Compiled by Nick Sestanovich

75 years ago

Chest Drive Starts Monday (Nov. 19, 1942)

Michael Fitzgerald was elected as chairman of the Benicia War Chest Committee at a meeting held last Monday evening at the Legion Hall. Fitzgerald succeeds Crane Walden who found it necessary to resign the chairmanship, but will remain on the board of directors.
Fitzgerald and the directors immediately selected the group who will assist in soliciting funds starting next Monday.
Recently a budget for war projects and home needs totaling $10,930, was approved by the directors and it is intended that there shall only be this one drive for funds for 1943, with the exception of the Red Cross Roll Call which has been postponed until next Spring.
Chairman Fitzgerald announced the appointment of the following citizens who will contact their groups Emerson Stoner, U.S. Arsenal; Percy C. Carmer, Yuba Manufacturing Company; Tom Wright, industrial concerns; Hartley Russell, contractors; MRS. L.H. Hamann, fraternal organizations; J.H. Henderson and L.H. Hamann, schools; Crane Walden, business houses, assisted by J.E. Ackerman, Harold M. Simon, John Hafford and John Benson.

50 years ago

First Community Meeting Saturday (Nov. 16, 1967)

Saturday, Nov. 18, could be another milestone in Benicia’s long and illustrious history.
That is when the first annual Community Congress convenes at 9 a.m. in Civic Center for a day-long discussion of the city’s future.
This is the day when persons vitally interested in Benicia’s future will sit down together and later in panel discussions to take stock of Our Town– its strengths and weaknesses– and to determine the steps necessary to eliminate the bad and preserve the good.
The one-day congress will begin with registration at 8:30 a.m. and conclude about 3 p.m. with the benediction.
In between will be where the action is.
To help Benicians assess their city will be three high-powered individuals who are lending their time and talents toward searching out some answers toward the next course to be followed.”

25 years ago

Strait skiing may get anchors (Nov. 15, 1992)

By David Hagerty

City officials are thinking of limiting the use of Jet Skis and similar motorized watercraft off the coast of Benicia in response to complaints about noise and reckless driving.
“We had heard from some residents along the waterfront that they felt there was a problem with noise and safety with regard to use of Jet Skis. We don’t know if there is a problem,” Mike Alvarez, director of Parks and Community Services, said Friday.
In a public hearing scheduled for Wednesday, city officials will try to determine how widespread the complaints are, and what can be done to appease residents. The hearing will be during the regular meting of the Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Commission, which will begin at 7:30 p.m. in City Hall.
The watercrafts, which look like snowmobiles and are propelled with pressurized water, are typically launched from either First Street or the Ninth Street Park, Alvarez said, although they are used along the entire coast on the west side of town.

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

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