Benicia Magazine June 2017

Exterior upgrades dazzle at historic Fischer-Hanlon House Another season of Shakespeare on the beach at annual Tahoe Festival

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Administration Office Manager Risë Goebel Copy Editor/proofreader Beth Steinmann Benicia Magazine is published monthly by Polygon Publishing, LLC. Copyright © 2017, 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, 372 First Street, Benicia, CA 94510. 707.853.8159, beniciamagazine.com.

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Benicia Historical Museum At The Camel Barns Presents

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12

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JUNE

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14

10 From the Editor

June’s live music roundup for Benicia and beyond

16

12 Currents AlertBenicia provides critical citywide notifications (12) Fischer-Hanlon House shines with long-awaited paint & repairs (12) A wellness program underway for Benicia Police officers and staff (13)

Rediscovering First Street, part 4

19 Bio

18

24 Interview

Fine dining in a relaxed atmosphere at Farm Carneros

20

VOLUME 12 ISSUE 8

David Sells, IT Developer, saxophone player and adoptive father of three Social worker and mom of seven, Asha Allen finds time for marathon swimming

26 Trends

Exploring Bermuda’s delights in the company of friends

Annual Tahoe Shakespeare Fest returns this month to Sand Harbor

28 Calendar of Events

This page top left: Asha Allen; bottom left:

Cover: This newest edition to the waterfront path now extends from Sailor Jacks Restaurant to behind the Tannery building up to Phil Joy’s boatyard, offering spectacular vistas of the Carquinez Strait that were previously unavailable.

Photo by Jerry Bowles

Benicia Police Department Gym strength training, Lisa Duncan Photography; right: Side View

of the Fischer-Hanlon House, Lisa Duncan Photographty

The best events in Benicia and around the Bay

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FROM THE EDITOR

June 2017 For the past 40-odd years, the façade of the Fischer-Hanlon house, part of the Benicia Capitol State Historic Park, had deteriorated to a rather forlorn state. It now sports a newly sanded and painted exterior and refurbished, bright green shutters—the exclamation point on the impressive abode. It now stands proudly next to the stately capitol, putting a smile on the faces of G Street neighbors and visitors. What a transformation! Check out the details in this issue and drive by to see it in all its glory at 115 West G Street.

In other community news detailed in this issue, Chief Eric Upson has instituted a wellness program at the Benicia PD. A distance runner himself, the chief is encouraging his officers and staff to take advantage of the department’s gym along with other additions to the program, with even more planned.

AlertBenicia, our citywide emergency notification system, is gaining ground with residents signing up for the program, to be notified via text or phone calls in addition to the seven sirens placed around town, should the need arise. Find out how to sign up on page 12.

Lisa Duncan Photography

Facebook.com/beniciamagazine

Casting a regional net, the local and area live music scene in June is insane with choices. Vallejo’s Empress Theatre is hosting a Summer of Love extravaganza with a copious lineup of performers. Additional venues boast an impressive array of bands playing a wide variety of musical styles, including our own Lucca Beer Garden. On a recent visit, I was lucky to share a table with Mike and friends to hear Benicia’s own Stef Burns delight his many local fans (Stef plays for tens of thousands in Italy, his adopted home).

Part 4 of our series, a block by block First Street primer, showcases businesses from E Street to F Street—if you need pampering or a simple haircut, this block has an abundance of day spas and salons. Further afield, a half day trip to Carneros’ FARM, a fine dining restaurant in a casual, but upscale setting, offers a spectacular Sunday brunch just 20 minutes from town. Read about these and other stories (our interview with Asha Allen, marathon swimmer, inspires, as does our Bio with David Sells, proud, adoptive father of three). My plan for June is to be outside all my waking hours, soaking up the sun. Hope to see you around town.

—Jeanne

@Jeannesteinmann

beniciamagazine

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

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Call 707.853.5226 or go to

beniciamagazine.com Left to right: Jeff Campitelli, Stef Burns and James Funk, photo by Mike Steinmann 10 • Benicia Magazine

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ARE YOU

Fischer-Hanlon House Shines with New

ALERT

BENICIA? Citywide Emergency Notification System

By Gina Eleccion, Benicia Fire Department With recent storm and refinery events, the City of Benicia has been utilizing its emergency notification system, AlertBenicia, to disseminate critical information. The system is used to communicate with residents, businesses, staff, and emergency personnel during emergencies and other critical events.

A few key points and reminders about the system: • Individuals self-register at AlertBenicia.org • Register multiple locations (home, work, school). In the event of an isolated incident with targeted messages (i.e. gas leak in a neighborhood), alerts would only go to those affected.

• Tell us how you would like to receive alerts (text, email, voice call, etc). The system will contact you until you confirm receipt of a message. So, if you get a text and reply “yes”, you will not receive a call or an email.

• Individuals in same household should register separately.

The system will not text multiple numbers under a single registration, rather it will text the first number and stop, once confirmed.

• All AT&T residential landlines are registered. Cell phone and VoIP numbers (i.e. Comcast, Vonage) are not, and must register separately.

• Commercial businesses must register separately.

• Monthly Test: AlertBenicia and the City Siren System (7 sirens) are tested the first Wednesday of each month at 11:00am.

• If you hear sirens at other times, visit Channel 27, ci.benicia. ca.us, or the City of Benicia Facebook page for instructions.

The sirens do not automatically mean to shelter in place or evacuate. You may shelter in place until you are able to get instructions.

• Emails come from noreply@everbridge.net. This is not spam.

• Voice calls come from 707.746.7247. This is a generic number and does not receive phone calls.

Benicia keeps citizens safe and informed with Everbridge alerts. Residents, businesses and those working in Benicia are urged to sign up for alerts.

Register today for emergency alerts at

AlertBenicia.org “We have a commitment to ensure public safety, community awareness and emergency response. To uphold this, when critical information and public service announcements are available, we need to reach our residents as quickly and reliably as possible,” said Jim Lydon, Fire Chief. “AlertBenicia allows the City to disseminate this information across all types of devices, ensuring residents have access to real-time public information when they need it the most.” For registration assistance, email beniciafire@alertbenicia.org or call 707.746.4749.

By Sarah Rohrs Despite its stature as one of Benicia’s historical treasures, the Fischer-Hanlon House was looking more decrepit than dapper in recent years. Tucked away next to the State Capitol Building, the period house sported peeling paint and faded, broken shutters.

The sight prompted some to wonder if it was abandoned. But the Gold Rush-era house on the 100 block of West G Street no longer bears the look of neglect. Thanks to a brand-new coat of paint that restores exterior colors to a creamy white set off by green shutters, in early May the house debuted its return to glory. Benicia State Parks Association volunteer Mike Caplin said the house was last painted about 40 years ago. “The state was getting some comments from people in the neighborhood. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it blight, but it was an annoyance to people on the street, the oldtimers,” he said. A Main Street Program volunteer, Caplin also said First Street merchants had long wanted something done about the house’s appearance.

A California landmark, the Fischer-Hanlon House is part of the Benicia Capitol State Historic Park which includes the State Capitol, a carriage house and servant quarters, plus a garden featuring an old wisteria tree, a Belle of Portugal rose bush and an orange tree that dates back to the 1850s and which came by ship around Cape Horn. The house was originally built in 1849 on First Street during the Gold Rush. After a fire damaged the hotel in 1856, merchant Joseph Fischer moved it and restored it at its current spot, putting the original front of the house in the back by the garden.

Three of Fischer’s grandchildren last lived in the home, all three unmarried sisters with no descendants. Hanlon sisters Catherine and Raphaelita donated the home and its contents to the state in 1969, in memory of their late sister Marie. Historic advocates say the house is invaluable in that it gives people a glimpse of middle class life in the mid-1800s. Volunteer Diana King, a docent since 1986, said the house brings the past to present reality and prompts people to think about their own family history.

After making repeated funding requests, state parks superintendent for the Contra Solano Sector, Ryen Goering, said $32,000 was finally released from maintenance funds to do the much-needed painting. Workers showed up in early May to scrape off the last remains of the old paint and apply new coats to the house and picket fence. Prior to the new paint, the decorative shutters were so faded they looked aqua blue rather than bright green, and some shutters on the west side had fallen off. Though the state parks department has weathered financial challenges in recent

12 • Benicia Magazine Currents

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with New Paint and Repairs

Lisa Duncan Photography

A Higher Standard of Fitness for Benicia PD years, money was found for the work. “We were able to budget for it. The community has asked for it repeatedly. It’s been a long time,” Goering said. Besides improving the appearance, the paint helps protect the house, preventing water damage and mold, he said.

New exterior paint, though, is by no means the only needed repair and maintenance work. The house has foundation issues, and some of the windows need to be replaced, Goering said. To help highlight and prioritize needs the state is completing a historic structures report that will analyze and catalogue every square inch of the house, plus its contents. The report will help direct more work based on a priority list, and also help the state to work with the association and other organizations in completing projects. For those like King, who have a strong love of the house, such repairs and maintenance are vital in assuring the graceful home dating back to Benicia’s earliest days endures for future generations.

“Historic preservation is so important. We need to understand how people lived and we can tend to forget. If it’s not there to look at and enjoy, and think about the morays and cultural activities of the time, they are going to go away. Some of those things are not worth losing,” she said.

The Fischer-Hanlon House is open for guided tours on Sundays and, occasionally, on Thursdays and Fridays if docents are available. Most days the docents are dressed in period costumes to add to the atmosphere. To make a group reservation or to check hours, call 707.745.3385.

Photos: Hanging shutters on the newly painted Fischer-Hanlon house, Lisa Duncan Photography; Californa State Parks docents and aides in costume, courtesy photo

By Sarah Rohrs From a health standpoint, the lifestyles of most folks in law enforcement could be considered criminal, or at the very least a ticket to a very high fine. High stress levels combined with poor eating and too much sitting can lead to a host of mental and physical health problems, not to mention early retirement and, in some cases, suicide and early death. No matter how hale and hearty a police officer may be, spending hours in a patrol car, putting themselves repeatedly in danger, and candy, smoking and coffee can add up.

The Benicia Police Department is part of a new trend to encourage officers, dispatchers and other employees to make wellness, good nutrition and exercise part of their daily regimen, Police Chief Erik Upson said. “There are many health issues associated with the work we do. There’s the stress of shift work (12-hour shifts) and the physical stress of the job, and that doesn’t just go for our police officers, but our dispatchers, too. They say sitting is the new smoking, and dispatchers spend their whole shift sitting. In my career I’ve seen the damages all that has caused,” he said. Police officers also have higher rates of sleep problems, and can experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and high rates of depression and suicide, he added.

Upson’s observations and anecdotal findings from his years in law enforcement are born out in a rigorous five-year study the University of Buffalo undertook of 100 police officers.

The study found the daily psychological stresses officers face puts them at significantly higher risk than the general population for cardiovascular disease and other chronic health issues that results in an increase of metabolic syndrome. The latter is a cluster of symptoms that include abdominal obesity, hypertension, diabetes, high triglycerides and low levels of “good” cholesterol, according to a university announcement.

Study authors recommend changes in officer training and a shift in the cop culture that looks down on police officers who seek help for health issues. Upson regularly runs 10K races (including the recent annual Benicia Education Foundation Run for Education 10K) and has taken strides to institute wellness in his own life. He now wants to spread that to his department. Six months ago he launched a wellness program with steps still to be rolled out. He hired consultant Tim Kaplan, a former police officer, to advise on aerobic exercises and other movement police employees can take to strengthen their core and prevent injuries. Treadmills and other equipment were brought in to allow dispatchers to stand up and move around during their shifts, he said. In addition, Kaplan has also led group workshops and is available to give employees advice on incorporating exercises outside of work. Encouraging good nutrition is the next step, including healthy snacks in the break room and an option for employees to get nutritious meals delivered at their own expense. Down the line, Upson would like to help employees with mental and emotional health with additional support groups and counseling, plus relaxation techniques, yoga, and meditation.

Besides fostering good health, the wellness program is also beneficial on the business side, Upson said. For every dollar that is spent on the program at least three dollars are saved in sickness and lost time on the job. Other research shows that similar wellness programs lead to boosts in beneficial exercise and overall fitness, and declines in cigarette smoking, obesity and high blood pressure. Upson is hoping that the 55 employees in his charge, including 33 police officers, reap similar rewards by cutting down on stress and unhealthy habits. “It just makes good sense to care about your employees,” he said.

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Kicking Off Summer with Local Live Music

By Sarah Rohrs If you are looking for things to do this summer, local live music heats up in June as temperatures inch upward.

Whether it’s enjoyed outside or indoors, live music’s calling is as strong as ever. Check out our local live music scene below, at venues in Benicia and around the Bay, where options are plentiful. There are myriad genres to peruse, from rock to blues, acoustic folk tunes to open mic, and even symphony performances.

June also kicks off the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love, an iconic 1960s moment that drew hundreds of thousands of youth to San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury for music, peace and love. Vallejo’s Empress Theatre pays special tribute to that social phenomenon with its own festival that even features Big Brother and the Holding Company, sans the late Janis Joplin, of course. This is a band that grew out of the 60s SF folk scene that is still rocking.

Here’s a selection of what’s playing in Benicia, Vallejo and neighboring communities this month. Check the venue for last minute changes, additions and new bookings.

Photos: Below, The Tuneriders; Page 16 clockwise: Big Brother and the Holding Company, Vince Wolfe, Lewis Santer &

Friends, Tommy Castro and The Painkillers, The Red Elvises

Empress Theatre

Uptown Theatre

Summer of Love 50th Anniversary Celebration—5 Days of Music, Film & Love, June 6-10.

— Film The Sunshine Makers, June 6, 5:30pm. Event includes live music and discussions. Doors open 4:30pm.

Reception music with Shakey Zimmerman and Jennifer Mydland.

— Wednesday Night Live “Roots-BluesRock&Roll Show,” June 7, 8pm. Show includes Blyss Gould, Miz Dee, Dave Shul, Eamonn Flynn, Riki & Jenny Hendrix and Mike Skinner. Doors open 7pm.

— Bluegrass Jam, June 8, 8pm. Show includes Lorin Rowan’s Deep Blue Jam & Grateful Bluegrass Boys.

— Concert with 60s rock bands, June 9, 8pm. Show includes Big Brother & The Holding Company and Quicksilver Messenger Service, Doors open 7pm.

— Concert with Barry “The Fish” Melton Band & Friends Nick Gravenites, Pete Albin, Ray Blumefneld, David Bennett Cohen, Joli Valenti, David Aguilar and Lester Chamber, June 10, 8pm.

Tickets: 5-Day Festival Pass: $75. Single Day Pass: $25. Film is free for Empress Theatre Film Club members.

— Y & T, June 2, 7:45pm — Los Lonely Boys, June 3, 8pm — The Wailin’ Jennys, June 4, 8pm — Taj Mo: The Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’ Band June 15, 8pm — Richard Marx, An Acoustic Show June 23, 8pm

330 Virginia Street, Vallejo 707.552.2400, empresstheatre.org

Fairfield Center for Creative Arts Downtown Theatre 1035 West Texas Street, Fairfield 707.940.0700, ext. 1 downtowntheatre.com

— USAF Band of the Golden West Clarinet Quartet, June 7, 7:30pm — Tommy Castro & the Painkillers with Alvon Johnson, June 10, 8pm

Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre

1010 Ulatis Drive, Vacaville 707.469.4013, downtowntheatre.com — Black Tie Annual Gala Concert with SMC Symphony Orchestra June 4, 5pm — Alina’s Music Studio Invites Friends benefit for Waldorf-inspired school.

Featured soloist Amy Rich, June 11, 2pm

1350 Third Street, Napa 707.259.0123, uptowntheatrenapa.com

Lucca Beer Garden

439 First Street, Benicia 707.745.3749, luccabar.com — Bodhi Shrugs, June 1, 5:30-8pm — Duo Gadjo, June 2, 5:30-8pm — Doug Houser, June 3, 1:30-3:30pm — Le Jazz Hot, June 3, 5:30-8pm — Irish Music with Vince Wolfe, Lewis Santer & Friends, June 4, 2-5pm — Jeff Campitelli Project June 8, 5:30-8pm — Sin Silver and The Avenue June 8, 5:30-8pm — Ben Benkert, June 10, 1:30-3:30pm — KillBillies, June 10, 5:30-8pm — Unplugged Acoustic, Bruce Brophy & Paul Trombetta, June 11, 2-5pm — Kicking the Mule, June 15 5:30-8pm — Midnight Flyer, June 16, 5:30-8pm — Eric Eckstein, June 17, 1:30-3:30pm — Wall of Blues, June 17, 5:30-8pm — Unplugged Acoustic, The Breedloves June 18, 2-5pm — B3B4, June 22, 5:30-8pm — Don Bassey and Friends June 23, 5:30-8pm — Ben Benkert, 1:30-3:30pm — Dawdlers, June 24, 5:30-8pm — Unplugged Acoustic, Shaana Keller June 25, 2-5pm — Eric Eckstein, June 29, 5:30-8pm — JimBoTrout, June 30, 5:30-8pm

The Union Hotel Restaurant

401 First Street, Benicia 707.746.7847 unionhotelrestaurant.net — Jazz Explosion, Thursday nights, 4-9pm

14 • Benicia Magazine Currents

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Upstairs at the Café

Silos

— Sara Rodenburg, June 3, 8pm — Tune Riders, June 4, 8pm — Open Mic Night, June 10, 7pm — Martha Groves Perry, June 16, 8pm — Open Mic Night, June 17, 7pm — Keith Alan Mitchell, June 23, 8pm — According to Bazooka, June 30, 8 pm

— Vintage High School Jazz Band June 1, 7pm — David Luning, June 3, 8pm — Wesla Whitfield & Mike Greensill June 7, 5pm — Syria T. Berry, June 8, 7pm — Stealin’ Chicago, June 10, 7 & 9:30pm — Jeff Hamilton Trio & Graham Dechter June 11, 6:30pm

First Street Café 440 Fist Street, Benicia 707.745.1400. firststreetcafe.com

The Rellik Tavern

726 First Street 707.746.1137, relliktavern.com — Kid Dynamite, June 2, 9pm — The Big Jangle, June 3, 9pm — The List, June 9, 9pm — The Lucky Losers, June 10, 9pm — C4inc, June 17, 9pm — Igor & Red Elvises Live, June 23, 9pm — Long Duck Dongs, June 24, 9pm

530 Main Street, Napa 707.251.5833, silosnapa.com

Concord Pavilion

2000 Kirker Pass Road 925.676.8742, livenation.com/ venues/14806/concord-pavilion — Kidz Bop “Best Time Ever” Tour June 2, 7pm — Chicago & the Doobie Brothers June 7, 7:30pm — Spirit West Coast Concert, June 11, 3pm — United We Rock Tour with Styx & REO Speedwagon, June 23, 7pm

Shoreline Amphitheater One Amphitheatre Parkway Mountain View 800.854.2196, shoreline. amphitheatermtnview.com

— Dead and Company, June 3-4, 7pm — Boston with Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, June 14, 7:30pm — Brad Paisley, June 17, 7:30pm

Armando’s

707 Marina Vista, Martinez 925.228.6985 armandosmartinez.com — Lee Bob & The Truth, June 2, 8pm — Jinx Jones & The King Tones June 3, 8 pm — Miss Lonely Hearts, June 4, 4 pm — Mighty Crows Band, June 9, 8 pm — Wendy Dewitt & Friends, June 10, 8 pm — Thomas Martin & Friends, June 11, 3pm — Soulful Security, June 13, 8 pm — Duo Gadjo & Friends, June 15, 8 pm — Wolf Hamlin & The Front Porch June 16, 8 pm — The Ray Obiedo Group, June 17, 8 pm

BeniciaMagazine.com • 15

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Fir

st

St

re

et

F Street

E Street

Block by Block on Firs Part 4 in a Series

The eclectic style, creativity and sheer variety of businesses that make up the total of First Street also makes the mile-long shopping corridor somewhat of a mystery. The heart of our thriving downtown, rare in many towns these days, is an ever-changing landscape with new businesses coming in and old standbys retiring. In this issue, our fourth in a series of articles detailing downtown Benicia, is a current snapshot of the mix of retail stores, bars and restaurants, and salons and spas—taking the guesswork out of what each block has to offer visitors.

This installment focuses on E Street to F Street, where we explore the shopping and dining options a few blocks north of the waterfront. If it’s a professional service you need, in this block you’ll find State Farm Steve McClure Insurance, Joseph Wilder at Edward Jones investment services and Patty Small at Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp.

The big story on this block is its numerous spas and salons. These specialty businesses offer services ranging from nail care to bodywork. Golden Reef Face & Body Spa’s menu includes airbrush tanning, skin care and body detox treatments. All About Beauty Day Spa, an organic spa and store, offers micro pigmentation for designing eyebrows, eyeliner and lip liner as well as Eminence Organics skin care products. Magic Hands Healing Center is a group of massage therapy

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E Street to F Street Szechwan House

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and bodywork specialists offering healing through a variety of massage therapies. Arian Nail Spa, the ultimate in comfort, has expanded in size and options that include nail care, waxing services, paraffin treatments, mineral footbaths and more in a beautiful, relaxing setting. Gentle chiropractic, nutrition, acupuncture and other therapies are offered at Essence of Life Healing Studio.

After your treatment, try one of the block’s three restaurants: Kaigan Sushi, Double Rainbow Café and Szechwan House. Retail stores include Angel Heart 4 You, specializing in inspirational/metaphysical books and gifts as well as readings, classes and workshops. For finely crafted jewelry or diamonds and other precious stones, visit Roberto’s Fine Jewelry—the shop also offers a jewelry repair service.

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State Farm Steve McClure

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BeniciaMagazine.com • 17

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Lingering Over a Delightful Brunch at

Courtesy Photos In the February issue, we featured stories about sampling the best of the Carneros region. Why Carneros? Because it’s beautiful country, it’s nearby, and the food, wine and scenery are every bit as excellent as we’ve come to expect of the California wine country.

Farm is another Carneros gem, for many of us, just waiting to be discovered, just off highway 12 at the luxurious Carneros Resort and Spa. Since Farm can’t be seen from the road, it’s easily overlooked. In the same complex as the Boon Fly Café, Farm is tucked away within the resort’s expansive grounds, serving inn guests as well as the public. With Executive Chef Aaron Meneghelli at the helm, Farm offers Sunday Brunch, a Bar & Pavilion menu and nightly dinner, in several expansive dinning areas that also include outdoor seating in and around an allseason, open-air barn. It specializes in locally sourced ingredients and a quite substantial wine list.

A recent Sunday at Farm proved to be the perfect antidote to a hectic week, wiling away a warm, relaxing morning over the multi-course brunch. Tucked inside the resort’s captivating environs, one can feel worlds away.

Families play Frisbee on the adjacent lawn while couples relax on benches or cluster in scattered seating areas, and visitors wander into the market for takeout picnic fare. In the main dining room, a fireplace is lit to take any chill off the early seating. And then there’s the food! For $45 per person, four courses can be chosen from a well thought-out menu of options, to be shared with the table.

On our visit, we sampled an additional course, for a total of five items, plus an amuse from the chef. Although the courses are moderately proportioned, after the third one they begin to add up. Happily, there is ample space to wander after the meal to help aid digestion.

Whetting our appetites with mimosas, we began with the Avocado Toast, the best I’ve ever tasted, on crisp rye toast with an herb side salad. Not feeling at all rushed, we eagerly anticipated the next course. The Roasted Baby Beets and Warm Citrus Salad, a truly remarkable dish we couldn’t get enough of, consisted of fresh, earthy beets atop garden greens, fresh ricotta, pistachio and an unconventional element: granola was sprinkled into the mix providing an appealing crunch. Next up was a dish of Seared Sea Scallop with Carolina gold rice, bacon marmalade and watercress.

One of my favorite dishes, seared scallops can sometimes be sadly overcooked, even in upscale restaurants. Not here: perfectly tender and pink inside. This is one dish I will return for. Rich scrambled eggs dotted with crispy bacon came next; the final dish and perennial customer favorite, Lobster Roll was the exclamation point on the sumptuous meal.

We left with the knowledge that brunch at Farm would become a new favorite for a fun weekend escape.

Brunch at Farm

10am-2pm Sundays. Call ahead for reservations. To add Farm to your list of things to do this summer, visit farmatcarneros.com or carnerosresort. com, 4048 Sonoma Hwy Napa, 707.299.4880.

18 • Benicia Magazine

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CARING...

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BIO David Sells

By Adriene Rockwell Lisa Duncan Photography Among other things, David Sells is a lay minister, a sailor, a saxophone player, an IT developer—and above all, a father to three adopted sons. Long before they were married at City Hall in San Francisco in 2008, David and his partner Yann Jourvenot talked about raising a family together. It took them years of classes, background checks, home visits, and piles of paperwork before they became “ certified” as foster parents. In the process, there were many children’s profiles to review, and all of them touched their hearts. But one story in particular shined through, and without even seeing a photo, they knew they had found their son.

Their boy Albert joined them at 10 months old. A few months later they learned that Albert had a new little brother, so they opened their hearts and home to Thomas, at just 10 days old.

Three years later a third brother, James, was born and they welcomed him home at 13 days old. “One thing I had to learn early on is patience. With three boys and two dogs in our house, things can get a little chaotic at times,” said David. But there is no shortage of love. “ I can say absolutely, the love for my boys is just as deep as I am sure any biological parent would feel,” says David.

The boys, now 10, 9 and 6, go to Robert Semple Elementary, where David is an active member of the PTG, having served as VP and treasurer. The boys have many interests: martial arts, Pokémon, basketball, soccer and Cub Scouts, to name a few. And David and Yann have been right there as coaches, referees, pack leaders and supporters in every way. Luckily, David has the flexibility to work from home in his role as Applications Developer for AT&T, where he’s survived numerous mergers. “ I’m lucky to work with a company that gives us opportunities,” says David. “ I’ve been fascinated with the development and IT side of the business, so I have developed myself into that role and have now been with the company 20 years.” David’s parents are doting grandparents who live in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he grew up. David played alto and tenor saxophone during college at the University of New Mexico, and his band was popular at weddings. “It was Albuquerque’s own little version of The Wedding Singer. His husband Yann has a doctorate in genetics and works as a Marketing Manager for Bio-Rad Laboratories. He grew up in Venezuela and France, and the boys visit extended family in France and New Mexico as often as possible. Still, the family’s roots grow deeper here in Benicia. On the weekends, they sail their boat around the bay, and they are active parishioners at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

David is with the church’s vestry, and is a Lay Eucharistic Minister.

When asked about the rewards of fatherhood, David says, “ For me, the deepest reward is just the miracle of our family and how we came to be. I am so thankful every day for the blessings in my life. I enjoy watching each one of them, with their successes, as they develop into amazing little men.”

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BeniciaMagazine.com • 19

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Shakespeare Returns To Lake Tahoe at Annual Summer Festival

By Sarah Rohrs Courtesy photo Shakespeare’s plays are often best served outside, perhaps with a cool breeze to chase away the summer heat. The great outdoors is part of the magic of the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, an annual program that involves blue shimmering lake waters serving as the ultimate stage backdrop. Rae Matthews, the festival’s community engagement manager, said it’s no wonder the lakeside setting feels right. The Bard wrote his plays with an outdoor stage in mind and actors performing under the stars, she said. There’s no doubt the scenic stage at

Sand Harbor in the Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park is one of the more picturesque theatrical settings around, with productions often accompanied by a glorious sunset, she added.

The festival’s 2017 season runs July 8 through Aug. 27 and features an additional week of performances of both Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost, and a hilarious Sherlock Holmes whodunit called The Hound of the Baskervilles, adapted from the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle novel, by Steven Canny and John Nicholson. The plays will be performed in rotating repertory Tuesdays through Sundays at 7:30pm. Theatergoers save when they buy two tickets, one for the Holmes play and

20 • Benicia Magazine

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the other for the Shakespeare fare. Children and young aspiring actors can get in on the fun, too. Each year, the D.G. Menchetti Young Shakespeare Program presents an interactive, one-hour adaptation of the featured plays with young audiences in mind.

The InterACT school-based workshops give young performers a chance to take part, too. Further, the festival’s Showcase Series augments main stage productions, offering live music and entertainment from a variety of genres.

For Benicia theater lovers, taking in a play during the summer run may require some advance planning, plus about four hours of driving. But Lake Tahoe is not too far to make a weekend of it, Matthews said, and tour packages are available.

Sand Harbor and the state park are seven miles south of Incline Village, which boasts a slate of cool restaurants plus a few hotels. Patrons can also bring their own food and drink for picnicking, or they can dine al fresco at the on-site restaurant, Shakespeare’s Kitchen. Theater seating options include dining tables near the stage, and less expensive ground seats on a sandy hill that afford generous lake views. Be sure to bring blankets, evenings can be chilly.

In its 45th year, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare today brings in professional performers from New York and San Francisco.

The festival began in 1972 at Lake Tahoe’s Sugar Pine Point State Park with eight performances. Four years later, it moved to Sand Harbor, with Shakespeare as the main ingredient. In this year’s features, the romantic comedy, Love’s Labour’s Lost, tells the story of a king who decrees his court be free of women so that he and his men can study without distraction. Things go awry and hysterics follow when a beautiful princess and her entourage pay a visit. The Sherlock Holmes play promises a suspenseful night in The Hound of the Baskervilles, when the great detective and his trusty assistant Watson are summoned to unravel and investigate an ancient curse. In amazing feats of acting, just three actors create dozens of characters. The theatrical adventure is packed with a whirlwind of verbal and visual ingenuity.

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Public & private colleges and universities nationwide Ivy League schools Festival tickets can be purchased online at LakeTahoeShakespeare.com or via phone at 800.74.SHOWS. The website also contains a list of FAQ’s and other information for planning a visit.

Top 100 districts in California for best teachers BHS & BMS have been awarded Gold Ribbons Liberty has been named a Model Continuation School

350 East K Street, Benicia, CA www.beniciaunified.org BeniciaMagazine.com • 21

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By Sue Sumner-Moore Lisa Duncan Photography Taking laps in the sunny pool outside her Arizona apartment, Asha Allen thought about swimming in the cold currents of the English Channel.

She resolved six years ago to make the 20-plus mile swim from Great Britain to France after reading a book about longdistance swimming. She lived hours from any ocean at the time so she started swimming laps in the pool.

“I didn’t know how I was going to train, but I said I’m going to do it and I’m going to start now,” she says with a bright smile. “It was like swimming in a fishbowl in preparation for a channel swim.”

Open-water swimming became more accessible after the family moved to Benicia for her husband’s job four and a half years ago. “The Bay Area is a premier training area for channel swimmers. The currents and temperatures in the bay mimic the channel, and swimmers come from all over to train here,” she says.

Asha swam the Catalina Channel and the length of Lake Tahoe prior to making her English Channel crossing on Aug. 13, 2016, in 13 hours and 3 minutes. She is considered a member of the Force 5 Club because she completed the route in extreme conditions: winds of 19 to 24 miles per hour and waves ranging from 6 to 9 feet.

Sitting cross-legged on a chair at Starbucks, Asha radiates joy and determination as she describes the challenges and surprises she experienced while preparing for the solo swim.

“I was sure training was going to be a grueling and lonely experience,” she says. Instead she found a community of marathon swimmers who mentored her and remain close friends. Her dream also brought her back to swimming, something she loved in her youth but gave up when she went to college. And she used others’ interest in her swim to draw attention to Mission San Pedro, an organization she helped found to assist Mayan widows living in Guatemala.

Asha, 46, is a palliative care social worker at Kaiser Medical Center in Vallejo. She and her husband, David Roth, have seven children in their blended family.

Looking back at the training and actual swim, what stands out?

The event itself was beautiful and wonderful, but leading up to it and trying to boost myself up and move out of a sense of fear was tough. I had a lot of fears to work through. I was so afraid of the cold water, the jellyfish …

Most people take six months of training. It took me three years to prepare myself.

What motivated you to persevere?

I had a dream, and a dream is a passion and I just thought, “You can swim …” In my mind, the English Channel was the ultimate success. I’d been a competitive swimmer in high school and I couldn’t be fast anymore, but I could keep going. I could endure.

Why did you give up swimming after high school?

My dad had been my coach. I was very mad at him and gave it up. It was youthful pride. I even chose my college because it didn’t have a swim team, and I loved swimming so much that I didn’t want to be tempted. …

My dad was there when I did the channel swim. He’s now in his late 70s and he is so supportive and sweet. He was very proud of me. He wrote me a handwritten letter later that was very sweet. So I felt that emotional rift kind of heal—I didn’t expect that.

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How did you make the transition from swimming in a pool to swimming in open water?

I took a class called Intro to Bay Swimming. It helps people get comfortable with swimming in open water. It was my first time in the bay and I just bobbed up and down in a wet suit. I maybe swam about five minutes, but it broke the ice.

Second time in bay, I swam out to the buoy at Aquatic Park in San Francisco. That was 30 minutes.

I’m very cautious. I was a good swimmer, but the cold and the sea lions and the currents … and the cold! I had to get used to that.

What steps did you take to make an officially recognized channel swim?

You reserve your pilot, you reserve your boat and pay the Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation. I did it two years ahead. They give you a weeklong window and you commit to being on call in Dover for that week. Whenever the weather and tide and currents are right, they call. I got called at 3 in the morning. …

The pilot had waited three to four days for good conditions.

He was backed up because the conditions had not been good. I decided I wasn’t going to second-guess my pilot. If he believes in me, I’ll go. You can’t second-guess your team.

It does take a team, that’s very important. There was a pilot and co-pilot, one or two observers from the channel association and David (her husband) was my crew chief. He was amazing.

He was the only one who fed me. We trained together for this.

How do you eat while swimming?

There’s a water bottle on a string with a protein mix in it, and they throw the bottle from the boat. You have to find the right combination for yourself. It took me about a year and a half to find that. Because you’re horizontal, it’s hard to digest.

You want feedings to be 20 seconds or less, and I only achieved that at the English Channel.

What other conditions did you train for?

Part of the training is sleep deprivation. That’s part of what I did. It was OK to get a call at 3am to come to the boat because I’d been getting up at 3:30am for a while to swim in San Francisco.

That’s another thing you have to train for—swimming at night.

What are the requirements to swim the English Channel?

You have to submit a medical form and you also have to have a qualifying swim of at least six hours in 60-degree water. Tahoe was 63 degrees and Catalina was 67 degrees, so neither of them could be a qualifying swim. I did my qualifying swim at Aquatic Park in San Francisco. I swam in circles for six hours.

There are some rules during the swim: No one can touch the swimmer, the swimmer cannot touch the boat, and no assisting devices can be used so you can’t wear a wet suit.

Did you experience fear once you started your swim?

At one point there were literally hundreds of jellies around.

They’re fascinating, so alien looking, and I had a little panic attack. I looked up at the boat and then just kept going.

I’d think, “This is good because this is beautiful and when else will I see them live like that?’ or ‘This is good because it’s helping me swim faster.’ I only got one sting. …

You can’t afford fear, negativity or anxiety if you’re going to swim the English Channel. I felt there was no option except to touch France.

What did you experience as you neared the shore of France?

I started crying as I was seeing the beach underneath me as I got closer and closer. It was almost like a dream. You’re in an altered state near the end; your mind kind of softens. I was telling myself, this really is land, then my fingers would touch the sand.

It was 8 something at night and it was getting dark. The tradition is to take some stones from where you end, so I grabbed my stones, crawled into the Zodiac and headed back to the boat.

How long after the swim before you got back in the water?

The next morning I went to Shakespeare Beach just down the hill from where we were staying in Dover. I went for a recovery swim, just 20 minutes in the water.

They have a tradition down there that they blow a whistle when a channel swimmer comes back. They blew the whistle and everyone was clapping. I was clapping also, then someone told me the whistle was for me.

What advice do you have for others who might want to become marathon swimmers?

I would say to start small and with small successes, a little bit at a time. Start with 30 minutes, then go to 35. Work on incremental improvement.

Find others, a mentor you can talk to.

Do something toward your goal every single day. Anything, even if it’s just visualizing. I remember on days I couldn’t swim, I would do something else like spending time writing or visualizing how I hoped the experience would be.

Any big swims in your future?

My next big swim will be a relay on Lake Powell. Six of us will swim at total of 60 miles in October.

I’d like to do Manhattan Island as a marathon solo, maybe next year. In swimming, there’s a triple crown: the Catalina Channel, the English Channel, and Manhattan.

What do you do to relax?

I do yoga at Benicia Yoga House. I teach there. I also swim to relax.

What’s the difference between swimming to relax and to train?

You get to float around on your back when you’re swimming to relax.

BeniciaMagazine.com • 25

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TRENDS

Story and photo by Christina Strawbridge Packing for three distinct cities is always challenging, but this 12-day trip took a lot more thought as to what was going into my rolling duffle bag. The itinerary started in New York City for two nights, six nights in Bermuda, one more night in New York and then three nights in Charleston, South Carolina.

Arriving in New York Palm Sunday, the bloom had begun with trees budding and tulips popping up in planters along the wide sidewalks of Manhattan. This first leg of the trip was the most exciting as our youngest son, Christopher, had just moved there for a new job with the Warwick Hotel. His apartment building is within sight of the United Nations so I figured it must be the safest place on Earth to live (at least that 's what I keep telling myself!). We spent our time together playing tourists, unsuccessfully trying to get on camera during the Today Show taping, and attempting to go to the observation deck of Rockefeller Center, which was sold out.

Since our timing was off, we opted for shopping in the men's department of the flagship Macy's store on Herald Square.

The mammoth store was packed with so much merchandise it left me wondering how in the world they would sell it all.

Frustration set in when no one was around to even ring up a sale, much less answer a question. Big box retailers wonder why consumes prefer shopping boutiques or even buying online. Service!

Christopher arranged for us to see the play Six Degrees of Separation, playing on Broadway, and to eat in some of his favorite restaurants. I always let him order, since food is his business and he knows his business. Saying goodbye to my kid and New York was tough, but it helped to know I would be back in a week, and then there was our next destination— Bermudaaa!

Bermuda is much more than onions, shorts and a triangle.

This volcanic island off the coast of North Carolina has the most impressive beaches I have ever seen. As the plane begins its descent, the first thing you notice is the color of the cerulean blue ocean against pink sandy beaches. Scott and I had tried for years to get our good friends from London to meet for a real vacation.

Since Bermuda is about half way between the UK and Benicia, it seemed to be a perfect rendezvous location. The Higgs booked a quaint hotel outside Hamilton, the capitol city, not far from our hotel. We filled our days taking in the sights, discovering wonderful restaurants and forcing ourselves to relax. This island is pricey—Scott had to be revived a few times after paying the check.

We visited the Royal Naval Shipyard, including the Commissioner's House, dating back to the War of 1812.

Bermuda is the oldest British Colony and is considered a British Oversees Territory, which means that the Queen appoints the governor on the advice of the British Government. Bermuda has been used for summit conferences between British Prime Ministers and US Presidents. Churchill-Eisenhower, KennedyMacmillan, and Thatcher-H.W. Bush have used the tiny island to discuss Cold War tensions and territory disputes.

On Good Friday, we took a bus (you can not rent a car on the island) to the beach, where Bermudians celebrate the day flying kites. It was an amazing sight to see hundreds of colorful kites over the ocean.

As we boarded the plane back to New York, I couldn't help but think how fortunate I was to experience this special place firsthand with our friends: rich in history, rich in beauty and just plain rich! Scott and his credit card are still recovering.

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

Huge savings on select in-stock models BeniciaMagazine.com â&#x20AC;¢ 27

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Photo by Jerry Bowles

Spring Concert: Diablo Regional Concert Band

Benicia Yacht Club Parking Lot Sale

6/2, 7:30pm Benicia Public Library 150 East L Street, Benicia Enjoy the annual spring concert with this Bay Area all-volunteer band. Cora Martens conducting. Concert is free.

Benicialibrary.org 707.746.4343

6/11, 7am-2pm Benicia Yacht Club Parking Lot 400 East Second Street, Benicia This parking lot sale features 23 spaces filled with new and used items priced to sell.

Items include furniture, household, yard, marine, antique and unusual items.

Beniciayachtclub.com 707.334.4083

4th Annual Vallejo Car Show

Arts Benicia 30th Anniversary Party

6/3, 9am-3pm 505 Santa Clara Street, Vallejo This car show is open to all makes and models and includes vendors and a special kids’ zone. Event is family-friendly and free to the public. Proceeds go directly to helping kids and families in the local community.

Facebook.com/events/952661284835347

Berkeley World Music Festival

6/10, 12-6pm, MLK Junior Civic Center Park 6/11, 12-9pm, Telegraph Avenue at Haste Street, Berkeley Family fun in the sun! Berkeley World Music’s featured concert at People's Park meadow provides a natural amphitheater for worldclass music. There’s dancing, lounging in the sun, a crafts village & opportunities for face painting, bubbles & artistic expression.

Includes a world music tour in a variety of Telegraph Avenue venues near UC Berkeley, from intimate café and street music to a concert at the YWCA gym & evening dance parties. The Crafts Village & KIDS ZONE features local artisans, music makers and local merchants with ties to music or world culture. This colorful marketplace in People’s Park offers a fun stroll against a backdrop of concert music.

Berkeleyworldmusic.org

6/15, 6-9pm Arts Benicia 991 Tyler Street, Suite 114, Benicia It’s the party of the season—Arts Benicia’s 30th anniversary party is an evening of art making with friends, appetizers and wine.

Materials will be provided and no experience is required. Artists will provide guidance in collage-making and other techniques.

Tickets are available online or at Arts Benicia, are $30 and include one glass of wine. There will also be a cash bar.

Artsbenicia.org 707.747.0131

Peppino D’Augustino in Concert with Special Guest Adam Rafferty

6/16; doors at 7pm, show at 8pm Stone Hall at Benicia Historical Museum 2060 Camel Road, Benicia A native of Italy, D’Agostino has made a considerable international mark as a musical artist on the guitar since he arrived in America 31 years ago. D’Agostino is a local favorite as well, having performed in the Bay Area and Benicia for years now. Part of his allure is that people never know what to expect at his concerts. Peppino’s repertoire

is always changing, adapting to the rapport he establishes with his audience. His live performances are a combination of beautiful, complex, up tempo original instrumentals, memorable arrangements and engaging songs. He’ll be joined by Adam Rafferty, whose fusion of acoustic fingerstyle with jazz and funk finesse make him stand out from many of the standard fingerstyle guitar pickers. Tickets $35.

Beniciahistoricalmuseum.org 707.745.5435

Benicia Wine Walk

6/17, 1-5pm First Street, downtown Benicia Stroll First Street on a beautiful summer afternoon and taste over a dozen wines being poured inside downtown shops. Ages 21 and over. For information and tickets, contact Benicia Main Street.

Beniciamainstreet.org 707.745.9791

Northern California Pirate Festival

6/17-18, 10am-6pm Vallejo Waterfront Park 298 Mare Island Way, Vallejo The largest festival of its kind in California, The Northern California Pirate Festival features streets and stages teaming with Colorful Sea Folk, British Naval Officers, Swimming Mermaids, Marauding Pirate Encampments, Black Powder Canons, Unique Shopping and a Dedicated Children’s area with a 30 foot slide, Zip Line, Children’s Schoole of Piracy, Treasure Hunts and Costume Contests. Don't miss the fun or you'll want to walk the plank!

Norcalpiratefestival.com

28 • Benicia Magazine Calendar

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ty

Father’s Day 6/18

Movie Night Under the Stars: Sing

6/22, dusk City Park Gazebo First Street and Military West, Benicia Families enjoy free admission & free popcorn during the summer outdoor movie that begins at dusk. Bring pillows, blankets, lowback chairs, then sit back and enjoy the movie. Food & beverages are welcome. (Please clean up after the movie.) These are family events so, please, no smoking and no pets. Pets are not allowed in city parks. Please note that the playground closes at dusk.

Ci.benicia.ca.us/parksandcommunityservices 707.746.4285

PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION Full Service Landscape & Garden Design Ponds & Waterfalls Decking & Fencing Color Stamped Concrete Japanese Gardens

Birds, Bees and Beyond Demo Garden

6/24, 10-11:45am Register for address Sustainable Solano, in partnership with Republic Services, presents an educational series in Benicia called “Healthy Soil, Healthy Planet.” Looking for a more sustainable way to landscape your yard? Want to grow more nutritious and delicious food?

Would you like to compost at home, but concerned about space constraints, rodents or foul smells? Join a conversation with Kathleen Huffman, a permaculture designer and a local sustainable landscaper who will help connect the dots between soil health, plant health and human health. A 45 min presentation is followed by 45-60 minutes of outdoor demonstrating.

Workshops are free but advance registration is required by going to website.

Beniciacommunitygardens.org/event

Torchlight Parade

7/3, 6:30pm First Street, Benicia Benicia’s Independence Day parade begins at First Street and Military West and stretches along First Street, and includes dancers, floats, clowns, dancers and many other forms of entertainment.

Beniciamainstreet.org 707.745.9791

Lawn & Sprinkler Systems Retaining Walls & Patios Walkways & Overhangs Low Maintenance Landscapes Custom Concrete Brick & Flagstone Wood & Rock Work

CA Lic #951727

707.333.3620 or 925.858.7272

Picnic in the Park & Fireworks

7/4, 12-7pm City Park, First Street and Military West Foot of First Street, Benicia This event is a wonderful way to spend the 4th! Benicia’s City Park is filled with arts and crafts, delicious hot food, live entertainment and children’s activities. Fireworks start about 9pm at the foot of First Street, making this a great event for the entire family.

Beniciamainstreet.org 707.745.9791

Dine In Carry Out Delivery Online Ordering

ILY SPECIAL! M A F

24.99

$

Front or Rear Disk or Drums

plus tax

A two-topping large pizza with 6 twists & 2 liter soda can not be combined with other offers, exp. 6/30/17

Banquet Rooms Available events, meetings & parties

Round Table Pizza

878 Southampton Road, Benicia

707.746.7000 • roundtablepizza.com

Includes semi-metallic pads or shoes, all adjustments, fluids, labor & road test - most cars.

Some vehicles may require additional parts or repairs; damage to drums or rotors may require additional charges.

707.745.9649

4251 Park Road, Benicia, CA Mon-Thu 8am-5pm Fri 8am-3pm

COMPLETE AUTO REPAIR BeniciaMagazine.com • 29

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Celebrating 27 years of creativity, we have wonderful Gifts4 Every1 on your list. My store reflects my artisan lifestyle starting at age 7. Located at 700 First Street in a single-gabled, historic building, circa 1900.

A Wonderful Place For Gifts Open Every Day • 700 First St., Benicia, CA 94510

Come join us every day, see you on First Street where the community gathers.

—Leah

707-745-0254 • www.studio41.com

From Red Tagged to Red Ribbon!

We've Moved!

Come see us in our fabulous new space at 216 First Street!

ESTEY Since 1946

Real Estate Sales & Professional Property Management

CaBRE # 00674738

After over 50 years in the same location, we have moved our offices to the waterfront.

The former location at First & J Streets was red-tagged by the City as unsafe.

Celebrating our 70th year of Business

707-745-0924 216 First Street, Benicia • www.esteyrealestate.com 30 • Benicia Magazine

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Welcome to Tosch Dental

Feel at homeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;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 â&#x20AC;˘ 31

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Contractor's License # 678979

Receive either a 9" Nourot vase or a $150 gift certificate to Romancing the Home with the purchase of a complete kitchen.

AFFORDABLE QUALITY Cabinets and Countertops

“Affordable Quality Cabinets and Countertops exceeded our expectations. Both Allan and Mary Ann took time to work with us on the design of our cabinets, countertops, pulls and handles. When we needed small changes they made it effortless. They accommodated all our needs in the kitchen, bathrooms and bar. We highly recommend Affordable Quality Cabinets and Countertops.”

—Jennifer and Bob Moore

Open Mon. - Fri. 9-5

weekends & evenings by appointment 4852 East 2nd Street, Benicia

707-745-2100 l aqc@aqchome.com

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