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Tuesday, January 30, 2018
Thursday, January 25, 2018
New secondary Herald website
Unfortunately, the main website still isn't back, but I've decided I'm no longer going to be updloading stories here. Please visit our new temporary website at https://beniciaheraldonline.wordpress.com.
GUEST POST: The A Cappella Handyman "January Orange"
January Orange
Up through the roots come the nutrients, met by the bee’s kiss, the pollen of the flower becomes the fruit. The summer sun does its magic, the previous winter’s melting snow quenches the thirst of the growing fruit. A neighbor rings our bell and then knocks on the door at 8 am last week and presents a gift of their backyard tree’s abundance in a shopping sack. I stand in my shorts at the door and thank him. They go into a colander on the counter. Today after work and a nap, I slice down through the fruit on our breadboard, peel back each quarter and eat all the summer’s sun, melting snow, and bee’s pollinating kiss while standing at the sink and thank the neighbor once more for this lead-in title, orange poem in black and white in the local paper.
©Peter Bray 1/23/2018
All rights reserved
Waterfront Blogger
I was gonna do another chapbook
or CD of my stuff, but why?
I upload daily to Facebook,
do a newspaper column and a BLOG weekly,
a Taproot & Aniseweed
Newsletter monthly,
and have way too much of me
already on youtube.com.
A concert from the waterfront
or from The Naked Oyster is already here
to be found elsewhere:
www.peterbray.org
or its brothers and sisters at:
www.peterbray.org/pedro
and www.handymanservicespeterbray.
©Peter Bray 1/22/2018
All rights reserved
The Naked Oyster
Old shipwrights and ghosts of
ferry captains used to be found here,
along with cousins of early Pony Express riders,
foggily or in the clear imagination of my mind –
A combination of sea salt and old ship timbers,
waves lapping against support pilings,
aromas of grilling seafood and garlic ever-present,
vodka-tonics sliding down shiny bars
where lipstick and roses out for the night
meander in darkened corners.
– The Naked Oyster
©Peter Bray 5/6/2017
All rights reserved
Wingman
I fly parallel to the Mother Ship,
I am the wingman.
I fly parallel to the adult child
in the hospital ward,
two months, three months, four months,
24 years of Crohn’s Disease.
I take the notes,
have questions for authority,
contest the maneuvers,
the policies, procedures...
I am the medical historian
and the lay researcher;
the nurse with questions in training,
the right doctor not on the floor,
the resident seemingly behind the door –
I am not here to suppress symptoms
or to sell you pills for my stockholders’
ungodly profit margins,
but to heal and cure and nothing else.
I am not here to blame it
on the immune system
claiming everything unresolvable
to be an “auto-immune” disease:
no other profession hides so easily
under that bed...
How much have we NOT learned
and applied in the last 4,000 years?
Ask yourself why and you are
halfway to a cure for everything.
I am the wingman.
You may not want me
on your team,
but you don’t want me
as an adversary either.
I’m counting on you.
If I fail or fall,
you can be my wingman too.
©Peter Bray, 6/9/2011
All rights reserved
Peter Bray lives works, and writes in Benicia
and has written this column since 2008.
Annual Arts Benicia program returns to bring local artists together
Suzanne Long's figurative piece of a squirrel's head on a human body is one of several works featured in Arts Benicia's "Art of a Community" exhibit. (Photo by Suzanne Long)
The biggest gather 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 beyond. Artists hail from Benicia, of course, but also come from as far away as Sacramento, Napa, San Francisco and even Brentwood. Some artists are from other local galleries but are still members of Arts Benicia. Mary Shaw, retiring exhibitions and programs manager, estimates that between 400 and 450 artists are showcasing their work this year. One thing Shaw likes about the work featured this year is the variety of forms used.
“The range of work is amazing,” she said.
Every form under the sun is represented at “The Art of a Community,” from paintings to photography to ceramics to mixed media. Some of the notable pieces by veteran artists include an interactive hand crank designed by former Arts Benicia Director Larnie Fox, a dog made out recycled wood by Bob Nelson, an assemblage work by Jeff Snell of a warship and octopus tentacles made out of reclaimed cardboard, a ceramic sculpture by Pam Dixon inspired by Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” and a figurative piece of a squirrel’s head on a human body designed by Suzanne Long.
The exhibit is also a showcase for the works of new member artists, including photography by Chayton Marino, paintings by Geri Arata, textiles by sisters Holly and Anita Jessop, and Hannah Haywood who designed a mixed media garden chair.
Shaw said “The Art of a Community” can be a good showcase for new member artists to make a name for themselves.
“It’s difficult for a new artist, amateur artist or unestablished artist to show their work,” she said. “It’s a difficult process responding to calls, it’s sort of expensive going to art fairs and things like that, so this is an opportunity for them to show their work.”
Additionally, Shaw said it is a good opportunity to see what member artists have contributed so they could potentially be showcased at other venues like The Rellik Tavern, Olson Realty, Estey Real Estate and the City Council Chambers, all under the “Arts Benicia Presents” banner.
“If you are an Arts Benicia member and you have something of a body of work, we have curators for each site and they can come in during ‘Art of the Community,’ and they can look and see what member artists are doing and think about if that work would be good for a venue that they curate.”
Returning this year is the Ekphrastic Poetry Reading, in which members of Benicia First Tuesday Poetry Group come to the gallery, look at the work, write a poem about one of the pieces and read them to the artist that created the piece.
“It’s a really nice, full circle event,” Shaw said.
The reading will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24. The event is being coordinated by Poet Laureate Johanna Ely and poet and Arts Benicia member Thomas Eric Stanton.
Shaw hopes that viewers will enjoy the depth and breadth of the artistic work in Benicia, which she views as a true art community.
“Benicia is a destination town,” she said. “It’s sort of a hidden gem, and we have been very involved in the tourism department. We want visitors to come see the art in Benicia, and this is a great start to the year. It’s basically paving the path for Open Studios in the first week of May.”
This year’s “Art of a Community” is a rather bittersweet one as it is the last exhibit that Shaw will be handling before she moves on. Shaw was promoted as exhibitions and programs manager before Open Studios in 2011 and has had a hand in more than 70 exhibits, including a current exhibition at the Benicia Historical Museum titled “Drop By Drop: A Brief History of Benicia Water Through the Eyes of its Artists,” which she curated solo. Jean Purnell, Arts Benicia’s development associate, said Shaw had left an indelible legacy during her time in the position.
“She’s been directing hands between all the other programs that Arts Benicia has coordinated,” she said. “Some of them are collaborations with other organizations, some with the schools, some with other nonprofits, maybe even some other galleries. It’s a huge treasure of cultural enrichment.”
Shaw will be succeeded by Lisa Jetonne Quintero.
“The Art of a Community” will open on Jan. 27 through Sunday, Feb. 25. A reception will be held Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. The Community Open House will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 3, where nonmember artists and the general public can see what Arts Benicia is all about. Doughnuts and coffee will be served, and art demonstrations will be performed. All events will be held at Arts Benicia’s gallery, located at 991 Tyler St., Suite No. 114. gallery hours are noon to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. For more information, visit artsbenicia.org.
Mary Farmar students taking part in kindness challenge all week
Mary Farmar elementary kindergarteners Oscar Caballero, Aspen Harris, Malena Castellanos, Dylan Olech, Kate Fernan, Cameron Bohacek and Roy Bernards and teacher Kellie Barragan take part in the Great Kindness Challenge, which is being celebrated at thousands of schools across the world this week. (Photo courtesy of Tammy Harley)
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 January trying to perform as many acts of kindness as possible. The Great Kindness Challenge is presented by nonprofit group Kids for Peace and has had more than 15,000 students in 91 countries participate.
The challenge was brought to Farmar last year by Tammy Harley, a Special Day Class teacher with the Solano County Office of Education who instructs special education students at Farmar. In its initial year, Harley said participation was pretty minimal and primarily involved her class. Students would address the school through the intercom with such chants as “When I say Mary, you say Farmar!” or “When I say kindness, you say matters!” Harley’s class also decorated hearts and placed them on the windshields of teachers’ cars, and they distributed “Kindness Matters” fliers to their peers. What started out as a modest event was well-received enough that Harley was able to get the entire school involved this year with even bigger events.
One of the biggest features this year is Kindness Stations set up during recess, where students can perform different activities. On Monday, the station had pieces of paper where students could write notes to their teachers.
“The template said, ‘My teacher makes me feel special when…’ and the students were drawing a picture and writing a sentence to give to their teacher,” Harley said.
On Tuesday, students made paper chains which are now hanging in the school’s hallway.
“I had students write their names and an act of kindness that they have participated in,” Harley said.
On Wednesday, students made hearts to give to their friends. Today, kids are designing bookmarks, and the week will all culminate Friday with a schoolwide aerial Living Kindness picture featuring 600 participants.
Harley’s class has also taken part in collecting data on each smile, high five and fist bump they receive from students walking in each morning. On Monday, students received between 25 and 45, more than 80 on Tuesday and over 100 on Wednesday.
“Once kids got involved with it, parents got involved with it having a lot of people walk by my classroom in the morning,” Harley said.
Harley said parents have been a major help, volunteering their time to cut out hearts and bookmarks for the students to build their designs on.
“It has really been overwhelmingly amazing,” she said.
The primary goal, Harley said, has been to reinforce the notion to students that kindness matters.
“Every single act, no matter how small, can build upon and make a difference to people,” she said.
Harley is also grateful for what special education students have been able to accomplish.
“It’s important for me to let everyone know how amazing my students with disabilities are and how kind they are and that they can make a difference too,” she said. “I have already seen this week an increase in the peer interactions between my students with special needs and the general ed population. They are already joining in with them, coming by with our high fives and our fist bumps. Kindness is showing at Mary Farmar this week.”
SCOE is one of four county offices of education to be designated as Kindness Certified, and Farmar Principal Wendy Smith has registered for the school to receive that title. For more information on the Great Kindness Challenge, go to thegreatkindnesschallenge.com.
GUEST POST: City staff go through ethics, sexual harassment prevention training
By George Johnston
Sexual harassment prevention and ethics training were on the agenda for the Benicia City Council and staff at its Tuesday meeting.
Every two years, government employees and officials are required to go through AB1825, sexual harassment, and AB1234, government ethics, training. The meeting, which ran from 6 to 10 p.m., was split into two parts: AB1825 training first, then AB1234.
Sam Zutler, an attorney from Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP, lead the training for sexual harassment prevention. She explained that there are two types of sexual harassment recognized by the law: quid pro quo, the promise of work benefits for the exchange of a sexual demand; and hostile work environment, employees subjected to unwelcome advances, sexual innuendos or offensive gender-related language on a regular basis which make the person feel uncomfortable. Zutler said hostile work environments are not limited to huge events but are a thousand little incidents that build up. She used an example of the first female fire fighter of different cities’ fire departments who faced a hostile work environment and eventually had to sue the city
“Courts are not interested in regulating the individual interaction of people,” Zutler said. “Your workplace has more of an interest in doing that. Your workplace has an interest in you being respectful and productive at work.”
Leah Castella, a litigation attorney from Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP, lead the training for government ethics. She went over rules on transparency, conflict of interest and receiving gifts, and also gave examples of other ethics rules like another city’s employees who misappropriated more than $40,000 dollars in funds.
“What these ethics rules are about, the conflict rules, transparency rules, the gift rules, they are all about ensuring the public believe you are acting in their best interest because, at its foundation, that is your responsibility as a public official to act in the best interest of the public and not your own interest,” Castella said.
She would end the presentation with a slide that "Don't end your career this way” in the reference to all the rules and rule-breaking examples she spent the previous two hours discussing.
The council will next meet on Tuesday, Feb. 6.
Sexual harassment prevention and ethics training were on the agenda for the Benicia City Council and staff at its Tuesday meeting.
Every two years, government employees and officials are required to go through AB1825, sexual harassment, and AB1234, government ethics, training. The meeting, which ran from 6 to 10 p.m., was split into two parts: AB1825 training first, then AB1234.
Sam Zutler, an attorney from Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP, lead the training for sexual harassment prevention. She explained that there are two types of sexual harassment recognized by the law: quid pro quo, the promise of work benefits for the exchange of a sexual demand; and hostile work environment, employees subjected to unwelcome advances, sexual innuendos or offensive gender-related language on a regular basis which make the person feel uncomfortable. Zutler said hostile work environments are not limited to huge events but are a thousand little incidents that build up. She used an example of the first female fire fighter of different cities’ fire departments who faced a hostile work environment and eventually had to sue the city
“Courts are not interested in regulating the individual interaction of people,” Zutler said. “Your workplace has more of an interest in doing that. Your workplace has an interest in you being respectful and productive at work.”
Leah Castella, a litigation attorney from Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP, lead the training for government ethics. She went over rules on transparency, conflict of interest and receiving gifts, and also gave examples of other ethics rules like another city’s employees who misappropriated more than $40,000 dollars in funds.
“What these ethics rules are about, the conflict rules, transparency rules, the gift rules, they are all about ensuring the public believe you are acting in their best interest because, at its foundation, that is your responsibility as a public official to act in the best interest of the public and not your own interest,” Castella said.
She would end the presentation with a slide that "Don't end your career this way” in the reference to all the rules and rule-breaking examples she spent the previous two hours discussing.
The council will next meet on Tuesday, Feb. 6.
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
Arts Benicia to host After School Art program at Farmar in February
Arts Benicia will host a series of painting and drawing workshops at Mary Farmar Elementary School in February. The classes will be taught by Les Overlock. (File photo)
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 District, aims to give students an opportunity to explore the arts and develop new interests. The classes are inspired by the principles of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math), encourage critical thinking and problem solving and are taught by experienced art instructors.
The February session will be taught by Les Overlock, a painter who taught in school settings for 37 years, including a long stint as Liberty High School’s art instructor. Overlock paints everything from animals to human faces to planes to automobiles, utilizing different colors and encouraging painting outside the lines. For the past decade, Overlock has contributed “The Buzz” and “The Buzzard” to the Benicia Herald, which provide clear examples of what his work is all about. Overlock’s workshop at Farmar will focus on drawing and painting.
The workshop will meet from 3 to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays, Feb. 7, 14 and 21 in Farmar’s Multi-Purpose Room, located at 901 Military West. The class is open to all BUSD elementary schoolers in grades 1 through 5. The cost is $30 for members and $35 for non-members. Space is limited. To reserve a spot, go to artsbenicia.org/arts-benicia-
Thompson to make rounds in district in next 2 days
Rep. Mike Thompson, Benicia's representative in the U.S. House, will be in Vallejo tomorrow to discuss the newly enacted tax bill and its potential impact on seniors. (File photo)
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 days as he travels to cities throughout his district to meet with constituents.
First, Thompson will be in Santa Rosa today for a town hall meeting, which is open to all residents in California’s 5th District. The meeting will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Building, located at 1351 Maple Ave.
Thompson has two events on Thursday. The first is a Coffee with Our Congressman event for Pinole residents to meet with Thompson and learn about services available in the area through Thompson’s local office. This event will be held from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Pinole Senior Center, located at 2500 Charles Ave. After that, the congressman is off to Vallejo from 3 to 4:30 p.m. to host a town tax hall for seniors. The event, open to all constituents of California’s 5th District, will discuss how the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act-- passed by both houses of Congress in late 2017-- will impact senior citizens. The meeting will be held at the Florence Douglas Senior Center, located at 333 Amador St.
For more information on any of these events, contact Thompson’s Vallejo office at 645-1888.
GUEST POST: Letter: Following Benicia's example
Following Benicia's example
The city of Benicia has been an inspiration to the city of Vallejo. Just last month, the Vallejo City Council voted to place a measure on their November ballot that would ask residents if Vallejo should allow "A" license cannabis activity (adult use) at their eleven "M" license (medicinal) dispensaries. Now they have abruptly changed course and scheduled a study session next month on "A" license activity. They have even started an online poll similar to the Town Hall survey on cannabis our city took several months ago. It appears the steady leadership on regulated markets in our city has not gone unnoticed by Vallejo and others.
The fact that Vallejo has a whopping 10 percent added tax on all sales that will shift most Vallejo consumers to Benicia may have also played a role in their sudden but expected revisit on the issue. Money talks, and Vallejo stands to lose a lot of it by restricting cannabis to medicinal sales only, not to mention burdening consumers with an added tax on top of sales and excise taxes. The Vallejo City Council can elect to lower their added tax, but at even more cost.
Meanwhile, Benicia is poised to capture the markets of several surrounding cities in Solano County as well as parts of Napa and Contra Costa counties that ban cannabis activity except for deliveries. While some in our community have said we are going "too fast" on cannabis regulation, other Bay Area cities have taken notice and are now playing catchup, following our lead. I predict American Canyon will be the next to reconsider a cannabis ban. The city of Napa is now looking at regulated storefronts as well. Were they inspired by Benicia's leading edge example?
Stan Golovich,
Benicia
The city of Benicia has been an inspiration to the city of Vallejo. Just last month, the Vallejo City Council voted to place a measure on their November ballot that would ask residents if Vallejo should allow "A" license cannabis activity (adult use) at their eleven "M" license (medicinal) dispensaries. Now they have abruptly changed course and scheduled a study session next month on "A" license activity. They have even started an online poll similar to the Town Hall survey on cannabis our city took several months ago. It appears the steady leadership on regulated markets in our city has not gone unnoticed by Vallejo and others.
The fact that Vallejo has a whopping 10 percent added tax on all sales that will shift most Vallejo consumers to Benicia may have also played a role in their sudden but expected revisit on the issue. Money talks, and Vallejo stands to lose a lot of it by restricting cannabis to medicinal sales only, not to mention burdening consumers with an added tax on top of sales and excise taxes. The Vallejo City Council can elect to lower their added tax, but at even more cost.
Meanwhile, Benicia is poised to capture the markets of several surrounding cities in Solano County as well as parts of Napa and Contra Costa counties that ban cannabis activity except for deliveries. While some in our community have said we are going "too fast" on cannabis regulation, other Bay Area cities have taken notice and are now playing catchup, following our lead. I predict American Canyon will be the next to reconsider a cannabis ban. The city of Napa is now looking at regulated storefronts as well. Were they inspired by Benicia's leading edge example?
Stan Golovich,
Benicia
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
GUEST POST: Letters: BHS meetings, Clocktower fence, Art & Culture Commission and more
Missed opportunity in BHS meetings
It is commendable that Andrew Kelly is a senior at Benicia High School and cares enough about the future curriculum planning to attend the recent school informational meetings on proposals for new graduation requirements. He and a group of students actually attended twice - in the a.m. only to find out the conference was actually in the p.m. But the real injustice is they weren't able to address their concerns about aligning all students to UC and CSU's requirements. It's unconscionable that only a few minutes were set aside for comments.
The BUSD missed a wonderful opportunity to find out what these students may have wanted to discuss. It seems to me that the very nature of their concern shows that they have reached a level of maturity where their input would have been invaluable.
Dona Rose,
Benicia
Remove Clocktower fence
What's up with the new cyclone fence on the front corner of the historic Clocktower fortress building? When I went out there last week and saw the fence, at first I thought that there was a construction project going on. Then, I looked more closely and could see that someone has installed a permanent modern shiny silver cyclone fence on the right front corner of the building. I couldn't believe it at first, since I know the city of Benicia has architectural and historical guidelines in place for any alterations to historic buildings and properties. The fence changes the entire historic facade and appearance when looking at the building.
If a fence is needed, it should be compatible to the historic architecture. This fence certainly is not, and would not pass muster on any commision's review. It ruins the historic aesthetic and viewing experience of that building, which by the way, is one of the top five most significant Gold Rush-era masonry structures in town, if not in the entire state of California. Please remove the fence ASAP.
Tom Quinn,
Benicia
Clearing up ACC inaccuracies
I am writing in response to a letter submitted by Donnell Rubay ("Support a local nonprofit," Jan. 14) to address some inaccuracies presented about the Arts and Culture Commission and the Film Festival it sponsors. As a former member and chair of the ACC (Arts and Culture Commission), I have firsthand knowledge that I would like to share.
The first ACC Film Festival was in 2014. Funds for this startup were not provided by the city of Benicia. The funds were garnered by commissioners pounding the pavement in search of donations from the community, and that provided just enough to get the Film Festival up and running. In addition, ad space was sold in the program, which also helped with the overhead. Every year the Film Festival has made a profit, and never has the city of Benicia_provided funding for it. The city gives the ACC a small yearly stipend to cover the cost of copy paper, stationery, and stamps.
Rubay insinuates that a staff person was wasting city resources in aiding the Film Festival Committee, a subcommittee of the ACC, when in fact every city commission has a staff person assigned as a liaison. The Film Festival Committee has the program well in place now, and, as mentioned previously, has made a profit every year. In fact, part of the revenue is put aside yearly to fund next year's festival, with any remaining profit going to the Public Art Fund.
Which brings me to my final point. The ACC sponsored a one-night screening of "Casablanca" at the Majestic as a fundraiser for public art in the city of Benicia. It had nothing to do with the ACC Film Festival. For someone to think that this was stealing the theme from the North Bay Festival is ludicrous.
Patty Gavin,
Benicia
AAUW says thanks
On behalf of the Benicia-Vallejo branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), I wish to thank the businesses whose generosity provided donations for the 24th annual AAUW Bunco fundraiser to help provide funds for educational programs, community projects and the Tech Trek scholarships for six 7th grade girls selected from Benicia and Vallejo middle schools to attend an exciting weeklong residential science, math, and technology summer camp which will be held in June at Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park.
To learn more about joining American Association of University Women, please contact http://beniciavallejo-ca.aauw.
Thank you to the following merchants and businesses of Benicia, Vallejo and beyond:
* Pedrotti ACE Hardware
* Congressman Mike Thompson
* Costco Wholesale No. 132
* First Street Cafe
* Mozart, Einstein & Me
* Pups ‘n’ Purrz Studio
* Bookshop Benicia
* Griffin Fitness
* Studio 41
* Lindsay Art Glass
* Fantastic Sam’s Salon
* Arts Benicia
* Cameilla Tea Room
* Kinder’s Meat-Deli-BBQ
* Collektive
* Wholeself-Health
* Linda Cook, Remax Gold
* Carquinez Village
* SAC’s Hot Dogs
* Starbuck’s Coffee Solano Square
* Lucca Bar and Grill
* North Capital, Inc.
* Benicia Coffee Company
* Scandia Family Fun Center
* Roberto’s Fine Jewelry
Also, a special thanks to the members of AAUW who helped gather donations, organize baskets, wrap raffle gifts, provide appetizers, and all the other details that help to make our annual January BUNCO fundraiser a great success.
AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, and research. We truly appreciate the community of Benicia and Vallejo and their support.
Mary Hammonds,
AAUW Benicia-Vallejo event chair
It is commendable that Andrew Kelly is a senior at Benicia High School and cares enough about the future curriculum planning to attend the recent school informational meetings on proposals for new graduation requirements. He and a group of students actually attended twice - in the a.m. only to find out the conference was actually in the p.m. But the real injustice is they weren't able to address their concerns about aligning all students to UC and CSU's requirements. It's unconscionable that only a few minutes were set aside for comments.
The BUSD missed a wonderful opportunity to find out what these students may have wanted to discuss. It seems to me that the very nature of their concern shows that they have reached a level of maturity where their input would have been invaluable.
Dona Rose,
Benicia
Remove Clocktower fence
What's up with the new cyclone fence on the front corner of the historic Clocktower fortress building? When I went out there last week and saw the fence, at first I thought that there was a construction project going on. Then, I looked more closely and could see that someone has installed a permanent modern shiny silver cyclone fence on the right front corner of the building. I couldn't believe it at first, since I know the city of Benicia has architectural and historical guidelines in place for any alterations to historic buildings and properties. The fence changes the entire historic facade and appearance when looking at the building.
If a fence is needed, it should be compatible to the historic architecture. This fence certainly is not, and would not pass muster on any commision's review. It ruins the historic aesthetic and viewing experience of that building, which by the way, is one of the top five most significant Gold Rush-era masonry structures in town, if not in the entire state of California. Please remove the fence ASAP.
Tom Quinn,
Benicia
Clearing up ACC inaccuracies
I am writing in response to a letter submitted by Donnell Rubay ("Support a local nonprofit," Jan. 14) to address some inaccuracies presented about the Arts and Culture Commission and the Film Festival it sponsors. As a former member and chair of the ACC (Arts and Culture Commission), I have firsthand knowledge that I would like to share.
The first ACC Film Festival was in 2014. Funds for this startup were not provided by the city of Benicia. The funds were garnered by commissioners pounding the pavement in search of donations from the community, and that provided just enough to get the Film Festival up and running. In addition, ad space was sold in the program, which also helped with the overhead. Every year the Film Festival has made a profit, and never has the city of Benicia_provided funding for it. The city gives the ACC a small yearly stipend to cover the cost of copy paper, stationery, and stamps.
Rubay insinuates that a staff person was wasting city resources in aiding the Film Festival Committee, a subcommittee of the ACC, when in fact every city commission has a staff person assigned as a liaison. The Film Festival Committee has the program well in place now, and, as mentioned previously, has made a profit every year. In fact, part of the revenue is put aside yearly to fund next year's festival, with any remaining profit going to the Public Art Fund.
Which brings me to my final point. The ACC sponsored a one-night screening of "Casablanca" at the Majestic as a fundraiser for public art in the city of Benicia. It had nothing to do with the ACC Film Festival. For someone to think that this was stealing the theme from the North Bay Festival is ludicrous.
Patty Gavin,
Benicia
AAUW says thanks
On behalf of the Benicia-Vallejo branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), I wish to thank the businesses whose generosity provided donations for the 24th annual AAUW Bunco fundraiser to help provide funds for educational programs, community projects and the Tech Trek scholarships for six 7th grade girls selected from Benicia and Vallejo middle schools to attend an exciting weeklong residential science, math, and technology summer camp which will be held in June at Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park.
To learn more about joining American Association of University Women, please contact http://beniciavallejo-ca.aauw.
Thank you to the following merchants and businesses of Benicia, Vallejo and beyond:
* Pedrotti ACE Hardware
* Congressman Mike Thompson
* Costco Wholesale No. 132
* First Street Cafe
* Mozart, Einstein & Me
* Pups ‘n’ Purrz Studio
* Bookshop Benicia
* Griffin Fitness
* Studio 41
* Lindsay Art Glass
* Fantastic Sam’s Salon
* Arts Benicia
* Cameilla Tea Room
* Kinder’s Meat-Deli-BBQ
* Collektive
* Wholeself-Health
* Linda Cook, Remax Gold
* Carquinez Village
* SAC’s Hot Dogs
* Starbuck’s Coffee Solano Square
* Lucca Bar and Grill
* North Capital, Inc.
* Benicia Coffee Company
* Scandia Family Fun Center
* Roberto’s Fine Jewelry
Also, a special thanks to the members of AAUW who helped gather donations, organize baskets, wrap raffle gifts, provide appetizers, and all the other details that help to make our annual January BUNCO fundraiser a great success.
AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, and research. We truly appreciate the community of Benicia and Vallejo and their support.
Mary Hammonds,
AAUW Benicia-Vallejo event chair
GUEST POST: Benicia Letters Once More: He Was a Good Man
By James Garrett
Special to the Herald
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 of Love". Each "letter" tells of love in one of its many forms from a separate point of view. Benicia is represented prominently in the letters because of Garrett's deep fondness for the city of Benicia. He hopes readers see themselves or others they know in the letters because the concept of "Love" is universal.
Dear Mr. Garrett,
There was a man I met long ago and talked with many times over the years. I never thought we were close. We knew each other for years, had lunch together occasionally, and told each other of our history. That was all it was. I knew his family and he knew mine, but there was never any socializing between the families. He and I were just guys going through life. We watched each other's sons play for Benicia High over the years. Our sons were never teammates because my son matriculated prior to his.
After he died his wife came by the house. We probably sat and talked for two hours. I learned he liked to hear me whistle. I told her he taught me the way to make a certain type of sandwich.
Our visit came to an end. As we walked to the front door, I told her if she ever needed anything, with which I could help, I'd do the best I could.
She replied she and her husband always knew that about me. Then she said something which remains with me today and always will. She said her husband had loved me. I never knew. I just thought we were two guys who spent a little time together over the years.
I didn't understand until years later that I loved him also and miss the times we shared. We didn't always agree. Maybe that was part of the love we shared. He was a good man. I'm proud to have known him and to have shared those times together we were allowed by fate to have. I would have liked to have had more. Perhaps I would have understood while he lived that he loved me and I loved him.
Scott
James Garrett is a lifelong resident of Benicia and a former teacher at Benicia High School. He is the author of the following novels: “Benicia and Letters of Love,” “The Mansion Stories,” “Chief Salt,” and “One Great Season, 9-0!” He also compiled a three-volume work titled “The Golden Era: Benicia High School Football, The 1948 through 1960 Seasons, “A” History with Comments.”
He can be contacted at jgstoriesnpoetry@aol.com.
Special to the Herald
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 of Love". Each "letter" tells of love in one of its many forms from a separate point of view. Benicia is represented prominently in the letters because of Garrett's deep fondness for the city of Benicia. He hopes readers see themselves or others they know in the letters because the concept of "Love" is universal.
Dear Mr. Garrett,
There was a man I met long ago and talked with many times over the years. I never thought we were close. We knew each other for years, had lunch together occasionally, and told each other of our history. That was all it was. I knew his family and he knew mine, but there was never any socializing between the families. He and I were just guys going through life. We watched each other's sons play for Benicia High over the years. Our sons were never teammates because my son matriculated prior to his.
After he died his wife came by the house. We probably sat and talked for two hours. I learned he liked to hear me whistle. I told her he taught me the way to make a certain type of sandwich.
Our visit came to an end. As we walked to the front door, I told her if she ever needed anything, with which I could help, I'd do the best I could.
She replied she and her husband always knew that about me. Then she said something which remains with me today and always will. She said her husband had loved me. I never knew. I just thought we were two guys who spent a little time together over the years.
I didn't understand until years later that I loved him also and miss the times we shared. We didn't always agree. Maybe that was part of the love we shared. He was a good man. I'm proud to have known him and to have shared those times together we were allowed by fate to have. I would have liked to have had more. Perhaps I would have understood while he lived that he loved me and I loved him.
Scott
James Garrett is a lifelong resident of Benicia and a former teacher at Benicia High School. He is the author of the following novels: “Benicia and Letters of Love,” “The Mansion Stories,” “Chief Salt,” and “One Great Season, 9-0!” He also compiled a three-volume work titled “The Golden Era: Benicia High School Football, The 1948 through 1960 Seasons, “A” History with Comments.”
He can be contacted at jgstoriesnpoetry@aol.com.
GUEST POST: Police, Fire Department transition to new radio system
By George Johnston
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 improve the quality of life for Benicians-- to make this change possible. The old system was replaced with the East Bay Regional Communications System Authority, a network of communications systems throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties and based in Dublin. The goal of EBRCSA is to operate a P25 compliant communications system for the public agencies within both counties. The inclusion of Benicia took about a year to go into full effect. The million-dollar project would not have been possible without the support of the community both departments said in the newsletter.
In other Benicia happenings, the city’s Human Resources Department is taking applications for a paramedic firefighter position, which can be found online at http://agency.governmentjobs.
For other items in this week’s “City of Benicia This Week” newsletter, visit ci.benicia.ca.us/citymanager.
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 improve the quality of life for Benicians-- to make this change possible. The old system was replaced with the East Bay Regional Communications System Authority, a network of communications systems throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties and based in Dublin. The goal of EBRCSA is to operate a P25 compliant communications system for the public agencies within both counties. The inclusion of Benicia took about a year to go into full effect. The million-dollar project would not have been possible without the support of the community both departments said in the newsletter.
In other Benicia happenings, the city’s Human Resources Department is taking applications for a paramedic firefighter position, which can be found online at http://agency.governmentjobs.
For other items in this week’s “City of Benicia This Week” newsletter, visit ci.benicia.ca.us/citymanager.
Vallejo boxer preps for upcoming fight
(Yes, back here again. The site has exceeded its bandwidth, so I'll be posting here again for the time being).
Global Boxing Organization light heavyweight champion Ryan Bourland was given three months to prepare for a Feb. 10 fight against Jose Hernandez at Cache Creek Casino Resort. Nonetheless, the Vallejo boxer says he is up for the task of defending his title.
“We got the notice about two months ago,” he said. “I’ve been at it two months straight.”
Bourland, nicknamed “Rhino,” hosted a Media Day on Saturday where he invited people to watch him train at his Benicia studio for his fight against Hernandez. Bourland runs a business called Team Rhino Boxing, which operates out of the space of Pro-Faction Martial Arts in the Industrial Park, where he provides boxing instruction lessons to youth and adults. When he is not teaching, he is preparing for his own fights, where he has maintained a healthy career with the Global Boxing Organization, having only lost one fight out of 14 in the last four years. During this time, he delivered five knockouts.
Bourland, 29, began boxing at the age of 11 after having gotten in trouble in school numerous times.
“My parents thought it would be good for me to get into a boxing gym and get some aggression out,” he said. “I ended up really liking it.”
He took a short break from boxing during his teen years but got back into the ring and has been at it ever since. Bourland enjoys the large amount of effort one has to put in if they want to become a successful fighter.
“You can go as far as you wanna go if you work hard,” he said. “It’s all about as much work as you put in. You can come from nothing and have everything if you put the work in.”
For Bourland, the greatest accomplishment has been coming as far as he has in his career, especially winning the light heavyweight belt. For someone who had difficulty in school in his younger years, he is proud to have become a role model for others.
“I got in a lot of trouble growing up, and now it seems like there’s a lot of kids looking up to me,” he said. “I remember when I was getting in trouble, nobody would be around me. I’m proud to change my direction in life.”
Now Bourland is busy training for his fight against Hernandez, another light heavyweight boxer with a record of 18 wins— nine of them resulting in knockouts—, three losses and one draw. Nonetheless, Bourland says he is ready to take on Hernandez.
“This is my 16th fight,” he said. “It’s a tough opponent, so we were gonna have to cross each other’s paths sooner or later and now is the time. It’s a step up for me, and we’re ready for it.”
Bourland and Hernandez will be sharing a bill with the main fight between Alan Sanchez and Cleotis Pendarvis and four other bouts. The first fight will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10 at the Cache Creek Casino Resort, located at 14455 Highway 16 in Brooks. Tickets are priced at $95 and $125, and can be purchased at cachecreek.com/entertainment. This event is for ages 21 and older and will not be televised or streamed. No cameras will be allowed. For more information on Bourland or Team Rhino Boxing, visit rhinoboxing.com.
Boxer Ryan Bourland (Left) trains against coach Tony Armenta for his upcoming fight against Jose Hernandez. (Photo by Nick Sestanovich)
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