Our Town

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 …

Contra Costa Animal Services (CCAS) will be offering $5 adoptions of all animals on Friday, December 13th and Saturday, December 14th, as part of the Bissell Pet Foundation’s “Holiday Hope” adoption campaign. The goal of this promotion is to bring holiday hope to homeless pets in Contra Costa County by …

Coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote, the East Bay Regional Park District is honoring one of its earliest champions of parks and open space by renaming Redwood Regional Park after Aurelia Reinhardt. Official action to rename the park to Dr. …

BY DEBRA J. MORRIS The backbone of a really delicious Thanksgiving meal should include root vegetables. Roasted root vegetables, mashed parsnips or turnips, creamy potato gratins, pies, and other dishes make an amazing flavorful addition to your meal. Whether roots are behind the scenes as additions to stuffing or the …

Rita Martin passed away peacefully on September 17, 2019 at her home in Martinez at the age of 83, surrounded by her family after a brief fight with cancer. Rita was born in San Francisco and was a graduate of Immaculate Conception Academy. Shortly after graduation Rita began her career …