20th Annual Trivia Bee Goes Survivor

On Saturday, the Annual benefiting the the was held at the . It's like a live game of "Jeopardy" with costumes, a beautiful buffet from First Street Cafe and a bar.

Benicia businesses, the team and competed. Some teams were made up of community groups such as of Benicia, Benicia , Soroptomist of Benicia, and the Mysterians (). Other teams were composed of civic groups such as . The partnered with the BHS Academic Decathalon team to form a powerful team. Mayor Elizabeth Patterson, Councilman Mike Iokimedes and Vice Mayor Alan Schwartzman made up the team. Teams of private citizens also competed: Tom Campbell and the Amazons, PT2, Gizzi & Reep and Pirates of the Caquinez.

This year's theme, Survivor South Seas, was perfectly executed with an island-themed décor. Participants dressed the part, too. The Gizzi & Reep team dressed as the cast of "Gilligan's Island" and pirates. The Carquinez Team dressed as, you guessed it, pirates of the Caribbean. Team leader Del Lacey was perfectly dressed as Captain Jack. The 15 teams of three, competed in three rounds — qualifying, semi-final and final.

The categories were literature, science and technology, history and geography, arts and entertainment, sports, Benicia history, wild cards and the the game of "Survivor."  Younger competitors did well with questions regarding TV's "Glee," and Twitter, while seasoned champions did well with Benicia history. Master of ceremonies Gene Gantt kept the crowd laughing as he asked questions. Each team then had 15 seconds to agree on the answer and write it down.  All teams with the right answer got a point and the lowest scoring teams were eliminated at the end of each round. 

“The finale was hotly contested, and ended in a sudden-death playoff that went on for a very long time,” said Marty Duvall of the Lions Club team. The Mysterians' team with Susan McCain, Kathy Rice and Jeff Torr, took first place. Second place and the costume award went to the Gizzi & Reep team — Claudia Ramirez, Scott Reep and Geoffrey Steele for their Gilligan's Island entourage. The Friends of the Library/BHS Academic Decathlon team, Katie August, Katherine Getchell and Nicholas Getchell, took third place. The event ended with an auction of donated goods and services from the community.

A committee of 16 volunteers put the event together, along with 12 teen volunteers, one of whom said, “It's fun. We like knowing that we helped out our commuity in a small way.” Library director Diane Smikahl served as timekeeper while City Manager Brad Kilger performed as a judge. Sponsors consisted of Color Zone, , the Monthly Grapevine, , , , and .

The annual bee is an important fund raiser. “All this money comes directly back into the program,” said Lynn Price, supervisor for the adult literacy and ESL program. “It matters a great deal. Our program fund raises and receives grants from the state. That's what they are looking at eliminating now and the city matches the state grant.”

The term "illiterate" is discouraged, because it suggests a lack of intelligence. Although literacy profoundly affects our community most of us don't appreciate how important it is because we can read.

Imagine not being able to read. That means you can't get a drivers license. You take public transportation everywhere but can't read the destinations on the bus map. You are too embarrassed to ask someone to read it for you, so you guess and spend time trying to find your way around. Imagine trying to buy a birthday card for a friend, but buying an anniversary card instead because you can't read. Imagine being a hospital custodian in another country because it's the only job you can get and not being able to read the signs at the facility in which you work.

The program hosts ESL (English as a Second Language) groups and matches learners with volunteer for one-on-one tutoring. “Our program serves over 100 adult learners," Price said. "We serve English speakers and as well as non-English speakers.“ Paid instructors lead small ESL classes and conversation groups for non-English speakers are held twice weekly. According to Price: “Literacy is all about confidence.”