I am tired of waking up to the faces of dead children who smile at me from the T.V. or computer screen. I want to tell them they are not dead. I want to reach down into the earth into the ashes and resurrect them— pull them up by their bones and hug them to […]
Poetry Corner: Bud Light “To Gail”
There was a time, alone. When all that was, was known. Our modern reverie And nobody there, but we. And, oh, to hold your hand Feet curled in the sand. In one fleet moment, to feel Something truly real. And, oh, just one brief kiss. And oh
The A Cappella Handyman: The Poems of Benicia
This was supposed to be Part 2 of the column, “Pieces of Work” about my ever-evolving employment history, but that’s more of an odyssey than this writer wants to deal with right now, so my apologies for any angst I may have caused. I’d rather share a few recent pieces, scenes about town, much more […]
A Vibrant Faith for the 21st Century: Descriptive truth and prescriptive truth
By Rev. Henry Sun Special to the Herald Early on in my study of ethics, I was introduced to the leap of faith that is required by any moral decision. For example, one can claim that murder is wrong. (For the record, I agree.) Nonetheless, the claim that any specific murder is wrong is an […]
The Benicia Fullosopher: The truth about cruising (Part 2)
The Benicia Fullosopher Once you have decided the type of cruise you would like, if you wish to get the best price, here are some things to know. Fares vary on the same ship for the exact same itinerary and length of time. Fares are highest when children are out of school. For the rest […]
Benicia Letters Once More: Our Son Continues to Grow
The following “letter” is part of the continuing series from the unpublished novel by James Garrett, “Benicia Letters Once More”. He does not plan to publish the book but instead is choosing to share the letters with the readers of the Benicia Herald. The letters continue the storyline of Garrett’s first novel “Benicia and Letters […]
A Different Drummer: My days in the oil fields
In the summer of 1977 I left State College, Pennsylvania on a Greyhound bus bound for Oklahoma City to work my junior-year summer as an oilfield roughneck. I was excited and looking forward to the money and the rough and tumble hardtack scramble of running a live western oil rig, slinging heavy equipment, getting dirty, […]
Jeff Burkhart’s “Rhyme and Reason”: Destiny
The Dreg-ish-ness inside my soul, that’s fueled me all these years And stood by me through thick and thin, in triumphs, trials and tears Rekindles now to venture forth, to tour throughout the land And join with my old friends again, rebirth our erstwhile band A fair wind blows behind my back, the sun shines […]
Greg Gartrell: Understanding the water rate increases (Part 2)
(Part 1 of this article, published in Friday’s paper, focused on the reasons for Benicia’s water and sewer rate increases. Today’s article aims to explore solutions.) So what can be done about the cost of water and wastewater? I have heard many suggestions as to the causes of the rate increases and how to fix […]
Greg Gartrell: Understanding the water rate increases (Part 1)
As the City Council prepares to review water and wastewater rates and revenues, it would be good to review facts about these issues, in part because I have heard so much speculation over the past months that is simply wrong. Let’s start with: How did we get to a point where a big rate increase […]