29 minute read
Music Scene – Return to Live Music
The Return to Live Music
Where has Covid-19 taken us?
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n Marty DuVall
“Never a cover, not even a roof…” This clever saying was coined by regular Lucca Beer Garden musician and Benicia friend, Brian Hough. The quip was often attached to Lucca media notices promoting its music lineup, referring to the outdoor music venue with open admission and no cover charge since opening in 2016.
Imagine the nuance behind the decision to open the Lucca Beer Garden 2021 music season in March with required seat assignments and a $5 reservation fee. Referring to this as the “New
Normal,” Covid-19 restrictions required space and capacity limitations. Great consideration went into an operation that could still be welcoming, safe and viable after over a year of closure and no music. The overwhelming popularity of Lucca Bar and Grill’s outdoor annex needed considered focus. The possibility that throngs of returning happy revelers could overflow the premises and hamper Lucca’s requirement to reduce and comply with County and State regulations to reopen were problematic.
With fans, musicians, employees and business operators all being anxious to get back to work and the tonic of music, something resembling “normal” needed creation. Hard decisions to move heavy redwood picnic tables from upper level to lower levels paid off with a great socially distanced space. Café tables were shuffled continuously until an alignment allowing appropriate adherence to guidelines was achieved throughout the space’s various levels. The greatest creation of all was gathering a new staff – along with the return of some stalwart regulars. With long dark periods over last summer and winter, staff attrition was an issue. A revamped kitchen staff and menu and a whole month of music events in the books see Lucca’s operating as well as ever. Outside. In the meantime, Lucca Bar and Grill’s dining room remains dormant, awaiting pandemic relief and a and a Countyapproved indoor dining capacity that would make it profitable to open.
Did someone mention music? Before a single note could be played, all the considerations above needed to be addressed and the music needed to be scaled to the level of Covid-19 compliance. Enjoying an established balance of “regular” bands and new talent, we’ve built our schedule around those performers that could readily adjust to playing as duos. Building our initial repertoire around smaller acts keeps the space allowed by Covid requirements in compliance for the stage and musicians. At a certain point, the music schedule will expand to full bands once Solano County makes its way through changing tiers and restrictions go away. As of publication, there are still uncertainties about what Solano County’s tier status could be. Here are some observations from within our immediate music region – I like to envision Southern Solano County
and Northern Contra Costa County (SoSoCo/NoCoCo?) as a cohesive music appellation sharing fans, talent and venues:
The Rellik “Retreat” was created downtown as the City of Benicia enabled temporary dwellings for restaurants to accommodate expanded outdoor business. The establishment of these allowances enabled outdoor performance spaces and have directly helped the Rellik Tavern to survive the pandemic. These more modest music offerings and reduced occupancy have engendered a great appreciation for the talent and enhanced engagement between bands and the audience. “The new atmosphere, and live music’s inclusion have been a ‘release,’” according to Rellik Tavern Proprietor, Deb Rollans.
Don Bassey−Band Leader/Music Producer and Lucca Beer Garden mainstay: As a working musician, I’ve dearly missed performing for a live audience, being with my musical partners and taking in a live show from time to time. Of course, all of our bank
accounts have taken a hit. I expect that if people are mindful of the guidelines we’re asked to follow, by summer we may be able to enjoy more and more live music in less restrictive settings.
Marilyn Carver – Marilyn’s Weekly Calendar: Now that music is starting up, everybody’s excited. Fans are so happy to have live music back that they’re very generous about tipping. Everybody’s really happy to see each other again – bands and audiences alike. I’m hoping people continue to be cautious. See Marilyn’s music event listings at https:// www.facebook.com/groups/438516136339459/
Chris ‘CB’ Bryant of GarageLand Rodeo: Getting back in on the resurgent music scene full tilt, Chris Bryant, front man for Martinez-based band GarageLand Rodeo states, “now that we’re back to full band rehearsal – all band members are vaccinated or in process – we still wear masks, run air filtration, wipe surfaces and mics, etc, in the studio.”
CB goes on to say “we are starting to do live performances – distancing ourselves from audiences and requesting that folks remain seated and in their social groups as much as possible.”
While staging and promoting shows they present, GarageLand Rodeo maintains social distance and wears masks on stage when they are not singing. They insist audiences maintain masks when not actively eating or drinking, and groups are asked to remain seated and not mix.
Tough as it may be, attendees need to be reminded that dancing is still not allowed under the current restrictions.
It’s time for live music. Bring your mask, keep your distance and save the dancing urge for when there’s more room to spread out. And don’t forget rule #1 – Let’s have a good time!
POUR YOUR Mother Another
n Maura Sullivan
Mother’s Day, a day to celebrate the women who love like no other. This day is not only to celebrate but to acknowledge their hard efforts. Whether it be helping with homework and packing lunches, or judging outfits and questionable men, she is always there to help. We all know these women. Their days almost never go without a struggle and yet they still find a way to make our lives a little bit easier. Mothers need a little more than just a card and flowers. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a lovely gesture but if we’re planning on celebrating, we need something a little bit more enticing.
Of course brunch is the go-to choice, but what about after? Mother’s day can’t just end there. She’s going to want an experience, something different than mimosas and pedicures. I have an option that might just brighten her day, as well as yours.
There’s a beautiful little wine bar located in downtown Napa that is sure to make your mama happy. It’s not just your typical wine bar. This bar specializes in sparkling wine and champagne. Be Bubbly Napa Valley is an amazing spot to enjoy some well needed bubbles and charcuterie. A beautiful stone bar with luxurious velvet seats to comfort any hard working mom. There’s a wide variety of by-theglass on the menu to please any experienced drinker. The staff is more than helpful when picking the right bubbles for her special day. If the weather is pleasant, the outdoor seating option offers a lovely view of downtown and the exquisite bar inside. I would normally suggest a bottle to drink, but that would take the fun out of ordering a flight and discovering for yourself.
I promise this will make for an enjoyable, unforgettable day. Leave the homemade mugs to the kids. Wishing all madres a Happy Mothers day!
Xoxo The Favorite Child
Hidden Benicia The Alleys of Old Town
n Kevin Nelson
Down on First Street, between a garden and a pet grooming shop, is little Kuhland Alley, one of the most unique places in all
of Benicia. Why unique? Because it is an alley, and because it has a name: Kuhland Alley. The other alleys of Old Town are like stray cats; they don’t have names.
There is the alley at the top of Benicia’s main street, that runs beside beautiful and grace-filled St. Paul’s Church with its inviting benches and trees in front. But does it have a street sign proudly stating its name like Kuhland? No. Nor does this same alley on the west side of First, where it backs onto the playhouse for Benicia’s local theater group.
To some, perhaps, this is only right and fitting. Alleys are best left forgotten. They are, like those stray cats, in dire need of a bowl of warm milk and some grooming. Too small, too scraggly, and entirely disrespectable, compared to a proper street. Many are rutted and unpaved, and parking is usually forbidden in the alleys themselves because of their narrowness. They also have a slightly seedy, even dangerous aura, the sort of places where Jack the Ripper used to lurk when he was terrorizing fog-shrouded London.
Benicia’s alleys are, of course, nothing to be afraid of; in fact, they have sights you won’t see elsewhere around town and they lead to unexpected discoveries. An alley is defined as a narrow walk or passage, typically through a garden or park, but Benicia’s alleys tend to take you behind apartments and other buildings. The backside of buildings, like the backside of people, offers a much different view than when seen from the front. You might see a landlocked rusted fishing boat teetering on a trailer, a tree with grapefruits the size of overinflated softballs, and a whimsical country cottage painted half green, half red.
The alley behind the State Capitol and the Fischer- Hanlon House, when it enters onto First, is covered—our version of the bridges of Madison County. Alleys, themselves neglected treasures, sometimes lead to other neglected treasures, such as the Benicia Fire Museum. Anyone intrepid enough to walk the block-long alley next to St. Paul’s will find, on East Second, this humble tribute to the oldest, still active volunteer fire fighting organization in California. Another pleasant discovery, to be found at the end of Kuhland Alley, is the restful, park-like setting by the water at the Benicia Yacht Club, also on East Second.
The alley on the east side of First next to the brick Benicia Herald building is most curious. It is missing its twin: there is no companion alley on the opposite side as there is for other alleys on the street. This mystery is solved by driving over to West Second. There, between H and I, the alley reappears, like a snake that has had part of its body cut off but continues to live. Surely what must have happened was that development came to that block of First and the ancient passageway was removed.
But this truncated alley on West Second is not blind, not a dead-end; it leads to one of the prettiest waterside public access spots in Benicia. Travel another block down to West Third where you’ll see a “Not A Through Alley” sign. Turn left here and quickly right again and the cove at the foot of H with its sweeping views of the river and bridge will appear as in a dream. Bring someone you love, a picnic lunch and a bottle of something bubbly. And don’t forget: You found this happy marriage of land and water because of a stray cat alley.
Big Plans for E Street Lot
n Genevieve Hand
The vacant lot at E and 2nd Street has been a barren fixture in our otherwise picturesque downtown for decades. A welcome overflow parking lot during bustling events in the past, the lot has otherwise been closed due to concerns over misuse. In recent years, tenants and owners of the adjacent condos have complained about dust coming from the gravel-filled expanse. As such, the city is now maneuvering to make something of the E Street Lot.
There are a number of proposals currently floating around City Council. Developing the area for a hotel or a mixed-use space are two such ideas, as is solidifying its current identity as a permanent parking lot. The permanent parking lot idea is, obviously, the most benign of the proposals, calling for a mere paving treatment, which would eliminate problems with dust and generally make it an easier parking lot to utilize. Additionally, adjustments would be made to the lot to enable proper drainage, lighting fixtures would likely be installed, as well as some landscape design. All told, this project would cost roughly $1.1M and would not recoup any of its cost to the city throughout its use.
The hotel alternative would involve selling the parcel to a developer who would then build a hotel property aimed at either business travelers or vacationers. The pre-Covid assessment of hotel feasibility noted the infrequency of vacancies at current hotels in town, indicating a demand which a new hotel could fill. This plan would generate income for the City in the form of land sale and income taxes, as well as a potential bevy of visiting patrons to the downtown area.
However, the City’s Housing Element requires any City-owned site available for development to first be considered in the achievement of the regional affordable housing allocation. This allocation is distributed by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) and is due for an update. Under current allocation, there are more than enough spaces available for affordable housing within Benicia
Assessor's Map
to meet the criteria, but the current availability may not meet projected reallocation numbers. The other locations under consideration include the church property at W. 12th and Military, the lot at L and E. 4th Street (part of the East Gateway study area), and the open space at London Circle and 780. Additionally, with the supply of housing in Benicia struggling to keep up with demand, there is pressure to utilize the space in a way that would help close that gap.
Enter, the current favorite proposal: a multi-level, mixed-use property.
Although current ordinances cap downtown structures at two-stories, the mixed-use property proposal calls for a whopping four-story structure. Although current ordinances mandate commercial use occupy the bottom story of a mixed-use property, the proposal calls for residential units to begin on the bottom floor and reach up to the third story. The fourth floor would be used for a commercial purpose – possibly a restaurant or event venue.
This proposal has gained traction among City Council, and, as of the end of March, they have instructed staff to move forward with a Request to Proposal on the issue. They are confident the necessary changes in ordinance can be overcome and are optimistic about the Goldilocks nature of the plan. The residential portion of the property would be primarily market-value, with 10% allotted for affordable housing. The income from these properties would provide revenue for the City, as would the income from a new commercial space that would likely be a draw for locals and visitors alike. The uniqueness of the structure would give the commercial property a phenomenal view of the surrounding city and waterfront that is sure to be an attraction on its own. The location of the property would allow for the taller structure, such that no neighbor’s desirable view would ultimately be blocked.
However, there are still some concerns over this plan. Some, including Mayor Young, would prefer to see the whole structure be used for affordable housing or senior housing. Additionally, the City has embarked on a feasibility process to determine the soundness of the earth for the foundation of the various proposals. Due to its proximity to the marina, the E Street lot poses some problems in that department. Crews will have to dig deep to bypass the layers of soft sediment displaced there by the construction of the marina many years ago. This foundation will have to be dug even deeper if the proposal for a multilevel building is chosen.
Despite the concerns, the City is actively looking for interested developers who could help uncover the E Street lot’s full potential. Public opinion is also welcome on the matter, so you can have a voice in what gem emerges from the rough.
Shannon Sullivan-Cramer Mother Extraordinaire
There ought to be a hall of fame for mamas Creation’s most unique and precious pearls And heaven help us always to remember That the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world. – Glen Campbell and Steve Warner
Once again that annual event, Mother’s Day, has rolled around, and we celebrate all those special mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, friends and relations who look after us in our lives. Here in Benicia we pay tribute to the astonishing mother and longtime resident, Dr. Shannon Sullivan-Cramer. And Dr. Sullivan-Cramer is quick to throw bouquets at her own mother, Susan Sullivan, a retired educator at Mills Elementary School and principal at Mary Farmar Elementary School, her paternal grandmother Helen Karr, her husband Dustin, and Cooper, the indispensable nanny to her three daughters, Calli (age 5), Dylan (age 2) and Blake (4 weeks old.) The support from these four individuals enables Dr. Shannon to do her job as a mother, wife, and OB/GYN.
Dr. Sullivan-Cramer grew up here in Benicia, graduated from Benicia High School, attended Occidental College, and then medical school. Shannon does everything from regular check-ups, to deliveries and emergency surgeries, all while raising her own babies. Even though she recently moved her growing family to Lafayette, she still considers herself a Benician, still has friends here from elementary school, still enjoys shopping at the farmers’ market, and loves the small town feel of the place. Benicia Magazine recently interviewed Dr. Sullivan-Cramer and found out her view on her current situation.
What inspired you to become an OB/GYN?
Even as a youngster, I knew I wanted to help women, but I wasn’t sure just how I would do that. I was always into the sciences and did well in that area. My focus changed after I attended a WHO study abroad program at college where I worked with refugees and midwives in North Africa. They taught me the importance of women’s health and how vital that is to every community. I loved taking care of people in the community, and I still do.
How do you manage three kids and your practice?
I could not do my job without the help from my amazing partner, my parents and my indefatigable nanny, Cooper Mickelson. It really does “take a village” to raise little ones. The practice I joined is also very supportive of a good work/ life balance and includes several working moms. “Women helping women” is their motto.
How has the pandemic changed things for you/ how are you managing/ what has been challenging?
All in all, it was a super tough year with many challenges and uncertainty. As professionals, we tried to care for patients as best we could despite constant adaptations in keeping people safe. Support from my family and the community helped keep us on track. And I am grateful to have a job and lucky that babies keep on being born, no matter what else is occurring in the world.
Thanks mom!
Do you have any thoughts to impart to other mothers right now?
The work a mother does has increased tenfold during the pandemic. Remind yourself that you are awesome every day.
How did your mother influence you?
When I was growing up, both of my parents worked, my dad as an engineer and then as a patent attorney, and my mom as a reading specialist and then an elementary school principal. My mom is my hero. She is the type of person who can do everything, but still be incredibly supportive, present and caring. No one in my family had ever attended medical school before, yet my mother supported me 100%. I am in awe of her strength, kindness, capacity to give and her ability to embrace life.
your view of county land your view of county land
An open space near you gets bigger and better
n Samuel James Adams, writing on behalf of Solano Land Trust
In March of 2021, the Solano Land Trust completed a ten-year process to preserve and protect 259 acres of valuable wildlife habitat and prime rangeland. The new properties expand the 1,000-acre Lynch Canyon Open Space, which is open Friday through Monday for hiking, bicycling, and horseback riding. Following maintenance and restoration, the expansion will offer a new arena to observe the natural world, hike the Bay Area Ridge Trail, and appreciate the glory of protected agricultural land just a short drive from your home.
Thousands of commuters glimpse the terrain of the expansion properties daily. Just north of I-80 and the exit marked for Hiddenbrooke/American Canyon Road, the rolling hills begin the buffer zone of open land between Vallejo and Fairfield. Perhaps you’ve seen cows hulking along the ridges, red-tailed hawks swooping above the fields, or the shape of a deer or coyote flickering into your view. If you took a closer look, you would see wildflowers dancing on windblown slopes: native yarrow, blue-eyed grasses, narrowleaved mule ears. Downhill, cottonwoods and willows shade a 4000-foot-long creek. As the sound of the freeway fades from earshot, you might hear cooing doves and Downey woodpeckers hammering at the trees. If you get lucky, you might see a rare California red-legged frog, whose habitat requires delicate watersheds on lands such as these.
Fundamentally, you would see land that looks much as it had for a very long time.
And that is the point
Land is where interests come together.
When land changes, the character of a place changes. Drive along the terraced vineyards of Napa County and you’ll see why they call it Wine Country. But visit present-day Silicon Valley and you might not recognize a land of fruit trees and flowering plants once dubbed the “Valley of Heart’s Delight.”
In Solano County, there are farmers and ranchers who fondly remember the sprawling farms and orchards of Santa Clara County, and rue the years where they disappeared bit by bit. Sixty-two percent of Solano County land is agricultural; over eight hundred farms and ranches call this county home, and most operations occur on fifty acres or fewer. Taken together, it adds up to something mighty. Of the Bay Area’s nine counties, only winegrowing powerhouses Sonoma and Napa outgross the value of Solano County’s agriculture production, which hit $372,113,000 in 2019, with almonds, tomato processing, and cattle leading the industry.
Expanding your view of county Land An open space near you gets bigger and better
your view of county land your view of county land
Such numbers—drawn from the Solano County Agriculture Department’s Weights and Measure division’s 2019 Crop and Livestock report—only scratch the surface of the land’s true value. Farmers know that their world-class soils didn’t settle here overnight; they dread the day the blacktop might cover them up. That’s when the concept of a conservation An open space near you gets bigger and betteragreement comes into play. An agreement to protect natural lands and family farms and ranches “Many of us are familiar with landowners selling their oil and mineral rights,” executive director Nicole Braddock says. “But what is less known is that landowners can choose to sell or donate the development rights. The purchase happens through a conservation agreement that protects the property as farm or ranchland forever. There are not very many buyers for development rights, but one of them is Solano Land Trust.”
While the Land Trust offers many miles of trails to explore, most conservation agreements are held on lands that remains private. But there are public benefits without public access. Landowners commit to preserving their land’s scenic and productive value; cattle and sheep chew up fuel for future fires; trees and watersheds on farmland support precious wildlife, from birds that fly to the arctic, to beetles that exist nowhere outside the county.
These partnerships make it possible for a donor-supported operation like Solano Land Trust to focus its small staff and sturdy coalition of volunteers on the Open Spaces like Rush Ranch, Patwino Worrtla Kodoi Dihi Open Space, Jepson Prairie, and Lynch Canyon.
A view of what’s to come
Much work lies ahead for the expansion properties. Volunteers and staff have to mitigate invasive species, slow erosion, and build trails. But for Benicia resident Bob Berman, taking in the vistas from a chair on the property puts a bright future in view. Bob is a member of the board of directors for the Bay Area Ridge Trail, the “500-mile multiuse loop trail” that ties the bay area together. Before that he served on the board of the Land Trust for twenty-seven years.
“The expansion adds opportunities for hiking and provides for a future route for the Bay Area Ridge Trail. That’s a great opportunity.” Bob says. The trail already runs through Lynch Canyon, but a new path would more easily connect hikers to Hiddenbrooke trails and Napa’s Newell Open Space. Down the line, a new parking area could shorten the drive to the property. “It could be a great staging area,” Bob says.
Stronger together
Docent-led hikes
1st Saturday of the Month: King Swett Open Space 2nd Saturday of the Month: Patwino Worrtla Kodoi Dihi 3rd Saturday of the Month: Rush Ranch 4th Saturday of the Month: Lynch Canyon
Trail Crews
To acquire its first new properties in ten years, Solano Land Trust leveraged the gifts of three major donors, over $2.M in federal funding, and support from the Department of Transportation, Solano County, and proceeds from years of Lynch Canyon Trail Runs.
But this land’s greatest support may prove its connection to the land around it. Over 2,500 acres of contiguous open space surround the expansion properties, including Newell Open Space, land owned by American Canyon, and privately-owned owned Ferrari Ranch (which is protected by a conservation agreement with Solano Land Trust). “Instead of working with a patchwork, we have islands that we can build out,” Nicole says. For bobcats, river otters, and great-horned owls, this means room to roam and thrive. For ranchers, a place to make their livelihood, and continue the work that feeds this country.
And for you, it will offer a chance to know this landscape better, to love it even more.
The Solano Land Trust invites you to explore our open spaces in the most informative way possible, on docent-led hikes and trail crews. Above is a recurring schedule. Visit https://solanolandtrust.org/ events for full details.
2nd Saturday of the Month: Lynch Canyon 4th Saturday of the Month: Patwino Worrtla Kodoi Dihi
NEWS AND VIEWS
Eastern Gateway Study
n Gene Pedrotti
Benicia’s contribution to the Gold Rush is held by the tale of a customer who, while shopping at Von Pfister’s waterfront store, slipped up and shared the discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill (1848). This resulted in a stampede to California, thereby changing the face of the state. Well, there’s an exciting proposal floating around involving Eastern Benicia. Called the Eastern Gateway Study, it could dramatically change the look and feel of Eastern Benicia, making a lasting impression on the City’s landscape. Funded by a $160,000 grant from the State of California to promote the production of housing, the Eastern Gateway Study was ordered by the City Council in February 2020. Centered on Military East and East Fifth, it proposes new mixed-use zoning for multifamily development and will require that both the Benicia Zoning Ordinance and Benicia General Plan be updated and amended.
Work completed on the project thus far includes research and documentation of existing conditions, formation of a Stakeholder group, and outreach to the community via a workshop and walking tour. Study Sessions were held with the Benicia Planning Commission in February 2021 and the City Council in March 2021.
To better understand the proposal, visit the City’s website where you can read all about the project, take a video walking tour, and view the presentations. See https://www.ci.benicia.ca.us/ easterngateway
One document, the Draft Preliminary Issues List, identifies key decisions about land use, parking, and design that must be made in the development of the new mixed-use zoning regulations. The more expansive Vision and Zoning District Approach helps us imagine what the neighborhood would look like if new multi-story buildings are constructed along Military and Fifth. These structures would provide housing units for workers and seniors as well as a mix of renter-and owner-occupied units. Ground floors would be reserved for commercial uses in key places. Using a variety of building heights, building sizes and architectural styles, new developments would incorporate landscaping, courtyards, and outdoor seating, while street improvements would accommodate all modes of travel – cars, buses, cyclists, and pedestrians. Taken together, the new buildings and streetscapes are intended to create a neighborhood that is not only consistent with Benicia’s historic past but enhances livability for residents, ultimately encouraging community building, walkability and a strong sense of civic pride.
Recent dialogue has revealed conflicting opinions. How tall should new buildings be? Parking is a concern for everyone. Would developers be allowed to bypass Historic Preservation Review Commission and Planning Commission review if they adhere to specific design requirements and agree to adding more affordable housing units? This streamlined approval process is known as “By-Right” development.
Having purchased the trailer park at 5th and I-780 some years ago as a future site for my hardware store, I was invited to participate as a Stakeholder and have attended all meetings. What I observed is not only a growing awareness and energy from participants, but a shared excitement for the opportunities and possibilities that proper development can bring.
Benicians will have the opportunity to weigh in on drafted zoning regulations for the Eastern Gateway Study Area this summer! Now is a great time to learn about the project by visiting the website, talking to the City, and signing up for email notifications so that you can stay on top of the issues. Please weigh in, community input is critical!
Development of the Eastern Gateway affects all of Benicia as all of us — residents, visitors, workers — regularly travel up and down 5th and Military. How the Eastside appears and appeals, how it serves and satisfies, how it draws and delights, will all be decided in the Eastern Gateway Study. Please join and participate in this worthwhile project. Next month — What I propose for the Eastside!
Benicia Litter Pickers
n Bitsy Hall
Benicia Litter Pickers started small. Steacy Sadler began this grassroots organization in 2019 with a simple intent: give people a platform to share pictures of themselves and others picking up litter. While Benicia Litter Pickers continues to share pictures of good deeds, the amount of trash clean up has grown dramatically. With the help of the City and community members, BLP now collects up to 600 pounds of litter in a single event.
Beginning with only individual photo shares on Sadler’s BLP Facebook page, members began suggesting a meet up. The individuals of this Facebook group met at Pizza Pirate, where Sadler simply asked, “What do you guys want to do?” Here, members enthusiastically suggested litter pick up events. Soon thereafter, Sadler began forming litter pick up events and coordinating with the City. Now happening nearly every month, BLP members gather to pick up litter from our shoreline, parks, and city streets. Aided with accessibility to the Benicia Corps Yard and scales from the City, BLP is able to weigh the amount of waste collected before large drop offs.
While the litter that BLP comes across varies, Sadler addressed common items: small liquor bottles, lots of cigarette butts, and disposable masks and gloves. Some of these items were common before the Covid-19 pandemic began in 2020, however, the amount and variation of litter has increased in the past year. With the closing of restaurants, increased need of PPE and online shopping, Sadler notes that she has observed more takeout waste and single use plastics. Not only has the era of sanitation led to more waste, it has understandably increased caution. While it was formerly common practice for many to pick up litter while on walks or shoreline visits, fear of viral transmission has caused many to avoid the risk of picking up a stranger’s litter. The pandemic has undoubtedly expanded the amount and variety of litter found in Benicia.
Whether you would like to join Benicia Litter Pickers or help out on your own, there are plenty of options. Benicia Litter Pickers is well connected: they have an Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Reddit account, and website. If you’re interested in signing up for an event, visit www.benicialitterpickers. org, click the “Contact Us” tab, fill out a form,
and you will be added to the email list. If you are not looking to participate in BLP just yet, but are interested in helping your community with litter removal, Sadler suggests several options. For a simple start, she says with joy, “Just pick up after yourself!” If you were previously a litter picker pre-Covid but have been deterred by contagion caution, Sadler recommends keeping tools in your car that make for no-contact pickups. BLP gives out free gloves (provided by our City), trash grabbers (thank you Republic Services, First Norcal Credit Union, and Ace Hardware), and bags to those who would like to pick up trash on their own. Whether you participate in a Benicia Litter Pickers event or start small on your own, your actions can influence the environmental well being of our town. While Benicia Litter Pickers continues to share pictures of good deeds, the amount of trash clean up has grown dramatically. With the help of the City and community members, BLP now collects up to 600 pounds of litter in a single event.
