Benicia Magazine April 2023 Issue

Mary Hand

Linda Hastings

Darrell Mcelvane

Caitlin McCulloch

Cooper Mickelson

Gethsemane Moss, Ed.D

Kevin Nelson

Jean Purnell

Maura Sullivan

Brenda Turner-Adams

Gandy

Mickelson Michael J. Hill

Hall

Farnsworth Randal Mendoza and Debbie Weiss JoAnn Boccolini

Benicia

Thursdays April 27th to October 26th 4 - 8 pm (Jun-Aug) and 4 - 7 pm (Sep-Oct)

Thursdays April 27th to October 26th 4 - 8 pm (Jun-Aug) and 4 - 7 pm (Sep-Oct)

First Street between B & D Streets

First Street between B & D Streets

Sponsored by Benicia Main Street 90 First Street, Benicia

From the publisher

n From the Publisher

Well, I certainly hope so! March roared in like a lion, no doubt about it, with waterlogged earth, muddy paths, high winds, downed trees and new ponds and lakes in the middle of our open areas. Hopefully it will have left like a lamb by the time you’re reading this!

April is here and hopefully spring is underway. With Earth Day in this month we have focused on simple ways to lessen our footprint on our planet. The theme for Earth Day this year is Invest in Our Planet, which includes planting trees, reducing plastic consumption, and choosing sustainable fashion that aims towards ecologically and socially responsible clothing. There are several shops in Benicia that offer recycled, upcycled or sustainable clothing. This month is a perfect time to clean out your closet, sell or recycle what you absolutely won’t wear and use your imagination to upcycle your own wardrobe.

While April is a time of planting seeds and seedlings in hope of growing abundant flowers and vegetables, it is also a time to plant seeds of a different type. Getting involved in your community allows you to plant your own seed to help our community grow and thrive. The best way to help is by getting involved. Volunteer time, donate funds or help organizations plan their outreach. Even if you are time-constrained, there’s still much you can do to water that seedling.

Finally, I hope you enjoy getting to know Gloria McKenzie as much as we did. Down to earth but with a bit of sparkle and flash and sass, Gloria is a hardworking and energetic woman in her mid-eighties who has no plan to retire. She enjoys her work and she enjoys people, so next time you’re walking down First Street be sure to stop by her little jewelry store for a chat and a bit of sparkle.

April Showers bring May Flowers

MARY

n From the Editor

Spring cleaning.

April’s here, along with spring. It’s a great time to dig out from winter with a good old fashioned spring cleaning. Clear out the cobwebs, cull the closet, mop up after last winter’s atmospheric rivers.

Spring cleaning is a great opportunity to start fresh mid-year. Not only does it give you a clean living space, but it also lets you reset your mental state. Cleaning has long been thought of as an activity to help reduce stress and anxiety. The more cluttered our living space, the more clouded our mood and thought patterns tend to become.

Having just moved, I’ve realized just how much decluttering I have cut out for me this spring. Nothing dissolves the bubble wrap of nostalgia around unused items quite like a move. Do I still need this shirt from Boston Ballet’s Summer Intensive 2008? Gone. How about my collection of old birthday cards from friends and family? Recycled. Do I need this many pairs of shoes? Maybe…

With luck, some of my items will be salvageable enough to consign, but others will likely be donated to a second-hand store. One thing is certain: with each piece of my new home cleaned and organized, a little more of my sanity will return. And I wish the same for you.

Happy spring cleaning!

April Showers beniciamagazine Facebook.com/beniciamagazine

GENEVIEVE Post or send your suggestions & ideas to: Editor@beniciamagazine.com | Beniciamagazine.com Columns | Letters

EARTH EARTH EARTH

Dr. Gethsemane Moss

April 22nd is Earth Day. There are numerous ways we can educate ourselves about what is happening in our environment and how we can do our part to contribute to the longevity and health of planet Earth. The 2023 Earth Day theme is Invest in Our Planet, which entails planting trees, reducing plastic consumption, and choosing sustainable fashion that aims towards ecologically and socially responsible clothing.

Due to many recent natural disasters, some of our forests have been destroyed. Tree planting is one of many efforts to help rehabilitate our planet. For example, The Canopy Project helps to improve our environment and has planted millions of trees across the globe since 2010.

Under the leadership of Principal Kim Lewis, Benicia’s own Liberty High School students share in making our planet a better place by participating in the Forestry Challenge, a program that helps students understand the importance of environmental stewardship. The Liberty High School students participated in the 2022 Santa Cruz Forestry Challenge – Camp Butano Forest Health Project, which was spread over 44 acres. Students gained mathematical and scientific knowledge by collecting data and predicting future needs while analyzing the challenges faced by fire and the changing climate. The Forestry Challenge is an annual opportunity for students to understand the basic principles of forestry while connecting with academics and learning from professionals working in forestry.

Forests are some of our most important ecosystems and provide many benefits to both humans and the planet. Unfortunately, over 11 thousand acres per year are

disappearing quickly, significantly impacting over twentythousand species, the food chain, soil quality, and Earth’s temperature. The decline in species includes our bee population, which plays a significant role in our food supply and other vegetative pollination.

The students at Liberty High School also have the privilege of working with local gardeners every Wednesday at their very own greenhouse. Learning about the earth helps students understand the impact of nature and gardening with knowledge of the farm-to-table process.

In the photo: Liberty High School students conducted a post-treatment evaluation of a completed fuel reduction project at Camp Butano as part of the 2022 Santa Cruz Forestry Challenge.

As everyday consumers of planet Earth, there are several endeavors we can consider to do our part to save our planet, such as:

DIVERSITY Benicia Festival

n Caitlin McCulloch

Photo by Luke George

When there were people in Benicia’s community expressing interest in expanding the town’s diversity platforms, Neema Hekmat got to brainstorming and, with the help of others, settled on a diversity festival.

“There was a need to build bridges in our community—how is that best possible?” says Hekmat, who acts as a manager/event coordinator for the festival. “Arts and music are the common languages of love and a great way to build that understanding based on shared values. I was introduced to Bart Sullivan, director of Benicia Performing Arts, who was very interested in this idea. BPA are the hosts of this program and series; they’ve been very instrumental in making it all happen.”

This free, family-friendly event will take place outdoors from 11:00 am-5:00 pm on Saturday, April 22. This coincides with Earth Day, which will be honored at the festival as well. There’s no need to secure tickets; just show up whenever it's convenient for you. Head to the Benicia Marina Pavilion (which is near Benicia Yacht Club; the event is not on the First Street green). Food will also be available to purchase.

For Hekmat, this journey is bigger than this one day.

“It’s not just about the festival,” he says. “From sponsors, artists and volunteers to all of the other people taking interest— that’s the benefit of it. A community is being formed around this festival, circles around core organizers are growing, our network expansion is increasing. It’s an important output of this effort.”

Check things out for yourself—and get excited for what’s (hopefully) to come in the future. While over 300 attendees were present at the first festival in 2022 and over 80 artists participated (which they’re hoping to match or exceed this year), Hekmat and team would love to see this event grow.

“If we have more sponsors and more bandwidth, we’d love to make this a 2-day festival,” says Hekmat. “We have more artists than bandwidth at the moment and would love to accommodate more!”

Thank you to Starbucks, Pacifica Pizza, the City of Benicia, and the MNGL Fund for providing donations and grants. For those who are interested in sponsoring or donating to this event, please feel free to reach out to Neema directly at neemajaan@hotmail.com.

Voena choir

Our very own award-winning, international children’s choir will be singing.

Bunyip

This 3-piece collaboration, composed of drummer Hassan “Hot Sauce” Hurd, Australian guitarist Chris Robinson, and Garman/Liberian bassist Kai Eckhardt, is Benicia-based. The group is named after the Bunyip, an animal in Australian aboriginal mythology. Indian and African rhythms are often present in their music, which contains influences of jazz, rock, and funk.

Hawaiian

Dance led by Vanessa Boscia

Two local groups, Hālau Ka Waikahe Lani Mālie & Hālau Kahulaliwai Brentwood, will be performing Hawaiian dances.

Ramana Vieira

Contemporary-meets-traditional with the performance this Portuguese musical artist has in store. Fun fact: Benicia has deep Portuguese roots dating back to settlers in the 19th century.

Chinese ensemble

Bay Area artists of multiple generations will be performing traditional chinese entertainment, both through dance and music. Margaret Liang is the director.

Eamonn Flynn

Hailing from Dublin, Ireland, Eamonn Flynn has composed and produced music for many TV shows and films. Flynn now resides in San Francisco. His live show, Dublinesque, will be featured at the festival.

Ballet Afsaneh

This dance group local to the Bay Area specializes in Central Asian dance. Folk and traditional dance from Afghanistan will be performed. There will also be an opportunity for audience participation—attendees can learn Afghan movements.

Andre Thierry

Richmond, CA resident Andre Thierry brings “accordion soul” to the festival. His performance promises southern Louisiana creole flair. B

Here is a small sampling of the music and dance performances attendees can look forward to this year

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Limitless Lady Gloria McKenzie

n Genevieve Hand

“I’m really not that interesting, you know,” says Gloria McKenzie with a wry smile.

Born in 1938, at the end of the Great Depression, and part of the Silent Generation, Gloria McKenzie has seen and done a lot. These days, she can be found hauling out her 32lb jewelry cases and tables every Wednesday-Sunday on First Street, weather permitting. At 85 years old, she moves with the vitality of someone far younger. Residents are sure to be familiar with her shops, Twodays Jewelry and Next Door, fixtures of Benicia’s downtown for many years.

Gloria and her family moved from Gary, Indiana to Vacaville when she was around 5 years old – and when Vacaville’s population reached only 3,000 – to escape the cold which affected her after her recovery from rheumatic fever. “We drove across the country in a little 1937 car with four kids in the backseat,” she recalls of the move, “Probably drove my father crazy.” The family settled on a small farm. “We had a little acreand-a-half with chickens, cows, pigs, things like that,” says Gloria.

The family would eventually move to Oakland to be closer to their father’s job. Having been a crane operator at a steel mill in Indiana, he got a job at the only steel mill in the Bay Area at the time, in Emeryville. The commute between Vacaville and Emeryville was arduous, with only a two-lane highway in place of today’s expansive freeway system. “So, he would stay out there during the week and come visit on the weekends. Then eventually, I guess they got enough money together to move us all to Oakland.” This was when Gloria was around age 12.

Born into tough circumstances, those in the Silent Generation were known to keep their heads down and work hard, and Gloria is no different. Gloria began working as a teenager, with her first job at a nursery her friend’s mother owned. “Then, I got married when I was 17, and then divorced at 19,” she chuckles, “and so then I had to go back to work.” She found work at a jewelry wholesaler in Oakland and began cocktailing at night. She would continue cocktailing for 40 years while she worked various other jobs, often two or three at a time. Gloria worked as a courier for Lawrence Livermore Labs, carrying bids for secret projects to various suppliers in the days before computers; she worked at an office coffee supply business, at an organic cookie factory, and at a sign-making business. During this time, she remarried and had and raised two kids.

Her kids grew up and her son began selling jewelry out of a case. Eventually deciding he didn’t want to carry on with the jewelry sales, Gloria took over the business. She convinced the owner of one of the bars where she cocktailed to allow her to set up the jewelry stand in a corner of the bar. “I told her if she thought it would interfere with my work, then I wouldn’t do it, but it never interfered with my work.”

The jewelry business began taking off and Gloria eventually

took over her son’s baseball card shop lease at 612 First Street as her new storefront. “So, I was 55 years old when I started in 1992.” Gloria was living in Hayward at the time and still cocktailing in San Jose. “I was money-hungry,” she says, “but then it got to be too much, driving back and forth.” She had named the business Weekend Jewelry, reflecting her open hours on just Saturdays and Sundays. After a split with a business partner, she eventually changed the name to Twodays Jewelry.

The business began by selling jewelry indoors at the shop, “but it’s very hard to get people inside at a jewelry place because they think you’re going to hard-sell them.” One day she noticed a street festival in town where vendors had outdoor tables. She decided to move her jewelry table outside and “by golly, people started buying my stuff!” Gloria replicated her experiment the following day with successful results. “And so, that’s how that started with me being outside,” she says, “And it saved me during the pandemic because I was about the only business operating outside.”

The lease that Gloria took over was for both 612 and 610 First Street, so she opened Next Door, a novelty shop next door to Twodays Jewelry. Next Door has been closed for some time as the jewelry shop has taken more of Gloria’s focus. “I work very hard to get the best buy that I can; and then I don’t mark it up the way other jewelry stores do. I provide good product, and that’s why I’ve stayed in business,” she says.

Gloria lives in Brentwood now, fully embracing the warm – if not downright hot – weather that her family moved here for in the first place. Her kids are long grown and have kids of their own, ranging in age from 11 to 31. We’re glad her years of hard work led her to Benicia, so that she could become a part of the fabric of our town. B

"Born into tough circumstances, those in the Silent Generation were known to keep their heads down and work hard, and Gloria is no different"

Amazing Bald Eagles Benicia's

n Kevin Nelson

Photos by Ok Kyong Hanrahan

It was a huge bird, one of the biggest I’d ever seen. I had no idea what I was looking at. Fortunately a brown-haired teenager with “Seattle” stamped across the front of his T-shirt was standing across the street gazing upward at the same low-flying avian aircraft.

“Is that a golden eagle?” I asked him.

“It’s a bald eagle,” he replied happily.

I turned back to this moving vision. The distinctive whitefeathered head and regal beak that have been featured on stamps, flag decals, posters and endless nature photos became clear. What a marvelous turn of ornithological events! America’s national bird, gracing the skies of Benicia!

We were on Primrose Lane, in the Southampton hills, not far from little Gateway Park. The teen was busy taking pictures to show his dad, who was a bird watcher. I thanked him for stopping and catching my attention as he did, because otherwise I would have missed this smooth-gliding sight now vanishing like a dream into the open spaces behind the houses.

This was the first and, so far, the last time I have seen haliaeetus leucocephalus around here, but since then I’ve bumped into other people who’ve put eyes on one. Benicia resident Ron Pizzimenti is a trail biking enthusiast who rides all over the place, including up the big hill overlooking Lake Herman where he’s made sightings many times. We exchanged emails after we met and he sent me one of his eagle photographs—its wings fully outspread, poised atop a leafless branch on a skeletal tree, captured in that split-second before it lifts into the air.

To gain another perspective, I called Ok Kyong Hanrahan, who has probably had more bald eagle sightings in Benicia and the Carquinez Strait area than any other person. She’s a professional photographer whose gorgeous bird and wildlife images are on display at HQ Gallery on First Street.

She was profiled in a splendid article by Jean Purnell in this magazine a year ago, and her eagle photo, captured in Benicia, accompanies this article.

Bald eagles are famously monogamous; they mate for life. If you see one, you will likely see another nearby, his or her mate. And indeed, there are two bald eagles nesting on private land in trees near Lake Herman.

“There are definitely two over there,” Ok told me. “They have a nest around there in a private area. I’ve seen them at Lake Herman, usually sitting up on the big hill. You know that hill? You have to go early to see them. Before sunrise, right after sunrise. I walk up there and I wait and I’m very quiet and I don’t move. That’s how I get the closeups of them.”

Lake Herman acts as a water source and hunting grounds for the birds. Similarly, Southampton Bay in the state recreation area was a hang-out spot for two different bald eagles that lived across the strait in the woodlands between Port Costa and Crockett. The intrepid Hanrahan, who dresses in camo clothes to blend in with the scenery and not tip her subjects off that she’s there, would get up early to shoot that pair too. One morning she witnessed the astonishing sight of an eagle scooping a startled sea gull up off the water with its superstrong talons and having it for breakfast.

A wildfire a few years ago destroyed the nest of this couple, who had a pair of baby baldies. They’re long gone now, leaving the shy twosome at Lake Herman to turn heads and excite awe whenever they are spotted.

Not long ago, I was walking in the open spaces near the Hastings Drive firehouse when, not unlike that brown-haired teenager, I encountered a man with a grayish-tinged beard standing on the path staring into the sky. “You see that?” he said like a boy who, after a visit to Macys, had just seen Santa for the first time. “There’s a bald eagle. I just saw a bald eagle! It’s flying east over the houses. Maybe you can see it.”

My eyes followed where he was pointing but it was too late; all that were left were clouds. He went on, “I used to live in Evergreen, Colorado. It’s near Denver. There was this place in the hills we all would sit and watch bald eagles pass over. One after another. They’re huge. But to see one here in Benicia, that’s a first for me. Never seen that before.” B

"Bald eagles are famously monogamous; they mate for life. If you see one, you will likely see another nearby, his or her mate. And indeed, there are two bald eagles nesting on private land in trees near Lake Herman."

A SEED IN THE COMMUNITY

n Genevieve Hand

Photos by Luke George

A city thrives because of its people. Each of us has a vested interest in our collective community growing and thriving, and the best way to help our community is by simply getting involved. There are many charities and service organizations within Benicia that directly support Benicians so that the community at large may thrive.

Many of these organizations are long-standing, or local chapters of a larger entity, and some are grassroots, hyper-local organizations. But each one was started by an individual or group of individuals who saw a need – an underrepresented demographic or some other cause unmet by government institutions. These individuals are like gardeners in our community; planting the seed of an idea and nourishing it until it grows deep roots that touch the lives of many, uplifting the community as a whole. Such individuals include Tim and Jeannie Hamann (Tim and Jeannie Hamann Foundation), George Hyland and Barbara Gervase (Kyle Hyland Teen Center), and Natalie Kidder (Another Chapter), among many others.

There are others who make it their business to help these seedlings sprout and thrive. These take the form

of volunteers, board members, and the like. One such dedicated individual is Mike Caplin, who has served numerous community-centered organizations including chairing the Human Services Board, serving as president of the Benicia Historical Society and the Benicia Historical Museum, and currently serving as president of Benicia Community Action Council and Benicia Main Street. His involvement in community service is hard to match.

Lynn Parella, owner of The Chill wine bar, is another. She supports the community in her own way, by using her business to host bi-monthly Bingo nights, the proceeds of which go to various charities. She also supports the Hamann Foundation with her Uncork the Hope fundraiser. Penny Stell, another community activist, is well-known for her fundraising abilities and participation in organizations like Soroptimist International of Benicia, Benicia Economic Development Board, Benicia Library Foundation Board, and serving as Board President of Benicia Historical Museum. Yet another example of community involvement is the small group of neighbors, led by Doris Gates, who banded together during last winter’s storms to clean up the heaps of trash that got washed onto our shores.

There is no single “right” way to go about it. Getting involved in the community allows you to plant your own seed, establish roots, and grow along with the effort. Below is a non-exhaustive list of organizations in Benicia you might consider getting involved with. See a need that these organizations don’t address? Consider starting your own initiative!

Mike Caplin

Poverty and Education

• Another Chapter is an organization dedicated to promoting literacy in Solano County by providing books to individuals and families in need.

• Benicia’s Community Action Council is a nonprofit that connects economically disadvantaged citizens with services and resources.

• Soroptimist International of Benicia provides women and girls with access to education and training to achieve economic empowerment.

Environment

• The Benicia Tree Foundation supports the community through the promotion of tree planting, maintenance, and education.

• Benicia Litter Pickers is an organization dedicated to cleaning up trash around the city and providing free resources for others to help the cause.

Hunger

• The Benicia Holy Ghost Society, or B.D.E.S., is a nonprofit that, on its annual Holy Ghost Festa, provides free meals to roughly 1,000 people.

• St. Paul’s Episcopal provides a free community meal on Mondays and Wednesdays throughout the year.

• Food is Free Bay Area (formerly Food is Free Solano) combats food insecurity with local programs.

Kids

• The Kyle Hyland Foundation was established as a resource for local teens, offering mental health programs and other services.

• The Kiwanis Club focuses on serving the needs of children in the community.

• Benicia Family Resource Center focuses on providing information and referral services to families and children.

Senior Citizens

• Carquinez Village provides services, activities, and programs to Benicia’s senior citizens.

• Meals on Wheels Solano provides meals and socialization to homebound senior citizens in the county.

Other Niche Interests

• The Tim and Jeannie Hamann Foundation was established to provide support to cancer patients and their families.

• Benicia Performing Arts Foundation helps promote performing arts and education within the community, especially to youth.

• Benicia Main Street is a nonprofit focused on preserving Benicia’s historic downtown and promoting economic prosperity through small business development and support.

• Benicia Historical Society works to preserve the history of Benicia and California.

• Benicia Historical Museum works to engage and educate the public about the evolving history of Benicia. B

Jose’s Junk Removal

What Was

ld is New Again

n Mary Hand

In an effort to stem the flow of textile waste, which is a large contributor to global warming, there has been a rise in upcycled, recycled, eco-friendly and sustainably run clothing stores.

The extremely detrimental impact of fast fashion waste on the environment is no news. Besides being responsible for nearly 10% of global carbon emissions, the industry is also infamously known for the amount of resources it wastes and the millions of textiles ending up in landfills every day.

There are several shops in Benicia that specialize in quality used clothing, as well as shops that are eco-friendly.

RAGS TO RICHES

This out-of-the-way resale shop is located at the Historic Arsenal Park. "You have to seek it out, find it, all part of the fun," says Remy Regala, owner.

The consignment shop sells top name-brand merchandise for much less than their original cost. Everything is either gently used or new with the tags still attached.

946 Tyler Street STE C, 707.747.5050 |

Hours: Wednesday – Saturday, 11AM to 5PM

POCKET MONKEY VINTAGE

Pocket Monkey Vintage is Benicia’s only men’s vintage clothing store. There is a wide variety of clothing and inventory moves quickly. The shop boasts a wide assortment of Hawaiian shirts with many colorful, wonderful and often unusual designs.

560 First St, Benicia, 707.486.0518 |

Hours: Thursday – Sunday, 11AM to 6PM

ELISA’S COTTAGE

Collecting vintage clothing, jewelry, and accessories for over 50 years, Elisa has an amazing variety of unique items in the Cottage. Elisa's inventory is always changing, and you never know what wonderful treasures you may find. Join them for their regular Girl's Night Out Shopping event every last Friday of the month!

622, First Street – 707.712.9038 |

Hours: Wednesday – Sunday 12-6PM

GYPSY ROSE BOUTIQUE

An eclectic boutique with one of a kind clothing, jewelry and accessories. A collection that is frequently updated based on fashion forecasts. From vintage to gently used and new clothes, accessories, and collectibles, Gypsy Rose is full of interesting merchandise.

800 First Street – 510.706.3296 |

Hours: Thursday – Saturday 12PM to 5PM, Sunday 11AM to 5PM

SPARKLY RAGZ

An upscale consignment boutique that specializes in women’s new and like-new clothing, including designer handbags, unique jewelry and chic accessories. The shop offers high-end items without the high-end price tags and an eclectic mix of items. Their inventory also boasts the work of local artisans and hand-selected apparel from all over the world; and they purchase in small batches so that everything they offer is totally unique.

560 First Street – 707.426.4303 |

Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 12PM to 5PM, Sunday 12PM to 4PM Shop online at sparklyragz.com

RETRO DIVA

Retro Diva Alohawear sells men's, women's and children’s vintage Hawaiian clothing by appointment only. They are regulars at Tiki Kon and other vintage clothing events.

711 Jackson Street, Benicia, 510.504.3621

MY ADOPTED TREASURES

Brand new shop on First Street! This boutique offers eco-conscious curated clothing and accessories. With every purchase you make, you are saving materials from landfills, reducing air pollution, water pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. By appointment and online. 601 First Street, Suite 250-D, 925.808.8097 | myadoptedtreasures.com

There are not yet any examples of clothing stores that upcycle in Benicia, but we are sure that they are on the horizon. Upcycling is the process of taking textiles or pre-loved clothing and repurposing it into something brand new and unique.

In America alone, an estimated 11.3 million tons of textile waste – equivalent to 85% of all textiles – end up in landfills on a yearly basis. It’s past time to stop this and the power to do so is completely in our hands. Instead of cheap fast fashion, buy quality used or new. Yes, it might cost a little more, but you’re worth it. And so is our planet. B

s annual #KeepSolanoClean event at the 9th Street Park OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT

This event is part of a Book to Action program. It is supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.

This event is part of a Book to Action program. It is supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.

Benicia Vintage Home and Garden Tour

n Benicia Historical Society

The Benicia Historical Society will be presenting its Vintage Home and Garden Tour on Saturday, May 13, 2023, 11:00 am – 1:30 pm. The Society invites the public to purchase tickets to view some of Benicia’s historical gems. The Tour will take place the day before Mother’s Day and would make a wonderful gift.

The Historical Society’s 2020 historical home tour was, unfortunately, canceled. However, the Society is pleased to be able to once again present to the public some of Benicia’s fine historical treasures. The tour this year includes five historical homes, located in the Downtown Historic District and the beautiful Inn at Benicia Bay, a portion of which was constructed in 1854.

The tour will include the Riddell-Fish House, located at 245 West K Street, which is a City Landmark. It was the home of Henrietta Riddell-Fish, an accomplished landscape painter, and is of such a high quality that surely it could be placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Other historic homes on the tour this year are the Van Landschoot-Heuer Residence, located at 175 West H Street, the Henderson Residence, at 134 West H Street, the Brown Residence, at 215 West H Street, the Jenny-Hill Residence, located at 351 East K Street, and the Inn at Benicia Bay, 145 East D Street. All homes are within easy walking distance of each other in our historic downtown.

The Society is grateful for the owners willing to open their doors to allow the public to experience their historic interiors and architectural details. Tickets will be sold at Compass Real Estate and the Benicia Depot, with prices set at $35 for a regular tour, and a limited number of $60 tickets will be sold as a VIP experience, which will include wine and appetizers at the Inn at Benicia Bay. Tour participants are asked to please wear soft-soled shoes and please note that homes are not wheelchair accessible.

The Benicia Historical Society is a nonprofit that was founded in 1973 and has been hosting historical building tours for over thirty years. The historical home tour is a fundraiser for the organization. The mission of the Benicia Historical Society is to bring together people interested in the history of Benicia and California. The Society works to preserve the history and heritage of our historical town for current and future generations. For more information, please visit beniciahistoricalsociety.org. B

BENICIA

CO-SPONSORED BY COMPASS REAL ESTATE

From the Core

Celebrates Years

Did you know Benicia has a Pilates studio? Did you know it’s celebrating its 20th anniversary this month? From the Core was opened by Nancy Camilli in 2003 at its original location across from Big O Tires on Military East. In 2010, it moved to its present location on First Street, located across the fountained courtyard behind the Double Rainbow Cafe.

Nancy was always an active person. Even now, she admits she has trouble sitting still, and jokes that she’ll probably “die standing up.” Early in her adult life, she worked manufacturing contact lenses. On her breaks she would go for a run, and after work she’d go to the gym and do aerobics, every day. Her instructor at the gym finally convinced her to become an instructor herself, turning her happy place into her place of business.

In 1991, while Nancy was working as Fitness Director at a gym in El Sobrante, the owners purchased another gym in Vallejo, and Nancy moved as part of the package. Eventually, she was drawn to Benicia, and began only working with clients and gyms here. She has taught many forms of fitness and personal training styles, including Total Sculpt and Kickboxing, but ultimately found Pilates to be her calling. She began training in Pilates to rehab her body from the daily wear and tear it was undergoing, and found it to be transformative. “In the late ‘90s I realized getting older really takes a toll on your body,” she recalls, “I was teaching anywhere from 12-15 classes a week, so my body was starting to get little injuries here and there. As I started training in Pilates, I realized this was the way I was going to need to train in order to keep doing what I was doing.”

So, Nancy began racking up certifications, picking and choosing which Pilates methods she liked best to create her own unique blend. “First it was a fitness approach to Pilates, and then it became a therapeutic approach to Pilates, and post-rehabilitation is kind of where I landed.” For those who don’t know, Pilates is an exercise method often prescribed by physical therapists and other health professionals for injury rehabilitation. Its focus is on developing a mind-body connection and awareness while training deep stabilizing muscles within the body.

Nancy began teaching Pilates classes at a local gym in 1999, and opened her own Pilates studio in 2003. The move to the First Street location helped her business, which mainly thrived by word-of-mouth. The studio has a range of equipment for clients to work with, from Reformers to Pilates Chairs, to Springboards, to TRX; there is plenty to work with. She offers group classes, private classes, and duet classes. At least one private class is required for newcomers to Pilates before receiving the “okay” to jump into group classes. This ensures the client is up to speed on the Pilates technique.

“I’m here to train all age groups, all genders, and all abilities,” says Nancy, nodding to the common misconception that Pilates is for “fit” women only. “I encourage anyone who is remotely interested – big or small, old or young, able or disabled – to try it.” At one time, she taught a free Pilates class for a disabled group from the PACE program (the Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly), which she enjoyed teaching until the studio became too demanding to continue the off-site class.

Still, Nancy refers to the business as her “hobby job.” Her true full-time job is taking care of her two disabled sons. “This is my escape,” she says, “It’s my time to go from being a constant mom to two disabled men, to what I like to call the ‘fitness grandma.’ I’m one of the oldest trainers in the area – training for almost 40 years.” Nancy formally retired in 2020, in the midst of the pandemic. This allowed her to keep the studio open virtually so that her instructors could continue earning through the lockdown. While the pandemic slashed her clientele, business is showing signs of recovery, and she is actively looking for more instructors to help take some of the client load. She plans to continue teaching and running the business, admitting that when she turns 70 in a couple years, she will probably re-evaluate and see if she wants to double-down or sell, fully expecting to continue teaching even if the latter comes to pass.

Disclaimer: The author of this article

n Genevieve Hand

Photos by Luke George

THOMAS WOJAK California Printmaker

n Jean Purnell

The Marilyn Citron O’Rourke Gallery at the Benicia Public Library has named master printer Thomas Wojak as their invited artist for 2023. An exhibition titled Road Trip, New Work by Thomas Wojak, will be on display from April 7 through May 18. A public reception is planned on Sunday, April 16, from 3 to 5 pm.

Wojak is owner and founder of The W.O.R.K.S, a screen printing studio located in Vallejo that specializes in limited edition work for local, national, and international artists as well as designers and various regional commercial clients. Wojak’s fine art prints and mixed media artworks have been exhibited extensively locally, nationally, and internationally. He has also been active as an educator and curator.

The exhibition features a series of mixed media screenprints based on photographs taken by Wojak during trips to national parks and monuments with his partner Misty Youmans. The works incorporate photographs printed in layers or juxtaposed, as well as found motifs and figures. Wojak hand-paints portions of the prints using oils, pastels, or colored pencils. “Each print is a way of recapturing the experience of being there.” Wojak describes the use of figures as a way of inserting himself into the piece. “Sometimes it's a photo of myself that I incorporate, other times it's a silhouette of a figure that I have created or found somewhere and used repeatedly. I insert things that are personal to me, and they become symbols that reflect my experience of that place. It's not a photo album, rather I am reinterpreting the experience as I remember it now.”

Wojak grew up in Memphis, where he was raised Catholic and later entered the Christian Brothers, a Catholic teaching order. “I started drawing at age 19 during my novitiate period, a time of prayer and silence.” He graduated from Christian Brothers College in 1966 with a BA in Philosophy and Theology, and a minor in English and Education. “Later I enrolled at Memphis Academy of Arts to work on an art major on my own time. I was focused on sculpture but learned screen printing as well.” After graduation, he taught high school in Memphis and Lansing, Michigan. He moved to California in 1970, taking a teaching job at Sacred Heart High School in San Francisco.

Wojak founded his printmaking studio on Clay Street in downtown San Francisco in 1972. “I had a side job working for a commercial screen printer in the Sunset District for the previous two summers. It was extra income to supplement my high school teacher salary, but I learned the ins and outs of the screen printing business. The owner trained me, passing on knowledge he gained working as a printer in the 1930s during the WPA project. I learned a lot there that I would never have learned in school.”

“I opened the business with a partner, Allen Klein. He had the design skills, and I was the printmaker. We rented a huge space and put a sign in the window. A guy from one of the design companies came in to see if we could do promotional posters for the Venetian Room at the Fairmont Hotel. Eventually we were doing all the posters for all the Fairmonts, nationally.”

Wojak bought out his partner in 1978, and eventually narrowed the focus of The W.O.R.K.S to fine art screen printing. “I'm not in the business of reproducing images as so many other printers are. I'm in the business of creating original prints.” The studio relocated to the historic downtown district of Vallejo in 2002, where he and Youmans created a distinctive live-work space.

Wojak received his MFA degree from California College of Arts and Crafts in 1992, studying with mentor and printmaker Charles Gill. “Charlie asked me to teach following graduation, and that continued for many years. CCAC completely changed my professional trajectory. It opened doors that weren’t open to me before, like connections to other artists and galleries.” Wojak was named Professor Emeritus of Printmedia upon his recent retirement after a 30-year teaching career.

Over the years, Wojak has worked to balance the demands of his business with his teaching and studio work. “I've taught all the print processes and I love them all but none so much as screenprinting. Size, the number of colors, what substrate you use…not an issue, it's an endlessly flexible medium.”

The Library is located at 150 E. L Street, Benicia. For gallery hours, see benicialibrary.org/gallery. Learn more about Wojak at thomaswojak.com. B

"I insert things that are personal to me, and they become symbols that reflect my experience of that place. It's not a photo album, rather I am reinterpreting the experience as I remember it now.”

Book and Cocktail Club

World

by Ana Luisa Amaral

Publish Date: March 14, 2023

n Cooper Mickelson

Photo by Cooper Mickelson

At the start of 2023, I set an intention to read more translated publications. This led me to pick up some magnificent books, such as Heaven by Mieko Kawakami and Tokyo Ueno Station by Yu Miri. Then, one morning, a translated poetry collection caught my eye as I glanced at a list of upcoming releases from New Directions, and I knew right away that I needed to get my hands on a copy.

That poetry collection was World by Ana Luísa Amaral.

Amaral was one of Portugal's most beloved and celebrated poets. She began writing poetry at age five, realizing that it was something she simply had to do, and never stopped. A poet of the everyday moments that are often overlooked, Amaral has brought peaceful contemplations, meaningful reflection, and breaths of beauty to those who stumble across her poems.

After just the first few poems in World, I knew Amaral’s poems would be perfect for sharing with our readers in celebration of National Poetry Month!

In World, translated from Portuguese by Margaret Jull Consta, Amaral writes about everything from ants and magpies to Einstein. She takes deeply intimate emotions and desires and turns them into a shared experience. Adventurous and playful, these poems touch on nature, politics, the harshness of our reality, and so much more.

In her poem The Ant: Peregrinatio, we see Amaral use one of the smallest of Earth’s creatures to communicate emotions as big as the universe itself. This concept is revisited in my personal favorite poem from the first sections of the collection. In The Spider: A Romance Overheard in a Garden Among Dense Foliage, we visit a tragic love story between insects:

For just one of your legs I could brave death itself — here, take my lips, my feet, my blood, my head.

Spring Spice Paloma

Glass from Bell&Brass

Ingredients

2oz Seedlip Spice 94 (or your favorite tequila)

1oz Grapefruit juice

½oz Lime juice

½oz Simple syrup

3oz Club soda

Grapefruit peel, garnish

Preparation

1 Add Seedlip Spice 94, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

2 Shake and strain into your favorite, fun glass.

3 Top with the club soda and add fresh ice cubes to the glass.

4 Garnish with the grapefruit peel.

In later sections, Amaral revisits scenes from her childhood. Memories are transformed into moments of cosmic significance and realizations. Take her poem, Experiments and Evidence, where Amaral recounts a school science experiment involving two magnets and uses it to communicate the challenges women scientists have faced to get the same respect and praise as their male counterparts:

The inside story of History

Rejected for centuries, the negative self-image of so many before her: a grain of sand face to face with the negative of the desert — for so many centuries And yet they moved, a dance with a positive charge flying over the paper, because most matter is invisible, yet it exists

(Of which there is ample proof)

Amaral’s skill as a poet is not limited to this collection alone. I implore you to explore her work further if you feel the pull. Everything I have read from her has felt like words shared between friends late into the night. Magical and meaningful, no matter how seemingly mundane the topic is.

Poetry is a beautifully intentional gift to share with friends, so whether it’s Amaral's work or a favorite poet of your own, use National Poetry Month as an excuse to spend time with your favorite people and connect over the simplistic beauty of poetry.

World by Ana Luísa Amaral will be released on April 4th. Order a copy today from Bookshop Benicia or follow @beniciabooktails on Instagram to keep an eye out for the giveaway. B

Kids Crafts Earth Day DayEarthSlime Slime

n Bitsy Hall, M.Ed. and owner of Learning Circles

Slime. Some parents love the distractibility factor, others hate pulling it out of the carpet. Whether you’re staunchly opposed to slime or not, one thing is certain: the slime craze is here to stay. The seeming permanence of this gooey trend is more than just figurative–many conventional slimes are made with non-biodegradable ingredients. Some argue that the base for slime, PVA glue (polyvinyl acetate), seldom degrades properly in landfills. The preferred slime additives, plastic glitter and styrofoam beads, break down into imperishable microplastics. To celebrate Earth Day with the child in your life, give this biodegradable (and taste safe!) slime a try. And if you haven’t already stopped reading here, anti-slime parents, this one is a heck of a lot easier to clean up.

To make biodegradable slime you’ll need

1 microwave safe mixing bowl

1 mixing spoon or rubber spatula

½ cup of water

1 tbsp of psylium husk Food dye

Directions

1. Mix the water and food dye to make a vibrant shade of your color of choice.

2. Stir in the psyllium husk until well combined.

3. Microwave your mixture for one minute.

4. Mix again.

5. Let cool.

a. By the time your mixture has cooled, it should be pliable and not sticky. This tep can take anywhere from thirty minutes to one hour.

b. If your slime is sticky, add a pinch of psyllium husk. If it's too hard, add a bit of hot water.

Snap a picture of your craft and tag @beniciamagazine on Instagram. We would love to see your versions of this Saint Patrick’s Day inspired craft!

Notes Notes

Essential oils

To make this recipe more of a sensory experience, add 1-2 drops of essential oil to the final product.

Glitter alternatives

You can still have some sparkle and keep this recipe biodegradable. Try a bit of mica or cellulose glitter!

www.troygreek.com

925.293.4077

TROY Greek Cuisine

720 Main Street Martinez, CA 94553

n Gourmet Gracie and Movie Magic

Did someone say Greek? Gracie and Rockin’ Robin set out to discover the deliciousness of Greece in downtown Martinez. The space is casual and fun, the service is friendly and efficient. The food is fresh, prepared with care and the portions are generous. This family owned spot is welcoming and comfortable.

Upon entering TROY, it takes a minute to realize that everyone looks happy— the patrons and the servers are enjoying themselves. What’s there to be so darn happy about you might ask? Could it be that good food and cheer makes people smile?

Well, the garlic fries are mind blowing, the Athenian Chicken Salad with walnuts

Begin Again

104 mintues; 2013

What a lovely surprise to find a meaningful movie with beautiful music and a young Keira Knightley and Mark Ruffalo. Knightly plays Gretta, a singer/ songwriter with a broken heart who meets Dan (Ruffalo), an unemployed, yet gifted music producer, estranged from his family and drinking heavily. Together they form a friendship and collaborate to record live music throughout public spaces in the city of New York. Gretta sings and plays the guitar while Dan organizes, harmonizes and directs. Their enthusiasm is contagious as they recruit lovely musicians and young singers from the community to participate.

James Corden, of late night TV, plays Gretta’s best friend. Adam Levine of Maroon 5, is Gretta’s ex-boyfriend—a cad with an ego, using her gifts to benefit him. Catherine Keener brings her usual extraordinary talent to her role as Ruffalo’s wife. CeeLo Green appears in

character as the rapper/hip hop musician that he is, renamed Troublegum. So fun. Ruffalo, with his goofy grin and awkward clumsiness, is a pleasure. Knightley is natural and genuine and performs exceptionally—who knew she could sing? The soundtrack includes the song, “Lost Stars” nominated for several awards, including Academy Award for Best Original Song.

The film explores familial relations and questions the integrity of current day artists before ultimately bringing us a story of compassion, forgiveness and beginning again. Written and directed by John Carney, with Judd Apatow producing, this is a lighthearted, feel good movie with charm and the pleasure of gifted actors who bring the story and music to life. The plot is unpredictable with a surprise ending. Be sure to watch through the credits!

Movie Magic gives Begin Again 3 ½ out of 5 Moons. B

and feta is just right, the Gyros Platter with beef and lamb hits the spot. A great place to start is the Meza Platter, which offers a bit of everything—falafel, dolmas, hummus, feta, olives and pita. The Avgolemono Soup with lemon and orzo is a local favorite and perfect on a cool night. Gracie loves the Tzatziki dip (yogurt, cucumber and garlic) which goes well with everything—on top of the Pastitsio, or in a wrap or on top of a kebab—cool and tangy, it augments all the delicious flavors. The baklava rivals the best anywhere—don’t miss it!

Full bar, beer and wine selection. Indoor seating and lovely outside patio with shade and heaters. Dogs welcome. Metered street parking.

Opa!!! Enjoy.

“You can tell a lot about a person by what’s on their playlist.”

April 1 & 2

Downtown Benicia Egg Hunt

Downtown Benicia

12-4pm

Benicia Main Street’s annual Egg Hunt. Fun and prizes! Info at beniciamainstreet.org

April 8

Easter Weekend Eggstravaganza

Benicia City Park

10am-5pm

Enjoy a free egg hunt, live entertainment, food, drinks, and fun for the whole family!

April 15

Benicia Parkinson's Awareness Rally

Veterans Memorial Hall

1150 First Street, Benicia 9am-2pm

The Bill Cawley Memorial Walk will start at 9 AM to increase awareness of Parkinson’s Disease. Program begins at 10 AM with community and healthcare resources and talks.

April 22

Art Scavenger Hunt

Downtown Benicia

12-4pm

Discover amazing art in downtown galleries while doing a scavenger hunt. Participants will receive a free “I Love Benicia” bag and be entered in a drawing to win $100 in Downtown Dollars.

April 22

Benicia Diversity Festival

Benicia Marina Pavilion

11am-5pm

The 2nd annual Benicia Diversity Festival will celebrate our shared values with over 10 performances of music and dance by local groups representing the diversity of our community.

April

EVENTS

April 23

Benicia Class Car Show

First Street Green

9am-3pm

The Benicia High School Band

Boosters will present the 28th Annual Benicia Classic Car Show – the biggest fundraiser to support the high school marching band, color guard, jazz, and concert music

April 27

Opening of Benicia Certified Farmers Market

Downtown Benicia

4-8pm

The Market offers fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, gourmet food, delicious hot foods, arts and crafts, and live entertainment.

Music & Entertainment

April 7

First Fridays at the Museum

Benicia Historical Museum

2060 Camel Rd. Benicia

6:30-9:30

The Benicia Historical Museum welcomes the RETURN of 19 Hand Horse to the stage for an amazing night of live music. Cover charge $15, members $5. Food trucks and beverages for purchase.

Tuesdays

Trivia Night at The First Street Taphouse

Mare Island Brewing Co.— First Street Taphouse

6:30pm

Grab your friends, and join us for Trivia upstairs in our Benicia Room with King Trivia!

Lucca's Beer Garden Stage

439 First Street, Benicia

Music several times a week. Check luccabar.com for details. *complete lineup on beniciamagazine.com

Empress Theatre

330 Virginia St, Vallejo

April 1, 7pm-11pm

YOUNG GO

April 15, 8pm-10:30pm

Stealin' Chicago

April 22, 8pm-10:30pm

Lydia Pense and Cold Blood

The Rellik Tavern

726 First Street, Benicia Music and events several times a week. Visit therelliktavern.com for details. *complete lineup on beniciamagazine.com

Vino Godfather

1005 Walnut Ave, Vallejo

April 1, 1pm-4pm

D'Naturals - Pop, R&B, and Dance Grooves.

April 8, 1pm-4pm

DW Edwards - Lighting up the Soul

April 15, 1pm-4pm

Papa Joe and the New DealUltimate Family Dance Party!

April 16, 1pm-4pm

Time Bandits

April 22, 1pm-4pm

3 Day Weekend - Motown, R&B, Classic Rock, and Funk.

April 29, 1pm-4pm

Private Practice - R&B, Classic Soul, and Jazz. B

Share upcoming events with us!

email general@beniciamagazine.com with details.