Benicia Magazine January 2014

REAL ESTATE IN BENICIA UP 20%

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SIX YEARS OF SPARKLE AND STYLE

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Changing the way people view the church.

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What makes a printing process Green?

Our printer incorporates many green practices far beyond state and federal guidelines. Sustainability in the pressroom includes:

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Benicia Magazine JANUARY VOLUME 9 ISSUE 3

16

14 AT&T

AT&T

Features

AT&T

16 Ingredients for a healthy community

14 Cracked crab and camaraderie raise money

12

for worthy causes

Departments 10 From the Editor 12

Currents Walk, jog, run: tailoring your route to personal preference

Real growth for Benicia real estate

18

Interview

Jim Trimble, retired police chief, global traveler, humanitarian

24 Fashionista

20 Downtown Map

28 All-new guide to local restaurants

22 Arsenal Map

30 Calendar of Events

Fashionista takes a look at tech-savvy fashion

This page top left: Marshall Lockman, plein air painter, in front of Urban Notions, Downtown Benicia 8 • Benicia Magazine

Community News 707-745-7534 January 2014

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

Benicia’s Scrubber is a Shining Star At a cost of over $700 million, the Flue Gas Scrubber (FGS) unit at the Benicia Refinery has just one job: reduce emissions.

“The scrubber may be the most dominant unit in the refinery’s skyline, especially in the cold weather, because its billowing steam can be seen for miles,” says Environmental Manager Don Cuffel.

Adds Cuffel, “People are often surprised to learn that this unit does not produce any products; it simply reduces emissions.”

The FGS was designed to reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide -SO2, nitrogen oxide - NOx (a precursor to smog) and particulate matter (PM).

Since the successful startup in February 2011, the FGS has reduced emissions of SO2 by over 6,000 tons per year (tpy), NOx by more than 750 tpy, and PM by more than 60 tpy.

Another benefit of adding the emissions-reducing unit to the refinery was that the project allowed the refinery to retire older heaters in favor of new energy-efficient furnaces with a smaller greenhouse gas footprint.

The Flue Gas Scrubber (FGS) unit was designed, reviewed, and permitted as part of the larger project known as the Valero Improvement Project (VIP). This project increased the refinery’s throughput and expanded the range of crudes the refinery could process while reducing emissions at the same time.

The VIP, now essentially complete with the installation of the FGS in 2011, underwent a full California Environmental Quality Act CEQA analysis and an Environmental Impact Report was prepared with the City of Benicia as the lead agency. The City approved a Use Permit and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District granted the authority to construct VIP in 2003.

By The Numbers

So, how does this scrubber work?

Process gases from the refinery’s Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit and the Fluid Coker Unit are routed and used as fuel in new furnaces designed to heat crude oil in the first steps in the refining process.

Flue gas from the new furnaces passes through twin Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) devices which reduce NOx emissions, much like a catalytic convertor on a car.

The hot flue gas continues through a boiler to recover heat and generate steam efficiently – a reuse of energy.

Downstream of the NOx devices and waste heat boiler, the cooler gases pass through a pre-scrubber which removes particulates from the stream and eliminates the need for the energy-intensive electrostatic precipitators that are now permanently retired.

The final step uses a regenerative amine to remove the SO2. This technology was chosen over less costly alternatives because it saves water.

The installation of the scrubber also established lower emissions limits for the refinery in compliance with federal, state and local requirements.

The dramatic reduction in emissions is also reflected in the annual report of refinery emissions made to the U.S. EPA. As can be seen from the graph below, the unit not only reduces SO2, NOx and PM, but it also eliminates air emissions of ammonia that were previously used to control NOx.

Emissions (lbs/yr) Valero Benicia Refinery

1,600,000 1,400,000 1,200,000 1,000,000 800,000 600,000 400,000 200,000 0

2006

Ammonia

2007

2008

2009

Sulfuric Acid Mist

2010

2011

Methanol

2012

Other Air

• NOx emissions have been reduced by 750 tons per year/approx. 55%

• The main plot space for the FGS at Benicia covers approximately 3.47 acres

• Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions have been reduced over 6,000 tons per year/ approx. 95%

• During construction of the FGS, the project averaged 1,900 contract workers daily from nine companies.

BeniciaMagazine.com • 9

From the Editor

January 2014

Greetings from the 8th floor lobby of The Nines Hotel in Portland, Oregon, where I’m writing this letter just a few days before Christmas. There’s nothing like getting away for fresh perspective—a diverting launchpad for brainstorming 2014 goals. The Nines is at the center of downtown Portland, where, in winter, the indoor spaces really sing. The lobby is an elegant blend of warm contemporary mixed with old Hollywood glitz: glassed off “rooms” within the space, red velvet with white leather, metal and wood, shiny silver chandeliers and tree stump tables. I just finished a unique and artful dessert, a rare after-lunch treat: Woodblock Chocolate “Pâté” accompanied by dried fruit compote, olive oil ice cream and sea salt. Pure Photo by Malcolm Slight decadence.

What I love most about Portland, in addition to remarkable people spaces and amazing food, is that the city has such a strong commitment to sustainability. They take the word very seriously and apply it to everything: energy consumption, composting, water conservation, transportation and more. It’s a way of viewing life through a different lens—one that says that all of earth’s resources are limited, and preserving them for future generations is the most important thing we can do. Once you have grandchildren, this concept takes on a whole new meaning.

There’s another aspect to sustainability: The health of a community. In this issue we take a look at the necessary ingredients for a community’s health, on page 16, and see how Benicia measures up.

Here’s a hint: they include art/culture and citizen involvement, both of which we have in spades.

So, what are my goals for 2014? A commitment to retaining the many green aspects of producing the magazine each month, and to my own sustainability, which, like many of you, means more exercise and fewer carbs (including decadent desserts). I’m feeling inspired by the wellness articles in this issue.

Using technology to track my progress (see our story on page 12) will help me stay motivated. My daughters are another source of inspiration—both make exercise a priority. Kat hikes in the mountains with her dogs and goes to the gym regularly, and Beth hikes around Sonoma County and does yoga and CrossFit. Expressing gratitude every day is another goal that’s high on my list. I am truly blessed to live and work in such a friendly, supportive community as Benicia—it’s a gift made possible by its many progressive attributes. I’m grateful to have such a rich trove of material from which to create stories—please keep sending ideas and suggestions, we are listening.

Finally, I am grateful to you, our readers, and hope that your goals and resolutions are met with great success in 2014. Happy New Year!

Tweet, post or send your suggestions & ideas to: editor@beniciamagazine.com www.beniciamagazine.com 10 • Benicia Magazine

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Tailoring Your Outdoor Exercise Experience

While yesterday’s simplicity of exiting your front door for your usual walk or run is standard for most of us, it may not be the optimal experience you could gain from customizing your route. Today there are many websites with training tools and apps with reasonably accurate GPS’s that allow you to create and map your route with all kinds of helpful information, including exploring new areas without getting lost—particularly handy when traveling. Using walkjogrun.net, we have mapped out three Benicia routes to try: one mile along Rose Drive from Kearney Street to East 2nd, three miles down First Street and around the Marina, and the five mile loop through the Benicia State Recreation Area. Check walkjogrun.net for additional Benicia Magazine routes.

Websites and apps can be powerful motivators in helping achieve fitness goals, no matter what your level of fitness. They can help switch things up from your usual routine to decrease route burnout. Going beyond the basics of distance covered/calories burned, there are many other benefits to help you stay motivated. You can map out a route based on convenience, scenery or level of difficulty. You can track average speed and see elevation changes, points of interest and routes others have created in your area, or use a diary to track progress, view recommended routes, print maps and more. If you have resolved to get fit in 2014, these electronic tools can help keep you on track.

AT&T

Resources Three mile route Downtown & Marina Top of First Street to end of fishing pier, across to harbormaster building and around marina One mile route in Southampton Along Rose Drive from Kearney Street to East Second Street Five mile route Benicia State Recreation Area east parking lot to Dillon Point and back Photos by Jerry Bowles 12 • Benicia Magazine Currents

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By Eric Hoglund, Estey Real Estate By all accounts, 2013 was an amazing year. There were 264 single-family homes sold in Benicia as of writing this article. The median home selling price was $455,000, a full 1% over asking price on average. The result is a 20% increase in equity over the previous year, outpacing the 10.9% increase the nation as a whole enjoyed. Inventory was low for most of the year—anyone looking to purchase a home in 2013 found their choices limited and the competition from other offers plentiful. This created a new paradigm in real estate as sellers were unable to find and purchase a new home before their current home closed. These folks were forced to rent property while they looked for another home to purchase. Many did eventually find a suitable home, many are still looking, and some are finding that renting is not all that bad after all. Those who regularly rent homes found it difficult to find available units due to the competition created by sellers looking for temporary housing, and due to the lending industry tightening their criteria for the purchase of investment property, there was very little “new” rental inventory created. This means the sold homes that I reference above are, for the most part, owner occupied and this is a good sign of recovery.

Can we expect this kind of performance in 2014? My short answer is no, but I will qualify that statement. We should see a more modest growth in 2014; Kiplinger estimates that the national average will be 3 to 4 percent. Benicia’s micro economy lends itself to a few promising realities.

First, there is no new residential construction planned in the city limits.

This forces those who want to buy in this amazing community to buy an existing home; however, there are a few buildable lots still available in Benicia, a lending opportunity for those looking for a custom or semi-custom home.

Second, Benicia is still one of the safest places to live in California (please see 50 Safest Cities in California published by SafeWise Security Company), with fantastic public schools, a vibrant downtown and beautifully maintained parks. This makes for a very attractive community for those looking for a place to live on, or near, the water in the San Francisco Bay Area.

This brings me to my final reason for the upward housing price trend.

Benicia is one of the last places in the Bay Area where one can still buy a waterfront home for under $1 million dollars. The law of supply and demand alone will force home prices to continue to increase.

Benicia should outpace the national average, but we should not expect a repeat of 2013. A 20% gain year over year is unrealistic and unhealthy, but there are factors that tend to make me think that while we will see growth slowed, we will also realize tremendous gains in 2014.

What’s the reader’s take away from this article? Here is an insider, “not so secret” tip: Buy in the winter when the weather is bad and people don’t want to move. You will likely get a better price from the seller who, for whatever reason, is forced to sell at this time, and you can have the satisfaction of seeing . a comparable home selling for thousands more just a few months later

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14 • Benicia Magazine

By Jeanne Steinmann If you have somehow missed the signs around town, it’s crab feed season!

And if you love a fresh, tasty Dungeness, now’s your chance to hone those picking skills. Benicia is crab feed central, and we know how to throw a party.

Make that a fundraiser—crab feeds have become synonymous with raising money for local organizations.

Crab feeds have come a long way since I was on the board of the Benicia Stingray Swim Team in the early 1990’s, and the team’s annual crab feed was a major source of funding for equipment. Back then the crab had to be ordered, picked up in a van and individually cleaned and cracked, and with 130 kids on the team and twice that many parents, plus relatives and friends, it was one heck of a lot of crab to process. It took a small army of volunteers standing taking turns over the large sinks at the Clock Tower with mallets to get it ready for hungry diners.

Justin, owner of Justin’s Crab Company in Fairfield, says that crab feeds tend to be a pretty set menu: all you can eat crab, salad, bread and a pasta dish. Assuming this is the menu, Justin recommends 3 pounds of whole crab per person.

“Benicia, for a community its size, does more to support its non-profits than any other community I work with. I’ve been supplying crab to various Benicia organizations for their fundraisers for over 30 years; the community support never ceases to amaze me.”

Crab feed season runs December through April. This year’s lineup kicks off January 19 with the B.D.E.S. Benicia Holy Ghost Society’s annual event at the B.D.E.S. Hall, followed by the Benicia Lion’s Club 45th annual crab feed at the Vallejo Veterans Memorial Building January 25. The Benicia Public Service Employee Association crab feed, also at the B.D.E.S. Hall, is February 1. The Benicia Middle School and Benicia High Jazz Bands are joining forces for their event, Crab & Jazz, February 7. As we go to print, these four organizations have confirmed dates, and are open to the public.

Many other organizations typically hold crab feeds but details are unconfirmed for 2014: The Benicia Stingrays, Benicia High wrestling team, St. Dominic School and more, so watch for signs around town.

B.D.E.S. Benicia Holy Ghost Committee’s Annual Crab Feed Saturday, January 18 & March 8, Doors open 6pm, dinner at 7pm B.D.E.S. Hall, 140 West J Street Salad, pasta, garlic bread and crab, no host cocktails $40 per person , Norm Gonsalves, 707.745.1931

Benicia Lion's Club 45th Annual Crab Feed

Saturday, January 25, 6-11:30pm B.D.E.S. Hall, 140 West J Street Crab, music, silent auction and raffle $45 per person, e-clubhouse.org/sites/beniciaca, 707.745.6981

Benicia Public Service Employee Association Crab Feed Saturday, February 1, 6pm B.D.E.S. Hall, 140 West J Street Salad, pasta, garlic bread and crab, raffle, no host cocktails $40 per person, 707.746.4229

BeniciaMagazine.com • 15

Education, Safety and Citizen Involvement Make for a Healthy Community

By Beth Steinmann Photos by Jerry Bowles

16 • Benicia Magazine

Arts Benicia

a great meal is often a combination of hard work,

fantastic flavors, creativity and synergy. Some of the best meals are the result of experimentation, refinement, and collaboration. One might say the same thing about a healthy community. And while Benicia, like the most sumptuous culinary creation, does have that certain je ne sais quoi, some essential ingredients contribute to its synergy. In understanding these essentials, we come to know ourselves better, value each other more, and continue refining towards an even greater goal.

It’s all the buzz that Benicia was recently named the 40th safest city in California by SafeWise, a private security company, and no doubt safety is a key ingredient. Safety fosters an environment of trust, and we’re fortunate to have a foundation of trust between the community and the police department. The Citizens Police Academy serves as a venue for community members to learn about the structure, operation and values of the police department, with the stated goal of strengthening the “mutually beneficial partnership between citizens and the Benicia Police Department.” Community policing and oversight foster further openness. With a strong aura of community safety, people are free to focus on pursuits that bring richness to the collective fabric, such as commerce, education and art.

No doubt safety and education go hand in hand, as our children benefit the most from the good fortune of living in a safe community.

In 2012, Solano County was named (for the sixth time) one of the 100 best counties for young people in America, by the organization America’s Promise Alliance. The organization cited health and social services programs, including early pairing of children with special needs with services, and services for teens working towards career

paths. Benicia Rotary, Arts Benicia and Liberty High’s collaborative “Expanding Experiences” was specifically cited for bringing together local artists, students and business people. Again, collaboration and innovation are key components. Safe routes to school, a stellar library, strong support for students, and knowledgeable, caring school district employees are strong contributing factors to the big picture of education; giving our students the best chance to be leaders of the future.

Art is highly valued in Benicia, and the history and picturesqueness of this waterside hamlet make her a prolific muse. Visual, literary and performing arts flourish, through Arts Benicia, Benicia Old Town Theatre Group and a multitude of artists’ studios, galleries, and whimsical touches, like Benicia’s Poem Homes. The waterfront has been carefully maintained and preserved as a source of inspiration for artists, writers and ramblers alike. It’s a landscape and climate that draws people out of doors, for a walk, a run, a bike ride or kayak. Benicians love to stay active, and this kind of health and happiness go hand in hand. Crossing paths with neighbors and friends as you exercise is an added bonus to the fresh air, perspective and healthy living.

Downtown is an intersection (a veritable cornucopia, one might say) of natural beauty, commerce, dining, art, and camaraderie; and recent improvements to the entrance of First Street put the icing on the cake. And while no place is ever picture perfect (is anything in life?), perhaps perfection isn’t the goal. Maybe it’s about building foundations for a better future, sharing and collaborating and finding new intersections of relating and giving our gifts in this grand experiment of life. One of the best human traits is the desire for change—it makes us strive to be better. So let’s all continue striving to be better contributors to our community, while still enjoying the fresh breeze off the water and the sweet scenery.

First Street

BeniciaMagazine.com • 17

Interview with

Jim Trimble

Photo by Malcolm Slight

What led you to expand your travels to include humanitarian work?

By Sue Sumner-Moore Photo by Malcolm Slight Let someone else spend his retirement on a fishing trip.

Jim Trimble is on a journey that involves far more than just seeing landmarks around the globe. He and his wife, Chris, are avid travelers who stepped up their explorations once he retired—with a twist. On many trips, they spend time with local organizations that improve the lives of those in need.

They take trips organized by GoPhilanthropic Foundation and Make It Real Foundation, two groups that combine humanitarian work with travel. Their first trip took them to coal country in eastern Kentucky, where they worked with Appalshop on a youth media project. Last spring, the couple spent time at an orphanage in Uganda and learned more about widows’ villages while in Kenya.

Jim’s philanthropic ways are rooted in a life of service. He served as Benicia’s police chief from 2000 to 2007 after 28 years on the Hayward police force. Now retired, he is a Rotarian, a mentor at Liberty High School, a member of Benicia Youth Action Coalition’s board, and sponsors a teenage girl living in the M-Lisada orphanage in Uganda. He also works occasionally in the tasting room of Robert Biale Vineyards in Napa.

He co-founded and remains active in organizing Expanding Experiences, a benefit for Liberty High that Benicia Rotary started in 2004. Liberty students help serve at the annual event. “The real reward is putting this core of adults together with this group of kids who are often judged. Put them in one spot for a couple of hours and it’s just a whole different experience for the kids and the adults. The adults get to see the kids in a new light, and the kids get to hear from these adults, ‘Yeah, my life wasn’t perfect.’ We all have something we’ve had to overcome, and it helps kids to hear that.”

Jim, 67, and Chris were married 47 years ago and have two children and two grandchildren.

18 • Benicia Magazine Interview

The traveling we’d done led both of us to enjoy different cultures and what was going on in these countries as much as the sites, the architecture and the historical pieces we were seeing. We enjoy getting to know the people. When you do that, you see the disparities that exist in many, many countries of the world, including our own. We were in China and we went to an orphanage and Chris wanted to adopt every kid there. In Egypt, there was a school for kids with special needs. So when the Make It Real people said they had this idea about philanthropic travel, we thought that sounded pretty good.

Are these similar to community service trips where groups build houses and such?

It’s more about going and meeting and being with people who have organizations that are working on sustainability in their own countries. If there is something we can do that will help with their work, we will do that. It’s not about going and working on the farm. It’s about giving them the tools so they can work on the farm.

What did you do when you were at the orphanage in Uganda?

We mostly hung out with the kids. We ate with them. If you sat down, you’d have two or three kids in your lap immediately.

We played baseball one day—it was kind of a combination of baseball and cricket. The batter stays up until he gets a hit or the pitcher tells him he’s done.

One of the things I most enjoyed was meeting with the young men from the orphanage.

A man from GoPhilanthropic and I met with the young men. They asked us questions about relationships, being prejudice, education. They were ages 14 to 22, about 15 young men in all.

We were in Africa so we were sweating, but I would have been sweating anyway because of the questions. I don’t remember hearing questions like that from our kids. It was supposed to be an hour but it lasted almost two hours. We had to finish it up because it was time to eat.

What is a widows’ village?

It’s pretty common there that women are given no status. They are still circumcising women, still practicing polygamy. When husbands die or leave, or the women run away, they have nowhere to go. A widows’ village provides a place for them and their children.

The community chief in the area was raised in a widows’ village. He found this very energetic, very bright teacher who said she would start a widows’ village if he gave her a plot of land. Hellen also started a school known as the Purple Cow School. Everything in that school is very, very good. They have all the equipment they need.

What is the appeal of taking these humanitarian trips?

One of the things we like about GoPhilanthropic is that the intent is not to make you feel sorry for any group and just give them money, but to coordinate something to make the group more self-sufficient. M-Lisada has a brass band that performs to support the orphanage, but they needed a van to get around. Make It Real was looking for funds to leverage to buy a van, and they have a van now.

GoPhilanthropic are money managers. They go to M-Lisada several times a year. So money doesn’t go directly to M-Lisada. If we want something to go to Africa, we send it through GoPhilanthropic.

How are you continuing to support these programs now that you’re back home?

The Interact Club, which is the Rotary Club’s high school group at Benicia High, has raised $2,000 since we came back for medical and dental supplies for M-Lisada. The Interact kids have been communicating directly with kids from M-Lisada via email. We’re trying to coordinate a Skype session so they can talk about being a teen in Kampala and being a teen in Benicia.

Bosco, the founder of M-Lisada, bought 10 acres of land to teach kids about farming.

Everything is done by hand, so Rotary donated $2,000 for rakes, hoes and seeds. We expect them to be earning money from selling food they raise, but don’t eat, at the orphanage.

The president-elect is working on getting a Rotary grant to bring in consultants to work on finances, leadership, and planning to enhance the skill level of the staff.

Did you take any supplies yourself to Uganda and Kenya?

Home, gift, jewelry with a dash of fun

Chris and I took 150 pounds—everything from toothbrushes and toothpaste, soccer balls and pumps to shoes. They have to have uniforms and dress shoes to go to school, and most kids don’t have dress shoes. We cleaned out Payless Shoes of dress shoes in every size before we went. We also donated the luggage because it can become a child’s closet.

The widows’ village has no electricity and the kids wanted solar-powered lights. I found some online that provide 45 minutes of light.

Even with all that, we’ve never been stopped by Customs.

What other humanitarian trips have you taken?

What’s next for you?

I don’t know. I’ll probably continue doing what we’re doing. The Make it Real Foundation is going to Southeast Asia with GoPhilanthropic in the spring, but we’re not going. I think we’ll stay focused on M-Lisada until their sustainability gets a little better.

We’re going to focus our travels in the United States. …

And there’s probably another project around here.

beer • appetizers • soup & salads • sandwiches • burgers • pizza • led

ays rotating • specialty cocktails • wine & extensive selection of bott alw

I had no idea. I was dead set on not doing anything with policing and law enforcement.

I taught for 22 years at Chabot Community College and I didn’t want to do that anymore. I’d been a consultant with other police agencies and I didn’t want do that any longer.

I really had no plan. I’d always been interested in kids, worked with child abuse, taught classes about child abuse. I’d been engaged with kids throughout career, coached soccer for 13 years with my own kids, coached other sports as well. I didn’t think I’d be doing what I do now.

611 First Street, Downtown Benicia • 707.853.8159

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dinner entrees • delectable desserts • locally grown produce • 33 large

When you first started thinking about retirement, what did you think you’d be doing?

Urban Notions

screen TV's • signed sports memorabilia • NFL ticket • 22 beers on tap

We used to travel with Overseas Adventure Travel, which is part of Grand Circle that has the Grand Circle Foundation.

Part of our ticket price went to local organizations. We went to China and worked at an orphanage, and we went to Germany and worked at school for kids with special needs.

Our first trip to Africa was with Grand Circle. We wanted to support a school we saw when we were in Zimbabwe. We all threw money in a pot, then we hit every store in Lake Victoria and bought every eraser, every pen, every school supply we could find so the company could take it all back to the school.

Greeting Cards Letter & number art Birdhouses Lanterns Reclaimed wood & metal items Tableware & textiles Clocks & Chalkboards Decorative bins & boxes Journals & notebooks

BeniciaMagazine.com • 19

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3. Adobe 2nd Chance Thrift Store, 929 First Street 4. Nine O Seven Grill, 907 First Street ES T

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11. Sandoval’s, 640 First Street 12. Fiber-Frolics, 637 First Street 14. Lindsay Art Glass, 109 East F Street 15. Advanced Mortgage SVF, 615 First Street

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26. Kryss's Pathways to Healing, 841 First Street 27. Birnbaum Realty, 833 First Street

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Julie’s Gift of Massage…the gift you give yourself Julie Parsons, CMT - 707. 297.1371 New Location! Mon-Sat by appointment juliesgiftofmassage.com

Mexican Food 640 First Street • 707.746.7830

310 Military West, Suite A, Benicia

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Real Estate doesn’t have to be this painful!

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

Fiber-Frolics Specialty Yarns and Classes Giovanna Sensi-Isolani, fiber artist

Benicia Golf Association BeniciaGolf.org

To find out more call Dale Thorne, 707.745.4852

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

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

637 First Street, Benicia • 707.747.YARN(9276) fiber-frolics.com

We've Moved!

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

Kryss's Pathways to Healing Facials K Reiki K Waxing All natural skin care products

Proper Tree or Shrub Selection Trees and shrubs have many functions and benefits: Evergreens: privacy & protection from winter winds Flowering: beautify & enhance Fruit: spring flowers & autumn harvest Others: shade, wind deflection, windbreak & sound barrier For more info visit: www.ci.benicia.ca.us, Parks & Community Services www.beniciatrees.org

Kristen Cote, Licensed Esthetician & Reiki Master 841 First Street 707.225.2199Kkrysspathwaystohealing.org

Steve McClure

560 First St., Ste C103, Benicia

707.745.0848

www.stevemcclure.net

BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER TUE-SUN 8am-9pm

Plan, protect, prune correctly and preserve trees and shrubs to maintain value.

BeniciaMagazine.com • 21

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A. Buck Factory Outlet, 4680 E. 2nd Street B. Affordable Quality Cabinets, 4852 E. 2nd Street C. Benicia Historical Museum, 2060 Camel Road 4 D. Capitol Glass Co., Inc. 5000 E. 2nd St. Ste. H E. Arts Benicia, 991 Tyler St., #114 F. Benicia Plumbing, 265 W. Channel Court 1. Avanti Photography, 932 Grant Street 2. Fat Shafts Archery, 3001 Bayshore Road #9 Jac kso 3. Gizzi & Reep, 940 Adams Street, Ste. A nS t 4. Avanti Photography, 932 Grant Street 5. MC2Golf, 960 Grant Street, Ste. A 6. IronHorse Home Furnishings, 990 Grant Street 7. Judy Kendall Upholstery, 991 Tyler St., #122 9. Avalon RV, 510 East Channel Road 10. Parviz Hypnotherapy, 940 Adams Street, Ste. P

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UPHOLSTERY

furniture,

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Capitol Glass Co., Inc.

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

Indoor Range and Pro Shop

Michael Trahan • Interior Design www.michaeltrahan.com 707.748.1080

3001 Bayshore Road #9, Benicia 707.745.0447 • Fatshaftsarchery.com

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960 Grant Street, Ste. A, Benicia mc2golfpro.com 707.745.6075 • info@mc2golfpro.com

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BeniciaMagazine.com • 23

Tech-savvy

Fashion Accessories

By Christina Strawbridge

Could the small device in your pocket or at the bottom of your handbag or resting on the kitchen counter be setting the trends for fashion in 2014?

Fashion designers have presented their spring runway collections from New York to Paris with dots, white shirting, longer skirts, floral prints, pop art, superhero graphics and the color pink. They have also interpreted their designs for our "must have" handheld information and communication devices. Try being separated from your smartphone for the day, or even an hour, and panic sets in. It's interesting to be at an event or out to dinner and observe people maneuvering through food courses and conversation while their fingers are tapping away on their phones. Besides its communication features, the iPhone has replaced the need for carrying a wallet, photos, watch, camera, map, calculator, day planner and even money. These changes have affected what people wear and how clothing and accessories are being designed and marketed.

The iPhone case is now one of the most important fashion accessories of the year. It is often included on the runway as a modern compliment to designer’s collections. Many high profile designers are getting into the act, and are being wooed by tech companies for exclusive designs.

Tory Burch is designing for Samsung while Marc Jacobs has his collection with Apple.

Kate Spade has a wide range of designs that are reflective of her clean, East Hampton look. Her polka dot series of iPhone cases (mine has black dots with a hot pink trim) are whimsical and stylish. Some of her other themes for Apple include fortune cookie messages printed on the case, and strands of pearls on a white background for evening or with elegant suiting. She has also added the wristlet-strap style called Festive 24 • Benicia Magazine Fashionista

Bubbles, which has a 3-way fold that holds the phone and slots for credit cards and a driver's license.

Jordan Carlyle is a contemporary New York artist whose work could be characterized by raw glamour and structural sleekness. His case designs for Apple combine multiple images into one. Deco Dip, Running Yellow, and Coat of Color all have an architectural background with what appears to be paint dripping down the side of the image.

Handbags, the ultimate fashion accessory, are functional and fantastic. Most designs are constructed with phone pockets while others are made to double as an iPad case and handbag. I recently discovered a belt with a phone pocket that reminded me of a cooler version of the fanny pack. Fingerless gloves from another era have become popular for those who wish to text while keeping their hands warm.

The integration of art, style and technology is nothing new in the fashion industry. As technological differences between smartphones become less apparent to the consumer (they can only get so thin), future branding and the retail experience will set companies apart for profitability and name recognition.

In October, Apple hired Angela Ahrendts, former CEO of Burberry, to head up the company’s 400 retail stores and online division. She was chosen because of her success at Burberry, where she used technology to market and brand the company’s luxury products. Apple is banking on her to increase its global market share.

This season, in addition to the LBD (Little Black Dress), the LBP (Little Black Phone) is available as a tech-savvy fashion accessory. With a snap and a tap, you and your phone could be wearing high fashion designs that you won't want to keep hidden.

Lobster Tuesdays Prime Rib Wednesdays Bistro 3 course dinner Thursday

Kindergarten Enrollment Starting the Month of February This year's Kindergarten and new student Elementary Enrollment will be held at each of our Elementary Schools starting the month of February.

Your child must turn five years old on or before September 1, 2014 to enroll in Kindergarten.

BUSD is also offering Transitional Kindergarten again this year for all Benicia students who turn five years old between September 1st and December 2nd, 2014. Enrollment for this program is done at each of our Elementary Schools starting the month of February.

Please call any of our Elementary Schools for additional information and to schedule an appointment.

Sailor Jacks Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Purchase one lunch or dinner entrée in January & receive one complimentary dessert with this ad* *expires 1/31/14. One discount per person, no cash value. Cannot be combined with any other offer.

Sailor Jacks • Open Every Day • 123 First Street 707.746.8500

Benicia Grill 5th Year Anniversary!

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

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

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4760 E. Second St., Benicia BeniciaMagazine.com • 25

A wonderful place for gifts

•

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Blown Glass Wall Art Jewelry Gift Items

www.lindsayartglass.com

Open Every Day 700 First St., Benicia, CA 94510

Gallery Hours: Sun-Fri 11-5 • Sat 10-5 109 East F Street , Benicia, CA 94510

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Serving Benicia Families for over 30 Years

Family Health Center Serving Benicia Families for over 30 Years of Benicia

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1440 Military West #101 Benicia, CA • 707.745.0711

Quality Home & Leisure Products

Bring warmth & beauty to your home this winter

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

707.745.5933

Urban Notions 611 First Street, Downtown Benicia

707.853.8159

HOME DECOR • LETTER & NUMBER ART • JEWELRY • Wall art • Picture frames • Clocks • Candles & Coasters

26 • Benicia Magazine

• Journals & notebooks

• Reclaimed metal & wood objects

• Desk Accessories

• Decorative boxes, bins & buckets

• Greeting cards

Promote your business in 2014 Catalogs Brochures Branding

Exceptional Legal and Mediation Services Wills • Trusts • Family Law Estate Planning & Administration Personal Injury • DUI Real Estate • Probate Consumer Law • Business Law

Gizzi & Reep, LLP 940 Adams St., Suite A 707.748.0900

www.SolanoLawGroup.com

February 8, 1-5pm Ages 21 and older Wine and chocolate tastings available at participating downtown merchants.

Stroll First Street with your sweetheart and indulge in an afternoon of decadent chocolates, fine wines, and shopping!

$20 advance/$30 day of event or 2 tickets for $45 advance/$55 day of event includes souvenir wine glass

Tickets available at Benicia Main Street 90 First Street, or online at BeniciaMainStreet.org

707.745.9791

BeniciaMagazine.com • 27

Guide TO LOCAL RESTAURANTS

SPOTLIGHT ON

Rookies Sports Bar & Grill This casual sports bar and full-service, family-style restaurant serves lunch, bar snacks and dinner. It’s pub-grub meets fine cuisine: salads, sandwiches, burgers and sensational sweet potato fries.

Sun-Thurs 11am-12am Fri & Sat 11am-1am 321 First Street, Benicia 707.746.7665 • rookiesbenicia.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.

Sat-Tues 6am-3pm Wed-Fri 6am-8:30pm.

4760 E Second Street Benicia, 707.751.0155 beniciagrill.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.

Tues-Sun 11am-4pm.

828 First Street Benicia, 707.746.5293 camelliatearoom.com.

28 • Benicia Magazine

JAVA POINT CAFÉ

ROSIE’S CAFÉ

LUCCA BAR & GRILL

SAILOR JACKS

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.

Mon-Sat 8:30am-5pm Sun 9am-4pm.

366 First Street, Benicia 707.745.1449.

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.

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.

Tues-Sun 8am-9pm.

907 First Street Benicia 707.745.0505 907grill.com.

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.

Mon-Sat 6am-2pm Sunday 8am-2pm.

3001 Bayshore, Benicia 707.745.1154 cafebenicia.com.

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.

Mon-Thurs 11am-9pm Fri-Sun 9am-10pm.

123 First Street, Benicia 707.746.8500 sailor-jacks.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.

Mon-Thurs 11am-2:30pm & 5pm-9pm Sat 12pm-10pm.

640 First Street, Benicia 707.746.7830.

THE RELLIK TAVERN

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

Mon 4pm-2am Tues-Sat 11am-2am Sun 9am-2am.

726 First Street, Benicia 707.746.1137 therelliktavern.com.

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.

Tue-Fri 11am-2:30pm Sat 8am-2:30pm.

511 Claverie Way, Benicia 707.7476028.

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Benicia Cleaners Since 1977

81 Solano Square, Benicia • 707-745-1353

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

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

STAINS: If we can’t get them out, they won’t come out!

Serving Benicia's orthodontic needs for over 25 years Dr. Tom Campbell

Orthodontics for children and adults

Call to schedule a complimentary exam 707.745.1994 • 164 East H St., Benicia Beniciaparadocs.com

2nd Chance Thrift Store Adobe is a clean and sober men’s assistance program solely supported by Thrift Shop sales and Labor Services.

Thrift store purchases help men rebuild their lives.

Furniture, Collectibles & Household items 11am-6pm, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat 929 First Street, Benicia, 707.745.6276

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

CALENDAR OF EVENTS 1/6 Food For Thought Book Club 7-8pm Read the book & join in the discussion 150 East L St Benicialibrary.org 707.746.4343 1/7 First Tuesday Poetry Gathering 6:30pm Listen to & read poetry of all kinds 150 East L St Benicialibrary.org 707.746.4343 1/8 Lunch Time Book Club 12pm Read the book, bring your lunch & join in the discussion 150 East L St Benicialibrary.org 707.746.4343 1/11 Friends of the Library Book Sale 10-4pm Over 50,000 volumes of donated books Benicia Library basement, 150 East L St Benicialibrary.org 707.746.4343 1/11 “Men of Worth” In Concert 8-10pm Celtic music band in concert 2060 Camel Road beniciahistoricalmuseum.org 707.745.5435 1/13 Stitchers Group 6:30pm Knit, crochet, cross stitch & needlepoint 150 East L St Benicialibrary.org 707.746.4343 1/15 Evening Book Club 7pm Read the book & join in the discussion 150 East L St Benicialibrary.org 707.746.4343

30 • Benicia Magazine Calendar

Scan for more listings

1/16-2/16 Art of Community 12-5pm Arts Benicia’s annual membership exhibition Thursday-Sunday 991 Tyler St, Suite 114 Artsbenicia.org 707.747.0131 1/18 B.D.E.S. Benicia Holy Ghost Committee Crab Feed 6pm Annual crab feed with crab & pasta 140 West J St beniciaholyghost.org/bdes-crab 707.745.1931 1/19 Board Games 6pm Bring a board game & have some fun 150 East L St Benicialibrary.org 707.746.4343 1/23 Mystery Book Club 7pm Read the book & join in the discussion 150 East L St Benicialibrary.org 707.746.4343 1/25 Benicia Lion's Club 45th Annual Crab Feed 6pm Crab, music, dancing, a silent auction & raffle 140 West J St visitbenicia.org 707.745.6981 1/25 AAUW Bunko Night 6:50pm Bunko night, benefits AAUW’s Scholarships & programs 187 East L St. 707.745.0808 2/1 Benicia Public Service Employee Assn. Crab Feed 6pm Crab, pasta & raffle, benefits Benicia Outlaws Softball 140 West J St. 707.746.4229

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Welcome to

Tosch Dental

Feel at home—even in the dental chair!

Proudly serving Benicia families for over 25 years.

• Full-service dentistry • In-house lab, ensures perfect fit • Orthodontics • 50% off bleach with exam & cleaning

Ronald J. Tosch, DDS l 118 West K St.

• Relaxed and comfortable environment

707.745.2130 l www.toschdental.com BeniciaMagazine.com • 31

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Receive a $150 gift certificate to

Romancing the Home

with the purchase of a complete kitchen

our kitchen and remodel. With the help and expertise of Affordable Quality Cabinets everything was completed on time with great attention to detail. Allan hand delivered them, while Susy and Mary Ann helped us design and problem solve every step of the way. They listened and were very patient; both a delight to work with. All in all, a very successful project. —John and Maria

AFFORDABLE QUALITY Cabinets and Countertops

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

Open Mon. - Fri. 9-5 weekends & evenings by appointment Contractor's License # 687979