By Keri Luiz Assistant Editor The Economic Development Board on Wednesday will be the latest city panel to hear interim Public Works Director Melissa Morton’s explanation of the state of the city’s water and sewer rates. Morton, who discussed the matter with the Benicia Finance Committee on Aug. 10, will outline for the EDB the […]
Stillness, and a stark series of shots
■ Photos of ‘Bones … to be Still’ explore shadow, texture By Keri Luiz Assistant Editor Christine Benkert came up with the idea for her current black-and-white photography exhibit, “Bones … to be Still,” almost accidentally. Benkert had been feeling like she needed to get back into a regular pattern of taking photos. “I had […]
Art is ‘Illusion’
❒ Catherine Fasciato is Plein Air’s featured artist By Keri Luiz Assistant Editor Concord resident Catherine Fasciato is a member of the Benicia plein air painting group Da Group, but even so, she often prefers to paint alone. Though she’s worked with Da Group for about five years, “Sometimes I want to just go paint […]
Work plan on deck for tourism panel
By Keri Luiz Assistant Editor The main item on a light agenda for this week’s Tourism Committee meeting is the panel’s fiscal-year work plan as far ahead as 2015. During a workshop April 18, committee members generated charts of priorities, and those charts will be used to spur discussion Thursday, Economic Development Manager Mario Giuliani […]
Friends, family rally for stricken BHS grad
■ Middle school color guard coach, 20, in treatment for leukemia By Keri Luiz Assistant Editor Cara Hansen has a smile that lights up a room. Her family and many friends want Benicia to keep seeing that smile for a long time to come. Hansen, a 2009 Benicia High School graduate and coach of the […]
Amid tragedy, healing through art
By Keri Luiz Assistant Editor Sunday marks the one-year anniversary of the tragedy in Norway when a lone terrorist, Anders Behring Breivik, bombed a government building in Oslo before attacking a summer camp on the nearby island of Utøya, leaving 77 dead, including many children, and hundreds wounded. On the eve of this grim anniversary, […]
At EDB, talk of a plaza that’s ‘a little bit tawdry’
■ Business owner details shortcomings of Southampton Shopping Center By Keri Luiz Assistant Editor Gene Pedrotti stood before members of the city Economic Development Board on Wednesday and showed them photos of the shopping center where his business resides. With each projected picture, the owner of Ace Hardware pointed out small changes and nagging problems […]
Missionaries prepare for Africa trip
❒ Benicia residents to dedicate wells, visit schools in Uganda By Keri Luiz Assistant Editor If you’ve ever had occasion to work with Benicia Unified School District — or if your kids go there — you probably know Betty Jensen, chief assistant to the superintendent. But Jensen also wears another hat: mission coordinator at Northgate Christian […]
Large donation for vets stolen
Clothing, other items set aside for disabled soldiers on Rose Drive By Keri Luiz Assistant Editor The opposite of “Christmas in July” must be the midsummer arrival of the Grinch. Only this time the Grinch — whomever he or she is — targeted items marked for donation to a charity for disabled veterans.
Top tenant to talk about shopping center status
Gene Pedrotti, Ace Hardware owner, to speak to Economic Development Board By Keri Luiz Assistant Editor Gene Pedrotti, owner of Pedrotti Ace Hardware, will offer his observations on the status of doing business in the Southampton Shopping Center on Wednesday at the regular meeting of the Benicia Economic Development Board. He’ll have a lot to […]