Welcome back to a monthly column focused on local day hiking destinations, that with a little imagination, will take you back in time to when our local Native Americans lived in a garden of Eden we now call home. For more hiking ideas, go to www.eastbayhillpeople.com and read the “Travelogue Blog” tab. Today’s story may […]
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Former BHS teacher chosen to direct Vallejo Shakespeare in the Park production
Vallejo Shakespeare in the Park is going deep— in more ways than one— for this year’s play, which is directed by a well-known forner Benicia educator. Christine Mani, who taught theater at Benicia High School for 17 years, is directing “Measure for Measure,” which kicks off a four-week run in multiple cities Friday. […]
Mrs. B’s Blather: Do you trust your professionals?
I was in need of a new veterinarian when Dr. Laurie retired from her practice in Benicia. This search reminded me of my parents attitude to medical doctors. They had little trust for these able practitioners, They believed they were all about the money. When I began my search, the first veterinarian approached me with […]
The Truth About Cruising (Part 8): All those memorable people
The Benicia Fullosopher MEMORABLE PEOPLE As either dance instructors or speakers, our contracts required extensive socializing with the guests. One luxury line said that fifty percent of our rating was based on how much and how well we socialized. It was our job to make guests feel comfortable at all times; thus, we were forbidden […]
The Truth About Cruising (Part 5): Fun and games on those long sea days
The Benicia Fullosopher Many who have never cruised tell me they are afraid they’d be bored with not enough to do when at sea, imagining long days of gazing at an empty horizon. Gone are the days when Grandma and Grandpa took their once-in-a-lifetime cruise to Hawaii and spent the time onboard reading, playing shuffleboard, […]
A Different Drummer: Cancer sucks
Chad, my son-in-law, the life of the party, the Dude, got rectal cancer. They spotted it in the fall and he just had his surgery two weeks ago. His first lab results were clean, but there is still a lot of waiting and testing ahead. He is permanently sewn up in the back and adjusting […]
A Different Drummer: From the blues to rock ‘n’ roll
We’ve come ashore. The Gibbses and the Kittrells, retirees at sea for seven days in October when we used to be working, have stepped again on Florida soil. We’ve been on a Caribbean blues cruise, the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise, to be exact. And to be exact, I’m spoiled. I want music on every […]
Stan Houston: The corn oil maze
The adage “Liars use statistics but statistics never lie” and other axioms that emphasize the use of statistics to support an argument that contrasts with prevailing truths and often obfuscates the bigger picture is well at work these days. Get a load of Mazola’s newest ad campaign hitting print and television over the past month. […]
Northgate church accepting donations for fire victims, evacuees
Items will go to evacuation centers in nearby areas As fires continue to ravage California, Northgate Christian Fellowship staff are depending on the kindness of others to ensure that evacuation centers have the items they need. In the past week, several wildfires have been burning in areas throughout the state, damaging properties, making air quality […]
A Different Drummer: Leg two of seniors hiking in Yosemite
This story picks up in Yosemite on the banks of a lake in the Ten Lakes Region 6.5 miles from Tioga Pass Road. I was out there with Susan and fellow Benicia senior retirees Bud Donaldson, Carl Kittrell, and Deb Kittrell. That was the evening of our first full day of primitive living. We had […]