A Wave Of Creativity Flows Through Benicia ART • INNOVATION • EXHIBITS • FASHION
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Volume 9 Issue 11 September 2014
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David Dalrymple Head Designer of "House of Field" Client list include Beyoncé, Pink, Britney Spears
Richard Hallmarq Project Runway Season 11 New York Fashion Week Collection
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Emily Payne Project Runway 13 San Francisco Designer of Leathertongue
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Tickets available at: Be Chic Boutique, Christina S Fashion Destination, Studio 41 and Benicia Main Street
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Community News Need additional copies? Contact the Community Relations office: Valero Benicia Refinery, 3400 East Second Street, Benicia, CA 94510
The ABCs of Products Containing Petroleum When most people think about products associated with petroleum or crude oil, they tend to think about gasoline, diesel, or jet fuel. Yet every day we are surrounded by hundreds of things all around us that may contain petroleum. Here is a partial list. Can you think of others? • Antihistamines • Antiseptics • Artificial limbs • Artificial turf • Aspirin • Balloons • Ballpoint pens • Bandages • Boats • Cameras • Carpeting • Cars • Caulking • Cortisone • Crayons • Deodorant • Detergents • Dice • Disposable diapers • Electrician's tape • Eyeglasses • Fan belts • Faucet washers • Fertilizers • Fishing rods • Football helmet • Garden hose • Glue • Golf balls • Guitar strings • Hair coloring • Hand lotion • Hearing aids • Heart valves • House paint • Ice chests • Ink • Insect repellent • Jump rope • Jets • Kites • Life jackets • Lipstick • Luggage • Milk jugs • Motorcycle helmets • Movie film
• Nail polish • Oil filters • Paint brushes • Paint rollers • Panty hose • Perfume • Permanent press clothes • Petroleum jelly • Plastic wood • Purses • Putty • Qantas airplanes • Refrigerator linings • Roller-skate wheels • Roofing • Rubbing alcohol • Safety glass • Shampoo • Shaving cream • Shoes • Skis • Soft contact lenses • Sun glasses • Synthetic rubber • Telephones • Tennis rackets • Tents • Tires • Toilet seats • Tool racks • Toothbrushes • Toothpaste • Toys • Transparent tape • Trash bags • Umbrellas • Unbreakable dishes • Upholstery • Vaporizers • Vitamin capsules • Wading pools • Water pipes • Wire insulation • Xylophone mallet • Yarn • Zoom lens case
707-745-7534 September 2014
Project Reduces Emissions Valero’s Crude by Rail Project will give the refinery an alternative way to receive the raw materials it uses to produce transportation fuels and other products that Bay Area residents, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and the military may use every day. The benefits of this project include: - A reduction in greenhouse gas emissions - More domestic crude; less foreign crude - An increase in local jobs Since 1969, Valero has safely transported flammable materials by rail, such as propane and butane, at the Benicia refinery. Yet, Valero is sensitive to the concerns raised by community members about rail safety. Let’s be clear that Valero puts safety first. Valero will use the newer model rail cars (CPC 1232) that are much improved over the old standard. Safety measures for this next generation tank car include: - Thicker tank shell and heads
- Higher tensile strength steel - Protective shields at both ends - Consolidated top fittings - Reclosing pressure relief device An increase in State resources—with a focus on safety and spill prevention—will support the growing transport of crude by rail throughout California. This includes an increase in state rail inspectors and a 6.5 cent per barrel fee for every barrel of crude brought into the state by rail. All of the fee-generated revenue will be used to increase existing programs in: - Prevention – including training for local first responders - Emergency response preparedness - Cleanup and enforcement measures Annually, the Valero Benicia Refinery alone will contribute approximately $1.6 million to the dedicated fund state fund. For more information: California Public Utilities Commission (www.CPUC.com), Office of Spill Prevention and Response (www.dfg.ca.gov/ospr), and www.BeniciaCBR.com.
Valero Benicia Refinery Pet Food Drive
The Valero Volunteer Council recently held a Pet Food Drive for the Humane Society of the North Bay. Employees donated over 1,000 pounds of pet food, six cases of bleach and laundry detergent, blankets and towels galore, and nearly $600 in cash. Learn how you can help. Go to www.HSNB.rescuegroups.org. Benicia Crude by Rail Project reduces emissions in the Bay Area. Fast Fact: The Pacific Railroad safety standards “exceed mandatory Safety First: Union compliance measures.” Draft EIR references: 4.7-15 and 4.7-25.
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Advertising sales Joey Baker 707.718.0166 adsales@beniciamagazine.com Advertising deadlines New ads: the 5th of the month prior to the issue month Ad changes: 6 weeks prior to the issue month
Contact Us 707.853.8159, Beniciamagazine.com editor@beniciamagazine.com Administration Office Manager Risë Goebel Copy Editor/proofreader Beth Steinmann Benicia Magazine is published monthly by Polygon Publishing, LLC. Copyright © 2014, all rights reserved. Contents of Benicia Magazine cannot be reproduced in whole or in part without the written consent of the publisher. Opinions expressed in Benicia Magazine editorial or advertisements are those of the authors and advertisers, and may not reflect the opinion of Benicia Magazine’s management or publisher. Subscriptions $18.00 per year. Benicia Magazine, 611 First Street, Benicia, CA 94510. 707.853.8159, beniciamagazine.com.
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Rose Hadaway, Broker-Associate Coldwell Banker Solano Pacific Cal BRE 00964078 900 1st St., Benicia, CA 94510 707-590-3055 cell 707-749-6321 direct BRE License # 00899699 Fantastic single story home with 4 bedrooms, 2 baths plus open and airy floor plan. Beautiful, dark laminate flooring, new carpet in bedrooms, and new tile in the kitchen. Great open floor plan with sliding doors from the dining area and the family room. Master bedroom has great views of the yard and hills beyond. $539,000.
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In-office Green Practices We walk, bike or drive a hybrid vehicle to get to work and around town. Paper waste is either recycled or cut up and reused as scrap paper. Envelopes and other business supplies are reused.
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Eric Hoglund, Estey Real Estate Real Estate Sales and Professional Property Management BRE # 00674738 935 First Street Benicia, CA 94510 Since 1946 esteyrealestate.com 707.745.0924 Real Estate Sales & Professional Property Management
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New custom construction in Downtown Benicia, by Segle and Sons Construction. Outstanding construction details with Craftsman influences. Finishes include Quartz and marble counters, custom cabinets, wood and tile flooring. Flexible floor plan offers 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, open kitchen, dining and family space, and bonus 3rd floor studio with views of the water and hills. A stately beauty. Kathleen McInerney Olson Olson Realty, Inc. 920 First Street,Suite 101 Benicia, CA 94510 Office: 707-745-3602 Cell: 707-291-0867 www.olsonrealtyinc.com BRE License # 00899699 New to the Market! A home that truly represents Benicia! The most amazing picturesque views from inside and outside: ships, sailboats, kayaks, wind surfers, trains, birds and planes. Did I mention views of Mt Diablo, 9th St Beach, Crockett, C&H Sugar and the Carquinez Bridge? Call TODAY for a private showing!
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Cindy Sherman, Realtor RE/MAX Gold 426 First Street, Benicia, CA 94510 Office: 707.563.9731 Cell: 707.386.1046 Cindy.Sherman@Remax.net BRE Lic #01425894
BeniciaMagazine.com • 7
Benicia SEPTEMBER VOLUME 9 ISSUE 11
Features
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Yuba: What Remains Exhibit: Benicia’s manufacturing history through brush and lens
Implementing Common Core with innovative learning beyond the classroom
16
Departments
16
10 From the Editor 12
Currents Empowering families to make healthy food choices at waterfront expo
13
Backwards Glance The Crooks House
18 Downtown Map 20 Arsenal Map 22 Interview
Lee Wilder Snider, Benicia artist
24 Trends
A whirlwind of fashion experiences in the Big Apple
28 Calendar of Events Photos: Cover, painting by Linda Grebmeier, from the Yuba: What Remains exhibit. This page top: ECH20 Academy's wind turbine and solar powered cabin project at Benicia High School. Photo courtesy of Benicia Unified classroom teachers. Bottom: Painting by Lee Wilder Snider, private collection. 8 • Benicia Magazine
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A Wonderful Place For Gifts Blown Glass Wall Art Jewelry Gift Items Gallery Hours: Sun-Thurs 11-5 Fri 11-7 • Sat 10-7 109 East F Street Benicia, CA 94510
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W Photo by Malcolm Slight
From the Editor
September 2014
elcome to our September issue, celebrating the myriad ways creativity manifests here in town. If Benicia is defined in part by its arts community, September puts an exclamation point on local artistic expression. Three annual events converge this month to showcase art, each in a different setting with a different purpose. Kicking things off is the 11th annual Expanding Experiences wine and cheese event in the lower Arsenal, Sept. 10. Ticketholders wend their way through artist live-work spaces while tasting premium wine from nearby wineries and enjoying live music. Then there’s the 22nd Annual Art Auction & Gala—an elegant evening affair September 20—where hob-knobbing with friends, enjoying a glass of wine and nibbling catered appetizers elevate viewing fine art in its many forms. Also on September 20, the 41st Fine Arts and Crafts Fair closes First Street to pedestrian traffic only. You don’t have to choose; immerse yourself in over 150 arts and crafts booths downtown any time between 10am and 4pm, then head over to the historic Clock Tower for live music and dancing at the art auction, and score a one-of-a-kind piece. Check beniciarotary.org, artsbenicia.org and beniciachamber.com for more information. If you haven’t yet discovered the art gallery at the Benicia Public Library, the Yuba: What Remains exhibit, featuring haunting images of the old Yuba manufacturing complex along Benicia’s waterfront by artists Linda Grebmeier and Hedi B. Desuyo, is a great way to introduce yourself to the fine exhibitions held there. In this issue, Kathryn Weller Renfrow writes about the history of Benicia’s manufacturing days and how the artists beautifully captured the last gasp of the decaying buildings. This month’s interview is with Benicia artist Lee Wilder Snider, acclaimed painter and muralist, who advises young people to “paint what matters to you, what comes from inside.” Speaking of young people, a different form of creative expression exists in (and out of) the classroom where students are invited to innovate with the use of 21st century technology. Adriene Rockwell takes a look at some of the many ways Common Core Standards are being implemented to help facilitate a deeper level of student understanding. The change from former curriculum models is dramatic—read about the exciting projects and real world applications BUSD students are tackling. Sliding into early October, Patricia Field, Emmy-award winning and internationally known fashion designer who worked on Sex and the City and The Devil Wears Prada, headlines Benicia’s 5th annual Fashion Weekend. Read more about Field, and the event—comprised of a runway show and three days of fashion and beauty related events—Oct. 3-5, on page 24. The thrum of the music, professional models and a first-class production involving Channel 2’s Claudine Wong builds to an exciting crescendo. For more info, visit christinasbenicia.com. I hope to see you at one of these spectacular, sophisticated and stimulating events. Choose one or attend them all, but don’t miss the opportunity to take part in these expressions of creativity that are uniquely Benicia.
Jeanne Steinmann Tweet, post or send your suggestions & ideas to: editor@beniciamagazine.com www.beniciamagazine.com 10 • Benicia Magazine
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BeniciaMagazine.com • 11
Currents
Photo by Norma Lisenko
Farm2Family Expo
on the First Street Green BENICIA FIRST STREET GREEN 9.13.14 10AM-3PM We educate & empower families to make healthy local food choices that support and encourage a sustainable community
Food & art vendors Zumba & yoga classes Educational speakers Kids activity corner 1K fun run/walk for kids Petting zoo For more info: www.farm2familyexpo.com Benicia Community Garden
12 • Benicia Magazine Currents
By Beth Steinmann As childhood obesity and related diseases rise to epic proportions in the US, we begin to see a greater push towards nutritional education and action, from the local and national level (See Benicia Magazine’s 2012 article, Benicia Schools Target Healthier Food for Kids, beniciamagazine.com/Benicia-Magazine/September-2012). Locally, the nonprofit Healthy Cooking with Kids, Inc., has been promoting children’s healthy living for the past seven years. The group creates community partnerships and provides nutrition education to BUSD and other Napa and Solano County organizations. Their mission is to motivate and empower children and families to make healthy food choices through hands-on learning with fresh, local, and affordable foods. In 2008, they received a Kaiser Community Benefit Grant on behalf of BUSD to create a nutrition education program that has been integrated into Benicia’s schools. According to Norma Lisenko, the group’s Executive Director, part of the goal is creating a culture of healthy eating so there’s a supportive environment for positive food choices. “We’ve served thousands of students and have seen a dramatic change in their eating behaviors. Kids are eating vegetables tamales, broccoli, etc. There is also a lot more support from parents, principals, teachers and administrators to continue this effort in our schools than seven years ago.” This month, Healthy Cooking with Kids, Inc, in partnership with Benicia Community Gardens and BUSD, will hold the first Farm to Family Expo at the Benicia First Street Green, to invite and empower families to make local, healthy food and lifestyle choices and become involved in sustainable community. “We’re hoping this event will help raise awareness and funding for a sustainable food forest pilot program. This movement has the potential to produce over 6,000 lbs. of food by transforming 1/8 acre of land on a school site field as well as other locations in Benicia,” says Lisenko. An exciting line up of talks and how-to workshops will be presented by master gardeners and local luminaries (including Tara Smith of Tara Firma Farms in Petaluma), ranging in topic from sustainable agriculture to beekeeping to permaculture. Local youth will inspire with project presentations by the BHS Eco Academy, and Benicia businesses will showcase locally made and eco-friendly goods. Get ready for a little bit of everything, as this free event also includes physical fitness elements—yoga, Zumba and a 1K fun run/walk for kids—as well as an interactive kids’ activity corner with pony rides, a petting zoo, face painting, music, and “healthy eating, creative play, and physical movement for healthy minds and bodies.” Farm 2 Family Expo, September 13, 10am-3pm, First Street Green. Free admission.
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Known as Crooks House, after its original owner/builder, James E. Crooks, this elaborate 19th century residence was built in the style often referred to as Carpenter Gothic, on a site overlooking the Carquinez Strait. At the time, the front entrance to the house was accessed from a wooden boardwalk, which was later torn down when it was deemed to be unsafe. The house has an airy, open floor plan with large south-facing windows. It as also occupied by James’s brother William, President of the People’s Bank and Mayor of Benicia (1924-1940), and his sister Alice Crooks, a local schoolteacher. The house fell into disrepair sometime in the late 1940s. Happily, it has since been restored and is under private ownership at its present location on the east side of West 3rd Street.
Family owned and operated 414 A, Military East, Benicia 94510 707.750.5584• www.gandgdeckandfence.com
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Backwards Glance
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By Elizabeth d’Huart, Executive Director, Benicia Historical Museum Photo courtesy Benicia Historical Museum
DECKS • FENCES • ARBORS • RETAINING WALLS
BeniciaMagazine.com • 13
WHAT REMAINS A Visual Legacy of a Once Vital Waterfront Enterprise By Kathryn Weller Renfrow Until 2007, the East side of Benicia's Southern waterfront was the site of a rambling collection of classic industrial buildings in various stages of decay. This spot along the Carquinez Strait was where much of California's early industrial history had taken place, beginning in 1850 when the Pacific Mail and Steamship Company built wharves and shops along the city's shoreline to repair paddlewheel steamers. The location along a major waterway attracted many enterprises, and became the first large industrial works in California. There were canneries, a cement plant, a tannery, and eventually the Yuba Manufacturing Company, which fabricated large metal products such as dredging, mining and agricultural equipment; cranes, cannons, marine engines and spillway gates for dams. By the time the factory closed in 1972, it was the oldest operational manufacturing complex west of the Mississippi. Artists and artisans, including Benicia's renowned glassblowers, moved into many of the spaces,
14 • Benicia Magazine
and throughout the 70s and 80s pioneered the beginnings of a vibrant arts community. By the mid-nineties, many structures had fallen into disrepair: Eventually the site was closed, and most of its buildings demolished. The place where this colorful history came about is interpreted in a new exhibit, Yuba: What Remains, featuring photographs by Hedi B. Desuyo and monotypes and paintings by Linda Grebmeier, on view at the Marilyn Citron O'Rourke Gallery at the Benicia Public Library, from September 7 through October 11. Just before the buildings were razed in 2007, the artists were able to go onto the closed-down property to capture images of what remained in the decaying structures, and they have used the results of their explorations as inspiration for dozens of luminous artworks, a singular testimony to the multi-layered history of the place. In 2008, the Fleishhacker Foundation awarded them a grant to develop their project, and the first works were shown in the 2010 exhibit Structure and Light at Arts Benicia. For both artists, this endeavor is ongoing. Memories
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A BEAUTY REVOLUTION FOR YOUR WALL Oppsite page photo by Hedi B. Desuyo. Above works by Linda Grebmeier. Photos courtesy of the artists.
do not fade, recognized kinships endure. Desuyo and Grebmeier continue to be moved by their discoveries on the now deserted site, and are creating a rich visual legacy for this once vital enterprise on the Benicia waterfront. The buildings are gone, the property is fenced off. What remains are these stirring, indelible images: timeless, palpable repositories connecting us with past, purposed lives and the work that went on there.
Yuba: What Remains
Sept. 7 through Oct. 11, 2014 Artists Reception - Saturday Sept. 13, 2-5pm Benicia Public Library 150 East L Street, Benicia 707.746.4343, benicialibrary.org/gallery Hours: Mon-Thurs 10am-9pm Fri-Sun Noon-6pm
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BeniciaMagazine.com • 15
TRANSCENDING THE WALLS OF THE CLASSROOM THROUGH
COMMON CORE By Adriene Rockwell In one of the most dramatic changes to ever happen to education in our country, the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) have become a reality in 46 states. California adopted CCSS in 2010, replacing inadequate standards from the 1990s that focused on testing outcomes and rote memorization. While the new standards offer clear goals for 1 student achievement, they do not define a pathway for implementation— but Benicia teachers are leading the way. As an educator for more than 25 years, Marie Morgan, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services for Benicia Unified School District (BUSD), who has a background in teaching literacy, is passionate about the new standards. “If students can read and make meaning out of text, we have set them up for success in their lives. For me, that directly correlates with Common Core standards that are based in creating depth and complexity with real-world application. It’s a whole new level of literacy.” Teachers are no longer “the sage on stage,” but rather facilitators for learning in the classroom. And real world application is taking many forms. Nicci Nunes, science teacher at Liberty High School, has built an innovative science lab, or “makerspace,” that allows students to design and build their inventions with futuristic tools like a 3D printer and wearable technology. This year, ECH2O Academy, led by Josh Bradley at Benicia High School, will train students to design and build their own solar powered rain collection system in collaboration with professional engineers. Andrea Jenest’s oceanography students are building SeaPerch underwater remotely operated vehicles in partnership with California Maritime Academy architects and engineers. The common threads through these “real world” scenarios are the 3Cs of Common Core: critical thinking, communication and collaboration, all with the goal to prepare students for success in college and career in the 21st century. Instruction is new for elementary levels too, and our K-5 teachers are among the most innovative. Brandy Shelton, 5th grade teacher at Matthew Turner, uses Kidblog as a fertile learning ground. “Kidblog is an instantaneous way to see work published, and a jumping off point for digital citizenship,” she says. “They learn that once they put it out there, they can’t take it back.” In order to put their best foot forward, students have learned to review, edit and revise their work before publishing. Students write about their field trips, compose letters to their grandmothers or explore poetry, among other topics, then share feedback through the blog technology. Shelton also uses Twitter, Blendspace, Google Draw and other resources to transcend the walls of the classroom. “My students realize that they are not just working on an assignment, it’s an opportunity to have their voices heard,” says Shelton. While teachers are the driving wheel for Common Core, technology is the engine. With the fundraising support from the Benicia Education Foundation, parent-teacher
16 • Benicia Magazine
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groups and other sources, more than 500 digital devices were purchased last year with the goal of creating access to 21st century technology for all students and teachers. “With the right technology we can level the playing field in 22 seconds,” says Morgan. “I can bring Lindsay Wildlife Museum right into the classroom, and every class can take a field trip together to China.” Ruben Fernandez, Supervisor of Information and Educational Technology for BUSD, says his department was once geared to support administration, but now they are focused primarily on education services. A current challenge is to bridge the gap between digital natives (K-12 students) and digital immigrants (everyone over 20). “Our job is to facilitate ease of use, to make technology just another tool like using a white board or a pencil. It needs to be as easy for teachers as taking a cap off a pen.” One of the most exciting leaps into the digital era for Benicia schools is the new Active Learning Space: 21st Century Lab at BHS that will be used as a model and meeting space for innovative thinking and instruction throughout the district. The Lab, funded by the Syar Foundation, embodies the 3Cs of Common Core 7 and creates a global learning experience through video conferencing, interactive white boards and flexible furniture for an adaptable space. Shelton sums up the shifts in pedagogy well: “CCSS is tapping into the fact that we process information very differently, students are changing, the world is changing and we are preparing them for jobs that haven’t even been invented yet.”
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Photos: 1 & 2, Elementary students working on projects using MacBook Air computers. 3 & 4, BHS Oceanography Class and California Maritime Academy partner for the Sea Perch Underwater ROV Project. 5, 6 & 7, ECH20 Academy's wind turbine and solar powered cabin project at Benicia High School. Photos courtesy of Benicia Unified classroom teachers.
b-Cubed is a collaboration between Benicia Unified School District, Benicia Education Foundation and Benicia businesses to support innovative classroom projects like those described in the story. To find out more about b-Cubed, please email arockwell@beniciaunified.org.
BeniciaMagazine.com • 17
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6. Camellia Tea Room, 828 First Street
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Camellia Tea Room 828 First Street Downtown Benicia 707.746.5293 camelliatearoom.com
Lunch, afternoon tea, housemade desserts, fine teas & tea accessories
Dudikoff Insurance Agency Planning, Products, & Services
George Dudikoff, Agent, Lic. #OB13442 159 East D Street, Suite A, Benicia • P: 707.746.7395 • F: 707.747.6814
www.farmersagent.com/gdudikoff
BOOKS • TOYS • GAMES • GREETING CARDS
636 First Street M-S 10-8, Sun 10-6 707.747.5155 bookshopbenicia.com
BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER TUE-SUN 8am-9pm
Steve McClure
560 First St., Ste C103, Benicia
Mexican Food 640 First Street • 707.746.7830
707.745.0848
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Fiber-Frolics
CHARLIE’S ATTIC
637 First Street, Benicia • 707.747.YARN(9276) fiber-frolics.com
Tannery Bldg, 129 First St., Benicia • 707.205.6960
Specialty Yarns and Classes Giovanna Sensi-Isolani, fiber artist
HOME, GIFT, JEWELRY WITH A DASH OF FUN
Urban Notions
611 First Street, Downtown Benicia 707.853.8159
Collectibles-Antiques-Music Consignment and eBay drop-off
Real Estate doesn’t have to be this painful! Residential & New Home Sales; Property Management 707.745.0759 www.judsonandcompany.com
The Benicia Historical Museum at the Camel Barns
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For current exhibits and events go to our web site: www.BeniciaHistoricalMuseum.org Rental venue Docent tours
BeniciaMagazine.com • 19
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B. Affordable Quality Cabinets, 4852 E. 2nd Street C. Benicia Historical Museum, 2060 Camel Road
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D. Capitol Glass Co., Inc. 5000 E. 2nd St. Ste. H E. Arts Benicia, 991 Tyler St., #114 F. Benicia Plumbing, 265 W. Channel Court 1. Grossman Financial, 940 Adams Street, Ste. L 2. Fat Shafts Archery, 3001 Bayshore Road #9
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9. Avalon RV, 510 East Channel Road
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Benicia Golf Association
Full Service Studio
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707.746.7777 • 932 Grant Street, Benicia
To find out more call Dale Thorne, 707.745.4852
HOME, GIFT, JEWELRY WITH A DASH OF FUN
Urban Notions
611 First Street, Downtown Benicia 707.853.8159
Indoor Range and Pro Shop 3001 Bayshore Road #9, Benicia 707.745.0447 • Fatshaftsarchery.com
BENICIA
990 Grant Street 707.747.1383
SAN FRANCISCO
2 Henry Adams St., Suite 331
415.525.3725
Visit ironhorsehome.com or facebook.com/ironhorsehome. August Solar Benicia Magazine Avalon RV892014.ai 1 8/9/2014 7:47:20 PM
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Michael Trahan • Interior Design www.michaeltrahan.com 707.748.1080
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Lawrence I. Grossman, CFP ® AIF™, MBA, MA 940 Adams St., Suite L 707.745.8756 grossmanfinancial.com
Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) Study Session September 9, 6pm, City Council Chambers C
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Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) agencies purchase and/or develop clean electricity on behalf of residents, businesses and municipal accounts. CCA works with PG&E to deliver renewable energy, maintain the energy grid and provide customer service and billing. Panelists will discuss the pros & cons of CCAs. The City may join Marin Clean Energy (MCE), one CCA, so it can offer more renewable energy to electricity customers. In this session, learn more about CCA and become better informed.
The study session recording and additional information will be available at www.ci.benicia.ca.us, www.sustainablebenicia.org, and on Cable Channel 27.
BeniciaMagazine.com • 21
Lee Wilder Snider
Interview with
By Sue Sumner-Moore Photo by Malcolm Slight As obligations fall away, artist Lee Wilder Snider is listening more to her inner voice. It is telling her to paint. Lee knew she wanted to be an artist from an early age. Coming from a family of writers, she wrote her first storybook in first or second grade. That led to a perplexing conversation with her father about quotation marks. Out of that confusion came clarity: “I knew from then on that I’d rather draw than write.” Her passion for art is paired with a love of sports. Sports dominated during her college years, but she got back into painting when she and her husband, Craig, settled in a small town in Utah. Their children were born there, and Lee began teaching art. Craig’s job brought them to Benicia in 2003. Lee became active in the community, joining the boards of Arts Benicia and League of Women Voters Benicia, plus volunteering at Benicia High. She headed a working group that led to creation of the city’s Arts and Culture Commission and served four years on the commission. She remains a member of Arts Benicia and the local League of Women Voters, but her leadership commitments are behind her. Lee, 58, now has time to focus full-time on painting. She is an enthusiastic member of Gallery 621, an artist co-op on First Street. As she recalls her life, Lee often pauses, smiles and says, “I’ve been lucky.” She warmly remembers people she met along the way: her high school art teacher, a housepainter who primed a wall for a mural in Oregon (“I don’t think he charged anything”), a disabled woman whose face was included in the “Faces of Fairfield” mural, a youngster who proudly helped paint a school mural. Her joy is evident when she talks about backpacking, Benicia’s water views and its running trails, and living in remote areas. “I’ve had really rich experiences living in some remote areas. … I realized there are many, many ways we walk in the world and many viewpoints.” 22 • Benicia Magazine Interview
What inspires you in your painting?
Skies inspire me. When it’s a gray day and a bit of light pink comes through, that light inspires me.
What led to your love of landscapes?
One of my dearest memories is backpacking in Yosemite with my aunt and cousins when I was a teenager. She took me on my first backpacking trip. We went out of Tuolumne Meadows for two weeks. … I was hooked. From then on, I loved landscapes. My time spent outdoors has informed so much of my art and who I am.
How has your art evolved over the years?
For a long time, my paintings got larger. For a while, it evolved into murals and scene painting for theaters. When I was teaching, there was a big chunk of time spent loving art and finding ways for others to catch that feeling. Now I’ve found a quiet spot in here (patting chest) and I’m painting from there. It has come to the point where I understand that I want to please myself, and that may come at a cost of pleasing others. I’m saying no to more outside activities to allow myself to paint from the heart.
With that shift in priorities, how much time are you able to devote to painting?
Right now I’m very fortunate that I can focus on my painting full time. I haven’t always had that. It’s pretty magnificent and scary at the same time because there’s stuff deep inside that I want to put in paint form, and I hope I have the skill to do it. So I can determine the amount of time. But being the person I am—I love engaging in life—it’s very easy for me to get pulled into things that sound wonderful. As I’m aging, I’m learning that outward engagement can come at a cost of inward development. I’m trying to spend more time painting. I’m working to set a structured time to work in the studio—it is progressing. I love life.
Where is your studio?
I paint at my studio upstairs at my home. Right now I’m working on a couple of landscapes. I had a studio in the Arsenal for eight years, and I miss being at that studio. The community down there is incredible. Being with other artists elevates the whole thing. It was a very, very genuine experience.
When did you sell your first painting?
I think I was 16 or 17. Four seniors got our own booth at an art show in high school. I think I sold three paintings, including one to my art teacher and one to my PE teacher.
Oils or acrylics?
Mostly acrylics but some oils. I have painted in oil. I love the rich luminosity that comes with oil, the butteriness of oils. I might go back to oils. But you can layer in acrylics.
What role does marketing play in your life as an artist?
Marketing is very important. For me at Gallery 621, we gallery sit two times a month, help set up shows, help take down shows, help at receptions. The organizer part of me says I should chart the time I spend on PR because now I do it as necessary.
How do you define success as an artist?
It’s very gratifying to sell work on a number of levels. First, there’s the practical level that it allows me to paint again. Another level is that I’ve touched someone. I want to be driven by what will move someone rather than what will sell. As artists, we have to paint from our core, our heart, regardless of what it means monetarily.
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What advice would you give a young person who wants to pursue art as a career?
Follow your love. Paint what matters to you, what comes from inside. As much as you can, be flexible about the ways you do it. There’s more than one way to do art.
What artwork is in your own home?
The triptych hanging here (in Gallery 621) was at home on my own walls. Nothing of my own is hanging right now. I have a Joseph Mele I bought at an Arts Benicia auction. Really what I have a lot of is children’s work that parents didn’t pick up from Bonnie Weidel’s studio. I’m toying with the idea of pulling together a library show of Bonnie’s children’s work. I also have a lot of books from her years as a teacher.
What do you do to relax?
I have a yellow lab that just turned 3 years old, and one of my favorite things is to run the trails behind Matthew Turner School with Lucy.
What’s next for you?
We’ve just come back from two weeks in Alaska, much of the time at Katmai National Park. What caught my eye most was the small town of King Salmon on the beach. … There was this huge gray sky with white peeking through and the texture of the beach below. I was stunned by the light I saw. The richness of the grays was so moving. I want to capture them in some way.
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www.SolanoLawGroup.com BeniciaMagazine.com • 23
FA S H I O N
of Dreams By Christina Strawbridge
Trends
FASHION EXPERIENCES, SUBWAYS, TAXIS AND TAXES
Patricia Field
On a Monday morning in late July, I gazed down on Times Square from the 30th floor of my New York City hotel, pondering to what heights the day would bring me as I prepared to meet a fashion icon, visit the famous fabric store, Mood, and shop the garment district. This moment was proceeded by a weekend of challenges from being re-diagnosed with shingles on Saturday, this time on my face, to an episode of a forgotten phone on the way to the airport, which made for a silent six-hour flight to JFK. My appointment was at 11:30am on the lower East Side, and the question of what to wear was settled by dark clouds and umbrellas on the street. With the high humidity and 90-degree temp, basic black was out, so I went for color with a red-trimmed navy pinstripe tunic, matching narrow pants and an abstract, dotted scarf. I wanted to arrive fashionably cool, calm and collected, and as the cab pulled up to the Bowery address I checked the makeup camouflaging my
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rash. But as I paid the driver I noticed my nails looked like I had clawed my way to the Big Apple. Could I find a drug store and do a quick manicure in 18 minutes? Turning the corner I saw a CVS store. After a quick purchase, right there, on the streets of New York, I gave myself a manicure using the window ledge as my backbar. No one even gave me a second look … ahhh, New Yorkers! Entering the Patricia Field store I was greeted by a friendly staff member who informed me that Patricia had a household emergency and was not there. Ok, no problem, I had several stops to make in the area. I hopped on the subway and headed to 34th and Broadway, on a mission to find fabric for Richard Hallmarq (Project Runway) at Mood. He was working on his Fashion Week collection, and tasked me with finding six yards of jersey to complete his vision. The store is on the 3rd floor of a typical garment district building. I had to acclimate myself to large rooms of fabrics and walls filled with buttons and trims. Occasionally, Mood’s mascot dog, Swatch, could be seen running through the aisles (he greets nearly 1,200 visitors a day). After much texting of photos to Richard, I found a perfect printed jersey with a Project Runway discount. Mood, still owned by the original family, is recognized by designers world-wide. I Swatch was late for my re-scheduled appointment, but somehow my own mood had been invigorated, seeing so much color in one location, enhanced as I walked into Patricia Field, which optimizes extremes in vibrant color and design. By 3:30pm I was back on the subway for a stop in the wholesale district, then on to Times Square for dinner and surprise tickets to The Phantom of the Opera. Right on cue, as the phantom disappeared from the stage, we slid out the theatre doors to make our way back to the hotel for one last duty of the night: calling in to a city council meeting to vote on an upcoming sales tax ballot initiative. As I lay in bed that night, I was unable to sleep with visions of multiple fashion experiences, taxis and taxes. I decided it was all way too much for a fashionista from Benicia.
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Tuesday morning, I was half an hour late for my re-scheduled meeting with Patricia Field. As I made my way through her New York store, I recognized her immediately (the signature red hair was a giveaway). She was reviewing how the merchandise was being displayed and how the pants that were hitting the floor needed to be moved. When I introduced myself, there was a moment of hesitation as she checked me out with a cautious glance. I knew immediately we would hit it off when I said "retail is detail" and the New York skepticism disappeared. Patricia Field is an internationally known stylist, designer, costumer and long-time retailer. She put the fashion character into the Sex and the City TV series and the two follow up movies, and dressed Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada. Among her fashion achievement awards, she has a coveted Emmy for costume design, and an Academy Award nomination for The Devil Wears Prada. Although her fashion experiences are legendary, she continues to make a huge impact on modern fashion. Field is said to have started the leggings movement back in the 1970s, and made Manolo Blahnik the "it" shoe of the millennium. As I followed Field to her office, she continued to give direction to her staff, all of whom were dressed in the latest street wear from the store. Field made me coffee and we spent some time getting to know each other. She started working at age 14 at the family dry cleaners where she learned about fabric and clothes. She began working in retail at a discount department store, and then opened her first boutique. She majored in political science in college and when I told her that I had been elected to our city council, she revealed that even though she is fascinated with politics, she could never see herself running for office since compromising on her strong convictions was not a possibility. When asked about the phenomenal success of Sex and the City, Field explained how the series pushed the envelope on sex, fashion and the single woman in the late 1990's. She was brought in by Sarah Jessica Parker, with whom she had worked on Miami Rhapsody. Field’s favorite design from Sex and the City was the Versace dress that Carrie wore in Paris waiting for "the Russian.” She styled the scene with the dress of a thousand layers that became one of those film fantasy moments. We ended our chat back on the selling floor with Field showing me selected designs she thought would work well in Benicia for Fashion Runway Weekend, even trying on a jacket from the House of Field Collection to demonstrate fit. An afternoon in the presence of a fashion legend is the stuff dreams are made of. Luckily for us, the Field of Dreams will become reality in October when Patricia Field comes to Benicia.
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OPEN ENROLLMENT
September Open Enrollment and Level Placement Boys & Girls 6 -18 No Audition Policy Napa Valley • Starts Mon Sept 8th & 15th 4pm - 4:45pm Benicia • Starts Tue Sept 9th & 16th 3:30pm - 4:15pm Santa Rosa • Starts Wed Sept 10th & 24th 3:30pm - 5pm Double Session 707.751.1515 OR VOENA.ORG FOR DETAILS 26 • Benicia Magazine
ARTS BENICIA
ART AUCTION & GALA September 20, 2014 L i v e M u s i c a n d Da n c i n g Live and Silent Auction Drinks and Hors d’oeuvres
PERFORMANCES October 17 - November 8, 2014 Fridays & Saturdays 8pm Sundays 2pm Historic B.D.E.S. Hall 140 West J Street, Benicia 707.746.1269 • beniciaoldtowntheatregroup.com
BeniciaMagazine.com • 27
SEPTEMBER
Calendar of Events Photo of old Yuba factory, by Hedi B. Desuyo, courtesy of the artist
9/1-9/11
Art’s Benicia Exhibit: Altered Landscapes Gallery open Sun-Thurs 12-5pm 991 Tyler Street, Suite 114 Artsbenicia.org 707.747.0131
9/4-9/25
Benicia Farmers Market, Thursdays 4-8pm Fresh fruits, vegetables & baked goods Gourmet & hot foods, arts & crafts First Street between B & D Streets Beniciamainstreet.org 707.745.9791
9/4
Back to School Night for Elementary Schools
9/13
Farm 2 Family Expo 10am-3pm Workshops, speakers, food, art Fitness, kid’s activities Benicia First Street Green Farm2familyexpo.com 707.205.5572
9/13 Artists Reception Yuba: What Remains 2-5pm Benicia Library, 150 East L Street Benicialibrary.org/gallery 707.746.4343 9/13
Benicia Art Walk 3-7pm Sip, stroll, dine, hear live music; self-guided tour View art and watch demonstrations Visitbenicia.org/events 707.746.4202
9/5
Friday Concert Series 7pm Gordon Rowland & Catherine Altamura St. Paul’s Church, First and J Streets Stpaulsbenicia.com 707.745.0307
9/5
Ghost Walk 8pm Paranormal history of Downtown Benicia Led by paranormal expert Space is limited Beniciamainstreet.org 707.745.9791
9/20 41st Annual Fine Arts & Craft Fair 10am-4pm Over 150 artists and crafters, pedestrian only First Street, between G and B Streets 707.745.2120
9/7-9/30
Benicia Library Exhibit: Yuba: What Remains Linda Grebmeier & Hedi B. Desuyo Marilyn Citron O’Rourke Gallery 150 East L Street Benicialibrary.org/gallery 707.746.4343
9/20
Arts Benicia 22nd Annual Art Auction & Gala 6pm Historic Clock Tower, 1189 Washington Street Artsbenicia.org 707.747.0131
9/27
Fall Wine Walk 1-5pm Stroll First Street & taste wines served in local shops Benicia Main Street, 90 First Street Beniciamainstreet.org 707.745.9791
9/27, 9/28
Bay Area Paracon 2014 Largest paranormal conference in N. California Investigators, practitioners & authors in paranormal fields Benicia Veterans Hall, 1150 First Street Bayareaparacon.com 925.395.1200
9/10 11th Annual Expanding Experiences 6pm Benicia Rotary in partnership with Arts Benicia Food, art, wine, artist open studios 991 Tyler Street, Suite 114 707.746.4289
9/11
Benicia High School Back to School Night
Scan for more listings 28 • Benicia Magazine Calendar
9/17
Liberty High School Back to School Night
Benicia Grill 5th Year Anniversary! Open every day 6am—3pm Free Breakfast Entrée Mon-Sat only, 6am-3pm Buy one breakfast entrée, & receive the 2nd of equal or lesser value
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BeniciaMagazine.com • 29
Expanding 11 T H A N N U A L
Experiences Wednesday September 10 6-8:30pm Tyler & Jackson Streets in Benicia's Historic Arsenal
Artist Open Studios & Wine Tasting A community event benefitting Liberty High School and other youth programs
For tickets and other information visit
expandingexperiences.org 707.745.6650 Sponsored By Rotary Club of Benicia, Arts Benicia and Benicia Unified School District
30 • Benicia Magazine Restaurant Guide
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BeniciaMagazine.com • 31
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32 • Benicia Magazine Trends