News in brief, Nov. 17, 2019

MARTINEZ, Calif. – The Nature lovers and John Muir devotees will be pleased to know that work has begun on the John Muir Earth Day Birthday Celebration scheduled for April 18, 2020. Mark Thomson is already looking for volunteers to help out at the John Muir National Historic Site on the day of the event.

MAA Holiday Boutique

The Martinez Art Association will open its annual holiday boutique at the old Train Depot on Ferry Street Dec. 4th. It will be open through Dec. 18, Tues. through Sat., 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sun., 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Beavers and politics

Worth-a-Dam founder Heidi Perryman was awarded a Conservationist of the Year award for her work on behalf of beavers, wildlife and conservation when the 1000 Friends of Martinez met at the Veterans Hall, Nov. 14. Her award prefaced a meeting where speakers updated the gathering on the Pine Meadow/Measure I park planning, redistricting, Marina plan and the Martinez General Plan Update issues. Helen Grieco of Common Cause thinks the City of Martinez will be legally forced to form an Independent Redistricting Commission to re-draw city council voting districts. Because of its long-term impact, people were encouraged to scrutinize the General Plan Update for potential improvements and there was concern about the cost of Marina infrastructure improvements.

Park Safety

Police Martinez Police Chief Manjit Sappal will give his bi-annual report on public safety in Martinez parks at the Nov. 19, Parks, Recreation Marina, and Cultural Commission meeting at 7:00 p.m.

VA Health

Local Veterans will be happy to learn there is a new building going up at the Martinez VA Clinic. It will reportedly allow the facility to accommodate more Vets.

Pop-ups

Customers flocked to the Spotted Cow and Farmhouse pop-up stores on Escobar Street last weekend the weekend and Junk 2 Gems o Ferry Street will be open Nov. 21 to 24. All three pop-ups will open again in early December. Watch their websites for open dates.

County Financial Oversight

The Contra Costa County Treasury Oversight Committee Meeting is scheduled for Nov. 19, 2019 at 625 Court St. B001 at 3:00 p.m. to hear about Quarterly Investment Report and the County’s Standard & Poor’s credit rating. The purpose of the Treasury Oversight Committee is to review the county’s investment policy, regularly monitor the county investment pool’s performance, report on the pool’s performance to the board of supervisors, and ensure an annual audit is conducted to determine the County Treasurer’s compliance to code. The next meeting will be Feb. 18, 2020.

Downtown Block Party may be an annual event

There was an old fashioned Block Party in conjunction with the First Annual Anniversary Rose’s Barber Shop in the 800 block of Main Street. Fans of Homage, Del Cielo Brewing Company, Slow hand BBQ, Troy Greek Cuisine, States Coffee, Sunflower Garden, Taco Daddy, Bar Cava, GLT Signs, Martinez Fitness, and Sal’s Family Kitchen and others joined the fun.

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