General News
Hotrod Hoodlums, Chrysler of Fairfield event Saturday to help Las Juntas Elementary
A team-up event Saturday between a Fairfield Chrysler dealership and a Bay Area car club will help raise money for a Martinez elementary school during its annual PTA car show and barbecue. Chrysler of Fairfield is bringing its parent company’s “Cars 4 Classrooms” fundraising program to Las Juntas Elementary School Saturday. Megan Benando, a member […]
Council to hear appeal of cannabis dispensary permit
Martinez City Council will hear an appeal tonight of the Planning Commission’s approval of a conditional use permit for a medicinal marijuana dispensary in a suite at 4808 Sunrise Drive. After several Planning Commission meetings to determine whether a gym that’s a tenant in the building has enough young clientele to be called as a […]
County receives grant to help end sexual, domestic violence, abuse
MARTINEZ, Calif. – Contra Costa County has been awarded a federal grant of nearly $1 million to help respond to incidents of sexual assault, domestic and dating violence and stalking, Tish Gallegos, community and media relations representative for the county’s Employment and Human Services Department. The Justice Department’s Office on Violence against Women awarded a […]
PRMCC to hear about Prop 68 funds
MARTINEZ, Calif. – Martinez might be able to use Proposition 68 money for park improvements, a former Parks, Recreation, Marina and Cultural Commission (PRMCC) member will tell the panel Tuesday. Sherida Bush is a past Commission member who also is a longtime nature advocate, “Bay Nature” writer, founding member of Thousand Friends of Martinez and […]
DTSC considering Shell’s RCRA permit renewal
MARTINEZ, Calif. – The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) is considering the Shell Martinez Refinery’s Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) permit renewal application that would delay closure of a hazardous waste management unit so Pond 7 could be used for non-hazardous wastewater treatment. The permit renewal application was submitted April 20, according […]
Martinez could have commercial marijuana law by November
MARTINEZ, Calif. – Martinez could have its commercial marijuana ordinance in place as soon as November, city staff members told the City Council Wednesday night. But because the current moratorium on commercial operations ends Oct. 31, the Council may be asked to extend that ban for as much as a year because no further extensions […]
Board of Education eyes finances, school safety
MARTINEZ, Calif. – Martinez Unified School District managed to curb expenses in Fiscal Year 2017-18, but still spent more than it received, according to a report the District’s Board of Education will hear Monday. The unaudited actual report, a year-end summary of the District’s financial status, gives the Board a chance to confirm the books […]
MEA launches petition for teachers’ contract settlement, strike possible
MARTINEZ, Calif. – The Martinez Education Association, the labor organization representing Martinez Unified School District teachers, is asking people to sign an online petition urging a contract settlement, saying members “are preparing to strike if necessary.” The petition is on the website Change.org, and MEA representatives said they may surpass their goal of 1,000 signatures. […]
City staff seeks more input for developing marijuana ordinance
MARTINEZ, Calif. – Martinez employees will ask the Martinez City Council today for additional guidance as they craft a proposed marijuana ordinance to regulate commercial and other operations. Three staff members – Community and Economic Development Director Christina Ratcliffe, Chief of Police Manjit Sappal and Contract Planner Brian Millar – wrote a report that described […]
Martinez gains new Main Street Director, Peterson joins Clippers
MARTINEZ, Calif. – Main Street Martinez has a change of leadership, although longtime executive director Leanne Peterson hasn’t gone far. Peterson has joined the Martinez Clippers as its director of Community Partnerships, and joined the ball club June 1. “I have a lot of respect for the Clippers’ owners, and I love the idea of […]
