Buffers won’t work Some of the rejectors of regulated cannabis activity in our town have pleaded for extensive distance buffers around schools, day care businesses, youth centers, religious assemblies, parks and any other place they could think of where minors or other “sensitive populations” (?) are likely to be in attendance. The common rationale was […]
Throwback Thursday: Herald headlines for the week of March 4, 1943, 1968 and 1993
Compiled by Nick Sestanovich 75 years ago The Best Income Tax Story (March 4, 1943) The way one man solved his income tax problem makes the best story on the unpleasant subject of taxes this office has heard— and its author, A.C. Woodress. It seems that a deck hand on the Martinez-Benicia ferry, was listening […]
Council discusses Priority-Based Budgeting
It was a night for numbers as Benicia’s City Council discussed a proposed system for the city’s budget at Tuesday’s meeting. The only item on the agenda for the council was Priority-Based Budgeting (PBB) and the confirmation of strategic results. PBB is an economic approach being used by local governments across America with the goal […]
School board to hear update on district’s positive behavior program
Now that the Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports PBIS) system is in place at all seven of Benicia Unified School District’s sites, Special Services Director Dr. Carolyn Patton will be providing an update at Thursday’s Governing Board meeting. According to a Power Point by Patton, PBIS is a framework aimed at helping schools organize and […]
Benicia Letters Once More: Still Remembering
The following “letter” is part of the continuing series from the unpublished novel by James Garrett, “Benicia Letters Once More”.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 […]
Benician competes to be ultimate ‘Walking Dead’ fan
Rhonda Imel is the harbormaster of the Benicia Marina, but when she is not overseeing the operations of the marina, she is watching people battle against zombies in a post-apocalyptic landscape. In other words, Imel is a huge fan of AMC’s “The Walking Dead,” so much so that she is competing to be a guest […]
Letters: Weapons and cannabis
One bullet The record will show that in the ’80s, my father William stood in his classroom in Pinole Junior High School when, from Appian Way, a shooter fired one bullet from a high-powered rifle through the outside wall of his school. The bullet landed next to his fellow teacher, Al Williams, in the adjoining […]
Benicia High students hold vigil for Florida school shooting victims
In the wake of the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. that left 17 people dead, Benicia High School students marched down to City Park for a candlelight vigil Saturday to pay respect to the victims. The event was organized by a large group of students, including Carson Rendell, […]
Benicia High School honored by state for civic education
On Thursday, Tom Torlakson, state superintendent of public instruction, announced that 74 schools throughout California were recipients of Civic Learning Awards, which honor public schools’ efforts to engage students in civic learning. Sitting among this crop with a merit award is Benicia High School. Benicia High promotes civic engagement in a variety of ways, including […]
Council to talk budget at Tuesday’s meeting
The introduction of priority-based budgeting and confirmation of strategic results is the only agenda item for the City Council’s short Tuesday meeting. According to a staff report by City Manager Lorie Tinfow, Benicia’s budget has been described as “fragile.” This fragility, Tinfow wrote, is caused by expense growth outpacing revenue increases, and future challenges associated […]