Our Town

600 acres of former farmland could become one of the Bay Delta’s best places to watch birds. Here’s what’s already showing up — and what’s coming next. Snow geese having a rest day at Hoover Ranch, Bethel Island. At a 600-acre former ranch on Bethel Island, the John Muir Land …

Richard M. Ledesma, affectionately known as “Weegee,” was born on February 7, 1936, in Martinez, California, to Amador and Trinidad Ledesma. He attended school in Pittsburg, California, and graduated from Pittsburg High School as a member of the Class of 1953. In 1959, Richard was drafted into the United States …

Elberta Jane Wood was born November 25, 1935 in Martinez, California to Edith and Harold McGinnis. Betty lived most of her childhood years near Angwin and St Helena California. Her family later moved to Washington state and Betty attended Upper Columbia Academy High School in Spangle, WA graduating in 1954. …

The East Bay Regional Park District has acquired approximately 77 acres of shoreline property from the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District (H.A.R.D.), strengthening long-term efforts to restore vital marsh habitat, prepare for sea level rise, and secure permanent public access along the San Francisco Bay Trail at Hayward Regional …

The East Bay Regional Park District has announced the addition of approximately 190 acres of new parkland adjacent to Thurgood Marshall Regional Park – Home of the Port Chicago 50, in Concord, strengthening long-term open space protection and advancing future parkland connectivity in the region. The newly acquired Britton and …

Due to this year’s early rainy season, wild mushrooms are popping up in great numbers throughout East Bay Regional Parks. Mushrooms are an ecologically important part of the parklands and can look beautiful—but some of them contain dangerous toxins. The death cap (Amanita phalloides) and western destroying angel (Amanita ocreata) …

California residents are seeing the restoration of their CalFresh benefits to Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards as the federal government moves to issue 100% of the funding following a court order. CalFresh, known federally as the Supplemental Nutrition Food Assistance Program (SNAP), provides critical food assistance to households and County …

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Alma W. Roots, who departed this world in Martinez, California, on October 20, 2025. Born in Tacoma, Washington, on November 15, 1942, Alma was a beloved mother, friend, and patriot. She is survived by her son, Mark Andrews, and daughter-in-law, Betsy, along …

The East Bay Regional Park District has acquired 82 acres at Point Molate on the Point San Pablo Peninsula in Richmond, ensuring the shoreline property will be permanently preserved. The land was purchased from the Guidiville Rancheria of California, a federally recognized Indian tribe, for $40 million. “This is a …

The East Bay Regional Park District (Park District) is pleased to announce the acquisition of 140 acres adjacent to Deer Valley Regional Park in partnership with the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy (Conservancy). The property is located in eastern unincorporated Contra Costa County south of Antioch and southwest of …