SMYERS GLASS, 675 EAST H ST., will have a holiday studio open house Thursday through Sunday, artist Judith Keyes said.

Visitors will see demonstration of glassblowing techniques, using the 2,000-degree furnaces, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day of the open house. In addition, items created by the glassblowing artists will be on display in the studio showroom.

Established in 1971, Smyers is Benicia’s original glass studio, Keyes said.

The studio artists’ works are sold in museum shops, galleries and upscale stores throughout the country, she said, and are in the Smithsonian Institution and the Corning Museum of Glass.

Salon hair color event combined with gift drive

Fantastic Sams Hair Salon, 75 Solano Square, will have a Tigi hair color event from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, and is using the occasion to encourage residents to donate an unwrapped toy for underprivileged children.

Those stopping by also may pick up a suggestion card from the salon’s Christmas Giving Tree, and take those items to the salon for donation, said Karen S. Love, salon owner.

“We hope to break our previous records with our Christmas toy program this year,” Love said.

During the special color event, clients can meet a professional Tigi color specialist or trained Tigi stylists to receive a free color and style consultation. The salon also will have special prices for hair treatments that day.

“Tigi is the color line of choice at Fantastic Sams, because we can offer limitless color choice while keeping your hair soft and shiny,” Love said “Color results are long‐lasting whether you choose permanent or semi‐permanent treatment.”

Those interested in making an appointment may call 707-745-1028 or stop by the salon, she said.

Vanite remodeled for holidays

Vanite, the fashion label that was showcased in boutiques countrywide before owners Frank and Cindy Remlinger chose Benicia as their headquarters, has undergone remodeling in anticipation of the holiday season.

Vanite started selling its fashions in retail stores in San Jose’s Santana Road, Oakridge Mall and Capitola in 2008, said Bernadette Carter, director of sales and marketing. It launched the Vanite Couture label in 2010, and has been showcased in New York and Beverly Hills.

Carter said Vanite, 374 First St., “has a blossoming business with designs that marry simplicity of style with the chic and cutting edge.” Among the lines are the company’s own, Vanite Couture; the store also sells jackets, coats, pants, skirts and dresses, and such accessories as purses, scarves and jewelry.

The remodeling is giving the store a new look for the holidays, and shoppers can find a coupon in upcoming “12 Days of Christmas” advertisements in The Herald.

Sonoma Raceway distributes food to area food banks

Sonoma Raceway is distributing 7,700 pounds of nonperishable food to Friends in Sonoma Helping (FISH) and the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, said Diana Brennan, senior director, media and community relations.

The food was collected during the raceway’s 14th annual Thanksgiving Food Drive, she said. “This donation helps tremendously,” said Louise Bielfelt, longtime FISH volunteer.

“You can see that you have doubled the amount of food we have here, and it will continue to come in through the community but yours is really a very large donation.”

The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano (www.foodbankccs.org) has served the hungry of the two counties for nearly 40 years, Brennan said.

“The Food Bank works to reduce food waste, feed hungry people and raise public awareness of issues related to food and hunger,” she said. “They serve approximately 188,000 hungry people every month directly at community sites and through a network of 180 charitable agencies.”

“One in eight residents now rely on the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano each month,” said Larry Sly, executive director of the food bank.

“During the holidays we work with our 180 partner agencies to bring additional hope and relief to our neighbors struggling with hunger,” he said. “This Thanksgiving and holiday season, we will provide over 14,000 meals and about 30,000 grocery baskets to neighbors in need.”

He said the Sonoma Raceway Thanksgiving Food Drive will help his agency provide more food for children, families and older residents.

Sonoma Raceway was joined in the Food Drive by Destination RKA in Windsor, Innerstave, Levy Restaurants, the National Auto Sport Association, Pedroncelli Motorsports, Save Mart Supermarkets, Sonoma Market and Glen Ellen Village Market. Verihealth Inc. and Sonoma Gourmet, Brennan said.

The raceway’s website is RaceSonoma.com.

The Benicia Herald’s weekly Benicia Business Beat column is an opportunity for local businesses and companies to tell our readers about business-oriented news, such as moves, grand openings, awards, promotion of employees, staff changes and changes in goods and services.

Submissions will be edited for length and content; and need to answer the questions who, what, when, where, why and how, preferably in the body of an email; and provide contact information.

Deadline is 3 p.m. Friday for news items that will appear in the next Tuesday edition’s Benicia Business Beat. 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.

The Herald also appreciates area companies’ advertising patronage. For advertising services, call 707-745-0733 or email adsbenicia@yahoo.com.