By HANNAH HATCH Martinez Tribune Friday, Feb. 19 Happy Hour & A Half with The Killbillies When: 4:30-6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19 (doors open at 4 p.m.) Where: Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista Ave., Martinez. Details: Come hang out, chat and have fun! Cost: No cover charge. Beverage discount. Info: http://armandosmartinez.com …

By HANNAH HATCH Martinez Tribune The “Howard Finster: American Folk Artist” exhibit will be held this Saturday, Feb. 20, as part of the ArtBeat Art Walk. The event will begin at 6 p.m. and is hosted by Artcelerator, a new collective of artists and art activists who are promoting art …

Dear Tribune, I just wanted to thank you for the movie ticket and Jamba Juice coupon you sent after I subscribed, and for the nice letter attached to the gifts. Love your paper, and these were a fun bonus! – Rebecca Beecher

Dear Editor, We are writing because we just read the news from the State of the City report, and it would seem that a new tax is being contemplated for the purpose of maintaining our streets. To be clear, we are not anti-tax in general, especially when a need is …

By DANNY YOEONO Martinez Tribune Pacheco Tobacco Company opens Pacheco, 1874: The Pacheco Tobacco Company was incorporated, with a capital stock of $10,000, for the purpose of leasing or purchasing land, as well as curing and manufacturing tobacco. (CCCHS) Ferry Street Canteen closes Ferry Street in 1946: Next to the …

By NANCY HOBERT Special to the Tribune Administrators from the Martinez Unified School District attended a recent meeting of the Martinez Rotary Club. Their presentation was “Alhambra High School of Today and the Future.” Superintendent Rami Muth made several introductory comments and then turned the meeting over to Audrey Lee, …

By RAY ROBBINS Special to the Tribune When I was growing up in Martinez in the late 1940s, there wasn’t much air conditioning around, so in the dog days of summer we were always looking around for places to stay cool. We would make excuses to visit the Union Ice …

This red-shouldered hawk was recently captured on camera north of the soccer field at Hidden Lakes Park by Martinez photographer Warren Rose. Rose added: “While the calendar shows that it’s still winter in this part of California, spring has arrived. Baseball leagues are being formed and, shortly, we will hear …