Transcribed by Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor

From the Desk of Publisher Arthur W. Gluckman

Public Schools Week

“WHAT! ANOTHER WEEK TO BE OBSERVED?” cries the alarmed citizen.

But wait a moment. This is Public Schools Week we’re speaking of, and of all the year’s special weeks, few are more worthy of observance. If a more just and orderly world is ever to appear, it will be because our schools will have instilled in the minds and character of youth the passion for justice and greater knowledge that will bring that world into being.

America’s future is being formed within its schools, where youngsters are being trained in those practical ideas of freedom, of self-government, of respect for the rights of others, which the nation today has taken up arms to defend.

Public Schools Week, April 27 to May 1, calls particular attention to their role, defined in a recent address by Senator Robert W. Kenney as that of “guardians of the future.” Sen. Kenney, a staunch supporter of the educational system which finds California’s schools ranked among the nation’s best, points out that this “week” was born in a critical period of the State’s history 22 years ago when collapse threatened the schools. The keen public interest aroused in 1920 by the first Public Schools Week played no small part in routing that crisis, and in prompting states throughout the nation to set aside a similar observance.

Make a point of visiting your school on this occasion. The chances are you’ll find it’s not for nothing California’s public school system has earned itself the reputation of being one of the best in the nation.

Modern Conditions Demand Change

Benicia, growing as it is, should have outgrown many of its ways of doing things. It has outgrown them, but has not yet discarded them. And for that reason is holding itself back.

The city needs many things these days. The demands of the busy people are great. But the people themselves are too busy to do much about the situation.

There’s the matter of the daily mail, for instance. We can no longer spare the time to walk down to the post office to get the mail. Everyone is too busy to hang onto the old tradition of meeting his neighbor at the post office when the mail is being distributed.

We need a mail delivery service in Benicia. Four or five carriers should be working out of the post office, making at least one mail delivery to every neighborhood each day.

It is our understanding that such a change is governed mostly by the size and population of the city. Benicia has today the largest population of its history. And that population is made up of Americans from all parts of the nation. Most of them are engaged in war production work — hard work that will help us win this war.

These people should be served. Their energies should not be wasted in such unnecessary excursions as a hurried trip to the post office and the usual resulting wait in line to receive their mail. Permission to install a delivery service should be sought immediately to help keep our war production work at top speed.

$226 will buy 1 Lyle gun (shoots line from buoy to shore)

Sugar Rationing Begins

Benicia swings into line with the rest of the nation next Tuesday and Wednesday, April 28 and 29 when all business establishments must register for sugar rationing.

This was announced by Paul Wetmore, rationing administrator for Solano County.

All stores and other establishments using sugar must declare the amounts of sugar they have in stock, and answer these questions: Gross sales for the week ending April 25, 1942. Sugar delivered and accepted during the month of November, ’41. Present inventory of sugar.

The registration will be in the Benicia Grammar School.

Individuals Register

On May 4, 5, 6 and 7 individuals must register for sugar rationing at the same place. Each person must register, declaring the amount of sugar on hand at that time.

Ration books containing stamps will be given to the registrant, less the stamps representing the amount of sugar declared by the individual.

Each person is allowed one pound of sugar for each two weeks. One person may register for his entire family.

Regulation forms which must be filled out by business houses and individuals will be given out by the members of the local rationing board. The registration will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Members of the American Womens Voluntary Services are conducting the registration here under the direction of Mr. Wetmore.

City Closes $50,000 Deal For Tannery

Entrance of a new war production industry to the local scene was closer to realization on Tuesday this week when papers were signed here for the sale of the old Benicia Tannery property to the Jefferson Finance Company of Los Angeles.

The deal was closed during an all day conference between Burton Rickey of Los Angeles, representative of the finance firm, William F. Rose, San Francisco attorney, and Harold M. Simon, attorney for the city of Benicia, and other officials.

Through the agreement Jefferson Finance Company is to pay the City of Benicia $50,000 for the title to the tannery property. Of this sum the City is to pay Solano County approximately $21,500. A part of the latter will be returned here through funds due the Benicia Unified School District.

Must Get O.K.

Attorney Simon said today that the papers in the transaction are to be sent immediately to State Controller Harry B. Riley for his approval of certain classifications on the property. Mr. Riley must fully approve the deal before final actions may be taken and legal advertisement started to notify owners of tax delinquent property in the Benicia Reclamation District of its impending sale.

During the three-week period of advertisement such property owners may, if they wish, pay up back taxes and redeem their land.

That some type of war production industry will be installed in the old plant on lower First street has been admitted. But the finance company has declined to name the ultimate purchaser of the property.

Benicia Women Form Raid Wardenette Group At Recent Meeting

A unit of women air raid wardens was formed here early this week by the American Women’s Voluntary Services to work with the Benicia Civilian Defense Council during emergencies.

The organization, with Mrs. Winifred Poole as its head, was formed at a meeting of AWVS in City Hall on Monday. Speaker at the session was Mrs. H.W. Wilson of Vallejo.

Under Mrs. Poole’s leadership five captains will be chosen, one for each voting precinct of the city. The captains will appoint their own lieutenants to choose air raid wardens and block mothers in their own neighborhoods.

Work to be done by the women air raid wardens will be the same as that done by men, except that the women will direct their efforts at aiding the children and women, taking over duties of the men when an emergency may occur during working hours.

Mrs. Bernice Bahrenburg has been named to the membership committee of AWVS to take the position vacated by Mrs. Poole.

Salvage Booth to Be Operated by Senior Girl Scouts

Senior Girl Scouts of Benicia will open a booth in front of City Hall here on Saturday for the collection of old silk stockings or other articles made of felt.

Two members of the organization will be present at the booth all during the next day commencing at 9 o’clock in the morning and continuing until 5 p.m.

Anyone who may have difficulty in bringing the needed articles to the booth should leave their name and address with the girls. The goods will be picked up later.

The materials are to be used in making various articles for use in connection with the Civilian Defense effort here.

Prowling Panthers
Personal Social Sports
Benicia High School

Panther Editorial

Next week is Public Schools Week. It has been the custom of the Benicia High and Grammar Schools to exchange each year the honor of presenting to the public a view of what the schools are doing. This year the high school will present the program which will consist of demonstrations and displays of some classes, several plays by the dramatics class and possibly selections from the music department.

It is the wish of each and every parent at some time or other to visit the schools and find out just how the students are taught and of what the studies consist. This night enables the parents and teachers to get acquainted with the schools and also gives a good view to the parents of what type of work is accomplished by the students.

All parents, friends and the general public are invited to attend the Public Schools Week at the high school on Thursday, April 30, at 8 p.m.

Track Team Travels To Rio Vista Friday

The Benicia High Track teams will journey to Rio Vista on Friday to compete in the 1942 Southern Section meet of the S.C.A.L. Twenty-one boys will make the trip. The other schools entering the meet are Armijo, Vacaville and Rio Vista.

Benicia’s teams made very good showing in the last year’s meet and Coach Graham hopes they will be just as successful this year. The boys do not expect to win the meet, because there are not enough boys on the team to garner enough points to win, but with what little material he has, Coach Graham expects his boys to make points in the few events they enter.

Educational Pictures Shown

Monday morning the students of Benicia High School were shown moving pictures on First Aid and on how to put out incendiary bombs. These were presented by the Standard Oil Company. The First Aid pictures showed what was to be done in case of an accident and also what not to do. The incendiary bomb pictures showed the two methods of putting out magnesium incendiary bombs. The pictures proved very interesting and were enjoyed by all.

Defense Stamp Sales Continue

Latest results of the Defense Stamp sales are as follows:
Seniors, $110.25
Juniors, $97.10
Sophomores, $105.20
Freshmen, $120.00
Total, $428.55