General News
Fourth conspirator pleads guilty in DC Solar Ponzi scheme
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Ryan Guidry, 43, of Pleasant Hill, pleaded guilty today to participating in a massive fraud scheme involving a solar energy company in Benicia that defrauded investors of approximately $1 billion, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. Those losses resulted from investment transactions in solar energy hardware valued at approximately $2.5 billion. Guidry […]
School district issues opposition statement regarding cannabis store location
Ahead of Wednesday’s final vote approving a marijuana retail store at 3501 Alhambra Avenue the Martinez Unified School District has released a statement opposing the locations. “The District is not in opposition to the City of Martinez opening a retail cannabis store, however, the proposed location, just feet from our Adult School and in such […]
Retail cannabis storefront on Council agenda for final vote
The Martinez City Council is set to give final approval for a conditional certificate to a cannabis retail storefront at a controversial location. On Nov. 20 the Council awarded Embarc the second of two permits allowed inside the city of Martinez. The proposed location of the dispensary is 3501 Alhambra Ave., just over two blocks […]
Anonymous gift gives AHS marching band a new look
Sarah Stafford, Director of Music at Alhambra High School, knew she had a challenge. Raising over $30,000 is not easy goal. Her marching band’s uniforms, meant to last ten years were over 12 years old, bought when most of her students were in kindergarten, needed to be replaced. “When I began the fundraising a friend […]
Community Focus
Chamber now accepting Citizen of the Year nominations
The Martinez Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that we are now accepting letters of nomination for the 2019 Citizen of the Year Awards. The awards are given in the following categories: Man of the Year, Woman of the Year, Young Man of the Year, Young Woman of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award, Service […]
Main Street Sweets ending 24-year run
Main Street Sweets, an anchor of downtown Martinez for over 20 years, will close its doors on February 1. According to owner Marty Bender the landlord at 815 Main Street “basically has given us the boot.” A 150 percent increase in rent the last decade puts the business operating at a loss. When Marty and […]
New website and catalog for Contra Costa County Library
The Contra Costa County Library has a brand new website and catalog. The platform offers an updated look and feel and is mobile responsive allowing for an improved user experience whether on a computer, tablet or phone. Some of the new features include: · modern design · simple navigation · new events layout · improved […]
At Home With Jeff: The importance of maintenance
By JEFF ROUBAL Martinez News-Gazette Columnist A recent visitor commented on our kitchen coffee pot and I was proud to point out the details. Our Coffeematic Universal 10 Cup Coffee Percolator was manufactured in the 1950s by Landers, Frary & Clark Company at their factory in New Britain, Connecticut and still makes a great cup […]
MUSD community garden
By WENDY KE Contributor You may have noticed a school garden revitalization effort underway at Martinez Unified School District property next to the Martinez Junior High School ball fields. Since the 2019-20 school year began, volunteers from the MJHS community have devoted time and energy at 3 work days weeding tenacious Bermuda grass, pruning, tending […]
History
Down ‘Memory Sidewalk’ on Court, Estudillo, and Alhambra
Courtesy Martinez Historical Society Contra Costa Gazette paper boys are shown in 1933. They covered Martinez, Pittsburg, Concord, Pleasant Hill among other communities receiving $10 a month salary and 10 percent of what they collected from subscribers who paid 50 cents a month for the subscription. Bill Sharkey III, who had a route from Alhambra […]
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 […]
Sports
Cal Golden Bears Football Will Begin Spring Workouts In March
Article Courtesy of Stephen Langsam Photo by Tod Fierner (Martinez News-Gazette) BERKELEY – Cal will begin spring football workouts at California Memorial Stadium on Wednesday, March 4. The Golden Bears will hold 15 practices with four on Saturdays including the Cal Spring Football Game on April 11. Cal will also host Pro Day […]
Dallas Mavericks Beat up On Golden State Warriors 124-97.
Photos by Guri Dhaliwal (Martinez News-Gazette)
San Jose Sharks Beats Dallas Stars 2-1.
Photos by Guri Dhaliwal (Martinez News-Gazette) Patrick Marleau felt reaching a milestone gave him a little extra energy, and he put it to good use. Marleau scored a key goal in his 1,700th NHL game, Brent Burns had a goal and an assist, and the San Jose Sharks spoiled the return of former […]
49ers Defense Dominated The Minnesota Vikings 27-10
Photos by Tod Fierner (Martinez News-Gazette) The 49ers held serve at home, beating the Minnesota Vikings 27-10 at Levi’s Stadium on Saturday in the NFC Divisional Round playoff. The 49ers are in the NFC Championship Game for the first time since 2013, the last of their three straight trips to the conference title round. Minnesota’s […]
Opinion
Column One: Well, who now?
By Bill Sharkey III WELL, WHO NOW?? Last Democratic presidential candidate debate before the Iowa caucuses, and those standing before the prospective voters in upcoming elections and caucus groups have given it their last shot nationwide. How do you feel, Mr. and Ms. American voter? Made up your mind? Still too early? Still too […]
The Insidious Nature of Good Enough
In my professional life I am finding myself spending more and more time in West County and as a result I had the pleasure of being present for the official ribbon cutting ceremonies for an exciting new project in the city of Richmond, CoBiz. The space was designed as a co-working, business incubator space and […]
Martinez needs a new voice on the Board of Supervisors
I’m running to be your Contra Costa County Supervisor, show up every day, and tackle our challenges head-on. I was born and raised in Martinez. My mother is a nurse and my father delivered chips for Frito Lay in Richmond and Martinez. From them, I learned the importance of showing up every day and standing […]
Column One: What Happened?
by Bill Sharkey III WHAT HAPPENED? You tell me! Whatever it was, it was mighty fast. And, here we are again. No longer an unemployed volunteer columnist. Hardly a day off to consider my future. Perhaps, just as well! Reflecting on my past keeps me well occupied; it’s been such a long past. Maybe good […]
Column 1: Educators
By BILL SHARKEY III Martinez News-Gazette Columnist EDUCATORS more than have their hands full these days trying to stay in business. There always was a time when school boards had more than enough to do to maintain their school buildings. The grounds, a full staff of teachers, other personnel, and appropriate curriculum to meet state […]
Arts & Entertainment
Glass Menagerie shines at Campbell Theater
by Charlie Jarrett The Martinez Campbell Theater is truly becoming an even more “Go-to Theatrical Venue” for the entire East Bay Area, as the quality and variety of shows continue to get better and more engaging. This past week, one of my favorite all-time dramatic masterpieces, The Glass Menagerie, written by Tennessee Williams, has come […]
2020 BottleRock Announces Lineup
Courtesy of Stephen Langsam (Martinez News-Gazette) Jan 6 at 10:27 AM January 6, 2020 Napa, CA — BottleRock Napa Valley 2020, presented by JaM Cellars, announces its eighth annual festival lineup today, featuring over 75 musical acts including headline artists Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dave Matthews Band, Stevie Nicks, Miley Cyrus, Khalid and Anderson […]
Two unique takes on Christmas Carol
By CHARLIE JARRETT Martinez News-Gazette Columnist This time of the year often delivers fond memories for us of stories that we have read and plays that we have seen that bring us messages of love, compassion, redemption and goodwill. This year we have two unique and considerably different takes on Charles Dickens’ 1843 story, A […]
Top-notch Bay Area holiday productions
By CHARLIE JARRETT Martinez News-Gazette Columnist Once again, I’m excited to share with you my reviews of two totally different but completely satisfying theater productions for your entertainment over the holidays. First, the Town Hall Theater in Lafayette has delivered an engaging spoof of a classic Brothers Grimm fairytale, entitled Cinderella: A Fairytale. The second […]
Harry Potter is a must-see production
By CHARLIE JARETT Martinez News-Gazette Columnist Today, I am indeed fortunate to be able to share with you the incredible West Coast official world premiere opening of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, her eighth story, written and envisioned as a theatrical production by Jack Thorne, and subsequently directed by John Tiffany, as […]
