Belay that lubber-jabber, me hearties! Today be International Talk Like a Pirate Day! Buccaneers, freebooters and seagoing scalawags stand ready to help the inexperienced spice up their conversations during the holiday that started as a joke and how has grown into worldwide celebrations among those who love the excuse to don cocked hats, floppy boots […]
Talking Trash: Locally, statewide, Coastal Cleanup volunteers ready to get garbage out of waterways
It’s time to pull on gloves and grab a bucket to pick up trash along the coastline. Saturday is the 30th annual California Coastal Cleanup Day. Solano County, including Benicia, is participating again, said Marianne Butler, event coordinator, who said 3,000 or more volunteers will gather at streams, sloughs, riversides and along the Carquinez Strait, […]
Council approves water surcharge
■ Hike in residents’ rates ranges from 63 cents to $1.25 per unit Benicia City Council approved a temporary water rate surcharge to help the city cope with the additional costs brought on by California’s severe drought that is the result of three consecutive years of below-normal rainfall. The panel agreed with City Manager Brad […]
HPRC may close door on Mills Act
2 new applications would put city over revenue loss cap Benicia Historic Preservation Review Commission on Thursday will hear what could be the last two requests by homeowners for Mills Act contracts. Another applicant will ask the panel’s approval of replacing wood-framed windows with those that have vinyl cladding over wood, and the commission will […]
GHGs bedevil CSC
■ Panel frustrated by lack of progress in reducing city emissions Benicia Community Sustainability Commission expressed frustration Monday night that the city hasn’t come closer to reaching its greenhouse gas emission goals. Members’ disappointment began early in the meeting, when Economic Development Manager Mario Giuliani described progress of the Business Resource Incentive Program (BRIP), designed […]
County Corrections may appoint recidivism committee
The Solano County Community Corrections Partnership, formed as part of California’s realignment program that transfers supervision of certain state prisoners, will meet Thursday to decide whether to appoint a committee to oversee a $100,000 grant designed to reduce recidivism.
CHP offers free child seat safety exams
Solano County and other residents can get their vehicles’ child safety seats examined by California Highway Patrol officers at no charge this week during Child Passenger Safety Week. Officer Daniel Hill, spokesperson for the CHP’s Golden Gate Division, said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has dedicated this week through Saturday to the goal of […]
Benicians conserve even more water
‘Impressive progress’ made, City Council told Benicia City Council on Tuesday will hear interim Public Works Director Steve Salomon report that Benicia water customers have cut back their consumption by 21.6 percent, exceeding the reduction requested by both the city and Gov. Jerry Brown. California is in a severe drought. Brown has asked state residents […]
Benicia theater group comedy nets 4 ‘Artys’
Benicia Old Town Theatre Group’s comedy production “Same Time Next Year” has earned four Arty Awards, including best comedy of the year, Dyanne Vojvoda, company spokesperson, said Monday. The Artys, produced by the Performing Arts Network (PAN-Arts), annually honor Solano County theatrical shows. BOTTG) has been nominated in each of the 30 years Arty Awards […]
As drought worsens, water rate hike looms
Hearing Tuesday on temporary surcharge Benicia City Council is poised to raise water rates through a drought surcharge, but will take public comment Tuesday before it takes its votes. City Manager Brad Kilger wrote the Council on Wednesday, saying action needs to be taken to ensure “the health and safety of the community and the […]