ROMANCING THE HOME, 617 FIRST ST., is celebrating its 10th year in business with a garden party and fundraiser to help those with cystic fibrosis, Debbie Machado said.
“The goal of the event is to celebrate, while also giving back to the community,” she said. “Cystic fibrosis hits close to home.”
The company is donating 10 percent of sales during its 10th anniversary celebration to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in memory of Hayley Horn. Born to Karen and David Horn of Benicia, Hayley had cystic fibrosis from birth, and died from the disease at 17 during her senior year at Benicia High School.
DEBBIE AND ROB MACHADO.
Courtesy photos
She played in the Panther Band and despite the challenge of her illness marched in the Rose Parade with the band in 2001. The school’s auditorium is named in her memory.
Machado and her husband, Rob, started their store after working separate careers, his in retail and hers with Chevron. When transfers brought them back to the San Francisco Bay Area, they decided to live in Benicia, a city they had learned to love years before, Debbie said.
When they had the chance to own their own business, they took it. “Since then we’ve continued to grow our customer base and expand our product selection,” Machado said.
The store also has a garden area decorated with statuary, iron pieces, architectural elements and patio furniture, as eclectic as the variety of home decor items for sale inside, Machado said.
The 10th anniversary celebration at Romancing the Home will include live music, games, appetizers and other promotions from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 18 at 617 First St. For more information, call the store at 707-747-1717.
Republic Services unveils natural gas trucks
Republic Services, parent company for Allied Waste Services, the company that has contracted to remove Benicia’s trash and recycled products, celebrated Earth Day April 24 with a ribbon cutting for the company’s new compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks.
The ribbon cutting took place at the company’s plant in Pacheco with a new front-loading CNG truck, a CNG “roll off” truck for large containers, and a vintage 1957 truck that dates from when cans were hauled by hand.
Multiple Contra Costa County area officials attended the ceremony, as did Doug Cameron, business development manager of transit for Clean Energy; and Paul Ginochio, Republic Services facilities and plant manager.
Cameron said natural gas trucks produce as much as 22.8 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than comparable diesel models. The natural gas engines are quieter, he said, and about 98 percent of the natural gas used domestically comes from the U.S.
Ginochio said the truck’s basic cost is $330,000 each. He said they are easier to fuel and are less expensive to run because fuel costs are cheaper at off-peak hours. The new trucks are also designed for easier control for the driver.
Republic Services currently has 55 CNG trucks with more on the way. Timothy Argenti, general manager of Republic Services, said this is one of several “green” measures his company is taking.
“Seventy-five percent of the waste that is landfill-bound must be diverted by 2020,” he said. “(W)e have to be innovative in our efforts to find new uses for what was considered waste.”
He said the company’s Keller Canyon Landfill captures methane gas and generates enough energy to power 2,200 homes. “CNG trucks and fueling stations were a natural next step.”
“They are a Certified Green Business,” Contra Costa County Supervisor Karen Mitchoff said. “Switching to CNG trucks shows they are a good environmental partner as well.”
Email news releases and accompanying high-resolution photographs and logos to beniciaherald@gmail.com, and put “Attn. Business Beat” in the subject line, as well as the name of the business.
— Donna Beth Weilenman
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Karen and I feel so blessed to live in a community with people like Rob and Deb Machado ! When Deb called us with her idea for her party and the fundraiser in memory of our daughter it brought new light into our live’s. It felt like we were being lifted up and carried along. After Hayley died from Cystic Fibrosis things became very hard for Karen and I, but with the support of our family, friends and the wonderful community of Benicia we continue to move ahead. We are constantly reminded how important Hayley is to all her family, friends, teachers and community members. We love hearing “your Hayley Horn’s parents” and hearing the many stories and memories about her. Thank you all so much. We cant express how important this support has been to us in our difficult journey. Ironically we are also going to be marking a 10 year anniversary this year. On August 28 2013 it will be 10 years since we lost our beautiful daughter to this horrible disease. We continue to fight Cystic Fibrosis so no other child has to suffer the way Hayley did. With your help we can beat this disease. This event is going to be a celebration of 10 years in business for “ROMANCING THE HOME” but the Machado’s arent making it just about that. Come to the party, have some food and drink, listen to some great music, dance a little and have a great time. At the same time as you have all this fun, you can raise awareness of and fight Cystic Fibrosis. There will be a raffle with great prizes donated by the community. All proceeds 100% of the raffle are going to fight CF. Tickets are being sold at the store and other places around town. Deb and Rob are also going to donate 10% of anything sold in the shop that day. How awesome is that!! Karen and I hope to see you all there. Thanks again Deb and Rob and Romancing The Home.