the most serious of the project’s environmental impacts, merely because they flow from federally-regulated rail operations, would be contrary to both state and federal law,” she opined.

   Harris also noted that while a denial of the project would take away from potential economic advantages for Union Pacific, it would not hurt the company’s railroad operations.

   “Union Pacific has no vested right in the completion of Valero's Project, and denial of 

Valero's project would not prevent or unreasonably interfere with Union Pacific's rail operations,” the letter stated. 

   Harris concluded by stating that the city is permitted in taking discretionary action in determining its decision.

   “In exercising that authority, state law requires the city to analyze and disclose the project's direct and indirect environmental impacts, and thus to be fully informed of the consequences of its action,” she wrote. “The. City has done that here, and its action has not interfered with federally regulated activities. Valero’s assertion that the Planning Commission’s action was illegal is without merit.”

   The letter drew praise from local environmental groups.

   “Attorney General Kamala Harris’ opinion vindicates what the Benicia Planning Commission, the people of Benicia, and our allies have always said -- that we have the local authority to deny this dangerous, unnecessary project,” Andres Soto of Benicians for a Safe and Healthy Community said. “This also clearly shows that Valero’s request for a delay was a distraction, designed to delay the inevitable vote to deny this project. We expect the Benicia City Council to now deny the continuance and uphold the Planning Commission’s decision to deny the project.”

   However, Valero employees did not agree with the letter.

   “We remain confident in our views related to the application of federal preemption in this matter,” Chris Howe, a director of Health, Safety, Environment and Government Affairs for Valero, said.

   City Council will be holding a Crude By Rail hearing at a special meeting at 7 p.m., Monday, April 18. The public is encouraged to deliver spoken comments at both this meeting and its regular meeting on Tuesday, April 19. The Council could be delivering a final vote at either meeting, so this is likely the final chance to have your voice heard on this subject. All meetings will take place in the Council Chambers at City hall, located at 250 E L St. 

Benicia Sustainability Commission to host electric vehicle exhibit at Mini Maker Faire

(Originally published in the 4/15/16 edition)

   A 2006 documentary asked the question “Who Killed the Electric Car?” The answer 10 years later: nobody. As attendees of tomorrow’s Mini Maker Faire will learn, the reports of the electric vehicle’s death have been greatly exaggerated.

   The Benicia Sustainability Commission will have an exhibit highlighting the growth of electric vehicles as well as the potentially positive impacts they could have for the future. 

   “The Mini Maker Faire’s very future-oriented, and I think people are getting more into doing things themselves and hands-on projects, and electric vehicles are very much the way of the future,” BSC commissioner Kathy Kerridge said.

   Kerridge owns a Chevrolet Volt, which will be on display at the Maker Faire along with a Chevrolet Spark, Nissan Leaf and Tesla Model S. Kerridge says she has been a proponent of electric vehicles for a long time, and owning a Volt has only deepened that appreciation.

   “I am now more of a proponent than ever just because of my own personal experience with the car,” she said.

   Among the benefits of electric vehicles that Kerridge cites are lower greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint, air pollution prevention and lower fuel costs.

   “They’re also super fun to drive,” she said. “They have incredibly fun acceleration, so if you like to go fast, they’re great.”

   The booth will have owners of electric cars answering questions from attendees and a video on why people drive electric cars. Unfortunately, Kerridge said, attendees will not be able to test drive these cars at the event.

   “We’ll be able to steer them to local dealers who have these vehicles and can do test drives,” she said. “Once people get in and test drive an electric car, it sells them on it. We hope people have enough interest that they go and test drive one.”

   Benicia Sustainability Commission will not be the only ones with an electric vehicle exhibit. Benicia company California E-Bike will be showing off electric assist bikes, and SolTrans will also have a bus on display. 

   “We hope people take away that these cars are great to drive, they’re economical and they’re great for the environment,” Kerridge said.

   The Mini Maker Faire will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, April 16 at Benicia Middle School, located at 1100 Southampton Road. For more information on the event, visit BeniciaMakerFaire.com. 

It's almost like being in Louvre: Carter's Biz Cafes to host weekly video lecture series on world famous French art museum

(Originally published in the 4/14/16 edition)

  As this writer can attest, the Louvre Museum is one of the great destinations of the world whether or not one has an interest in art. It is home to more than 35,000 works of art from the prehistoric ages to the present day. Some of the most famous works of art housed at the Louvre include Eugene Delacroix’s “Liberty Leading the People,” Alexandros of Antioch’s “Venus de Milo” sculpture and Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa.” With such a large collection, it is no wonder the Louvre is the most visited museum in the world.

   Unfortunately, a plane ticket to Paris costs about $1,258, and while the price to get into the Louvre is not too bad- roughly 9 euros- the lines to get in are enormous, so it is understandable why many would not be willing to make the trip.

   However, for those who have always wanted to experience centuries of art history, Carter’s Biz Cafes will be bringing the Louvre to Benicia…not literally, but people will be able to experience it through a weekly series of video lectures. 

   Carter’s Biz Cafes will be presenting The Great Courses video lecture series “Museum Masterpieces: The Louvre.” The Great Courses is a series of audio and video courses aimed at college-level students. The courses are produced by The Teaching Company and can be downloaded as maps and streamed. The Museum Masterpiece series focuses on the great museums of the world from the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the National Gallery of London. The Louvre videos cover everything from the museum’s origins to Da Vinci to Delacroix. 

   Starting May 7, the lectures at Carter’s Biz Cafes will be showing two 30-minute videos each day with time after each with discussion moderated by Carolyn Plath, an event team member of Benicia Literary Arts.

   The topics presented each week will be as follows:

   *May 7: 1. “Palace to Museum – The Story of the Louvre,” 2. “Leonardo and the Origins of the Collection.”

   *May 14: 3. “Italian Renaissance and Baroque Painting,” 4. “Spanish School of Painting.”

   *May 21: 5. “Rubens and Flemish Painting; Early German,” 6. “Rembrandt, Vermeer and Dutch Painting.”

   *May 28: 7. “De La Tour, Le Nain, and 17th Century Painting,” 8. “Claude and Poussin – French Painters in Rome.”

   *June 4: 9. “Watteau and Chardin,” 10. “Boucher, Fragonard, and the Rococo in France”

   *June 11: 11. “Jacques-Louis David and His School,” 12. “Delacroix and Ingres – The Great Dialectic.”

   Attendees may come to all screenings or pick and choose based on the eras they are most interested in. All screenings will begin at 11 a.m.

   Carter’s Biz Cafes is located at 1 Commandant’s Lane. The lectures are free of charge, but you must RSVP as seating is limited. Complimentary coffee, snacks and light refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact Carter Rankin at carter@carterzbizcafes.com or Carolyn Plath at carolynplath2003@yahoo.com. 

Photo by Nick Sestanovich

Three Benicia elementary schools receive Gold Ribbon honors

(Originally published in the 4/14/16 edition. The date for the regional ceremony has been corrected, although no further details on it are known.)

   Yesterday, State Superintendent of Public Schools Tom Torlakson announced that 772 California elementary schools are being honored under the Gold Ribbon Schools Awards Program. Sitting among this prestigious crop are three of Benicia's elementary schools: Mary Farmar Elementary, Joe Henderson Elementary and Robert Semple Elementary.

   The Gold Ribbon Award was created as a way to honor state schools, while the California Distinguished Schools Program is on hiatus as California creates new assessment and accountability systems. Nearly 6,000 elementary schools were eligible to apply, but only 7 percent of them were able to receive this honor.

   Schools applied based on a program or practice schools have adopted that can be replicated by other schools.

   “These schools shine as bright beacons for others, putting forth an exemplary effort to ensure that every student is ready for 21st century college and careers,” Torlakson said in a statement. “California teachers are developing an education model for the nation, training the students of today to be the problem-solvers, inventors and pioneers of tomorrow.”

   Mary Farmar highlighted its use of the Teacher College Reading and Writing Project, which aims for students to become strong readers, writers and thinkers through collaboration and solid instruction.

   Joe Henderson highlighted its efforts to improve literacy by building a reading life. This has been done through the implementation of a new reading room and its use of a web-based program called myON, where students can build their literacy skills through reading stories and poems even when they are at home.

   "We have built a love of reading through choice, stamina and instruction," Joe Henderson Principal Carin Garton said."Everything we've done at Joe Henderson has revolved around a love of reading."

   Robert Semple highlighted its use of Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports, its reading intervention program and the positive impact these programs have had on students.

   “Our receiving this award is based on the culmination of hard work done this year and last year,” Robert Semple Principal Christina Moore said. “It validates the specific programs we're working on the positive impact they've had on behavior and academics.”

   “We're so excited,” she said of receiving the award. “I'm overjoyed.”

   Matthew Turner Elementary, the one Benicia school that was not nominated, was recognized as a Distinguished School in 2014.

   All the nominated schools received a visit by a committee, and Superintedent Charles Young felt optimistic afterwards.

   “When visitations ended, they told us 'You guys are great. We're submitting your applications to the Department of Education,'” he said.

   Young also noted that one third of all recommendations from Solano County came from Benicia Unified School District.

   “It's a great achievement and continuing recognition of the hard work put in by staff,” Young said.

   "We're told by our families all the time what an exceptional job we do at educating kids," Garton said. "To have the state and county come in and recognize us for it makes it all the more worthwhile. It's kind of a dream come true."

   A regional ceremony will be held June 1.

Benicia Mini Maker Faire will once again put innovation on display

(Originally published in the 4/13/16 edition)

   Last year, Benicia Makerspace—the 501(c) 3 nonprofit group that brings local creators together in a space where they can share and build innovative, new ideas— held its first Mini Maker Faire at Benicia Middle School. It was such a success that, of course, a followup was inevitable. Like many great sequels, expect this one to retain what you loved about the first installment while building on it and bringing plenty of things you have not seen before.

   After all, creating things you have not seen before is what Benicia Makerspace is all about. 

   The organization began as the brainchild of President Aaron Newcomb and Liberty High School science teacher Nicci Nunes, who also serves as the organization’s secretary. It started as an internet fundraising campaign in 2012 and was formally registered as a nonprofit group in 2014. It began operating out of a portable on the grounds of Benicia Unified School District before moving into a permanent home at 4592 E Second St. in the Industrial Park last summer.

   “That really helped us build up momentum and get us to where we’re at today, where we have all kinds of physical hardware and software available for our members to use whenever they want,” Newcomb said. 

   Newcomb says the goal of Makerspace is to reintroduce the concept of hands-on learning to the Bay Area, something he feels has fallen by the wayside in recent decades. 

   “What we want to do is encourage both kids and adults to come back to learning in a real way,” he said. “By real, I mean a physical way, so not just in a classroom setting but to be able to apply what you learned in a classroom in a physical environment in a physical way.

   “If you’re learning advanced mathematics, you can come in and work on a project that applies to those theories that you’re learning into a product,” he added.

   What Newcomb and Nunes have done is create a space in Benicia where creators and entrepreneurs can come together to share their innovative ideas and be able to see them come into fruition. The space has all kinds of equipment that people can use to create their ideas, including woodworking tools, welding materials, computers and 3-D printers.

   “You can actually develop a product or part and take it over to the 3-D printer and print it out,” Newcomb said. “Within a few hours, your idea has gone from just an idea to an actual thing you can hold in your hands and test as a prototype.”

   Through Makerspace, people have created objects in the areas of robotics, alternative energy, Raspberry Pi computers and electric vehicles. 

   Newcomb said one of the most unique things he saw created in the studio was an articulated hand in which a button was pressed to make the fingers and joints curl up. The maker of this particular item is 13 years old. 

   “It’s really incredible to see someone of that age make something that a lot of adults would never dream of being able to make,” Newcomb said. 

   The articulated hand will be featured at this year’s Maker Faire, which will feature a cornucopia of interactive exhibits that will appeal to the entire family. Think of it as a mini-Exploratorium with just as many objects that adults and children will find equally enthralling.

   Some of the returning exhibits from last year include the giant bubble station and a station to launch paper rockets. There will also be a variety of new exhibits this year. Bay Area Engine Modelers will be brining in scale models of various engines. Tapigami creator Danny Scheible will be demonstrating how many sculptures can be created using just masking tape.San Francisco-based Riveropolis will have a 45-foot stream where people can create boats out of various materials to float and see how durable they are.

   There will also be a visit by some droids who traveled from a galaxy far, far away. Full-scale models of R2-D2 and BB-8 from “Star Wars” will be roaming around and interacting with attendees. People who attend the Faire will also have the chance to win a remote-controlled BB-8 toy from Hasbro. 

   Finally, Benicia Makerspace will have its own exhibit: an 8 foot by 16 foot laser maze. Participants will have to crawl through without touching the lasers and reach the end within the time limit. 

   Newcomb hopes the Faire will turn participants on to what is possible and also inspire them to start creating things in their garage or elsewhere.

   “If you think back to companies like Apple or Hewlett-Packard, they started in someone’s garage because they had an idea that sprang forward and they worked on it,” he said. “They weren’t afraid to try things out with their hands,” he said. “we hope people walk away saying, ‘Hey, this was a cool project. I’m going to go home and make one of those too.’”

   The Mini Maker Faire will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, April 16 at Benicia Middle School, located at 1100 Southampton Road. Tickets can be purchased at BeniciaMakerFaire.com, and they will actually be cheaper when purchased ahead of the event than on the day of. Tickets purchased before Saturday are $12 for adults, $6 for children ages 4 to 17 and $36 for families consisting of two adults and three children. For more information, contact Newcomb at aaron@BeniciamakerSpace.com or Nunes at nicci@BeniciaMakerSpace.com.