Benicia Magazine November 2015

November, 2015

KICK OFF THE HOLIDAYS

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THREADS OF CHANGE Material Matters exhibit opens at the Library

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A remedy, a tea and November’s versatile flower

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Community Update For questions about Valero’s Crude by Rail project please email info@beniciaCBR.com or call (707) 654 - 9745

Traffic & Noise Valero’s crude by rail project impact on traffic and noise is “less than significant” in all areas according to the City’s DEIR. To ensure the community isn’t impacted, Valero is coordinating with the Benicia City Fire Department to better inform local routing and train scheduling, in cooperation with additional prevention and preparedness camera surveillance.

Crude by Rail: Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report (RDEIR) On August 31, 2015 the City of Benicia released the Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report on Valero’s crude by rail project.

Since Valero submitted a project application in 2012, the City has closely examined the project and developed a comprehensive Environmental Impact Report that goes well beyond California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements. According to CEQA, the RDEIR and economic analysis, the project will: l Reduce total greenhouse gas emissions from marine transport

up to 225,000 metric tons per year, helping California achieve its climate goals.

l Create 20 local, permanent well-paying jobs and require 120

skilled craftsman jobs.

l Not create health risks associated with project emissions. l Meet or exceed all federal standards in regards to rail procedure

and safety, including 15 additional pages of new regulations included in the RDEIR.

l Operate under current air permits with the Bay Area Air Quality

Management District (BAAQMD).

l Result in $1.6 million in annual funding to the Office of Oil Spill

Prevention and Response for inland spill preparedness.

As featured in the Benicia Herald: Dan Broadwater

Crude by rail can be part of solution to Benicia’s budget woes

“It is time to recognize the vital contributions to the labor market this project represents. It is time to recognize how crucial Valero is to the local economy. It is time to approve a project that’s three years in the making.”

As a business manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 180, Dan Broadwater understands how Valero’s continued investment in the community could be part of the solution to City budget shortfalls.

Recently, the City Council and Finance Committee held a joint meeting where Finance Director Karin Schnaider revealed the latest edition of Benicia’s General Fund 10-year forecast. Schnaider explained that Benicia is taking more time to emerge from the recent deep recession and called for plans to avoid another recession in the city.

BeniciaMagazine.com • 5

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Contributors Elizabeth d’Huart Adriene Rockwell Beth Steinmann Christina Strawbridge Sue Sumner-Moore Photographers Jerry Bowles Malcolm Slight

Advertising sales Jeanne Steinmann 707.853.5226 adsales@beniciamagazine.com Advertising deadlines New ads: the 5th of the month prior to the issue month Ad changes: 6 weeks prior to the issue month

Contact Us 707.853.8159, Beniciamagazine.com editor@beniciamagazine.com Administration Office Manager Risë Goebel Copy Editor/proofreader Beth Steinmann

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Benicia Magazine is published monthly by Polygon Publishing, LLC. Copyright © 2015, all rights reserved. Contents of Benicia Magazine cannot be reproduced in whole or in part without the written consent of the publisher. Opinions expressed in Benicia Magazine editorial or advertisements are those of the authors and advertisers, and may not reflect the opinion of Benicia Magazine’s management or publisher.

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

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NOVEMBER

VOLUME 11 ISSUE 1

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

16

10 From the Editor

18 19

T hreads of Change Material Matters exhibit opens at the Library T he not-so-humble mum A remedy, a tea and November’s versatile flower

Jump start your holiday shopping with unique gifts from downtown shops

12 Currents Small towns reap big benefits from shopping local From the heartfelt to the humorous, locals share Thanksgiving experiences

13 Bio: Margaret Kenrick, Benicia Ballet’s Director 20 Along the Waterfront 21 Backwards Glance

1947 BHS Panther newsletter reminds us of the

true meaning of Thanksgiving 22 Interview

Celeste Smeland, Arts Benicia’s Executive Director 24 Trends

Highlights from Edinburg 26 Downtown Map 28 Calendar of Events

The best events in Benicia and around the Bay

Photo above, Linda Hubbard, fabric boxes, courtesy of the artist, story on page 16 8 • Benicia Magazine

29 Benicia's memorial benches serve a dual purpose

SUBSCRIBE! BENICIA MAGAZINE

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CALL 707.853.5226 SIGN UP ONLINE at beniciamagazine.com MAIL CHECKS TO POLYGON PUBLISHING 771 West H Street, Benicia CA 94510

BeniciaMagazine.com • 9

November 2015

FROM THE EDITOR One hundred and twenty three issues ago, the first rendition of Benicia Magazine rolled off the press and into mailboxes all over town. Then named Inside Benicia, we were a 16page, oversized newsprint publication, and like Benicia itself, we were a bit of a diamond in the rough. Benicia was struggling with preserving open space on our northern border, and a number of projects were being launched that would have a significant impact on the town.

The magazine was finding its footing in the quest to forge a proud identity that would unify the town’s geographically divided areas, and collectively celebrate its many assets.

The traditional gift for a 10-year anniversary is tin, but the contemporary take has been upgraded to diamonds. No longer diamonds in the rough, the city and the magazine have earned their diamond status. Benicia Magazine become the glossy, upscale publication you are holding today—integral to the community with up to 40,000 readers each month, and an all-new website that expands what we do in print and is responsive across all devices for easier access. We are, and will continue to be, Benicia’s biggest cheerleader.

The city has also been on a self-improvement spree. Far from the sleepy burb it was once known to be, we are a contemporary city; a vibrant place that is wearing its 168 years well, and people all over the Bay are taking notice. Transportation, historic preservation, our schools, parks and commitment to sustainability have seen remarkable changes, due to good planning and stewardship. But most significantly, and perhaps most importantly, downtown Benicia, our community living room, has seen so many changes that it’s almost unrecognizable from ten years ago. Here are just a few: • The rebuilding of the seawall and First Street pier, formerly known as “The Spit” • The major reconstruction/beautification of the intersection at First and Military • New pubic art and historic markers • Tree-lined medians at both ends of Military West • The lighting of the trees, courtesy of downtown merchants • Solar fields at the Community Center, the pool complex and other areas around town

Photo by Michael Van Auken

Want to keep receiving Benicia Magazine?

The commitment to sustainability doesn’t just apply to the environment. The downtown improvements bring more people to the area to support local businesses, which helps fuel the improvements that make us all proud to live here: your shop-local tax dollars recirculate right here in town.

I hope you enjoy the features in this issue that celebrate all that is seasonal—November’s wonderfully versatile flower, a cool new exhibit at the library’s art gallery and Thanksgiving anecdotes from locals that range from the downright funny to the heartfelt. I’m looking forward to the annual Steinmann family’s crazily chaotic, wonderfully magic, annual get-together of family and friends, dogs and babies and a whole lot of food. I wish you all the happiest of Thanksgivings, filled with love and laughter.

Subscribe at

beniciamagazine.com, call 707.853.5226 or send checks to 771 West H Street

10 • Benicia Magazine

Jeanne Steinmann

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KEEPING IT LOCAL

By Beth Steinmann The long weekend after Thanksgiving is the biggest shopping weekend of the year, with big-box-big-sales on Black Friday. What you may not know is that the following day is Small Business Saturday.

It’s easy to see the abstract benefit of keeping your tax dollars closer to home, but there are very real and myriad reasons to focus on growing local economies. A 2009 Time Magazine article “Buying Local, How it Boosts the Economy,” content.time.com/ time/business/article/0,8599,1903632,00. html, likens money to blood. In essence, where the blood is and isn’t flowing will tell you a lot about the health and vibrancy of the economy. Money spent in locally owned stores not only keeps cities from turning into ghost towns or clone towns (full of strip malls, fast food joints and chain stores), but also alerts merchants

and producers about important gaps in the local economy and allows for local resource and product innovation. Studies have also shown that when cash stays local, it’s velocity increases, meaning that it circulates faster and therefore touches more hands.

Self-sufficiency is an added benefit.

Although we’ve come to rely on instant availability of food and goods from long distances, we may not always have that luxury. Benicians are lucky in that our geographic location, thriving shopping areas throughout town and industrial and downtown districts provide us with a wealth of resources.

The Time article cites a woman in Germany who launched a local currency, equal in value to the Euro, which was accepted by more than 600 area businesses.

C U RRENT S

12 • Benicia Magazine Currents

This currency circled the economy an average of 18 times a year, as opposed to the normal six. Downtown merchants accept Benicia’s own form of currency, Downtown Dollars (beniciamainstreet.org/downtowndollars), which are currently accepted at over 70 downtown businesses. Though sometimes the fun in holiday shopping comes from picking out the perfect, unique gift, not knowing what your loved ones really want can also create stress and “last minute shopper syndrome.” Downtown dollars give loved ones the joy of choosing for themselves and can be used for both goods and services, creating the experience of a night or day out on the town. They can be purchased at Benicia Main Street on Small Business Saturday, and every day of the week.

Photos, by Jerry Bowles

Margaret Rose Kenrick

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“PEOPLE TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE...”

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By Adriene Rockwell Photo by Rob Kunkle From the age of four, Margaret Rose Kenrick knew she wanted to be a ballerina, and that’s exactly what she became. By the time she was eight, she was on point, dancing professionally at the Riverside Ballet Theatre in her hometown. She left high school as a junior to attend the University of Washington and dance for the Pacific Northwest Ballet Company, where she dazzled audiences from the Kennedy Center Stage. She was soon recruited for the prestigious Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.

Eventually, some 20 years ago, her passion for dance brought her to the Benicia Ballet Theatre to perform as the Sugar Plum Fairy, but this was long after her life had taken a traumatic turn. At the height of her dance career, at age 21, she was in a devastating car crash, which left her without any feeling in her legs. Although she learned to walk again, it was years before she could dance.

With support from friends and family, she kept her chin up and shifted her focus towards her studies. As a dancer, she loved the human body, so she earned her BA from UCLA, and an MA from UC Riverside in biological sciences. Her father, a professor, drove her to midterms and her mother, a nutritionist, made sure her body and mind stayed strong and healthy.

Just as determined now as she was at 4, Margaret won’t let anything get in the way of her dreams. Not even a diagnosis of Lupus Disease nearly 13 years ago has held her back. Today, in addition to her current role as the director of the Benicia Ballet School and the non-profit Benicia Ballet Theatre, she works full time as a pre-nursing professor at Los Medanos College. After years of research in the biotech industry, she now consults for Genentech doing research on age-related macular degeneration.

And in the afternoons, she is pursuing her Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership at Brandman University.

She lives with her husband in Concord, and her daughter Samantha (21), son Anthony (13), and hundreds of dance students keep her motivated each day. The hardships along her path, she says, have taught her to fill every day with something important.

That, she does.

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Humorous to Heartfelt Anecdotes from Thanksgivings Past Our cherished American tradition can be the delightful friends and family affair we dream of, or a minefield of emotions, unexpected incidents and unforeseen challenges. We recently asked Benicians to share Thanksgiving experiences. Tom Hamilton, Benicia’s favorite Hungarian barkeep, starts us off.

Tom Hamilton: “My Thanksgiving takes us back 55 years, to a time when our

world was a little more compassionate and a lot kinder. It was post-Korea, and the Bay Area was a substantial hub for several branches of our military. I remember seeing posters asking the public to open up their homes during the holidays to servicemen who were away from home, and could use a friendly place to spend the holidays. We didn’t have much, but we were happy to share our table, and having someone in uniform with exotic tales from overseas was exciting for any eight year old. Mom was a divorced, working mother of four, and she always insisted on including neighbors Mrs. Berry and Mrs. Jones. They were elderly widowed ladies, and fixtures in our home. Add our old-world, Hungarian grandparents to the mix and it was quite a table. I wish the compassion to help others was something you were born with, but it has to be passed on from one generation to the next. Do anything you can to enrich the lives of others, be kind to animals and have a happy Thanksgiving.”

14 • Benicia Magazine Currents

Amy Carpenter:

“At my house I always keep a fire extinguisher and the fire department’s number close by. One year before I knew how to cook, I started a grease fire in the oven. I quickly learned you shouldn’t wrap the turkey in several layers of foil if you don’t have a pan.”

Larnie Fox: “When Maria Jenerik and Matt Callahan moved to Benicia in 2014, so did our warm and wonderful orphan's Thanksgiving. Somehow, Thanksgiving makes more sense here than it did in the City.”

Dyanne Vojvoda: “Thanksgiving is always sentimental to me. I love fall colors and comfort foods. When my mother gave up the annual family turkey dinner at her house, I took on the custom at my house. I prefer friends over for an extravagant too-much-to-eat dinner and loads of packaged containers to take home. Many good memories!”

Marty Duvall:

“Uncle John at the head, me, my siblings and cousins at the far end at the shaky card tables where the kids ate. Seating from left to right toward me from the head of the table, Aunties Dutchie & Mary, Uncle Glenn, Uncle Packy, my Grandparents Otto & Margaret, Hanna Kirkhouse, Boots the Bartender from Chuck & Henry's, Michael Slattery from the old country, my parents Ray & Patsy, Jim & Joan Kelleher, Baby Packy, Lee Stenso, Cousin Kathleen—finally the Duvall, Kelleher and Porter kids. No more shaky table, it’s now 20'. Most of the names above are gone. I am closer to the head of the table now, nearer to the perennial perfect turkey.”

Elizabeth d’Huart: “Several Thanksgivings ago, a family member invited his then-girlfriend

to our family gathering, failing to inform me that she was allergic to nuts. Normally, my turkey stuffing recipe is my mother’s standard one of bread cubes, butter, celery and onion with a bit of sage, but this time I decided to dress it up a bit by adding pecans and oysters. Well, you guessed it … half way though the delicious dinner, she showed signs of anaphylaxis as well as surprise and indignation that the boyfriend had not communicated her allergy information to the hostess-cook. Of the original party of eight, all but two of us galloped off the emergency room. She recovered with a quick dose of epinephrine—the relationship did not. I had lots of leftovers!”

Heidi Benjamin:

“At the Benjamin residence, we are fortunate to be able to deliver Thanksgiving meals, each in a banker box, to needy families throughout our Benicia and Vallejo communities with our congregation at Northgate Christian Fellowship in Benicia. It is such a great feeling to reach out to less fortunate families.”

Mike Caplin:

“Quite a few times over the past several years, Kris and I celebrate Thanksgiving with a late lunch/early dinner at the Lark Creek Inn in Walnut Creek. They have a very nice Thanksgiving menu and Locust St. in Walnut Creek is lined with trees showing their fall colors. Afterwards we'll take in a nearby movie, and so starts the holiday season for us!”

Elizabeth Tageson:

“I am so thankful for the last Thanksgiving I was able to spend with my parents, sisters and brother. Mom had been diagnosed with cancer, but little did we know it would be the last Thanksgiving for us all to be together. Both Parents passed away in 2012, just months apart. I enjoyed every moment and am very grateful for the memories.”

Sally Brennan:

“One year we ordered lobsters from New England—we were living in Maryland and the entire group loved it, except for mom. She was quite disappointed at the lack of turkey and stuffing, and especially the lack of leftovers.”

BeniciaMagazine.com • 15

Photos this page left to right: Susan Lane, Anne Petty, Margaret Linderman; page 17, top row, Kathy Manifold, bottom left, Jan Radesky, right, Nancy Freeman

16 • Benicia Magazine

The pun isn’t lost in the name “The Carquinez Strait Stitchers.” With a roster of over 90 members who form a cross-section of ages and abilities, the guild, established in 1984, is clearly serious about fiber arts. While the focus is on quilting, members are also weaving together relationships and building community through meetings, workshops, speakers, programs, activities, exhibitions and philanthropic endeavors.

At the upcoming exhibit at Benicia Library’s Marilyn Citron O'Rourke Art Gallery, Material Matters, seven women will showcase their unique works of art in an appealing range of styles. Using fibers, fabric, wool, string, threads and more, functional and wearable art will be on display as well as “paintings,” collages and applique, all made from fiber.

“We are a small, but friendly guild, meeting in Benicia, and all levels of expertise are welcome. Annual membership dues are $25,” says Jan Radesky, one of the guild’s founding members.

According to the

group’s informative website cssquilter.org, the guild’s stated purpose is to “encourage members to share skills within the group, provide educational workshops, enjoy fellowship with other quilters and share knowledge with the local community. To that end, one of the guild’s activities is the UFO Challenge. Nothing to do with aliens, members with Unfinished Fabric Objects are encouraged to bring them in where items are selected through a random process for the group to finish together. Completed projects enjoy a show and tell moment at the next meeting.

The Carquinez Strait Stitchers guild has been reaching out to quilters for over 21 years.

Locals have come to know the guild through its popular Spring on the Straits biannual quilt show at the Benicia Clock Tower. The May, 2015 show featured approximately 150 quilts, both traditional and contemporary. This November’s Materials Matter show kicks off November 24 and runs through January 9, 2016, with an artist’s reception December 6. Exhibiting artists are Anne Petty, Kathy Manifold, Linda Hubbard, Jan Radesky, Margaret Linderman, Nancy Freeman and Susan Lane.

BeniciaMagazine.com • 17

November’s Flower

Delivers Benefits Beyond Beauty

By Beth Steinmann Chrysanthemums, or mums, as they are affectionately called by those who grow them, have been cultivated around the world for many thousands of years, and according to efloras.org, 500 cultivars were already listed in a Chinese account by the year 1650. Native to Asia and Northeastern Europe, the genus now contains thousands of showy modern cultivars. The US National Chrysanthemum Society (mums. org) defines 13 different classes of mums based on shape and petal pattern, including spider, anemone, spoon, quill and reflex—whose petals sweep beautifully downwards and overlap, similar to bird plumage.

Mum exhibitions, where gardeners compete for prize blooms in different catagories, happen worldwide and are particularly popular in China, where several species (called Ju Hua in Chinese medicine) have long-standing medicinal uses. Wild chrysanthemum flowers bear little resemblance to modern varietals but their small, faint yellow or whiteish blooms have a classical, untamed appeal. As a remedy, both flowers and stems have a cooling effect on the body and are used for conditions that create heat and inflammation, such as headaches, sore throats and fevers associated with seasonal flus, swollen, puffy eyes and acne. A traditional preparation was 18 • Benicia Magazine

made by soaking flowers in rice wine, and leaves and flowers can be steeped for tea.

Exhibitions happen in autumn, when the flowers are in bloom, providing a final starburst of color before the season turns cold and dark. In colder climates, they often come to life even as the first snows dust the ground. This is why mums are the official November flower, and perhaps why they are associated with death and mourning in many European and Asian countries, as their blooms coincide with a time of year when many cultures honor the dead.

Fresh chrysanthemum plants in a burst of fall colors, to grace your front door or holiday table, are readily available at most supermarkets, but they are also hardy and easy to grow at home.

They can be grown from seed or cuttings, and starts are popular at most nurseries. According to gardnersnet.com, they prefer mostly sun and welldrained soil, and have shallow roots so keep them watered near the surface. Growth can be pinched back to keep a bush-like appearance, and left free in the Fall as they are about to bloom. Fertilizing with a boost of phosphorous at this stage will also encourage full, happy blossoms. Cultivars (divided into classes) come in all manner of outrageous names such as Rage, Shock, Fantasy, Cindy and Yoko Ono.

Jump Start your Holiday Shopping!

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At downtown Benicia’s Boutiques

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Along the Along the Waterfront Waterfront

Overlooking Benicia's port activity and the hills of Contra Costa, photo by Jerry Bowles 20 • Benicia Magazine

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Giving Thanks at Thanksgiving

By Elizabeth d’Huart Executive Director, Benicia Historical Museum Don’t you love the expression on this Pilgrim Panther’s face as he prowls through the halls of the Benicia High School on the newsletter’s cover of 1947? Drawn by “Gena” (additional information is MIA), this clever seasonal caricature of the team’s mascot is the perfect introduction to the school‘s student publication.

The entirety of the newsletter itself provides fascinating reading, but I was particularly struck by Anne Scott McKeown’s editorial, which needs no additional comment from me, except that this (then) nine-year-old’s maturity, writing ability, and message are to be savored, no pun intended, this Thanksgiving holiday as a charming and important reminder to think back on the first Thanksgiving. I will be reading this out loud at our own family celebration. Anne lived in Benicia on West K Street, later marrying Richard James Austin with whom she had a daughter, Sarah. We have discovered that Anne was a student at UC Berkeley in 1949, but not much else … thank you, Anne, wherever you are, for an editorial that is as pertinent today as it was back then.

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Interview with

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SMELAND

about doing a

By Sue Sumner Moore Photo by Malcolm Slight Earning a master’s degree can help your career—sometimes in unexpected ways. Just ask Celeste Smeland, Executive Director of Arts Benicia since June 1.

“The best thing about doing a thesis is that it prepares you for all the grant writing you have to do with an arts organization,” she says with an easy laugh. “It’s very didactic writing—not the flowery stuff, but facts and figures and making your case.”

A lifelong artist, Celeste began working in arts administration in the 1970s when she discovered her organizational skills complemented her artistic background.

“I simply stumbled upon it when I was in San Francisco. I’d worked with neighborhood galleries and alternative art organizations and I’m a natural organizer—I liked putting events and programs together. And I wasn’t afraid of fundraising.” she recalls.

Since then, she’s worked in leadership positions in art organizations throughout the Bay Area, including five years as executive director of Vallejo Community Arts Foundation. She moved to Vallejo 15 years ago and took an Arts Benicia monotype class from the late Bill Harsh shortly after arriving.

During her five months heading up Arts Benicia, the organization has held its major annual fundraiser, hosted three exhibitions, had three Family Arts Days, offered arts classes for adults, programming for students, and an organized EcoArt Camp for youth. Arts Benicia’s four staff members rely heavily on volunteers to make it all happen. Celeste estimates the group has about 100 volunteers and 400 members.

Its current exhibition, Why Make Art, runs through Nov. 15, with an Artist and Curator Talk scheduled for 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7.

Celeste is hands-on with almost every aspect of the organization. On a warm September afternoon, she directs artists to put their paintings and sculptures and other works in the middle bay of the Arts Benicia site in the Arsenal. “It’s already painted,” she explains. “I still have to paint the others.”

thesis is that it

When did you know you were an artist?

“The best thing

prepares you for all the grant writing you have to do with an arts organization”

I would say literally when I was 3 or 4 years old. It was like I found magic. It was my escape, my love, my best friend. I’ve always kept a studio going. I have a converted garage that I use as a studio now. I don’t get in there to work as much as I’d like, but I keep going.

What type of art do you do?

I do 2D drawing and I do collage and printmaking and some painting. Drawing is my first and favorite love. It led me to printmaking.

What do you like to draw?

I like to draw pretty much anything. I draw very representational pieces, so it’s recognizable. It’s rendered in such a way that it’s representational and you would recognize it easily. … You might not get the symbology, but you recognize it as a hand or twigs.

What brought you to Arts Benicia?

It is an artist-based organization in an arts community. That’s what has always inspired me. I absolutely believe art is an agent for change. I worked in situations where art made a difference in individual lives and in the community. I know for myself personally and in the world that art can make a difference.

Where have you seen art make a difference in people’s lives?

Art was a saving grace for me as a young child. In working with people in very stressful situations— working with young girls in a youth guidance center, working with people who have cancer or AIDS, working where there’s been violence or trauma in a community—and I’ve seen what art can do. You see the transformation.

What advantages exist in Solano County for arts organizations?

You can make a difference. There’s an opportunity to influence the field. It’s still an open field overall.

It’s not jaded. I think there’s so much opportunity in terms of having an impact. …

22 • Benicia Magazine Interview

More and more artists are moving into Solano County because it’s affordable. So there’s an edge, a lot of ways to open doors.

What challenges face Solano County art groups?

Along with the financial challenges of raising money, it’s getting recognition and respect as a regional organization. For Benicia and Vallejo, we’re still limited to within the city limits.

Arts Benicia has been here for 28 years and it’s a real leading-edge organization that does high-caliber exhibitions with artists from all over. Arts Benicia builds on the fantastic legacy of Robert Arneson and Manuel Neri and current artists like Mark Eanes and Nikki Basch-Davis—so many.

We don’t feel we have to maintain the status quo, but sometimes there’s not an understanding that this is a place you should check out and support and buy art from.

How is Arts Benicia working to use those advantages and meet those challenges?

The good news is that everybody works very hard and is very committed. We count on our community for volunteers, for support at any level. We take advantage of the fact that we don’t have to fit in a box. That gives us freedom to explore very different shows, bring in new people who don’t have the same world view. We don’t want to rest on our laurels.

What inspires you?

People, creativity—creative people inspire me very much. Whether it’s a blank sheet of paper or a world situation, they look at it and say, “What can I make of this that can give something back to the world?”

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What hangs on your walls at home?

Lots of art. I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to buy or trade with other artists.

I have a piece of Mike Kendall’s. I firmly believe in getting what you love, and you often can do that when the artist is starting out.

I also have pictures of my sisters, my nieces and nephews, and my dog.

If you weren’t doing this type of work, what would you be doing?

I’d probably be making art more full time and traveling. I love road trips. There’s nothing more beautiful than driving along the coast down by Big Sur. I’d be on the road more often and taking long walks with my dog.

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BeniciaMagazine.com • 23

TRENDS

Castles, Kilts, Kings, and … Haggis

By Christina Strawbridge Our recent trip to Scotland was the last stop on a two-week adventure that had taken us, mostly by train, through the French and English countryside and the coast of Scotland. It had been nearly 20 years since our visit to the Scottish capitol, and as the train pulled into Waverly Station, I wondered, what would be the one thing that would fascinate me in this ancient city of castles, kilts and kings.

The conference we were attending included day trips to the Scottish Borders, the zoo and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, which serves as the official Scotland residence for Her Majesty the Queen. The dinners were planned in beautiful locations that included Edinburg Castle, built on a foreboding cliff called Castle Rock that dominates the skyline. Climbing to the top, where the black tie gala dinner was held, proved to be challenging for those who chose to wear heels and long gowns. My flat suede boots and fitted, tiered riding coat were perfect for the climb on the uneven cobblestone roads and the windy courtyard, where actors greeted us in full medieval costume. They were reenacting a siege on the rock, and the birth of King James by Mary, Queen of Scots. The tartan kilts they wore proved to be functional and fashionable, as they demonstrated on one of the attendees how to pleat and wrap it around the body. It reminded me of famed fashion designer Alexander McQueen, who designed his own tartan and embraced his Scottish roots by using it in nonconforming ways. As the swordsmen acted out their battle with sparks flying, it was as if we had been transported to a different era that was grittier, but exhilarating.

Cuisine is experiencing a renaissance in Edinburg, attracting young, European chefs who take the staples of the land, and create hip menus that are a far cry from the unseasoned, traditional fare of the past. Even Haggis has had a makeover!

The national dish made of sheep's heart, liver and lungs, cooked in a sheep's stomach, was made famous by Robert Burns' poem, “Address to a Haggis.” It is read at Burns Suppers

as they parade into the dining room, carrying the Haggis on a silver platter lead by bagpipes. Now, there are haggisflavored chips, deep fried haggis, hamburger haggis and even pizza haggis. During dinner at Edinburg Castle the Haggis was presented as a delicate mousse starter, with sliced apples and cherry tomato garnish. Never once thinking about its origins, I savored the entire thing.

The trip to the Scottish Boarders revolved around the life of Sir Walter Scott. The tour included his Abbotsford home, a mix of ancient and modern decor. Sculpted stones from the ruined abbeys and great castles of Scotland are used within the walls and hidden in the gardens. His personal library of rare books is beyond compare, along with his collection of arms, armor and artifacts connected with famous figures of Scottish history. Dryburgh Abbey, where Sir Walter Scott is buried, is a magnificent example of Scotland's Border Abbeys. This is where I found my take-away. Surrounding the remains of the Abbey is a cemetery with headstones that date back centuries. I find these resting places as interesting as a museum or gallery. Established in 1150, Dryburgh Abbey is located in a secluded, wooded spot beside the River Tweed.

The graceful architecture of the transepts reveals the best Gothic architecture in Scotland.

As I wandered through the cemetery, a headstone of a woman named Christina Shillinglaw, wife of William Brown, the Abbey’s custodian, caught my attention. Their eldest son Andrew, who died in 1901, is listed under her name along with other children. I wondered about Christina and her life at the abbey, and about her husband and children. The engraved calla lilies that are etched around the headstone entwine the story of a Scottish family.

Through her gravesite, I gained a new appreciation of Scotland's past, present and future and look forward to the next trip to Edinburgh, and to Dryburgh Abbey where I will return to visit the woman who shares my name.

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24 • Benicia Magazine Trends

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707.745.5933 BeniciaMagazine.com • 25

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BeniciaMagazine.com • 27

Nov. 7

Photo by Jerry Bowles

November Events Downtown Holiday Shopping Spree 11/1-11/30 Downtown Benicia, participating merchants Shop downtown Benicia– for every $10 you spend at participating merchants, you’ll earn a ticket to enter into a drawing to win $500 downtown dollars.

Beniciamainstreet.org, 707.745.9791

Why Make Art

11/1-11/15 Arts Benicia Gallery, 991 Tyler Street #114, Benicia An exhibit featuring art by 25 artists and their explanations on why making art is important to them.

Artsbenicia.org, 707.747.0131

28 • Benicia Magazine Calendar

Two Trains Running

11/1-11/8, Friday & Saturdays, 8pm; Sundays 2pm Historic BDES Hall, 140 West J Street, Benicia Benicia Old Town Theatre Group's production of August Wilson's drama Two Trains Running focuses on people with loud voices and big hearts in 1968 Pittsburgh.

Beniciaoldtowntheatregroup. com, 707.746.1269

Family Live Aboard Experience on the USS Hornet

11/6-11/7, 5:30pm 701 Hornet Ave, Pier 3, Alameda Point Treat the entire family to the ultimate overnight adventure on the aircraft carrier

USS Hornet. Surrounded by vintage and modern aircraft, children and adults experience what it was like to live aboard a floating city. Explore the decks of this WWII ship from the Captain’s bridge to the engine room as you walk the footsteps of astronauts and heroes.

Uss-hornet.org/overnights, 510.521.8488 ext. 280

Bay Area Ridge Trail Service Day

11/7, 9am-2pm Benicia State Recreation Picnic Area Work on trail-tread repair, nonnative plant removal, brushing the trail, trash pick-up, split rail fence installation or sign repair. All ages are welcome to participate with adult supervision.

Ridgetrail.org, contact Emily Bauska 415.561.2595

Family Day at SF Jazz

11/7, 11am Miner Auditorium at SFJAZZ Center, 201 Franklin Street, San Francisco Dorado Schmitt and Django All Stars These affordably priced, family-friendly concerts are a great way for you to pass your love of jazz onto the next generation. Bring the kids, the grandkids and the neighbors’ kids to the gorgeous new SFJAZZ Center for an engaging, entertaining and interactive musical experience.

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Vallejo Open Studios

11/7/11/8, 11am-5pm Throughout Vallejo and artist studios Stop at Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum, 734 Marin Street for a map & studio directory. Around 50 artists share their talents in painting, multi-media, metal, jewelry, wood, glass, sculpture, photography and much more.

Vallejoopenstudios.com, 707.634.4947

17th Annual Wine & Food Affair

11/7-11/8, 11am-4pm Multiple winery locations, Santa Rosa to Cloverdale This is Wine Road's premier event, a full weekend of wine and food pairings throughout Northern Sonoma County.

All participating wineries will have a recipe for a favorite dish which they will prepare both days to sample, paired with the perfect wine. Purchase tickets online until 11/2.

This event does sell out.

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Vallejo Symphony Performance

11/8, 3pm Hogan Auditorium, 850 Rosewood Ave, Vallejo Vallejo Symphony 84th Season.

Christian Baldini, conducting.

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A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Celebration

11/14, 12-4pm Charles M. Shulz Museum, 2301 Hardie Lane, Santa Rosa Enjoy and help prepare a re-creation of Snoopy’s Thanksgiving meal of toast, popcorn & jelly beans from the classic TV holiday special, along with hands-on crafts and other fun family activities.

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SOFA Winterblast

11/14, 5-9pm 463 Sebastopol Ave, Santa Rosa South A Street Art District’s annual event includes open studios, the legendary electric sofa parade with marching band and giant puppets, street food, beer & wine, antics and more.

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Peir 39 Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration

11/21-11/22, 12-6:30pm Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco Sing songs, give hugs to Disneyland friends and welcome the holiday season with two days of holly-jolly magic and merriment for the whole family. The fun culminates at 6pm each night as PIER 39's majestic 60-foot tree, adorned with glistening ornaments, bows and twinkling lights, will be illuminated against a stunning backdrop of the San Francisco City skyline.

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Christmas Tree Lot at the Museum

11/27-12/23, 10am-7pm Benicia Historical Museum, 2060 Camel Road, Benicia A large selection of wonderful trees available in all sizes and species. Tree delivery and wreaths are also available.

"Cally" the camel will deliver letters to Santa.

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Benicia’s Memorial Benches

Honor Revered Citizens There are myriad ways to gauge the health and vitality of a city. Here in Benicia, we can point to great schools, art and architecture, the waterfront and more. But if a city is ultimately a collection of stories that convey its history, then the little-known memorial bench program, a way to recognize people who were revered in their lifetimes, is a wonderful way to do just that. The City of Benicia allows the dedication and placement of memorial benches to honor those whose legacy their loved ones wish to preserve.

Memorial benches can be found downtown, along the waterfront, in parks and many other places around town.

“It’s an extremely popular program,” says Mayor Elizabeth Patterson. “The memorial benches serve a dual purpose.

We care about the people we have lost and also those who benefit from their use. We are a city of history, and this is one way of telling our story through our people.”

The most recent memorial bench to be installed was for James Samuel Storer, December 1933-February 2015, and was submitted by the James Lemos Lap Swimmers and placed in front of the pool complex. In the ten years prior to his death, Jim, as he was known, volunteered in classrooms at Mary Farmer and Robert Semple elementary schools, tutoring kids in math and reading, going on field trips and lending a hand when needed. He also volunteered at the Friends of the Library books sales and was a regular at the pool for lap swimming.

The dedication plaque reads, in part, “A true gentleman who knew the joy of a good horse race, missed by his fellow lap swimmers & all those he touched with his stories and kindness.” For more information about memorial benches, contact the City of Benicia Parks and Community Services Department, ci.benicia.ca.us, or call 707.746.4200.

Photo by Jerry Bowles

Small Business Saturday

11/28, all day Shops across Benicia Support small, locally owned businesses during the holidays and every day.

Teddy Bear Tea Party 11/29 Camellia Tea Room, 828 First Street Bring your favorite teddy for this festive annual tea, advance reservations required.

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BeniciaMagazine.com • 29

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BeniciaMagazine.com • 31

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