Remembering Rosie Switzer Rosie Switzer died on Nov. 29, 2015. She was a native Benician who taught in the Benicia schools for 35 years. After teaching, Rosie served on the Benicia Unified School District board for 10 years until her sudden death at the age of 69. Her family would like to take a moment […]
A Different Drummer: Top Ten Cultural Flaws
There are a few significant flaws in our culture that keep us from enlightened understanding of what’s really going on in the good old USA and the world at large: 1. Lack of understanding history and being able to spot trends and connect dots. Many of us only have the limited scope of history taught […]
Letters: Stop mailing utility reports
Stop mailing reports To Pacific Gas & Electric and Benicia Water Department, Why are you wasting paper, printing, postage and employees’ time with those childish reports regarding the amount of utilities used? And I don’t think that the reports make people change their habits. Smiley faces? Get real. The bills are mailed to adults, not […]
From a high school senior’s perspective: The college application process
In 1636, Harvard University was founded, earning itself the epithet as “the oldest institution of higher education in the United States.” And while there is still controversy surrounding the validity of this claim, with the University of Pennsylvania and College of William & Mary also vying for the coveted title, there is no denying that […]
Bob Livesay: Changes big and small
By Bob Livesay Special to the Herald It is a new beginning. The local election is over. There is not much change on that level. We have the same mayor and one new councilmember. The one big issue is who will be the new Planning Commission member. It is important because of the Seeno property […]
Poetry Corner: Peter Bray “November Sun…To Donald Trump”
The November sun was high in the air, you’d almost think summer was there, but you don’t really believe in Science now, do ya? CO2 from dirty fuel melts the glaciers and it’s cruel, but you say it’s all a Hoax, now don’t ya? President-Elect of the USA, Electoral College winner any way, how much […]
Mark Hughes: Reflections from a grateful candidate
By Mark Hughes Special to the Herald It now appears that most of the votes have been counted for the Benicia mayoral election, and unfortunately for me, the results were not what I had hoped. Losing such a close election stings a bit, but I am so proud of the campaign that I ran. I […]
The gift of a golden voice: Paying tribute to Leonard Cohen
As 2016 winds down and the history is written, one aspect of the year people will inevitably bring up is the sad amount of musical talent that has been lost. On Thursday, the music world lost another incredible figure: Leonard Cohen, the Canadian-born folk singer died at 82. Much has already been written about Cohen’s […]
A Different Drummer: In defense of small-town Trump supporters
Now that the elections are over and nothing can be done about that, I’ll make my political statement. The first thing I want to say is Ahhhhh! Pundits ask what happened and try to answer their own question. As a small-town boy, here’s what I see. First, the middle class didn’t disappear. They were repositioned […]
Getting to know a veteran residing in Benicia: Joseph Bruggman, Lieutenant Colonel, Ret.
By William Emes Special to the Herald Joe Bruggman is a very special sort of soldier. He isn’t the sort of man the Army can train to become the soldier an army usually wants. He is the sort of soldier every army needs but cannot train. General Douglas McArthur was often accused of being pompous. […]