Donna Beth Weilenman
Donna Beth Weilenman's Latest Posts

Parade, movie, fireworks on tap for July 4 celebration
More than 3,000 people will be lining Main Street Thursday morning to watch the Martinez Fourth of July Parade. Launching the holiday will be a flag raising at 9 a.m. that day in front of the Veterans Memorial Building, 930 Ward St., to mark the beginning of a full day of festivities to mark the […]

Sports legend Joe Gibbs inducted to Sonoma Raceway’s ‘Wall Of Fame,’ reflects on career after Truex victory
Joe Gibbs, the Super Bowl-winning coach of the Washington Redskins who as race team owner has won four NASCAR Cup Series championships has been inducted to the Sonoma Raceway’s Wall of Fame. “I’m thrilled to be on the wall. It’s an honor,” Gibbs said. The owner of Joe Gibbs Racing, Gibbs also is a 2020 […]

PBF officials pledge to keep Shell employees, community involvement, safety measures
MARTINEZ, Calif. – Representatives of PBF Energy, prospective buyers of the Shell Martinez Refinery, promised again to keep the refinery’s current employees and to continue safety and community programs. While Shell and PBF Energy announced a agreement June 11 for the sale for $1 billion and other adjustments, the transaction is subject to regulatory approval, […]

Meeting attendees question Varise’s sports store, gun range plans
MARTINEZ, Calif. – Few at Brandon Varise’s informational meeting Thursday objected to how he saved 714-18 Main Street from demolition and how it now has a popular bar and crepe restaurant. But many opposed his plans for 604 Ferry St., where Varise wants to put an outdoor sports store with a gun range below. Varise […]

MUSD Board votes Monday on budget
Martinez Unified School District Board of Education expects to adopt its next budget Monday. The 2019-20 budget maintains a positive fund balance at the end of the school year, but Assistant Superintendent Helen Rossi said the District will be able to meet its financial obligations during the subsequent two fiscal years only if $1.8 million […]

Beaver Festival returns to Susana Park June 29
MARTINEZ, Calif. – In 2008, a group of people decided a festival would be a way to unify supporters and to show detractors how many people wanted to protect a family beavers who had moved to the downtown area of Alhambra Creek. This year, the 12th Martinez Beaver Festival once again will celebrate the aquatic […]
Woman walking on railroad struck, killed by train
MARTINEZ, Calif. – A woman walking on railroad tracks in Martinez near where Jenna Betti was killed by a train five years ago was struck and killed by a BNSF freight train about 6:20 p.m. Saturday. Liliana Alam, 32, of Martinez, is the deceased according to BNSF spokeswoman Lena Kent. The site, near Old Orchard […]
NASCAR weekend culminates Sunday in Toyota/Save Mart 350
NASCAR’s premiere drivers anticipate the challenge of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway each June. But Sunday’s race will put them on the original 12-turn course for the first time since 1997. The track is celebrating its 50th anniversary season this year, and under its original name, Sears Point Raceway, it welcomed its first […]

Shell sells Martinez Refinery to PBF, ending 104-year relationship with city
Equilon Enterprises, doing business as Shell Oil Products US, has agreed to sell the Martinez Shell Refinery to PBF Holding Company for $1 billion and other adjustments, the two companies announced Tuesday afternoon. The refinery has been operating in Martinez under the Shell name since it was completed in 1915 as Shell’s first in the […]

Council eyes construction projects plan tonight
MARTINEZ, Calif. – Martinez City Council will decide tonight whether to adopt its five-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP), a list of projects that carries through to Fiscal Year 2023-24. The Council updates its capital improvement projects five-year list every two years, and allocates the funds for the first two years, according to a report by […]