Benicia Magazine April 2021 Issue

How Benicia saved Jack London

Phil Joy makes a move Phil Joy moves 139 year old San Francisco Victorian $

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Celebrating our 16th Year

Benicia Editor-in-Chief Mary Hand

magazine

Art Director

Margaret Bowles

Managing Editor & Website Specialist

Benicia Genevieve Hand

Contributorsmagazine

Elizabeth Hall Cooper Mickelson Darrell Mcelvene Jeannine Mendoza Ed.D Gethsemane Moss Ed.D Kevin Nelson Gene Pedrotti Jean Purnell Maura Sullivan Christina Strawbridge

Administrative Assistant Solofo Evans

Photography Lisa Duncan

Social Media Specialist Bitsy Hall

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PUBLISHER

Benicia Publishing, LLC Benicia Magazine is published monthly by Benicia Publishing, LLC. Copyright © 2021, 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. Benicia Magazine, Downtown Benicia, CA 94510. 707.980.1563, Beniciamagazine.com.

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Benicia Magazine

Benicia

April 2021 Magazine

Contents

BeniciaMagazine.co Benicia Magazine Benicia Magazine

Features

Benic

Benicia

Phil Joy makes a move 16 Hidden Benicia – Saving Jack London’s life 18

m

Aroundmagazine Town Community

Gabriela Johnson, from Band to Gridiron 10 Earth Day 2021 – Recovery 11

Benicia

Benici

Benicia Business

Nuts & Bolts – The Bottom Line 12

Art & Artists

magazine

m

A rts Benicia: Regional Artistic Talent Showcase 20

Food & Drink

Sandoval’s – a legacy of great food and philanthropy 22 Maura Mixes it Up 23

Columns

From the Editor

Book Review – Anxious People

Picket Fences – A Benicia Mystery

Dinner and a Movie Trends – Getting to Maui

April Calendar

8 14 24 26 28 30

Cover photo by Jerry Bowles 6 • Benicia Magazine

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BeniciaMagazine.com • 7

Column Editor's letter

From Larry to London

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8 • Benicia Magazine

In Fall of 2006, I was the newly appointed marketing director of Smuin Ballet in San Francisco. There, I met Sue Blackman, the patron services manager, and subsequently became good friends with her. Sue and I, both from beach towns in Southern California, were in love with the magic of San Francisco, the art, politics, literature and individualism reflected the city’s personality. Sue, passionate about all things San Francisco, introduced me to Washington Bar & Grill, or the WashBag, so named by columnist Herb Caen as a play on words. It was a favorite gathering place for a generation of writers, politicians, musicians, neighborhood characters, and social elite. The bartender was Michael McCourt, brother of author Frank McCourt (Angela’s Ashes), who greeted us whenever we walked in the door, with “Oh. It’s you again;” which he did because, on our first visit there, I had asked what kind of wine they had. He gave me a look and said in his Irish brogue, “Wine? We have red wine and we have white wine.” Nobody drank wine at the Washbag.

On one occasion, Sue and I started talking to one of the regulars, who introduced himself as Larry, and began regaling him with stories about Michael Smuin, known then as the Bad Boy of Ballet. “Oh, I know Michael very well,” said Larry, and we proceeded to have a conversation about the arts, books, and politics. It took Sue and I almost a half hour before we realized we were talking to Lawrence Ferlinghetti.

While Larry was a transplant to San Francisco, Jack London was a native. He grew up in and around the bay area, including Benicia. Our feature article by novelist Kevin Nelson is about how Benicia may have saved Jack London’s life. Kevin uncovered an obscure but traumatic incident which shaped London’s future as a writer. Hidden in plain sight, this incident appears in London’s John Barleycorn. I think you will be fascinated and surprised by this discovery from 130 years ago.

New in this issue is the launch of a new book review column called Book-Tails, a book review accompanied by a cocktail pairing. Book lover and up and coming writer Cooper Mickelson, covers Anxious People by novelist Fredrik Blackman (A Man called Ove).

And finally, as we inch our way into reopening, there is some great news. We have music again! Lucca’s Beer Garden’s schedule of small live music concerts began in March and continues through April. The Rellik also has an April line up which means we have a small but significant Calendar of Events.

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Realtor® | DRE 02006363 707.386.4354 Tina@ShopBayAreaHomes.com Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01991628. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed.

BeniciaMagazine.com • 9

Around Town Community “Tremendous amounts of talent are lost to our society just because that talent wears a skirt.”

— Shirley Chisolm

From the Trumpet to the Football Field:

Women Breaking Barriers in Football n Gethsemane Moss, Ed.D. August 31, 2019, was the draft day at the Las Vegas, Nevada MGM Grand Hotel. Women from across the country were seeking an opportunity to become a part of the newly formed professional Women's Football League Association (WFLA). The WFLA has established both Western and Eastern Conferences created to provide women an opportunity to compete, be paid, and be recognized in football's professional sport. The WFLA is fighting for women's equality in a male-dominated sport that traditionally pays men players millions of dollars to complete. Benicia High School Graduate Gabriela Johnson is a part of this history in the making and drafted to play football for the WFLA franchise.

Johnson's journey leading up to draft day included receiving a personal invite to a Los Angeles, California, where women across the country could demonstrate their athletic skills on the field during a combine. The combine allowed players to showcase their athletic abilities on the field by participating in various football drills in the presence of team owners. Johnson stood out amongst the 10 • Benicia Magazine

athletes and received an invitation to the Las Vegas draft event. While Johnson excelled in sports over the years, she also mastered the trumpet with an early introduction to the violin and piano.

Johnson's interest in athletics began in her elementary school years. Johnson tried softball but gravitated towards basketball. As a point guard, she spent several years playing for the National Junior Basketball League, including AllStar competitions and traveling teams.

Johnson was also a member of the Benicia High School Basketball team.

Johnson took up both piano and violin, and by middle school, Johnson learned to play the trumpet before fully engaging in sports. Johnson was a member of Benicia Middle School Marching Band, Drumline, and Jazz Band.

When Johnson entered Benicia High School, she was a Wind Ensemble member, Marching Band, Jazz Band, and the Drumline. Her mastery in music leads to her opportunity to be a member of the Solano County Honor Jazz Band. At the beginning of her senior year in high school, Johnson decided to focus her final year playing sports. Johnson joined the Benicia High School Water Polo,

Badminton, and Wrestling and competed in the senior game of Powderpuff.

After graduating from Benicia High School Johnson, high school attended Mount Diablo College. During this time, Johnson came across an opportunity to try out for a women's football team in Sacramento. Johnson recalls not having any equipment but reached out to one of the coaches at Benicia High School.

"I want to thank Coach Craig Holden for helping me temporarily secure football gear when I was first starting," says Johnson. Johnson secured a position as a running back for the Sacramento Sirens.

The following season Johnson went on to get an opportunity to play for Capital City Rage. During both seasons, Johnson played against the Portland Shockwaves.

As the Sirens and the Capital City Rage were going through a transition, Johnson got invited to play a few games with the Portland Shockwave. The Sirens, Capital City Rage, and the Portland Shockwave are all semi-professional women's teams and compete in the Women's Football Alliance, full of contact tackle football.

After a few weekends of driving back and forth from Benicia to Portland, Johnson packed her bags. Johnson relocated to Portland, Oregon, to officially play for the Portland Fighting Shockwave and continue school.

Johnson's decision to take advantage of opportunities led to her football reel's creation that captured the WFLA franchise owner's eyes. "I had just had my best season of football. One of my amazing coaches helped me out by putting together a highlight reel," says Johnson.

Johnson went on to say, "I sent it to the WFLA and got a call to come out to the combine in Los Angeles. I did really well there, and it landed me a top winning spot in the league."

Johnson shared some encouraging words to other women and young girls who may have an interest in football. "It's definitely not just a male sport, so they say. It's a lot of fun, so please give it a try if there's any little part of you that is interested," Johnson says. "Once I started playing, it became to be my favorite sport to play and watch," stated Johnson.

Johnson drafted first round, second pick. The WFLA originally was scheduled to begin in the summer of 2020, but due to COVID-19, the launch got postponed.

When the league officially begins, Johnson will play for the San Francisco Sharks team. Meanwhile, she will be working in her field of expertise, Software Engineering.

Johnson encourages others to educate themselves about this movement of women across the country gearing up to play. including the National Football League. "Get more involved, educate yourself about women's football, because there's a ton of women that live for the sport," stated Johnson.

Around Town Community

Earth Day 2021 Implementing gentle changes to your routine to celebrate this Earth Day can have a transformative impact.

n

Bitsy Hall

Before the pandemic struck, many of us were championing low-waste lifestyles and eco-friendly living. Things took a turn with the closure of refill bulk bins and sanitation requirements that relied on lots of single-use plastic. Understandably, care for community health trumped zealous eco-consciousness. While this past year has set us back on some of our eco-friendly strides, Earth Day is the perfect opportunity to revisit our passion for the planet. If you can, implement some of the following to celebrate Earth Day:

Paper Over Plastic While many grocery stores no longer accept reusable grocery bags, your choice of bag can still make a difference.

As many of us know, it is estimated that plastic bags take up to 500 years to decompose. Your paper bags can simply be tossed in your compost or recycled. If you wind up with too many paper bags for your recycling or compost, you can repurpose them for trash can liners.

Rethink Reusable Items Go Vegan Well, not really. Even if you choose one night or day of the week to cut down on your dairy and meat consumption, this habit can have great effects on the reduction of carbon emissions and water waste. According to multiple sources, animal agriculture is responsible for 14.5% of greenhouse gas emissions. And your pound of beef? That took 2,400 gallons of water to produce!

Shop Second Hand Even though we have seen a reduction in the amount of garage sales, second hand stores and multiple online apps provide an avenue for second hand shopping. Shopping second hand isn’t just good for your wallet, it reduces waste. Your clothes, appliances, and furniture all take an enormous amount of resources to be produced. More often than not, these items will end up in landfills. Shopping second hand lessens the demand on resourceheavy items and gives would-belandfill items another life.

Our reusable grocery bags, to-go mugs, and water bottles have been sitting on the shelf since March of 2020. This, paired with the general dread of Covid, has pushed us towards feeling a little blasé about our carbon footprint. Even if you can’t bring your favorite reusable mug to the cafe, you can use household products that are reusable and more sustainable. Think of the items that you use that often end up in your trash.

For example: q-tips, cotton pads, cling wrap, paper towels, and napkins. All of these items have a more sustainable counterpart. There are reusable versions of q-tips and cotton pads (that are washable!), “unpaper towels,” beeswax wraps to cover leftovers, and cloth napkins.

If you have lost progress on your environmental goals this past year, you are not alone. Implementing gentle changes to your routine to celebrate this Earth Day can have a transformative impact.

BeniciaMagazine.com • 11

Around Town Business

NEWS AND VIEWS

The bottom line n Gene Pedrotti

Spend $100 in Benicia and $30.40 would be re-circulated back into the local Benicia economy.

Spent out-of-town, the economic recirculation would be $13.20. And for Amazon?... that local impact drops to $4.50

12 • Benicia Magazine

Made in the USA. Buy American. You see these terms often in reference to where things are manufactured because purchasing domestic products strengthens the US economy. In this second guest column, I would like to posit how the same can be said when we “Shop Local” and “Shop Benicia.”

To begin, I need to refer to a study commissioned in 2015 by the National Retail Hardware Association. Like chambers of commerce, this is a trade group for independent hardware retailers. The study focuses on retail hardware, but one can reasonably estimate how the results apply to other local businesses, like grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, etc.

A small Midwest firm, Civic Economics (CE), performed the research and presented its findings in a report called “Home Sweet Home.” In it, they looked at a hypothetical $10,000 home improvement project that was sourced locally or purchased out-of-town at a chain store.

The goal was to measure and compare the economic benefit of monies re-circulated after the initial purchase on a host community. They determined that the lion’s share of economic return following a purchase came from four factors: labor, profit, procurement, and charity.

So, let’s start with labor.

Arguably the single largest expense in most small businesses is labor. In retail, this would include sales personnel, clerks, managers, bookkeepers, while in restaurants this would be wait staff, prep and chef, etc. CE reported that local labor is the largest source of recirculated dollars following a purchase. This should be no surprise. Locally employed individuals spend a significant part of their earnings in town, in grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, etc. They also noted that dollars re-circulated by large out-of-town companies or online companies were “insignificant to a local economy,” adding that chain store and online companies, like Amazon, often have administrative offices elsewhere such that they hire few or no one locally.

The next source of re-circulated revenue derives from company profits. Here, profits of chain store companies are directed to corporate headquarters and held in corporate bank accounts until distributed to shareholders via dividends. Locally owned businesses are much more apt to hold and/or spend profits locally and in the host community, thus contributing to the local economy.

Third is procurement, that is, goods and services purchased by business. Local businesses procure and purchase far more goods and services locally – for janitorial, landscaping, accounting, legal, technology, etc. Chain stores coordinate their purchasing from corporate headquarters and contribute little to local economies.

Finally, there is charitable giving. Owners and employees of local firms generally live in the community. As such, they support charities in their own backyards to causes and nonprofits near and dear to their families and employees. National firms more often support national causes or donate to charities near corporate headquarters. Sometimes marketing campaigns around said donations exceed the cost of the gift(s), which is a sad reality of our over-hyped marketplace.

So, how did these four categories add up?

Home Sweet Home found that independent retailers had the highest re-circulation to the local economy, that is, 30.4% of the initial spend was returned to the local economy via re-circulated dollars. For chain retailers, the amount was 13.2% and for Amazon, a mere 4.5%.

Applying those results to Benicia we can estimate a local benefit in a simple way: Spend $100 in Benicia and $30.40 would be recirculated back into the local Benicia economy.

Spent out-of-town, the economic recirculation would be $13.20. And for Amazon?... that local impact drops to $4.50.

The results are clear: spending locally results in a much higher re-circulation and economic benefit. And when you decide to purchase locally, Buy Benicia, it can and does have a tremendous benefit.

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BeniciaMagazine.com • 13

Column Book Review

Book and Cocktail Club ...Throughout the story, we’re given insight into our flawed characters’ personal lives and inner monologues.

Before long, Backman has you falling in love with each imperfect one....

14 • Benicia Magazine

n

Cooper Mickelson

“This story is about a lot of things, but mostly about idiots. So it needs saying from the outset that it’s always very easy to declare that other people are idiots, but only if you forget how idiotically difficult being human is.”

At first glance, this novel had me anticipating a comedic crime story about a bank robbery gone wrong. Instead, Anxious People, by Fredrik Backman, is at its core a story about human connection and the impact we have on one another.

Grabbing my attention with the first two laugh-out-loud pages, then bringing tears to my eyes by the end of chapter five, it didn’t take long for me to understand that this was going to be a profoundly unique story.

It’s approaching New Year’s Eve in a small Swedish town when a struggling parent attempts to rob a bank.

Unfortunately for them, it’s a cashless

bank, and the police are already on their way. In an attempt to escape, this wouldbe bank robber interrupts an apartment’s open house, and eight strangers suddenly find themselves in a hostage situation.

The surprised captives? A retired couple who’ve made a habit of hunting fixer-uppers to avoid confronting their unhappy marriage. An antisocial, selfishly wealthy banker. A young queer couple who are expecting their first child but can’t seem to agree on anything. A lonely eighty-seven year old woman who doesn’t flinch at a gun, even when it’s waving in her direction. An extraordinarily flustered yet annoyingly committed real estate agent. Oh, and a mystery man locked in the bathroom.

Staking out this hostage situation are two local police officers—a father and son duo with absolutely no hostage stalemate experience; they Google what to do.

Anxious People is a character-driven story that’s insightful and soulful. Unlike Backman’s past novels, these characters are far from likable-at first. Throughout the story, we’re given insight into our flawed characters’ personal lives and inner monologues. Before long, Backman has you falling in love with each imperfect one. The interactions between these uniquely familiar characters inspired me to look at the people in my own life and reflect on the impact we’ve had on one other.

I wouldn’t want to spoil this story for anyone who’s yet to read it, so I’ll end this review with a small recommendation. If you’re looking to laugh, cry, and gain a new appreciation for the people around you, then I suggest you order a pizza, mix yourself this months’ wine-centered cocktail, and dive right into this life-changing read.

The French 75 Ingredients: Makes 1 serving 2 ounces London dry gin ¾ ounce lemon juice ¾ ounce simple syrup 2 ounces Champagne 1 lemon twist Preparation: 1. Combine gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a shaker, then fill with ice. Cover and shake for about 20 seconds.

2. S train into a large flute. Top with champagne.

Garnish with the lemon twist.

3. Relax and enjoy!

Don’t drink? Try the mock-tail!

Ingredients: 2 ounces lemon juice 2 ounces simple syrup Sparkling water San Pellegrino limonata soda Lemon twist Preparation:

JOIN OUR AWARD-WINNING SCHOOLS BUSD New Student Enrollment Enrollment for incoming Transitional Kindergarten, Kindergarten and new elementary & secondary school students to BUSD opens in February.

Your child must turn five years old on or before September 1, 2021, to enroll in Kindergarten.

BUSD is also offering Transitional Kindergarten again this year for all Benicia students who turn five years old between September 2nd and December 2nd, 2021. Enrollment for this program is completed at each of our Elementary Schools starting the month of February Enrollment information is on the BUSD website: beniciaunified.org/parents/new-student-enrollment/

Please call your school of residency in order to follow the proper enrollment set by the schools.

Open Enrollment for all Elementary students desiring to attend a school outside of their school of residence will be held the month of March.

1. Mix lemon juice and simple syrup in a glass.

Pour in ice and stir.

2. Top with equal parts sparkling water and San Pellegrino. Mix once more.

3. Garnish with the lemon twist

Next month, we’ll be reviewing Shadow and Bone

by Leigh Bardugo in preparation for the Netflix series (released April 23rd). Grab your copy now to read and drink along with us!

Benicia Unified School District 350 East K Street, Benicia, CA 707.747.8300 • www.beniciaunified.org

BeniciaMagazine.com • 15

Feature

Phil Joy House Moving and Leveling Company n

Phil Joy has proved himself to be a preservationist, saving and keeping structures, rather than destroying and replacing them.

16 • Benicia Magazine

Jeannine Mendoza Ed.D

Moving a house from one location to another is not a new thing. In fact people have been moving houses in this country from the 1700s using teams of oxen and some type of a carriage or wagon vehicle.

People moved buildings from one place to another in order to preserve them, and in those days there were fewer houses to begin with.

Nowadays people are still moving houses but there is a mountain of concerns, engineering, logistics, safety, regulations of local agencies, permits, etc., that would daunt most people.

However, Phil Joy of Phil Joy House

Moving and Leveling Company is one of a dying breed: Phil moves houses for a living.

In February 2021 Phil Joy moved the San Francisco Englander House a few blocks at the cost of $500,000. It was a startling sight to see the 140 year old Victorian residence creeping slowly down the Franklin Street hill. Passersby stopped in their tracks to stare as the stately building inched along like a grand dowager on her way to a tea party. This extraordinary event caught the attention of local bystanders who watched as the house was squeezed into a justbig-enough space in congested San Francisco. This story and video caught

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”

— Nelson Mandela n

the attention of the media, and was picked up by the local news, and then nationally. The video brought immediate celebrity to Phil Joy, who was surprised the attention heaped upon him and the traveling house.

Phil Joy started in the house moving business back in the '80s when he helped workers from Trost Heavy Moving Company move a vintage house in Walnut Creek. The challenge of moving something so mammoth fascinated Phil and he immediately began, first as a helper and then with his own team, moving buildings. Phil Joy comes from a long line of creative people, as his father worked for Disney in Burbank and his grandfather worked for the famous architect Julia Morgan on Hearst Castle and other California landmarks.

Phil Joy has proved himself to be a preservationist, saving and keeping structures, rather than destroying and replacing them.

In 2007 Phil moved an 1895 vintage Queen Ann house from Napa that he purchased for himself and his family. The move avoided the highway; instead the house was put on a barge and floated down the Napa River, through the Carquinez Strait to the old shipyard on D Street that Phil purchased in order to complete the project.

Two years later, the house was placed on a foundation and had the water and power connected.

A second vintage Napa house has since joined the first and is in

the process of getting connected and readied for new occupants.

These two houses were moved in Phil’s “spare” time between other projects, but once they are done, Phil has ambitious plans for the future. He intends to complete the Bay Trail that is on the shoreline of his property, and he is interested in bringing a microbrewery and beer garden to the 5000 square foot warehouse on his property next to the shipyard as well.

Phil Joy has a side that has nothing to do with moving houses.

He enjoys racing Legends cars (5/8 scale) when he can. For those of you unfamiliar with this type of car, Legends are replicas of American cars of the 1930s and 1940s, and powered by Yamaha engines.

He also has a unique way of giving back to the community by collecting s c r a p aluminum, selling it and donating the money to pay for crossing guards in our city. All in all, Phil is a Benicia resident whose drive and imagination gives us “Joy”! Thanks Phil!

BeniciaMagazine.com • 17

Feature Feature

Hidden

How Benicia Saved

n

Kevin Nelson

When Jack London was a teenager, a freespirited but troubled boy of sixteen, he stumbled out of a Benicia saloon, staggered onto his fishing sloop moored to the wharf, and fell overboard. The water was ice-cold. The tides were running out. It was one in the morning, pitch black outside.

He was dead drunk.

What happened next changed his life.

At the bottom of First Street, not far from where London took his fateful drunken plunge, there is a historical marker dedicated to the famous author. It is the second stop on a guided cell phone tour that takes walkers up First to learn about the landmarks and curiosities of the city’s colorful past. Understandably, his capsule bio does not refer to the moment when this tousle-haired, good-looking roustabout of a 18 • Benicia Magazine

boy nearly took his life, but instead makes the claim that “it was during his stay in Benicia that he began to write.”

This, in fishing lingo, is a bit of a whopper.

Though always with his nose stuck in a book—“I read in bed, I read at table, I read as I walked to and from school”—the writing and stories came later, blossoming in his early twenties after his experiences in the Alaskan gold rush. Nevertheless, the young Jack London did live and work and drink copiously here, writing fondly of the city’s waterfront in two minor stories based on his life, “John Barleycorn” and “Tales of the

Benicia

d Jack London’s Life Fish Patrol,” which are barely readable today and worlds away from his epic achievement of Buck and the Yukon, “The Call of the Wild.”

Benicians are justifiably proud of their connection, however distant, to literary greatness. There is a charming park in the Southampton hills named after the author, and steps away from his historical marker is Sailor Jack’s, a seafood restaurant and bar that is also named in his honor. As you walk in the front door, to your right is a framed photo of the man himself, looking every inch the wealthy and successful author he became after the publication of Buck’s story, in 1903. Among its offerings, Sailor Jack’s specializes in oysters on the half shell, in itself a tribute to the restaurant’s namesake because when London was carousing around Benicia, he was an oyster man who at different times worked both sides of the law. First, raiding oyster beds in the dead of night and selling this precious contraband on the sly to fish markets and then, perhaps seeing the error of his ways, joining the boating patrol to stop fishermen from using illegal techniques to net oysters, shrimp and sturgeon on the river and bay.

A few blocks up from Sailor Jack’s, at First and West E streets, is the building that once housed Jurgenson’s Saloon, where the teenaged London frequently held down a stool. A century ago Jurgenson’s was lower down on First, closer to the water and wharves, and it may have been the place he staggered out of in his drunken stupor that night.

Now this Old Town landmark has been lovingly restored and is the home of a hair and makeup salon and the Angel Heart 4 U shop.

While all these places are worth a visit, if you’re on the hunt for the rowdy vagabond spirit of Sailor Jack you must go back to the one place that has not changed since 1892: the water. This was where this dirt-poor boy—whose birth father abandoned him before he was born

and whose mother, feeling abandoned herself, tried to kill herself and then suffered a nervous breakdown—went for escape. To the bars, yes; but even more, to the rivers, the bay, the seas. “I must get out and away on the water,” he wrote.

But it was his means of escape that almost sealed his doom. The Razzle Dazzle was tied up in the tules between First and East Fifth where the Portuguese, Italian and Greek fishermen kept their small wooden commercial fishing boats. When London fell off it, he realized “there was nobody on the wharf.

Nobody on the sloop.” Nobody to help him as the tides at full ebb swept him out into the fast-moving currents of the river.

A strong swimmer who knew these waters as only a sailor can, he recovered quickly enough to steer away from the whirlpool-like currents that swirl around the islands close to today’s Benicia pier.

But rather than count his blessings and swim back to shore, or yell to be rescued, he stayed in the water, letting the river push him downstream like a piece of debris caught in the flood.

“Some maundering fancy of going out with the tide suddenly obsessed me,” he wrote twenty years later in “John Barleycorn.” “I had never been morbid.

Thoughts of suicide had never entered my head.” But now, lulled into a dizzy, semi-somnambulant state by the whisky spinning round his brain, the rushing water, the stars above him, they did. “I decided that this was all, that I had seen all, lived all, and that now was the time to cease…The water was delicious. It was a man’s way to die.”

In this melancholy state, his body floated for hours, down past the great Matthew Turner shipbuilding yard situated in the cove between West Ninth and Twelfth streets, down past Southampton Bay. As night turned to day and he approached the narrow neck of the Carquinez Strait, leading into the bigger, more turbulent expanses of San Pablo Bay, another and better thought

occurred to him. This thought saved him, woke him up like a burst of light in a darkened room.

He no longer wished to die. He wished to live.

“I was sober now,” he explained, “and I didn’t want to die. I discovered scores of reasons for living.” A Greek fisherman pulled his soaked and freezing body out of the water and returned him home.

After this scare London continued to drink, and his love-hate affair with the bottle—“The brightest spots in my child life,” he recalled, “were the saloons”— continued until his death, in 1916, at age 40. But it was never the same. He confessed that when he was a boy he “often drank more than my share to show the strength of my manhood.” Some days he never drew a sober breath, going on drinking runs that lasted weeks. That all changed. From then on, he became “respectfully suspicious” of the grip that John Barleycorn held over him and furthermore, “resolved to resist all future suggestions of self destruction.”

One can only wonder what would have happened to London if his drinking habits had gone unchanged. Would he have grown into the husband, father and author he eventually became?

Would there have been “Call of the Wild” or “White Fang” or “To Build a Fire?”

Fortunately, we need not contemplate such potential losses. For a confused young man steered his way through a dark night of the soul, and the little port town on the Carquinez played a noteworthy role in his redemption.

BeniciaMagazine.com • 19

Around Town Art

Arts Benicia:

A Showcase of Regional Artistic Talent

Art of a Community February 6 — April 11

Ready, Set, Spring April 24 — May 15

n

Top: Renaye Johnson My Waterlilies (2020), Acrylic; Above: Roger Muller, Harmony (2014) Black and White Silver Gelatin Print; Center: Emil Yanos, Ceramic Wall Sculpture — Stoneware; Next page: Charlynn Throckmorton, The Intoxication of Secret Places (2020), Oil/Cold Wax Medium 20 • Benicia Magazine

Jean Purnell

The strength of Arts Benicia, a nonprofit regional art center, has always been its community, its long-time members, its generations of artist-teachers mentoring the next generation, its volunteer origins and spirit, and the amazing artistic talent of its artist members. It comes as no surprise, then, that the largest and most popular exhibition produced annually by Arts Benicia is the Art of a Community.

The members-only exhibition is usually on display in January and February of each year, opening with a public reception at which over 300 persons fill the center’s spacious 2400-square foot gallery in the historical Arsenal on Tyler Street. The reception is a time for friends to reconnect with friends, and artists to meet other artists, many lingering long after the published end time for the reception.

But not this year, due to COVID19related restrictions on public events.

Nonetheless, Arts Benicia has produced the popular exhibition as an online-only event, with 130 artists participating. The exhibition opened on February 6 and runs until April 11 on the Arts Benicia website, where it can be viewed at https:// ar t sbenicia.org/ar t- of-a - communit y2021-exhibition/. Each artwork has been offered for sale by the artist, with sales benefitting both the artist and Arts Benicia. Exhibiting a work in the show is one of the benefits of membership in Arts Benicia. A wide variety of mediums are on display, including acrylic, oil, and watercolor paintings, sculpture and ceramics, photography, textile art, mixed media, digital art, prints and collages.

Participating artists represent the wealth of talent in our local region, with artists from Benicia, Vallejo, Walnut Creek,

Lafayette, San Francisco, Concord, Fairfield, Napa, Berkeley and other cities.

An Ekphrastic Poetry Reading – poetry inspired by works of art – was held virtually on March 14, via Zoom instead of in the gallery. The poetry reading, which has been a traditional part of the annual exhibition, involved over 30 poets who contributed their original poetry inspired by works from Art of a Community. The event was a collaboration between Arts Benicia, the Benicia Public Library, the First Tuesday poets, and Benicia poet laureate, Mary Susan Gast. The poetry has been published on the Arts Benicia website, at the exhibition site (see url above).

The work of regional artists will again be on display this month as part of Arts Benicia’s spring online auction fundraiser, Ready, Set, Spring! The auction will open on April 24 (visit https://artsbenicia.org/ready-set-spring/) and run through May 15. Art lovers and those just beginning to think about collecting art are invited to attend a fun “Happy Hour” Zoom-hosted program, The Joy of Collecting, with artist Lordy Rodriguez as guest presenter.

The program, which takes place in advance of the auction, is on Thursday, April 8, 5:00 – 5:45 pm. So, grab a glass of wine and join in to learn more about selecting and collecting art.

Event details will be available on the Arts Benicia website. Arts Benicia’s exhibitions and programs are free and open to the public.

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Around Town Food & Drink

Sandoval’s Gives Back Our community is well served when business owners and others see beyond their personal interests and look out for all community members.

n Jeannine Mendoza Ed.D “At the end of the day, it’s not about what you have or even what you have accomplished… it’s about who you’ve lifted up, who you’ve made better. It’s about what you’ve given back.” – Denzel Washington Thirty-five years ago, the Sandoval family started the Burrito Barge Mexican restaurant at 818 First Street. The restaurant had a reputation for quality Mexican food and cold beer, and became a local mainstay. Over the ensuing years, the restaurant moved a few doors west, to 640 First, and is now owned and operated by the youngest sibling, Deanne Sandoval-Ponder. Now known simply as Sandoval’s, the restaurant still prides itself on excellent, home-style Mexican food, and has enjoyed a loyal following for decades. Even the servers, prep personnel and cooks are all practically family members, having worked at the restaurant for years. Deanne often speaks of her “work family” with the same loving manner as her “home family.”

22 • Benicia Magazine

At Sandoval’s you can find toothsome traditional entrees, many still made using Deanne’s mother’s recipes, like cheese and onion enchiladas in a red or green sauce, and the restaurant’s signature pork chile verde either on a plate or in a burrito (or the popular “wet” burrito). Authentic chile rellenos that use an entire, fresh Anaheim chili pepper for each mouthwatering pepper, not skimpy canned chili strips, cannot be equaled. Additionally, your choice of crunchy or soft tacos, crammed with shredded beef, ground beef, shredded chicken or pork carnitas, are available. Street tacos filled with carne asada, al pastor, pork carnitas, fish, or fajita style tri-tip or chicken are available as well. Dinners are served with Mexican rice and your choice of beans. You can enjoy a plate of tasty chicken or beef fajitas. Sandoval’s soups are all made from Deanne’s mother’s own recipes, perfect for a chilly night. Albondigas, a hearty turkey meatball soup, is satisfying, as is the savory caldo de res, with chunks of beef and vegetables. A homemade black bean soup containing chopped tomatoes,

Deanne Sandoval-Ponder and Jim Ponder

Around Town Food & Drink cilantro, onion, and topped with fresh sour cream is rich and satisfying. The chicken soup, topped with onions, cilantro, tomatoes, jalapeño and fresh avocado, is most popular. Lighter fare like tostadas, salads and Caesar wraps offer fresh and healthy alternatives, as well.

The restaurant offers only certified Angus beef in its beef dishes, only chicken breast in its chicken selections, and only Alaskan cod in its fish dishes.

The three bean options are, whole pintos, whole black beans and refried beans, and all are vegan. All produce is locally sourced, and the guacamole is made fresh daily. The flavorful fajita marinade is made on the premises. Even though Sandoval’s may be old-school, they can accommodate dietary restrictions and preferences without sacrificing flavor.

A year ago Benicia’s restaurants struggled to remain in business, creating outdoor dining, takeout specials, and delivery service to survive. Sandoval’s was no exception. But early in the pandemic, Sandoval’s also began their take on “Happy Meals,” giving away the ingredients for a meal to twenty-plus staff families every Thursday. These meals were meant to provide food to feed her employees and their families once a week during these tough times. Sandoval’s gave away Holiday Happy Meals, as well, that also contained holiday treats, providing some much needed seasonal cheer. Thanks in part to a partnership with Valero, Sandoval’s was able to answer the call to provide meals to community volunteers and frontline workers during this difficult time. Sandoval’s also has a long standing reputation of community engagement with organizations like Soroptimist International of Benicia, Arts Benicia, and St. Paul’s Episcopal.

Currently, the front window at Sandoval’s is like a low tech bulletin board for passersby.

Information regarding COVID tests, vaccines, and other community opportunities are listed there. The group of citizens that benefit from this pop-up bulletin board may not have access to computers, but they certainly need this information. Deanne encourages this type of community interaction, recognizing that each and every one of us deserves to be informed about the current health crisis. She also recognizes and gives thanks to the employees, providers, and customers who have allowed Sandoval’s to stay open through the years and especially through this difficult time. Deanne is an inspiration to us all. Our community is well served when business owners and others see beyond their personal interests and look out for all community members. A round of applause to you, Deanne!!

Spring in a glass

n

Maura Sullivan

I found a gin for the light hearted drinker. When I say light hearted drinker, I mean the drinker who enjoys most spirits in a decorated tall glass. This drinker normally enjoys flavored vodka and predictably orders daiquiris or the classic mojito. You’re probably thinking, that’s not a light hearted drinker, that's just a beginner. I know.… but some habits never die. This gin is suitable for gin connoisseurs and would-be gin-haters, alike. Empress 1908 Gin. The Empress is nothing but class in a glass. Not only will the natural indigo color hypnotize you, it will enlighten. When this beautiful gem is mixed with citrus, the color will change to a beautiful glowing blush color. Distilled from pea blossoms with added botanicals, this spirit gives off subtle aromas of lavender and orange peel. Everything about this gin reminds me of spring. It cannot be compared to the typical gin, which might conjure unwanted reminders of Pine Sol or pine tree car air fresheners. I promise, this will create nothing but good, refreshing memories.

Now let's get some spring into your glass. Empress Gin 1908 does have an amazing website full of great recipes, but I was inspired to try a recipe called The Bee Knees

The Bee’s Knees You’ll need a shaker for this one.

2oz of Empress Gin 1908 (Safeway, Bevmo or Target) Half to ¾ of an ounce of honey Syrup 1oz of Fresh lemon juice. Yes, it has to be fresh!

Shake over ice, and pour into your favorite dainty glass.

Enjoy your gem cocktail outside.

BeniciaMagazine.com • 23

Column A (Soap Opera) mystery story unfolds each month There will be clues as the . ies ser ry ste my ia nic to “Picket Fences.”

Join us for a Be ing conclusion. Welcome rify ter d an d cte pe ex un leading to an

s e c n e F t e Pick Previously in Picket Fences …

Bruce and Angela made up after their quarrel over her past. Payton had gone to meet up with Xavier at a mysterious mobile home when they were interrupted by unwelcome guests. n

Darrell Mcelvane

With Payton in the closet, Xavier heads to the back of the trailer and squeezes under the built-in bunk bed. The two boys hear the men enter the trailer. Payton grips the cupcake in his hands, trying not to breathe loudly. Xavier looks out from under the old broken siding of the bed and can see three sets of feet. Payton hears one the men say, “This bastard better show up.” And then an older man’s voice, “Don’t worry he has to, he has no choice.” Another car pulls up outside, and a fourth man enters the trailer.

“What’s the plan?” asks the fourth man. “We’re going to do it at the event …the F.A.C.T. fundraiser. That’s what she promised us,” says the older voice, “So that gives about a week?” Payton, stunned by what he’s hearing, lets out a gasp and claps his hand over his mouth, knowing he might have just given himself away. “What was that?” says the elderly voice, abruptly. Unbeknownst to the boys, the fourth man draws his gun, saying, “You said it was just us.” Xavier sees the men head toward the sound and go into the room where Payton is trying desperately to be silent. To get the men’s attention away from Payton, Xavier quickly takes off his watch and throws it into the front room. The gold watch hits the wall heater and makes a loud clang. All the men turn to follow the noise.

Knowing they have only seconds, Xavier swiftly comes out from under the bed to grab Payton. “You okay?”

Xavier whispers “Yeah ...yeah I’m good,” Payton replies.

The two boys silently move to the back of the trailer and slip out of the window. “I want you to run to your car and get the hell out of here,” says Xavier. “What about you?” Payton asks with a tremble of fear in his voice. “I’ll be fine. Look, I’ll call you when I’m safe, okay?” Xavier says. The four men, having exited the front of the mobile home in their search and finding nothing, ambled back inside while the two boys put Xavier’s plan into action.

Payton runs to his car and Xavier runs to his truck and 24 • Benicia Magazine

the two-escape unseen by the four men. The fourth man steps into the trailer and notices the gold Rolex watch on the floor. He reads the inscription on the back, “To my loving son.” He grips it in his fist, the watch confirming his supposition that they were not alone.

Back at the Wingate home, Angela and Bruce stand around the kitchen island, snacking on overdone steak and enjoying each other’s company. Bruce leans in for a kiss and then takes his plate to the sink. Just then, Angela receives a text from Connie. With a sickening feeling, Angela is reminded of what she is facing and is jolted back to reality. Bruce comes from behind and puts his arms around her. ‘I’m going to take a shower,” he says.

Still reading the text message, Angela says, “Yeah, I’ll be up in a minute.”

Outside, Payton pulls into the driveway. Still waiting for the call from Xavier, he sits for a while until the phone finally rings. “I’m good …I’m home. Are you okay? …Are you home?” Xavier asks. “I just pulled into the driveway and I’m good,” says Payton. They each breathe a sigh of relief. Payton asks, “Who’s trailer were we in?” “It’s one of my dad’s old properties,” Xavier answers. “I’ll meet you tomorrow at lunch. We need to figure out what to do next,” Payton says, getting out of the car and hurrying into the house. He is spotted by Hank Walker, Madalyn's husband, who is busy putting out the trash. “Hi, Payton,” Hank says, but his words fall on deaf ears as Payton rushes into the house.

Hank puts the can on the curb, pulls the phone out of his pocket, and begins scrolling through the text history.

Not finding the text thread he wants to see, he dials a number. “I tried to see you tonight, but you won’t answer my calls. Please call back.” Hank hangs up the phone and heads into the house, closing the door behind him. .

To be continued…

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Column Dinner and a Movie

The eighth in a series of at home food and movie pairings.

The Workshop & Finding Cajun n

Super friendly, southern hospitality, full of flavor!

26 • Benicia Magazine

Cinema Cat & Gourmet Gracie

There’s nothing like it--the smoky, spicy smell of gumbo, andouille sausage and chicken or shrimp, oysters and crab. And, wait, if I close my eyes and listen closely—is that an engine horn from the riverboat Natchez? Am I on a sidewalk in the New Orleans French Quarter by the Mississippi River?

The Workshop takes us there, except, we’re in Benicia; there’s a cool breeze and I hear the train whistle from across the Carquinez Strait. On Saturdays, you’ll find fresh, hot beignets and the extraordinarily comforting red beans and rice with ham hocks, turkey necks, sausage, white rice and green onions.

A better word for sandwiches is po’ boy—your choice of fried shrimp, fried catfish and more, or the very special and classic brisket po’ boy in tribute to Tujague’s on Decatur Street in the quarter. All

the fixin’s on special fresh bread—delicious chipotle aioli, fiery hot sauce, so good.

For a party in your mouth, try Thursday’s Cajun Chicken Pie special--sssshhhh, it’s a secret. Tuesday offers breaded, fried pork chops on a bed of mac n’ cheese, smothered with gravy. What?!?!? You heard me…check it out…your pandemic taste buds will thank you. Don’t leave without the sweet hush puppies or cornbread for a little “lagniappe!”

Laissez le bon temps rouler!

(Let the good times roll!)

511 Claverie Way , Benicia CA 707.747.6028 or drop by for take out Outdoor tables, weather/pandemic permitting.

Tues – Fri: 11 am – 2:30 pm | Sat: 8 am – 2:30 pm

2 Minute Movie Review by Cinema Cat: Finding Cajun

A movie goer has lots of choices when looking for a film to pair with a Cajun dinner from the Workshop. The trick is to find something that does not play on the seamy side of things — this is a family publication, after all.

You could choose the scarier-than-scary “Angel Heart,” and be seriously creeped out for years to come. Or maybe “Interview with the Vampire,” though it might put you off your hush puppies and gumbo for the foreseeable future. Even “The Big Easy,” though mild in comparison to those two, has a gritty edge which does not meet our wholesome viewing standards.

One begins to wonder, where did New Orleans get that rep?

That’s where this month’s documentary, Finding Cajun, comes in.

In 52 minutes, this deep dive into the southern region of Louisiana spells out the rich history of French Acadians (pronounced A – ca – ji – ans) and explains the origins of the now commonly accepted appellation “Cajun.”

From there, we traverse the twists and turns of the diverse people in “Acadiana” – New Orleans and 12 surrounding parishes – navigate the diverse landscape that makes up their complex culture and explore how they themselves seek to solidify their identity.

French-speaking Canadians, native, black and mixed race Creoles, and poor white Cajuns take pride in their history even as they jostle against each other for clarity, status, and stature. You will learn a lot and appreciate that jambalaya all the more.

2018, Directed by Nathan Rabalais, documentary, available on Amazon.

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BeniciaMagazine.com • 27

Column Trends

Getting to

And we thought the Road to Hana was tough n

Christina Strawbridge

Air travel to Hawaii during Covid is not for the faint of heart, and definitely not for those who are over 65 and technologically challenged. The State of Hawaii has created a platform called Safe Travels (travel. hawaii.gov), designed to inform and guide visitors for ohana traveling to the Aloha state. The mandatory travel form includes details on where you will be traveling within the islands including addresses, phone numbers of locations, airline and flight info, a health questionnaire, and of course, your Covid test results. It actively screens, tracks and monitors travelers for public health and safety and is an alternative to being quarantined for 10 long days.

We found Covid testing to be tricky in that a visitor must use a State of Hawaii approved testing site and it only can be done within 72 hours before the flight.

The test can cost as much as $250.00 per traveler to as little as $20.00, depending on where you go and how much time you have to get the results. Once the State of Hawaii approves you, a QR code is issued that will bring up all your information. The QR code is your passport to fun in the sun and is checked upon arrival at the Hawaii airport and at your destination hotel, rental or VRBO.

The QR code has been with us for quite a few years but it has been employed much more frequently since the pandemic for all types of services. As in many restaurants throughout the country, the restaurants in Maui use QR codes instead of paper menus for sanitary reasons and in some cases, the QR code replaces contact with the server. It is also used to rent a car or reserve tee time at your favorite resort.

Once you get on the plane, be prepared for a bit of a change when flying the friendly skies. Most airlines try to keep a seat open between travelers and require wearing a mask during the entire 5-plus hour flight. On the Southwest flight to Maui, food and drink services were quite limited. The only beverage offered was water and the food was a bag of carbs.

Entertainment is up to you, as movies, etc. are accessed by your own device using the airline Wi-Fi. Screens in planes have become passé.

So, is it worth the hassle? Once you find that perfect seat near the pool or beach and witness humpback whales breaching in the distance as you sip on an umbrella clad drink, thoughts of QR codes and technology just magically slip away. It's definitely worth it!

Mahalo!

28 • Benicia Magazine

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Those changes would come from entering into the Orange Tier

30 • Benicia Magazine

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4271 Park Road, Benicia, CA 94510 www.harmony-organics.com • (707) 747-5051

www.benicia.com Brenda Turner-Adams

BENICIA PLUMBING INC. “PEOPLE TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE...”

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Your Partner in Real Estate

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Repair or Replace • Water - Gas - Sewer Garbage Disposal • Water Heaters • Drain Line Clearing/Cleaning • Backflow Certification Testing Video Camera • Slab Leaks

707.738.9671

Experience Excellence

brenda@benicia.com 1015 First Streeet Benicia, CA 94510 BRE01039726

Residential & Commercial Service 24/7

(800) 746-2930 www.BeniciaPlumbing.com

Best Of 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2103, 2014 & 2015

Please go to our website for Farmers Market Rules www.beniciamainstreet.org.

Benicia Certified

Benicia Farmers Market runs Thursdays April 29th to October 28th 4 - 8 pm (Jun-Aug) (Jun-Aug) and and 4 - 7 pm (Sep-Oct) (Sep-Oct) First Street between B & D Streets Sponsored by Benicia Main Street 90 First Street, Benicia

beniciamainstreet.org

707.745.9791 BeniciaMagazine.com • 31

“Working with Trevor and Taylor from AQC was a seamless process. Their attention to detail went beyond our expectations and we LOVE how our kitchen and media room turned out!”

— Kennedy and Dustin Morris

Benicia's

CUSTOM CABINETRY FOR EVERY ROOM Receive a $150 gift certificate to Romancing the Home with the purchase of a complete kitchen.

AFFORDABLE QUALITY Owners Trevor Cotarelo and Taylor Kennedy

Cabinets and Countertops

707-745-2100 aqchome.com • Open Mon. - Fri. 9-5 weekends & evenings by appointment • 4852 East 2nd Street, Benicia