Lions Crab Feed canceled

Dear Friends of Benicia Lions Club,
It is with regret that we must inform you that we will not be holding the Annual Lions Crab Feed this year. This is a temporary postponement of the event, we have all intentions of having the same event next year.
The reason for the postponement frankly, is due to a drop in membership in our local Lions Club. We are now down to eight active members, some of those not able to work a demanding event like a Crab Feed. Unfortunately, that is just too few a membership to plan, coordinate and execute the crab feed in the way that we would like to present it.
The drop in membership is not unique to the Benicia Lions Club. This is occurring across the country to all service organizations. The result is a diminishing number of clubs that are there to support community projects such as supporting local sports teams, 4th of July events, college scholarships, Christmas events, Coastal Clean-up and, yes, Crab Feeds. * In addition to these more recognized events the Benicia Lions Club sponsors disadvantaged individuals who need ophthalmology work. We sponsor Lions in Sight and the Lions Eye Foundation, distributing discarded glasses to those in need. We also sponsor eye treatments at no charge in our state of the art facility in San Francisco.
We ask that if you are interested in showing support for the community we all love, please come join us for a meeting and see if the Benicia Lions Club is right for you. We meet the first Thursday of every month at the Round Table Pizza in the Southampton Center at 6 p.m. Or if you would like other information, please contact:
John Sloss, Benicia Lions treasurer, at (707) 623-7772

Judy Foster; president,
Benicia Lions Club

There is a Santa Claus

I was recently reminded there are still upstanding and decent people in the world, and I want to thank the good Samaritan who came to my rescue and renewed my faith in humankind.
Oftentimes during the busy holiday season, we are inundated with news of unsavory individuals who smash windows and take packages from cars, steal deliveries from front porches or forcefully grab cell phones or other valuables from victims, sometimes causing physical and certainly psychological harm. There is enough to make you look cross-eyed at every stranger you come across on a daily basis.
But last week as I was rushing to catch the Benicia SolTrans bus to the BART station, my wallet fell from my purse, which I noticed after the bus was rolling away. I immediately called my husband and asked him to look for it, but to no avail. Heartbroken, I imagined all I would need to do: cancel my credit cards, replace my driver’s license and membership cards, and hope no one tried to steal my identity. I wasn’t even worried about the $50 or so in cash.
Luckily for me, within less than an hour, the Benicia Police Department called and said they had my wallet at the station – someone had turned it in, seemingly untouched, without even removing the cash.
I am so grateful to this wonderful soul, not only for returning my wallet but for reaffirming there are indeed good, honest and caring people in this world. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. Thank God for that!

Valerie Roberts Gray,
Benicia

Sexual abuse is not a game

I read with interest Dennis Lund’s column recently in the Benicia Herald (“Democrats caught in the ‘gotcha’ game,” Dec. 3) concerning Democrats’ coddling of sexual abusers and, perhaps, somehow that Republicans have been set upon unnecessarily for their defense of similar abusers. (See his defense of Roy Moore in the article.)
He managed to reduce disgusting acts to a political game of finger pointing, in other words, who is the guiltiest for ignoring such behavior.
Such behavior is not a political ball to be bounced back as if it’s some sort of blame game.
Sexual abuse crosses political lines because it’s not based on some one’s political beliefs. If a Democrat is behaving in such a disgusting manner, he’s no better than a Republican acting in the same way and should be removed from any responsible position, whether it’s a teacher, policeman, mayor, congressman and, yes, even the president of the United States.
There is no excuse and no free pass for such behavior, no matter who you are or what position you hold.
I would like to hear more of what Mr. Lund’s views are on this subject because I truly believe he would not be so casual about such behavior if it were directed at one of his relatives, whether it was a Democrat, Republican or even the President of the United States.

Roque Gutierrez,
Benicia
Standing ovation for Benicia Chamber Players

The performance by the Benicia Chamber Players in the Capitol building on Sunday brought Carnegie Hall quality to Benicia once again! We are so fortunate to have them here and not have to travel to New York!
Violinist Clifton Foster and cellist Brady Anderson brought to reality the tension of the buildup to World War I, in Hungarian composer Zoltan Kodaly’s Duo for Violin and Cello, published in 1914. With its explosive impressions of war, it’s no wonder that it has been recorded by the U.S. Army Strings. Foster and Anderson recreated the pre-war atmosphere to chilling effect.
In closing the concert on a more peaceful note they were joined by violinist Yuri Kye and violist Stephanie Ng for Johannes Brahms’s String Quartet in A Minor. With its final movement based on a Hungarian folkdance, it tied in well with the Kodaly duo. The lyrical quality of the piece was performed flawlessly and with great emotional expression, receiving a well-deserved standing ovation. Bravo to all!
I’m certainly looking forward to their next performance on Feb. 11, again at 2 p.m. at the Capitol!

Peggy Duly,
Benicia

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