The potential for cannabis dispensaries on First Street went up in smoke for the time being at Tuesday’s City Council meeting, as the board voted 4-0 to prohibit such dispensaries downtown. However, the debate over other potential locations will continue at a future meeting. Cannabis has been a hot button issue in several communities ever […]
Artist’s Northern California neighborhood series on display at library
For the past eight years, Benicia artist Donna Covey has made a name for herself by painting images of local landmarks in Northern California communities such as Benicia, Napa, Vacaville, Truckee and Suisun Valley. Those who have spent any amount of time in said places might have seen her paintings, but the uninitiated will be […]
Plein Air Gallery artists find ‘peace’ in new show
The word “peace” is commonly associated with the holiday season, certainly in 2017. With ongoing wars in the Middle East and Africa, divisive politics in Washington and frequent mass shootings and terrorist incidents worldwide, peace is a desire that, in the minds of many individuals, outweighs any material item. When the time came for the […]
Mother-daughter volunteer service group forms in Benicia
One Benicia group is taking the mother-daughter bond to a new level by having them participate in philanthropic work and become engaged with their communities. A group of Benicia moms and their daughters have formed their own chapter of the National Charity League (NCL). Benicia’s chapter of the National Charity League was established in March […]
Museum fundraiser remains popular despite national tree shortage
The past 10 years have been difficult for tree farmers, especially on the West Coast. They have had to deal with droughts, fires and an overall shortage. Nonetheless, the Benicia Historical Museum has managed to soldier on, selling sustainably farmed Christmas trees at affordable prices with the proceeds benefiting two local nonprofits for the eighth […]
Fantasy, reality become intertwined in Benicia High School fall production
One might associate fantasy fans and theater fans as being disparate groups of people, but they will come together for Benicia High School’s fall play “She Kills Monsters,” which opens tonight. However, the fantasy elements will be intertwined with the harsh realities of grieving and growing up. Qui Nguyen’s comedic drama only debuted off-Broadway in […]
Arsenal artists’ holiday Open Studios tradition continues
In the mid-’90s, Arts Benicia began hosting Open Studios, in which artists open the doors of their studios to showcase the creative environments they work in. The event was such a success that it became an annual occurrence each May, drawing 4,000 visitors each year, many from outside Benicia. However, Benicia being the art haven […]
Benicia organizations to participate in Giving Tuesday
In the first few days after Thanksgiving, the sequence goes like this:Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, a break on Sunday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday. Giving Tuesday was founded in 2012 by New York community center 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation as a means to support organizations through charitable means and kick off […]
Fantastic Sams Giving Tree tradition continues
Fantastic Sams is back in the giving mood. The national hair salon’s Benicia location is hosting its 8th annual Giving Tree, where people can bring in unwrapped and unopened gifts for children in need for the presents to be donated through the Benicia Community Action Council (CAC). Fantastic Sams Manager Michele Kenny said the tradition […]
Mad Hatter Holiday Fest to bring wild wonderment to Vallejo again
For the eighth year in a row, Vallejo will venture down the rabbit hole and go a little mad. Christmas is just around the corner, and so is the Mad Hatter Holiday Festival. Vallejo’s historic district will again be a celebration of the weird and wonderful with everything from a parade to music to beloved […]