General News
MUSD update on Measure R improvements
MARTINEZ, Calif. – The Martinez Unified School District (MUSD) will welcome about 4,200 students when school starts this week. The school board kicked-off the fall semester with a busy agenda including an update on the status of the $120 million Measure R school facility improvements at the Aug. 12 meeting. John Muir Elementary will be […]
Residents give input on new city park
MARTINEZ, Calif. – There was a good turnout and plenty of ideas at a charette for a new park at Traditions at the Meadow, formerly Pine Meadow Golf Course on Vine Hill Way, Aug. 10. The whole crowd at the Park, Recreation, Marina and Cultural Commission event got a quick course in landscape architecture before […]
Adult School Business Coordinator Robert Lawrence found dead
Longtime Martinez Adult School employee Robert Lawrence passed away unexpectedly August 12, 2019, at age 56. Martinez Unified School District Superintendent made this announcement written announcement on Monday. “It is with a very heavy heart that I am writing to inform you Rob Lawrence, Department Coordinator of the Business Training Center for Martinez Adult Education, […]
Martinez Unified School District meets tomorrow
Martinez Unified School District Board meets Monday, Aug. 12, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. at the MUSD office, 921 Susana Street (There will be a private, closed session at 5:30 p.m.) Topics of interest on the agenda include a revised MUSD budget. California’s school districts are required to in form the public of changes to their […]
Martinez Police Blotter for July 1 – 15, 2019
On July 1st at 1:03 am, Sergeant Busciglio contacted a man and woman in the 200 block of Howe Road. The man was arrested for possession of a switchblade knife and a methamphetamine pipe. The woman was arrested for identity theft and possession of prescription medications. Case# 19-1745. At 6:00 am, Corporal Baillie took a […]
Community Focus
Park It by Ned MacKay: Night hikes at Black Diamond Mines
During the heat of summer, early evening is a good time to explore the East Bay Regional Parks. With that in mind, the naturalists at Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve in Antioch are offering two twilight programs in coming days. The first is “Twilight on the Trail,” from 7:15 to 10:15 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. […]
At Home With Jeff: Walnuts
By JEFF ROUBAL Martinez News-Gazette Columnist Life is always exciting for us retirees. Yesterday morning after breakfast I went to the garage to put the pliers away and got sucked into a project that took up most of my morning. I cracked walnuts! Vivian bought them in Galt last week and left them in the […]
Business Spotlight: Passion for beauty a path to local business
MARTINEZ, Calif. – Born in Taiwan, Frank Kubler’s family moved to Iowa when he was a boy. Then he moved to San Francisco where he graduated from SF State University with honors in Art. All of these settings impacted his awareness of the natural environment and made him a fan of John Muir’s writings. That […]
Summer vacation not for everyone at MUSD
MARTINEZ, Calif. – It is the opposite of summer vacation at Martinez Unified School District school sites. Cleaning, construction, and maintenance crews have worked up a sweat getting schools in top shape for incoming students by Aug. 14. There is a huge construction job working at John Muir Elementary School on Vista Way, and the […]
Business Spotlight: Patent attorneys on Main
MARTINEZ, Calif. – Local entrepreneurs and inventors may be surprised to find experienced patent attorneys on Main Street. Other than its location, what makes the six-month-old CrossPond Law firm unique, is the technical and international business experience the attorneys bring to town. “Our competitive advantage is that we are experienced and licensed in America and […]
History
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 […]
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 […]
Sports
Oakland Raiders beat L.A. Rams 14-3 in preseason action
Photos by Tod Fierner (Martinez News-Gazette) Oakland quarterback Mike Glennon looked good early and threw three straight completions that gained 56 yards on Oakland’s opening drive. DeAndre Washington scored on a 7-yard run. The Raiders were in the red zone in the second quarter when Glennon threw an interception near the goal line. “I was […]
Martinez Youth Football welcoming new coaches and new culture
MARTINEZ, Calif. – New coaches, new staff and a new approach to football is restoring and strengthening the Martinez Youth Football (MYF) and Cheers program this year. On Aug. 8, new MYF Board President Lina Taylor announced the program is still accepting students sign-ups for football and cheerleading. “They’re learning and having fun!” Christy Sherman, […]
Martinez youth earns national medal
Hanna Lavino, from Martinez, brought home the bronze medal in her division at the 2019 US Taekwondo (USTKD) National Championship held in Minneapolis Minnesota. Earlier this summer Hanna also won the bronze at the California state championship held in Fresno. Hanna has been practicing taekwondo for over the past six years, training under the direction […]
A’s play long ball in 10-2 win over Mariners
Photos By Tod Fierner (Martinez News-Gazette) Mark Canha and Jurickson Profar each hit two home runs and Homer Bailey pitched six solid innings in his Oakland debut as the host Athletics defeated the Seattle Mariners 10-2 on Wednesday afternoon. Chad Pinder and Ramon Laureano also homered for the A’s, who scored all of their […]
Cal Bears More Than A Football Game
From pregame concerts to bobbleheads, fans attending Cal football games at Memorial Stadium this fall will be treated to a host of activities, promotions and giveaways to help make gamedays in Berkeley more enjoyable for the entire Cal family. “We want our football gamedays to be more than just about football,” said Joe Mulford, Cal’s […]
Opinion
Letter to the Editor: No to Indoor Gun Range, No to Sales of Semi-Automatic Weapons
Forty-three people spoke regarding the proposed indoor gun range for Downtown Martinez at the July 23 Planning Commission meeting. Thirty-two were against, 10 were for, and one spoke on both sides. But, the packed, standing-room-only city chamber was overwhelmingly filled with those opposed to the proposed range. Cry Babies? Those in opposition to the proposed […]
Column 1: Where next?
By BILL SHARKEY III Martinez News-Gazette Columnist WHERE NEXT? When next? Who next? How many innocent victims next? Why next? Questions that no one can answer, but too many not trying hard enough to make certain there will not be a ‘next’. The chances of there being no ‘next’ time are so very slim. Perhaps […]
Letter to the Editor, by Councilmember Noralea Gipner: Homelessness issue a priority
As many of you are aware, working on the homelessness problem is a priority for our city. Homelessness has increased, not only regionally, but throughout the state and nation. Over the last few years we have been focusing on linking people with services to get them help and into housing. This is a complicated problem […]
Letter to the Editor: Guns and emotions
An open letter to the community-at-large and the City of Martinez Planning Commission Last week the Martinez News-Gazette published Column One and a pair of readers’ letters voicing support for an underground gun range envisioned as part of a proposed downtown outdoor outfitters bazaar and shooters club in the old “opera house” building at Ferry […]
Column 1: Business downtown
By BILL SHARKEY III Martinez News-Gazette Columnist BUSINESS DOWNTOWN has shown some ‘spark’ in recent years. However, there is much more to be done to bring it to a viable level attracting shoppers, diners, visitors in greater numbers. Ask any merchant if he or she would like to see many more customers. A proposal on […]
Arts & Entertainment
Two great productions worth the drive
By CHARLIE JARRETT Martinez News-Gazette Columnist This week’s two reviews take us first to San Francisco for some thought-provoking discourse on the pain of segregation to children and their families, as described in Brian Copeland’s award-winning solo show, “Not a Genuine Black Man”. Next, in Alameda, the terrific little theater known as Altarena Playhouse has […]
Celebrate 50 Years of Art in the Park
MARTINEZ, Calif. – Discover something delightful, entertaining, amusing, thought-provoking, delicious or just fun at Art in the Park. The 50th annual Martinez Arts Association (MAA) event will be held at Susana Park on Aug. 18, from 10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and over 60 local artists are expected this year. Along with live music, food […]
Billy Elliot the Musical shines at Woodminster Ampitheater
By CHARLIE JARRETT Special to the Gazette “Billy Elliot the Musical” is a moving, inspiring, and delightful musical based primarily on the 2000 film of the same name. The music in this musical was created by Elton John, and the book and lyrics are by Lee Hall, who wrote the film’s initial screenplay. My wife […]
‘Delightfully humorous Charlotte’s Web comes to Campbell Theater
This week’s reviews take us to Orinda and Martinez where we can find two delightfully humorous and engaging theatrical performances at a very reasonable price. I’m going to encourage you to go to the Campbell Theater where you will see a wonderful children’s story by author E. B. White, “Charlotte’s Web”. This delightful story was […]
Winning woodcarver, a wildlife lover
MARTINEZ, Calif. – Jim Marieiro, local woodcarver and environmentalist won Best of Show for Fish, in the Open (Master) class at the national Pacific Flyway Decoy Association’s 3-day “Best in the West” Fish and Bird Carving competition in Sacramento last weekend. Marieiro teaches woodcarvers, young and old, just as Mario Marchi (locally renowned carver) mentored […]
