Benicia, CA.

The process was simple.  First volunteer crew: Remove the staples, nails and other attachments to about 60 newly rebuilt wood picnic tables.  Next crew followed to  wipe and brush the tables off.  The third crew applied sealant and rolled it onto the tops, sides, below and each side bench.

The volunteer event was sponsored by Benicians Adopting Benicia (BAB) which is part of the BCF and received significant support from the City’s Parks and Community Services Department.

According to BCF Chair David Batchelor, “We appreciate the level of thought, care, and resources it takes to maintain our beautiful city parks, recreation, and historic areas, and we are pleased the City allows us to pitch in and help from time to time!”

Vice Chair Kristine Passalacqua said, “We are so happy to work with the City on another beautification project:  To be able to aid the City;  To maintain and preserve our wonderful resources is an honor and we look forward to our next project in July which we will announce details soon.”

BAB has worked on several City Beautification projects including Alvarez Park, St. Paul’s Square, City Cemetery and more.

“BAB brings heart to solving community challenges and is dedicated to supporting our community and local charities, while building community camaraderie,” added BCF Executive Director Terry Scott.

“It is our mission to build strong, giving relationships with the City and many Benicia non-profit organizations with BAB projects and grant donations that help each achieve their community-based goals,” he added.

The BCF’s mission is to invest in the promise of Benicia by connecting people and resources to benefit all who live, work and play in Benicia. BCF is a registered non-profit 501 C ( 3 ) organization.

If you would like to volunteer for a future BCF community project,l please contact Leeann Cawley at Lcawley@BeniciaCF.com.

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Using wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes and lots of very early morning determination, more than 30 volunteers faced the low morning temperature and coastal fog last Saturday July24 to undertake a sizable spruce-up of Benicia’s Alvarez Park at W 9^th Street.

The volunteer event was sponsored by Benicians Adopting Benicia (BAB) which is part of the newly formed Benicia Community Foundation (BCF) and received significant support from the City’s Parks and Community Services Department.

“The City estimates our volunteers spread between 40 and 60 yards of much needed mulch around the park”, said BCF Vice Chair Kristine Passalacqua.  “The City provided the mulch that was then spread across the park by the volunteers including City Council member Lionel Largaespada,” she added.

In addition to the materials the City provided, Bruce Adams, owner of Bottom of the Fifth Bar and Restaurant,  donated lunch for all participants.

BCF Board Member Kathy Smith said, “ it was a wonderful community turnout. Thank you for your hard work it was deeply appreciated.  Plus, we also lucked out from the weather in keeping us cool.”

According to Terry Scott, BCF Executive Director, “The BAB is doing an incredible job of collaborating with the City to provide volunteer resources to continue its mission of beautifying our community. “

”BAB was created to bring community volunteers together to assist in the care, maintenance, and beautification of our many city parks, open spaces and other sites,”said Ms. Passalacqua.

BCF’s Chair David Batchelor added that “I want to thank our local volunteers for helping us this last weekend. We are so grateful for supporting our projects and helping to make our community a better place to live, work and play!!”

“BAB is currently developing several new community improvement projects and we will be letting the community know when and how they can volunteer to help make Benicia a better place,” noted Ms. Passalacqua.

BAB will soon announce upcoming events on this website.

Benicians Adopting Benicia is proud to announce it completed its latest collaboration with the City of Benicia. We tackled cleaning up and spreading mulch at this wonderful City Park.

Date: July 24^th COMPLETED

Time: 7:30 am – approx. 11:00am

Where: 9^th Street Park

What is the project: Spreading bark

What to wear: Sturdy closed-toed shoes, and you may want to bring a hat and sunglasses

You will receive a new free BCF/BAB T-shirt (while supplies last)

What to bring: Good gardening gloves, rack, pitchfork

What not to bring: Power tools of any kind

What to expect: We will start work at 7:30 am (so we can “beat the heat”). Please arrive by 7:15 am to check in and receive your new BCF/BAB T-shirt. You will need to sign a release form from the City of Benicia and BCF.

Copies of the release forms will be available to sign at check-in.

Bottle water will be provided.  We will have representatives from the City to assist and direct us and the bark will already be pilled in the areas that need filling in.  All we will need to do is spread the bark and make 9^th Street Park look wonderful again.

Lunch will be provided, and restrooms will be available.

If you are a student and need community volunteer hours, we will be able to sign your form. Please be sure to advise us when you arrive.

Thank you for caring about our wonderful City and helping to make a difference.

The post West 9th Street Park Clean-up: Completed appeared first on Benicia Community Foundation.

“It was totally a community effort’, said BCF Vice Chair Kristine Passalacqua.  “While the volunteers came equipped with the needed gardening tools and high energy, the City provided the equipment and staff to haul away the many, many truckloads of materials gathered by the volunteers.

“BAB was created to bring community volunteers together to assist in the care, maintenance and beautification of our many City parks, open spaces and other sites,” added Ms. Passalacqua.

In addition to the valued support the City provided, two local restaurants Sprankle’s Deli and Sandoval’s Mexican Restaurant donated lunch for all 50 plus participants.

The morning started with local cemetery historian Karen Burns sharing a short history of the cemetery, then the City’s Theron Jones, Superintendent of Parks and Community Services thanked the volunteers and provided guidance on how to properly and respectfully manage the clean-up process.

Terry Scott, BCF Executive Director said it was very heartwarming to be a part of this community action. It was wonderful to watch folks ranging from young families with little kids to older adults, working together to help improve and preserve Benicia’s historical past. 

Among the many volunteers were Mayor Steve Young and Dr. Ekaterina Ryjkina, newly appointed General Manager, Kaneka Aerospace located in the Benicia Industrial Park.  

Keeping a watchful eye over the work being done was Ernest Meyers, who has been recognized for his 36 years of service with the City of Benicia Parks and Community service and his ten years on the cemetery committee.

“This was a very exciting project for us. We are so grateful for the City and community volunteers that supported this project, said BCF’s Chair David Batchelor.

“Benicia Community Foundation is dedicated to supporting our community and enhancing beautification and building community camaraderie,” he added.

According to Benicia historian Michael J. Hayes “The   Benicia   City   Cemetery represents the entire City in honoring its past citizens and the tremendous service for the benefit of the community. Enough praise and thanks cannot be given to those who rest on the hillside overlooking the town. It  is hoped that a new generation will ensure that the City Cemetery will once again be a jewel in the crown of Benicia’s historical past.”

The BAB is currently working on a number of new community improvement projects and will be letting the community know when and how they can volunteer and help make Benicia a better place.

More than 50 volunteers armed with rakes, shovels, pitchforks, tarps and lots of determination braved the high winds and low morning temperature last Saturday to undertake a considerable clean-up of the city’s historic cemetery. 

“It was totally a community effort’, said BCF Vice Chair Kristine Passalacqua.  “While the volunteers came equipped with the needed gardening tools and high energy, the City provided the equipment and staff to haul away the many, many truckloads of materials gathered by the volunteers.

“BAB was created to bring community volunteers together to assist in the care, maintenance and beautification of our many City parks, open spaces and other sites,” added Ms. Passalacqua.

In addition to the valued support the City provided, two local restaurants Sprankle’s Deli and Sandoval’s Mexican Restaurant donated lunch for all 50 plus participants.

The morning started with local cemetery historian Karen Burns sharing a short history of the cemetery, then the City’s Theron Jones, Superintendent of Parks and Community Services thanked the volunteers and provided guidance on how to properly and respectfully manage the clean-up process.

Terry Scott, BCF Executive Director said it was very heartwarming to be a part of this community action. It was wonderful to watch folks ranging from young families with little kids to older adults, working together to help improve and preserve Benicia’s historical past. 

Among the many volunteers were Mayor Steve Young and Dr. Ekaterina Ryjkina, newly appointed General Manager, Kaneka Aerospace located in the Benicia Industrial Park.  

Keeping a watchful eye over the work being done was Ernest Meyers, who has been recognized for his 36 years of service with the City of Benicia Parks and Community service and his ten years on the cemetery committee.

“This was a very exciting project for us. We are so grateful for the City and community volunteers that supported this project, said BCF’s Chair David Batchelor.

“Benicia Community Foundation is dedicated to supporting our community and enhancing beautification and building community camaraderie,” he added.

According to Benicia historian Michael J. Hayes “The   Benicia   City   Cemetery represents the entire City in honoring its past citizens and the tremendous service for the benefit of the community. Enough praise and thanks cannot be given to those who rest on the hillside overlooking the town. It  is hoped that a new generation will ensure that the City Cemetery will once again be a jewel in the crown of Benicia’s historical past.”

The BAB is currently working on a number of new community improvement projects and will be letting the community know when and how they can volunteer and help make Benicia a better place. 

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