Our Town

In a normal year, the Winter Nights Family Shelter in Contra Costa County is blessed with over 3,500 volunteers. Each week some 100 helpers from faith congregations, scout troops, and service groups prepare and serve food, plan children’s activities and assist with laundry. The new shelter in place rules have …

BY DEBRA J. MORRIS Amid the continuing safety concerns due to the coronavirus pandemic, some Bay Area farmers markets have closed, but there are many that remain open because they are considered essential businesses. Customers and farmers alike depend on direct-to-consumer fresh quality produce and other market products to feed …

Seven Bay Area County Health Officers, in collaboration with their six County Superintendents of Schools have made a unified, regional decision to extend school closures and student dismissals from regular school attendance through May 1, 2020, to slow the spread of COVID-19 to the maximum extent possible. The safety and …

Art Gluskoter passed away on the morning of February 26th after an extended illness shortly before his 87th birthday. Born to Max and Irene Gluskoter in 1933, Art graduated from Alhambra High School before volunteering to join the military in 1952 during the Korean conflict. A lifetime Southern California native, …

BY DEBRA J. MORRIS A fresh new crop of olive oil is headed your way ! This first press, or “olio nuevo,” is highly regarded by olive oil connoisseurs because it offers superb flavor, a slightly peppery taste, and lovely color. This gives an impressive advantage to California producers—they get …

The East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors has inducted new leaders for 2020. Ellen Corbett of San Leandro will serve as president; Dee Rosario of Oakland will serve as vice president; Colin Coffey of Hercules will serve as treasurer; and Beverly Lane of Danville will serve as secretary. …

Celeste Marques passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of December 15, 2019. She was born on March 27, 1927 in Lowell, Massachusetts where her parents settled after emigrating to the United States from Madeira, Portugal. As a young girl, Celeste moved to Paul Do Mar, a small Portuguese …

Each year, mushrooms come out after the first rains of the season, which began on November 26. Mushrooms are ecologically important and can look beautiful – but some of them contain dangerous toxins. The death cap (Amanita phalloides) and Western destroying angel (Amanita ocreata) are two of the world’s most …

BY DEBRA J. MORRIS From the outside, Cara Cara oranges look similar to a regular navel orange and you’d expect to find orange flesh inside. But cut open a Cara Cara and you will be surprised to find a lovely rosy pink or red flesh. This variety is said to …

Bill Vanderklugt was born in Noordwijkerhout, Netherlands. The son of a baker and one of 14 siblings, he immigrated to the United States in 1958 where he met and married “Bep,” his beautiful wife of 57 years. The couple became United States citizens in 1972 and lived in Lodi, Sacramento, Manteca and …