The importance of family and fulfilling one’s dreams are just two themes audiences will be exposed to when they see Bay Area Stage’s (BAS) production of Neil Simon’s “I Ought to Be in Pictures,” opening Friday. BAS co-producer Stacey Loew is a big fan of Simon and has wanted the Vallejo theater company to do […]
BUSD, BTA reach tentative agreement
Staff Report Following fact-finding proceedings that began Thursday evening and spilled into the early morning hours Friday, the Benicia Unified School District announced on its website that it had reached a mediated, tentative agreement with the Benicia Teachers Association. In early 2018, BUSD and BTA held a series of meetings to discuss salaries for the […]
Robert Semple Elementary honored for college, career prep
In the past, Robert Semple Elementary School has received honors as a California Distinguished School, a Gold Ribbon School and for its implementation of Positive Behavioral Supports and Interventions. Now, through large-scale analysis by the Educational Results Partnership (ERP) and Campaign for Business and Education Excellence (CBEE), Semple is one of almost 1,800 public schools […]
Breakfast celebrates launch of art education advocacy organization
Benicia is a community that is well-known for its art, and Benicia Unified School District’s art programs have been honored by the state. However, many feel that more work can be done to take art education in Benicia to the next level, and that was the catalyst for the formation of the Benicia Arts Now […]
Artcentric celebrates 20 years
Twenty years ago, audiences flocked to theaters for “Armageddon,” “Too Close” by Next topped music charts, Microsoft became the biggest company in the world and Artcentric opened its doors in Benicia. Artcentric, First Street’s pottery painting and glass fusing studio will celebrate its 20th anniversary on Sunday. It began with Aline Karpoyan who says she […]
CSC to review grant reports Monday
The Community Sustainability Commission (CSC) will discuss its semi-annual grant reports and provide necessary direction to staff at its Monday meeting. Six grant reports are on the table for the CSC: those for Arts Benicia, Benicia Community Gardens, Bicycle Benicia, the Economic Development Department’s Business Resource Incentive Program (BRIP), the Parks and Community Services department’s […]
Launch event to highlight arts education tomorrow
How important are the arts in education? That is a question that will be discussed at the Benicia Arts Now Community launch breakfast at Benicia Middle School. The new local art education advocacy organization, in conjunction with the statewide California Alliance for Arts Education, will be hosting a special event to discuss ideas on how […]
Human Services Board aims to raise $5K in online fundraising campaign
Spring is the season of giving, and the Benicia Human Services Board (HSB) is providing a chance for people to give. For the next 21 days, the HSB is hosting an online fundraiser for its Human Services Fund in the hopes of raising $5,000 before the deadline. The HSB oversees the Human Services Fund, a […]
Big band tributes to duke it out at Empress
This Saturday, the Empress Theatre in Vallejo will be hosting a Battle of the Bands competition, but the acts featured are not your typical upstart bands. Instead, two acts will be paying tribute to two of the great bandleaders of the 1940s and audiences will get to vote on which ones they like best. It’s […]
Gallerie Renee Marie to host first juried show, ‘The Art of the Book’
A celebration of books is underway at Gallerie Renee Marie as the gallery gears up for its third anniversary. These books, however, are pieces of art which have been altered through collage, entertaining elements and creative interpretations, and they are all part of the gallery’s first juried show. “The Art of the Book” opened May […]