Benicia Magazine July 2015

Day Trip to Sebastopol More than just antiquing

Artful Living Part 2

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COMMUNITY NEWS Need additional copies? Contact the Community Relations office: Valero Benicia Refinery, 3400 East Second Street, Benicia CA 94510

707-745-7534 July 2015

Refinery Manager Don Wilson

Back Home in Benicia

W

hen Don Wilson hired on as a refinery operator trainee in Benicia back in 1984, he never dreamed that his training, expertise and passion would return him to the Valero refinery in 2015 as its Vice President and General Manager.

“This is a homecoming for me,” said Wilson.

Since 2012, Wilson has served as Vice President and General Manager of Valero’s Ardmore, Okla., refinery.

Now, his focus is on the place where his career began.

“My vision for the Benicia refinery is for a safe, stable, reliable and

competitive operation every day,” stressed Wilson.

“This refinery needs to be able to provide positive economic benefits in order to stay in business, take care of its employees and contract workers, and provide a solid economic footing for our community,” he added.

In his early years at the refinery, Wilson was provided a wide range of job experiences including operator, supervisor, and shift superintendent.

In 2000, he was named Safety Manager. It was during Wilson’s tenure in this role that he and his Safety Department began laying the ground work for the refinery’s successful application to Cal/OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program.

Since 2006, the Benicia refinery has been a continuous Cal/OSHA VPP Star Site—one of only two refineries in California to earn this prestigious designation. The other refinery’s is Valero’s Wilmington refinery in Southern California.

Wilson’s previous Benicia refinery career also included assignments as Complex Manager, Capital Projects Execution Manager, and Turnaround Manager.

“My training and experience in Benicia led to additional assignments beyond Benicia in the Valero circuit,” said Wilson. Those positions included Maintenance Director at Houston, Operations Director at both Delaware City and Texas City, and Vice President and General Manager of the Ardmore refinery.

Wilson and his wife of 33 years, Donna, maintained their Vacaville, Calif., residence while his career kept him on the move.

The Wilsons have two adult children. Their son and his wife reside in Martinez; their daughter and her husband reside in Tokyo.

“During all of our travels, we still knew California was ‘home’ for us,” said Wilson. “Now we’ve come full-circle.”

$75,000 Raised for Food Bank Refinery Manager Don Wilson expressed his sincere appreciation to the sponsors, 34 teams of competitors, and the 30 Valero employee volunteers at the 3rd Annual Valero Sporting Clays Invitational, held May 15 at Birds Landing. The event raised $75,000 for the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. Since 2013, $195,000 has been raised – enough to provide 390,000 meals to those in need.

Fast Fact: Safety First:

Valero contributes nearly $100,000 per month to the City of Benicia in water surcharge fees for drought related expenses.

Personal use of fireworks in Benicia is prohibited. Enjoy a safe Fourth of July; watch the public fireworks display from the foot of First Street.

BeniciaMagazine.com • 5

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BENICIA UNIFIED SCHOOLS Registration for Continuing Students Registration for all BUSD students (your student must be enrolled to attend these dates*)

Benicia Middle August 19 and 20 Benicia High August 18 and 19 Liberty High August 18 and 19 All Elementary Sites August 18

*Call school site or visit beniciaunified.org for specific times

Enrollment for New Students All sites are currently doing Enrollment for the 2015-16 school year.

Enrollment is by appointment only. Information can be found on the BUSD website under

Parents/Students and Student Enrollment.

Call your local school site or the district office.

Just a reminder that: all students entering 6th or 9th grade must show residency proof before registering

6 • Benicia Magazine

First Day of School is August 26

All students entering 7th grade must show proof of a Tdap booster before registering

Great schools, quality programs.

Benicia Unified School District 350 East K Street

beniciaunified.org

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Contact Us 707.853.8159, Beniciamagazine.com editor@beniciamagazine.com Administration Office Manager Risë Goebel Copy Editor/proofreader Beth Steinmann Benicia Magazine is published monthly by Polygon Publishing, LLC. Copyright © 2015, all rights reserved. Contents of Benicia Magazine cannot be reproduced in whole or in part without the written consent of the publisher. Opinions expressed in Benicia Magazine editorial or advertisements are those of the authors and advertisers, and may not reflect the opinion of Benicia Magazine’s management or publisher.

Subscriptions $18.00 per year. Benicia Magazine, 611 First Street, Benicia, CA 94510. 707.853.8159, beniciamagazine.com.

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JULY FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

16

10 From the Editor

18

rtful living at A the Benicia Marina ay trip, D Sebastopol: antiquing and so much more

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 9

12

Backwards Glance Independence Day Parade 1917

13

Currents

Main Street’s busiest month with three annual events

An award and an update on Benicia’s waterfront plan

Cash for grass with turf replacement program

15 Bio:

Edward Coyne, BHS history teacher

20 Trends

A lifetime of concerts and a Bakersfield festival

22 Downtown Map 24 Interview

Cover photo byJerry Bowles

8 • Benicia Magazine

David Samiljan, artisanal butcher

28 Calendar of Events

Presented by

Benicia Main Street

Live Music • Craft Beers • Family Fun on First Street Green

July 25th & Sunday, July 26th , y a d r u t a S 11:00am - 6:00pm Benicia celebrates its picturesque waterfront locale over two days on the First Street Green with live music, craft beers, wine by the glass, tasty foods, vendor village, and kids' activity alley.

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BeniciaMagazine.com • 9

JULY 2015

FROM THE EDITOR

From left: Christie and Sean Finn, Erik and Janet Upson

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

Last month, a private meet-and-greet was held for Benicia’s new Police Chief Erik Upson and his wife, Janet. Held at Sean and Christie Finn’s home near the Community Park, the event featured mouthwatering appetizers courtesy of Sailor Jacks restaurant and a beer and wine bar courtesy of the Rellik Tavern. Along with neighbors and friends, several of Benicia’s downtown business owners also attended. A police captain from Berkeley, Upson was the top pick of 25 candidates for the job. Since taking the helm in late April, he’s been getting to know the community by speaking to various groups and walking neighborhoods. No doubt retaining Benicia’s status as one of the safest places to live in California is one of the items on his agenda.

Benicia Main Street lurches headlong into July by rolling out three of the biggest parties of the year: the Torchlight Parade July 3, the Picnic in the Park and Fireworks July 4, and the Waterfront Festival July 25 and 26.

They’ll earn an August respite, after hosting upwards of 20,000 guests for the three events.

This month we continue our series on the unique living options we’re fortunate to have here in town. Last month we featured an artist live-work loft; this month Lisa Coop welcomed our cameras onto her houseboat at the Benicia Marina. Check out her floating home on page 16. In the coming months, we’ll feature a home in Rancho Benicia, our mobile home community, a Southampton abode and condo living.

Day trips are big on everyone’s list in summer, and Sebastopol is full of fun surprises to explore. The Barlow, a relatively new area adjacent to its downtown, highlights locally-sourced food and drink with upscale dining, beer brewing and wine tasting, which goes down perfectly after meandering through some of the town’s many remarkable antiques stores. Or create your own adventure from the town’s other offerings, and it's a beautiful drive from Sebastopol to Bodega Bay. Several people I know are traveling internationally this summer. Ireland seems to be high on the list of destinations, and I can see why as photos begin popping up on Facebook. Mike and I will be staying close to home this month as we oversee the completion of remodel projects—and taking in some museums, Bay Area historic sites, wine tasting our way through Napa and Sonoma, dining at favorite eateries, spending time with twin grandbabies (already eight months old and full of personality), and in August, lounging poolside at a Tahoe resort. Send us a photo of your vacay foray, whether an exotic locale or right here in Solano County, and we’ll post it online at beniciamagazine.com.

Jeanne Steinmann

10 • Benicia Magazine

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BeniciaMagazine.com • 11

Independence Day 1917:

Red, White and Blue … and Khaki

By Elizabeth d’Huart Executive Director, Benicia Historical Museum We don’t know if there was military music for these soldiers as they marched down the dirt road that was First Street, unpaved until the 1920s, in this 1917 Independence Day parade, but it would have been most appropriate!

Passing beneath the 48 “star spangled banner” is a group of Spanish American War veterans—the flag with the Maltese cross is their symbol. Walking behind them in civilian clothes are veterans from previous military engagements, which group could also have contained some surviving Civil War veterans.

As the United States officially entered the war against Germany on April 6, 1917, it is likely that bystanders would also be cheering enlisted men who would be departing the U.S. to join their World War I comrades in Europe, under General Pershing, the following year.

What a singularly unique historic moment is expressed in this black and white image: the three deep bays of the Palace Hotel, draped in dramatic bunting, offering some shadow to those lucky enough to have claimed a place to stand or sit.

No doubt folks came out early in order to nab these desirable places in the shade as they still do, almost 100

Backwards

Glance

12 • Benicia Magazine

years later. The Palace Hotel, also known as the Gise Hotel, no longer exists. It burned down in 1932, along with the rest of the wooden buildings on the block that runs from the current site of the Benicia Herald to the corner of East H Street. Happily, the many telephone poles and myriad utility lines, which then occupied so much space, have also disappeared, along with parking on the street during holiday festivities.

Focusing on the ladies for a moment, I notice that all of them appear to be in white dresses. Just a summertime preference, or was it a mark of respect for our troops?

We are still puzzling over the storefront banner with a crest-like motif situated mid-street, mid-photo, and welcome any information readers can supply. Although all of today’s parade entries hold our admiring attention, this archival document is an important reminder that the freedom this holiday celebrates has been purchased by our fighting men and women, many of whom never returned to march in another parade. The liberty bell still rings and we still have the privilege and pleasure of participating in this very “Norman Rockwell” bit of Americana that also represents the best of Benicia.

Photo courtesy Benicia Historical Museum

A Festival and Fireworks

Highlight the Month of July

Photos by Bryan Maxwell

fireworks show. At the end of the month, celebrate what makes Benicia great—the waterfront. The First Street Green will be filled with a vendor village, craft beer and wine tasting booths, tasty food and a kids’ activity area. Bands play all weekend and the full line up can be found at Benicia Main Street’s website, along with tickets (http:// www.beniciamainstreet.org/benicia-events/beniciawaterfront-festival).

Currents

Three of the biggest downtown events of the year take place this month— the Torchlight Parade July 3, the Picnic in the Park & Fireworks July 4 and the Waterfront Festival July 25 & 26. On Independence Day, the whole family is invited to the City Park starting at noon for live music, delicious hot food, kids’ activities and arts & crafts. Bring your picnic blanket and chairs to spend the day, then make your way to the foot of First Street for the spectacular 9pm

BeniciaMagazine.com • 13

Update on Waterfront Master Plan For several years now, a new waterfront enhancement plan has been in the works for the downtown marsh area and adjacent First Street Green. After a lengthy process of many public meetings, environmental site analysis, the public hearing and final adoption of the plan in October of 2014, the project is now in its funding phase.

According to Vic Randall, Management Analyst for the City of Benicia, “We are working on securing funding for detailed design and engineering. We expect to submit proposals for grant funding this summer and fall, when the State puts out calls for proposals for a couple of grant programs that recently released draft guidelines.” The project’s goals include improvement of recreation, public access and amenities for visitors, protecting the tidal wetlands and fish and wildlife species, and improving seawater management, among others. The open space will be preserved as part of a park that will provide a site for festivals and full-spectrum recreational access.

The full plan and its history can be viewed online at ci.benicia.ca.us. Benicia was also recently given an Award of Merit for the waterfront plan by the California Chapter of the American Planning Association.

Photos by Jerry Bowles

Turf Replacement Program in Action If you’re concerned that your brown front lawn will be an eyesore this summer, you are in good company. But Solano County is still offering a cash rebate program that donates up to $1,000 per home for turf replacement, depending on the square footage of your lawn. The program is for both homes and businesses and is funded through the Valero Improvement Plan. Re-landscaping is simple, as you can plant directly over your lawn with sheet mulching (find a how-to video on the Solano Saves Water website at http:// solanosaveswater.org/2014/12/02/turf-replacementrebate-program). Native and drought-tolerant plants will promote beneficial insect life, save water and money on the water bill. You can schedule your pre-inspection on the website or by calling 707.455.1113.

14 • Benicia Magazine

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Edward Coyne

By Adriene Rockwell Photo by Malcolm Slight There’s a good reason Edward Coyne was voted the “Teacher of the Year” at Benicia High School. He doesn’t just teach world history, he brings it to life. For the past decade, Coyne has facilitated a month-long, citywide Cold War simulation that engages some 250 students in the spine-chilling tension of those times.

It’s an experience that families talk about for years.

“If students are talking about history outside of class, then I win,” says Coyne.

Born in Dublin, Ireland, Coyne arrived in St. Louis at the age of 10 with his single mother, three siblings, and $75 to their names. Today, all four siblings have postgraduate degrees, and Coyne credits his mother’s hard work, her multiple jobs, night school–and faith. “When I feel sorry for myself, I look at the photo of my family arriving in the U.S.,” says Coyne.

Teaching is his life’s calling, but it hasn’t been an easy road. Coyne struggled with dyslexia and visual modality as a child, and was told he’d never go to college. To cope, he started experimenting with substances, at the age of 12, and by 19 he was in rehab.

Determined to turn his life around, he worked hard to get into Saint Louis University on probation with the condition that he maintain a 3.50 GPA. He graduated in 1989 with a 3.66 GPA in history, then went on to earn his Masters at DePaul University in Chicago.

His first success after getting sober, says Coyne, was with Ultimate Frisbee. The sport took him all over the world, and eventually to a team in San Francisco. As a star athlete, he played at the national level for 16 years, winning the World Title in the professional league.

An advisor for the BHS Mountain Bike Club, Coyne cycles on his lunch break every day. He also loves to trail run and to build things with his hands. Above all, his son Aidan and daughter Rory are his priorities.

“That’s my job now, to be a good daddy.”

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Benicia’s

“Coop de Villa”

Floats Serenely in its Slip

Artful Living Part II

16 • Benicia Magazine

By Jeanne Steinmann Mermaids of all shapes, sizes and styles adorn this unique Benicia home, which is appropriate, given that it’s a permanently floating residence for its owner, Marina liveaboard Lisa Coop. Coop de Villa is seaworthy, but according to Coop, she doesn’t take it out on the strait because it affectively becomes a large sail in the prevailing wind.

The constraint doesn’t prevent Coop from enjoying her full-time residence. In fact, it gives her the option of adding more to her collection of kitschy items, including a license plate collage that spells out the name of her vessel, one of two signs that mark the boat’s main entrance. Most liveaboards have to be careful about what they bring onto their boats, for space and safety on the water. But with just under 1,000 square feet, Coop has space galore.

The full-service kitchen, including a dishwasher, is as big as you’ll find in some landbased houses. It’s open and airy, with lots of natural light pouring in the windows that line the main cabin. Minor renovations allowed Coop to put her own whimsical stamp on the three bedroom, two bath residence. The master bedroom and guest bedroom are on the main floor, with a third bedroom, turned into a custom closet for Coop, and another small bedroom below deck. She has all the comforts of a traditional home, a shower in each bathroom and a washer/dryer. The setting is tranquil, in an “I’m on permanent vacation” kind of way.

The roomy deck, which Coop says is a neighborhood hangout for other liveaboards, is an extension of the living area. Open to the living room, dining area and kitchen, the space feels plenty large enough for Coop, her two cats and the guests who conglomerate there, particularly on Friday afternoons and weekends.

Coop purchased the boat in 2009, downsizing from a large home in Utah. After a long search, she found it in Las Vegas and had it shipped to the Benicia Marina, to be near family. “It used to be a wedding chapel called, ‘Yes I Do.’ It even had a hot tub, but I removed that. I painted and replaced carpet with cork flooring, nothing structural.”

Prior to moving back to the Bay, Coop had hadn’t considered living on a boat. “I had never thought about it before. It was partly about economics. But I’ve always been a risk taker, doing things not everybody would do. So I decided to give it a shot—I wanted to live closer to the water and this was an affordable option. I bought the boat outright; it’s the best decision I’ve ever made.”

Coop has found a supportive community at the marina. “I see people all the time, walking their dogs, it’s a very friendly neighborhood. I’ve made a lot of friends here. It’s great to be able to walk downtown and there’s a lot happening on the waterfront. Boaters from other areas come in for the weekend, and I go out quite a lot on other people’s boats.

Then we come back to my place, make dinner and enjoy the breeze.”

BeniciaMagazine.com • 17

Eating, Drinking and Antiquing through

Sebastopol

By Jeanne Steinmann For many, the term farm-to-table, or it’s trendier cousin, farm-to-fork, has worn out its welcome as major chain eateries and just about everyone else have staked a claim on the phrases, deserved or not. However, in Sonoma County, or at least in Sebastopol, it still seems to have meaning.

Sebastopol, known for its antiques stores sprinkled along highway 116 as you head into town, and for what used to be apple country, has had a major infusion of activity in the town center. After the apple industry gave way to grapes, developers and residents were imagining a new identity for the warehouses and Barlow processing plant. Adjacent to its downtown, the city wanted to replace the buildings with 300 condo units interspersed with retail stores.

But in 2007 the failing economy brought an about-face, locals weighed in as to what they wanted for their town, and The Barlow was reinvented.

A campus of corrugated metal-sided buildings is now home to over 50 tenants: boutiques, eateries, wine tasting, beer brewing and the Community Market. Taylor Maid Farms Coffee and Zazu Kitchen + Farm have outposts there, and future plans call for The Barlow Hotel to move in with 60 rooms, a pool, gym, spa and restaurant.

Our party of four headed to Sebastopol primarily for a few hours of antiquing, starting early and returning home to an afternoon of honey-do’s and grilling. We 18 • Benicia Magazine

figured we’d knock out several shops, have lunch in town, and head back before traffic. We were wrong. But in a good way—our quick trip turned into a full day of serendipitous meanderings.

We stopped first at Llano Antiques: two cottages, one of which claims to inhabit the oldest building in Sonoma County. A treasure in its own right, the historic marker says the rear structure was built in 1849.

We found some highly unique items there, including a wonderfully preserved wooden cobbler’s bench, and antique tools, kitchen implements, miniature iron coin banks and a delightfully creepy upstairs filled with an assortment of old wooden chairs.

Next up was Food for Thought, a bright, two-story building packed with artfully displayed nooks and crannies to explore.

Featuring Asian, European and American antiques and vintage items, the shop sells donated and consigned merchandise, and all sales are donated to the Solano County AIDS food bank. Inside we stumbled across a rare find: a pewter mug with a glass bottom to add to a childhood collection.

But the real fun was out in the garden, full of whimsy, from industrial finds to mid-century chic outdoor furniture. Being outside helped set us up for a lengthy foray into the collective next door, Antique Society. Its website declares it one of the largest on the west coast, with over 125 dealers. The quality of the displays kept us

lingering, but there’s way too much to see in one visit. Hunger finally wore us down, so we headed into town to Woodfour Brewing Company at The Barlow for lunch, and to compensate the guys for their patience.

Woodfour’s large deck with brightlycovered umbrellas was the perfect spot to quench our thirst and assuage our hunger.

A new-world take on European-inspired beer includes specialty brews on tap and 40 bottled choices from around the world, as well as tasting flights. The beer is brewed on site in small batches and the food is seasonal, designed to complement the beer. For lunch, there are plenty of tasty small plates and cheese and charcuterie boards to share, and salads, sandwiches and desserts.

From there we walked a block to Sub Zero Ice Cream and Yogurt, where every order is a custom-designed creation. You choose your base milk (there are also lactose free, vegan and sugar-free options), then your flavor (eighteen of them from blackberry to vanilla), and finally your mixins (nuts, candies, cookies). These go into a bowl and are hand-mixed, then flashfrozen in seconds using liquid nitrogen.

The cream base with chocolate flavoring, topped with coconut flakes and almonds, was sinfully rich and delicious, and a fitting end to a fun-filled day in Sebastopol.

Photos by Jerry Bowles, and courtesy Woodfour Brewing Company

BeniciaMagazine.com • 19

Trends

Rockin’ the Night Away

By Christina Strawbridge Music, like fashion, has always been a huge part of my life, starting with my first transistor radio. That led to purchasing my first 45 rpm record, and now, listening to those same songs on Sirius XM radio.

I have been attending concerts since grade school. Some memorable bands have included The Beatles, performing at the Indiana State Fair in 1964, and last year's Paul McCartney concert that closed Candlestick Park. Another noteworthy experience was seeing Barbra Streisand perform her comeback concert in 1993, at the MGM Hotel in Las Vegas. I'm not sure what was more entertaining, watching Barbra ham it up on stage, or seeing the who's who of the entertainment industry parade by on the way to their front row seats.

Encountering Kathy Lee Gifford in the women's restroom during intermission provided an exchange of compliments on what we were wearing, and how she liked the show, leaving her wondering who in the heck I was!

Through the years, I have also seen Madonna, Cher in what she proclaimed was her last tour, Bette Midler, Neil Diamond and this past weekend, Chubby Checker. Say what?

My husband Scott decided, on the spur of the moment, to make Memorial Day memorable by attending the Bakersfield Rock & Country Music & Art Festival. One day, seven stages and fifty amazing performances was how the event was promoted. Scott had the day planned— concentrating on the classic rock and legends’ stages, making sure we didn't miss performances from bands of the past. Some highlights included Badfinger's Joey Molland, who worked with The Beatles, Denny Laine of the Moody Blues, Starship minus Grace Slick, and Foreigner’s Lou Gramm.

Watching these former rock stars, who are now in their mid seventies, can be a bit depressing. For the most part, their voices remain strong and the songs recognizable, but the life of a rocker has taken its toll on most of them. Dyed hair, wigs and loose fitting shirts have replaced the tight jeans and flowing locks from 50 years ago. The stand out of the day was Chubby Checker, who, according to a quick Google search, is 74 years old, and is acknowledged for his contribution to pop culture with The Twist. In 1960, when the song and the dance came out, I remember everyone doing the twist, including my parents.

However, my refined Grandmother thought it was immoral, and proclaimed it would never last.

Checkers still knows how to wow the crowd, coming off the stage to dance with the audience. As he approached us within a few feet, I was impressed with how good he looks and how much fun he was having, which was contagious.

The day in Bakersfield was a blast from the past, and a reminder that rock and roll is still alive, as long as you can get out of your chair and twist the night away, then go home and take a nap!

20 • Benicia Magazine Trends

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any purchase of $60 or more With this coupon • Expires 7/31/15

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www.midcitynursery.com

ADMISSION IS FREE! Sponsored by the Historic Trust of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church All proceeds are for the Preservation of the Historic St. Paul’s Buildings.

(707) 745-8680 • www.BeniciaPeddlersFair.org

Benicia Grill

BREAKFAST • SEAFOOD • SALADS • STEAK • PASTA • WRAPS • FLATBREAD

Free Breakfast Entrée Mon-Sat only, 6am-3pm Buy one breakfast entrée, & receive the 2nd of equal or lesser value

With purchase of 2 drinks. Up to $8 value with coupon. Not valid with any other offer.

One coupon per table. Exp. 7/31/15

50% Off Entrée

Every day Buy one entrée & receive the 2nd of equal or lesser value

6th Year Anniversary!

10% OFF

Entire Bill With this coupon.

Not valid with any other offer.

Exp. 7/31/15

Open every day 6am—3pm e R d. on

680

St

Ind

With purchase of 2 drinks. Up to $8 value with coupon. Not valid with any other offer. One coupon per table. Exp. 7/31/15

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Benicia Grill E. 2nd

Dinner-style lunch menu

707.751.0155 • 4760 E. Second St., Benicia BeniciaMagazine.com • 21

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A. Judith Judson, 310 Military West 1. Tosch Dental, 118 West K Street 2. Estey Real Estate, 935 First Street

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3. Adobe, 929 First Street 6. Camellia Tea Room, 828 First Street H

12. Fiber-Frolics, 637 First Street

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14. Lindsay Art Glass, 109 East F Street 15. Advanced Mortgage SVF, 615 First Street 16. Urban Notions, 611 First Street

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9. Spotless Carpet Cleaning, 800 First Street, Ste. A

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18. Charlie’s Attic, 632 First Street

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19. Dudikoff Insurance, 159 East D Street 20. Rookies Sports Bar & Grill, 321 First Street

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24. Dr. Tom Campbell, 164 East H Street

23 Benicia Main Street

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22. Sailor Jacks Restaurant, 123 First Street 23. Benicia Main Street, 90 First Street

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22 • Benicia Magazine

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Benicia Marina

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License # 855587

Capitol Glass Co., Inc.

Your One Stop Glass Shop Since 1970 Specializing in showers, windows and mirrors 5000 East Second St., Ste H, Benicia 707.745.4570 • capitolglassbenicia.com

BOOKS • TOYS • GAMES • GREETING CARDS

Celebrating 21 Years!

636 First Street M-S 10-8, Sun 10-6 707.747.5155 bookshopbenicia.com

Mexican Food 640 First Street • 707.746.7830

Financial Planning • Investments • Fee Only Registered Investment Advisor

Lawrence I. Grossman, CFP ® AIF™, MBA, MA 940 Adams St., Suite L 707.745.8756 grossmanfinancial.com

AVA NTI PHOTGRA PH Y Full Service Studio

BENICIA PHOTO

Camera Store & Lab Service

707.746.7777 • 932 Grant Street, Benicia

Real Estate doesn’t have to be this painful!

Residential & New Home Sales; Property Management 707.745.0759 www.judsonandcompany.com

Steve McClure

560 First St., Ste C103, Benicia

www.stevemcclure.net • 707.745.0848

Lunch, afternoon tea, housemade desserts, fine teas & tea accessories

Camellia Tea Room 828 First Street Downtown Benicia 707.746.5293 camelliatearoom.com

Dudikoff Insurance Agency Planning, Products, & Services

George Dudikoff, Agent, Lic. #OB13442 159 East D Street, Suite A, Benicia • P: 707.746.7395 • F: 707.747.6814

www.farmersagent.com/gdudikoff

Furniture, Collectibles & Household Items 11am-6pm PLUS Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat Frequently open until 10pm • 707.745.4565

Michael Trahan • Interior Design www.michaeltrahan.com 707.748.1080

CHARLIE’S ATTIC Collectibles-Antiques-Music Consignment and eBay drop-off

632 First St., Benicia • 707.205.6960

Come see our new displays for 2015! ...IT’S A FACT!

Residential & Commercial

$95 special up to 350 sq ft

Excludes stairs, not valid with any other offers or coupons

CARPET, UPHOLSTERY AND TILE & GROUT CLEANING

800 First Street, Ste. A, Benicia • 707.746.8656

spotlesscarpetcleaning.net

Visit our large showroom

Quality Home & Leisure Products

www.calcomfort.com 4680 East 2nd St., Benicia

707.745.5933 BeniciaMagazine.com • 23

Interview with

By Sue Sumner-Moore Photo by Malcolm Slight

Meet David Samiljan, a butcher who once worked at a circus, can taste the difference between corn-fed and grass-fed beef, and occasionally follows a vegan diet.

A gregarious soul, David offers an honest and humor-filled look at his life as he talks about growing up in New York and his route to becoming a butcher. Along the way, he learned what feeds his soul as he learned to feed others. “I was a terrible employee,” he says candidly. “I do better working for myself.”

David, 51, trained at the Culinary Institute of America in New York and began working in restaurants and catering. A serendipitous encounter led to a job at a butcher shop, and he later honed his meat-cutting skills during a stint with Niman Ranch. He then jumped at the chance to open an artisanal butcher shop in Alameda.

But not everyone was excited about having a butcher shop in the neighborhood.

“When I moved in, some people were angry. I get it,” he says. “But I believe that animals are living, thinking, feeling creatures that we kill and eat. They need to be killed humanely. As humans, we need a certain amount to get the nutrients we need.”

The new business required long hours. “There was nothing I wouldn’t do to keep the shop running.”

The hard work paid off. About 1,600 customers line up each week at his butcher shop, Baron’s Meat & Poultry. David opened the shop in 2005 and named it for his grandfather’s butcher shop in Brooklyn.

About 700 people visit his sandwich shop, Baron’s Eats, each week, which opened in 2013.

David met his wife, Shirin, in 1989 when he was on the ring crew and she tended horses for the Big Apple Circus. They married and moved to San Francisco in 1994. The couple settled in Benicia with their three children in 2002.

24 • Benicia Magazine Interview

What initially sparked your interest in becoming a butcher?

I get to the Culinary Institute and the first couple of blocks are basic education. Then I had a butchering class. I loved it. It was these old union butchers who had worked at hotels and grocery stores and broke beef for a living. These were pot-bellied, hamfisted guys. … So this guy cut the meat off a leg and the bone was clean. It was beautiful.

Then I took a charcuterie class, and that was it. I wanted to make sausage. I absolutely loved it.

I enjoyed meat the most. Meat cutting, sausage making—that’s the stuff that stuck with me. But I rarely cut meat now. I’m busy running the shop.

What is it about cutting beef that appeals to you?

It’s a hands-on, cathartic experience. There’s something about knives and meat cutting, there’s something about it that I enjoy.

When I worked at Niman Ranch, I would cut literally tons of meat a day—literally tons. I would have my hands on a ridiculous amount of meat all day long.

How did you get your first job as a butcher?

I was working as a caterer, making chicken satay all day long.

We’d go down to Burlingame for these wine parties, and I’d think, “This is what I went into debt for? To make chicken satay for the overly rich?” It was soul-sucking.

One day I ended up in Oakland with my daughter at a shop that made bagels New York style. It was a kosher butcher shop, and I turned to my daughter and said, “Daddy’s grandpa used to be a kosher butcher.”

The guy behind the counter said, “Really? Do you know how to cut meat? Do you need a job?” So I said, “Yeah, I’ll take a job.”

While I was working there, I found out that I really enjoyed the customer service part of it.

Were you always interested in food and cooking?

I always liked food—I always liked to fiddle around in the kitchen.

I used to watch what limited cooking shows that were on then, mostly on PBS. The foodie revolution hadn’t begun quite yet.

California cuisine was starting with Alice Waters at Chez Panisse and Jeremiah Tower. But in New York, there was no architectural plating. You had your meat on the bottom, the starch on one side and the vegetable on the other. …

At 21, I moved out into my first apartment in Queens. I had to figure out how to cook. But my idea was to keep cooking food, so I ended up with a lot of overcooked stuff. I made stir fry with boneless, skinless chicken with Uncle Ben’s rice. I didn’t know anything else. That was my first foray into cooking.

What types of food did you eat growing up?

I had a genuine Jewish grandmother who made things like matzo ball soup. When I was growing up, ethnic meant either Italian, Jewish or Chinese. Living in Staten Island, we had really good red sauce Italian and really good pizza. Every Friday we went out for Chinese food, and every Saturday we had pizza from Joe and Pat’s. It wasn’t until I was in my 40s that Joe & Pat’s Pizza was on the list of best pizza in New York. I’m a bona fide pizza snob. I know what I like. …

When I lived in Brooklyn, I was right next to the Brooklyn Cement Factory. On the weekends, there was a guy who roasted his own coffee, and someone else made homemade ravioli and there was a place that made their own sausage, a cheese and parsley sausage that I make now and is still my favorite. I reverse engineered it.

What did you learn during your years in restaurant kitchens and as a caterer?

There’s a big difference between cooking at home and cooking professionally. It’s certainly not like what you see on TV, any more than a romance novel is like real life. I’m a good cook. I can prepare you a meal and you will leave full and praise it. But professional cooking is day-in, day-out cooking the same dish. Even if the restaurant changes it menu every day, there’s a repetition to it. …

In a professional kitchen, it’s all rush-rush-rush and then it’s done. There are more personality disorders in professional kitchens than in any other profession—and I worked at a circus, so that’s saying something.

When you’re eating a steak, how can you distinguish what the cow was fed?

When I eat a steak, I can taste the feed—the corn, the barley.

It’s like a good wine guy can taste a French Bordeaux and say it’s this much cabernet sauvignon, this much something else. I tend to look at things the way a wine taster would—I’m trained and I have confidence. If I taste overwhelming sweetness, I know that’s corn.

When it’s been fed on green grass, it tastes good. But most grass-fed beef is fed on hay and alfalfa pellets, and I find it has a greasy mouth feel and tastes like wet hay.

What’s been the biggest surprise since you opened your shop?

How difficult it is to manage the human resources, how much business work there is—so much paperwork! Payroll takes hours, paying the bills, entering the bills takes so much more time than I considered. Just managing the people takes more time than I imagined.

Why do you occasionally adopt a vegan diet?

I’ve been a vegan on and off for the last couple of years for health reasons. I’m diabetic and that helps bring blood sugars down.

What do you do to relax?

I’m married with children, so there’s no time to relax (laughing).

I ice skate. I go to the gym a lot. About 3 o’clock in the afternoon, I go over to the ice rink in Oakland and skate for an hour, or I go to the gym.

If you weren’t running your butcher shop, what would you be doing?

I don’t know. There was all this serendipitous stuff along the way—what if I’d not taken the job at the kosher butcher? What if I’d not worked at the circus and met my wife? What if my grandfather hadn’t had a butcher shop? What if someone hadn’t given my name to Alameda Marketplace when they were looking for someone to open a butcher shop? What if I hadn’t said yes when I got the call?

That’s all the road not taken, and I took this road.

BeniciaMagazine.com • 25

appetizers • soup & salads • sandwiches • burgers pizza • dinner entrees • delectable desserts locally grown produce • 33 large screen TV's signed sports memorabilia • NFL ticket specialty cocktails • 22 beers on tap always rotating wine & extensive selection of bottled beer

OPEN DAILY Mon-Fri 11am-12am Fri & Sat 11am-1am Sun 9am-12am

Urban Notions home, gift, jewelry with a dash of fun

Locally owned; fun for the entire family!

321 First Street, Downtown Benicia

707.746.7665 rookiesbenicia.com

DECKS • FENCES • ARBORS • RETAINING WALLS

G & G Deck and Fence Proudly serving the North Bay Area Family owned and operated

4494 Treat Blvd #21455 • Concord, CA 94521 • 925.848.5089

www.gandgdeckandfence.com

26 • Benicia Magazine

Frames Clocks Home decor Chalkboards Tableware & textiles Letter & number art Greeting Cards Decorative bins & boxes Journals & Notebooks Reclaimed wood & metal items

611 First Street • Downtown Benicia

707.853.8159

Buchanan I Chun

DON'T TOP TREES!

Orthodontics

Tree topping hurts trees and impacts home values

300 Military West, Suite 306

BENICIA 707.745.2525

140 Admiral Callaghan Lane, Suite A

VALLEJO 707.643.1011

Topping is perhaps the most harmful pruning practice.

TOPPING: • Is a violation of the Benicia Tree Ordinance • Causes decay • Stresses a tree's health • Creates safety hazards • Is a high-maintenance pruning practice • Makes a tree unsightly and detracts from a home's landscape

Orthodontic Specialists

Don't top your trees, learn how to prune correctly.

www.mybraces.com

ON DECK THIS SEASON FOR ALL YOUR BUILDING NEEDS.

www.ci.benicia.ca.us, Parks & Community Services www.beniciatrees.org

The Benicia State Parks Association cordially invites you to join us for

Marionettes & Ice Cream!

Sunday, July 26th, 2015 from 1:30 - 4:00 pm At the Benicia Capitol State Historic Park First & West G Streets All ages are invited Admission Free!

(Donations welcomed)

(Adults must accompany their children no child care provided)

The Fratello Marionettes present

“The Frog Prince” Join us after the performance for hand churned ice cream!

SPONSORS: Benicia State Parks Association,

City of Benicia and California State Parks

In VALLEJO 707-557-3000

In FAIRFIELD WWW.FOSTERLUMBER.COM 707-425-3400

For more information, see: www.protectbeniciastateparks.com P.O. Box 404, Benicia, CA 94510

B S PA

707-745-3670

BeniciaMagazine.com • 27

7/1

7/11

Dragon Viper Cobra Improv 6pm For those who like or think they might like improv Benicia Library, 150 East L Street Benicialibrary.org 707.746.4343

7/1 Cheers! Beer Brewing in Benicia Exhibit featuring artifacts from the 1900s beer brewing industry Benicia Historical Museum, 2060 Camel Road Beniciahistoricalmuseum.org 707.745.5435

7/14

Arts Benicia Presents AR.Ti.fakt A photographic celebration of Benicia Artists

By Michael Van Auken Opening Night Thursday, July 16 The Rellik Tavern, 726 First Street Therelliktavern.com 707.746.1137

7/2

Benicia Farmers Market 4-8pm Fresh produce, Thursdays through Oct. Gourmet & hot foods, arts & crafts First Street between B & D Streets Beniciamainstreet.org 707.745.9791

7/17

Ghost Walk 8pm Paranormal history of Downtown Benicia Led by paranormal experts Space is limited, reservations required Beniciamainstreet.org 707.745.9791

7/3

Torchlight Parade 6:30pm Independence Day Parade Begins at First and Military and stretches along First Street Beniciamainstreet.org 707.745.9791

7/4

Picnic in the Park and Fireworks 12pm Arts & crafts, hot food Entertainment, kids’ activities at City Park Fireworks begin at 9pm at foot of First Street Beniciamainstreet.org 707.745.9791

7/20

From Page to Screen: The Princess Bride 5-8pm Read the book, then watch movie & discuss both Refreshments; books available for checkout beforehand Benicia Library, 150 East L Street Benicialibrary.org 707.746.4343

7/7

Python Ron’s Summer Show 11:30am Get personal with 18-foot pythons, four-foot lizards and more City Gym, 190 East L Street Ci.benicia.ca.us 707.746.4485

7/24

Movie Night Under the Stars: Big Hero 6 – Dusk Popcorn provided Bring blankets, low chairs & refreshments Benicia City Park, First Street & Military West Ci.benicia.ca.us 707.746.4285

7/10

Acoustic Music Art & Heart Monthly Friday Concert Series 7pm Northgate Church, 2201 Lake Herman Road Northgateweb.com 415.297.3542 Beniciamainstreet.org 707.745.9791

7/25 & 26

Benicia Waterfront Festival 11am-6pm Two days of live music, craft beer tastings & food Kids’ activities & vendor village First & B Streets to Fitzgerald Field 300 block East H Street Beniciamainstreet.org 707.745.9791

7/11

4th Annual Rob Moglie Car & Bike Show 10am-3pm Sign-in 8-10am, awards 2pm. $25 cash only Goodie bag & dash plaque to first 90 entrants Benicia Veteran’s Hall, 1150 First Street 925.457.2915, Kevin Brock

A Call to Arms - The Benicia Arsenal WWII Exhibit featuring 1940s memorabilia and artifacts from the arsenal Benicia Historical Museum, 2060 Camel Road Beniciahistoricalmuseum.org 707.745.5435

7/11 Friends of the Library Book Sale 10am-4pm Downstairs at the Library, 150 East L Street Benicialibrary.org 707.746.4343

7/11

Benicia Art Walk: Pedal Power Art Bikes 12-6pm Sip, stroll, dine, hear live music and take self-guided tour View art and watch demonstrations Visitbenicia.org/events 707.746.4202

28 • Benicia Magazine Calendar

7/26 Benicia Festa 10:15am-7:00pm Holy Ghost Celebration Parade, mass, lunch, auction, dinner B.D.E.S. Hall, 140 West J Street Beniciaholyghost.org/bdes-festa.html 707.845.1393 7/29-8/2

Solano County Fair Wed-Fri 3pm-11pm, Sat-Sun 12pm-11pm Solano County Fairgrounds 900 Fairgrounds Drive, Vallejo Scfair.com 707.551.2000

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Serving Benicia's orthodontic needs for over 25 years

Come visit our Com ddesigner showrooms

Dr. Tom Campbell

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2310 ““D” Bates Ave. Concord (near HWY 4) Concor also in Santa Clara Mon - Fri 7 - 5 and Sat 9 - 2 & Milbrae 925-798-7525 925 themouldingcompany.com themouldi

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1440 MILITARY W. #202, BENICIA Benicia Chamber of Commerce 2012 Business of the Year Award

ESTEY

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(Next to Pizza Pirate) Free delivery & pickup • We honor competitors’ coupons

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STAINS

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The first to use the most environmentally safe/friendly cleaning process.

No waiting to drop off All work done on premises Best shirt laundering in town No Perchloroethylene

Plumbing and Boilers Residential & Commercial Service, Repair & Replacement

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Slab leaks, repipes Water heaters, faucets Toilets, garbage disposals Remodels, gas lines & more Free Estimates Mike Pitta, Owner/Operator Lic. #969499 Insured & bonded

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

BeniciaMagazine.com • 29

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30 • Benicia Magazine

LISH E D 1

Trenchless Sewer Pipe Rehabilitation - Pipe Bursting Repair or Replace • Water - Gas - Sewer Garbage Disposal • Drain Cleaning • Water Heaters Video Camera • Slab Leaks • Free Estimates

your pre-season home comfort tune-up

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Best of 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2103 & 2014

AMERICAN PACIFIC MORTGAGE

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We are passionate about Homeownership

Oyster Special Mondays

Alan M. Schwartzman Branch Manager

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Mitchell S. Chernock Sales Manager

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Sailor Jacks Purchase one lunch or dinner entrée in July & receive one complimentary dessert with this ad* *expires Exp. 7/31/15. Dine in only. One discount per table, no cash value.

Cannot be combined with any other offer.

Sailor Jacks • Open Every Day • 123 First Street 707.746.8500

Welcome to Tosch Dental

Feel at home—even in the dental chair!

Full-service dentistry | In-house lab, ensures perfect fit | Orthodontics | 50% off bleach with exam & cleaning | Relaxed and comfortable environment Proudly serving Benicia families for over 25 years.

Ronald J. Tosch, DDS l 118 West K St. 707.745.2130 l www.toschdental.com

BeniciaMagazine.com • 31

AFFORDABLE QUALITY Cabinets and Countertops

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS

Allan did a great job of explaining to DeWils the custom glass doors we envisioned. Our kitchen is beautiful.

Thank You AQCC!

Contractor's Lic ense # 687979

—Ray and Joan

Open Mon. - Fri. 9-5 weekends & evenings by appointment

4852 East 2nd Street, Benicia 707-745-2100 • aqc@aqchome.com

Receive a $150 gift certificate to Romancing the Home, or a Nourot Vase, with the purchase of a complete kitchen.