Annual Run for Education to once again raise money for Benicia schools Sunday

(Originally published in the 4/7/16 edition)

   It’s that time of year again when citizens of the community come together to literally run for a good cause: strengthening Benicia Unified School District’s educational programs.

   The Benicia Education Foundation will be holding its 9th annual Run for Education on Sunday, open to everyone from expert runners to first-time athletes. Runners can participate in two races. The 5-kilometer race starts at the Southern Pacific Railroad Depot at the end of First Street, winds through West H, West Second, West I, West 9th and West K streets before returning to First Street. The 10-kilometer race starts at the Benicia State Recreation Area’s Ridge Trail, peels off into West K and H streets, winds through Military West and ends on First Street. The event has managed to attract a wide variety of people, even from those outside the community. For instance, last year’s 5K winner, Melvin Nyairo, came all the way from Yuba City.

   Outgoing race director Teresa Zabrek, who has been helping new director Lisa Koenen in her transition, says more than 400 people have signed up for the event so far, but with spring break falling last week, she expects that number to grow this week.

   “We hope to hit 800 runners with over 100 volunteers,” Zabrek said. “We may fall a little short of our goal since the focus this year was more on transitioning to a new race director, but next year marks the 10^th Annual run so we are already thinking of fun ways to bring out the crowds to help us celebrate.”

   New this year is a registration site called Run Sign Up, which allows applicants to register a team or family for one handling fee, among other benefits.

   “This system is tied to Synergy Race Timing, so when people register their information is entered directly into the timing system,” Zabrek said. “People can register online right up to race start time with a credit card, and race results will be posted live on computers for people to get their results more quickly. We are very excited about all of the features this new system will offer to us as organizers and to our runners.”

   Additionally, there will be an early morning warm-up presented by Benicia Jazzercise, a performance of the national anthem by Benicia High School freshman Kirsten Lambincio, sponsor booths on the First Street Green and an awards ceremony. The winners of the 5k and 10K races will receive Benicia Downtown Dollars, and the top 3 of each age category receive medals. There will also be T-shirts distributed with a logo designed by Benicia High alumna Alison Harris-Abbott, founder of the company Designs by AHA. 

   A big theme for this year’s event is ensuring that all BUSD students are prepared for college. According to BEF Vice President and BUSD trustee Stacy Holguin, while the foundation has been working to raise money for library and technology resources, she says the district has been able to stabilize funding in this area. Now the focus is on making sure the district provides funding to build college and career readiness for students at all levels. 

   “After numerous stakeholder meetings with representatives from each school, BEF is developing a plan that will support student and parent engagement at the elementary schools, middle school and high schools,” she said. “While this list is not exhaustive, we plan to support an expansion of the STEAM Wheel at the elementary schools; Math Support Lab  and Naviance expansion at the Middle School; and guest speakers and additional resources for the college and career counselor at the high schools.”

   Additionally, Holguin says the foundation will have a mini grant fund that teachers and administrators can apply for to support programs that will help with college and career preparation. 

   Zabrek says the event is very popular and allows people from all walks of life to come together to support a great cause.

   “This is a great way to come together as a community to show our support of Benicia public schools,” she said. “Even if you don’t have kids in school it is a fun, healthy event to experience.”

   The Run for Education will take place from 8 to 11 a.m., Sunday, April 10. Race day registration begins at 7 a.m. at the First Street Green, located at the corner of First and B streets. People can also register at RunSignUp.com or at Earthly Nutrition, located at 872 Southampton Road. For more information, visit BeniciaRunForEducation.org. 

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. 

Santa to stop at Fire Department

(Originally published in the 12/4/15 edition)

   Santa Claus is coming to town.

   For the sixth year in a row, Saint Nicholas will be taking a break from supervising his elf workers up in the North Pole to pay a visit to the Benicia Fire Department on Dec. 19, giving children an opportunity to have their pictures taken with the jolly Christmas figure. This event has proven to be a big hit with children and parents alike.

   “Last year, we had approximately 400 people attend the event and we took approximately 170 pictures,” Fire Chief Jim Lydon said. 

   In addition, the Fire Department will be providing crafts to keep kids entertained as well as light refreshments. There will also be an opportunity to donate toys to those in need.

   Benicia Fire Department will be participating in Toys for Tots, the nonprofit organization founded in 1947 to give toys to children whose parents can not afford to buy them Christmas presents.

   “We do encourage people to support our toys program by bringing a toy to that event,” Lydon said.

   The toys must be newly purchased and unwrapped. The toys can be dropped off throughout the Christmas season at Fire Station 11 on 150 Military West, as well as Fire Station 12 on 601 Hastings Drive, The Benicia Senior Center on 187 East L St. and the Family Resource Center at  200 East L St.

   The Pictures with Santa event will take place from 4 to 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 19, in the garage area of Fire Station 11, located on Military West. Additionally, Santa will be in between the AT&T Store and Sport Clips at the Southampton Shopping Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays, Dec. 5, 12 and 19. Santa will also be at Pizza Pirate from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 16 and Sunday, Dec. 20. Pizza Pirate is located at 72 Solano Square, off Military East.