Column
FR OM T HE EDIT O R August 2020 We are halfway into a year with few opportunities for traditional vacations or holiday activities amid the coronavirus pandemic. I am a traveler, wanderer, camper, hiker; a hit the open road kind of person. I miss the freedom that travel brings. I know that the situation that we are in is temporary and that we will once again be able travel. The length of the pandemic is ultimately up to us. My dog, Emmy has afforded me the most opportunity to get out of my house. There are wonderful dog-friendly trails that are open in Benicia and all around the Bay Area. My husband Jon and I pack the backpack with water and sandwiches and hit the road. We are mindful of social distancing and wear a mask when there are other hikers. We do our best to find isolated trails that are hopefully uninhabited by fellow humans. Of course, these are outings that take hours, not days, and we soon find ourselves home again. And there is always something that needs to be done at home. Like many people, we have invested our extra and ongoing stay-at-home time on our house and yard. We have an abundant vegetable garden and will soon be inundated with way too many tomatoes, basil, zucchinis, peppers and more. We will be supplying the Food is Free Benicia food stands with much of the overflow. I have decided, along with my daughter Genevieve and my (almost) daughter-inlaw, Karina to try canning some of our bounty. We will enlist the help of one of Benicia’s expert canners, who has shared some of her recipes in this issue. There will be only virtual classes during the first quarter of the school year, which begins August 17th. The BUSD has put together the most comprehensive program possible to ensure that our children and educators are safe. No one really knows how this will work, but we all know it won’t be easy for anyone. Teachers hold a paramount role in our children’s development, helping to shape their understanding of the world and how they can choose to engage in it. We are now asking our teachers to go beyond – become even more flexible within unknown parameters and rise to their calling in the face of a pandemic. Now, more than ever, our educators need all the support they can get. We are heading into election season! The September issue will contain statements from the candidates for mayor and for city council. The October issue will cover ballot measures that Benicia residents will be voting on. There will not be any opinion articles.
Mary Hand Editor
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8 • Benicia Magazine
