BY DEBRA J. MORRIS There’s no better reminder that summer is here than to see juicy California stone fruit like peaches, nectarines, plums, and apricots appear at the farmers’ market. Stone fruit gets its name from the large seed or “stone” inside and includes peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots, pluots, and …
Read More »Obituary: Shirley Caroline Peterson (1932-2023)
Shirley Caroline Peterson peacefully passed away at the age of 90 surrounded by her daughters and caregivers on January 22nd. She was born in Sacramento to Charles and Alta Majors. Survived by her daughters Susan Peterson Trebino (Bob), Terri Peterson Adamo (Lou), grandsons Chris Trebino (Leslie Kimura), Matthew Hammond (Melissa), …
Read More »Cherries Due at Farmers Market in Early May
BY DEBRA J. MORRIS Growing cherries requires a lot of patience, constant vigilance, and hard work to bring a successful and abundant crop to market. The work of pruning, watering, and fertilizing goes on through the entire year for a harvest that takes daily hand picking for only two or …
Read More »Women in Agriculture – The Life of a Beekeeper at Miss Bee Haven
BY DEBRA J. MORRIS In the verdant orchards of cherry trees, peach trees, blackberry vines, and star thistle fields of Brentwood you’ll find beehives filled with healthy honey bees. They roam over seven different bee yards throughout Brentwood and the Delta to fill the hives with pollen while also pollinating …
Read More »Obituary: Nancy Lynn Bankert-Wherry (1947-2023)
Our dearest Nancy passed away at home surrounded by family after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was a light in the lives of all who knew her. Always authentic and warm, caring and loving; you could not help feeling the beauty and grace of her generous spirit. …
Read More »Questions about the Farmers Market
BY DEBRA J. MORRIS We’ve received quite a few questions about the Farmers Market in the last few months, such as whether farmers always sell what they grow, when produce will arrive at the market, and why we don’t sell certain items. So this month we will endeavor to answer …
Read More »Annual Wild Mushroom Warning issued for Parklands
With this year’s exceptionally abundant rains, Regional Parks visitors may have noticed mushrooms popping up in great numbers. Mushrooms are an ecologically important part of our parklands and can look beautiful – but some of them contain dangerous toxins. The death cap (Amanita phalloides) and western destroying angel (Amanita ocreata) …
Read More »New vinyl records and collectibles store open in Martinez
Although records are now the best selling medium for music, record stores are scarce in Contra Costa County. Records have surpassed CD’s and downloaded MP3’s and many are looking for new releases, but the major market is for vintage vinyl from the 1950’s to the 1980’s. Classic rock is especially …
Read More »Parks to close Wednesday and Thursday due to extreme Storms
Due to expected storm conditions and high winds, all East Bay Regional Parks will be closed Wednesday, January 4, 2023, through Thursday, January 5, 2023. The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch and high wind warning for the San Francisco Bay Area with flooding, landslides, and rapidly rising …
Read More »Interpretive Pavilion Opens at Shadow Cliffs
The East Bay Regional Park District celebrated the opening of a 1,000-square-foot outdoor interpretive pavilion at Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area in Pleasanton today. The new interpretive pavilion will serve as an outdoor visitor center connecting visitors to Shadow Cliffs’ nature area comprised of 116 acres of cottonwood and willow-lined …
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