Benicia-Tula Sister Cities

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Benicia-Tula Sister Cities

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Member of Sister Cities International since 1979.

Building friendships and bonds between Benicia, CA and Tula, Hgo., Mexico through cultural and social exchange.

10/03/2026

🌎🎨 Keeping Our Sister Cities' Mural Beautiful 🎨🌎

A few members of the Benicia-Tula Sister Cities (BTSC) gathered outside the south wall of the Benicia Library for the annual maintenance of our beloved Sister Cities mural, " Building a Bridge of Cultures."

This special mural, dedicated July 3, 2019, is a beautiful symbol of friendship, connection, and the cultural bridges that unite Benicia, CA and Tula, Hidalgo, Mexico. ❤🌎

🎨 We were pleased to have master tiler Sergio Arauz Castro on hand to make the necessary repairs and help preserve this wonderful piece of Benicia's cultural heritage.

The team also took the opportunity to refresh and tidy the surrounding grounds, helping keep this special location looking at its best.

✨ Want to discover the magical story behind the making of the mural? Learn more about its fascinating history here:

https://www.beniciatulasistercities.org/the-mural

A big and heartfelt thank you to all that were able to make it on this hot October day 💜.

09/15/2026

The founder of our Sister Cities, former Mayor Warren O’Blennis, leading the ceremonial groundbreaking of the Benicia Marina & Waterfront Development on December 28, 1976. Nearly 50 years later, Noah, his grandson (lower right) is demonstrating the original groundbreaking, golden shovel at our meeting on Sept 8th. 🪏💙

Pepe Arteaga (upper right), who was present at the time of the groundbreaking and original member of BTSC, the current caretaker of that ceremonial shovel and other mementos. 💙

09/15/2026

💙 Celebrating Legacy, Friendship & Family! 💙

Sister Cities is delighted to warmly welcome Dena Van Blaricom and her family as they become part of the continuing story of Benicia–Tula Sister Cities!

Dena is the daughter of Warren O’Blennis, Benicia’s first popularly elected mayor, who served our community for 12 years during the 1970s and through 1981. A true visionary and community leader, Warren O’Blennis played a foundational role in the early history and development of the Benicia Marina, which was dedicated in 1983.

His vision and dedication also helped create another lasting legacy: Benicia–Tula Sister Cities. In July 1979, Mayor O’Blennis proudly led the official welcoming committee (including Pepe Arteaga) when the first Sister Cities delegation from Tula arrived in Benicia—by boat, docking directly at the newly developed marina! What a wonderful beginning to an enduring friendship between our two communities.

We are especially touched and honored that Dena, together with her son Noah and his partner, Brooke, has chosen to carry forward her father’s legacy through their active and ongoing support of our Sister Cities association.

Their first and very generous family donation is much more than a contribution—it is a beautiful gesture of family, remembrance, community spirit, and a commitment to keeping the vision of Warren O’Blennis alive for future generations. ❤️

Dena is pictured with our Sister Cities Treasurer and longtime member, Gloria Lopez-Reynolds, as she makes her family’s inaugural contribution.

Please join us in giving Dena, Noah, and Brooke a very warm Sister Cities welcome! We are so grateful to have them join us and to celebrate this wonderful connection between past, present, and future.

Here’s to honoring a remarkable legacy and continuing to build bridges of friendship with our sister city and around the world! 🌎💙🤝

07/17/2026

On July 14, 2026, the BTSC members were thrilled to welcome Benicia City Council Member Kari Birdseye as the Sister Cities' new City Council Liaison, recently appointed by Mayor Steve Young. We welcome you with open arms and hearts and look forward to forging a friendship.

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05/02/2026

Dear Paul Adler

We, the Benicia-Tula Sister Cities members, wish to express our heartfelt and sincerest gratitude to you, Paul Adler, a true Rotarian, for your invaluable, sincere and above-and-beyond efforts in coordinating and securing grant funding, from both the Rotary Club of Benicia and District Rotary organization, for the Texquedo Vehicle Bridge Project in Tula, Hidalgo, Mexico.

Thanks to your dedication, the construction of this much-needed vehicle bridge, which will be managed by the Tula Rotary Club, can now commence.

If you remember, it all began in September 2024 when the Benicia delegation, including yourself, visited Tula to participate in their Independence Day festitivities. It was then that we were made aware of the dire need, by ClubRotario Tollan de Tula, for a bridge that would allow year-round vehicle passage over the river. Just over a year later the grant funds were awarded.

In our recent project kickoff visit to Tula, we met, as well, with civic leaders of the two indigenous communities, in close proximity to the bridge, that will be beneficially impacted the most – Texquedo and San Miguel de las Piedras. They expressed their deepest gratitude and explained that this simple bridge will actually have a much broader impact allowing other neighboring indigenous communities to benefit as well.

Much happiness to you and your family in the next chapter of your lives. You will be missed. We want you to know that none of this could have happened without you.

With deepest gratitude,
Benicia-Tula Sister Cities Members

04/30/2026

BTSC visit to the recently restored Xijay de Cuauhtemoc, Hidalgo original, century-old school house. Xijay is an indigenous, rural Tula community about 30 minutes from the center of Tula.

04/30/2026

Texquedo Vehicle Bridge Project - flyover view of the bridge site and logistically challenging terrain.

04/30/2026

BTSC members, Pepe and Richard, joining in the festivities at the recently restored Xijay de Cuauhtemoc old school house with teachers and parents and ClubRotario Tollan de Tula members.

04/30/2026

On April 23, BTSC members, Pepe Arteaga and Richard Theisen, revisited the primary school in the rural, indigenous Tula community of Xijay de Cuauhtemoc, Hidalgo.

Forty-five years ago, on March of 1985, the Sister Cities of Benicia and Tula facilitated a joint effort of ClubRotario Tollan de Tula and Rotary Club of Benicia to construct two classrooms that would replace the almost century-old, original school house that had become dilapidated and unusable.

The inspiring motto on the monument reads:

“What is well learned is never forgotten.”

04/30/2026

BTSC members, Pepe Arteaga and Richard Theisen, arrived in Mexico City on April 22 for the long-awaited kickoff of the Texquedo Vehicle Bridge project.

Once completed, people in Texquedo will have year-round vehicle access to their neighboring community, San Miguel de las Piedras, as well as, Tula itself.

Address

P. O. Box 2365
Benicia, CA
94510

Website

https://beniciatulasistercities.org/

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