🌱 Patch AM: What Valero’s Benicia refinery closure could mean for local jobs

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

In today's newsletter:

• What Valero’s Benicia refinery closure could mean for local jobs
• Why Benicia voices were central at Vallejo’s ‘crush ICE’ protest

Also on today's calendar: Carquinez Village Presents: Advocating with Government and 6 more events.

Today's riddle: What did one elevator say to the other? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 59 and low of 36 degrees.
• Tuesday: Sunshine and a few clouds, temps: high: 60, low: 34.
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 61 and low of 37 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• TV Star Suspected Of On-Set Child Sex Abuse Watch Bear Get Evicted: CA News (patch.com) — Valero’s Benicia refinery is reportedly heading toward closure after decades on the Bay, with layoff warnings expected to follow. This key detail appears in a statewide roundup of major California stories, touching on public safety, protests, local government, and community milestones from across the state.
   

• Citizens shows up to protest, 'crush ICE' (mercedsunstar.com) — Benicia residents were directly involved in a large Vallejo protest against ICE shootings, organized in part by Vallejo-Benicia Indivisible and attended by Benicia Mayor Steve Young as a private citizen. Demonstrators condemned recent ICE-related killings, criticized federal leadership, and urged peaceful but vocal resistance, reflecting strong regional concern that includes Benicia voices.
   

📸 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 ★

Tuesday January 13

• Benicia, CA | Girl Scout Welcome Troop
  Benicia Community Center, 370 E L St, Benicia
  5:30 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday January 15

• Carquinez Village Presents: Advocating with Government
  Benicia Public Library , 150 E L St , Benicia
  10:30 am
• Taste of First Street
  Benicia Main Street Program , 90 First St , Benicia
  5:30 pm

Saturday January 17

• Winter Feast Beer Dinner 2026
  Mare Island Brewing Co. – First Street Taphouse , 440 First St , Benicia
  5:30 pm
• Benicia's Changing Tides
  Bookshop Benicia , 636 First St , Benicia
  6:00 pm

Friday January 23

• BHS Improv Show — TABBS
  Benicia High School , 1101 Military W , Benicia
  7:00 pm

Saturday January 24

• Small Town, Big Secrets
  St. Paul's Episcopal Church , 120 E J St , Benicia
  3:00 pm

Sunday January 25

• An Afternoon of Filipino Art Songs and Favorite Arias
  RiverBank LLC , 332 Georgia St , Vallejo
  3:00 pm

Wednesday January 28

• Continuing Welding (Paying Members Only)
  Benicia Makerspace , 4592 E 2nd St Unit O , Benicia
  6:30 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!

🗓 Events Nearby

Monday January 12

• Playtime with Kittens
  Concord Library , 2900 Salvio Street , Concord
  4:00 pm
• The Acorns Winter - Monday
  91 Arreba St , Martinez
  5:30 pm
• Crockett Library Game Night
  991 Loring Ave , Crockett
  5:30 pm
• Drop-In Shop for Adults
  Contra Costa County Public Library , 1750 Oak Park Boulevard , Pleasant Hill
  6:00 pm

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

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Benicia PatchAM possible:

• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Something wonderful is happening in Vallejo!!
  My friend and I went to the Naval History Museum to see the quilt exhibit today. I asked my friend to come because she is a beautiful quilter and I… (Nextdoor Southampton)
• Is anyone going to the dump soon?
  I have a full size mattress that needs to go and my neighbor also has a few things. (Nextdoor Old Southampton)

• City of Benicia, CA posted a job opening for Police Officer - Academy Enrolled / Academy Graduate / Non-Lateral in Benicia. Apply here.
• McDonald's posted a job opening for Crew Team Member in Benicia. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Benicia here.

🗞 Nearby News

Vallejo

• Newest Miss Vallejo Tri-City prioritizes cultural pride and education (fresnobee.com)
• The Guardian: "More gen Z men live with parents in this city than anywhere in the US. How do they date?" (resetera.com)
• Moschetti Artisan Coffee seeks permission to buy its city-owned parking lot (timesheraldonline.com)

Martinez

• A house divided: 49ers-Eagles rivalry runs through Bay Area family (ktvu.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: I think I’m coming down with something!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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