Benicia Magazine December 2014

for the holidays from Benicia SHOPS

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Volume 10 Issue 2 December 2014

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Committed to Excellence in Customer Service 2 • Benicia Magazine

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BeniciaMagazine.com • 3

4 • Benicia Magazine

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

707-745-7534 December 2014

Multi-Agency Emergency Response Training Held at Benicia Refinery

The Valero Benicia Refinery hosted multiagency emergency response exercises the week of October 20, 2014, with nine agencies based in Solano County and Union Pacific Railroad participating.

Months in the planning, the exercises over a five-day period focused on simulated responses to railroad tank car emergencies.

A specially designed rail car used in the exercise is owned and operated by Union Pacific Railroad. The rail car has multiple fittings and dome configurations all on one car to simulate the types of connections that are used on tank cars to transport LPG, chemicals, or crude oil. Among the lessons studied in the training were tank car anatomy, hazmat shipping documentation, locomotive securement, and proper foam application.

“This training was part of our on-going effort to maintain the refinery fire department’s emergency response capability and coordination with other emergency responders in the area,” said Chief Joe Bateman of the Valero Benicia Refinery Fire Department. “It is valuable for us all

Union Pacific Railroad regularly works with fire departments, as well as other emergency responders, along its rail lines to offer comprehensive training to hazmat first-responders in communities where it operates.

“More than 2,400 emergency responders from around the state have completed similar training with UP during the last three years,” said Union Pacific Railroad’s Director of Public Affairs to understand the assets that are available from Liisa Lawson Stark. both municipal and industrial fire departments.” The Valero exercise participants included Bateman added that multi-agency training firefighters and hazmat specialists from multiple is a year-round effort. In particular, the Valero agencies in Solano County. In addition to the Fire Department regularly works with the City of City of Benicia and Valero Fire Departments, Benicia Fire Department in fire training exercises, other fire departments represented were: oil spill drills, and off-road driving exercises for ■ Cordelia ■ Solano County the departments’ grass fire trucks.

Hazmat Team ■ Dixon Annually, the refinery sends its firefighters ■ Fairfield ■ Vacaville to the Emergency Services Training Institute, ■ Travis Air Force Base ■ Vallejo an extension service of Texas A&M University, in College Station, Texas. Since 2001, Valero also has underwritten the cost for City of Benicia Throughout the weeklong exercises, training firefighters to attend the weeklong flammable activities were observed and critiqued by the agency officials involved. liquids fire training in Texas.

Valero Volunteers Participate in City Cemetery Clean-Up Day Valero employees and their family members participated in Benicia’s Community Clean Up Day last month at the City Cemetery. Nearly 200 community members participated in the clean up to prepare the cemetery for Veteran’s Day.

Fast Fact: Safety First:

The Valero Benicia Refinery has 69 trained firefighters on staff.

Candle-caused fires in homes peak each December. Never leave burning candles unattended. (NFPA.org)

BeniciaMagazine.com • 5

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707.748.0500 6 • Benicia Magazine

Advertising sales Joey Baker 707.718.0166 adsales@beniciamagazine.com Advertising deadlines New ads: the 5th of the month prior to the issue month Ad changes: 6 weeks prior to the issue month

Contact Us 707.853.8159, Beniciamagazine.com editor@beniciamagazine.com Administration Office Manager Risë Goebel Copy Editor/proofreader Beth Steinmann Benicia Magazine is published monthly by Polygon Publishing, LLC. Copyright © 2014, all rights reserved. Contents of Benicia Magazine cannot be reproduced in whole or in part without the written consent of the publisher. Opinions expressed in Benicia Magazine editorial or advertisements are those of the authors and advertisers, and may not reflect the opinion of Benicia Magazine’s management or publisher.

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

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BeniciaMagazine.com • 7

Benicia DECEMBER

VOLUME 10 ISSUE2

18

Features

Holiday Guide 2014: The most wonderful gifts of the year

How Benicia nonprofits are enriching the community

16 18

Departments 10 From the Editor 14 Bio

Annabelle Marie, VOENA's Director, on determination

14 Currents

Five things you probably didn’t know about Benicia

15

Backwards Glance Snow … in Benicia?

20 Downtown Map 22 Arsenal Map 24 Interview

26 Guide to Local Restaurants 27 Trends

A deep connection with the Emerald Isle

28 Calendar of Events

Cover Photo and above, VOENA singers in concert Photos by Cindi de Channes Photography 8 • Benicia Magazine

Kathryn Reiss, writer, novelist

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• Serving the Benicia/Vallejo area for over 70 years • Only on-site crematory in the area • Funerals, memorials, VA Burials John “Sherm” Passalacqua

Passalacqua Funeral Chapel 901 West Second St., Benicia 707-745-3130 www.passalacquafuneralchapel.com Greg Silva

Quality Home & Leisure Products

Keep your home warm, safe & energy efficient this winter

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

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Twin Chapels Mortuary 1100 Tennessee St., Vallejo 707-552-6696 www.twinchapelsmortuary.com

Voted Best Funeral Home In Solano County 7 Years In A Row

Fresh Cut Trees in Benicia!

Opening Day Friday 11/28

A Wonderful Place For Gifts

Sustainably Farmed Trees Many Sizes/Varieties

Open everyday 10 am –7pm BHM at the Camel Barns 2060 Camel Rd., Benicia (Take Military East towards the Arsenal, left on Adams St. then left on Park Rd.)

Open Every Day 700 First St. Benicia, CA 94510 707-745-0254 www.studio41.com

Joint Fundraiser for Benicia Historical Museum & Genesis House 707-745-5435 ● www.beniciahistoricalmuseum.org 707-552-3395 ● www.genesis-house.com

BeniciaMagazine.com • 9

I

From the Editor

December 2014

Photo by Malcolm Slight

t’s 6:30pm on Tuesday, November 12, as I write from our office downtown. It’s dark outside, and it IS a Tuesday, not generally known as the busiest of days in Benicia. But there are a lot of people meandering—walking their dogs, shopping late, dining or having a libation.

Why is this worth mentioning? Because it’s becoming more common for folks to be downtown at this hour, in the dark, in the crisp fall air, on this or any other weeknight. It’s been two years since the trees were lit up on First Street, and the difference in foot traffic is remarkable. It feels dynamic, vibrant, fun! The buzz is exciting, and especially during the holidays when downtown merchants are all decked out. This year’s pedestrian walk on First Street is on December 5, 6-9pm.

What else is on your agenda for the season? Gathering with family and friends?

Holiday parties? Quiet evenings alone? It all sounds good to me. If shopping is on your list, you’ll be happily surprised at the array of merchandise in local stores.

Dining out? Our restaurants have you covered. Sailor Jacks just added to-die-for soft-shell crab sandwiches to their lunch menu—I hope they last through the month—and Sandoval’s has the best chicken soup I’ve ever had (sorry, mom!).

Each bowl is made fresh: a blending of traditional and fresh-Mex style. It’s my twice-a-week perk for working across the street, and the owner, Deanne, always has a ready smile.

Merry holidays and happy New Year everyone!

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

Feedback Editor: I did not have to take any pains, or even stake any pain, to read the interesting interview with Ed Brennan in the October issue. The best part, which I highlighted for Sue, was the following: Q: How many bikes do you own? A: I really don’t know how many. Yes! Mr. Brennan did all of us cyclists a favor by that honest answer.

Editor: Just a short note to let you know how much I enjoy the articles you include on current buildings/businesses and what used to be in them, such as this month's "Backwards Glance" on the Alamo Rooms, and May's article on Stumm's. I see the picture for Sailor Jack's has a sign "Bay Breeze," any idea what business that was and when the picture was taken? It's a great idea to let us know more about the history of our town this way, and the "before and after" pictures really help. I wonder if it would also be possible to do articles on descendants of the original settlers of Benicia (such as Captain von Pfister), if any are still in town or the area. I think that would be quite interesting. Thanks for your fine work.

—Gary K Heppell

—Gilbert von Studnitz

10 • Benicia Magazine

Benicia Grill 5th Year Anniversary!

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Protect your tree investment with proper mulching, fertilization and pruning.

BeniciaMagazine.com • 11

For the holidays, shop Benicia Main Street's fundraising store for a variety of Benicia merchandise, See's Candies, and Downtown Dollars.

Perfect for holiday giving, Downtown Dollars are gift certificates available in $5 and $20 increments, accepted at over 70 merchants in Downtown Benicia.

For the entire month of December, with a purchase of $50 or more, get a free "I Love Benicia" reusable bag.

Extended holiday hours on weekdays from December 10-19, 9am-7:30pm.

Open weekends from 11am-4pm.

Holiday Open House Friday, December 5

First Street merchants along with Benicia Main Street host this ever-popular open house at the beginning of the holiday season with live entertainment, costumed carolers, and wagon rides from 6-9pm. At approximately 6:30pm at the foot of First Street view the spectacular lighting of the Christmas Tree.

Christmas Parade & Holiday Market Saturday, December 13

Join us for the annual Christmas Parade at 10am on First Street (between D Street and H Street) featuring local bands, dancers, and the much anticipated Santa Claus. The Holiday Market features handcrafted arts & crafts and gourmet items from 10am-3pm, located on First Street between B and D Streets.

12 • Benicia Magazine

www.BeniciaMainStreet.org

Benicia Main Street 90 First Street, Benicia 707.745.9791

Ace tools make the perfect gift for the do-it-yourselfer. They’ve been engineered to the highest standards of durability and performance and they’re guaranteed to equal or exceed the quality of the big national brands. So stock their workshop with the tools they can always count on – Ace.

PEDROTTI ACE HARDWARE

830 Southampton Road Benicia, CA 94510 745-NUTS (6887) www.acehardware.com/local/pedrotti Store Hours: Mon - Sat 8 - 7, Sun 9 - 6

BeniciaMagazine.com • 13

Currents

Currents

Five things you probably didn’t know about Benicia

1

Photo courtesy of VOENA

Crossing the Threshold with Annabelle Marie

By Adriene Rockwell When Annabelle Marie homeschooled her three boys, they travelled each day to San Francisco for circus school. When her oldest son Francisco Cruz was about seven years old, he fell from a pole while doing a monkey hold with three other children, and it terrified him. He refused to go back to class, but for Annabelle, quitting was not an option. For two weeks they drove to class every day and Francisco sat outside until he found the courage to go back on the mat. Today, Francisco is at the top of his field as an acrobat, and a graduate from the National Circus School in Montreal.

His younger brother Raphael recently had the leading role in Iris for Cirque du Soleil, and their youngest brother Dominic is also a skilled artist.

Like her boys, the path was never easy for Annabelle as she practiced her way to becoming an accomplished violinist, singer, music educator and the Founding Director of VOENA, the world-renowned children’s choir based here in Benicia. Although she was born with an affinity for music, she credits her mother for creating a supportive musical environment that included many music lessons and long drives while singing in full harmony with her four siblings. It was her mother who instilled in her what she now calls the VOENA Big Three: to have a hard work ethic, to be self-motivated and to accept the challenge. “This is the infrastructure for a strong self esteem,” says Annabelle.

“I believe that when you hit your threshold, that’s when it’s time to do whatever it takes to cross it. It’s not always going to feel good,” says Annabelle. “The greats weren’t great because they were born talented or because they were born to sing, dance or write. They were great because they were determined.”

Watch Francisco and Raphael Cruz at: youtube.com/watch?v=B_ckl19SU9k See more about VOENA at voena.org.

Bio 14 • Benicia Magazine

We have the only State Capitol (the third in California) where the original building still stands.

2

Over the years, Benicia has been written up as a great place to live in Money Magazine, Sunset Magazine, Via Magazine, the LA Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Diablo Magazine and the Sacramento Bee, among others.

3

Benicia Unified School District employs close to 500 people, making it the second largest employer in the city, right behind Valero.

4

Benicia’s first art museum, the Benicia Museum of Art (Benicia MOA) officially launched in September of this year inside the 621 Gallery on First Street. Learn more at beniciamuseumofart.org.

5

The Bay Area Ridge Trail runs along Benicia’s waterfront for 3.5 miles, from the Benicia Marina to the Benicia State Recreation Area.

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

Snow Blankets Benicia Circa 1913

By Elizabeth d’Huart, Executive Director Benicia Historical Museum When trolling through our archives to find an appropriately seasonal image, we found this spectacular photograph from the O’Grady estate. It was taken in 1913 from the then existent walkway at the end of West Third Street above “The Caves” area, looking east across the Carquinez Strait towards First Street. The structures situated in the upper right-hand corner are the old Tannery buildings; the Crooks Mansion would have been behind and to the left. Unfortunately, we do not know the names of the three children pictured here who may never have experienced snow before (other recorded snowfall accumulation occurring in 1915 and 1922), or the identity of the photographer who has asked them to pose with their expertly constructed snowballs!

For those transplants who have moved here from colder climes, it is an easy task to summon up memories of the endless chill of winter and the dreariness that follows when the innocence of all that white becomes sullied by car exhaust and churned to slush.

How refreshing to be reminded of the serenity snow brings when it first blankets the dirt, muffles the noise, and brings a standstill to normal activity. This lovely reminder of winter fun from Benicia’s past was taken by a resident who has long since died—how lucky we are to occupy the same space of appreciation as we see this moment through the photographer’s eyes several generations later. Stay a minute before the children pelt the camera holder with their snowballs and then move out of view!

611 First Street • Downtown Benicia

707.853.8159

Backwards Glance

BeniciaMagazine.com • 15

Whimsical stocking ornaments, $11.98 each

Camellia Tea Room, camelliatearoom.com Bloch 'glitter dust' ballet shoes, $22

Benicia Dancewear, beniciadancewear.com Olaplex Hair Perfector miraculously maintains hair strength, integrity & shine, $40

PS Hair Studio, pshairstudio.com

Tokyo Bay watches for women and men, green, $148, blue, $126

Studio 41, studio41.com

Lavender bath salts, $32, perfume, $36 and Katrafay soap, $18,

Urban Notions, facebook.com/urbannotions Brighton leather handbag, $300

Christina S, christinasbenicia.com Hand-blown glass salt & pepper shakers, $101/pair

Lindsay Art Glass, lindsayartglass.com Heritage Cookbook by Sean Brock, $40

Bookshop Benicia, bookshopbenicia.com

16 • Benicia Magazine

Celebrating with a

Candlelight Service Experience a celebration of the Christmas Story with beautiful music, candlelit carols, opportunities to help those in need and more.

CANDLELIGHT SERVICE

December 23rd 7pm December 24th 7pm — 9pm — 11pm Childcare under 3yrs old at 7pm services

Northgate offers year round programs and services for the entire community Youth: birth to 5th grade Tweens: 6th to 8th grade Teens: 9th to 12th grade Young adults Adults For more information or to reserve your free ticket to one of the Christmas eve services; go to www.Northgate.Christmas

2201 Lake Herman Road, Benicia • 707.747.5855 • Northgateweb.com

BeniciaMagazine.com • 17

Nonprofits Help Make Benicia a Special Place to Live Benicia has many worthy nonprofit organizations whose staff and volunteers are working hard to improve and enhance our community. Below are just a few that are directly involved with enriching the lives of residents through the arts, education, the environment and history. To donate this season to any of these worthy causes (and keep your nontaxable donations local), it's very easy, just call or visit them online.

HISTORY

Benicia Historical Museum

Benicia’s rich history, dating back to the Civil War, comes to life at the Camel Barns. In addition to the ongoing exhibits, special exhibits and events are offered throughout the year. Through December 24, there’s also a Christmas tree lot with several fresh varieties available.

707.745-5435 beniciahistoricalmuseum.org

Benicia Historical Society

Safeguarding our heritage, the society performs many vital functions, including preserving buildings, monuments and historic markers, and disseminating historical information. Its volunteers bring together people interested in Benicia’s history, and sponsor the annual Benicia Historic Home Tour. beniciahistoricalsociety.org

Benicia State Parks Association

ENVIRONMENT

Benicia Tree Foundation

This foundation’s vision is to offer an engaging range of environmental programs focused on building community and a vibrant urban forest. They promote health and sustainability through tree planting and preservation, reducing CO2. Well on their way to their goal of planting 1,000 trees in Benicia, the current count is 418 new trees.

707.745.4546, beniciatrees.org

Benicia Community Gardens

Benicians are charmed by the sight of the two downtown community gardens: Swenson Garden and Avant Garden, farmed by local citizens to produce fresh food. By helping locals establish sustainable gardens throughout the city, the group is able to support local food security and increase awareness and access to sustainable, regional resources. beniciacommunitygardens.org 18 • Benicia Magazine

Benicia residents are fortunate to have two State Parks within our boundaries: The Benicia State Recreation Area and the Benicia Capitol State Historic Park, which includes the oldest surviving State Capitol in California and the historic Fischer-Hanlon House and gardens.

Association volunteers work diligently to advocate, fundraise and preserve the properties for residents and visitors.

707.745.3670 protectbeniciastateparks.com

Benicia Main Street

Benicia became a California Main Street City in 1987, chosen as one of the original 15 demonstration cities to participate in the program. The organization produces many small and major downtown events including the three Wine Walks, Torchlight Parade and fireworks, Waterfront Festival, and the Holiday Open House and Tree Lighting.

707.745.9791 beniciamainstreet.org

ARTS

Arts Benicia

Working with hundreds of artists, Arts Benicia’s mission is to stimulate, educate and nurture cultural life through exhibitions, educational programs and classes. The highly regarded organization holds several major exhibitions each year at the Arts Benicia gallery, as well as classes and programs including Family Art Day, the three-day Artist Open Studios event and the annual Gala Auction.

991 Tyler street #114 707.747.0131, artsbenicia.org

VOENA

EDUCATION

Benicia Library Foundation

This nonprofit’s mission is to raise money to assist the Library with capitol improvements. These include recent upgrades such as an additional self-check machine and a new people counter that gathers data on the number of library patrons and what time of day is busiest, event attendance and more.

707.746.4343, benicialibrary.org

Benicia Education Foundation

Revitalized in 2005, the Benicia Education Foundation provides communitybased support for Benicia public schools. The volunteers put on the annual Benicia Run For Education, a popular 5K and 10K race that lures over 1,000 runners. Working in concert with parent-teacher groups at each school site and BUSD, they help get funds to where they are needed.

866.325.6395, beniciaeducationfoundation.org

Benicia Parent Teacher Groups

The busy volunteers at Benicia’s parent-teacher groups are on the front line, helping to raise funds and influence decisions where it matters most to children: in the classroom.

Weblinks for each school site are on BUSD’s website at sites.google.com/a/beniciaunified.org/us/.

Benicia Community Action Council

The Benicia CAC provides professional guidance, resources and referrals to those striving for self-sufficiency by delivering hot meals to home-bound seniors and helping low income youth with on-the-job training, among other pressing community needs.

707.745.0900, bencac.com

Benicia Makerspace

The new kid on the block, Benicia Makerspace is a unique place where people gather to share and test new ideas, make things, invent, learn new skills and collaborate with each other using state of the art, shared equipment.

707.654.4131, beniciamakerspace.org

VOENA, an acronym that stands for Voices of Eve ‘N Angels, is a world-renowned children’s choir serving 150 Students ages 5-18. It’s renowned because passion and talent shine through at each and every performance, one of which was held at the White House. Students learn ethnically diverse music, singing in many countries in the native language, and learn to appreciate different languages and cultures.

707.751.1515, voena.org

Benicia Ballet

Classes commenced at the Benicia Ballet School in 1986, providing classical ballet training for children and adults. Located in the Historic Benicia Arsenal, the theatre component offers performances of classical ballets, including The Nutcracker, each year at Solano Community College.

938 Tyler Street 707.746.6757, beniciaballet.org

Benicia Old Town Theatre Group

BOTTG has been delighting audiences with local theatre for 50 years with a variety of plays from many genres. The group has garnered the prestigious Solano County ARTY award numerous times; most recently, four awards for Same Time Next Year, including Best Comedy of the Year.

707.746.1269, beniciaoldtowntheatregroup.com Photos, by Jerry Bowles, opposite: Designated Heritage Tree in Benicia City Park; Benicia Victorian.

This page: Benicia Public Library; BOTTG's 2014 spring play Same Time Next Year.

BeniciaMagazine.com • 19

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1. Tosch Dental, 118 West K Street 2. Estey Real Estate, 935 First Street 3. Adobe 2nd Chance Thrift Store, 929 First Street

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6. Camellia Tea Room, 828 First Street

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

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

BOOKS • TOYS • GAMES • GREETING CARDS

Celebrating 21 Years!

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

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Specialty Yarns and Classes Giovanna Sensi-Isolani, fiber artist

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BeniciaMagazine.com • 21

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22 • Benicia Magazine

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Interview with

Kathryn Reiss

When did you first think you’d like to be an author?

From the first time I saw books, I was fascinated. I wanted to know everything about them. How do they get here? How do they make them? Can I do that?

My mother was always very supportive and always encouraged me to write.

When did you write your first published book?

I spent 1980-81 in Bonn as a Fulbright scholar, and I wanted to read something in English at night. This was in the days before Amazon and the internet, and English books there were expensive and they tended to be classics. I wanted to read something else. So I thought, “Why don’t I write a book I want to read?” It’d have to have a big, old house, some secrets, a mystery that comes from the past and affects the future. That was Time Windows. That’s probably still my favorite book, not necessarily because of the story. But it’s the book that made me an author. It was published in 1991.

How did the story evolve over the 10 years between first draft and being published?

In the first version, Helen Browne (the mother) was the main character. I’d written about 30 to 40 pages, all by hand, and it was about Helen worrying about her daughter’s sanity. It wasn’t the story I wanted to tell. I wanted to tell the story of Miranda (the 13-year-old daughter). I threw it all away and started over. I wish I’d kept it.

I got an agent in 1983 or ’84. She said she was going to market it as a middle-grade novel. It still took seven years to find a publisher. I was told it was too violent, so I toned down some of the scenes.

It went through 10 big revisions over the years.

24 • Benicia Magazine Interview

By Sue Sumner-Moore Photo by Malcolm Slight Tucked in a cozy armchair in her Benicia home filled with books, children, pets and her husband’s paintings, Kathryn Reiss creates worlds where young people solve mysteries that often link the present with the past.

The author writes about startling events that take her characters on eerie adventures in books for children and teens. “I write for them because I like that voice,” she says. Common themes include rambling, old houses and time travel.

“I really tap into that, into ways to get the past and present to touch. I believe the past is part of the present,” says Kathryn, who turns 57 this month.

A part-time English professor at Mills College and mother, Kathryn is disciplined about setting aside time to research and write her books.

She has published 18 books to date, including seven American Girl mysteries. Eleven titles are available in seven countries. Her 19th book will be published this month, and it will be her first available as an e-book as well as print.

“The face of publishing really, really is changing. I don’t want to be a dinosaur,” she says. The new book, Murder at Heatherstone Hall, was near its printing date in 2009 when her publishing company was purchased. Her book was among those dropped even though she’d received her advance and all editing was done. “It was very upsetting.

This book was meant to be read. Why keep it in my drawer?”

Kathryn and her husband Tom Strychacz moved their family to Benicia in 1997. The couple have seven children by birth and adoption, ranging from ages 11 to 31. The two youngest live with their parents in their rambling, old house.

What elements distinguish a teen novel from one written for adults?

There are several hallmarks of children and teen books.

The main character is a child or teen and the story is told from the main character’s point of view.

There’s a kernel of hope at the end. It can be a dark topic, but there is hope at the end. In my class, we read three books about the Holocaust: Night, by Elie Wiesel, The Devil’s Arithmetic, by Jane Yolen, and Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry. This is a hard-hitting subject covered in books for middle-grades, teens and adults. It shows you can write about dark themes for all ages.

With teen and children’s books, you keep your audience in mind as you write. You don’t have to be preachy—you can have sexual references, you can have violence, you can have bad words, but it has to be age-appropriate. No matter how dark and depressing the subject is, it has to be age-appropriate.

What did you like reading when you were growing up?

I read everything, but I was very partial to Trixie Belden mysteries.

I read Nancy Drew, but Trixie Belden was better.

How much research do you do for your books?

I do a lot of research. I do a lot online, but I also do lots of reading, both fiction and non-fiction books. I like to see what other novelists have done with the subject.

I have to do research even when I’m writing one of the Julie mysteries for American Girl that take place in the 1970s, which I lived through. What music would be playing what year? What would the headlines say?

How do you get past writer’s block?

I have learned that when anyone has writer’s block, it’s because there’s something in the plot that isn’t working.

Sometimes you’re in the middle of a book and your scenes are out of order, or you don’t know where you’re going and what needs to happen. …

The way you get out of it is by throwing out a lot of your work, unfortunately. Now I always do an outline but I don’t have to keep to it. It’s an outline, not a contract. I do so many notes before I’m ready to start writing. Then there’s version A, then version B, then version C, then version D and then you’re up to version L.

How long does it take for a book to go from idea to publication?

Sometimes an idea percolates for a long time, then it coalesces and I know it’s time to start things. I call those my back-burner ideas. When I have an idea for something, I write it down in my back-burner notebook.

Right now I’m interested in the Witness Protection program.

What would that be like, I wonder. And I think about that.

If I get an idea that interests me and I don’t have a story yet, I play with it a long time before I start writing. I play the “What If?” game to work on the story.

If the story needs work, it can take longer once I start writing.

Paperquake took three years instead of the usual nine or 10 months.

What advice would you offer aspiring writers?

Read everything you can get your hands on that’s anything like your book because you can see how other authors are handling the subject. Push on until you have a finished draft.

You likely will go through many revisions, but get to a finished draft. When you write a book, it’s not like you say, “Whew, I’m finished.” You go back maybe 10 times to do revisions.

You have to be careful about technology and avoid contemporary slang. You don’t want to be too trendy because it can date your book.

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How do you find balance between teaching, parenting and writing?

I have to be very strict with myself. I may clean up the dishes and throw a load of laundry in before I start writing, but I don’t do any more housework after that.

I let myself check email or be on Facebook at lunch time, but not otherwise. Sometimes I turn off the router so I can write and not be distracted. I can get off-point when I’m doing research, so I have to be disciplined.

What do you do to relax?

I have tea with my friends in the afternoons. I hike with my dogs. I like to knit. I like to read. I fall asleep reading books other than manuscripts. I just finished Big Little Lies, by Liane Moriarty, an Australian author. I read all the Young Adult books that come out. I leave the library with stacks of them.

What’s next for you?

I’ll be working on Sudden Light next (holding a printed manuscript in her lap with other possible titles written by hand on the cover sheet). So I’ll teach at Mills, raise my kids and write my books. I love living in Benicia. I love living in an historic home. I feel very lucky.

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www.SolanoLawGroup.com BeniciaMagazine.com • 25

Guide TO LOCAL RESTAURANTS

SPOTLIGHT ON

SAILOR JACKS

Fine dining at its best with a spectacular view of the Carquinez Strait with terrific breakfast, lunch and dinner options served in a rustic, intimate atmosphere.

123 First Street, Benicia

707.746.8500 sailor-jacks.com

BENICIA GRILL Family-style food with an extensive menu.

Come with an appetite—serving sizes are generous. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in the dining room or on the patio.

4760 E Second Street, Benicia, 707.751.0155 beniciagrill.com

LUCCA BAR & GRILL The warm, urban décor with a friendly atmosphere lures diners in, and they are not disappointed.

Small bites, lunch and dinner are served in the dining room, bar and street-side tables.

439 First Street, #102, Benicia, 707.745.0943 luccabar.com

ROSIE’S CAFÉ This sweet little roadside diner serves full breakfast and lunch options of hearty American fare. Try the biscuits & gravy or grits, and the homemade soups and chili.

3001 Bayshore, Benicia, 707.745.1154 cafebenicia.com

BUON APPETITO Intimate dining at this downtown eatery serving contemporary Italian cuisine. Try the Risotto special for a dinner treat, or a variety of scaloppini favorites.

191 Military East #F, Benicia, 707.746.7410 buonappetitorestuarant.net

MATSURI SUSHI Favorite standby fresh Nigiri, sushi rolls and tempura are available along with specialty rolls, salads and sake. Lunch & Dinner.

920 First Street #102, Benicia, 707.747.1585

THE RELLIK TAVERN Live music and community events keep this upscale tavern hopping. Food offerings, ordered by iPad, include tasty tapas and a huge selection of specialty beers on tap.

726 First Street, Benicia, 707.746.1137 therelliktavern.com

CAMELLIA TEA ROOM Located in a beautifully restored Victorian building with ornate dining room, Camellia Tea serves traditional afternoon tea, along with lunch and desserts, all made fresh daily.

828 First Street, Benicia, 707.746.5293 camelliatearoom.com JAVA POINT CAFÉ With a street-side plaza strewn with tables, this popular café, known for their freshly made breakfast and lunch options, often has a line out the door.

366 First Street, Benicia, 707.745.1449 LITTLE THAI Pad Thai, savory soups and fresh, inventive salads and curry dishes along with other Thai favorites, served in a casual atmosphere.

870 Southampton Road Benicia, 707.747.9777 26 • Benicia Magazine Restaurant Guide

NINE O SEVEN GRILL Fresh American cuisine with a Mexican flair is served in this upscale café with a heated outdoor patio in the back, or at street-side tables. The fish tacos are legendary.

907 First Street Benicia, 707.745.0505 907grill.com PALERMOS CUCINA ITALIANA Italian specialties at Palermos Cucina Italiana on Columbus Pkwy and Venticellos downtown.

Pastas, soup, salads, meats and seafood.

Lunch & dinner.

2050 Columbus Pkwy, Benicia, 707.748.1011 palermosbenicia.com ROOKIES SPORTS BAR & GRILL This casual sports bar and full-service, familystyle restaurant serves lunch, bar snacks and dinner. It’s pub-grub meets fi ne cuisine: salads, sandwiches, burgers and sensational sweet potato fries. Sunday Breakfast.

321 First Street, Benicia, 707.746.7665 rookiesbenicia.com

SANDOVAL’S MEXICAN FOOD The fun décor and good food make this Benicia institution a local family favorite.

Try the shrimp, chicken or steak fajitas; the salsa gets rave reviews.

601 First Street, Benicia, 707.746.7830 THE WORKSHOP This popular take-out spot serves up seriously delicious New Orleans-style dishes. Morning Beignets lead into lunch options of hot sandwiches and fresh made soups and sides.

511 Claverie Way, Benicia 707.7476028 VENTICELLOS Italian specialties at Venticellos downtown and at Palermos Cucina Italiana on Columbus Pkwy.

Pastas, soup, salads, meats and seafood. Lunch and dinner; weekend brunch at Venticellos.

911 First Street, Benicia, 707.747.5263 venticellos.com

The Mysteries and Magic of the Emerald Isle Story and photo by Christina Strawbridge Photo: Dublin Public Art During the long, hot summers of Indiana, I spent a lot of time with my Grandmother Concannon. She would sit in her rocker and spin a yarn about the old country, entertaining me for hours. As she described her mother's family and my grandfather's clan she would slip into a slight brogue, which only made the stories of our redhaired relatives more fascinating.

My Mother's family came to America from Ballinasloe, in the easternmost part of Galway County. Instead of settling on the East Coast, they traveled further West to the small Indiana town of Terre Haute on the Wabash River. The similarities to Ireland are quite evident with its rolling hills, farmland, distillers, breweries and Benedictine Catholic Convent. This was my second trip to Ireland and I must say, the country is as colorful and diverse as my ancestors.

Our first visit was in the southeastern region of County Clare, where we stayed at Dromoland Castle, a Renaissance structure that has been converted into a hotel. Our room was located in one of the turrets, which made you want to take down your hair like Rapunzel.

We toured the coast from County Cork up to the Cliffs of Moher and Galway Bay, where we savored the world's best bowl of mussels.

After numerous requests short of begging, Scott rented a car and we ventured to the city of my great grandparents. Scott had to adjust to driving on the right side of the tiny roads, fending off oncoming traffic and the occasional herd of sheep or cattle that didn't bother to give him the right of way. The trip was uneventful, with the exception of an episode with a soap dispenser falling off the bathroom wall in the market, where we stopped to pick up a picnic lunch. Suddenly we were back on the road with orders not to look back! Ballinasloe was a lot like I imagined it—the friendly people seemed familiar, resembling my siblings and cousins with their features and mannerisms. The river, the large Catholic Church and a farmer's market with vendors selling everything from live chickens to tires made me feel like I had found a bit of my great grandparents, who had left this place for a better life in America.

I returned last month to Ireland for a conference in Dublin. As we landed in the wee hours of the morning, I saw the lights of a large city alerting me that this would be a completely different experience of the Emerald Isle. The "full of blarney" cab driver was entertaining as he drove us to our hotel. He bragged about the infrastructure improvements and the global companies that were setting up their European headquarters in the Irish capitol. I soon realized that Leprechauns and shamrocks had been replaced by McMicrosoft and O'Yahoo, making Dublin an international player in communication, technology and finance.

The city is a combination of old and new, struggling with an identity crisis. Dublin has evolved from a Vikings settlement with medieval structures to the ultra modern. The Temple Bar area is the anchor of nightlife and cultural activity and offers a friendly, old-world atmosphere. Probably one of the most popular tourist attractions is the Guinness Storehouse, seven floors of glass atrium in the shape of a pint of Guinness. Opened in 2000, it celebrates all things Guinness and shows how the amber-colored beer is made.

What I particularly observed was how young Dublin seemed, not only students from Trinity College and other Universities lunching in the parks, but 20-somethings with briefcases running through massive road construction sites to meetings in one of the modern high-rises. My question is, where are all the old people? Much like the rest of the city, it's in with the new and out with the old.

The connection I have with Ireland runs pretty deep with visits and memories of my Grandmother; and an Irish Blessing that she would recite: May the road rise to meet you May the wind be always at your back May the sun shine warm upon your face The rains fall soft upon your fields and, Until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand Beautiful and spacious tri-level condo located at the Marina in Port Side Village. The lifestyle you’ve been waiting for close to downtown Benicia shops, restaurants and community events. Attached two car garage with extra storage and a front deck to sit and watch the sailboats on the Bay. Waterfront living at its best! $475,000

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BeniciaMagazine.com • 27

C a l e n d a r O f E v e n t s ­— D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 4 Holiday decorations in Benicia, photos by Jerry Bowles

12/1

Benicia Historical Museum Christmas Tree Lot 10am-7pm

12/1-31

Bradbury and Bradbury Art Wallpapers: A Legacy of Historical Artistry

12/2

First Tuesday Poetry Gathering 6:30-9pm

Lawyers at the Library 6-8pm

12/4

12/5

Sustainably farmed trees, many sizes and varieties 2060 Camel Road beniciahistoricalmuseum.org 707.745.5435

Hand-screened heritage paper display 2060 Camel Road beniciahistoricalmuseum.org 707.745.5435

Read or listen to your favorite poetry 150 East L Street Benicialibrary.org 707.746.4343 Free 20-minute consultations 150 East L Street Benicialibrary.org 707.746.4343

Board Games at the Library 6-8:30pm Fun games for all ages 150 East L Street Benicialibrary.org 707.746.4343

12/5

Holiday Open House 6-9pm

12/5

Holiday Open House at Benicia Capitol 6-9pm

The annual closing of First Street to Pedestrians only Live entertainment, wagon rides, wine tasting Merchants open late, offering treats beniciamainstreet.org 707.745.9791 Free admission 115 West G Street protectbeniciastateparks.com 707.745.3670

28 • Benicia Magazine Calendar

Scan for more listings

12/5-12/7

Benicia Arsenal Artist Open Studios

See and speak with the artists in their element Friday through Sunday 10am-5pm Jackson & Tyler Streets mikekendall.com/decos13.html 707.319.5361

12/7

Annual Teddy Bear Tea Party

12/12

Classic Movie Night 6:30pm

12/13

Friends of the Library Book Sale 10am-4pm

12/13

Christmas Parade & Holiday Market 10am-3pm

12/13

St. Nicholas & Victorian Ornaments 10:30-2pm

Bring your teddy bear!

Holiday tea, costumes, storytelling, carols and Santa Reservations required. 828 First Street Beniciamainstreet.org 707.745.9791 cameliatearoom.com 707.746.5293 Great classic movies from the 1930’s, 40’s, 50’s and 60’s Dona Benicia rom, 150 East L Street Benicialibrary.org 707.746.4343 Benicia Library basement, 150 East L Street Benicialibrary.org 707.746.4343

Local marching bands, dancers, Santa Claus Handcrafted arts/crafts, gourmet foods Downtown Benicia beniciamainstreet.org 707.745.9791

Make and take low-cost Victorian ornaments protectbeniciastateparks.com 707.745.3670

12/13 VOENA Voices of the Season

Wintersong Concert 7:30pm

Benicia Historical Museum, 2060 Camel Road voena.org 707.944.9900

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Voices of the Season 5 Wintersong Sunday Dec 7th 2014 4PM

Lincoln Theater All-Level Concert lincolntheater.com Saturday Dec 13th 2014 7:30PM

Camel Barn Candlelight Concert beniciahistoricalmuseum.org Saturday Dec 20th 2014 7:30PM

Napa Valley Opera House City Winery ¡ Dinner & Drinks Doors 6:00/Concert 7:30

citywinery.com/napa Tickets at VOENA.org venue websites

BeniciaMagazine.com • 29

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30 • Benicia Magazine

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BeniciaMagazine.com • 31

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