banner ad
banner ad

General News

Kids art contest returns

Kids art contest returns

MARTINEZ, Calif. – The Martinez News-Gazette is proud to announce the return of its children’s art contest, the 33rd of its kind. Children in kindergarten through 6th grade are eligible to enter their original artwork for a chance to win one or more of numerous prizes. This year, the prize pool is bigger and better [...]

Earthquake ordinance deadline approaches

Earthquake ordinance deadline approaches

Four years ago, the Martinez City Council signed into effect an ordinance that said there would be a deadline to have all the unreinforced masonry buildings in town retrofitted up to code. That ordinance was adopted July 15, 2009, and the deadline for the work to be completed and approved from a building official is [...]

DUI Checkpoint nets two arrests

DUI Checkpoint nets two arrests

MARTINEZ, Calif. – The Martinez Police Department (MPD) conducted a DUI/Driver License checkpoint on Friday, May 17, in the 3700 block of Alhambra Avenue between the hours of 7 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. Checkpoints are placed in locations that have the greatest opportunity for achieving drunk and drugged driving deterrence and provide the greatest safety [...]

Crunch time …

Crunch time …

Sports

San Francisco Bay Area awarded Super Bowl L

Super Bowl 50, or Super Bowl L will be held in the San Francisco Bay Area, in Santa Clara the future home of the San Francisco 49ers. Tuesday morning team owners voted to let the 49ers’ new home stadium host the 2016 Super Bowl, which is due to open in 2014. This will be a [...]

Bulldogs take down Hornets for NCS win

Bulldogs take down Hornets for NCS win

MARTINEZ, Calif. – The Alhambra Bulldogs (15-8, 7-5 DFAL) were given the sixth seed going into the NCS Division III Playoffs, earning a home game in the first round against the visiting eleventh seeded Novato Hornets (14-11, 12-6 MCAL). The Bulldogs, winners of five of their last eight, and 9-6 at home were ready to [...]

Lady Bulldogs route Broncos for NCS win

Lady Bulldogs route Broncos for NCS win

By MIKE JONES Gazette contributor MARTINEZ, Calif. – Even though this was a first-round North Coast Section do-or-die Division II Playoff game between Walnut Creek’s Northgate High and Alhambra, there was an interesting subplot to Tuesday’s contest. Much of the pregame talk revolved around the relative talents and potential rivalry between the two standout shortstops, [...]

ALHAMBRA NCS PREVIEW: BASEBALL

ALHAMBRA NCS PREVIEW: BASEBALL

By MIKE JONES Gazette contributor It’s been a rather difficult season for head coach Jay Heeb’s Alhambra High baseball team. The Bulldogs number one pitcher, Jack Higgins, was lost for the season early on. The number two and three starters and starting second-baseman were hurt for much of the year and the short reliever, Tanner [...]

Arts & Entertainment

All laughs in DVC’s ‘All in the Timing’

A date explored in every direction dictated by the ring of a bell, monkeys attempting to write Hamlet, a lonely girl with a speech problem and a wacky professor who made up a universal language, a psychedelic and manically musical purchase of a loaf of bread, stuck in parallel Philadelphia, and the many deaths of [...]

Star Trek: Boldly taking the series to what it was before!

Star Trek: Boldly taking the series to what it was before!

Back in 2009, director J. J. Abrams boldly took the Star Trek franchise where it had never been before, at least not in a long time, and that was a wildly successful reboot. Abrams was able to capture the great sense of adventure and spectacle and plenty of nods to the original films and series [...]

Bottle Rock festival hits Napa

Bottle Rock festival hits Napa

With bands like the Black Keys, Zac Brown Band and Kings of Leon headlining the five-day festival in Napa Valley why wouldn’t you give the first year festival a chance. The festival, which will be held at Napa Expo, is just a couple blocks away from down town Napa, so before you go in or [...]

California Roots rolls into Monterey

California Roots rolls into Monterey

Monterey, one of the most iconic locations in California is hosting the California Roots festival, the music and arts festival is held over Memorial Day weekend, May 24 through 26 at the Monterey Fair Grounds. “This is one of the most legendary and beautiful venues in California,” said Dan Sheehan one of the producers for [...]

Home & Garden

Getting to the church on time

Getting to the church on time

I’m getting married in the morning!/Ding dong!/The bells are gonna chime/Pull out the stopper!/Let’s have a whopper!/But get me to the church on time! – Lerner & Lowe I have weddings on my mind today. I received a wedding invitation in the mail last week for the daughter of a longtime friend. My inner voice [...]

Snap pea salad a springtime star

Snap pea salad a springtime star

This asparagus and snap pea salad brings together two of springtime’s stars. The veggies are only slightly blanched. The dressing couldn’t be lighter and more refreshing, allowing the sweet flavors of the veggies to really pop. Those fresh asparagus and peas will be gone before you know it. Enjoy! 1 bunch asparagus ½ pound sugar [...]

Just a rocking chair

Just a rocking chair

hoo! The Peddler’s Faire is coming this Saturday! I can hardly wait. Main Street will be lined on both sides with stalls filled with a huge assortment of antiques, porcelain, glassware, furniture, pottery, toys, and much more. In addition to the collectibles and antiques, over 50 arts and crafts vendors will be there. Bonus! Many [...]

Pat English shares strata recipe

It’s brunch season! With the many events that we celebrate in the spring, Mother’s Day, graduations, baby and bridal showers, what a good reason the have a brunch. This is my go-to recipe for brunch. It is much like a quiche, but so much simpler, with the added benefit of preparing the dish the night [...]

History

This week in history: 5/5/13

April 30, 1789: First presidential inauguration One of America’s great military leaders of the American Revolution, a head commander of the colonial army, George Washington is inaugurated as the first president of the newly formed United States. He was unanimously chosen by all sixty-nine electors in February 1789. The following month, the newly drafted constitution [...]

This week in history: 4-28-13

This week in history: 4-28-13

April 22, 1915: Germans introduce poisonous gas to the battlefield German Forces shocked Allied soldiers along the western front by firing more than 150 tons of lethal chlorine gas against two French divisions at Ypres Belgium. This was the first major gas attack used by the Germans. The French had used small amounts of tear [...]

Celebrating history …

Celebrating history …

New doors open for Historical Society

New doors open for Historical Society

Approximately four and a half months since moving to its new headquarters on 724 Escobar St., the Contra Costa Historical Society will host its grand opening to the public on Saturday, April 20 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Group tours of the new facilities will be available to interested parties, as well as refreshments [...]

Opinion

Column 1: Main Street parking

Column 1: Main Street parking

By BILL SHARKEY III Gazette Columnist NUMBER 100! As I tootle along each week trying to provide something of varied interests, the time has flown by. I suddenly realized last week that number 100 was due up next. In my editor days in the early 1960s, I did a column every issue, five days a week. Some [...]

Keeping the Faith: Choose to be happy

Keeping the Faith: Choose to be happy

“There is something rotten in the state of Denmark.” That is a centuries old phrase from William Shakespeare’s masterpiece, “Hamlet.” Going back to your high school English class, you might remember that strange things were indeed going on in Hamlet’s world. His father, the Danish king, had been murdered. His uncle was behind the conspiracy [...]

Column One: Welcome home, Herns

Column One: Welcome home, Herns

WELCOME HOME, HERNS! Please add us to the ever-growing list of well-wishers and supporters who are so happy to see you back home. Seeing family photos in the newspaper and knowing that “things” are getting better is such good news for all of Martinez. Bless you all. GERONIMO TWO took place April 27 as our [...]

‘Individuals are taking advantage …’

Dear Editor, It is not in my nature to complain but there are events that happen that are unjust and wrong and the same people continue to profit from it. I’m going to go out on a limb and risk written persecution by insecure individuals that are taking advantage of an organization that is supposed [...]