General News
Firefighters quickly douse brush fire near Alhambra Creek
A small brush fire was extinguished Wednesday morning near the Martinez train station. Firefighters put out the fire between the two railroad bridges crossing Alhambra Creek. The site is believed to be a homeless encampment. (photos by Robert Perry/Martinez News-Gazette)
Council unanimously agrees to move forward with annexation exploration
MARTINEZ, Calif. – At the end of a well-attended, Oct. 23 public study session, the City council directed staff to investigate the feasibility of annexing four areas contagious to city boundaries. Those areas are Mountain View, Vine Hill, North Pacheco, and a portion of Alhambra Valley. Reportedly a previous effort to annex North Pacheco failed. […]
Brush fire causes evacuations near Forest Way and Alhambra Ave.
MARTINEZ, Calif. – Evacuations were ordered in Martinez Sunday afternoon after a fast moving brush fire broke out around 4 p.m. The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District responded to the two-acre blaze in the vicinity of Alhambra Avenue near Forest Way, about a mile south of Highway 4. By the time the fire was […]
Nine injured in Downtown Martinez when winds knock down tree
MARTINEZ – Nine people were injured when a 25-foot Australian Willow tree at the Plaza in the 700 block of Main Street came crashing down. The people were shopping at the Sunday Farmers’ Market when the tree fell, , because of high winds, at 10:15 a.m according to Martinez police Sgt. Steve Gaul. Shortly after […]
New Fire Truck 14 makes its debut
The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District introduced the new Fire Truck 14 to Martinez city leaders and members of the public ahead of the last night’s city council meeting. Martinez Police Department was on-hand to affix a placard in memory of Police Sergeant Paul Starzyk who lost his life in the line of duty […]
Council seeks end to Pine Meadow delays
MARTINEZ, Calif. – Half of the room was filled with union workers when the city council agreed to their terms for a Project Labor Agreement (PLA), and tried to end an engineering impasse that threatens to derail the Traditions at Meadow development and park projects at their Oct. 23 meeting. DeNova Homes Executive Vice President […]
MUSD students to sleep a little later
MARTINEZ, Calif. – Belief in the idea that students will be healthier, get better grades, and more likely graduate has resulted in a new law requiring schools to start later in the day. Governor Gavin Newsom just signed SB 328, after rejecting the first version last year. It will mean a change for Alhambra High […]
Small business health insurance changes and options
October changes in federal healthcare regulations will allow consumers to buy short-term healthcare policies, that don’t have to comply with the Affordable Care Act protections. The new rules also broaden employer opportunities to give workers money to buy their own coverage through Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs). Sometimes these are referred to as Health Savings Plans. […]
UPDATE: Potential PSPS impact zone expands by 90,000 customers
Total Projected Impact Now 940,000 Customer Across 36 Counties Beginning Saturday Afternoon Customers Encouraged to Use Online Address Look-up Tool to Confirm If They Will Be Impacted Historic Wind Event Forecast to Cause Dangerous Conditions Until Midday Monday
PG&E potential shutoff zone covers much of Martinez
The latest PG&E potential PSPS area map (updated at 11:45 p.m. Thursday) shows a large section of Martinez could lose power Saturday evening. PG&E Chief Meteorologist Scott Strenfel said this weekend “could bring the strongest wind event of the season” — even stronger than the winds experienced during the 2017 Wine Country fires. ConFire said […]
