Foundation hosts Halloween dance to establish Benicia teen center

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

   

   

Super Fright Night showcases Bay Area championship teams, local artistry

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chamber hosts Halloween smash

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

   

Scarecrow competition is now underway

(Originally published in the 10/6/15 edition)

    If cooler weather and grocery shelves lined with pumpkin products aren’t enough to indicate that Halloween is just around the corner, the many scarecrows standing outside Benicia businesses should do the trick.

   Benicia Main Street will be holding its 8th Annual Scarecrow Contest through Oct. 31. Over 100 businesses on First Street and all across Benicia will be designing scarecrows to display either inside or outside their buildings. 

   Three mystery judges will pick their first, second and third place choices, and the public will be able to vote in the “People’s Choice” competition by picking up a ballot at participating businesses. Voting will end Oct. 19, after which the winners of both contests will be announced.

   Event Coordinator Deborah Housman said the idea for the event came about during a promotions committee meeting in 2008 to attract people to the downtown area. It has since extended to other parts of town, including Southampton Shopping Center, Solano Square and Rose Drive.

   “The response has been tremendous, especially since we’ve extended it outwards,” Housman said. “We have 128 participants this year.”

   The scarecrows offer a chance for businesses to show off their creativity. Last year, Pups ’n’ Purrz on First Street won the “People’s Choice” award with an evil-grinned black cat that was placed on the roof. First Impressions Salon & Spa, also on First Street, won first place in the mystery judges’ contest for its scarecrow depicting a skeleton woman with a beehive hairdo and curlers and a cardboard sign reading “A Look to Die For.”

   Housman noted the creativity of these scarecrows has been good for business.

   “A lot of them attract attention when they’re creative or funny,” she said. “They don’t even have to tie in to what the business is.”

   A lot of the scarecrows are inspired by popular culture, Housman said. Last year had two entries related to the Minions, the inescapable breakout characters from the “Despicable Me” films who had their own starring movie this past summer.

   Housman says voter turnout will be good for businesses who promote the contest.

   “When you have a business, you’ll have more of a chance to talk it up to customers and motivate them,” she said.

   Overall, Housman is pleased with the growth of the contest in past years and hopes it will become a tourist attraction for people visiting from out of town.

   A directory of this year’s participating businesses can be found at BeniciaMainStreet.org or any of the involved businesses. The winning scarecrows will still be on display after voting ends. To see a gallery of past contests, visit Benicia Main Street’s Facebook page. 

Ghost Walk explores Benicia's paranormal past

(Originally published in the 10/11/15 edition)

   When there’s something strange in your neighborhood, who ya gonna call?

   Well, if you happen to be on First Street this Friday, possibly you.

   Benicia Main Street will be hosting its sixth annual Ghost Walk this month, in which participants follow paranormal experts down First Street and learn about Benicia’s paranormal history.

   The event started being held in 2010, but Benicia Historical Society had been doing a Spirit Walk before then, complete with Benicia Old Town Theatre Group members dressed in costume.

   “That was more of an ‘If Jack London were on the street, this is what he would say,” Nancy Martinez, executive director of Benicia Main Street said.

   Eventually, the Benicia Historical Society wanted to take time off to regroup, Martinez said. In the meantime, Benicia Main Street staff were approached by a paranormal investigator about doing a ghost walk, and the event has been held ever since.

   The walk begins at the Railroad Depot where people will meet the paranormal investigators who walk them down First Street. Participants are given K2 meters that go off when near power sources. The tour will go down First Street, through D Street and back to the Depot

   “The investigators we have now are definitely putting you in the shoes of a ghost hunter,” Martinez said.

   The investigators this year are Deborah Hogarty and Serena Desoto, both of whom have a long history of inspecting paranormal activity.

   Hogarty investigated Wolfe Manor in Clovis, which has been a hotbed for paranormal sightings and was featured on TV shows like “Ghost Hunters” and “Ghost Adventures.” She also has been featured on CBS’ “Eye on the Bay” for her investigation of the historic Ryde Hotel in Walnut Grove.

   Desoto experienced a haunting in her home in 1999 and called Hogarty to investigate, according to a press release. Since then, she has been active in trying to uncover further information on paranormal discoveries.

   Along the way, participants will learn about Benicia’s alleged ghost sightings. 

   “There have been plenty of legends over the years,” Martinez said. “Our investigators are going off those leads.”

   Because of the high activity on First Street on Friday and Saturday nights, the walk is limited to just the street. With the exception of the Tannery, the tour does not go inside the buildings.

   The tour will also run into two characters played by actors; Ben, who lives at the Depot, and Carl, a former riverboat captain.

   “Carl likes his ladies and his whiskey, and he likes hanging out at Sailor Jack’s,” Martinez said.

   Martinez says that reception to the tour has been positive, and people don’t have to believe in ghosts to have a good time. 

   “You take away from it what you want,” she said. “We hope at the very least that you find it entertaining.”

   In addition to those fascinated by the supernatural, Martinez also says the event will be interesting for local history buffs.

   “If you’re new to Benicia or you’re an old timer, it’s a good way to refresh yourself with Benicia history,” she said. “It’s also a good way to learn about the paranormal that perhaps you didn’t know existed in Benicia.”

   The Ghost Walk will take place at 8 p.m. Fridays Oct. 16 and 30 and Saturdays Oct. 17 and 31. The tours will start at the Depot and will last between 90 minutes and an hour. Tours are $25 per person.

"Trunk or Treat" offers families fun alternative event for Halloween

(Originally published in the 10/16/15 edition)

   As in past Halloweens, Benicia families don’t have to feel restricted to just their neighborhoods to do trick-or-treating. Once again, Northgate Christian Fellowship will be putting on a fun, safe alternative to the usual routine.

   The Benicia church will be hosting its sixth annual Trunk or Treat event in the Benicia High School parking lot. For the gathering, volunteers decorate their cars in creative ways to act as houses. Families will then go from car to car, picking up candy just as they would for houses. 

   According to Executive Pastor Larry Davis, Trunk or Treat was founded in 2010 as a way to bring the community together on Halloween and allow them to have fun without walking up too many hills or onto poorly lit streets.

   “You don’t see as many children or families out trick-or-treating, and there’s a lot more empty houses,” he said. “What we wanted to do was create a fun, safe environment for families.”

   The church also decided that the event should have more than just trick-or-treating. Over time, Trunk or Treat has become like a mini carnival, incorporating costume contests, games, food vendors and live entertainment.

   “It’s basically bringing everything that you normally get from traditional trick-or-treating to one central location and then pump some steroids into it,” Davis said.

   In the last five years, Trunk or Treat has grown from an event with around 20 cars and under 1,000 attendees to one with more than 80 cars and 17,000 attendees. The attendance became so large that a separate Trunk or Treat event was added in Vallejo. In its first year, the Vallejo event attracted over 15,000 people, which Davis said caused some panic among event staff over providing candy.

   “We give out the candy for free, so there were lots of runs to Costco that evening,” he said. “Just that evening, I think we spent over $5,000 on Costco runs just so we didn’t run out of candy.”

   The Benicia location started out around the Bank of America parking lot in the Solano Square center, but the growing number of participants meant more space was needed so the event moved to the BHS parking lot last year. Davis says the move has worked better.

   “That solved a lot of issues as far as parking goes because it wasn’t interfering with businesses that were already there,” he said.

   Davis says Northgate is always looking for ways to make the event safer and more inclusive of all age groups. New this year will be clowns to entertain people waiting in line and more carnival games aimed at teenagers. Food will also be provided by the event’s sponsor, the recently opened Chick-fil-A in Vallejo.

   In addition to the attractions, Davis says he has seen a lot of creativity in the car decorations. Designs have ranged from pirate ships to the Ninja Turtles’ van.

   “The winning ones from the last couple of years have been a bit more interactive,” he said. “Some of them have had everything ranging from fog machines and flashing lights.”

   One entry last year had Frankenstein’s monster tied to a chair, and kids could pull a lever to turn on flashing lights.

   “It looked like Frankenstein was getting charged with electricity,” he said.

   Above all, Davis hopes the event will instill a sense of community among its attendees, which is why Northgate chose for the event to be free.

   “This is something where people can come and pause and focus on their kids laughing and having a good time,” he said. “It’s not a financial issue of ‘No, we can’t afford that’ or ‘Those games cost money.’ It’s important that people can take a moment to pause and focus on their families.”

   Trunk or Treat will be held from 6:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Oct. 31 at Benicia High School, located at 1101 Military West. The Vallejo event will be held at the same time at Waterfront Park, located at 298 Mare Island Way. The event is free and open to all ages.