10 Reasons To Be Thankful We Live in Benicia

There are lots of reasons to be grateful that we live in this little town by the water. Here are 10 of them:

  1. People Care

After living in this town for 30-plus years it never ceases to amaze me that there are people—and quite a few of them too—who really do care about this community and try to make it a better place to work and live. Not a thing to take for granted.

  1. “De Water! De Water!”

On the old TV series Fantasy Island a colorful character named Tattoo would always cry out, “De plane! De plane!” when an aircraft carrying a new set of visitors to the island arrived at the start of each episode. For us in Benicia, it’s “De water! De water!” Beauty, history, commerce, nature, recreation, and the ideal place to shoot off Fourth of July fireworks—the Carquinez Strait colors everything about this town.

  1. We’re Patriotic

Benicia is a patriotic place. If that’s unfashionable in some quarters, so be it. The pictures of service members past and present adorn banners on First Street. A downtown statue honors a sailor who survived the worst sea disaster in American naval history, later to become a Benicia police officer. Another Benicia man waves Old Glory in front of Veterans Hall every Thursday as passing motorists honk their horns in approval. And any number of young Benicia High graduates have gone on to serve their country in the military, coast guard, and maritime fleets. Some are still serving today.

  1. We Have Bald Eagles

Benicia is so darned patriotic that bald eagles even call it home. There is a bald eagle nest across the road from Lake Herman, and watching America’s national bird take flight above the lake and soar across the sky is a spectacular thing to see.

  1. Improving Roads

Drive around town and you will see improvements in the roads. Many have received or are receiving fresh coats of blessed asphalt. Much work is left to do, but kudos for what appears to be a genuine effort to fix the problem.

  1. People say “Hi.”

People are generally friendly in Benicia. They meet your eye on the street or at the park and say “Hi.” It’s a nice thing.

  1. It’s A Town of Artists

Benicia is, and has been for a long time, a haven for artists. Gregg Renfrow, whose work graces the wall of the library above the fireplace, had a major solo exhibit in San Francisco last year. Ditto for Diane Williams at a Mill Valley gallery. And the painting of Paula Boas and sculptures by Mary Oros lit up Benicia’s NY2CA not long ago. Lots of creative cats walk the streets of this town, and that’s pretty cool. 

  1. We Welcome Newcomers

I happen to know a Cuban-born woman who lives in Benicia and is studying hard to become an American citizen. To improve her English, she is taking the free English as a Second Language classes offered at the library. In her class are students from Italy, Afghanistan, China, Brazil, and other countries. They, too, are working hard to pass the citizenship test and achieve their dream of becoming Americans. And all this is happening in this little town by De Water where bald eagles roam the skies.

  1. We Have a City Magazine

This may seem self-serving, and I suppose it is, but many Benicians may not realize how truly rare and unique Benicia Magazine is. Not many cities of this size—or any size—have a monthly magazine devoted to it. It’s a credit to the publishers and staff, the advertisers, and the community that supports it.

  1. “The Benicia Breeze”

A woman we know who lived a long time in Benicia recently had to move to Vacaville. What does she miss about living here? The “Benicia Breeze,” as she likes to call that constant fact of life that keeps our air fresh, puffs up the sails of sailboats and wind surfers, and cools us all down. Of course, it’d be nice to grill a steak in your backyard now and then without feeling like you’re standing in the middle of a wind tunnel. But I guess you can’t have everything.

Award-winning Benicia author Kevin Nelson writes the Tilting West column on Substack.