Compiled by Nick Sestanovich

75 years ago

Benicia Population 10,000 (March 25, 1943)

Basing the population on the 7650 registration for ration books, it is estimated that a conservative figure of the number of people living in Benicia is approximately 10,000.
The figure is arrived at on a basis of the number of registrations at the OPA office plus an approximate figure in the neighborhood of 2500 who do not maintain homes but live at restaurants.

50 years ago

Proposed Teachers Pay Plan Received, No Action is Taken (March 21, 1968)

A suggested salary schedule for certificated staff that would entail a district wide increase of approximately $120,000, and a report from district architects John Beland and Norv Miller regarding additions at Benicia High School were highlights of a two-hour session of the trustees of the Benicia Unified School District Monday night in Robert Semple School.
The salary schedule, presented by Leo Giorgernini, president of the Benicia Teachers Association, received a vote of confidence from the three board members in attendance– president Don Passalacqua and trustees Earl Manor and Ron Rice. The trio unanimously approved going on record as being in favor of “adopting the type of salary schedule presented.” The board preferred postponing any action until budget hearings in April.
Giorgernini and the committee, which included Aleene Wilcox, Delores Loewe, Rudy Bradshaw, Mike Doyle, John Galvan and Louise Lambro, chairman, also received a public commendation from Dist. Supt. Dr. Robert L. McKee. “I think they have done a real fine job,” he said.
The schedule calls for a minimum salary of $6,000 per year for teachers with a full California teaching credential. Highest point on the schedule is Step 13 for teachers with an AB degree plus 75 units, or Master’s Degree plus 60 units, $11,700.

25 years ago

It’s a boy! It’s a girl! It’s a boy! (March 21, 1993)

By Sarah Rohrs

If three’s a charm, then Elaine and Bill Hoeler are truly blessed. With two toddlers already in tow, the new residents of Benicia have added triplets– Daniel, Jaclyn and Eric– to their family.
Their lives and arms are full now; in fact, it’s practically impossible to hold all three babies at the same time or even two babies each in their arms.
Born Jan. 16, the little trio made the Hoeler family an instant lucky seven. Their siblings are Christopher, 4; and Diana, 2.
The babies require 35 diapers and 21 bottles of formula per day, adding up to nearly 250 diapers and nearly 150 bottles per week.
For Elaine, the days are endless cycles of feeding, burping and changing diapers– a cycle she repets several times a day with just enough time in between to catch her breath. Bill helps out at his lunch break and at night. He tries to get at least six hours of sleep before he tends to the 1 ½-hour feeding at 4 a.m. before he gets up and goes to work at about 6:30 a.m.
“It’s a good thing this article is running on Sunday. That way people can relax at their Sunday breakfast and be thankful they’re not us,” Bill said, showing a refreshing dry wit that helps him cope with the stress and sleeplessness the new babies have brought.

The full articles of these and other stories are available on microfilm at the Benicia Public Library.

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