The Historic Preservation Review Commission (HPRC) will be conducting a study session to review interim objective design standards for multi-family housing proposals eligible for streamlined permitting under recent state law at its Thursday meeting. Senate Bill 35, authored by Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), went into effect on Jan. 1. The goal is to […]
Benicia Heads Back to Class: What’s new, what to expect at Benicia Unified schools in 2018-19
Well, summer was fun while it lasted. Tomorrow, scores of students throughout Benicia will be heading back to class. No matter which school they are attending, every Benicia Unified School District site will have something different, whether it is new teachers, new administrators or new construction. The Herald caught up with the principals at the […]
Wait wait, there’s one more council candidate; William Emes files in City Council race
Staff Report By Aug. 13, it appeared the Benicia City Council election would be a three-person race between Planning Commission Chair Kari Birdseye, Economic Development Board Chair Lionel Largaespada and former Councilmember Christina Strawbridge. However, an 11th hour filing by William Emes, Jr. during the nomination period extension has turned it into a four-person race. […]
School board receives Measure S update to start off academic year
With a new school year ready to commence, the Governing Board of the Benicia Unified School District heard an update on the Measure S bond projects at Thursday’s meeting. Measure S is an initiative that was approved by Benicia voters in 2014 to provide $49.6 million in bond funding for renovation and upgrades of school […]
BUSD, city discontinue use of glyphosate products
After former Benicia Unified School District groundskeeper Dewayne Johnson successfully sued Monsanto over claims that a nearly daily use of its product Roundup gave him cancer, community members have wondered if the district would cease using the product. For BUSD, that decision came before the verdict was announced. Johnson served as an integrated pest manager […]
New restaurants join familiar favorites for Taste of First Street
Benicia foodies, if you want to designate Tuesday as a night to eat out, you have many dining options and Benicia Main Street will allow you to sample 18 of them for its annual Taste of First Street. Benicia Main Street began Taste of First Street 11 years ago as a promotion for its numerous […]
Benicia Democrats endorse Birdseye, Dean in local races
Staff Report At its Tuesday meeting, the Progressive Democrats of Benicia interviewed candidates for the Benicia City Council and Solano County Board of Education. Club members cast their votes and announced the results on Wednesday. Of the three candidates running for City Council, Planning Commission Chair Kari Birdseye and former Councilmember Christina Strawbridge. Ultimately, Birdseye […]
St. Paul’s Community Meal program celebrating 20 years with picnic
When St. Paul’s Episcopal Church considered the possibility of doing a community meal program in 1998, questions arose over whether it would be a hit. “Nobody wanted to believe that Benicia had a need for such a meal,” Program Coordinator Debi Hall said. Twenty years later, the Community Meal Program is still going strong and […]
Council to receive update on Benicia Marina lease
For the sole business item on the Benicia City Council’s agenda, the council will receive an update on the Benicia Marina, a history of its development and a summary of the current operating agreement at the council’s Tuesday meeting. According to a staff report by Assistant City Manager Alan Shear, the city obtained the […]
Schwartzman will not seek re-election; no incumbents in City Council race
For the first time since 2007, no incumbents will be running in the Benicia City Council election. Councilmember Mark Hughes announced on Friday that he would not seek re-election, and Alan Schwartzman told the Herald today that he would not be running either. After 13 years on the council preceded by six […]