Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

Martinez Refining Company issues update on refinery fire

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Graphic source: Martinez Refining Company. Refinery fire on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. Photo source: Bay Area Air Quality Management District

Monday, February 3, 2025

INCIDENT RESPONSE
Martinez Refining Company (MRC) continues to have the small residual fire under control. You may see minimal smoke until further notice. Because of significant progress made, all mutual aid firefighting crews have left the site, and we thank them for their tremendous response to the incident. Flaring continues with the potential for intermittent flaring throughout the week. Refinery operating units have been shut down except required utility systems.

At 5:10 p.m., on Sunday, February 2, 2025, MRC reported a Community Warning System Level 1 notification for firefighting water runoff containing hydrocarbons that overflowed one of the refinery’s wastewater containment ponds. The runoff continues to be contained on the refinery’s property, and we have boom deployed to keep it contained, as well as equipment removing the runoff and transporting it to the refinery’s water treatment system.

Our top priorities remain the safety and security of responders, as well as maximizing protection of public health and safety. As previously reported, six workers were evaluated by medical personnel and released.

INCIDENT BACKGROUND
At approximately 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 1, 2025, two workers were opening equipment in preparation for planned maintenance on one of the refinery’s process units, which had been shut down on Thursday, January 30, 2025. It is currently believed that, while opening the equipment, hydrocarbon material started to leak. The two workers immediately evacuated the area, and the material subsequently caught fire, which spread within the immediate vicinity. Both of those workers were transported offsite for medical evaluation and released.

MRC’s fire crews quickly responded and began suppressing the fire. They called for mutual aid from industry partners and support from Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ConFire).

To manage the response, MRC, ConFire, and the Martinez Police Department formed a Unified Command, which allows multiple agencies and organizations to effectively work together. By approximately 8:30 p.m., the fire had been suppressed to the point the Unified Command transitioned back to MRC, which continues to manage the incident response.

INVESTIGATION
We are deeply sorry for the disruption and concern we have caused the community. After the response is complete, we will thoroughly investigate the incident in accordance with the Contra Costa County Industrial Safety Ordinance (ISO) to identify the root cause and take appropriate corrective actions. We will continue to work collaboratively with all agencies involved, and thank our employees, mutual aid partners, and agency representatives for their support in responding to the incident.

HEALTH GUIDANCE
Contra Costa Health has issued the following message: “Contra Costa Health (CCH) recommends that residents of Martinez, parts of Pacheco and Clyde who have respiratory sensitivity remain indoors with doors and windows shut today while smoke continues to clear from a fire at Martinez Refining Company (MRC). A map of the affected area will be available at cwsalerts.com while this health advisory remains in effect. CCH will notify the community when the health advisory is lifted.”

ABOUT FLARING
Flares are an essential part of a refinery’s integrated, engineered safety systems, which are designed to safely manage excess gases through efficient, effective combustion. In addition to seeing the flare, you may feel a rumbling sound which is the result of the mixing of vapors, air and steam during the flaring process. You can learn more about flaring on our website: https://martinezrefiningcompany.com/about-flaring/.

MRC FENCELINE MONITORING
MRC’s fenceline air monitoring program uses high-tech sensors to monitor in “real time” specific emissions that may cross the facility’s fenceline. Our systems monitor, record, and report multiple compounds. You are welcome to view real-time fenceline measurements at our air monitoring website: http://www.fenceline.org/martinez/.

CLAIMS
If you have a concern related to the incident, MRC has set up a claims line. Please call 800-542-7113 and leave the following information:
· Full Name
· Complete Address
· Telephone Number
· Email address
In addition, please describe the concern you would like to discuss, and a company representative will return your call.

FUTURE UPDATES
Further updates will be posted on MRC’s social media and website (www.martinezrefiningcompany.com). Community inquiries can be made to 925-313-3601.

Sincerely,

Martinez Refining Company Community Relations Team

 

Clayton Valley Charter High School alumni nominated for College Television Award

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Kadrik Blatt and Rachel Burnett will be honored at the 44th College TV Awards in April. Photo courtesy of Television Academy Foundation

With three fellow U.C. Santa Barbara classmates

By Jane Sparango, breakwhitelight for the Television Academy Foundation

Clayton Valley Charter High School alumni Kadrik Blatt and Rachel Burnett have been nominated for the Television Academy Foundation’s 44th College Television Awards. The Foundation’s annual awards show recognizes and rewards excellence in student-produced programs from colleges across the country. Winners in the competition will be announced by television stars at the red carpet awards ceremony on April 5, 2025, at the Television Academy in North Hollywood, California. Designed to emulate the Emmy® Awards, student entries are judged by Television Academy members. Criteria for the College Television Awards reflect industry standards of excellence, imagination and innovation.

Blatt and Burnett, along with three fellow University of California, Santa Barbara classmates, have been nominated in the ‘Drama Series’ category for producing a short film titled The Circus Monkey, which was selected from over 200 entries by Television Academy members.

The Circus Monkey is a dramatic film that centers on its main character, Vivian, who is a cellist and music instructor confused about whether she wants to continue as a musician in the competitive world of classical music. She is forced by Arthur, her mentor and boss, to take on a stubborn but talented new cello student named Grace, who is interested in auditioning for the Beaumont Conservatory Orchestra in Texas. In their first meeting, Grace gets under Vivian’s skin and exposes her inner turmoil about quitting the cello.

“Everything we do now is to achieve something,” said Blatt. “In our world today, it seems to some extent that you are nothing without a high salary or a multitude of accolades. The story of The Circus Monkey finds beauty in doing something merely for the fact of loving it. I think that’s what makes us human.

“This nomination is such a wonderful indication that this is where I’m meant to be and doing what I’m meant to be doing,” said Blatt. “I think when you tell people you produce film, they often don’t understand what exactly that entails or how much dedication is required to make a project happen. Being nominated for this award is far more tangible of an accomplishment for others to understand, and a really incredible indication personally of why I do this, for others to feel the same way I do about a story. It means the world that The Circus Monkey resonated with the Academy members in the same way it did with me.”

From Concord, California, Burnett attended Clayton Valley Charter High School in Concord. She is a 2024 graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, who majored in film and media studies.

“Perfectionism has ruled my life for as long as I’ve known; room for error has not been welcomed, and each slip was a detrimental setback,” said Burnett. “All I’ve ever longed for was for someone to tell me that my passion was enough and that each mistake presented an opportunity for growth. When I first read The Circus Monkey script, I found the message I was waiting for and knew that others needed it, too.”

“After graduating from UCSB in June, navigating the post-grad world has left me with many questions and challenges about where life will take me next,” said Burnett. “Receiving the [College Television Award] nomination has fueled me to continue creating art that allows me to express my authentic self while inspiring others through the process. If we were to win, that would only further motivate me to improve my craft and pursue more powerful stories like The Circus Monkey.

Character “Vivian” in the cello scene from The Circus Monkey.

Attending nominees of the 44th College Television Awards will also participate in two days of professional development events with media and industry leaders and a special screening of their projects for Television Academy members prior to the awards show on April 5.

About the Television Academy Foundation
Established in 1959 as the charitable arm of the Television Academy, the Television Academy Foundation is dedicated to preserving the legacy of television while educating and inspiring those who will shape its future. Through renowned educational and outreach programs, such as The Interviews: An Oral History of Television Project, College Television Awards and Summit, Student Internship Program, and the Media Educators Conference, the Foundation seeks to widen the circle of voices our industry represents and to create more opportunity for television to reflect all of society. For more information on the Foundation, please visit TelevisionAcademy.com/Foundation.

2025 Lunar New Year Celebration at The Veranda in Concord Feb. 2

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Kung Hei Fat Choy!

Happy New Year 2025 – The Year of the Snake!

The Year of the Snake 2025 brings the Snake’s wise and intuitive energy. The Snake, symbolizing wisdom and transformation, offers opportunities for personal growth and change. We are rising to the occasion with an incredible Lunar New Year event for all to enjoy!

Join us for our 2025 Lunar New Year Celebration. Attendees will be delighted with a Lion Dance Show by Tomizaki’s Champions Kung Fu Institute and more. Event activities will begin at 10am on the Fountain Pavilion Park, near Veranda LUXE theater. Guests will also have the opportunity to enjoy a special showing of Kung Fu Panda (2008). Event attendance is free, but reserve your limited-quantity goody bags in advance and/or reserve a seat for Kung Fu Panda for a donation to Monument Crisis Center.

Admission: Free
Location: The Veranda, 2001-2003 Diamond Blvd., Concord
Date: February 2, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

If you would like your child to receive a goody bag filled with themed goodies, we highly recommend bags be reserved ahead of the event. Please reserve ONE (1) bag per child in attendance. Bags cannot be guaranteed day-of event for anyone who does not have a reservation. Make your reservations HERE.

John Muir Land Trust announces acquisition of Point Buckler

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Point Buckler Island and area map. Source: John Muir Land Trust

29-acre island in Suisun Marsh to be permanently protected and restored as vital habitat

After years of legal battles, small island poised to become model of environmental stewardship

By Jay Dean, Creative Strategy Director, John Muir Land Trust & Blair Robertson, Information Officer, San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board

MARTINEZ, CA — John Muir Land Trust (JMLT,) announces the purchase of Point Buckler, a 29-acre island situated in Suisun Marsh, the largest contiguous, brackish marsh on the west coast of North America and a vital part of the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta estuary. This acquisition is the latest milestone in JMLT’s Bay Delta Campaign, an initiative to conserve land in an ecosystem that protects clean water and preserves essential habitat for 700 species of California fish and wildlife. More than 25 million state residents depend on the Delta for drinking water, and the system supplies water to millions of acres of farmland.

“Point Buckler is one of three islands that form the last points of passage for fish moving to and from the Pacific Ocean, Carquinez Strait and the Sacramento-San Joaquin River systems”

The Bay Delta’s biologically rich ecosystem serves as a migration corridor for salmon and other anadromous fish. Extensive environmental restoration is needed at Point Buckler to restore a vital passageway. An unauthorized levee constructed a decade ago blocks all tidal channels. The levee has killed marshland vegetation and prevents sensitive fish species from entering the channels to forage for food. JMLT is launching a multi-year campaign to raise additional funds needed to remove the levee and restore the island back to health.

“Point Buckler is one of three islands that form the last points of passage for fish moving to and from the Pacific Ocean, Carquinez Strait and the Sacramento-San Joaquin River systems,” said Linus Eukel, Executive Director of JMLT. “John Muir Land Trust and many conservation partners are working to protect and restore the Bay Delta after decades of harmful human activity. At Pacheco Marsh, JMLT is reversing a century of harsh industrial abuse. In May we’ll open it as a unique opportunity for nature lovers to experience a salt marsh ecosystem firsthand. Last month JMLT acquired Hoover Ranch, a 600-acre haven for native waterfowl and bird species that migrate along the Pacific Flyway. Acquiring Point Buckler is the latest accomplishment in JMLT’s decades-long commitment to protecting one of the most important ecosystems on the continent.”

“This is the best outcome we could have hoped for,” said Eileen White, Executive Officer for the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board. “It is a win for all Californians that an organization with the qualifications and track record of John Muir Land Trust is now entrusted with the permanent protection and restoration of Point Buckler as critical wildlife habitat. A healthy Bay Delta region is essential to California’s fresh water quality and supply. Point Buckler is now in very good hands.”

JMLT purchased the Point Buckler property with a credit bid of $3.8 million on January 23rd at a public auction conducted by the Solano County Sheriff’s Office. A decade ago, the former owner constructed an unauthorized levee without permits or approvals from the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board and other agencies, resulting in an enforcement case to reverse negative impacts to wetlands considered among the most severe in the region. On December 11, 2024, the Superior Court of the State of California assigned credit rights in the case to JMLT.

“An opportunity to return to its natural state a place as ecologically important as Point Buckler is rare,” said Eukel. “Next steps for JMLT are developing detailed plans for restoration, fundraising for its implementation, and then getting to the work of removing the levee and thereby restoring the island’s tidal marsh ecosystem. This is vital to the health of California’s native fish populations that spawn in fresh water upriver and live adult lives in the ocean. The restoration will take years, but today the Bay Area conversation community is cheering its official start.”

After years of legal battles and environmental degradation, Point Buckler Island in Suisun Bay has been sold at auction to the John Muir Land Trust, a nonprofit environmental group that has committed to restoring the island’s wetlands and preserving its ecological significance.

Wednesday’s sale, overseen by the Solano County Sheriff, follows the former owners’ failure to comply with state judgments related to the unauthorized construction of a levee around the island in 2014 and 2015 that caused ecological harm to the Suisun Marsh. In 2016, the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (SFBRWQB) issued a cleanup and abatement order directing the owners to restore the tidal circulation and marsh habitat at Point Buckler Island and imposed a $2.8 million fine that reflected the extent of the environmentally harmful activities.

White described the sale as a turning point:

“The prolonged legal issues were unfortunate. Instead of being cooperative and following the requirements of an order designed to protect water quality and aquatic life, the owners of the island chose not to comply,” she said. “The sale of Point Buckler Island offers a new path forward, and we are confident that the nonprofit John Muir Land Trust will restore it into an example of responsible environmental stewardship.”

The island is a key component of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, one of the most biodiverse estuaries on the West Coast. Its restoration is expected to benefit endangered species, improve water quality and serve as a model for sustainable wetland management.

The island’s previous owners faced extensive fines and penalties — totaling millions of dollars — after refusing to remediate environmental violations that severely impacted the sensitive tidal ecosystem. Five years following the regional board’s enforcement actions, the California Court of Appeal affirmed the board’s orders and a related administrative order by the Bay Conservation and Development Commission that imposed substantial penalties as well as restoration and monitoring requirements.

The state administrative orders and ensuing appellate opinions are consistent with rulings issued by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California in a case brought by the federal government that also required the former owners to restore the island due to their violations of the federal Clean Water Act.

Since 2021, the former owners repeatedly refused to comply with the state judgments and had been in contempt of court since August 2022.

The new owner of the island is required to ensure its restoration in compliance with the state and federal orders. The John Muir Land Trust’s mission to preserve, protect and steward vital habitat for local wildlife is in alignment with the state and federal restoration obligations. The trust plans to implement a comprehensive restoration plan to rehabilitate the island’s wetlands and comply with the cleanup and abatement order. Known for its commitment to conservation and environmental education, the trust says it sees the project as an opportunity to restore critical habitats while raising awareness about the importance of preserving the Delta’s fragile ecosystems.

“This is a victory not just for the environment, but for everyone who values the health of California’s Delta,” said Linus Eukel, executive director of the trust. “We are honored to take on the responsibility of restoring Point Buckler Island and ensuring it fulfills its ecological potential.”

The sale marks the conclusion of a contentious chapter in the island’s history and signals a renewed focus on collaboration and conservation. Any proceeds from the sale will be used to offset the state’s enforcement costs and support environmental restoration efforts.

About JMLT’s Bay Delta Campaign

Few conservation priorities are as important as restoring and protecting the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. As a top strategic initiative for John Muir Land Trust (JMLT), the Bay Delta Campaign seeks to protect threatened places essential to the health of vital freshwater and marine ecosystems. The region is an environmental, economic, and cultural resource with almost no equal. Nearly half of California’s migrating waterfowl and shorebirds pass through the Bay Delta. Its salt marshes provide essential habitat for most fisheries species. This is the hub of California’s water supply, as it provides fresh water to millions of residents and to farms at the heart of the country’s food supply.

About John Muir Land Trust

Founded in 1989, John Muir Land Trust (JMLT) protects and cares for open space, ranches, farms, parkland and shoreline in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. In a generation, John Muir Land Trust has become one of the leading forces for conservation in northern California. With over 4,600 acres protected, many beautiful places in the East Bay are permanently preserved for recreation, wildlife habitat, and spectacular scenic views. JMLT believes that the vitality of our open spaces is essential to the health of our earth, air, water, native plants and animals — and all of us. jmlt.org. Learn about JMLT’s East Bay 2049 vision at East Bay 2049 – John Muir Land Trust.

About SFBRWQB

The mission of the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board is to preserve, enhance and restore the quality of California’s water resources for the protection of the environment, public health and all beneficial uses, and to ensure proper water resource allocation and efficient use for the benefit of present and future generations

Antique unexploded military munitions found in Pleasant Hill home

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Walnut Creek PD Bomb Squad, Air Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal team assist

By Pleasant Hill Police Department

On Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at about 1:27 p.m., Pleasant Hill Police officers were called to a residence in the 1700 block of Shirley Drive, after a person reported finding a box containing antique unexploded military ordnance and immediately notified police.

The Walnut Creek Police Department’s Bomb Squad and personnel from the U.S. Air Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal team from Travis AFB responded to assess and assist in the safe removal and disposal of the materials. Con Fire personnel were also on site.

There was no threat to the general public.

As of 6:00 p.m. all explosives were removed, and the scene was cleared. There is no active criminal investigation associated with this matter.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

13 arrested during Internet Crimes Against Children operation

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Photos source: Walnut Creek PD

Multi-agency effort

By Walnut Creek Police Department

Walnut Creek PD recently hosted an extensive and successful Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) operation, partnering with numerous local and federal agencies to safeguard children in our communities. This collaborative effort resulted in 13 arrests, showcasing the strength of teamwork and technology in the fight against child exploitation.

We’re proud to work alongside our law enforcement partners to make a difference. Swipe through for a behind-the-scenes look at the operation and its results.

Photos source: Walnut Creek PD

More information regarding specific individuals and their pending charges will be made available to the public once the cases have been reviewed by the CCCDA’s Office.

Participating agencies included Contra Costa District Attorney, Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department, and Brentwood, Concord, Danville, Moraga, Oakley, Pleasant Hill, Novato, San Jose and San Francisco Police Departments.

Together, we stand united in protecting our most vulnerable.

117 arrested during CHP’s multi-agency Operation Holiday Watch retail theft campaign

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Photos courtesy of the CHP

$38,000 stolen merch recovered from 10 communities including Walnut Creek, San Ramon, Livermore

SACRAMENTO – In the final shopping days before Christmas, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) conducted a successful enforcement operation targeting organized retail crime, promoting safe shopping experiences for communities throughout California.

The collaborative statewide retail theft crackdown on Friday, December 20, just four days after Prop. 36 went into effect increasing penalties, resulted in 117 arrests, the recovery of over $38,000 in stolen merchandise, the seizure of two illegal firearms, and the recovery of three stolen vehicles. Charges range from petty theft, grand theft, organized retail crime, felon in possession of a firearm, and auto theft.

The daylong operation was conducted in collaboration with the Walnut Creek, San Ramon, Livermore, Hemet, Los Angeles, Glendale, Bakersfield and Woodland Police Departments, and Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.

“Through proactive enforcement operations and strong partnerships with local law enforcement and retailers, we were able to protect the state’s businesses and consumers during one of the busiest times of the year,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “Our efforts send a clear message that retail theft in California will not be tolerated.”

Key Results of the Operation:

  • 117 arrests made for organized retail theft and related offenses.
  • Recovery of 767 stolen items, valued at $38,290.70, including clothing, shoes, and fragrances.
  • Enhanced collaboration among 10 California law enforcement agencies and 56 different retail partners to improve in-store security and reporting.
  • Increased law enforcement visibility in high-traffic shopping areas, deterring additional crimes.

“The state stands committed to protecting consumers, especially as they go about the final shopping sprint before the holiday season,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “I’m proud of the efforts of CHP and local law enforcement to protect consumers and businesses throughout California.”

As the holiday season winds down, the CHP will continue working with businesses and the community to prevent retail theft year-round. Anyone with information about organized retail theft operations is encouraged to contact the CHP.

Since the Organized Retail Crime Task Force’s inception in 2019, the CHP has been involved in over 3,200 investigations, leading to the arrest of more than 3,500 suspects and the recovery of nearly 1.3 million stolen goods valued at $51.3 million.

The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

Antioch man, Brentwood woman in custody dispute arrested for shoot-out in Pleasant Hill injuring their child

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Larry Neal, Jr. in 2017. Photo by Pittsburg PD

3rd arrest this year for Larry Neal, Jr. who was also injured and has history of arrests

By Pleasant Hill Police Department

The Pleasant Hill Police Department is investigating a shooting that injured an adult male and a child. Two arrests have been made.

On December 23, 2024, at about 11:49AM, the Pleasant Hill Police received several calls about numerous gunshots in the area of Contra Costa Blvd. and Vivian Drive. Responding officers were quickly able to locate three vehicles that were involved in the incident. The driver of one of the vehicles, Larry Neal, was struck by gunfire in the hand. A 7-year-old child was inside one of the involved vehicles and sustained minor injuries. Both were treated and released from local hospitals.

The investigation shows that this incident began as a custody dispute between the parents of the injured child and was not a random act. The occupants of two of the vehicles exchanged gunfire with one another at close range.

Contra Costa Blvd. was closed to traffic for several hours but has since reopened.

Alexis Janay Sidney (age 38, born June 9, 1986) of Brentwood was arrested for felony violations of PC 273a(a)- Child Endangerment and PC 246- Shooting at an Occupied Vehicle

Larry Darryl Neal, Jr. (age 27, born Dec. 6, 1997) of Antioch was arrested for felony violations of PC 273a(a)- Child Endangerment and PC 246- Shooting at an Occupied Vehicle, and PC 29800(a)(1)- Convicted Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

Both were booked at the Martinez Detention Facility.

Our agency is still actively investigating the shooting and ask that anyone with information contact the Pleasant Hill Police Department Investigations Division at (925) 288-4630

Case Number: 24-3760

According to NBC Bay Area news report, the two are parents of the child and the gunfire was over a custody dispute.

Neal Has History of Arrests

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department, Neal is five-foot, 11-inches tall, 189 pounds and his being held on $400,000 bail.

According to localcrimenews.com, Neal is Black and was arrested twice this year and twice in 2022. On Jan. 24 he was arrested by Richmond PD for multiple gun charges and on Jan. 25 he was arrested by Contra Costa Sheriff’s Deputies also for multiple gun charges, as well as hit-and-run and evading a police officer with wanton disregard for safety. On Feb. 18, 2022, Neal was arrested by Antioch PD for gun charges including addict in possession of firearm, possession of ammunition and carrying a loaded firearm when not the registered owner. He was arrested later that year on July 23 by Dublin CHP for assault against a peace officer or emergency personnel, driving while under the combined influence of drugs and alcohol and possession of an open container while driving.

As previously reported, in 2017 Neal was wanted by police for fatally shooting a 43-year-old Bethel Island man, Robert Hopkins, Jr., near the Baskin-Robbins in Pittsburg. He later turned himself in. During the trial a video was shown and according to an East Bay Times report, “The shooting, both defense and prosecuting attorneys agreed, was the culmination of a brief, spontaneous argument between Hopkins, Neal, and Neal’s then-pregnant girlfriend, that began with a stare-down between the two men. After Hopkins ran toward the couple, Neal fired five shots at him, striking him four times, according to testimony.” Neal’s public defender argued Neal fatally shot the Hopkins while defending his pregnant girlfriend to get the charges reduced but the judge in the case struck it down. However, the jury convicted Neal of manslaughter. Neal appealed the conviction, and it was later reduced to unlawful firearm activity and his sentence was vacated.

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, two-inch tall, 176-pound Sidney is being held in the West County Detention Center on $350,000 bail.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Renegade Orchestra returns to Contra Costa on March 30th in Martinez

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The Beauty of a Symphony, the Soul of a Rock Band

Following a great show at Antioch’s historic El Campanil Theatre in November, the Renegade Orchestra will be back in Contra Costa County at the Campbell Theater in Martinez on Sunday, March 30, 2025.

About the event

Welcome to the Renegade Orchestra – it’s time to throw out all the old conventions of a quiet, sleepy, stuffy show of musicians locked in straitjackets of tradition.

Clap your hands, tap your feet, and yell all you want — the Renegade Orchestra embraces the virtuosic skills of top bay area musicians and turns them loose on songs orchestras have never or maybe shouldn’t do. No sleepy pop songs, no overly-lush jazz standards, but the pure unbridled fury of what an orchestra can truly do

“Classical Rebels.” —The Bohemian

“The Renegade Orchestra would rather tackle Hendrix than Handel.” —Mercury News

“If there’s one piece of advice I would give to anyone interested in seeing this group perform, it would be to expect the unexpected, or better yet, leave your expectations at the door and go in prepared for a ride. If there’s one thing that’s for certain, it’s that this writer will be catching them again the next time they perform in town.” —Napa Valley Register

Source: RenegadeOrchestra.com

“…Under the baton of co-founder, guitarist and conductor Jason Eckl, [the Renegade Orchestra] turn Nina Simone’s “Sinnerman” into a shimmering string-centric odyssey, capture the classic helter-skelter vibe in Paul McCartney’s and John Lennon’s “Helter Skelter,” find the funk in “What’d I Say” by Ray Charles and crash with vibratory verve through Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze.” —East Bay Express

Tickets are now available at Renegade Orchestra | The Campbell

The performance will run 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM and the Martinez Campbell Theater is located at 636 Ward Street.

To learn more about the band visit RenegadeOrchestra.com.

Martinez author offers “My Interview with Joe DiMaggio”

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Matt Sieger (far right) and Joe DiMaggio. Courtesy of Matt Sieger

“Joltin’ Joe” DiMaggio was a Martinez native

By Matt Sieger

In the summer of 1974, between my junior and senior years at Cornell University, I was freelancing for the Ithaca New Times, a weekly newspaper in Ithaca, NY. My editor suggested I write a feature story about the Oneonta Yankees, a New York Yankees farm team in the New York-Penn League.

The NY-P, founded in 1939 as a Class D League as the PONY (Pennsylvania-Ontario-New York) League, became a Class A league in 1963. The NY-P is now the oldest continuously operated Class A league in professional baseball.

Oneonta is about a two-hour drive from Ithaca. My only problem was that I didn’t have a car. But back then, many young people hitchhiked. It was not yet considered very dangerous (although in 1973 the FBI did put out a poster warning drivers that a hitcher might be a “sex maniac” or a “vicious murderer”!). I guess I didn’t look like either, so I managed to hitch a ride to Oneonta.

Oneonta is a small town (around 16,000 people then, 14,000 now) nestled in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains. In the 1940s and 1950s, the town supported the Oneonta Red Sox, a Boston farm team in the now-defunct Canadian-American League. Frank Malzone, the Golden Glove third baseman for Boston in the fifties and sixties, played at Oneonta in 1949.

The Yankees took over the franchise in 1967. Notable Oneonta Yankees alumni include Don Mattingly (1979), Bernie Williams (1987) and Jorge Posada (1991). During my visit in 1974, the roster included Dennis Werth, a catcher who played in the big leagues for parts of four seasons and whose stepson is Jayson Werth, the retired All-Star outfielder. Also on the squad was Mike Heath, then a shortstop, who spent 14 seasons in the Major Leagues, mostly as a catcher. The president of the team was Sam Nader, cousin of the famous consumer advocate Ralph Nader.

The team played at the well-groomed Damaschke Field, where attendance averaged around 1,000 a game. Admission was $1.25 for adults and 60 cents for children.

I had intended to just spend the day, do my interviews and hitch a ride back home. But General Manager Nick Lambros informed me that I happened to arrive the day before Famous Yankee Night, an annual promotional event when the team brings in a former Yankee star.

Well, the star that year was Joe DiMaggio! The next evening 3,000 people jammed into Damaschke Field to see Joltin’ Joe before the game. He signed autographs, talked with the fans and took a few swings for old times’ sake.

I wouldn’t be able to stay that late, but Mr. Lambros invited me to a small press conference the next afternoon on his backyard patio. So, after sleeping the night on the floor of an apartment shared by some of the players (one of them was Lou Turco, a pitcher I had played summer baseball with in New Jersey), I headed over to the press conference.

As we sat on the patio sipping lemonade, Mr. Lambros emerged through the screen door of his home and announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Joe DiMaggio!” And behind him came the dapper, dignified Yankee Clipper himself.

As a 21-year-old cub reporter, I was in awe as DiMaggio sat down in a lawn chair right next to me. He would turn 60 in November, but apart from the silver hair, he looked like he could still be playing center field for the Bronx Bombers.

As I wrote in my August 24, 1974, article for the Ithaca New Times, “Even if he can no longer hit that high inside fastball, the grace and dignity that characterized him on and off the field still shine through.” What impressed me most was how unassuming and approachable and congenial he was. Here was the great Joe DiMaggio in a tiny town with just a few folks out on the patio, and he treated me and the others with the utmost respect, taking time to fully answer all our questions.

Here’s the portion of the article from my interview with him that day:

The Yankee Clipper reminisced: “I think I played in one of the most beautiful eras in baseball. At that time you had a different type of fan and a different type of ballplayer. We used to sit in the hotel lobbies and talk baseball for hours. Nowadays all the players have business interests and other things on the side to think about. But I don’t blame them for that.

“As far as ability, that’s hard to say. There were only eight teams in each league when I was playing. Today you have 12, and I believe that’s diluted the talent a bit. Also, they’re bringing along young ballplayers a little too quickly, so that they come out of the minor leagues unrefined. I remember when I was coaching for Oakland and Reggie Jackson first arrived. He couldn’t catch a fly ball. We’d hit it to him, he’d pound the glove a few times, and the ball would drop 20 feet behind him. I’m not kidding.”

Jackson has come a long way since then, and DiMaggio says it’s because he’s a hard worker. He feels that natural ability goes only so far. “There’s no perfect ballplayer,” said the man who may have been the closest to it. “We all strive for it but there’s no one who ever gets there. I worked for hours and hours in practice just charging ground balls.”

After talking a little about his famous 56-game hitting streak, his daffy roommate Lefty Gomez and the great Yankee manager Joe McCarthy, DiMaggio was goaded into answering one of the most frequently asked questions: “What was your greatest thrill in baseball?”

“I’ll tell you one of them,” he replied. “Putting on the New York Yankees pinstripes in spring training for the very first time.”

It was such a thrill to interview the Yankee Clipper that day. Who knew that 44 years later I would move to Martinez (Joltin’ Joe’s hometown) and get to share this story with readers of the Herald.

Matt Sieger, now retired, is a former sports reporter and columnist for The Vacaville Reporter. He is the author of The God Squad: The Born-Again San Francisco Giants of 1978. Matt lives in Martinez. This article first appeared in The Vacaville Reporter.