In 1999, Elissa Davey of Vista learned that a baby had been found dead among the trash in Chula Vista. “Who would do something like that?” she thought. “I couldn’t forget it.” Eventually, Davey called the coroner’s office where the baby’s body had been taken and asked what had happened. She was told the body […]
Benicians remember World War II
SATURDAY MARKED THE 73RD ANNIVERSARY of the Doolittle Raid over Tokyo. The two surviving Raiders used the occasion to donate their Congressional Medals of Honor, received in Washington on April 15, to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. On April 18, 1942, four months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Lt. Col. […]
‘Full-court press’ as police search for abducted Vallejo woman
Authorities say Denise Louise Huskins, 30, believed held for ransom Vallejo Police Department has asked the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other agencies to join their “full-court press” search for Denise Louise Huskins, 30, who was reported kidnapped for ransom early Monday morning. A 30-year-old man called Vallejo police about 1:55 p.m. Monday, saying Huskins […]
Archaeologist to describe activities in, importance of Von Pfister’s store
A small adobe building sheltered off the south side of First Street in an alley named after its owner was one of the first buildings erected in Benicia, completed in 1847. Edward Von Pfister opened his general store and saloon in the little building, which is believed to be the place where a messenger on […]
How Benicia’s Arsenal became the heart of the city’s tax base
Conversion from military installation to commercial, historical center shows best of what government can do — but controversy lingers ON JUNE 24, 2014, THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL sent cleanup orders to four parties in Benicia, including the city and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. To the surprise of local environmental activists […]
Authors’ latest eyes sustainable ‘revolution’
Benician, Nobel winner pen 3rd collaboration For Benicia business owner and writer Grant Cooke, the question isn’t whether crude oil should come in by rail, pipeline or tanker ship. Nor which is better, hybrids or all-electric cars. Cooke is looking ahead to hydrogen-powered vehicles that are no more combustible than those powered by gasoline and […]
ArchiTalk: Secret weapons of design
Things no session should be without OVER THE YEARS I’VE FOUND there are certain tools used in designing a house that are so useful and so powerful that they deserve to be in some sort of Hall of Fame. Barring that, I will at least list them here. I’m talking about the type of design […]
The story of Benicia and Rancho Suscol
The arrival of Dr. Semple Dr. Robert Baylor Semple was California’s first newspaper reporter, publisher and editor. His newspaper, The Californian, was the first newspaper published in California. He was a dentist who also had worked as an attorney, medical doctor, farmer and businessman before coming west on a wagon train in 1846. He was […]
ArchiTalk: The rise and fall of Penn Station
ON MY LAST FULL DAY IN NEW YORK I decided to give my daughter a break from me while I went off on my own for a few hours to see some sights that only I would enjoy. I realized this was a good idea the previous day when Gwenna and I were walking around […]
Lights to go out at downtown city gallery
Gallery 621 will close doors for good this month Gallery 621 opened its doors as a First Street gallery in 2011, providing a venue for well-known and upcoming artists alike. At the end of this month, the gallery will close its doors. A new lease agreement, which was for one year, was the main issue, […]