Robert Semple Elementary to host murder mystery dinner theater show, "Death by Dessert"

(Originally published in the 5/1/16 edition)

We've heard of death by chocolate, but this is ridiculous.

Or maybe it is not so ridiculous. After all, the murder mystery dinner theater show, “Death by Dessert,” does go toward funding Robert Semple Elementary. It also will make for a very fun Friday night out for all.

The play centers around two families in Little Italy who own competing Italian restaurants. The families have long been at odds with each other, and this comes to a head when Maria, the owner of the building that houses these two restaurants, is found dead. With such bad blood between the two clans, everyone becomes a suspect.

Attendees will be able to cast their votes as to who they think killed Maria, and the winner will receive a prize and take photos with the cast. The cast will include members of Robert Semple, Mary Farmar and Matthew Turner Elementary's drama clubs as well as drama club alumni and Benicia Middle School advanced drama students. 

Since the setting of two Italian restaurants is sure to make audience members hungry, Robert Semple Student Council and drama club students will be providing an exquisite dinner for the evening. People who purchase tickets will get to choose from one of two entrees: baked ziti with Italian sausage or capellini pomodoro with garlic. Additionally, they will be able to choose from one of two delicious, non-fatal desserts: apple torte a la mode or cheese cake. Audience members will also get to enjoy salad and bread and butter with their entree. 

“Death By Dessert” will take place on Friday, May 13 at Robert Semple Elementary School, located at 2015 East 3^rd St. Check-in will begin at 5:45 p.m. Tickets are $40, which will include one entree, one dessert course, bread and butter, a salad, coffee and a raffle ticket. They can be purchased at RSE.BeniciaUnified.org. For more information, call 747-8360.  

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. 

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. 

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

Golf tournament to raise money for Hyland Teen Center

(Originally published in the 4/12/16 edition)

   The Kyle Hyland Foundation for Teen Support will be holding its first Kyle Hyland Foundation Golf Tournament Charity Fundraiser at the Mare Island Golf Club on Sunday, May 15. All proceeds will benefit the foundation’s new teen center.

   The foundation was set up by Barbara Gervase after her 16-year-old son Kyle Hyland’s suicide in December 2014 with the goal of promoting the awareness of teen suicide rates and providing a support network for teens suffering from anxiety or depression. One of the main objectives was the establishment of a teen center where Benicia youth ages 13 to 19 could come together, decompress, have fun and receive emotional support if they needed it. After nearly a year of looking for a reasonable space, Pastor Jerry Pollard of Gateway Church agreed to lend space for the center in an unutilized building behind the church at 1035 Military West. 

   The Hyland Teen Center officially opened on Jan. 22 with limited hours. Since then, it expanded its hours to 3 to 6:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 1 to 8 p.m. The center features game tables, a lounge area with a TV for video games and movies, a stage with a sound system and musical equipment, art supplies, a snack bar and a study area for teens to do homework. Additionally, on select Fridays the center will hold movie nights or theme nights such as Karaoke Night or Game Night.

   However, Gervase says some items are still needed such as a storage shed and laptops for teens to do their homework on. 

   “We are in need of extra funds so that we can sponsor activities, activity nights and theme nights at the teen center,” she said. 

   An ongoing fundraiser is currently being held through the crowdfunding site YouCaring.com, in which a link can be accessed through the foundation’s website. The golf fundraiser will be another way to raise money for the center.

   The format of the fundraiser will be a four-person scramble in which team members tee off on each hole and then determine which shot they liked best and mark that spot with a tee or ball marker. The other team members have to place their ball within one club length of the marked spot. Prizes will be given for the lowest team score, longest drive, closest to pin and longest putt. The fee is $110 per golfer or $400 for a four-person team until Friday, April 15 when the prices increase to $125 and $450 respectively. Entries will only be accepted through April 30. The entry will will include a continental breakfast, lunch, 18 holes of golf and a variety of balls. 

   The foundation is looking for local businesses to help sponsor the tournament and provide prizes for the ensuing silent auction. Details on sponsorship levels can be found at KyleHyland.com.

   The tournament will be held on May 15 at the Mare Island Golf Club, located at 1800 Club Drive in Vallejo. Registration and breakfast will begin at 9 a.m., and a shotgun start will take place at 11 a.m. For a registration form and additional information, visit KyleHyland.com. 

Rookies to cook ribs to benefit Benicia High's athletic department

(Originally published in the 4/8/16 edition)

Saturday, April 24 will be a day to honor Benicia High School's extracurricular programs. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., a classic car show will be held along First Street to benefit the BHS Panther Marching Band. As patrons gaze at the wonder of a 1968 Buick, Rookies Sports Bar and Grill will be hosting its Rib Cook-Off to raise money for Benicia High's athletic department.

   Rookies has been hosting its annual Rib Cook-Off for five years now. Bar manager Alex Storelee says her father, Rookies owner Rob, probably came up with the idea when the bar received a new smoker grill.

   "He decided a cookoff would be a good way to raise money for our schools," she said.

   Interested participants will be part of a team, who will have to pay a $50 entry fee.  Each team will receive two racks of traditional St. Louis pork ribs. Entrants will provide their own supplies and equipment, such as tables, chairs and cooking utilities. The teams will unload their vehicles and supplies as early as 6 a.m., as cars will not be allowed in the cooking area after 8 a.m.

   The teams are allowed to use whatever spices or sauces they want, but the ribs may only be cooked over charcoal or wood. Propane and bottled gas is prohibited.

   The judging will begin at 2 p.m. sharp. 

   "It will be a blind taste test judged on things like taste, tenderness and flavor," Storelee said. 

   There will be first, second and third place awards for winners.

   Additionally, there will be barbecue plate specials featuring meats cooked on the big red smoker that inspired the cookoff to begin with. There will also be a sports memorabilia raffle featuring items from Bay Area sports teams. Entrants can win paraphernalia associated with teams like the San Francisco Giants and Golden State Warriors, including a signed photograph of Stephen Curry.

   "It's a fun day for everyone of all ages," Storelee said. "It's a way to support our local high school sports program as well as our local business."

   The cookoff will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, April 24 at Rookies, located at 321 First St. Stop by Rookies to pick up your entry form or look in the Herald for Rookies advertisements. All teams will need to send at least one representative to attend a kick-off meeting at Rookies, 6 p.m., on Friday, April 22. For more information about this event, contact the bar at 746-7665 or visit its Facebook page at Facebook.com/rookiesbenicia.

JFK Library in Vallejo will celebrate National Poetry Month

(Originally published in the 4/8/16 edition)

   April is National Poetry Month, which means bards worldwide will have a chance to share their literary skills with others. Four local poets will be doing just that as part of the John F. Kennedy Library's National Poetry Month poetry reading and open mic night event. Other local scribes will be encouraged to join in.

   The event will be hosted by Genea Brice, Vallejo's poet laureate. Brice was named as the city's first poet laureate last summer and has led the Poetry in Notion meetings monthly at the JFK Library, where poets gather to share their love of the art form.

   “We are honored to have Genea Brice hosting this event,” library associate Jeff Kingman said in a statement. “She brings lots of talent and energy to her post as Vallejo’s first Poet Laureate. Genea has a special way of reading her work that makes the poems come alive—like music.”

   Brice will be joined by Kingman as well as Kyrah A. Ayres and Benicia's very own Johanna Ely. Ely is a member of the Benicia First Tuesday Poetry Group and has had her work published in two poetry anthologies, “Across the Genres” and “A Word for All Seasons.”

   After the readings by the four poets, there will be an open mic session where attendees will have the opportunity to show off their poetic abilities. The public will be able to sign up at the beginning of the event.

   The event will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, April 16 in the Joseph Room of the JFK Library, located at 505 Santa Clara St. in Vallejo. Admission is free, and refreshments will be served. For more information, visit SolanoLibrary.com or call the library at (866) 572-7587.  

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. 

Benicia Tree Foundation to maintain trees at Joe Henderson tomorrow

(Originally published in the 4/1/16 edition)

   In 2012, the Benicia Tree Foundation planted 80 trees at Joe Henderson Elementary School with the help of parents, students and faculty. Now that the establishment phase has passed, volunteers will be returning to the site Saturday to keep the trees in good shape. 

   The Benicia Tree Foundation works to strengthen the community by promoting the importance of planting and maintaining trees. As of December, the foundation has planted 639 trees in Benicia with ongoing projects taking place at the Veteran’s Hall, Benicia Housing Authority, Benicia Armory and six of Benicia Unified School District’s seven schools.

   In 2012, the foundation planted 80 trees at Joe Henderson, mostly coast live oaks and cedars. In the intervening time, Benicia Tree Foundation secretary Steven Goetz says, members and volunteers have worked to help the trees grow especially with the drought that has been occurring since the trees were planted.

   “What we’ve been doing since then is checking on them a couple times a year to make sure they’re growing well,” he said. “We’ve provided supplemental irrigation during the dry season for the first three years.”

   However, Goetz says the trees are now able to survive off rainfall, so participants are mainly going to make sure the trees will remain in good condition. They will add mulch where needed, do light pruning and check on tree stakes and remove them if they are no longer needed.

   “Adding mulch around the base of the trees will help retain moisture in the soil so the trees will be less stressed during the dry season,” Goetz said. 

   Goetz believes it is important for people to take care of the trees in their community because it will contribute to their well-being.

   “They help capture and sequester carbon into the soil, reduce the amount of stormwater that runs off into our street, provide shade around the play field at the schools and help clear the air,” he said.

   The tree maintenance day will take place from 9 a.m. to noon, tomorrow at Joe Henderson Elementary, located at 650 Hastings Drive. Tools and instruction will be provided, and participants should bring gloves if they have them. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult, and all participants will have to sign a waiver. No experience is necessary. Interested participants should RSVP by calling 745-4675 or emailing info@beniciatrees.org. A meeting point will be provided after an RSVP is given. The day will be canceled in the event of rain. 

Eight finalists chosen for Dixon May Fair's Battle of the Bands

 (Originally published in the 3/31/16 edition)

  The Dixon May Fair will be holding its first Battle of the Bands since 1977 and will feature some of the most promising bands in the Solano/Yolo/Sacramento area.

   After sifting through many demos from various entires, fair officials were able to settle on eight groups. The lucky artists to be selected were Sacramento alternative rock band Average League, Sacramento indie rock group Epsilona, Folsom hard rock band Heat of Damage, Davis Americana group The Nickel Slots, Vacaville alternative hard rock band They Went Ghost, Auburn avant garde indie rock group Trikome, Galt alternative rock band Some Fear None and Elk Grove alternative hard rock group Screwloose.

   “It is truly amazing the caliber of bands that entered the competition,” Fair CEO Patricia Conklin said in a statement. “We have bands that have been recognized with awards, opened for national recording artists and offer unique new sounds and exceptional vocals.”

   All bands will be performing on Friday, May 6 starting at 6 p.m. on the Picnic Stage. The winner will receive a $3,000 grand prize and will be automatically entered into the finals of the San Diego Battle of the Bands to be held in June. They will also receive a $2,000 travel stipend to compete in San Diego and a spot in the California State Fair to be held in Sacramento in July.

   The Dixon May Fair will be held from Thursday, May 5 to Sunday, May 8 at the Dixon Fairgrounds, located at 655 S First St. Other performers will include country singer Buck Ford, Beatles tribute band Hey Jude and “The Voice” contestant Lyndey Elm. There will also be a car show, a junior dog show, a demolition derby, a tractor pull and much more. For information on tickets, visit DixonMayFair.com.  

Local journalist to discuss California's first poet laureate at Fairfield Library

(Originally published in the 3/30/16 edition)

   In honor of National Poetry Month, Bay Area journalist Aleta George will be at the Fairfield Cordelia Library to discuss her new book “Ina Coolbrith: The Bittersweet Song of California's First Poet Laureate.”

   George, who has written for the San Francisco Chronicle and Los Angeles Times, has read passages from her book in several Bay Area locations and even promoted it on C-SPAN. 

   The book talks about the life of Coolbrith, who was named as the first poet laureate of California during the Panama-Pacific International Expansion in 1915 as well as the first poet laureate of any state in America. She was born in Nauvoo, Ill. as the daughter of Don Carlos Smith, the youngest brother of Mormon Church founder Joseph Smith. Coolbrith's views were rather progressive, as she fought gender discrimination in the workplace and even flirted with the idea of same-sex marriage, according to George.

   Coolbrith also had a respectable career as Oakland's first public librarian where she mentored a young Jack London. Additionally, she befriended John Muir and Mark Twain and continued writing poetry until her death in 1928.

   The discussion will take place at 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 12 at the Fairfield Cordelia Library, located at 5050 Business Center Drive in Fairfield. For more information, call 1-866-572-7587 or visit SolanoLibrary.com.

Rep. Mike Thompson to speak on Social Security bill today at Benicia Senior Center

(Originally published in the 3/30/16 edition)

    U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Napa) will be hosting a town 

hall meeting today at the Benicia Senior Center today to discuss the Social Security 2100 Act (H.R. 1391), which he was one of the original co-sponsors of. The bill's sponsor, Rep. John Larson (D-CT) will also be speaking.  

   H.R. 1391 was introduced to the House on March 17, 2015 and aims to provide an increase in benefits to current and future Social Security beneficiaries and cut taxes for its recipients. It also would amend Title II of the Social Security Act to increase the primary insurance amount formula factor from 90 to 93 percent of all beneficiaries, revise how cost-of-living adjustments are calculated using the Consumer Price Index and increase the minimum primary insurance amount for lifetime low earners based on years in the workforce. It would also raise the gross income threshold for the taxation of Social Security benefits from $25,000 to $50,000 for single taxpayers and from $32,000 to $100,000 for married taxpayers who file joint returns.

   Thompson, who represents Benicia in the House, will be speaking alongside Larson on the progress of the bill in Congress. Afterwards, they will take questions from attendees. Elizabeth Charles, the operations supervisor of the Social Security Administration's Vallejo office, will also be on hand to answer questions.

   The town hall meeting will take place 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. today at the Benicia Senior Center, located at 187 East L St. For more information, call the center at (707) 745-1202. 

Carter's Biz Cafes to host TED Talks viewing party and discussion

(Originally published in the 3/24/16 edition)

   In recent years, TED Talks have become popular in several different circles. Put on by the nonprofit Sapling Foundation, TED Talks are 18-minute lectures delivered by speakers big and small on a variety of academic, technological, scientific and cultural topics. More than 2,400 talks are available on TED.com, and by November 2012, these videos had been watched more than 1 billion times worldwide. 

   No matter what your interests are, you are likely to find a talk on something you’re interested in. Carter’s Biz Cafes in conjunction with Benicia Literary Arts and the Carquinez Village Project will be presenting three of them Saturday for a free event in the Commanding Officer’s Quarters. 

   According to BLA event team member Carolyn Plath, the genesis for the event came from a conversation between her and Carter’s Biz Cafes owner Carter Rankin. 

   “We both appreciate the spirit of TED which is founded on sharing powerful and inspiring ideas,” Plath said. 

   This will be the first ever TED Talks event to be held in Benicia. Over the course of 90 minutes, attendees will view three different TED Talks videos with time allotted for discussion after each.

   The first presentation will be engineer and biophysicist Hugh Herr’s 2014 lecture “The New Bionics That Let us Run, Climb and Dance.” Herr lost both of his legs in a climbing accident 30 years ago but was given prosthetic limbs that enabled him to climb again. He is now the head of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Biomechatronics research group.

   A discussion facilitated by Plath will follow the screening. According to Plath, this video was chosen by Rankin.

   “I think he was dazzled by the stunning achievements in bionics that are designed and built from the premise that no one needs to be physically disabled anymore,” she said.

   Plath selected the second video to be shown, “The Clues to a Great Story” by Pixar director and screenwriter Andrew Stanton. Stanton has been involved with nearly every film in the acclaimed animation studio’s filmography, and he even won Academy Awards for his work on “Finding Nemo” and “Wall-E.” Stanton’s presentation on how to tell a good story will be followed by a discussion facilitated by Plath.

   “In Benicia Literary Arts, we are all about supporting writers, so storytelling is a natural match,” she said.

   The third and final video will be “Older People are Happier” by psychologist Laura Carstensen in which she explains how the longer people live, the greater their quality of life and outlook on life will be. The ensuing discussion will be facilitated by BLA President Lois Requist and Carquinez Village Project co-founder Judie Donaldson, both of whom selected the video. 

   “The more I'm involved with the aging community, the more positive things I realize about being my age,” Requist, whose Carquinez Village Project establishes a support network for seniors, said. “I'd like more people to be aware of that. How many times do you hear people say, ‘It's all downhill from here?’ Well, it isn’t!”

   Plath says that all three videos should be of interest to Benicia residents.

   “While each one is quite different from the other, all three are fascinating and uplifting,” she said.  “If you come to see a specific one, I believe you will enjoy all three.”

   “Attendees are sure to be entertained and inspired,” she said. “We also believe that the event itself, gathering in our beautiful and historic Commanding Officer's Quarters with other lifelong learners, will be memorable.”

   The event will begin at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 26 at Carter’s Biz Cafes, located at 1 Commandant’s Lane. The event will be free, and light refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Plath at carolynplath2003@yahoo.com, Requist at loquuu@gmail.com, Rankin at  Carter@cartersbizcafes.com and Donaldson at judiedonaldson1@gmail.com. 

   

   

   

Rep. Mike Thompson's noodle dinner will feature civil rights icon

(Originally published in the 3/22/16 edition)

   Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Napa) will be hosting an International Noodle Dinner in Vallejo as part of an effort to know the constituents of his district- or rather let the citizens of his district know him.

   “He just wants to be a face and for people to know who he is and feel comfortable reaching out to them, rather than some figurehead in Washington who doesn’t ever come back and you don’t really know,” Thompson’s campaign events coordinator Mary Jane Bowker said. “He is a real person who cares tremendously about his district.”

   Thompson, who also represents Benicia as part of California’s 5th district, will be speaking for about 15 minutes on projects he has been working on for Solano and Contra Costa counties and deliver updates on what has been going on in Washington, D.C. All of this will be occurring as guests enjoy noodle dishes of several different nationalities, including Italian, Chinese, Filipino and Thai.

   Guests will also hear from Rep. John Lewis. In addition to having represented Georgia’s 5th district since 1987, Lewis was a major civil rights figure in the ‘60s. He was among the Big Six leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, which also included Martin Luther King, Jr. Lewis was president of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and played a big role in fighting segregation and racial discrimination. He was also one of the original Freedom Riders, spoke at the March on Washington in 1963 and led the 1965 march in Selma, Ala. in a day that later came to be known as “Bloody Sunday.”

   Thompson and Lewis have worked closely together, with Thompson even joining Lewis in Selma for the 50th anniversary of the march.

   “(Thompson) is a colleague of Mr. Lewis in Washington, D.C., and they work closely together,” Bowker said. “He asked him to come out here, and he said yes.”

   Additionally, there will be a raffle, free electronic recycling and a computers for nonprofits program. The company Computer Recycling Center will be giving out four recently refurbished Intel Core Duo/Dual Core Windows desktop computers to nonprofit organizations.

   “The reason we use this particular company is because they take all the toxic material out of the product and recycle them properly so nothing goes into the landfill,” Bowker said. 

   The computers in really good condition are refurbished and upgraded to Windows 8 so they can be delivered to nonprofits. Interested organizations should bring in a letter addressed to Steve Wyatt, including its 501(C) number and a short explanation on how its organization will be using these computers. The value of each system is $300.

   Bowker says the event will be a good way to educate people on the political system.

   “I think it’s very important that people get involved in the political system,” she said. “Politics starts in your home. It starts with people that are elected to the school board to city councils to supervisors. I think that the more people get involved, the more they become committed to the community. Mike wants people to know that he’s accessible. If you have a situation, question or problem, his offices are open and he wants to be very approachable.”

   The dinner will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., Saturday, April 2 at the Mare Island Museum, located at 1100 Railroad Ave. in Vallejo. Tickets are $25 for adults and free for children under 12. Tickets can be purchased in advance, at the door or online at MikeThompsonForCongress.com. For more information, call Bowker at (707) 226-8989.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Library will screen documentary exploring view of masculinity

(Originally published in the 3/17/16 edition)

   “Man up”…”Be a man”…”Boys don’t cry”…”You’re acting like a girl.”

   These are among the many common phrases that emphasize what society has determined what it means to be a man. Dictionary.com defines masculinity as “Something traditionally considered to be characteristic of a male” and lists among its synonyms “machismo,” “muscularity,” “strength” and “manliness.” Under this definition, a man is considered a man if he is tough and does not show emotion.

   But could this narrow definition of masculinity possibly have a damaging effect on young males? This is a question posed by the documentary, “The Mask You Live in,” which will be screened at Benicia Public Library next week. 

   “The Mask You Live in” was directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the wife of California Lt. Gov Gavin Newsom. The filmmaker had previously directed the 2011 documentary “Miss Representation,” which examined the poor portrayal of women in the media and how it contributed to the underrepresentation of women in powerful positions. The movie was an official selection at several film festivals across the country— including the Sundance Film Festival—and inspired Newsom to launch The Representation Project, a nonprofit aimed at using film for promoting positive portrayals of genders and combating stereotypes. 

   According to Library Teen Services Director Brandi Bette Smead, Benicia Public Library screened “Miss Represenation” after being approached by a parent. The screening was a huge success and prompted much discussion. 

   “The audience just came up with some really amazing questions,” she said. “The library closed at 9, and we actually didn’t finish our discussion until after the library had closed.” 

   When Smead heard Newsom was working on another documentary, she determined the library would do another screening when the movie came out.

   Whereas “Miss Representation” focused on the portrayal of women in the media, for “The Mask You Live in,” Newsom chose to set her sights on society’s portrayal of men and how it feeds into people’s perceptions of what it means to be masculine. According to “The Mask You Live in,” movies, TV shows, athletics, comic books and even some forms of music propagate the notion that men have to be strong and unsentimental to affirm their manhood. What this creates is a standard that young males feel they have to live up to, and the film argues that it has negative effects on their livelihoods. According to the Institute of Education Sciences, when compared to girls, boys are more likely to drop out of school, be enrolled in special education classes or be expelled. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also noted that three or more boys commit suicide every day and suicide is the third leading cause of death for boys. 

   Smead hopes the audience at next week’s screening is a mixture of teens and adults to provide different points of view.

   “If they’re an adult, they can say what it was like when they were a teenager being told to man up or hide your emotions,” she said. “I want to hear from girls’ points of view as well. I want a total mix in the audience.”

   “There’s a lot of teenagers who consider themselves gender fluid, so I’d like to hear from some of them,” she added. 

   Smead is also hoping to have a small panel consisting of a Benicia Unified School District psychologist, district teacher and student to help facilitate the discussion, which she hopes will be influential to attendees.

   “I think it’s important for everyone to understand- whether you’re a guy or a girl-to understand the pressures that society puts on you,” she said. “I think everyone should be free to respond naturally, not in a way that gender tells them they have to.”

   Smead says the film will give people plenty to talk about afterwards.

   “Whether or not the conversation is finished, it will open up a conversation to be continued,” she said.

   “The Mask You Live in” will be screened at 6 p.m., Wednesday, March 23 at the Benicia Public Library, located at 150 E L St. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call the library at (707) 746-4343. 

Poster courtesy of Benicia Public Library