U.S. Government statistics indicate that less than 10% of the U.S. population is either currently serving or has served in the military at one time, even though America remains constantly involved with multiple military engagements around the globe. So for more than 90% of Americans, Veteran’s Day is simply a day off from work. A day to lament the fact that schools, banks and government offices are closed, or that it doesn’t always line up for a three-day weekend (although this year it does!). It’s a day off in mid-November, the weather is barely even feasible for a nice BBQ, the truest American pastime. Most importantly, this is a day off that many Americans don’t even know the true meaning of.
The official end of World War I came with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28th, 1919. The fighting of the war actually stopped with the armistice which was seven months earlier – on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918.
The first anniversary of World War I Armistice Day in 1919 was recognized by President Woodrow Wilson as a solemn day to remember and recognize those that had served in the war. It was originally conceived as a day for parades and public proclamations for those that served, and even offered a brief suspension of business at 11 a.m. to mark the time the armistice began.
It wasn’t until 1938 that Armistice Day became a federal holiday in the United States. Then, in 1954, with the urging of World War II veterans, the word “Armistice” was replaced with “Veteran’s” in order to honor all of those who served in America’s wars, not just WWI.
American veterans suffered a decline in their public approval ratings after World War II and into the Vietnam War. This decline has thankfully turned around significantly in the last two decades, but a positive approval rating doesn’t make the loss of a father, mother, brother, sister, son or daughter any more bearable. Nor does it heal the emotional scars or physical wounds of our veterans upon their return home. Nor does it make up for the lost time that one has with their family. It certainly doesn’t aid in the rampant homelessness that many of our veterans endure as a result of those emotional scars and/or physical wounds. It doesn’t help cure their drug/alcohol abuse or solve the alarming suicide rate that they suffer from either. A positive approval rating, obviously, doesn’t mean that the American public is significantly educated about the plight of our veterans, but on Veteran’s Day many of us still make an effort to stop and be respectful, and grateful for their service.
Veteran’s Day was not created to remember those that had fallen in battle, as Memorial Day was. It’s a time to remember all those that have served, or are serving; both living and past. It was created to remind us to acknowledge the military service of those men and women all around us. Those brave men and women who are now just citizens, delivering our mail or patrolling our streets. Those who we encounter every day who are now our barbers, bakers or butchers. Our Uncle Joe or Aunt Sally who we had noticed always seems to stand a bit taller and straighter when they play the national anthem at the baseball games. It’s also a time to remember those that are still serving in some faraway place without the comforts of home.
Veterans are all around us. Often times the vestiges of their service are either unnoticeable or invisible to many of us. What does that badge that some people wear, with a musket on a pale-blue field surrounded by an oak-leaf wreath, mean anyway? What does it mean that your grandfather was in the silent service? What does it mean to be a grunt, or a boot? When someone says they were airborne does that mean they took a flight that day?
Most Americans have seen a movie or two in their lives about the military or some military action. Perhaps it was Tora! Tora! Tora!, Saving Private Ryan or A Bridge Too Far. It might have been a comedy like Private Benjamin or Stripes. Those movies and stories, funny or sad, dangerous or mundane, had their start with a story from a service member. There are so many untold stories all around us, from the people we love to those that we work with to the strangers we pass on the street … unnoticed. Challenge yourself to start consciously taking the time to seek those stories out, not just on Veteran’s Day, but every day. Find out about your Uncle Joe’s time in Vietnam or what your Aunt Sally did in Operation Just Cause. Have your grandfather explain what the silent service was like or talk to the fellow down at the bank who wears that strange little badge with that silver musket on a pale-blue field. Find out what it means to be airborne, to serve on a flattop or to pound the ground in full gear. You may be surprised at what you hear, and who you hear it from. Maybe that quiet guy up the street used to wear a green beret. Perhaps your old college professor used to fly a fast mover.
Veterans are literally everywhere. Statistically, at least, every tenth person you meet or know is a veteran. Go up and say hello, introduce yourself, learn about them and their experience. Volunteer for them, as they did for you, and give back by attending a memorial event, donating to a cause or by giving your time to a local shelter. Offering some help will mean the world to many of these brave heroes who are still struggling from their experience, and you may finally understand how they mean the world to you just the same.
Veteran’s Day events this year have not been fully scheduled at this writing, so please look into some of these veteran’s organizations near you for ways that you can attend or participate in this year’s Veteran’s Day on November 11th, and continue those efforts throughout the year. You can also regularly check our online calendar as we’ll be adding events as they come to us.
Benicia Veterans Memorial Hall: beniciavetshall.club
Vacaville Veterans: vacavets.tripod.com
Vallejo Veterans Hall: vallejovetsbldg.org
Martinez Veterans Memorial Building: vfwpost1351.org
Lafayette Veterans Memorial Center: lafayetteveterans.org
Veterans Memorial Building of San Ramon Valley: vmbsrv.org
The Veterans Home of California-Yountville: calvet.ca.gov/VetHomes/pages/yountville.aspx
The Pathway Home (provides veterans with educational, professional and clinical support designed to enhance their lives following military service): thepathwayhome.org
Veterans of Foreign Wars: vfw.org
Vintage Valley Blue Star Moms: solanobluestarmoms.org
Robert Briseño – Before getting married, starting a family and creating Local Happenings Magazine he served 11 years in the Army Reserve both in the enlisted ranks and as an officer. It was a time that he looks back upon fondly and is grateful for the education, memories, opportunities and friendships that it has provided to him over the years.
In the wine industry, it’s common to hear titles like “wine steward” or “wine connoisseur.” But Benicia native Jason Diavatis, the owner of a popular Benicia wine bar known as The Loft Wine Bar & Restaurant, has a slightly different take.
“I’m comfortable with the title ‘Wine Idiot,’ Diavatis said. “People ask me all the time if I’m a sommelier, and I say, ‘No, I’m a wine idiot.’ Sommeliers have to take classes and tests and all kinds of stuff. Me? I just drink. I’m an expert at consumption.”
“Wine idiot” is sort of an odd title for someone to self-apply, especially Diavatis, who calculates profit percentages in his head, spends countless hours meticulously selecting the Loft’s wines, and who has come this far along after entering the wine business just four years ago. But he wears the title to show that he doesn’t take himself too seriously, and to help make potential wine newbies feel at ease about coming in and asking questions.
“Wine can be so pretentious and intimidating. I tell people all the time, ‘It’s just fermented grape juice,’” Diavatis said. “I don’t care if you’ve been drinking wine for 50 years or this is your first glass. I just want you to be able to come in here and enjoy it … I don’t want you to feel like you have to know everything about it to enjoy it.”
Diavatis has a lighthearted, sportive personality. In an hour-long interview with Local Happenings, Diavatis stopped himself mid-sentence frequently to say hello to passers-by he recognized, or resume a friendly banter with a repeat customer. He also managed to sneak in colorful jokes whenever possible, and can squeeze a laugh out of almost any situation. But the more you learn about its operation, it’s clear he’s obsessed with the details. An event planner by trade, he knows exactly how he wants his business to be run. He’ll tell you if his tables are set up two inches too far to the left, or if you’re using the wrong type of outdoor color combinations in the lighting of a particular event. He’s constantly looking at customer feedback, to see if there’s any room for improvement.
But above all else, Diavatis sees giving a platform to hidden gems in the wine world as a matter of pride. He takes great pains to find good wines that aren’t well known to the market, a painstaking task that gets harder with time.
“These days I probably taste roughly around 3,000 wines a year. On average, about 5 percent of the wines I taste, I like,” Diavatis said. “The first thing I look at is exposure. If it’s at Safeway, Costco, Raley’s, BevMo, Trader Joe’s, or any other restaurant or store in this area, I’m not interested.”
He sticks to this principle even when it’s hard. When a wine becomes too popular, he stops offering it and scours the market for a replacement. Because of that, the Loft’s selection is constantly changing.
Other than that, he uses this basic criteria: “I find wines that I enjoy and that I want to share with people.” Of course, the price also has to be right.
“I need to not only have a profit margin, but it also has to be good value and fair to my guests,” Diavatis said. He then added, with a sigh, “I’ve had lots of wines come in where the math was out of balance; they want to charge too much, and it just wouldn’t be fair to the customer.”
The Loft opened in 2012, and about three weeks before this issue of Local Happenings was published, Diavatis celebrated its 4th birthday. At first, it was just a place to get wine and not much else. A year later, Diavatis signaled that he was ready to expand operations, hiring his first chef and opening a small kitchen space. In December 2015, they took it a step further, opening a larger kitchen and offering a spectrum of hot meals and desserts.
“I get really good feedback from my customers, they’re important and I listen to them,” Diavatis said. “And they were telling me, ‘Hey we’re hungry.’”
Diavatis decided to bring the same concept to the kitchen that he uses to select his wine. “It has to be eclectic,” he said.
One of the Loft’s most popular specials is the beef wellington, an old British dish that you can’t find on too many menus these days. “It’s really difficult and time consuming to prepare, which is why we do it here,” Diavatis said. “I want things that are special and unique to us.”
The Loft’s cheeseburgers are topped with mac and cheese, and their appetizers include a (literally) flaming Greek cheese. Dessert selections include s’mores and banana splits. If you bring your kids, Diavatis might whip up a special (non-alcoholic) drink for them.
Diavatis, a Benicia native, is also trying to do what he can to make Mondays in Benicia a bit more interesting. There are a lot of Mondays, even during the summer, where you can walk down First Street at 9 or 10 p.m. and hear a pin drop (though not so much since the invention of Pokemon Go!). Diavatis has noticed this too, and that’s why he makes sure to keep the The Loft open around the clock.
“It’s always been frustrating when you want to go out in Benicia and you’re like, ‘Oh wait, it’s Monday,’” Diavatis said. “So we’re open seven days a week. There are days when there’s nothing going on downtown and it’s tempting to say, ‘we’re not going to open this Monday.’ But for me, growing up in this town, I always wished more places would be open, so that’s how we handle it.”
The Loft serves wine by the glass, and glasses start at around $9. If you’re not sure what you like, don’t be shy about asking the self-described “Wine Idiot” for advice.
The Loft Wine Bar & Restaurant is located at 280 1st Street in Benicia. It is open from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday thru Thursday, 4 p.m. to midnight on Friday, 11 a.m. to midnight on Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call 707-745-4200, or like The Loft’s Facebook page, which includes menus and daily updates, at www.facebook.com/theloftwinebar.
Nate Gartrell grew up in Benicia, studied journalism in college, and has written for a handful of media outlets since age 15. He aspires to visit all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums and to hit the trifecta at the horse track.
Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society has taken model trains to an epic level
Trains are the quintessential childhood toy. For most of us our old trains are in a box somewhere gathering dust, but imagine if you never put it away. Think of what it would look like now if you just kept building, perfecting your skills along the way to create an entire world from scratch. To get a general idea, check out the Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society (WCMRS) to see what could have been. For them, this childhood hobby has evolved into a very serious, professional installment in Walnut Creek. With intricate details in every corner and requiring up to around 25 people to run the whole operation, this model railroad has developed into an unimaginable site that you’ve got to see to believe.
On the last Friday of every month from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., the Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society (aka Diablo Valley Lines) opens its doors to share its permanent 34’ x 56’ model railroad (that’s 1,904 sq. ft.). Comprised of 4,300 ft. of hand-laid track on more than 175,000 individual ties with over 240 turnouts … expect your mind to be blown upon entering their building. With some features reaching up to 11 feet high, you can view the Diablo Valley Lines from a 160’ perimeter that includes elevated viewing platforms. It’s one of the largest HO scale model railroads in the United States (HO scale: about an 87th of an inch to the foot).
If you haven’t figured it out by now, this model railroad is far from child’s play. SPOILER: There’s even a thunder and lightning storm! With actual rain! It might scare some of the littlest kids, but most of them think it’s amazing, often exclaiming: Hey, it doesn’t rain inside of a building!
“Well it rains inside of this one,” says WCMRS member Jim Harrison. “Our most common question is how did we do it,” he said. “Well, that’s a trade secret! I can’t tell ya.”
At first glance you’ll probably notice the immense size of this masterpiece. As you walk around the little details will start to catch your eye, be it an elaborate crossing bridge or a flickering light in a building to make it look like someone’s home. Even more details can be found over the holiday season as they’ll be adding some some merry alterations like miniature Christmas trees and garlands throughout, with a few unexpected surprises.
“The highlight of most of our days is to show this thing off,” said Harrison. And as any true work of art, the railroad is forever in progress. “This layout is never finished,” he said. “It will constantly be changed. We can’t grow bigger, but we can change a whole lot of scenery.”
Making changes to the railroad is no easy task. If somebody has an idea for an alteration of any kind, like moving a mountain or something, they must submit their plans through the board of directors, submit it through the 60-person membership, create a scale drawing of it and then, if everyone is all aboard (pun intended), out come the hammers and they get to work.
While the Walnut Creek Model Train Society is comprised of adults only, many of the members have model-train roots going back to childhood. Society member Ted Moreland had one as early as 5 years old. “My dad brought back two foot lockers full of model train stuff from Korea,” he said, when his father was in the Air Force stationed in South Korea. “He and his tent buddies had actually set up a little model railroad in their tent!” Probably the coolest first train set in history. He never actually got a chance to build a complete model railroad as a kid so when he moved to the area in the mid 70s he joined WCMRS. Both Moreland and Harrison have been active members of WCMRS for about 40 years each.
“I think it’s in our genes that all little kids are going to like trains,” said Moreland. “And they love the model trains.” The look on some of these kids’ faces is part of what keeps Moreland, Harrison and the rest of the team working so hard. They also hope to inspire some of these kids to get into the hobby themselves. “It’s an exercise in problem solving, in thinking through what you want to do,” Moreland explains. “It gives you a chance to work with your hands and come up with something that you’ve built.” Plus, Harrison adds, “It’d get the kids off of those silly computers!”
Harrison agrees that this is a great opportunity for kids to see the full potential of what a model railway can look like. “So many kids have never seen this,” he said. “This would get the interest in the kids and the young adults. They come in and see what they can do. Modeling, painting, learning how to build a locomotive that looks like the real one, learning electrical, mechanical—everything!”
Sure there’s the historical aspect of what life was like before the big semi-trucks took over cross-country hauling, but what Moreland is especially excited to show off is the simple fact that anyone can do this. “There is a hobby in model railroading, and if people have an interest and want to get involved then they can either join the club or they can do their own thing.”
To fully staff Diablo Valley Lines would take about 20-25 people. They have 10 mainline cabs, two major yards—one that takes up to 3 people to operate—1-2 dispatchers who control the main line … there’s a lot going on here. Adults and kids alike are often mesmerized at the sight.
Current renovations include working to perfect a lot of the scenery coloring as wear and tear over the years has caused certain areas to weather a bit. “One of the big things we’ve been doing in the past year is putting more lights in our buildings,” said Moreland. “So especially during the night scene you have lots of buildings with lights on.”
These lights are actually part of a $10,000 project they’ve been working on. Any lights you see in the buildings, on police cars, on fire trucks, were all manually installed. “Those lights did not come with those fire trucks,” says Harrison. “We had to put all those in.” You can learn a lot while working with WCMRS.
For any and all looking to join you can focus on really anything you want. (They’ll probably give you the indoor rain secret too.) You can learn how to lay track, build buildings, whatever your interest is, you too can become a model railroad master. “Every piece of track here is hand laid, one rail at a time, one spike at a time, one tie at a time,” Harrison boasts. “There’s over 500 switches—every single one of them was built from scratch. There’s not a store-bought switch on this.”
The primary goal for WCMRS members is to share their craft and hope others join the fun. “We put as much detail into this as we absolutely can,” said Harrison. When people say: Look at that drawbridge! How was that made? “We’ll tell you how that was made,” said Harrison. When they say: The streetcars are running! How’d they get the little lights in that building? “We’ll tell ‘em,” he said. “Again, we want people to get involved with this hobby.”
So come take a look. Yes, bring the kids, but also bring that inner child with you as well. Located at 2751 Buena Vista Avenue in Walnut Creek, they’ll be open for a few extra days in the month of November for their holiday-themed additions. Check their online calendar for more details at www.wcmrs.org or call (925) 937-1888.
p.s. If you’ve officially caught the train bug, here’s a list of some other such places to choo-choo-choose throughout the Bay Area:
Golden State Model Railroad Museum
10,000 sq. ft.! — Point Richmond — www.gsmrm.org
Black Diamond Lines Model Railroad Club
Donate your old models here! — Antioch — www.blackdiamondlines.com
Just Trains
3,000 sq. ft. of model train-building supplies! — Concord — www.just-trains.com
Sunset Models Inc.
Reserve your new model train today! — San Ramon — www.3rdrail.com
Western Railway Museum
Full scale train “models?” Nope. It’s the real thing! — Suisun City — www.wrm.org
Larson is a writer/actor/comedian native to Vallejo who travels back and forth from Los Angeles way too much. He’s desperate for attention and urges you to follow him on all social medias @MarsLegstrong.
He lives for likes, please keep him healthy.
A highlight of the Internet Marketing Association’s IMPACT16 event coming up in Las Vegas Sept. 19-20 will be a special panel discussion on the topic of “Education Disruption and Internet Marketing.”
This distinguished panel will address two key aspects of the issue. First, access to education is fundamentally changing as a result of the Internet. In response, what are modern educational institutions doing to capitalize on reaching new students in new ways? And second, marketing in the education space, both higher and K-12, is thereby being transformed. Internet marketing techniques have become an absolute necessity for many traditional educational institutions that are having to recruit students for the first time.
Details of the panel are as follows:
Date/Time: Mon., Sept. 19, 3 p.m.
Moderator:
- Dominick Sirianni, VP Interactive Education, Internet Marketing Association
Panelists:
- Andy Hoang, CMO California State University Long Beach
- Sandeep Krishnamurthy, Dean, University of Washington Bothell School of Business
- David May, Director of Web and Interactive Marketing, Chapman University
- Melanie Mitchell, Acting Director of Professional and Continuing Education, Oregon State University
“Education Disruption and Internet Marketing” is just one example of the opportunities to gain insights into the latest trends and best practices at IMPACT16. The event will feature additional panels, keynotes and breakout sessions including a Start-up Battlefield 3 and Women Leaders Group, with a welcome reception at the brand-new Skyfall Lounge at the Delano. In addition, IMA will present the IMPACT16 awards to those who exemplify best-in-class creativity, expertise and results achieved by the top practitioners of Internet marketing across every business segment.
For complete details and event registration, visit www.impact16.com.
# # #
About the Internet Marketing Association
The IMA is one of the fastest growing Internet marketing groups in the world, with more than 1,000,000 professional members in fields including sales, marketing, business ownership, programming and creative development. It provides a platform where proven Internet marketing strategies are demonstrated and shared to increase members’ value to their organizations. IMA is underwritten by corporate partners to provide an opportunity to learn, engage and define best practices without making a financial commitment. www.imanetwork.org
We have moved to the back half of 2016 already and we are rounding the stretch into the summer. Two months from now we will be out buying pumpkins, watching the World Series (can the Giants keep their even year streak alive?) and enjoying NFL football too. Not to mention Oktoberfest events.
Why look ahead, though, when there is so much to do NOW!!! The days are still long and the nights warm. Take a look at our calendar and discover what events you have been missing before the fall takes hold. Remember, too, that we have plenty more in our online calendar at www.LHMag.com. Be sure to check back to our online calendar regularly for updates and new additions. If you know of an event that is not on our calendar, please let us know so that we can be sure to add it.
Our Local’s Choice Awards is also gearing up for voting. Starting in September our nomination and voting openings up. Make sure to both nominate AND vote for your favorites so that we can share them with all of our readers. Turn to page 25 to get all the details about this year’s contest so that you can nominate and vote for your favorites. Remember that we select one for each county that we are in (Napa, Solano and Contra Costa) so think of your favorites in each.
We are also planning a road trip for this issue. Take a few moments to read about balloon and camel races going on over the border in Nevada inside this issue. We are planning to take a trek to experience them first hand. Come on up and join us as we take in the sights for this adventure. It should be a grand time!!
As always we have a few birthday wishes. Robert Briseno, one of the magazine’s creators, and his wife, Regina, are celebrating not only another revolution around the sun but their anniversary as well! Other Birthday shoutouts go to Karen, Barbara, John, Kenny, Joe, Catherine, Christopher, Clara, Krystle, Jeff, Bob, Pippen, Yvonne, Michael, Duane, Christine, Wendy, Lou, Emily, Debbie, Dora, Therese, Freda, Cindy, Patty, Tricia, Harry, Joanne, Patrick, Cindy, Don, Mel, Derrick, Rich, Diane, Dan, Roberta, Holly, JoEllen, Jim, Eric, Caroline, Bea, Shannon and everyone else we know and love that is celebrating in August and September!
Cheers!
Robert Briseño & Deanna Baillie
Since today is the first day of summer, it is important to understand the relevance of sunscreen, its ingredients, and what the SPF numbers mean.
Simply put, SPF is Sun Protection Factor – the measure of the sunscreen’s ability to protect skin from damaging effects of UVB rays (which are the ones that cause the burn). If it takes 20 minutes for your skin to start turning red, an SPF of 15, in theory, prevents reddening 15 times longer – so about 5 hours. SPF 30, 40, 50, likewise would protect even longer.
For most of us, SPF 15 is fine, but those of us who have very fair skin, a family history of skin cancer or medical conditions that increase sensitivity to sunlight should be using an SPF 30 or higher. And don’t be fooled by the number. SPF 30 does not protect twice as much as 15. While SPF 15 filters out 93% of UVB, SPF 30 filters out 97%, which, although better, is only a slight improvement. However no sunscreen, regardless of SPF factor, really remains effective longer than 2 hours without reapplication.
What type of Sunscreen to use: This will depend on how much sun exposure you anticipate. It should protect you from both the UVA and UVB.
- If you work outside and spend a lot of time outdoors, you need a water resistant sunscreen that holds together on the skin. These are also the types that you want to use on hot days or if you are playing sports, as they are less likely to drip if you sweat, and may not be as good for everyday wear as they are stickier, don’t go as well with makeup, and still need to be applied every 2 hours as they are not water-proof.
- Some cosmetics, moisturizers and after-shave lotions now have sunscreen already in them, and this would be sufficient for everyday activities with a few minutes here and there in the sun.
- Look for those that combine several active chemical and physical ingredients in order to provide the largest protection. PABA, salicylates and/or cinnamates (octylmethoxycinnamate and cinoxate) protect from UVB; benzophenones (oxybenzone and sulisobenzone) protect from some UVA; avobenzone, ecamsule, titanium dioxide or zinc oxide protect from the remaining UVA.
Who should use sunscreen: Anyone over the age of 6 months, actually. Even those of us who work inside near windows as we continue to be exposed to those UVA rays! Children under 6 months should not be exposed to direct sunlight, since their skin is highly sensitive to the chemical ingredients in sunscreens as well as the sun itself. The best ways to protect them is with shade and protective clothing. When you do select a sunscreen for your infant/child, avoid the ones with PABA. Children’s sunscreens are the best to select as they are less likely to irritate the skin, and protect without being absorbed.
How much to use and how often to apply: About 1 oz (a shot glass full) at a time. Sunscreen should be applied 30 min prior to exposure to allow the ingredients to fully bind to the skin, and should be reapplied every 2 hours, immediately after swimming/toweling off, or sweating a great deal.
However…No matter how high the SPF, or how often or thickly you put it on, sunscreen will never fully protect you. In addition to wearing good sunscreen, to protect your skin from damage and decrease your cancer risk, you still need to take other precautions:
- Stay in the shade when possible
- Wear sunglasses
- Stay inside when UV radiation levels are highest (10a-4p)
- Wear a broad brimmed hat
- Wear sun-protective clothing, preferably with Ultraviolet protection rating (UVP) on the label, or at least clothing that is dark and tightly woven which offers a bit more protection.
Enjoy the sun, but protect yourself!
Gail Feinberg, DO, FACOFP, M.Ed, is a Professor and Chair Department of Primary Care, College of Osteopathic Medicine, at Touro University California.
“Local’s Choice” voting is now closed. Watch for the winners to be announced in our Feb – Mar 2017 edition!
In the 10 years since she and three other women formed the Girls on the Run Napa and Solano (GOTR) chapter, GOTR Executive Director and President of the Board Janet Todd has seen thousands of girls undergo a transformation after embarking on GOTR’s 10-week program.
“It’s incredible, over that time a young girl who’s shy in the beginning, afraid to answer a question, by the end is itching to share and contribute,” Todd said. “They’re just growing so much stronger and more confident in who they are, and being comfortable sharing themselves with others.”
Girls on the Run is a national organization dedicated to inspiring girls to gain confidence, learn about healthy living, and simply have fun. Its mission statement says the organization seeks to create “a world where every girls knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams.”
“On the first day, we have the girls come up with positive words to describe themselves that start with the same letter as their first name. Like, we had one who was ‘Interesting Isabella,’” Todd said. “Over the years, I’ve had girls coming up to me who are through high school and still remember their adjective. So it sticks with them.”
Its Solano and Napa county chapter was founded in 2006 with a class of about 30 girls. Since then, they’ve helped and educated more than 4,000 girls, working within local public schools, focusing on girls who come from low-income families. Their programs emphasize exercise, healthy eating, confidence, and compassion. Originally only based in Napa, GOTR expanded into Solano County 18 months ago and now work with numerous schools in both locations.
“When we first founded it 10 years ago it seemed mostly like something physical,” Todd said of the program. “But then, when I dug deeper, I saw all these life activities and experiential learning games we’re doing with them, and it takes the program to a whole new level. These activities and life skills we’re teaching them are things I was learning as an adult in the corporate world.”
They offer two 10-week courses each year, from March-May and from September-November, and are open to elementary and middle school students. The program consists of two 75-minute workshops per week and, as one might expect of a group called “Girls on the Run,” many of the activities are centered on exercise and fitness training, culminating with a 5k run at the program’s finale (which is open to the community). GOTR is holistic, in that instructors teach confidence and self-assertiveness, encourage participants to use “I feel” statements, stop gossip, and stand up to bullies. They also arrange meet ups and presentations from local role models in the community.
“We’re inspiring girls to be joyful, confident, healthy, and caring,” Todd said. “We even get into, with the middle school girls, how to expand your comfort zone so that you’re helping others; so we get into random acts of kindness.”
Speaking of acts of kindness, GOTR has an ongoing scholarship program and earlier this summer awarded $5,000 college scholarships to three girls—Isabelle Smith, Maria Palafox, and Katia Beckman—all of whom have been participating in GOTR classes since the third grade.
“I shared my hopes and fears with girls my own age, free from judgment,” Smith wrote in a speech about her experience with GOTR. “The memory of feeling empowered and strong prompted me to volunteer as a coach. Being a coach opened my eyes to a wider world of female equality.”
Todd gained an interest in GOTR after leaving the corporate world and said she joined this nonprofit specifically to help young girls fight negative stereotypes and advocate for gender equality. GOTR offers programs for elementary school students, but Todd noted the importance of the middle school programs, because, “that’s when life can get a little funky for girls.” One 2009 study showed girls as young as 10-11 start developing notions of the “ideal body,” and another study in 2013 found that 47% of girls aged 11-14 said they’d refused to take part in certain extracurricular activities—like sports or performing arts—due to issues with self-esteem.
“We’re trying to help young girls follow their dreams—whether that means to be the president of the United States, or a teacher, or an engineer—whatever that is,” Todd said. “What’s important is that they have the confidence and the ability to make that happen, and to be honest. A lot of women and girls are not quite there yet, but we’re hoping to change the conversation. That’s why we teach body confidence, and really, questioning a lot of the ads and what’s out there in the media.”
Todd said it’s common for her and her colleagues to hear from high schoolers and adults who went through the program as kids and still draw from the lessons they learned.
“One girl I had said that the program gave her the confidence to get through high school, but also helped her formulate a better understanding of women’s issues,” she said. “She’s planning to go to college and study women’s issues, and wants to start her own nonprofit to help women be successful in the world. It’s nice to see we’re having a long-term impact.” Apparently word has gotten out about the benefits of GOTR, and they need help to cater to all who are interested.
“We have more demand for our program than we can handle, and we really, really need volunteer life coaches, who are usually women from within the community,” she continued. “It could be college students, it could be a grandmother, it could be someone who works at the grocery store, but we’re looking for women who are interested in facilitating some group activities, having some fun with the girls, and being positive and motivating.”
One recent example of a life coach from last year is Solano County District Attorney Krishna Abrams (along with Solano County Public Defender’s office) who adopted a school and headed a number of programs.
“It’s just really rewarding that we can continue to work with these girls and help them achieve their life dreams,” Todd said, adding that this coming spring they expect a record-breaking number of girls (around 600) to participate in their program.
GOTR recently finished a big fundraiser, and have a 5k run at the Napa Valley Community College scheduled for November 12. The fall program runs from September 6-18, and anyone who’s interested can register at www.gotrnapasolano.org/get-involved/register-your-girl.
“We want our program to be as inclusive as possible,” Todd said. “Healthy, fun, empowerment. Those three things are Girls on the Run, and the girls love it.”
There are a bunch of ways to get involved with Girls on the Run Napa & Solano. You can visit www.gotrnapasolano.org or call (707) 637-8909 to sign up. To donate, visit www.gotrnapasolano.org/get-involved/donate (much of the donated money will end up going toward their scholarship program), and to volunteer, visit www.gotrnapasolano.org/get-involved/volunteer. You can also email Executive Director and President of the Board Janet Todd at janet@gotrnapasolano.org.
Nate Gartrell grew up in Benicia, studied journalism in college, and has written for a handful of media outlets since age 15. He aspires to visit all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums and to hit the trifecta at the horse track.
