Benicia Magazine April 2022 Issue

NATIONAL POETRY MONTH

all people’s trail

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Contributors

Genevieve Hand Mary Hand Linda Hastings Darrell Mcelvane Cooper Mickelson Gethsemane Moss, Ed.D Kevin Nelson Jean Purnell Maura Sullivan

Photography Luke George

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4 • Benicia Magazine

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.

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BeniciaMagazine.com • 5

April 2022

Contents Features 16 P oetry and Embarrassment: 18

Unlikely Partners in Growth and Self-Exploration

A Path for All to Tread:

Building the All People’s Trail

18

10

12 6 • Benicia Magazine

Gene Pedrotti and Mayor Steve Young

24

Bert Johnson

20

13

Departments Columns 8 From the editor 25 Picket Fences A Benicia Mystery

#growtogether

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28 Dinner and a Movie

Manny's Steakhouse and The Grand Seduction

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Around Town COMMUNITY 9 Benicia Historical Museum – Acquiring Benicia Fire Museum

10

enicia Skatepark B A Haven for Novice and Pro

Family Owned & Operated Since 1972

The Most IMPRESSIVE Honda Ever!

13 Hidden Benicia

Stalking the Wild Goldfields

20 A ce Centennial Drone Show

Pedrotti Celebrates 100 Years

30 E l Dia del Niño – A Solano County

The 2022 Honda Civic Sport

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Community Celebration

FOOD AND DRINK 15 Bar None – Earth Day Your Way ART & PHILANTHROPY 14 Hamann Foundation

The Story of the Little Red Corvette

24 L and Art

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BENICIA BUSINESS 12 Harmony Organics – Growing Together

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Plantation Shutters Starting From

A Healing Practice in Stressful Times

Cover photo: Trick rider Pierce Tenret of Benicia rides most every day. He says he like the challenge, the workout and that it clears his head. He and the riders wish there were lights at the park so they could ride longer.

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column Editor's letter

Spring is here, it’s time to refresh and renew FROM THE PUBLISHER After almost 17 years, we have made a change to our masthead. We wanted something different but not radically so. The masthead is the result of the combined talents of our art director, Margaret Bowles and contributor/ designer Cooper Mickelson. We believe that it combines a nod to the past and a nudge to the future and we hope you like it as much as we do. Cooper is now working as graphic designer under Margaret, as well as a contributor to the magazine.

The second new item is our new photographer, Luke George. Luke brings a plethora of talent to the magazine. He has said that “wanderlust and a social curiosity led me to study photojournalism in the American West where I fell in love with people and places.” His first assignment for us included two challenging subjects: Solano Land Trust’s new trail, the All People’s Trail located

FROM THE EDITOR Just a few months into 2022 and we are finally seeing the light at the end of the Covid tunnel.

It’s wonderful to see our local businesses rebounding and people able to more freely navigate their lives. And yet, we now find ourselves living through yet another moment that will undoubtedly show up in the history books of tomorrow.

The atrocities that have played out during the war in Ukraine are nothing short of

near Rockville Hills Regional Park, and Benicia XPark Skatepark. Luke shot the All Peoples Trail and surrounding area in very early morning via drone photography, followed by a hike up the trail. Luke put the extreme in the XPark Skatepark. He laid down in one of the bowls and shot up as the riders jumped social media pages @beniciamagazine and follow for more ways to engage with over him. Gnarly.

What else is new? After many years, the magazine.

There’s a lot of new energy that the Benicia Fire Museum was going to have to close, but the Benicia Historical comes with spring, particularly with the Museum stepped in and offered to make receding of Covid. Look for the opening the Fire Museum part of the Historical of Farmers Market, more live music, new Museum. Certainly a win-win for both shops and new and returning events in organizations. Look for more information our near future. in the coming weeks and months.

We want to thank Benicia’s poets for their submis-sions.

So many wonderful “Don’t wait for someone to bring you flowers. poems, we wish that Plant your own garden and decorate your we could print them all. Look for more on own soul.”

Benicia Magazine’s

—Mary

— Luther Burbank

heartbreaking and infuriating. We are at yet another point in which humanity needs people to stick up for it. We’ve seen some great activism from some of our local businesses raising funds for Ukrainian refugees and we applaud those who give what they can during this humanitarian crisis.

Of course, this is not the only humanitarian crisis unfolding in our world today, and there are many other causes worth giving to. Increasingly, we are seeing drought and other natural disasters as driving factors in such crises.

As we celebrate Earth Day this month, it is our chance to look at how we can make a difference for the environment,

@beniciamagazine

Facebook.com/beniciamagazine

even if only in our own backyard. In this issue, you can learn how to be a greener gardener with Harmony Organics, about the importance of our native plants, and about how Solano Land Trust is expanding access to the outdoors through the All People’s Trail. For when you need a break from making a difference but still want to celebrate Earth, this issue also contains nature-inspired art, poetry (it is also National Poetry Month, after all), and even a cocktail. Enjoy!

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Tweet, post or send your suggestions & ideas to: Editor@beniciamagazine.com

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Benicia Historical Museum acquires Benicia Fire Museum n Mary Hand In recent months, Benicia Historical Museum has been working alongside the Benicia Volunteer Firemen, Inc. to acquire the Benicia Fire Museum collection. Museums don’t often acquire one another, and both organizations are aware that these are bold, unusual actions. Jen Roger, Executive Director of Benicia Historical Museum said, “It is with immense gratitude and appreciation of the trust that the Benicia Volunteer Firemen, Inc. has placed in us that we eagerly embrace the next chapter in our mission.

We wish to publicly thank the Benicia Volunteer Firemen, Inc. for their 175 years of selfless volunteer service to our community. We know this is an emotional closing to their institutional heritage and we want to assure their Board of Directors, members, and community at large that the history of Benicia’s fire service will not go unrecognized as we move forward.”

The mission of the Benicia Historical Museum is to engage the community and the greater public in the evolving history of Benicia and its contributions to the development of our state and country. The Museum complex is at the heart of Benicia’s historic preservation and heritage promotion programs, making it the perfect home for the fire museum.

The Benicia Volunteer Firemen, Inc. was founded in 1847.

It is the oldest continuously operated volunteer fire service in California, and was the first volunteer fire organization west of the Mississippi. The founding of the organization coincided with the arrival of the Phoenix, Benicia’s first fire truck. Built in 1820, the Phoenix served her first 27 years in the New York Volunteer Fire Department. She was brought to Benicia in 1849, the same year the city was founded.

The Benicia Fire Museum was founded in 1981 through the efforts of the Benicia Volunteer Firemen, Incorporated and the Benicia Fire Department. The Museum housed many treasures of fire service equipment and hundreds of related items.

Jen Roger is coordinating the transition of the Fire Museum to Benicia Historical Museum and is sensitive to the history of the organization. “I want to begin by extending our best to the Board of Directors and members of the Benicia Volunteer Firemen, Inc. and the Benicia Fire Museum. We welcome you to the Benicia Historical Museum family and want you to know that our time, dedication, and service to our community has not gone unrecognized or unappreciated and I want to reassure you that our board, staff, and volunteers are here to support you all, as well.” B BeniciaMagazine.com • 9

around town Community

k r a P X a i c i n Be Skatepark , s e ik b , s d r a o b e t a sk d n a s e t a k s , s r e sc o ot

s k c i r t f o s lot n Mary Hand

The best part about Community Park is my grandpa, Mike Alvarez, retired Parks & Community Services Director was part of the design team for creating this great park…which makes it even more special — 10 • Benicia Magazine

Ethan Belcher

Benicia’s skatepark hosts scores of kids, young adults and a few oldsters every day. They are on skateboards, scooters and bikes, each challenging the various sections of this amazing park. These very popular sports have often been seen as extreme or outside the “normal” kids sports. They have of course been legitimized by being included in the Olympics. In fact, Nikita Ducarroz, from Santa Rosa, did much of her practicing at the Benicia skatepark, and earned a bronze medal in BMX freestyle in the Tokyo Olympics.

Participants of these sports are often individualist, competing against themselves by perfecting a trick or move, or likewise watching and competing against each other. It is a cooperative sport, in that they take turns; sometimes it’s bikes, then skateboards or scooters. To see these kids defying gravity, and sometimes realities, is a fun and inspiring thing to watch.

There are literally hundreds, perhaps thousands of skateboard/BMX/scooter tricks that have actual names, probably even more that don’t. In fact, riders are inventing more on a daily basis. The skateboard trick list can be broken down into basic tricks: flip and shove-it tricks, grind and slide tricks, air, pool, ramp and grab tricks, footplant tricks, balance tricks, and many others.

BMX includes air tricks, grinds, flatland and scooters perform tricks on half-pipes, ramps, rails or bowls, all are part of Benicia Skatepark.

“Benicia park is rad! It has a cool street section that tunnels through a quarter pipe area and waterfalls into a 9 foot bowl. It is fast! It also has a left hand kidney pool w/pool coping. It has a square bowl with a vert wall and a roll in that connects the square bowl with the 9 ft. bowl. Around the outside of the park there is a small 2 or 3 stair and some ledges. This park has made the small town of Benicia definitely worth the visit. It is a great park to add to any Bay Area skate trips.”

-A.M. Concrete Disciples Unlike baseball and soccer fields or tennis courts, this park has no lights, this is probably due to antiquated ideas that these sports aren’t legitimate and draw a rougher element. This is not the case.

This group of young athletes are talented, strong and dedicated to their sport. They include kids from your neighborhood and visiting enthusiasts.

The park is regularly included as one of the best spots to practice skateboard, roller-blade, scooter, and BMX skills in the greater Bay Area.

City Council member Trevor Macinski, champions kids sports and recreation and the spaces in which they play. When asked about our skatepark, Trevor, and former skateboard rider himself, was very enthusiastic. He mentioned that the old Willow Glen skate park was one of the best in its time and was deemed historic by the skating community. Macinski agrees that the park should be lighted and added that the time is now for parent advocates to engage with Mike Dotson, Director, Parks and Community Services. The more people advocate for the lights the more likely they will be installed. B

A few c o mm ents fro m the riders Q: WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO BMX BIKE RIDING? A: I was attracted to BMX by my Dad who has been riding since the 80s. I'm also challenged by my friends to push myself to excel at new tricks.

Q: HOW IS THE CULTURE OF TRICK RIDING DIFFERENT FROM OTHER SPORTS?

A: T he culture of doing tricks is like brotherhood, other

sports are seen as a competitive where bmx is more community based.

Q: WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO BMX BIKE RIDING? A: I like to go fast and jump things.

Q: HOW IS THE CULTURE OF TRICK RIDING DIFFERENT FROM OTHER SPORTS?

Q: HOW OFTEN DO YOU RIDE/PRACTICE AT THE

A: R iding a scooter is

A: I try to ride at least a few times a week. Gotta keep

Q: HOW OFTEN DO YOU RIDE/PRACTICE AT THE SKATEPARK? A: I ride my scooter pretty much every day. I usually meet friends at

SKATEPARK?

those skills sharp.

Q: WHY DO YOU WANT LIGHTS AT THE PARK? A: I I'd like lights at the park, because sometimes it gets dark at 6pm in fall. It cuts the fun short. Plus lights would make it safer. ­—

Haven Williams, senior, Benicia High

improve on.

an individual activity/sport that allows you to

the skate park 4 — 5 days a week.

Q: WHY DO YOU WANT LIGHTS AT THE PARK? A: I t would be fun to skate at night and if there were lights we could stay later.

­—

Ethan Belcher

BeniciaMagazine.com • 11

around town Business

Harmony Organics

Growing Together nG enevieve Hand It is easy to take the soil beneath our feet for granted. We tend to think of it as a stagnant, lifeless thing. And perhaps your garden’s soil truly has reached that point; unable to support much other than scrappy weeds. On the contrary, any gardener worth her salt knows that, typically, amendments must be added to the soil for it to support a garden. And knowing which amendments to choose can make all the difference. Fortunately, you can find a wealth of knowledge on this topic, and quality products, at Harmony Organics.

If you’ve ever used a cheap soil in your garden and pumped it full of artificial fertilizers to get the job done, you probably had to start from ground zero again the next year, replacing everything from the soil, up. That’s because with soil, as with much in life, you get what you pay for. So said two of Harmony Organics’ founders, Pat Murphy and Sean Kazemi, on my recent visit to their warehouse. Located in Benicia’s Industrial Park, Harmony Organics has made it their business to bring soil and soil amendment products back to their tried-andtrue basics. Their focus is promoting harmony between their ingredients so that the garden, field, or crop can better sustain itself.

The soil, coco coir, and amendments that Harmony Organics produce are a bit more expensive than what you might find at a big box garden center, but they are made so that customers can build upon their garden’s progress year after year. The quality of their products is touted through word of mouth as happy customers have eagerly told friends and neighbors of their gardening success. Their soil is used by Sustainable Solano in projects such as Benicia’s Avant Garden community garden, as well as across several campuses in the Bay Area.

“This year, our product is the best

12 • Benicia Magazine

it’s ever been,” said Sean of having made it through their early years in the business and fine tuning their processes during that time.

Like many businesses, Harmony Organics has been feeling the effects of pandemic-related trials and cost increases. Even so, they’ve managed to continue to give back to the community throughout the pandemic, partnering with local schools to bring kids handson educational experiences. They look forward to expanding this program to more schools in the future. In addition, they plan to partner with Sustainable Solano for future projects and offer more resources to the community in an effort to move people away from chemical-heavy products and toward more environmentally friendly alternatives. The team members at Harmony Organics have deep roots in Benicia and feel a natural commitment to the community here and through the greater Solano County.

The minds behind Harmony Organics are big on collaboration; after all, their slogan is “grow together.” They are passionate about what they do and are always looking to expand their knowledge by connecting with others in and adjacent to their field, including the horticulture programs at DVC and Solano College. “The cool thing about this field is everyone is willing to share.

We’re all after the same end goal,” said Pat. Namely, becoming good stewards of the environment.

Beyond soil and amendments, Harmony Organics now offers plant sales. They will be having a plant and soil sale the weekend of April 23rd.

Look forward to new offerings of hands-on and educational workshops for the community, and even garden harvest BBQ events, as well. If you are interested in purchasing or learning more about Harmony Organics products, check out their website, harmony-organics.com, or call 707.747.5051 to speak with a member of the team. B

"We’re all after the same end goal,” said Pat. Namely, becoming good stewards of the environment."

around town Hidden Benica

Stalking the Wild G ldfields n Kevin Nelson

"It is our lucky day because we are standing within arm’s length of “the number one rarest wildflower in the whole park,” the alkali goldfield."

Benicia State Recreation Area is one of the oldest and most popular hangouts in town. But when you’re there with Bert Johnson it becomes an almost entirely new place, full of rare treasures and fresh discoveries.

Bert is a Benician and a botanist of the first rank. Now retired, he spent a good chunk of his life as a gardener for the Regional Parks Botanic Garden at Tilden Park in Berkeley. He has written scholarly articles about the plant life of the Southampton Bay region and he can rattle off their scientific names like a Jeopardy champion.

But what really shines through when you talk to Bert is his clear, unabashed love for plants, especially native California plants. “Wow! Look at this,” he says as we arrive at a patch of pretty little yellow flowers. “Man, are we lucky.”

It is our lucky day because we are standing within arm’s length of “the number one rarest wildflower in the whole park,” the alkali goldfield.

There are a whole bunch of them, fully in bloom, clustered around a bend in the dirt trail that curves outward along the marsh. You pick up this trail from the paved Mike Taugher Trail that’s popular with runners, recreational walkers and bicyclists.

We have yet to see any manzanita on our tour today, which is a shame because Johnson is one of the leading authorities on manzanita in California. There is even a variety of manzanita found only near Big Sur that is named after him. It’s informally known as “Bert’s Manzanita.” He has even discovered things about BSRA that nobody knew until he started exploring it.

One day in a hike around Dillon Point he spotted a few gorgeous black and orange pipevine butterflies fluttering around a grouping of sandstone rocks. “It was a clue,”

he recalls. The swallowtails are dependent on a rare plant known as the California pipevine; without it, the equally rare butterflies could not live there. Like a botanical Sherlock Holmes, this clue led him to find the first-ever California pipevine in BSRA, combined with a similar discovery around Lake Herman.

Like the pipevine, the alkali goldfield is also rare and also acts as a natural “indicator” for another living thing that is dependent on it, in this case a busy little bee. “They’re very tiny,” explains Bert. “Very hard to spot.

They’re natives. They don’t sting.

They’re ground nesters. They collect the pollen from the goldfields and feed it to their larvae. They survive only because the goldfields are here.

If the flowers died off so would the bees.”

The goldfields and the bees that hang onto them for life inhabit what Johnson calls “a botanical hot spot.”

There are three other exceedingly rare plants that can be found here as well: salt marsh birdsbeak, Western dock, and marsh butterweed. Their fragile little home along this wellworn hiking trail is, in Bert’s words, “a totally unusual habitat” because of its fortuitous location on the edge of the pickleweed marsh. The goldfields tend to grow with another petite golden flower, the brass button, which thrives here too.

Despite having walked by this spot hundreds of times, I had no idea how special it was. Nor did I have a full understanding of the epic battle that is occurring at Benicia State Recreation Area. It is a battle between indigenous California creations such as the alkali goldfield and the nonnatives that have taken hold here and are threatening the natives with destruction. Who’s winning, who’s losing this centuries-old struggle?

We’ll check back in with Bert next month to find out. B

BeniciaMagazine.com • 13

around town Philanthropy

The Story of the

Little Red Corvette

n Linda Hastings Sometimes we just know we have to help in whatever way we can. Jeannie and Tim Hamann, longtime Benicia residents, worked for years raising money for the American Cancer Association after they lost a close friend to breast cancer in 2007. We all know someone…

In 2014, their friend’s daughter was diagnosed with cancer just like her mother had been. Her car broke down while she was working and simultaneously going through treatments. She needed support…and money to replace her transportation.

A picnic in the park with friends turned into a successful and surprising personal fundraiser, gathering $4K that went directly to the young woman who needed it. From this example of direct gifting, Jeannie and Tim were inspired to start their own 501(c)3 – expanding their fundraising network.

One weekend in early 2015, Tim and Jeannie participated in a Ronald McDonald House fundraiser and golf

14 • Benicia Magazine

tournament in Reno. It was a lovely event, well attended with many raffle prizes and auction items. Later that evening, winding down in the bar at the El Dorado Hotel, they overheard

"I can’t promise that there’ll be a gorgeous red corvette to raffle off this year, but I can promise a spectacular night of delicious food, wine, fun and auction prizes, both live and online. " a gentleman being congratulated for winning a 1977 cherry red Corvette.

Without hesitation, Tim spoke up, saying, “hey, maybe you’ll donate it to our charity!” More conversation ensued, and when the winning individual fully understood the purpose his newly won classic car could serve, he generously made the donation and the car was transported to Benicia to be held for the Hamann Foundation.

Raffle tickets were sold for $100 each; $25K was raised and the vehicle was

presented to the winner at the first local auction and dinner in 2016.

When there are angels among us, miracles are possible! And so it was, $25K has become more than $600K, disbursed to individuals in our communities, giving a hand up to those in need from the challenges of cancer. Sometimes referred by friends and family and sometimes through the medical community, recipients have expressed how these funds have often made all the difference. Some are now volunteers for the Foundation.

I can’t promise that there’ll be a gorgeous red corvette to raffle off this year, but I can promise a spectacular night of delicious food, wine, fun and auction prizes, both live and online. The Hamann Foundation’s Annual Dinner and Auction is scheduled for Friday, May 6th at the Benicia Clocktower.

Tickets are $150 per person. We would love to have you join us! B

Tim & Jeannie Hamann Foundation www.hamannfoundation.org

around town Food and Drink — Bar None —

EARTH DAY

Your Way n Maura Sullivan We’re used to celebrating the earth by giving back. Cleaning our beaches, planting a tree, and limiting the usage of plastic.

We are even willing to drive a Prius. While I planted my basil in my apartment kitchen, I felt inspired to raise a glass to this amazing planet. This cocktail must be made from scratch, with only the best ingredients.

Choosing a spirit was simple. I wanted to use something that would be subtle in aromatics, but pack a punch. Tequila was my choice, a beautiful yet simple blanco would be perfect. I wanted to incorporate one of my favorite scents by infusing it into the tequila.

Using a mason jar, I placed one jasmine and one green tea bag with my choice of tequila into a mason jar and set it aside at room temperature for 30 minutes.

The fun part of infusing spirits is that you can play and use whichever tea or fruit you prefer.

Next will be the fruit. I prefer to create my own flavored simple syrups. They’re easy, way cheaper, and add that personal touch. I decided to use blueberries for this. They are close to being in season and I also had a cheesecake in the fridge that I could use the extras to top. To make the simple syrup, I added a cup of sugar and a cup of water to a pot, simmering until clear, then added a cup of the berries. The berries and sugar water simmered for 15 minutes, then I strained the solids and let cool.

I then filled a cocktail glass to the brim with ice, added my infused tequila, fresh lime juice, and my homemade simple syrup. I topped it off with soda water (you could sub grapefruit soda for a little extra zing) and gave it a light stir. This drink is perfect for a warm spring day. The floral aromatics will pair beautifully with the fresh fruit scents. Enjoy while you plant your contribution to Earth. Cheers! B

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POetry EMBARRASSME & Feature

The Unlikely Partners in Growth and Self-Exploration

n C ooper

16 • Benicia Magazine

Mickelson

Over the past year, I’ve been contemplating the importance of poetry quite a bit, and what better time to share my thoughts than National Poetry Month! Let me start by saying I am in no way an expert on this topic, nor am I a talented poet. Although I read plenty of poetry in my day-to-day life, I didn’t try my hand at writing it until I was forced to for a college course last summer.

I was incredibly nervous when it came time to share my first poem. I worried that people would judge me and my writing. I was hyperfocused on how my peers would perceive and evaluate my poetry. Ultimately, I was sick to my stomach when I clicked submit.

Now, this may or may not come as a surprise to you, but nobody made fun of me.

On the contrary, my classmates were kind and genuinely excited about reading and discussing each other’s poems. It’s almost as if people aren’t always looking for, or concentrating on, my faults!

My apprehension slowly evolved into excitement with each new assignment.

I stopped spending my writing process worrying about what people would think and, as a result, was able to dive deeper into unleashing my unconscious mind without fear of judgment.

Sharing poetry inspired an interconnectedness between my classmates and me. A sense of community was born as we were taken out of our isolated little worlds and shown a larger picture of the human experience.

Through this course, I gained confidence in myself and an understanding of the hundreds of other worlds being experienced by others.

I continued writing poetry even after the class ended. The act of sitting down and writing turned into a practice in mindfulness and self-exploration. It was my time to loosen up and let everything out in a healthy, creative way. We are forever changing, and it can be a challenge to keep up; poetry allows us to

reflect, dream, reminisce, actively observe, and fantasize through all of these little evolutions.

When creating any sort of art, you invite the potential of negative evaluation, the foundation of embarrassment. Poetry is no different, and sharing that poetry with the world can be terrifying. But, lucky for us, embarrassment makes us better humans. It opens up the opportunity for us to push past our comfort zone, tackle ambitious goals, and put ourselves in the position to fail (sometimes publicly.) The threat of embarrassment lives at the edge of our comfort and experience, and that is also where we grow best. If I never convince you of anything else, please let me convince you to choose growth over a desire for safety.

Want to give it a try? I’ll make it easy for you by giving you two of my favorite writing prompts. If you’re feeling brave or, even better, if you’re feeling scared and embarrassed, I’d be excited to see you share what you write with us. Email us at general@beniciamagazine.com or tag us on Instagram if you post it for your friends to see. Maybe you’ll inspire someone else to grow too.

PROMPTS Go to a bookstore or library. Visit seven different sections and choose a single book from each (science fiction, classics, history, etc.) Grab the first book and flip to a random page.

Write down the first word that you see. Repeat this for each book. Using these seven words, write a poem.

Listen to one of your favorite songs and write a poem directly after based on the feelings and emotions it brought about in you. Let music inspire poetry! B

Ready. Set. Slow

ENT

The Adventure

A severance of self Division of duty Purveyor of passion Searching to be sought Sowing estranged fields within Scrubbing away subservient ways No convoluted catharsis Nor timetable on tomorrows Coronary coordinates, course is set Tarry no longer, lest we forget —ArmchairArgus

Each Place Where Faeries Dance The morning sky is not yet pink When Sally’s Nana wakens her Arise dear child and come with me Let’s hurry down to join the birds She passes coat and dungarees With fingered lips and no more words In silent steps each one descends the stairs Then Nana speaks when they reach chilly air Let’s stroll my garden walk As waking flowers talk We’ll visit every plant And ask them to share secrets from Each place where faeries dance Sally gets an earnest look And states her facts quite stubbornly Oh, faeries are in story books They’re not the same as you and me But fearing feelings might be hurt Can we still walk your garden please?

Warm, delicate days rise in the East and set in the West Waking up this morning, it’s time to find your quest Grab shoes and a map Scribble down an x and put on a cap Walk down the roads, to a place filled with toads Ribbit, ribbit, boing boing!

Ask your friend Sally to come and join Hop on the back of a truck, and feed the ducks Pieces of bread that you stole from Sally’s shed Jump down on the ground, wave at the driver and walk around Pick flowers for mom and stones for dad Throw them in your backpack and hope he won’t get mad Run down the hill, and plop on mud The two of you wink and call each other bud Dirty clothes, and wet socks Stinky ovens, and ticking clocks Home is safe, and safe is home Twist in the air and sleep in your dome Let the time take time And dream of your day Cause once you see it you think Let’s do it again, but in a different way!

Ben icia Poets

Above the Strait

Last month we asked our readers to submit some of their own poetry for us to share. These are just a few of the amazing submissions we recieved! Head over to our Instagram for a look at the rest.

Flowing full and strong A mighty strait gliding by These golden pathways Leading, gently, to insights Found when gazing from the heights —Scott

High on Gratitude

Then hugging Sally with both arms and eyes Her Nana answers with a knowing smile Let’s stroll my garden walk As waking flowers talk We’ll visit every plant And ask them to share secrets from Each place where faeries dance

—Zolia (age 12)

in the muck of news’ day platitudes I’ve lost my cheery attitude midst hate and anger screamed and spewed what happened to beatitudes

Listen to Your Heart

but past these ugly, mindless feuds beyond behavior simply rude there is another world that can be viewed in Nature’s holy latitudes

I’ve strolled my garden walk As waking flowers talked I’ve queried every plant And all have shared the secrets from Each place where faeries dance

Listen to the wind To the leaves swaying back and forth in this world outside our doors To the birds tweeting flowers dance, birds sing, and oceans roar It may seem like a song a world that heeds not human news Close your eyes where souls soar high on gratitude Listen to the breeze Bees buzzing —Tio Stib Listen very carefully Imagine it is playing just for you If you really listen you will find what really matters inside of you

—Rick McElhany

—Jazmin Avila Brewster (age 8)

We humans say that morning dew is water vapor chilled But faeries know, they dip their toes, then paint with every twirl

BeniciaMagazine.com • 17

Feature

ILDING THE U B

All People’s Trail a path for all to tread

n Samuel James Adams Before construction began on the All People’s Trail, the design team took a walk through Patwino Worrtla Kodoi Dihi Open Space Park in the company of many imagined feet, canes, wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers. They were walking through land preserved for everyone; they were designing a path for all to tread.

The path needed to circulate visitors through a route that displays the scope and grandeur of the property, which is located north of Fairfield’s popular Rockville Hills Regional Park. The attractions here run small and large: tiny California buttercups stand before sweeping views of Suisun Valley and the Vaca mountains; mighty oaks host dainty Acorn woodpeckers in their branches.

Barth Campbell, John Anderson, and Hilary Dustin collaborated on a design

18 • Benicia Magazine

based upon insights from an AllAccess Advisory Committee made up of individuals who could speak from their experience on the need for inclusive infrastructure.

Suisun City Councilmember Wanda Williams served on the committee. Before her two sons passed away from muscular dystrophy, they had loved spending time in the outdoors together.

“I am thankful for all the work done to save spaces for all,” Wanda says. “And even more so for the commitment and dedication to make sure that there is disability inclusion, so that anyone of any ability can enjoy these spaces.”

To serve its purpose, the All People’s Trail must be a destination as well as a route. Some people might begin a long

hike from it, and others may only travel a fraction of it before resting at a bench.

In the course of a human life, a returning visitor will find different hikes appropriate as their needs and abilities change; this trail was made to reflect and embrace that reality.

"This park, whose name means “Southern Rock Home of the Patwin people,” ...

... has been

protected so that all people may experience the wonderment of the outdoors, wherever they are on life’s path."

Once the path was mapped, it led quickly to other questions. Is the oak at the switchback for gazing at or sitting under? Should the picnic tables face fields where kids can play or wide-opened vistas? Where is the best place for blind visitors to sit and smell the wildflowers and hear the birdsong? How can summertime visitors take in the sunlight without the sizzle?

And once these decisions are settled, how will the work look in a decade?

An accessible path is only accessible if it endures, so surfacing is key. The path is composed of Park Tread, an ADA-approved permeable surfacing material. A proprietary creation of Barth Campbell’s, Park Tread is sourced from virgin quarry excavations and uses a plant-based binding agent. The hills this path traces slope gently, but Park Tread handles steeper grades than asphalt, as a job at the Zen Center in Muir Woods required. The material resists erosion and has a high albedo— meaning that it reflects sunlight while keeping the air near the surface cool.

“All other surfaces crack or contract in summer or winter,” says Barth.

His material passed the snow test in Yosemite National Park. Even sheeting rains won’t wash it out. The tread requires less maintenance than other materials. On an intentionally wide path, consistent surfacing makes a great difference for wheelchairs, unsteady gaits, and people with limited vision.

To provide visitors a safe and comfortable experience, the All People’s Path is off limits to bicyclists and horses, who will use marked bypasses to connect to the twelve miles of newly upgraded trails that snake through the park and into the greater Bay Area Ridge Trail. It will also be closed to the cattle who graze the park.

The All-People’s Trail is part of a systemic effort to bring the park into the future and prepare for a full opening to the public. A private individual’s $500,000 donation funds a portion of this trail and upgrades to paths throughout the property. A generous 1.25-million-dollar grant from the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation is funding the staging area, trail construction, road rehabilitation, and interpretive signage. A Coastal Conservancy grant funds future staging area amenities, including restrooms with solar-powered lights, entry sign, and pay stations. The next installations likely to appear on the All People’s Trail include 2’x8’ palapa-style shade structures and picnic tables with ride-up access for wheelchairs.

These improvements will make a path worthy of this unique, spectacular space and of the people of Solano County—especially those yet to experience the delights of the park.

This park, whose name means “Southern Rock Home of the Patwin people,” was named by the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation to honor the first people who called these lands home. It has been protected so that all people may experience the wonderment of the outdoors, wherever they are on life’s path.

The Solano Land Trust anticipates a full opening of the park by the end of 2022. Until then, look for free guided visits and activities at solanolandtrust.org/events. Regular events include mountain bike rides (first Saturday of each month), nature hikes (second Saturday), and trail crew workdays (final Saturday of each month). Visit the site for details. B BeniciaMagazine.com • 19

around town Community

Ace Centennial Drone Show Pedrotti Celebrates 100 Years

n Mary Hand

In fact, so good that they recently appeared on America’s Got Talent Extreme and instantly won the gold button award putting them in AGT’s final competition. Take a look: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=pJSqTPDDhlc

There has been a quiet buzz going around town that there’s going to be something special at this year’s 4th of July celebration. We now have confirmation that the buzz is real. Gene Pedrotti of Pedrotti Ace Hardware has chosen the 4th of July weekend to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of his business. We talked to Gene about his legacy and his plan for the centennial.

BM: Is the City participating in this?

BM: Pedrotti Hardware has reached its 100th year in business, what does that mean to you and the Pedrotti family?

GP: Our family has a history of giving.

My grandfather and great uncles have always contributed to the community.

Since the late 1800s we have participated in city government, given back to the community, and held to the belief that owning a hardware store allows you to help people with the most basic of needs – fixing and repairing stuff. My family is excited about the celebration.

BM: To what do you attribute the longevity of Pedrotti Ace Hardware?

GP: That’s easy; hard work! Every member of my family has put in 60hour weeks since our store opened in Crockett. We have had amazing, hardworking employees, and a history of taking care of our employees and our community. Pedrotti Hardware has had doors open for over 335,000 hours and served over 5-1/2 million customers!

That’s a long time and a lot of screws and nails!

BM: We’ve heard rumors of an amazing Centennial celebration to commemorate this milestone.

GP: Yes! And I’m finally ready to talk about it. It will be amazing!

20 • Benicia Magazine

BM: What can you tell us about the event?

GP: July 3rd, Pedrotti Ace Hardware will sponsor the Ace Centennial Drone Show, a massive light show over the straits at the Benicia waterfront! Flying three to four hundred feet high and as wide as a football field, the Ace Centennial Drone Show features hundreds of hi-tech drones armed with bright LED lights, choreographed to dance across the sky! The show will follow the Torchlight Parade and bring joy to many, especially children!

BM: Can you give us some details?

GP: Our event producer, Verge-

Aero, is a well-known and respected Philadelphia company specializing in industrial drones used in industry (inspection, real estate, tourism.)

Manufacturing everything in the United States, Verge pairs their drones with sophisticated technology to create a new kind of entertainment: Aerial drone shows! These guys are Good!

GP: City officials are leveraging the Ace Centennial Drone Show by producing a full weekend of events! The annual Torchlight Parade kicks off Sunday evening, followed by the popular local band, East Bay Mudd. Capping Sunday is the Ace Centennial Drone Show. Then on the 4th of July, there will be more entertainment and music on the waterfront, followed by our annual fireworks display after sunset.

BM: Why did you decide on July 3rd?

GP: It’s a perfect time. The Torchlight Parade attracts thousands of people already, so by adding the Ace Centennial Drone Show, we will add to that number by attracting visitors from other areas. We expect strong business for our hotels, shops, and restaurants.

BM: What else do you want Benicians to know about the Centennial celebration?

GP: This will be a weekend to celebrate, party, get together with family. We promise an exciting time for all! B Verge pairs their drones with sophisticated technology to create a new kind of entertainment:

Aerial drone shows!

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707.745.9791 BeniciaMagazine.com • 21

CIty of Benicia – Advertorial

“C” Your

SUCCESS Measure C at Work In 2014, as Benicia was climbing its way out of the Great Recession, voters approved Measure C, a one cent-on-the-dollar local sales tax allocated to the General Fund. Specifically, the funds raised by this tax were meant to support existing City services and address public safety, parks, and infrastructure needs in response to reduced State and Federal funding and the changed economic landscape.

Benicia is unique compared with many other cities of its size in that it is a full-service city with its own cityrun police, fire, park, and water services. This factor, coupled with the effects of the Great Recession, left

1 22 • Benicia Magazine

the city in a lurch as it attempted to maintain quality of life for its residents. After operational budgets were restructured and city staff took salary and benefit concessions to help close the funding gap, still more needed to be done.

Thankfully, Benicians stepped up and approved Measure C, ensuring we could all maintain the quality of life we are accustomed to. Since the tax was put in place in April of 2015, we began seeing many projects underway across the city with signs proclaiming, “Measure C Funding at Work.”

2

3 So, where are we seven years out? Since 2015, $45,441,007 has been raised. 32.7% of that has been allocated to roads and infrastructure, 10.9% to parks and facilities, 7.9% to public safety equipment, and 48.5% to services. Recall, the primary purpose of Measure C was to secure local funding to maintain our quality of life. Our quality of life in Benicia is a result of many things but a key factor are the services a City provides. This means maintaining staffing levels at our Police and Fire Departments, keeping the Library and City pool open; it means having the resources to maintain our parks and ball fields and having staff to support these operations. In addition to maintaining services, the City also invested in many projects to improve our public safety, facilities and roads, here is a closer look at a few:

Full-line pet store Professional dog & cat grooming Do it yourself pet wash 1202 East 5th Street, Benicia 707.745.5016 • www.FeathererPet.com

MITCHELL LAW GROUP 1001 Madison Street, 2nd Floor Benicia, California 94510 SolanoLawGroup.com info@SolanoLawGroup.com 707-748-0900

1 The Community Park playground was demolished and

reconstructed with updated equipment.

2 The police department received funds for an update to their Computer Aided Dispatch system which improved the interoperability of it and departments in the surrounding area.

3N early $15 Million Dollars have been allocated to improve and repair our streets.

4 The Benicia Public Library was able to implement Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) for its materials circulation, security, and inventory control systems. The library also had a new roof installed and the entire facility received new paint and roof replacement.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of Measure C projects. To read up on all the projects Measure C has funded, please visit the City website at www.ci.benicia. ca.us/measurec, and take pride in knowing that you helped make it all happen. Thank you, Benicians!

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BeniciaMagazine.com • 23

around town Art Scene

K n o w n as land art, Nunes’ work is part of a practice in which art is made directly into the landscape, by sculpting the land into an artistic structure, or by making a structure or form using natural materials such as earth, flower, rocks or twigs. While some land art is large and immovable, Nunes’ ephemeral assemblages are small and portable.

“Usually, I'm just walking around outside, and something will catch my eye … maybe because of its shape or color, and an idea starts to form. I make the piece, take a photo, and usually leave it there. I never really have a plan, never know what I’m going to do. Rather, I just show up and see what happens. Sometimes I collect things over time that I bring home to do bigger pieces.”

Nicci didn’t think of herself as an artist until recently. Born in Hayward, she grew up in a family of teachers and always knew she would become a teacher as well. “My mom was a teacher, my grandma was a teacher, even my great-grandmother.” She earned BS and Ph.D degrees in Chemistry from Harvey Mudd and Rice University, respectively, and began teaching high school science in San Francisco and later at De La Salle High School, in Concord. She moved to Benicia in 2003, where she taught science and technology at Liberty High School and Benicia Middle School until 2021. As a teacher, Nunes has always had an eye out for the underdog. “When people find out that I have a science background, they say ‘you must be

t r A d n a L tice A Healing Prac es in Stressful Tim n

Jean Purnell

If you spend time walking along the First Street waterfront, you may already have seen her artwork beside the sidewalk, next to a bench, or nestled under a bush. For Benicia resident Nicci Nunes, who enjoys walking at Benicia’s waterfront and local parks, her artistic process starts with noticing the shape of a twig lying along a path, the color of a leaf, or the texture of pebbles. She picks up interesting natural objects along her walk and arranges them into an artistic design on the ground, leaving it for others to observe and enjoy. Her art practice grew out of her need to deal with anxiety related to personal trauma and the extended period of isolation during early days of the pandemic. “I was going through a mental health issue and was struggling to sit still with myself outside. I started collecting piles of things as a way to stay with myself. I found the practice to be very soothing and realized that it helped me process my feelings.”

24 • Benicia Magazine

really smart.’ But I try to convince my students that they have the ability to do it as well. I’ve always focused on making sure young people aren’t getting left out and supporting them as much as possible.”

For personal reasons, Nicci took a brief leave of absence from teaching in the spring of 2020, just before the pandemic shelter-in-place began.

Her first day back was the first day of distance learning for the Benicia Unified School District. “It was a stressful time, a lot to deal with, both for teachers, and for students and their families.” To cope with the stress, she started spending more and more time outside, often at the end of First Street or at Matthew Turner Shipyard Park, where she walked and began to collect objects. “I started making them into different designs. It really has become a grounding practice for me now. It helps me stay with my feelings and externalize them, rather than holding them inside. It definitely calms me down.”

After seeing other artists post similar work on Instagram, Nunes enrolled in a series of collage classes through Arts Benicia. She learned to make her own colorful papers for collages, which she views as a type of indoor land art. She entered her first community art show online at Arts Benicia in 2021 and began sharing photos of her work via Instagram, often accompanied by an inspirational phrase or prayer. She is hopeful that learning about her art practice can be helpful for others dealing with stress.

“Something about it is a fight between heart and head. This practice has been very healing for me. I’m hopeful it can be for others as well.”

Although she has left active teaching, Nunes continues to invest time in youth working with the Benicia Teen Center. In addition to her art practice, she is also a freelance writer and consultant for chemistry curriculum development. “For many years, I had merged my identity with teaching, and when I left that, I needed things to fill me back up.” You can see more of Nicci’s artwork on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/niccinun/ Her Land Art Prayer Cards can be found at https://www.thegamecrafter.com/ games/land-art-prayers B

column A (Soap Opera) mystery

s e c n e F t e k c i P Previously in Picket Fences …

Payton and Xavier have broken into Connie’s house looking for answers. Angela and Connie await the arrival of Martin Cray at the F.A.C.T. fundraiser so that they can close their deal. n

Darrell Mcelvane

With the event in full swing and the art auction underway, most attendees are blissfully unaware of the pursuits going on around them, but one resident is trying to cut one pursuit off at the pass.

“Hi honey so glad you made it, I see you met Connie,” Angela says to Bruce while glaring at Connie.

“Where have you been hiding this handsome man Angela?” Connie says, catching Angela’s glare. “You know who he should meet... he should meet Renay.” Bruce looks at Angela curiously; “Who’s Renay?”

“She’s someone we knew long ago — You know, there’s a portrait I have my eye on…” Angela responds, changing the subject and trying to pull Bruce away. “Surely you’ve told him about Renay. We were so close,” Connie says, taking a sip of champagne.

Connie notices Martin Cray walking into the event and turns to Bruce. “I have to steal your wife for a moment,” she says, putting her champagne down and turning to Angela. “Martin just walked in. Didn’t we need to talk to him?” Connie asks in code. “Yeah… we did,” Angela responds. Bruce, seeing Angela’s face asks “Are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” “I'm…

I'm fine. You know, he just hasn't written a check yet, it's hard to talk about money with a guest,” Angela says, bluffing. “There is a Radostina Boseva and a Dan Kurtzman that I just love, you can put in a silent bid on them for us. I'll meet you over there,” she says to Bruce as she and

Connie leave him to meet Martin.

Meanwhile, at Connie’s house, Payton and Xavier may have just stumbled onto a sinister masterpiece…

As the two young men look at what’s on display in the armoire, Xavier says, “it looks like one of those FBI maps you see on TV.” “I know,” responds Payton, “ but why is my mom at the top of the pyramid, all of this is… I’m confused.” The two start to investigate further. “That’s the guy we saw talking to Connie. It says his name is Martin Cray,” Xavier states, opening a desk drawer to find his watch lying among its contents.

“My watch!” he exclaims, taking it and putting it in his pocket. Payton shines the flashlight from behind and into the drawer and notices a flash drive with names Angela/ Renay marked on the side. Payton takes them to the desktop. “What are you doing?” Xavier questions.

“I’m transferring whatever is on this flash drive to my phone,” Payton replies. The two hear a door close in the distance. “Somebody’s here, I thought she lived here by herself!”

Payton whispers. “Turn that off, Payton,” Xavier whispers, gesturing to the computer’s bright backlight.

“It’s almost done.” “Hide!“ Xavier says. Payton darkens the screen and hides under the desk while Xavier ducks behind the curtain. The computer completes the transfer, signaling with a chirp. The two young men hiding in the office hear footsteps inching closer.

Now, back at the fundraiser…

Angela And Connie Corner Martin

Cray. “Hello Martin, how are you?”

Connie asks. “Where’s my father?

You two outdid yourselves; you managed to have all the underworld elite mixing with suburbia,” he says taking in the ambiance. Angela stepped forward, “This is a neutral zone. I don't want anything getting out of hand, think of this place as hallowed ground. Do we understand each other?” Angela asserts with a smile. “Angela, I came to make peace with my father, not start any trouble,” Martin retorts with a politician’s smile. “Let me show you to the office and I’m sure Connie can find your father,” Angela says, gesturing to Connie. “Sure,” Connie says, reluctantly taking orders.

Looking for Martin’s father Connie runs into Mary. “Hi, you must be Connie, I’ve heard so much about you. You just bought the Baxter House, isn’t that right?” Mary inquires. “Honestly, why is this town obsessed with my house?” Connie says, visibly agitated. “I was simply asking, I didn’t mean to upset you,” Mary replies. “I’m not upset, I'm …

I’m sorry, your name?” Connie asks.

“Mary, darling. And am I correct in assuming most of these new faces are friends of yours?” Mary asks, gesturing at the guests and then folding her arms. “You ask a lot of questions,” Connie says. “Should I not be asking questions?” Mary inquires, innocently, one eyebrow cocked. The two stand in silence for a moment, then Connie takes her leave with a smirk. B To be continued..

BeniciaMagazine.com • 25

column Booktails

Book and Cocktail Club

Project Hail Mary n

“Human beings have a remarkable ability to accept the abnormal and make it normal”

26 • Benicia Magazine

by Andy Weir

Cooper Mickelson

I wasn’t planning on choosing another science fiction novel so quickly after Persephone Station, but after reading Project Hail Mary, I couldn’t wait to share it with you guys. Andy Weir has an amusing way of mixing science, comedy, and fiction into extraordinary stories. He’s one of those authors that I believe 90% of readers will enjoy, even if they don’t usually pick up science fiction. So don’t run away yet.

Project Hail Mary opens with Ryland Grace waking up on a spaceship next to two dead crewmates and no memory of who he is, where he is, or how he ended up there. From the start, you can tell that Grace is well educated and knows quite a bit about how all of the scientific equipment on the ship works. As his

memory returns in spontaneous flashes, we discover that he is headed toward a star in the hopes of finding a solution to the problems caused by something called “astrophage.” This microscopic entity is feeding off of the energy of our sun, leading to catastrophic changes to Earth’s environment.

Grace quickly realizes that he is Earth’s last hope, even though he has no idea how he earned this responsibility. With no crew, large gaps in his memory, and a seemingly impossible puzzle to solve, it feels as though this mission is doomed.

Then another ship appears on the Hail Mary’s monitor. Grace is no longer alone.

I don’t want to rob you of the fun I had making these discoveries alongside our protagonist, so I’ll leave most of that part of the novel for you to discover.

Exploring Grace’s past and his journey to the impossible situation he finds himself in takes us through his time as a teacher and scientist. In true Andy Weir style, he isn’t your typical hero. Grace is goofy and headstrong. He has a love for science and the unknown. We see him completely nerd out about the idea of alien life and the forms it may take. His enthusiasm throughout the novel is truly contagious; I found myself getting giddy over the same science nerd topics as Grace even when I barely understood the basic science behind it. There were moments where his obsession with being the “cool” teacher felt a bit gimmicky and forced, but it never took away from the joy the story gave me.

Don’t let the fact that science is a huge part of Project Hail Mary scare you off. The problem-solving aspect of the novel keeps things exciting and never feels beyond the average reader’s ability to understand. I’m no science genius, yet I didn’t get lost or have a single moment of boredom while reading this book. No need for a crash course in astrobiology, I promise.

Project Hail Mary is a scientific mystery and interstellar adventure. The characters stole my heart and put Project Hail Mary above The Martian, in my mind. I highly recommend listening to this audiobook if you can. There are aspects that are best experienced through sound rather than printed word, and the narrator really adds something to our understanding of Grace.

I can’t wait to hear what you think of this month’s pick!

Head over to @beniciabooktails on Instagram to share your thoughts, stay updated on possible meetups, and be the first to find out about our next Booktails pick. B

Rocky’s Refresher INGREDIENTS Simple Syrup, Agave, OR Honey (rim) Pop Rocks (garnish) 2oz Vodka 5oz Soda Water 1 Rock Candy Stick

PREPARATION 1. B rush the rim of your glass with simple syrup, agave, or honey. Put Pop Rocks on a small plate then rotate the glass upside-down on the plate to coat the rim.

2. Fill your glass with ice.

3. Pour in 2oz of Vodka and then top with soda water.

4. P lace a stick of rock candy into the glass and serve!

If you want a non-alcoholic version of this drink you can leave out the vodka. Try different flavors of La Croix! The rock candy will add color to any clear beverage, so if you’re not a vodka soda fan you can try a gin and tonic, mojito, or a white wine spritzer.

24 HOUR

Community Information Line:

707-745-7534 Questions? Contact:

BeniciaCommunityRelations@Valero.com

BeniciaMagazine.com • 27

column Dinner and a Movie

Manny's Steakhouse and

The Grand Seduction

n M ovie

Magic & Gourmet Gracie

Many locals know Manny’s food or know of his long-time reputation as an excellent, experienced caterer.

When the The twenty first in a series pandemic hit and catering of at home food came to a temporary halt, and movie pairings.

Manny Rodriguez and his son, Giovanni (formerly of Urban Counter), decided it was time to open a full service restaurant to meet the needs of the community as best they could. July 13th, 2020, was the grand opening for Manny’s Steakhouse and he and his experienced staff have been going gangbusters ever since—7 days a week, for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Good food is served up with a large dollop of friendliness and flexibility. Are you in the mood for Surf & Turf? To be clear, I mean Steak & Lobster for those who weren’t around in the 1960s. Fun fact: They call this “beef and reef” in Australia! This lollapalooza of a dinner is claimed by many as their absolute favorite at Manny’s. Well-priced, it comes with soup or salad, potato and veggies.

Manny’s Steakhouse

1321 Springs Road Vallejo, CA 94591 707 653-4069 Mannyssteakhousevallejo.com @mannys_steakhouse

Gracie also likes the Cobb Salad, Gorgonzola fries and lamb meatballs. There are Crab Cakes, Shrimp and Grits y’all, and fabulous Fish and Chips. New York, Rib-Eye, T-Bone or Filets are all offered with your choice of seven(!) different sauces. Or go pescatarian with salmon, sea bass, scallops or Ahi Tuna.

Lamb, pork or chicken? Absolutely. Pastas? Yes. There’s even a kid’s menu. And, of course, beer and wine.

The steady stream of repeat customers keeps this restaurant flourishing. Inside/outside seating.

Pickup and delivery, too. What’s not to love?

The Grand Seduction This 2013 Canadian comedy is directed by Don McKellar and stars Taylor Kitsch and the Irish actor/ director, Brendan Gleeson.

The story takes place in the tiny community of Tickle Head, a “small harbor” off the coast of Newfoundland.

Trivia note: Gordon Pinsent, who won an award for best supporting actor in this film, is also the voice of Babar the Elephant in films and television. In this movie he plays a crusty old fisherman who has never been to the “town” of nearby St. John and

doesn’t intend to go.

Their heritage of commercial fishing is no longer able to support the 150 village residents. In desperation, they compete for a new factory to bring them jobs and provide them with purpose again. But, alas, they need a town doctor in order to qualify and so they concoct a very “fishy” strategy when opportunity knocks. They attempt to seduce a fresh, young doctor to start a practice in Tickle Head. Among their tactics, these old hockey fans hatch a plan to appeal to the doctor’s passion for cricket, which they hate and know nothing about. The scene on a cliff overlooking the crashing ocean, with these lovely old rumpled men in homemade white cricket uniforms pretending to play the game is hilarious…and memorable, bringing a smile long after the movie is over. It’s a story of triumph, love, loyalty, betrayal and redemption, all while asking the question: How do we change with the times and stay true to ourselves? B

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around town Community

Dia Del Nino (Day of the Children)

A Solano County Community Celebration

n Dr. Gethsemane Moss, Ed.D. The celebration of El Dia Del Nino has a long and rich history. Universal Children's Day was first established in 1954 to promote international togetherness and raise awareness of youth and their wellbeing. In 1959 the United Nations adopted the Declaration of Rights of the Child. Thirty years later, Presidents Clinton and Bush promoted National Child's Day, and now Children's Day is celebrated during the second week of June.

To date, many countries including Mexico, India and Japan, have established a day to honor children.

The Day of the Child (or Day of the Children) is celebrated worldwide with activities for children to celebrate and enjoy a festive day filled with food and music. Families are encouraged to appreciate their children and the essential role they play in everyday life. Teachers are encouraged to organize activities that help children understand their importance. Activities are child-centered with games, music, performances, and fun.

Closer to home, our local community leader Jamie Esparza had a vision for the youth of Solano County and partnered and organized Fiesta Primavera as a pre-Cinco de Mayo event. This event will feature a Latin Jazz Fiesta with 30 • Benicia Magazine

acclaimed percussionist particularly in Oakland, where the two Juan Escovedo and grew up. Elevate Oakland, the Escovedo his All-Stars Band, family nonprofit founded by Juan's sister the Mio Flores Band, Sheila E, was created specifically to and introducing solo introduce students to music in Oakland artist Trinny. Esparza public schools. "It is an honor to perform expressed his excitement on the Day of the Children because and hope for the Fiesta our youth need our support and Primavera, stating, "Most encouragement," stated Juan Escovedo. people think that Cinco As mentioned before, Lunitas de Mayo is Mexican Kitchen will prepare dinner prior to the Independence Day, performance for $22.00 in the Empress but it was really about Lounge at 5:30 pm. Part of the proceeds a small, mighty army from the dinner will provide dance who fought against the classes at Ballet Folklorico Moon Azteca French." Esparza went for students seeking financial support. on to state, "This is a perfect time for this The event will take place on Saturday, event because it is the end of spring that April 30, 2022, from 7:30 pm-10:30 pm. showcases culture as well as fundraising Although the youth dancers of Ballet efforts for the children." Esparza had the Folklorico Moon Azteca will perform at idea of bringing people together with the beginning of the show, the remainder live music, fun, and celebration. While of the event is for 21 and over. he plans to engage all of Solano County, Tickets are available at the Empress he would like this event to expand Theatre Box office or online on the throughout the Bay Area. Attendees will TicketFairy website at https://www. also experience the Mood Azteca Ballet ticketfairy.com/event/fiesta-primaveraFolklorico. Food from Lunitas Kitchen 30apr2022 B will be available as well, and a portion of the proceeds from the food sales will benefit the youth in the dance program who are raising funds for their authentic costumes.

Featured artists, Juan Escovedo, Mio Flores, and Trinny, appeared recently on OZCAT Radio (KZCT 89.5FM) with radio personality and event promoter Jerome Triple J Wideman, board members from the Solano County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Vice-President Jerry Gonzales and Yajaira Rubio Machado, the chamber’s Parliamentarian and Lunitas Kitchen owner. Wideman spent You can follow all of the artists the hour discussing the upcoming on Instagram and Facebook show's purpose while playing songs from Juan Escovedo's newly and find out about their released CD, The J. upcoming performance dates.

Juan Escovedo and Mio Flores give back to bay area schools,

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