Community Focus
World Book
By JEFF ROUBAL Martinez News-Gazette Columnist Last summer, we sailed on a Mediterranean cruise to celebrate our 40th anniversary. It was a glorious three week vacation spent visiting exotic ports from Barcelona in the west to Athens in the east. Our favorite city on the cruise was Florence, Italy. Vivian and I had visited once […]
At Home With Vivian: Hello Kitty
“Meow!” my chocolate-striped grandcat Tina complained when I opened the door to the guest room this evening. It was five minutes after her usual dinner time and she was not happy that I was late. “It’s only five minutes late!” I said with exasperation. She stared me down with her big green eyes until I […]
Park It by Ned MacKay: Monarch butterfly programs
Although monarch butterflies have not arrived in great numbers this year to spend the winter at Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont, park naturalists are still offering programs highlighting the amazing insects, with emphasis on how their numbers can be preserved and increased. Monarch spotting programs are scheduled from 2 to 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays through […]
Special drop-off recycling collections return after the holidays
Ever notice you have accumulated way too much cardboard, Styrofoam, and plastic film packaging during the holidays? Good news, you’re not alone, and if you are a Martinez resident, Republic Services and the City of Martinez are again partnering on a free drop-off recycling collection program after the holidays to give you multiple opportunities to […]
Martinez Business Beat, Jan. 2, 2019
States Coffee Expands Responding to its growing popularity, States Coffee and Mercantile its seating from from its original 609 Ward St. address into the space next door that once was a local post office. Martinez, Hispanic Chambers Slate Mixer The Martinez Chamber of Commerce and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will team up for a […]
Martinez artist creating since childhood
MARTINEZ, Calif. – Maggie Servantes knew her son, Richie, had talent when, at 4, he used a pad of paper to create scene-by-scene animation in a flip book. That’s how the classic animators who worked at Walt Disney, Warner Brothers and other studios painstakingly created cartoons before the days of computer-generated cartoons: One sketch at […]
At Home With Vivian: Googly eyes and styrofoam
Today my sister in Spokane posted a picture of her car blanketed in snow. My husband Jeff responded with a photo of himself picking mandarin oranges from a tree in our sunny front yard! After a month of listening to “Let it Snow”, “White Christmas”, and “Frosty the Snowman”, I’m ready for a little of […]
Pedestrian bridge installed
Portions of the prefabricated steel pedestrian walkover that will be erected over the Union Pacific Railroad have arrived near the Amtrak Station. This is part of the final phase of the Intermodal Facility Project that is being underwritten by Contra Costa Transportation Authority Measure J sales tax revenues. Gordon N. Ball of Alamo was awarded […]
Park It by Ned MacKay: Trails Challenge 2019
If you’re in the mood for some family-friendly festivities to start the New Year, Big Break Regional Shoreline in Oakley stands ready to help. The park will host a “Family Game Night and Campfire” from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 5. Bring your favorite card or board game, skit ideas, a blanket and […]
Party like it’s 1999
By JEFF ROUBAL Martinez News-Gazette Columnist “But when I woke up this mornin’, could’ve sworn it was judgment day. The sky was all purple, there were people runnin’ everywhere. Tryin’ to run from the destruction.” From the Prince song titled “1999.” I remember Y2K very well. It’s hard to believe that was 19 years ago. […]
