The site of the former Pine Lake Reservoir, seen from the freeway to the right as one drives west on Highway 780, will remain as it is for the immediate future. That didn’t sit well with the Planning Commission on Nov. 9. Their questions indicated that the planned use for the vacant field is not […]
Rotary Club mentors Liberty High School students
As the Benicia Rotary Club celebrates its homecoming and anniversary on Feb. 28, the members will be recalling the many civic projects it has participated in. We are no prouder than the association between the Club and Liberty High school. As part of the 100-year anniversary celebration of Rotary International in 2010, the Club adopted […]
Rotary Club of Benicia plans Golden Anniversary Homecoming
The Rotary Club of Benicia is turning 50 years old and is inviting all former members and any other interested people to a special noon luncheon on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at the Yacht Club. There is no charge for former members. The Club was founded in 1967 as part of Rotary International, the world’s first […]
Last stop of a great wanderer
Late artist left indelible mark on adopted hometown of Benicia NEXT MONTH, BENICIA HISTORICAL MUSEUM will exhibit a collection of tile murals and other artifacts celebrating Guillermo Wagner Granizo, the artist who lived here during the last two decades of his life — and who left a legacy that is sure to endure for many […]
Jim Lessenger: On Benicia’s Confederate flag and the city’s place in history
FORE MORE THAN THREE DECADES the stained-glass front windows of the Union Hotel on First Street stood admired but mainly ignored. In the last month controversy arose regarding the depiction of the Confederate flag and one of windows. In a statement to political correctness, the window is now covered by an American flag. As a […]
When PG&E was like MCE
THE RECENT DECISION OF BENICIA’S CITY COUNCIL to convert from Pacific Gas & Electric to Marin Clean Energy is reminiscent of earlier times. The Herald carried an article on Jan. 6, 1938 reporting that the utility applied for a franchise to deliver gas and electricity to the city. The proposal included a limit of 25 […]
How Benicia’s Arsenal became the heart of the city’s tax base
Conversion from military installation to commercial, historical center shows best of what government can do — but controversy lingers ON JUNE 24, 2014, THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL sent cleanup orders to four parties in Benicia, including the city and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. To the surprise of local environmental activists […]
The story of Benicia and Rancho Suscol
The arrival of Dr. Semple Dr. Robert Baylor Semple was California’s first newspaper reporter, publisher and editor. His newspaper, The Californian, was the first newspaper published in California. He was a dentist who also had worked as an attorney, medical doctor, farmer and businessman before coming west on a wagon train in 1846. He was […]
70 years later, remembering the Port Chicago explosion
320 killed when ammo ships exploded; disaster led to mutiny, reform THIS IS THE STORY OF THE PORT CHICAGO EXPLOSION that occurred 70 years ago on July 17, 1944. You can see where it happened by going to the scenic overlook next to the Benicia-Martinez Bridge and looking southeast to the other side of the […]
Open letter to the City Council: Support CBR
TO BENICIA CITY COUNCIL AND BENICIA PLANNING COMMISSION, RE: THE VALERO CRUDE-BY-RAIL PROJECT: Ladies and gentlemen, This letter is written in support of the proposed Valero Refinery crude by rail (CBR) project. I have a unique perspective on the issue, for two reasons: • I am a board-certified occupational and environmental medicine physician. Having researched, […]