City of Benicia This Week
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In this edition: Holiday Closure; Support Benicia Businesses for the Holidays; Fire Department Collecting for Toys For Tots; City Employee Spotlight; Where to Get a COVID Vaccine, Booster or Flu Shot; COVID Assistance
Message from the City Manager
November 22, 2021

Hello Everyone,
This week, I'd like to remind everyone of our Helper Helper volunteer app. When we rolled this app out, we were not certain of how it would be received, but we had great hope given our community’s volunteer spirit. Let me say, it has been fantastic! 

We now have 148 volunteers signed up who have already contributed 63 hours. We recently had a quick call for volunteers to help pull the American flags that had been placed in the City Cemetery for the Veteran's Day observance. We had an immediate response and a wonderful group of six volunteers showed up. 

Additionally, we have a major volunteer effort happening at the senior center. Pictures of some of our volunteers are included below. I am humbled by their service and am so proud or our community.
 
Here is a message from our Parks & Community Services Department:
 
We currently have (3) volunteer opportunities:
  • Parent Greeters for our after-school program
  • Senior Center Clean Up Team
  • Musicians at the Senior Center

We are thrilled by the response from the community. The background music at the senior center has our seniors smiling from ear to ear. The Senior Center clean up team has done an amazing job and the seniors love the way the entries look when they arrive. Our parent greeter David Horn has done a great job welcoming our parents and being the cheerful face our students see when they leave for the day.  
 
Please consider going to our Helper Helper app here or linked at the top of our website at www.ci.benicia.ca.us and signing up You can indicate specific skills or areas of interests. You will receive emails when opportunities arise, and you can choose whether or not the opportunity works for you!
 
Thank you for your interest in the City of Benicia This Week!

Erik Upson
City Manager
After-school Parent Greeter, David Horn, is shown wearing the orange volunteer lanyard
Senior Center Clean Up Team member, Patti Woodside is shown cleaning up leaves
Debbie Fries performing at the Senior Center
Corby Setzer performing for seniors
Volunteers assist with flag removal at City Cemetery
City News
Holiday Closure
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Benicia city offices, Benicia Public Library and Benicia Community Center will be closed Thursday, November 25 and Friday, November 26 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Requests for emergency water and sewer service may be made at the Benicia Police Department, 200 East L Street, or by calling 707.745.3411.

The Alternate Friday closure will be observed on Wednesday, November 24. Click here for a calendar of holidays observed and Alternate Friday closures.
Support Benicia Businesses for the Holidays
The annual Small Business Saturday event returns on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Championed by the City of Benicia, Benicia Main Street, the Downtown Benicia Alliance and Benicia Chamber of Commerce, shoppers are reminded to shop local businesses for the holidays this year. Small businesses depend on the support of their communities now more than ever.

In honor of Small Business Saturday, Benicia Main Street is hosting Wine Walk & Shop Small at participating downtown businesses from 1-5 p.m. Details are available online.

Let’s work together to empower business owners in our community and make them a part of our holiday traditions – both new and old on Saturday, November 27 and throughout the holiday season.
Fire Department Collecting for Toys For Tots
The Benicia Fire Department is collecting new, unwrapped toys to be distribute by community organizations to children and families who need them. All new toys, including stuffed animals with tags, are being accepted. Distribution boxes are currently located at:
 
Fire Station 11 - 150 Military West
Fire Station 12 - 601 Hastings Drive
 
Hours are Monday-Friday (except Alternate Fridays), 8 a.m. - noon & 1 - 4 p.m. through Friday, December 17.
 
Call Benicia Fire Department with questions at 707.746.4275.
City Employee Spotlight
Colette Schow is the Administrative Secretary in the Community Development Department. She has a degree in public relations with a background in working for arts nonprofit organizations, specializing in marketing, public relations and program management. Having lived in Benicia for four years, Colette joined the City to get more involved in her community.
 
Colette brings a creative and positive outlook to her work and often brings forward constructive new ideas to improve the Community Development Department. Since joining the City of Benicia earlier this year, Colette has taken on a lead role in coordinating records requests and commission agendas and minutes. She also provides critical support to various land use applications and permits and to staff across multiple department. Colette has put her skills to work in preparing public information across a variety of media, including the City of Benicia website, city newsletter, handouts and notices. She is also a member of the City of Benicia Communications Team.
 
In her spare time, Colette loves to travel around the world with her husband - her favorite places so far are France and India! When not traveling, Colette loves to play the violin and take walks in her garden with her cat, Ollie. Fun facts include: Colette is half Belgian, has toured 12 states with an orchestra, and loves to plan events.
Where to Get a COVID Vaccine, Booster or Flu Shot
COVID-19 vaccines, boosters and flu shots available nearby. The Solano County Fairgrounds Mass Vaccination Clinic, located at 900 Fairgrounds Drive in Vallejo, administers COVID-19 vaccines, booster shots for adults 18+, pediatric vaccines for children 5-11, regular doses of Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson, as well as flu shots.

Register online by going to www.bit.ly/solanomassvax or call for assistance at 800.672.0150. Walk-ins are also welcome!

For additional vaccine clinics, visit www.solanocounty.com/covidvaccine.
COVID Assistance
Find vaccine locations, resources and information for seniors, local food access, basic needs and rental assistance, mental health, stress and coping, and more courtesy of Solano County Public Health. Benicia residents in need of help during these difficult times may find assistance through these local resources:
Press Releases

Recent City of Benicia Press Releases are available on the City of Benicia website under Main/Announcements.
Save the Date
Modified service due to COVID-19
City Hall is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you require entrance to City Hall offices outside of these hours, please make arrangements with staff from the department that you will be visiting.

All visitors shall be required to enter City Hall from East L street through the door located on the left (East) side of the building closest to the Post Office. Please check in with the staff person at the designated Welcome Window.

You will be required to wear a face covering over both your nose and mouth for the duration of your visit to City Hall. Please maintain 6 feet of social distancing between other visitors and staff. Do not visit City Hall if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. Appointments can always be rescheduled.
City of Benicia This Week is published each Monday morning. Previous editions are available here. We also communicate on Nextdoor.com and AlertSolano.com. Sign up now!