Viewers of Wednesday’s Candidate’s Night forum, sponsored by the Benicia Chamber of Commerce, had an opportunity to ask questions of the City Council candidates and learn their perspectives on hot-button issues facing the city. The forum was held in the Council Chambers of City Hall and moderated by James Cooper, the president of the Vallejo […]
Candidate Spotlight: Retired carpenter William Emes hopes to unify City Council
William Emes Jr., the newest candidate to enter the Benicia City Council race, sees his experience as different from anyone on the council. The 25-year resident and retired journeyman carpenter hopes to use that to his advantage to bring new ideas to the elected body. “What we’re witnessing in the world today is an incredible […]
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. […]
Poetry Corner: William Emes “The Colors of Our Flag”
They are the red in the blood that sustains us. They are the white that shines until there is one light. They are the blue of our veins. They are the blood that has been drained away. They are the light that has blinded us.. They are the blood that gives us strength. They are […]
Poetry Corner: William Emes “Forever a Welcoming Country”
Ours is forever a Welcoming Land From the Atlantic Across the Plains To the Pacific From the Gulf To the North We are a welcoming people It is our enduring hope that in turn, We will always be welcome everywhere.
Poetry Corner: William Emes “Sacrifice on the Front Line in Yountville”
Once it was between men wading in their own blood. Once it was between men cowering in trenches. It was between machine churning through the sand. It has been the vastness of the sea. It has been the emptiness of space. Now, it can never be wider. It stretches painfully between men who cannot understand […]
William S. Emes: In tribute to Lieutenant Col. Joseph Bruggman, a Benicia resident
By William S. Emes, Jr. Special to the Herald As we know, on Aug. 6, 1945 at 8:15 – 43 seconds a.m. local time, an atomic bomb was detonated in the atmosphere as a weapon. Hiroshima, a city in the Imperial Nation of Japan, was destroyed at the command of an American president. In truth, […]
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. […]