This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Is Sadie Hawkins Day February 29th? Ronna Leon and Benicia Literary Arts

What's appropriate in a semi-public space?

Congratulations to Ronna Leon, Benicia poet laureate, who has more than just literary talent. She won the contest for the cover art on the new anthology, Sign of the Times, which will be out in April. The work was judged anonymously. Thirty-one poets are published in the book, which will be publicly celebrated on Saturday, April 28th from 2-4 p.m. at the Benicia Library.

This will be the first published work by the newly formed Benicia Literary Arts. Since other artists have visibility and support in Benicia, it’s good to see the literary arts getting some attention. BLA’s purpose is to support writers at every level: in the development stage through writer’s groups, through education and events where writers can showcase their work, and through publishing works that are deemed quality work.

Along with poets from those who meet the first Tuesday of every month at the library, BLA is sponsoring a poetry reading at on Sunday, March 25th from 3-5 p.m.

Find out what's happening in Beniciawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Recently, in the big, soft-chair side of , I’ve noticed some changes. For awhile it was filled with men holding forth on…everything. The other day, four people around me were deep into books or deep into sleep. An employee woke one of them up. I suppose it’s a problem for a coffee place who wants the public to come in, buy something, and stay…well, awhile. That part is pretty open. Apparently some people weren’t buying anything and sometimes were bringing things to eat they’d bought at other places. I gather the staff doesn’t like dealing with this. A friend who was drinking coffee there said that he kicked another person out because the guy brought food from another business, hooked up his computer, and went outside to smoke—something else that’s inappropriate and illegal, apparently within a “reasonable” distance from the doorway of the business.

I called to ask about it, but the employee who answered didn’t want to talk once I told her who I was. She did say that they will wake a person who falls asleep, but if the person is just sitting there, not doing anything, employees pretty much let them be.

Find out what's happening in Beniciawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

So, this isn’t the biggest problem in the panoply of issues our world wakes up with every day. I’ll tackle those tomorrow.

No, February 29th isn’t Sadie Hawkins Day, but there’s a similarity: the tradition goes back to the Fifth Century that this is the day women can ask a man to marry them. Anyone you are going to get in touch with today, ladies?

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Benicia