The Benicia Independent

Community Events and Announcements


The Benicia Independent
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Roger Straw, Editor
766 West J Street
Benicia, CA 94510.

The Benicia Vigil for Peace - EVERY Thursday, 4-6pm

War protesters plan to gather on Thanksgiving Day

By Roger Straw

BENICIA, CA / November 13, 2007, 9:00 AM    Last January 11th, the Benicia Vigil for Peace celebrated its 200th consecutive Thursday afternoon of protesting the war in Iraq. Every single Thursday since the bombing of Baghdad began in March, 2003, Benicia has had a quiet and dedicated reminder for the Bush administration, that there should be a better way to conduct international diplomacy than preemptive war. By now, vigilers have showed up, by my count -- another 43 Thursdays?  243 in a row!

Packed away inside that raw number, 243, is the astonishing commitment that has motivated the very loosely organized peace group to show up even when a holiday falls on a Thursday, including Thanksgiving.

While most of us are getting fat and watching football, a handful of Benicians and nearby friends are out there on the sidewalk at First and Military, 4-6pm as usual, with signs bearing reminders of conscience: Support the Troops - Bring Them Home, and No More War!

This year on Thanksgiving Day, long-time vigil attendees are expecting a Thanksgiving treat that has nothing to do with turkeys or pumpkins: fellow protester David Y., recently returned from active duty in Fallujah, Iraq, has promised to attend, giving thanks for his own safe return and giving voice to his shared concern for the return of all our service men and women and an end to our nation's warring ways.

Christmas at the
Camel Barns, Nov. 25

Submitted by Bonnie Weidel

You are invited to share in this celebration of Benicia cultural heritage. This year the event, previously called Christmas at the Clocktower (where it was presented for 24 years!), moves to the Benicia Historical Museum!

The original idea was to have Benicia History, Performing Arts and Visual Arts come together in annual celebration of our shared cultural heritage. This year will bring together again opera and saxaphones, poetry and fortune telling, fine crafts for sale, llama and goat corral, Limber Jim Bartz Band from Bird's Landing, Early American contra dancing with caller, Can Can Girls and gold panning, weaving and spinning demonstrations----and much more to do, to watch, to munch on. Box Social on Sunday, November 25, features Lunch with the new Mayor of Benicia!

You cannot afford to miss this one! It's all on the postcard mailer attached!

Hope you can attend!Click for a printable postcard mailer


Unique Gift Faire Turns 10 Years Old

Submitted by Vince Mazzera

Vallejo, CA – November 19, 2007 – Churches in Vallejo, American Canyon, and Benicia will celebrate “10 years of giving” at the annual Global Holiday Faire, December 1st from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at First Christian Church. To mark the occasion, the community is once again invited to come do its holiday shopping at this unique gift faire that benefits only nonprofit organizations. Over its first nine years, organizers estimate that the faire has raised $44,000 for nonprofit organizations with missions as varied as relieving hunger and poverty, creating affordable housing, responding to natural disasters, and providing local youth with after-school activities. The formula that has led to this success – “fair trade” gift items from over 30 countries; art, crafts, gift baskets, and baked goods from our own community; and lunch – will be in effect again this year, and organizers hope to match last year’s high of $11,000 in funds raised.

But the faire is about more than just raising money; just as important is the goal of educating the community about these nonprofits and the work that they do. The faire also aims to encourage people to shop in a way that makes a real difference in the lives of people in need – in our own community and around the world. The faire’s slogan is “One stop shopping, double your holiday giving” because if a person buys an item at the faire to give as a gift, it really becomes two gifts: one for the recipient of the actual gift, and one for the nonprofit that the person is supporting through the purchase.

In the 2007 installment of the faire, organizers are excited to spotlight new groups, including Bead for Life, which has been featured on NBC Nightly News and highlighted in Oprah Winfrey’s “O” magazine. Meanwhile, the faire will once again benefit local organizations Friends of Loma Vista Farm, the DePaul Women’s Center, the Amador Street Hope Center, and Milestones of Development, along with national and international returning favorites such as Bridge for Africa, Heifer International, SERRV/A Greater Gift, and the Nairobi Empowerment Center. In all, more than a dozen organizations are scheduled to be assisted through this year’s Global Holiday Faire.

In addition to the many diverse gifts from around the world, the faire offers tables of art, crafts, gift baskets, and baked goods, plus a “regifted table” of new and like-new items. At the many tables in all, patrons will find jewelry, art, clothing, and baskets, along with Christmas decorations, ornaments and cards, plus other religious and secular treasures from around the world. Lunch will be sold, and as people shop and eat, an array of choirs will entertain them. In total, the faire provides a fun, festive atmosphere where people come together to raise money for worthy causes. Admission is free.

The First Christian Church is located at 1035 Indiana Street, at the corner of Indiana and Colusa Streets, one block north of Tennessee Street in Vallejo. For information visit http://www.globalholidayfaire.org or call: 707-552-2900


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