“I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things” (Isaiah 45:7, NIV). “For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: How much worse will it be when I send against Jerusalem my four dreadful judgments—sword and famine and wild beasts and plague—to kill its […]
Candidate’s Night set for Sept. 12
Staff Report As election season begins and yard signs for candidates pop up all throughout town, many Benicians may be trying to decide which of the four City Council candidates to vote for. For those trying to get a sense of where the candidates stand on certain issues, the Chamber of Commerce will be providing […]
Council to vote on amendments to Accessory Dwelling Unit regulations
After receiving hearings from the Planning Commission and Historic Preservation Review Commission, an ordinance to amend the Benicia Municipal Code in regards to Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) regulations will go before the Benicia City Council for a vote Tuesday. An ADU, also known as an in-law unit, is a room or a set of rooms […]
Everyday Feng Shui: Experiencing children’s milestones and energizing your home
“Today is the first day of the rest of your life.” –Charles Dederich Our grandchild is beginning kindergarten this year! Where has the time gone? So many of our friends are experiencing similar milestones; beginning of kindergarten, middle school, high school or college. These can be exciting yet challenging times with so many emotions. Feng […]
Jeff Burkhart’s “Rhyme and Reason”: September
Dressed for summer as I was, I watched a bank of trees because Their first few leaves, were letting go, a subtle hint to let me know The wind let in a touch of chill; as it gave way to winters will Harvest’s bounty reaping toil, the sweat of spring pulled from the soil The […]
A Different Drummer: Retiring dreams and realities
I have had many preconceptions and misconceptions about what my retirement would be like. I spent my whole working life actively imagining retirement and even started saving for it in my thirties. Now that I am retired going into my fourth year, some early intentions are coming true, some are pending, and quite a few […]
Benicia teen becomes coffee entrepreneur
At 16, Reid Burford is about the age where one might expect to find him working as a coffee shop barista, but that is not the case. Instead, the Benicia High School junior roasts and distributes his own coffee as part of his business Howling Hounds Coffee Roasters. What’s more: he has been doing it […]
Candidate Spotlight: Planning Commission Chair Kari Birdseye sees council as next step
After three years on the Planning Commission, including a year and a half as its chair, Kari Birdseye is ready to continue serving the city in a bigger way, hence why she is running for the City Council. “(It’s) the natural next step in my service to Benicia,” she said. Birdseye received a bachelor’s […]
Coming-of-age play to debut national run at Empress in September
Fairfield resident Lisa Smith-Bryant’s story “Clown in the Prayer Closet” has had quite an odyssey. It began as a book in 2013 and then was adapted by the author as an independent movie in 2015. Now the story is about to begin its run as a theatrical play when the production comes to Vallejo’s Empress […]
The A Cappella Handyman: Fan Mail–Yippee!
“Fan mail,” I thought, “Yippee!” There it was in my P.O. Box 234 down at the Benicia Post Office (Am I soliciting more?), tucked in a back corner behind two week’s worth of crumpled up Shopping Flyers – It was almost unseen, tucked in so close to the Box wall, like a narrow missive not […]