Listen & Be Heard Network Arts News

FREEDOM WEEK is here! This is always a joyous holiday for me. Shared with good friends, family and neighbors. The fun starts on July 3. Get downtown for and early dinner at your favorite restaurant. Then grab your spot for our local parade that starts at 6:30 PM.. If you do this early enough you might get in a little shopping as well. I love hometown parades and (of course) I think ours is one of the best. Please note there will be no parking on First Street from 5:00-9:00 PM. Also the B Street Parking lot and East second below D Street will also be closed. Then wake up early and pack your picnic or just bring a few bucks for Hot dogs and drinks as the BENICIA MAIN STREET Community Picnic in CITY PARK from Noon through 6:00 PM. There will be food, entertainment, and an open air market for you to enjoy. Just enough time to run home and get jackets and lawn chairs and head to your favorite viewing spot for the FIREWORKS that begin at 9:00 PM. The MAIN STREET PROGRAM works hard to bring us this wonderful celebration and they are always willing to take donations to make it bigger and better. Call 745-9791 for more info.

THE VALLEJO PARADE ASSOCIATION is putting on a parade of their own. Their parade begins at 10:00 AM on July 4 along Broadway St. from Tennessee to Georgia and then to the MARINA GREEN. They too plan entertainment throughout the day on the MARINA GREEN. They will also be having a Ducky Derby with a 2008 Chevy Aveo as First Prize. Their fireworks will be on the Vallejo Waterfront at 9:00 PM. For more info call 567-5913 or go to www.vallejojuly4.org .

The SUISUN MARSH NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION is putting out a call for volunteers to help with the more than 700 animals turned in to them each year. After training, volunteers can help with housekeeping and feeding of the critters in the association’s care. Don’t have time to volunteer? They need donations for food and cleaning supplies too. For more info call 429-HAWK or go to www.suisunwildlife.org

July 3 you will be able to enjoy the Slack Key Guitar talents of JAMES PATRICK REGEN at the UPSTAIRS venue of the FIRST STREET CAFÉ. He grew up in Hawaii and moved to the Bay Area , joined the Romanian National Circus and traveled extensively. He now farms in Napa Valley and we have an evening to enjoy his talents. He takes the stage at 7:30 PM. No cover. Call 745-1400 for more info.

July 3 you can enjoy the SOUL JAZZ COLLECTIVE with BARRY FINNERTY. The group is led by Saxophonist BRYAN GIRARD. They take the stage at THE SHORELINE RESTAURANT from 5-8. No cover. Call 745-3364 for more info.

July 5 RICH FLYNN returns to the UPSTAIRS venue at THE FIRST STREET CAFÉ. Come and join his local fans and enjoy his blend of rock and acoustic classics. He takes the stage at 8:00 PM. No cover. Call 745-1400 for more info.

July 6 the LATIN PERSPECTIVE will be at THE SHORELINE RESTAURANT from 2-5 PM. This has been called one of the hottest Latin Jazz groups in the Bay Area. This is a great way to wind down Freedom Week . No cover. Call 745-3364 for more info.

July 9 JEREMY THE JUGGLER will present the Summer show at the CITY PARK GAZEBO. Be dazzled as he rides his six foot high unicycle, creates a giant transforming origami, does a little magic and more. All Summer Shows are presented by the BENICIA PARKS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES. The shows start at 11:30 AM and last about 35-45 minutes. Admission is $1 per child. Call 746-4285 for more info.

Starting July 9 The VALLEJO MAIN STREET PROGRAM will revive its Wednesday Night Celebration. There will be live music, a farmer’s market, food , classic cars and fun. The celebration runs from 4:00 PM through 8:30 through August 27. Call 557-6246 for more info.

July 9 through July 13 is once again the SOLANO COUNTY FAIR at the FAIRGROUNDS in Vallejo. There is something for everyone from a Tractor Pull to Mexican wrestling, a Destruction Derby, wonderful entertainment. and fireworks every night. To check it out go to www.scfair.com .

July 10 will be the beginning of the “Painting: Master’s Techniques” class being offered by ARTS BENICIA. Instructor, JODY MATTISON, will teach the techniques of Renaissance and Baroque masters. The class is Thursdays at 6:30 PM. Call 747-0131 for more info.

July 11 it will be Disco as THE EMPRESS THEATRE provides a night an evening of Disco dancing and the screening of “Saturday Night Fever”. The evening will also include a Staying Alive Dance Contest. Tickets for Adults are $14, for Seniors are $11. For info or reservations call 552-2400 or go to www.EmpressTheatre.org July 12 is the opening night for “The Music Man” at the VALLEJO MUSIC THEATRE. The Opening Gala will be catered by CITY LIGHTS. The event will begin at 6:00 PM with a social hour, dinner and the play beginning at 8:00 PM. Tickets are $60. All other performances through July 27 will be $20 per person. For more info call 649-2787.

THE CALIFORNIA MARITIME ACADEMY has filled out its Summertime at the Maritime Concert Series for 2008. The Series of FREE CONCERTS will continue with the one on July 12 will see the return of ROY ROGERS & THE DELTA RHYTHM KINGS with the URBAN BUSHMEN leading off the program. August 9 THE HOUSE OF FLOYD will be doing the entire bill. September 6 DR. LOCO’S ROCKIN’ JALAPENO BAND will be opened by the RAYMOND VICTOR BAND. The series will end up on October 4 with CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE. It looks like quite a line up and some of these opening bands could well be headliners in their own right. All concerts are free and open to the public, but donations are welcomed. Bring lawn chairs, jackets, and a picnic dinner to enjoy as you sit on Morrow Cove watching the sun set over the Marin hills. Gates open at 5:00 PM. Opening Act starts at 6:00PM. Call 654-1550 for more info.

Summertime is the hardest time to get blood donors out to donate and yet it is the time when situations arise where blood is needed much more often. July 17 is the next Community Blood Drive. As usual it will be held in the FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH on Southampton Road from 1-7 PM. All donors have a chance to win a gift certificate from PEDROTTI ACE HARDWARE. You will also enjoy sandwiches and juice donated by KAUFMAN CHIROPROACTIC OF BENICIA. The life you save could well be that of a loved one. Donors must be 17 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. For more info call 428-6001.

Local Artist, JOANNE CORBALEY, has a show at the BENICIA PUBLIC LIBRARY. There will be a reception July 17 from 7-8:30 PM. Oh, but there is an added treat. July 8, 15, and 29 from 10:00 AM to Noon you can watch Joanne at work. She will also be painting July 10, and 24 from 7-8:30 PM. Stop in and check out this talented local artist. The show of her work runs through August 6.

On the third Saturday of each month through November the Young Eagle Flight Program is available to youths aged 8-17. A group of generous volunteers take part in this FAA program at the NUT TREE AIRPORT. Flights begin at 7:30 AM and continue until everyone who registered has flown. At least one parent or guardian must be present and sign the registration form. For general information call GERALD GORDON (446-8532), DUKE SCHOELL (448-0604) or HOWARD GUNN (448-0589).

July 18 ABC MUSIC will showcase its ABC ENSEMBLE at 6:30 PM at the CITY PARK GAZEBO as a part of the BENICIA PERFORMING ARTS FOUNDATION’S Evening of Music. They will be the opening act and HOMIOPATHY will perform at 7:00 PM. This is free to the public. The performances will be followed by a movie to be announced.

July 18 DELTA DISCOVERY CRUISES is sponsoring a Full Moon Dinner Cruise. GAYLA REITER, a local Certified Hypnotist, will be on board offering her talents as one of the featured psychics on the cruise. The Cruise will leave the Pittsburg Marina at 7:00 PM. The evening includes a sun set and moon rise cruise and dinner. GUY COGGINS, the inventor of the Aura Camera will also be on board Tickets are $37 call 925-252-9300.

July 19 the NATIONAL PARK SERVICE will host a commemoration ceremony in remembrance of the Port Chicago Explosion of July 17, 1944 at the MILITARY OCEAN TERMINAL in Concord. The keynote speaker and son of one of the survivors will be MR. SPENCER SIKES, JR. Reservations are required. The event begins at 10:00 AM and guests will ride a shuttle to the site. Call 925-228-3396 ex. 23 for info and reservations.

The SAHARA not only offers great Mediterranean Cuisine, but they now have Belly Dancing on Saturdays from 7:30 through 8:30 PM. Call 746-0505 for more info.

July 21 and 22 with callbacks on July 23 the VALLEMO MUSIC THEATRE will be holding auditions for “Pirates of Penzance”. The show will run in October. For more info call 649-ARTS or go to www.valejomusictheatre.org .

Save July 26 and 27 for the first Benicia Fine Art & Jazz Festival. The event will be held on the FIRST STREET GREEN. The event will be family oriented with a children’s activity alley. Children under 12 will be admitted free and there are weekend family passes available. The event will include an Antique Wooden Boar Rendezvous and coincides with the NORTH BAY SERIES, a premiere sailboat event. For more info call THE BENICIA MAIN STREET PROGRAM at 745-9791.

July 26 Blues guitarist, STEVE FREUND will be at the 851 MUSIC STUDIO for a presentation of a guided guitar tour of the evolution of modern blues. Admission is free. Seating is limited to call 747-0851 for reservations.

The BENICIA OLD TOWN THEATRE GROUP is looking for volunteers interested in working on it’s Fall production of “Bottoms Up”. This group has been supplying our community with live entertainment for 44 years. They need everything from costumes, set building, and painting to all the little jobs that make a successful production. For more info call 746-1269.

August 2-3 is the 2008 Relay for Life at the ST. PATRICK-ST. VINCENT Athletic Track. This event has blossomed and each year it gets bigger and better. Beginning at 9:00 AM with a cancer survivors lap the 24 hour event kicks off. Then business and organizations provide a person to walk the track for the remainder of the event. You do not have to be a walker to enjoy this event. There is music, and booths selling all sorts of things from food to clothing and donating proceeds to the AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY. My favorite part is at 9:00 PM Saturday night when they light the Luminaria. These bagged candles each have the name of a survivor or a victim of cancer. These can be purchased for about a $5 donation. As darkness falls these lights of hope are very touching as they ring the track and the words “hope” and “cure” are spelled out on the empty bleacher seats as well. Locally HAMANN REAL ESTATE on East H Street has signed on to take donations.

August 2 GAYLA REITER , local certified Hypnotherapist, will lead a Hypnotic Group Regression to explore Past Lives. The regression serves as a catalyst to insight in karmic patterns. The Regression will be at 4:00 at 240 Baker St. Pre-registration is required. Call 745-0105 for more info.

Mark August 9 on your calendar. The 45^th Annual Benicia Peddler’s Fair will take over First Street . Collectors, Antique lovers, and bargain hunters will be on hand to see what the approximately 300 venders have to offer. Leave all pets behind although service animals will be allowed with proper paperwork.

August 17 12-4 at 601 First Street and August 18 7-9 PM at the BDES HALL. The BENICIA OLD TOWN THEATRE GROUP will be holding auditions for its October presentation of “Bottoms Up”. For more info go to www.beniciaoldtowntheatregroup.com .

Those who would like to take part in the SUSAN G. KOMEN 3 day Walk for a cure. The Bay Area walk is scheduled for September 5-7. You can register by calling 800-996-3DAY or by going on line to: www.The3Day.org .

The BENICIA HISTORICAL MUSEUM AT THE CAMEL BARNS is planning quite an event for September 6 and 7. The H.L. HUNLEY will make a return visit to the museum. This is the Confederate Civil War Submarine. I saw on its last visit and the ingenuity of systems is remarkable. The Museum will also open Building 7 which will be dedicated at the SILAS P CASEY HALL. You will also get to see the dedication of the new PAUL AND CATHERINE SPENGER MEMORIAL GARDEN that stretches out behind STONE HALL. Tickets for this event are available at BOOKSHOP BENICIA, BENICIA MAIN STREET, online at www.beniciahistoricalmuseum.org or by phone at 745-5435.

The “Jokers of ACE “ was such a success last year that this Fall it is coming back to the HAYLEY HORN AUDITORIUM at the BENICIA HIGH SCHOOL. September 27 the series will kick off with DON FRIESEN , A TWO-TIME WINNER AT THE San Francisco International Comedy Competition. He will be joined by DAN ST. PAUL and proceeds will go to the Adult Literacy Program at the BENICIA PUBLIC LIBRARY. General admission is $20 for adults, $10 for Seniors and youths. There is also a season ticket for $70. Tickets are available at BOOKSHOP BENICIA or online at www.reddragonflyproductions.com

Getting a new cell phone? What do you plan to do with your old one? Two kids in Massachusetts started by raising money for a soldier they read about with a huge phone bill from calling home. CELL PHONES FOR SOLDIERS is now a 501c3 program that collects 15,000 phones each month. They sell the phones and use the money for phone cards for soldiers and their families so they can keep in touch. You can go on line and print out a pre paid shipping label to send in your old phone at www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com .