Compiled by Nick Sestanovich

75 years ago

Victory Pledge to Start Friday (June 18, 1942)

Culminating preliminary plans whic have been already mapped out for the Victory Pledge Drive for War Bonds and Stamps, the final meeting will be held tonight at 8 o’clock in the City Hall to assign districts to the canvassers in readiness for starting the drive tomorrow morning. Every home will be visited and return calls will be made where people are not at home.
For those who do not wish to state the amount they will pledge, arrangements have been made for a confidential pledge to be filled out and sealed in an envelope.
Organizations represented at the meeting Friday night were the Men’s Community Club, represented by Harvey Henkel; Y.M.I., John McClain; Red Cross, Mrs. Elizabeth McKay; Y.L.I., Mrs. E. Sheetz; Kiwanis Club, Harold Simon; Social Circle, Congregational Church, Mrs. C.H. Byerrum; Mrs. T. Wright; AWVS, Mrs. Lewis Sanborn; Eastern Star, Mrs. Oliver Gerrish; Girl Scouts, Mrs. Lurene McKeown; Schools, Joe Henderson. Those representatives will name canvassers from their respective organziations.
Hartley Russell has been named to canvass the business houses on First street; Peter Garnet, the Benicia Arsenal where 75 per cent of the employees have already subscribed. At the Yuba Manufacturing Company it is reported that 65 per cent of the employees at that plant have pledged.
Mayor Charles G. Clyne is honorary chairman, and Harold Simon, chairman. Other committee members assisting in the drive are Arthur Gluckman, Crane Walden, J.H. Henderson, L.H. Hamann, E.W. Crozer, Mrs. Elizabeth McKay, George Westerberg, Mrs. A.J. Pometta, E.C. Dana, Mrs. L.H. Sanborn, Mrs. Oliver Gerrish, Father Clyne, E.A. Stoner, M.J. Fitzgerald, Mrs. Homer Griffith, F G. Henderson.

50 years ago
Industrial Park Bond Issue Given Approval (June 15, 1967)

City Council Okehs $4,650,000 Plan To Bring In Water

The city council Tuesday night approved unanimously a long resolution forming an improvement district within the Benicia Industrial Park, which will finance facilities to bring water to the Humble Oil and Refining Co. plant. Councilman James Lemos offered the motion calling for the establishment of the district. Affirmative votes were cast by Mayor C. Carsten Johansen and Councilmen Roy J. Charboneau, John F. (Jack) Cody and Enos P. Nebergall.
According to Kenneth I. Jones of Wilson, Jones, Morton and Lynch, municipal bond attorneys of San Mateo, the next step will be next week with the calling of an election on a proposed general obligation bond issue of $4,650,000 on which only registered voters within the district may participate.

25 years ago

Scantily clad dancers OK, planners say (June 14, 1992)

By Sarah Rohrs

Female and male dancers clad in bikinis and briefs edged out Benicia’s image of family life Thursday night as the Planning Commission approved 4-3 a use permit to Choices for live music and other “adult” entertainment.
Several residents told the commission they resented such entertainment being offered in a community they favor for its family morals, values and commitment to children.
Residents in Pointe Benicia said they don’t object to the dancing, but are bothered by excessive noise at night from First Street establishments. Residents there have been complaining about loud music for years, and Thursday, several said they have found the city to be non-responsive to their problems.
Commissioners Joe Burek, Norman Gonsalves, Debra Rice and Bob Berman voted in favor of the use permit, indicating the dancing of this nature has been occurring for more than a year without any problems. In addition, noise complaints stemming from other establishments should not hinder Choices, they said.
Commissioners Steve Gizzi, Bob Horowitz and chairman Ron Arrants voted against the permit.
Arrants said he didn’t believe the “adult entertainment” section of the zoning ordinance allowed such dancing. Gizzi objected to the dancing and Horowitz said he had some problems with granting a use permit to an establishment when noise complaints from nearby residents continued unabated.

The full articles of these and other stories are available on microfilm at the Benicia Public Library.

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