General News
Ginelli chosen to represent MUSD Area 5
MARTINEZ, Calif. – After a series of interviews Monday night, Martinez Unified School District Board of Education chose Jeremie Ginelli to succeed Bobbi Horack, who was forced to resign after moving out of that voting area. Ginelli is an attorney who also is a member of the Martinez Parks, Recreation, Marina and Cultural Commission, and […]
Homeless forum packs City Hall
MARTINEZ, Calif. – “There’s no handbook to tell us how to do it,” Vice Mayor Noralea Gipner told the audience that packed Martinez City Hall for the community’s first forum on homelessness. Each person has a story, she said, and the city and county don’t have all the resources to address all those who have […]
Council seeks PRMCC input on Waterfront
MARTINEZ, Calif. – If the Parks, Recreation, Marina and Cultural Commission (PRMCC) members have wondered whether “Marina” should be kept in their panel’s name, they got their answer Wednesday from the Martinez City Council – “Yes.” “The PRMCC are experts on what the community is looking for,” City Manager Eric Figueroa said. City staff is […]
Education Board to fill Area 5 vacancy Monday
MARTINEZ, Calif. – Before the end of Monday’s meeting, the Martinez Unified School District Board of Education will fill the Area 5 vacancy created when incumbent Bobbi Horack moved into another area. Once she moved, Horack no longer was eligible to represent Area 5. Six applicants will be interviewed at the meeting, after which the […]
Council’s contract amendment concludes Joint Facilities agreement, residents ask City help with school fighting
MARTINEZ, Calif. – A longtime problem that began in the 1970s when Martinez and Pleasant Hill made an agreement to buy computer equipment that was far more expensive in that era is over, the Martinez City Council heard after voting on a legal procedure Wednesday night. On second reading, the Council unanimously amended its contract […]
Community Focus
Jam group members share love for ukulele, music
MARTINEZ, Calif. – When Sharon Stimson picked up the ukulele three years ago, she decided to join the Martinez Senior Center’s Friday jam. But soon she realized she wanted more playing time. It turns out others thought the same. Now they’re members of the Martinez Ukulele Group (MUG), which meets the second and fourth Tuesdays […]
Rankin Park playground summer program parents meeting Thursday
Parents who want to learn more about the city’s summer’s program at Rankin Park playground can attend an information meeting Thursday at Martinez City Hall. Parents will get to meet the Martinez Recreation staff, who will give an overview of the summer schedule, including daily activities. In addition, staff will describe how they are trained, […]
Martinez to mark Memorial Day Monday with two ceremonies
MARTINEZ, Calif. – Martinez will remember those who gave their lives in American military service in two ceremonies Monday, Memorial Day, according to an announcement released by the city. Martinez Veterans Commission is the host of the commemorations, which will start with a flag raising at 8:30 a.m. in front of the Veterans Building, 930 […]
Park It by Ned MacKay: Memorial Day in the parks
Five of the East Bay Regional Parks plan special activities on Monday, May 27 in celebration of Memorial Day, the national holiday that honors those who died in service to the United States. Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont will host an admission-free day of fun from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors can help with […]
At Home With Jeff: Stories from backstage
By JEFF ROUBAL Martinez News-Gazette Columnist Last weekend, Vivian and I went to the Campbell Theater to see Agatha Christie’s “A Murder Is Announced.” It was a wonderful production. We were impressed with the lighting, sound, costumes, sets, direction, and acting. I highly recommend that you go see it for yourself. It runs through May […]
History
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 […]
Underground Echoes: Aaron Rice: The final chapter (1880-1906)
By JOSEPH & JUDIE PALMER Martinez Gazette Contributors From our last column, we discovered Aaron had siblings. Although his sister Judy Schlesher (58) was never found, (nor could we find any record of her) his older brother William (62) and family, were located living in McKinney, Collin County, Texas. We additionally found them enumerated in […]
Underground Echoes: Family: Love, loss & found
By JOSEPH & JUDIE PALMER Special to the Gazette When we last left Aaron and his family, they were living blissfully. They had become in a relative short period: property owners, industrious entrepreneurs, founders of Napa’s AME Church, ardent voters and proud US citizens. As proof of their accomplishments an announcement published in the Napa […]
Underground Echoes: Life on the family farm: Aaron Rice (1860-1871)
By JOSEPH & JUDIE PALMER Special to the Gazette Picking up Aaron’s story from where we left off, William Rice still had custody of Nathaniel while the rest of his family was free. They finally get to celebrate the holidays without following someone else’s rules. This included their first ever Thanksgiving as it was not […]
Sports
Saint Louis Blues drop game one to Sharks 6-3
Photos by Guri Dhaliwal (Martinez News-Gazette) The Sharks’ top line combined for eight points as the Sharks easily claimed Game 1 of the Western Conference Final by beating the St. Louis Blues 6-3. Logan Couture started the scoring in the first five minutes of the game, and finished off the game with an empty-netter that […]
Warriors rally to take game two 114-111
Photos by Tod Fierner (Martinez News-Gazette) A 15-point halftime deficit could not stop the Warriors on Thursday night, as the World champs rallied from as far back as 17 down to beat the Blazers 114-111 to take a 2-0 series lead in the Western Conference finals.
WARRIORS WESTERN CONFERENCE TICKETS ON-SALE
Tickets For The Warriors’ First Three Western Conference Finals Home Games Go On Sale To The General Public on Saturday, May 11 at 12:00 p.m. OAKLAND, Calif. – The back-to-back NBA Champion Golden State Warriors today announced that single game tickets for the team’s Western Conference Finals, presented by Kaiser Permanente, will go on sale […]
Sharks Headed The Western Conference Finals.
Photos by Guri Dhaliwal (Martinez News-Gazette) Joe Pavelski led Sharks to 3-2 Game 7 win over Avalanche; will face Blues in Western Conference Final.
Golden State takes 3-2 series lead 104-99
Photos by Gerome Wright (Martinez News-Gazette) Steve Kerr looked as proud as he has been in years on Wednesday, merrily cursing from the podium after the Warriors took a 3-2 lead in their series against the Rockets. “Our guys are f—ing giants,” Kerr told reports, a nod to Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp. This genre […]
Opinion
Shell Refinery GM Rizzo to retire
Dear Friends, I wanted to let you know Shell Martinez General Manager, Tom Rizzo, has elected to retire. His last day at Martinez will be July 3. Tom has over 35 years of experience with Shell in both Refining and Chemicals, as well as corporate, strategy and Projects & Technology roles. Tom has a held […]
Column 1: Distressing
By BILL SHARKEY III Martinez News-Gazette Columnist DISTRESSING, disgusting and disappointing are three terms which come to mind immediately when reading the details of the behavior of students at Martinez Junior High School, as reported from the recent meeting of the Martinez Unified School District Board of Education. The situation is appalling to those of […]
Column 1: Three names
By BILL SHARKEY III Martinez News-Gazette Columnist THREE NAMES, well-known, respected and liked, passed from the Martinez scene recently, and will be missed by their friends, families and associates. Each left an impact on the community with their personality and dedication to family and Martinez. Each, also, had a connection with this columnist in different […]
Easter thank you, another great hunt
The sun was shining, the children were excited, over 2,500 candy filled plastic easter eggs were ready to be hunted. The Easter Bunny was on-site for pictures and there were over 150 prize eggs. Thank you to the following sponsors and partners who made the Martinez Annual Easter Egg Hunt a wonderful success: Scott Busby […]
Letter to the Editor: Child care concerns
To Whom it May Concern, I wanted to write to you about a recent issue in Martinez that seemed to spark a conversation that fell to the wayside. There was recently a conversation online, about a Transitional Kindergarten classroom at Childtime Martinez in which many parents felt their children were being emotionally abused. In January […]
Arts & Entertainment
County fair opens Thursday
Contra Costa County’s own county fair opens at noon Thursday for four days of family fun. Opening day also is “Dollar Day,” with $1 admission until 5 p.m. and $1 carnival rides until 5 p.m. Those 62 and older will be admitted for $1 Friday, “Seniors Day.” Those buying a carnival ride wristband can get […]
“A Murder is Announced” robust and delightful
By CHARLIE JARRETT Special to the Gazette If you haven’t been to the Martinez Campbell Theater this past weekend, then by all means pay attention, because their current show, A Murder is Announced, is a robust and delightful Agatha Christie murder mystery. The Plot Line theater company, one of the newer theater companies currently presenting […]
Largest display of original Shelby Cobras in west comes to Martinez on June 1
Gumball Rally Dinner on Friday, May 31 to kick off 5th Annual Cobra Day Free to all spectators, car buffs will see a record- setting display of Shelby Cobras and other classic cars from Ford Motor Company starting at 10 a.m., Saturday, June 1 at The Cobra Experience in Martinez. This will be the largest […]
First class entertainment in Smokey Joe’s Cafe and Vanity Fair
By CHARLIE JARRETT Special to the Gazette This week’s reviews provide you with two terrific opportunities to see up-beat, fun-filled and fast-paced, first-class entertainment in San Francisco’s Geary Theater and Pleasanton’s Firehouse Arts Center, this coming week. First, I’ll share my unmitigated rave review of “Smokey Joe’s Café” presented by the Tri-Valley Repertory theater company, […]
Trio of offerings dot East Bay
By CHARLIE JARRETT Special to the Gazette This week’s reviews provide three totally different experiences ranging between the traveling Broadway production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in San Francisco, the Mystery of Irma Vep in Danville, and Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Schenkkan’s All the Way in El Cerrito. I will rank these shows as […]
