By ROB SCHRODER Mayor of Martinez Martinez has always been a leader in sustainability programs to reduce our impact on the environment. That may seem like a strange claim, being the home to heavy industry such as Shell Oil and Eco Systems, but over the last several years Martinez has …

Dear Tribune Editor, [On Feb. 19] you published an article by Hannah Hatch about Art Beat, the Howard Finster exhibit, and the work that Artcelerator has been doing to cultivate a new art culture here in Martinez. We want to commend Hannah for her well-crafted write-up, and thank her for …

By HANNAH HATCH Martinez Tribune Meet Tee Jay Hernandez, Tattooer and owner of Future Primitive Tattoo and Art Studio, 516 Main St., Martinez. On Thursday, Feb. 25, I was able to get the chance of observing Hernandez work on a custom phoenix piece for “Jennifer” who flew in from Salt …

By HANNAH HATCH Martinez Tribune Friday, Feb. 26 Dan Deshara and Friends When: 4:30-6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26 (doors open at 4 p.m.). Where: Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista Ave., Martinez. Details: No cover charge. Beverage discount. Come hang out, chat and have fun! Info: http://armandosmartinez.com Foreign Frontiers & Exit Nine …

By MANJIT SAPPAL Martinez Chief of Police On Jan. 11 we kicked off our first 10 week Community Police Academy with 24 participants that will be exposed to a variety of information about the Martinez Police Department and the services that we provide. We had a great group attend and …

Dear Editor, I am so darned sick of hearing people talk about Martinez’s “potential,” and “if they only did that,” “if they only did this.” You can’t walk into any coffee shop, restaurant, boutique or bar in town without hearing someone flapping their gums about what would “fix” the city. …

Dear Editor, I have told Mayor Schroder that we need serious street repairs in Martinez. We have discussed the issue and I appreciate that he is looking for a solution to the problem. He has recently suggested a sales tax increase of 1 percent to fund the repair of our …

At the time of this photo, August 1989, the man seen in this photograph was the last remaining milkman in Contra Costa County. His delivery truck seemed to be a vintage model even then! (CONTRA COSTA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY / Courtesy)

Kim Tran (above) volunteering at the Gift Shop. Volunteers are needed at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center, to fill a variety of positions at the Gift Shop, Information Desk, Layette Program and more. Volunteers of all ages, nationalities and skills who are looking for a way to give service four …

By D.B. WEILENMAN Martinez Tribune When Contra Costa County tax bills went out Nov. 1, Martinez property owners learned something the county’s assessor, Gus Kramer, already knew. Property values in this city are back at their pre-recession level. Some parts of Contra Costa County experienced rough times during the recession, …