General News
MUSD test scores above state average
MARTINEZ, Calif. – Martinez Unified School District students scored above state averages on the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) test, but not as high as anyone would like. The results were made public Oct. 9, and the district’s administration is still analyzing them. “Our administration is currently reviewing the scores in detail […]
New pedestrian crossing …
Those eagerly awaiting completion of the pedestrian crossing that will span the Northern Pacific Railroad tracks near the Amtrak station, it will likely be completed by the end of 2019, according to Don Salts, Martinez Deputy Public Works Director. It looks elegant and seems simple, but construction will have taken more than a year. Notice […]
Study session becomes a call for action
MARTINEZ, Calif. – More parking, a hotel or inn, building height limitation, density, and building uses topped agenda at an informal Downtown Plan Study Session, but most of all there was a sense of urgency. During public comment, Mike Telfer reminded the council that the city was often flooded while it took 50 years to […]
Contra Costa County prepares for a possible PG&E power shutoff event
The County is preparing to respond to the impacts of a possible power shutoff conducted by PG&E. The agency informed County officials that Contra Costa County is under a “Public Safety Shutoff Watch,” and current weather conditions may lead to a de-energization event starting tonight, as early as 12 midnight on Wednesday, October 9th, 2019. […]
Message from MDUSD regarding PG&E planned shut-off
All Mt. Diablo schools are currently open Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) has indicated it will pre-emotivelv cut oower this week in seven of the nine Bay Area counties it serves to prevent power lines from sparking wildfires during the extreme dry and windy weather the National Weather Service (NWS) has forecasted for the next […]
Community Focus
AAUW Program discusses hope for homeless students in MDUSD
The public is invited to a Pleasant Hill-Martinez AAUW (American Association of University Women) Program regarding help for homeless students in the Mount Diablo Unified School District. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 16th at 7 pm at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 1601 Mary Dr in Pleasant Hill. Helping homeless students pursue their […]
Park It with Ned MacKay: Cowboy hootenanny
By NED MACKAY East Bay Regional Parks District All things Western will be celebrated in style at the Cowboy Hootenanny on Saturday, Oct. 19 at Sunol Regional Wilderness in southern Alameda County. The event is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Activities will include live folk and bluegrass music, hands-on ranching activities, and general celebration […]
Pink Heals making Martinez stop
By KEVIN MURRAY Martinez News-Gazette Contributor The Pink Heals National Tour brings pink fire trucks and police cars to communities around the country, to small communities as well as large metropolitan areas. Bright pink firetruck turn heads and drive awareness and community support for those battling all types of cancer. The founder is Arizona firefighter, […]
Martinez Kiwanis installs board members
By JOHN STEVENS Contributor In September, the Martinez Kiwanis Club installed its officers and board members for the new year. David Gerson, who has served as the President Elect, took the helm as President from his predecessor Denis Smith. Other officers include President Elect – Bob Braun, Secretary – Sandra Hall and Treasurer – Patty […]
Community Calendar, Oct. 13, 2019
Sunday, October 13, 2019 Cookbook Open House 1 – 4 pm Martinez Museum, 1005 Escobar Street The new Martinez cookbook will be featured and on sale. Light refreshments will be served. Sunday, October 13, 2019 Pumpkin Dunkin 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Rankin Aquatic Center, 100 Buckley St Cost: $8 per child (includes a pumpkin […]
History
Martinez Historical Society cookbook includes family favorites
Mary Goodmann said, “We started this endeavor in the spring of 2018 when we realized that foods we grew up eating and memory’s associated with them were being lost. We tried to capture everything from an all day affair of making ravioli to a quick meal put together by a single working mother with two […]
Underground Echoes: Meet the cemeterians
By JOSEPH & JUDIE PALMER Special to the Gazette Our column this week is different, however fear not, new biographies are in the works. The huge interest in genealogy has inspired nationwide cemetery restoration to become a large growing movement. Today as we have chosen to focus on conversations with three remarkable individuals. They are […]
Underground Echoes: Where is Velda Dunn?
By JOSEPH & JUDIE PALMER Special to the Gazette Velda Lillian Dunn-Acker, 20, gave birth to her only son Donald Jay Acker, February 27, 1934 in Los Angeles but died during the delivery. Her siblings retrieved her body for burial in Martinez and broke off all contact with her husband and son. This past July, […]
Underground Echoes: Bricks and sticks
By JOSEPH & JUDIE PALMER Special to the Gazette MARTINEZ, Calif. – City of Martinez’s Annual Spring Cemetery Cleanup. Due to the numerous winter storms, there was quite the renaissance of those pesky annoying plants we all call “weeds” and the accumulation of numerous fallen branches. Although much was accomplished, more still needs to be […]
Underground Echoes: In our outdoor museum, past lives matter
By JOSEPH & JUDIE PALMER Special to the Gazette There is something very serene and introspective about working in the Alhambra Pioneer Cemetery, both as the oldest known cemetery in Contra Costa County and as a wonderful outdoor museum. For one thing, the residents are very quiet. The other reasons include the beautiful views of […]
Sports
Alhambra Girls Volleyball vs Miramonte
Photos by Mark Fierner (Martinez News-Gazette) Miramonte beat the Bulldogs 3 games to 1
MJHS volleyball
Lady Bullpups took King in straight sets, making history with Grayson Muraoka serving a perfect set 25-0 to start the match. Team roster Sydnie DeMartini #2 Aiyana Filippi #7 Maelin Funk #8 Schelby James #13 Indie Johnson #9 Jaiden Johnson #12 Kylie Long #3 Grayson Muraoka #11 Jordan Parrish #14 Jenna Payne #5 Isabela Porché […]
Oakland Raiders vs Chicago Bears Photo Gallery
Photos by Neville Guard ( Martinez News-Gazette ) Oakland Raiders beat the Bears in London 20-21
AHS fishing team competes in Delta Open
The Alhambra Bulldawg Bassin’ team recently competed in the Bass Pro Shops FLW High School Fishing California Delta Open. 59 teams competed in the event. Above, from left to right: Emmett Gargaro, James Alderman, Cole Davis, Callie Hernandez, Austin Trantham, Luke Beaty, Tommy Grijalva, and Ryan Tate. Here are the final results of the AHS teams: […]
Opinion
Column 1: Unbelievable
By BILL SHARKEY III Martinez Gazette Columnist UNBELIEVABLE (maybe not) were the words of the occupant of the office of the most powerful leader in the world: “As I have stated strongly before, and just to reiterate, if Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom, consider to be off limits, I […]
Column 1: Misbehaving students
By BILL SHARKEY III Martinez News-Gazette Columnist MISBEHAVING STUDENTS have always been a challenge to those trying to reach them. Probably has been such over centuries. However, how to deal with such behavior has changed as has time and cultural issues, and the methods of educators and parents have adapted to change. We’ve all heard […]
Letter to the Editor: Dog park urged at new parcel
Dear Council Members, As residents of Martinez since February 18, 1966, and always having resided south of Highway 4, we are pleased that the resolution of the fate of the Coward property has taken place and there can be needed use for the property in the form of much needed new housing. We are also […]
Letter to the Editor: Martinez redistricting: It’s like deja vu all over again
With a hat tip to Yogi Berra Sunday mornings after a city council meeting I like to sit with my coffee, sometimes not so quietly, at my computer and watch the video recording. I want to thank Mr. Verrilli for speaking on behalf of the many Martinez voters who have had their votes suppressed – […]
Column 1: Now is the time
By BILL SHARKEY III Martinez News-Gazette Columnist NOW IS THE TIME for all good Americans to come to the aid (rescue?) of their nation, a paraphrase of an old typing test. Now is the time to overcome the divisiveness which seems to have developed. Now is the time to come together to quell the violence […]
Arts & Entertainment
‘Insignificance’ at the Campbell Theater is an elegant, thoughtful piece of historical fiction
By SCOTT BABA Art and Entertainment Editor It’s always an interesting thought experiment to consider what it would have been like if historical figures from different spheres of influence met each other. What would they think of each other? What would they have to say? That’s the premise of “Insignificance,” the new play currently running […]
Witty and thought-provoking production shines at Campbell
By CHARLIE JARRETT Martinez News-Gazette Columnist This week’s promise of double billed theatrical events has turned out to be two excellent productions being reviewed. However, only one will be available over the next two weekends. The Eugene O’Neill foundation’s premier production of Eugene O’Neill’s Nobel prize-winning play, Long Day’s Journey into Night, opened this past […]
‘Camping With Henry and Tom’ a tightly crafted character study at the Campbell Theater
By SCOTT BABA Art and Entertainment Editor In television there is a narrative device called the “bottle episode.” Originally conceived of as a way to cut costs, a bottle episode usually involves finding a way to keep the characters in a single location and giving them little to do besides bounce off of one another. […]
Two top-notch community theater productions
By CHARLIE JARRETT Martinez News-Gazette Columnist First this week, the very intriguing murder mystery play in Orinda, “The Woman in White”, extracted from the 500-page book written by Wilkie Collins in 1859, and recently adapted into a theatrical play by local author Malcolm Cowler. Next, in Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh community Theater presents the upbeat musical […]
Two productions take on classic plays
By CHARLIE JARRETT Martinez News-Gazette Columnist In his first hit play, The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams wrote a heartfelt story based on his own life and that of his domineering mother, still living her colorful life as a southern belle, and created a fragile-as-glass sister, reflecting the emotions imprisoned in her painfully shy, somewhat erratic […]
