🌱 Patch AM: How Benicia’s refinery layoffs are reshaping Solano County manufacturing

Hi Benicia! We have the latest buzz right here. Let's keep you in the loop and get this morning started right! ☕️️

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In today's newsletter:

• How Benicia's refinery layoffs are reshaping Solano County manufacturing
• Did you spot Rio the humpback near Benicia's stretch of the strait?

Also on today's calendar: UC Master Gardeners Fall Faire and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: Do you know what the two sides of a circle are? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 86 and low of 59 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
• Friday: Plenty of sun, temps: high: 80, low: 52.
• Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high of 80 and low of 57 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Fairfield to celebrate Manufacturing Week amid changing industrial landscape (thereporter.com) — Valero's decision to idle its Benicia refinery this spring cut 237 local jobs, compounding the economic shock from Fairfield's Anheuser-Busch brewery closure and shrinking Solano County's industrial base. As the region adjusts, Fairfield is organizing an October Manufacturing Week to spotlight remaining manufacturers, connect students and job seekers with new career paths, and advocate for broader investment in local industry.
   

• 'Rio' The River Whale Makes Hopeful Turn Toward SF Bay, But No Further Sightings Yet (patch.com) — A wayward humpback whale nicknamed Rio was spotted in the Carquinez Strait near Benicia after entering San Francisco Bay and then heading inland toward Rio Vista. Marine experts now believe Rio has turned back toward the ocean, and while there have been no confirmed sightings since Friday, they're urging local boaters to give the whale space and report any encounters through Whale Alert or the Marine Mammal Center.
   

📸 Around Benicia

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Benicia

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday September 26
• UC Master Gardeners Fall Faire →
  1710 Soscol Ave, Napa
  1:00 pm
• This Is Hallo-Wine: Inspired by Nightmare Before Christmas →
  Four Fools Winery, 13 Pacific Ave, Rodeo
  1:00 pm
• You're Invited! Preview Open House →
  20 Alhambra Hills Dr, Martinez
  1:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday September 24
• Poetry By The Bay →
  51 Daniels Avenue, 51 Daniels Ave, Vallejo
  7:00 pm
Friday September 25
• Benicia Latin Dance Night →
  Benicia Community Health and Fitness Club, 1150 West 7th Street, Benicia
• Rotary Club of Benicia Golf Tournament →
  Blue Rock Springs Golf Club, Benicia
  8:30 am
• 5-Week Hand-Building Clay Table (Adults), Fridays - Week 3 →
  Pottery Studio, Benicia
  12:00 pm
Saturday September 26
• Fall Native Plant Sale →
  1400 E 2nd St, Benicia
  10:00 am
Sunday September 27
• Voices at the Table →
  Private Home, Vacaville
  2:00 pm
Saturday October 3
• Inspiration Reversal - Art Inspired By Poems! →
  Fairfield Civic Center Library, 1150 Kentucky St, Fairfield
  1:00 pm
Tuesday October 6
• Benicia First Tuesday Poetry Group →
  Benicia Public Library, 150 E L St, Benicia
  6:30 pm
Wednesday October 7
• Poetry 4 The Mind: Open Mic Poetry →
  The Lucky Garden, 860 Tuolumne St, Vallejo
  6:00 pm

📣 Benicia Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Hey so we have these big heavy barn doors that were installed but now one has come off the track and we need it lifted to be put back on the track.
  Can anyone come and help us do this. You will need a jack or something to lift. It's steel (Nextdoor Old Southampton)
• FOUND dog off highway 4 in Stockton!!
  Is this your dog or does anyone know whose dog it is? Let's get this baby home! No microchip and no collar… (Nextdoor West Manor)

• Smart and Final posted a job opening for Service Clerk - 338 Vallejo in Vallejo. Apply here.
• Home Depot (Retail) posted a job opening for Customer Service/Sales in Martinez. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Benicia here.

🗞 Nearby News

Vallejo

• 1984 Hogan High baseball team captures Vallejo Sports Hall of Fame honor (timesheraldonline.com)
• A-E Source: Annual Greek Village Food Festival returns to Vallejo (thereporter.com)
• Beautiful 2X1.5 Townhome with a Detached Garage - 138 Rainbow Ct Vallejo CA (1 units available) (zillow.com)

Martinez

• Chancellor Mehdizadeh retiring from Contra Costa Community College District (pleasantonweekly.com)
• Contra Costa County Superior Court Announces Presiding Judge and Assistant Presiding Judge for 2027-2028 (contracosta.news)

Concord

• Gas Prices Hurting Animal Rescue In Contra Costa (patch.com)

Ok Benicia! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: The inside and the outside ! (Thank you James M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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