News & Events

  1. Bently-Kirman Trail Opens in the Carson Valley

    By: Doug Hahn

    A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on April 30, 2010 to mark the grand opening of a four mile public trail system at the Bently-Kirman Tract in the Carson Valley. The trail provides community access to the Carson River with stunning panoramic views of Carson Valley and the surrounding Sierra Nevada and Pine Nut mountain ranges.

    “The new trail takes visitors past some beautiful natural areas and provides a wonderful recreational opportunity,” says Duane Petite, Carson River Project Director for The Nature Conservancy. “But the trail is also a perfect example of The Nature Conservancy’s collaborative approach to conservation in the Carson Valley for the benefit of people and nature.”

    The building of the trail was made possible through a partnership between Bently Agrowdynamics, The Nature Conservancy, the Carson Valley Trails Association, and Boy Scout Troop 495. Volunteers put in more than 100 hours building the trail. Two trail loops meander peacefully around wetlands and through willow and wild rose thickets, mimicking the natural sinuosity of the nearby river, before emerging at four sand bar beaches.

  2. The Bently Reserve Receives National LEED Silver Certification: A Grand San Francisco Building Now Recognized as One of the Country’s Greenest

    By: Doug Hahn

    The historic Bently Reserve, formerly the San Francisco US Federal Reserve Bank, has received silver certification in the national Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System for Core and Shell Development (LEED Silver CS). Located in the heart of the financial district, the Bently Reserve is known as one of the City’s premier special event venues, and as one of the area’s most cherished buildings. This certification makes the Bently Reserve San Francisco’s first LEED Silver certified special event and conference center, as well as one of the City’s greenest commercial spaces — a landmark achievement for both the owner, Bently Holdings, and the city of San Francisco.

  3. Green Carpooling & Commuting Tips for the BART Strike

    By: Byron Taylor

    With the BART STRIKE looming this coming work week, we thought we’d share some of our tips on carpooling and green travel with you once again. Even if you drive, remember that our highways and roads will be jam packed with traffic. Consider the greener option of carpooling: if enough of us do it, it’ll save everyone valuable time. Remember too that AC Transit and the SFMTA will still be in operation – just leave for work at least an hour early, and bring your patience with you, as these services are likely to be overcrowded.

  4. Christopher and Amber Marie Bently Host a Discussion with the Coral Reef Alliance

    By: Doug Hahn

    Last night the Christopher and Amber Marie Bently hosted an informative function for the Coral Reef Alliance.

    Brian Huse, executive director of the Coral Reef Alliance, and Rick MacPherson, director of conservation programs, discussed the state of coral reefs and why they’re invaluable to our planet.

    Coral reefs provide local coastline communities with natural shelter from storm damage, and bolster local economies through tourism. When not abused, they’re an important source of food, both locally and abroad.

  5. The Cove

    By: Doug Hahn

    Billed as “an intelligent action/adventure/Ocean’s-Eleven-like horror film wrapped around a tale of redemption and ultimate revenge,” The Cove is a documentary that follows an elite reconnaissance team to the picturesque fishing village of Taiji, Japan.

    It is here the world’s largest annual dolphin kill takes place in a hidden bay that is watched over by armed guards and obscured behind blue tarpaulins. What occurs beyond the patrols and scrims is one of Japan’s darkest secrets: pods of dolphins are herded into the bay, where they are trapped behind a wall of nets and butchered by whalers with spears and knives.

  6. Feeling Blue About Going Green?

    By: Byron Taylor

    Hesitant to go green? Think it’s too involved, too expensive, or too complicated? Want to start recycling but don’t know where to begin? Or maybe you’re feeling the pressure from peers and loved ones who give you the evil eye every time you throw a can of soda in the garbage along with the coffee grinds? Well, rest easy. Going green does not have to mean wearing hemp clothing or living off the grid on solar power and home grown vegetables. It can be something as simple as bringing your own bag to your local grocer, or as technical as reclaiming shower water for use in your toilet. In this series, several green alternatives are applied to everyday living with the ultimate aim of giving good old Mother Earth the break she finally deserves.

  7. Global Green

    By: Christopher Bently

    Bently Holdings is a long time supporter of Global Green, the pioneering national organization focused on curbing Global Warming, eliminating weapons of mass destruction and providing clean, safe drinking water for those who lack it. More recently Global Green has engaged in the largest green rebuilding effort in New Orleans using all sustainable building materials [...]

  8. Coral Reef Alliance

    By: Christopher Bently

    The Coral Reef Alliance is a non profit organization based in San Francisco dedicated to the protection of coral reefs throughout the world. By integrating responsible sustainable tourism, community partnerships and ecosystem management, Coral is fighting for the survival of more than 50% of the worlds coral reefs now in danger of complete destruction. The [...]

  9. Point Reyes Bird Observatory

    By: Christopher Bently

    Bently Holdings has long been a strong supporter of the Point Reyes Bird Observatory in support of their efforts to study and preserve the animals in and around the Farallon islands. The Point Reyes Bird Observatory, Founded in 1965, is dedicated to conserving birds, other wildlife and ecosystems through innovative scientific research and outreach. Many [...]

  10. ROAR and Shambala

    By: Christopher Bently

    September 2007 saw the launch of Amber Marie Bently jewelry on Union Square. The best part of the sold out event was that all proceeds and sales went to benefit the ROAR foundation and the Shambala preserve. Good friend Tippi Hedren came to support Amber and educate people on what Tippi does with her ROAR [...]

  11. Environment California

    By: Christopher Bently

    Do you want clean air, clean water and open spaces. Of course you do but these days it takes tough-minded advocacy to win concrete results for our environment, especially when powerful interests or profound ignorance stand in the way of environmental progress. Environment California focus’s exclusively on protecting California’s air, water and open spaces. They [...]

  12. World Wildlife Foundation

    By: Christopher Bently

    In September of 2001 while still looking for a tenant, the Bently’s donated use of the retail space at 240 Stockton and Maiden Lane to the World Wildlife Foundation. Together with the WWF Bently Holdings held an event to raise the consciences of endangered species throughout the world. It is hard to imagine that people [...]