BY DEBRA J. MORRIS You’ve just found a new variety of table grape at your farmers market, not the usual Thompson seedless, but a lovely deep Red Globe variety. Or you’ve found the deep blue/black heirloom Concord grape. You’ve just discovered one of the many reasons to shop your local …

BY RICK PORCARO So many of our country’s big sports stories and histories tend to focus on the East Coast, the Midwest and the South. The small states of New England have a disproportionate number of the professional sports teams in America clustered close together. The obsession with teams such …

Visit the world’s oldest gambling lounge to dive into the past and experience the history of poker and gambling. If you visit, you must try a game, but remember to practice beforehand. Near Martinez, you will find this historical pearl. It is the oldest poker-room in the world. It’s well …

BY KAYLA BEIRNE Tourism in towns is essential. If you feel your town needs a boost in visitors, take note of these tips to help the city become guest-friendly. To truly make guests feel enamored by a town and its citizens, a sense of belonging and togetherness should be palpable. …

BY RICK PORCARO Houston’s Jake Odorizzi pitched seven shut out innings, and Cal alum Korey Lee got his first three major league hits as the Astros downed the Athletics 6-1 Sunday afternoon at the Coliseum. Odorizzi (4-2, 3.38) had his best outing of the season, spacing out four hits while …

BY RICK PORCARO The A’s jumped on Toronto starter Alek Manoah for three first inning runs, and Cole Irvin made them stand up, pitching eight dominant innings in his best start of the year as Oakland returned home with a 5-1 win over the Blue Jays in front of a …

BY KAYLA BEIRNE Soaking in sunny skies and clear water on a boat is the best way to enjoy the season. Check out these reasons why you should buy a boat this summer. Let the boating lifestyle become your new thing. If you love water and want to spend more …

BY DEBRA J. MORRIS “A world without tomatoes is like a string quartet without violins.” ~Laurie Colwin, Home Cooking One of the best things about summer is the joy of eating a delicious juicy tomato picked fresh off the vine and delivered to your farmers’ market the same day. The …

BY KAYLA BEIRNE Horse owners are responsible for ensuring the well-being of their animals. Use these tips to help your horses thrive this summer, no matter how hot it gets. As the summer temperatures rise, most people stay indoors and crank up the AC. Unfortunately, outdoor animals like horses may …

BY RICK PORCARO In a lost season that seems destined to surpass 100 losses by early September, the Athletics suffered what might be remembered as their worst loss of all Thursday afternoon, wasting 7 2/3 no-hit innings by Frankie Montas only to see their wretched bullpen gift the Seattle Mariners …