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Holiday Lights Update: Check These Out, Too!

December 24th, 2008 categories: Benicia, Local Stuff

Noticed a few other homes worth driving by when I was out and about last night. If you’re out driving around looking for Holiday Lights and in the vicinity of the Disney display on Sorrel Court, be sure to go up the street a few blocks, too, to Poppy Circle, where you’ll find three separate colorful holiday displays…all worth checking out (508, 522 & 542-544 Poppy Circle).

Here’s yet a newer Updated List of homes which have been decorated for the holidays in Benicia.

For an UPDATED TOUR MAP, click here.

842 Rose Drive

868 Oxford Way

843 Dorset Way

747 & 749 Tulip Court

690 Snapdragon Place

687 Snapdragon Place

461 Gallagher Drive

104 Carlisle Way

126 Gill Way

525 Sweetbrier Lane

542 & 544 Poppy Circle

522 Poppy Circle

508 Poppy Circle

500-506 Sorrel Court

437 Turner Drive

424 O’Farrell Drive

1385 West K Street (Adobe House)

Written by Rod Herman | Discussion: No Comments »

Another Addition To The Holiday Lights Tour

December 21st, 2008 categories: Benicia, Local Stuff

Holiday Decorations on Sweetbrier Ln.

Holiday Decorations on Sweetbrier Ln.

FOR AN EVEN NEWER UPDATE, CLICK HERE

Just noticed this home at 525 Sweetbrier Ln. on my morning walk. If you or your kids like Donald, Pooh, Piglet and Eyore, be sure to take a drive by and see it at night. I’ve added it to the list of Benicia homes with noteworthy outdoor decorations. Again this is by no means an all-inclusive list…just some homes I’ve noticed while out and about or which I remember from previous years.

Enjoy!

Click Here For An Updated Tour Map

Revised Holiday Lights List

(as of 12-21-08)

  • 842 Rose Drive
  • 868 Oxford Way
  • 843 Dorset Way
  • 747 & 749 Tulip Court
  • 690 Snapdragon Place
  • 687 Snapdragon Place
  • 461 Gallagher Drive
  • 104 Carlisle Way
  • 126 Gill Way
  • 525 Sweetbrier Lane
  • 500-506 Sorrel Court
  • 437 Turner Drive
  • 424 O’Farrell Drive
  • 1385 West K Street (Adobe House)

Written by Rod Herman | Discussion: No Comments »

Why There’s No Ferris Wheel On Solano Drive This Year

December 20th, 2008 categories: Benicia, Local Stuff

See Below For The Entire Poem

If you’ve taken a drive down the 400 block of Solano Drive this holiday season, you know that the familiar ferris wheel, ice skaters and holiday train that were always a favorite stop for holiday light seekers is no more.

In its place is a touching poem (see below) written by the man who helped make Benicia a little more festive each year with his grand holiday display. Scotty Hughes, the grand patriarch of Benicia’s holiday spirit wrote the poem, which he entitled “Farewell To Winter Wonderland” shortly before he died this past May, at the age of 89. His family found the hand-written poem next to his favorite chair a few days after he passed away.

As a tribute to “Mr. Winter Wonderland,” his family had the poem enlarged and printed and has it displayed proudly on the lawn that for many years always housed his colorful holiday fantasy display at this time of year. Read the rest of this entry »

Written by Rod Herman | Discussion: No Comments »

Looking For Benicia’s Holiday Lights? Be Sure You Don’t Miss These!

December 19th, 2008 categories: Benicia, Local Stuff

Updated Lists Click Here…And Here

Although the Winter Wonderland holiday decorating contest is no more, many Benicia families have proven that you don’t need a contest to pull out all the stops when it comes to decorating the outside of your home for the holidays.

The always popular Adobe House's holiday display is a long-time Benicia tradition

Many former Winter Wonderland contestants still bring out their lights, outdoor ornaments and props to add to the festive holiday spirit for all who drive by each night. And many others throughout town do their part — be it an inflatable Santa or snowman, some homemade painted cutouts or an illuminated family of reindeer on the lawn.

Then there are those who really pull out all the stops each and every year. Some of my annual favorites include the colorful storybook land on Violet Ct, the amazing Disney display on Sorrel Ct, the candy house on Gallagher Dr. and of course the spectacular zillion-watt fantasy display at the Adobe on West K St. Read the rest of this entry »

Written by Rod Herman | Discussion: No Comments »

Snow In Benicia?

December 14th, 2008 categories: Benicia, Local Stuff

Yes Virginia, there WAS snow in Benicia

Yes Virginia, there WAS snow in Benicia

If you were driving down to the waterfront late Saturday morning, that white stuff covering the Marina Green was not a figment of your imagination. It was the real thing, a blanket of snow — right here at Benicia’s waterfront.

The snow, of course, was man-made, but it lasted long enough to give gives kids young and old plenty of time to toss snowballs and frolic about before it melted.

Santa & Mrs. Claus wave to the crowd

Santa & Mrs. Claus wave to the crowd

The man-made snowfield was part of a morning of good old-fashioned holiday fun. The festivities began with the always-popular Holiday Parade, with hundreds of Benicians lining the streets on a blue-sky, picture-postcard-like morning. There were marching bands, clowns, firetrucks, muscle cars,  even a Grinch-driven tractor. And of course Santa Claus was there, too. He and Mrs. Claus waved to the crowd from the back of the Valero fire truck.

After the parade, the outdoor holiday market was open for business in a closed-off section of First Street. There were pony rides and a small petting zoo for the little ones. And, Santa Claus greeted children both at Lottie Ballou’s (inside the Tannery) and at the Fischer-Hanlon House (137 West G Street — where he’ll be again this coming weekend).

Benicia really shines during the holidays and Saturday certainly was no exception.

Written by Rod Herman | Discussion: No Comments »

Where Were You When Mortgage Rates Were Last This Low?

December 14th, 2008 categories: Loans / Financing

Although turmoil still surrounds the world’s financial markets, for those looking to buy or refinance a home, the last six weeks have been a case of Let-The-Good-Times-Roll. That’s because interest rates on long-term (30-year) mortgages have dropped to levels not seen since in over four years.

In its weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey for the week ending Dec. 11, Freddie Mac reported that the national average for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages was 5.47% (with the buyer paying 0.7 discount points). The week before it was 5.53% and a year ago, that same loan carried an interest rate of 6.11%.

The last time 30-year fixed-rate loans were this low was in March, 2004, when it averaged 5.4%. Fifteen-year loans were also down again this week, with the 15-year-fixed rate at 5.2% (also with 0.7 discount points paid by the buyer). That’s the lowest that rate has been has Feb. 7 of this year.

Short-term mortgage rates, meanwhile, were up slightly, with the five-year Treasury-indexed adjustable-rate mortgage up by 0.05%, to 5.77%. That’s still lower than a year ago, when that same loan was at 5.89%.

If you’ve been thinking of buying or refinancing, the combination of today’s low home prices coupled with low interest rates means more buying power. If you’re interested in seeing how far your housing dollar will stretch today, call or email us and we’ll be happy to help you ‘run the numbers.’

Written by Rod Herman | Discussion: No Comments »

Benicia’s Popular Annual Holiday Open House This Friday Evening

December 1st, 2008 categories: Benicia, Local Stuff

I’ve always said that there are two times a year when newcomers need no introduction or reading material about Benicia. All they have to do is show up and they’ll experience our small-town atmosphere and neighborly spirit first-hand.

One of those times is this coming Friday (Dec. 5), when Benicia hosts its annual Holiday Open House (casually known as the “Walk on First Street”). Most of the businesses on First Street stay open until 9 pm this one night a year, and serve complimentary refreshments the thousands of townspeople who descend on First Street. Read the rest of this entry »

Written by Rod Herman | Discussion: No Comments »