On May 2, 2024, Jo Ann Margaret Valaske passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loved ones, at her new home in Martinez, California. She was 93 years old. Throughout her life, Jo Ann navigated the expectations of the times with the imagination and inspiration of her soul. She was a …

BY HELEN LAME’ Nearly four decades after disbanding the eighties juggernaut Thompson Twins that he fronted with his future wife Alannah Currie, Tom Bailey’s set at the Fox Theater Sunday night was a solid reminder of the relevance of one of the greatest acts of the new wave era. The …

BY DEBRA J. MORRIS For those who appreciate a tomato’s simplest, most delicious form, the arrival of summer’s exquisite heirloom tomatoes is a yearly delight. They are being harvested now and you can look forward to the wonderful colors, shapes, sizes, and flavors of these beauties arriving at your farmers …

BY RICK PORCARO Pablo López struck out a career high 14 Oakland batters in a masterful eight inning performance to lead the Minnesota Twins to a 3-0 win and a series win over the A’s at the Coliseum Sunday afternoon. López (7-6, 5.11), retired the first 17 batters he faced, …

The East Bay Regional Park District is celebrating Juneteenth with a Free Park Day on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in recognition of the date when the last of the enslaved Black Americans were notified of their freedom. Juneteenth is the oldest nationally recognized celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in …

BY FLORA CSONTOS The East Bay Regional Park District has just unveiled the Martin J. Cooney “Park Landscapes” online photo collection. This digital photo exhibit debuts a rare gathering of beautiful, nostalgic images that capture parkland and open space views of the East Bay from 1965 to 1981. At that …

BY RICK PORCARO Bryan Woo and three Seattle relievers combined on a two hit shutout, leading the Mariners to a 3-0 win over the Athletics Thursday afternoon. Woo (3-0, 1.07), who grew up in nearby Alameda, allowed only the two hits without walking a batter while striking out six in …

BY RICK PORCARO Cristopher Sanchez worked six scoreless innings and Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber each homered and drove in a pair of runs as the Phillies salvaged the finale of their three game series against the Giants with a 6-1 win at Oracle Park Wednesday afternoon. Sanchez (3-3, 2.83) …

BY DEBRA J. MORRIS Round, long, crooked neck, straight, dark green, light green, yellow, multicolor, two-tone – the varieties are endless! Summer squash has names like pattypan, zucchini, zephyr, crook neck, straight neck, Italian, globe (eight ball), Tatuma, and chayote squash, all with the mild squash flavors we have all …

BY RICK PORCARO Ross Stripling pitched six shutout innings for his first win since the 2022 season and Abraham Toro and Tyler Nevin hit home runs to lead the A’s past the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 for a sweep of their three game series. Stripling (1-5) had lost ten straight games …