Instead of facing the usual back-to-school blues, dozens of second graders at Martinez’s John Muir Elementary squealed, cheered and applauded while sitting cross-legged in the school auditorium. This tangible enthusiasm was the product of the piles of navy blue backpacks stacked high on long plastic tables at the front of the room.more...

You have to hand it to aging rock stars – their wealth has purchased them lots and lots of time to sit around and philosophize about the Internet.

Not long ago, this space reported on Prince’s theory that the Internet is dead, old news, passe, over, kaput. And that’s why he is releasing his new album as a bonus in the Sunday edition of a newspaper, which is alive and well in at least, oh, three or so major markets. Let’s go crazy, indeed.more...

The Martinez Police Department has scheduled another DUI/License checkpoint on Alhambra Avenue on Friday night.

Planned for the 3700 block of Alhambra, roughly between Hagin’s Automotive and the Walgreen’s, the checkpoint is scheduled to last from 7 p.m. to midnight.more...

Though the chamber seats were vacant throughout August, Council member activity continued to fill the air as Lara DeLaney and Mike Menesini filed their papers for reelection, as did Mayor Schroder before taking flight to Europe to tie the knot.

But after a month-long hiatus it is back to business as the City Council returns to its regular schedule on Wednesday. more...

California’s top leaders announced last week they intend to delay standard payments to the state’s school districts a month earlier than expected in order to pay other bills.more...

 A Contra Costa County supervisor is urging the skydiving industry to make changes to ensure that all jumpers are accounted for after landing, following the death of a Martinez man whose parachutes did not deploy on Sunday.

“I am calling on the skydiving industry, the U.S. Parachute Assoc. and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to put regulations in place that confirm a safe landing for every individual that parachutes from a plane,” Supervisor Mary Nejedly Piepho said in a statement released on Wednesday.more...

It’s tough for kids to play flag football without the proper equipment, but thanks to a donation, the Boys and Girls Club of the Diablo Valley now has the right gear to play.

Robert Martin, of the Collective Wellness of California, donated two new Hewlett Packard computers, footballs, flag football gear and rubber balls that can be used for kickball or dodge ball.

“I feel very great and fortunate to have been chosen to be the recipients of these gifts,” Boys & Girls Club Chief Professional Officer and CEO, Club Tuong Truong said.more...

Contra Costa Health Services’ Mental Health Division officials are holding a final public meeting next week to discuss a new urgent care mental health facility at 20 Allen Street, adjacent to the Emergency Room of Contra Costa Regional Medical Center.

“The primary goal [of the new facility is to] expand opportunities for accessible community-based services for clients and their families. The objective is to reduce disparities in mental health services provided to underserved groups,” according to the Mental Health Division.more...

Everyone seems to be an expert on the state of the music business today. Why should I be an exception? So, here is my prognostication on the effect of all this digital stuff – the computers, the file sharing, the iTunes/iPods, the streaming, etc. Just remember that most people working in the music industry today are just that – working. Trying to make a living in a very scary, shifting, crumbling environment that appears not to have a center any longer.more...