By Vicki Byrum Dennis Special to the Herald February kicks off at Gallerie Renee Marie with a new exhibit, “A Flare of the Heart.” According to gallery co-owner Stephanie Gray, the theme of love, courtship, heartbreak and the heart itself has been interpreted very differently by each of the 11 artists who make up the […]
A Mayor’s Perspective: A Look at 2017
By Elizabeth Patterson Benicia Mayor (Editor’s Note: A portion of this article ran in Sunday’s Year in Review section. It is being reprinted here in its entirety.) Mutual understanding and consensus on the most pressing issues facing Benicia will allow the city to focus its limited resources and the city council to make the necessary […]
Report: Benicia shows slight improvement in tobacco control policies, still receives F grade
On Wednesday, the American Lung Association released its State of Tobacco Control 2018 report, which saw marked increases over the previous year for the tobacco control policies of California cities. The report noted that California was leading the nation in such policies, and the Bay Area was one such contributor. Benicia made slight improvements, but […]
Bay Area bridge toll increases on June ballot
The decision over whether or not to raise the toll prices on Bay Area bridges— including the Benicia-Martinez Bridge— rests in the hands of Bay Area voters. The Bay Area Toll Authority unanimously voted to place a measure to approve $3 in fees on all the Bay Area’s toll-operated bridges— minus the independently operated Golden […]
Mary Farmar students taking part in kindness challenge all week
Elementary schoolers already have a tendency to be kind, but this week at Mary Farmar Elementary School, students are taking it to a whole new level. For the second year in a row, Farmar is taking part in the Great Kindness Challenge, an international bullying prevention initiative in which students spend the last week of […]
Annual Arts Benicia program returns to bring local artists together
The biggest gathering of Arts Benicia’s member artists’ works will return to Benicia on Saturday, with one of the gallery’s longest-running annual exhibitions “The Art of a Community.” Since its inception in 1995, “Art of a Community” has been a means to showcase the work of Arts Benicia member artists from the community and […]
Arts Benicia to host After School Art program at Farmar in February
While a school day is not always enough time to learn the basics of art, Arts Benicia is here to make sure creatively inclined students have additional opportunities to hone their craft. After School sessions will be held at Mary Farmar Elementary School throughout February. Arts Benicia’s After School program, sponsored by Benicia Unified School […]
Thompson to make rounds in district in next 2 days
Rep. Mike Thompson, who represents Benicia in the U.S. House of Representatives, was in Washington, D.C. this weekend as the country was in the midst of a government shutdown that ended on Monday, but he is back in the Bay Area. The Democratic congressman is going to have a busy schedule in the next two […]
Police, Fire Department transition to new radio system
Benicia’s police and fire departments have transitioned to a new radio system, according to the city’s weekly newsletter. The switch to a new radio system came after the police and fire department secured funding from Measure C– a revenue initiative approved by Benicia voters in 2014 that set aside $4 million for projects that would […]
Benicia Letters Once More: He Was a Good Man
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 […]