■ Businesses solicited to give items to be auctioned at Skål holiday party Thursday

By Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor

Members of Skål International, a worldwide organization of travel and tourism managers, visited Benicia on Oct. 26.

The visit was so successful and the visitors so impressed, they’ve been talking up Benicia ever since, Teri Davena, city administrative secretary, said, adding, “Many went back and wrote blogs for their clients and staff on our undiscovered jewel.”

Seeking to capitalize on the goodwill, Mike Caplin, spokesman for Benicia State Parks Association, is soliciting donations from downtown businesses for a “Benicia gift basket” to send to Thursday’s Skål International annual holiday party at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco.

“Anything that would make a nice festive basket, but also items that would represent Benicia,” said Caplin, a longtime member of Skål.

Caplin said the October tour started with a visit to the Benicia Capitol State Historic Park and its adjacent Fischer-Hanlon House. From there the Skål members spent time shopping on First Street before stopping for lunch at Sailor Jack’s, where they were joined by Mayor Elizabeth Patterson.

After lunch, the tour continued at the Benicia Historical Museum, then Smyers Glass, 675 E H St, before concluding with a wine tasting at The Chill, 362 First St.

“We got really rave reviews,” Caplin said.

The gift basket will be bid on in a silent auction at the Skål party, and roceeds will fund a travel and tourism scholarship through San Francisco State University’s Hospitality Management Program.

Davena recalled a similar effort for the Sunset Celebration Weekend in June, to which Benicia sent two baskets.

“They were lovely. We had paintings, Downtown Dollars. They were extremely generous, and they were lovely baskets,” she said.

She said business owners who would like to donate items for the Benicia basket should contact her by Wednesday at TDavena@ci.benicia.ca.us.

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