🌱 Patch AM: Mare Island Dry Dock To Close, Jobs Cuts To Follow

Good morning Martinez! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Major shipyard closure threatens regional maritime jobs and future opportunities
• How a longtime Martinez neighbor dispute foreshadowed this tragic double killing
• Which Martinez leaders joined the Bay Area rebuke of Richmond’s mayor?

Also on today's calendar: The Anza Expedition 250th Anniversary plus CCCHS celebrates 75 yrs. and 2 more events.

Today's riddle: I got fired from the M&M factory. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Saturday: Breezy with showers around, with a high of 63 and low of 52 degrees.
• Sunday: Becoming windier with rain, temps: high: 57, low: 46.
• Monday: A little afternoon rain, with a high of 56 and low of 45 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Mare Island Dry Dock To Close, Jobs Cuts To Follow (patch.com) — Residents in Martinez are learning that Mare Island Dry Dock is shutting down its Vallejo operations, cutting more than 80 maritime jobs after losing a key U.S. Coast Guard contract. Local and county agencies are coordinating job search help, retraining, and efforts to attract new shipbuilding and repair investment that could restore skilled maritime work to the region.
   

• ‘He threatened to decapitate me': Martinez man, charged with killing parents, allegedly confessed without remorse (mercurynews.com) — A Martinez resident has been charged in the New Year’s Eve shooting deaths of his elderly parents at their Concord home, with authorities alleging he confessed at the scene. Court records describe a long history of reported mental health issues and prior restraining orders, raising concerns for neighbors about safety and support for at-risk individuals in and around Martinez.
   

• National Briefs: December 26-January 1 – The American Israelite Newspaper (americanisraelite.com) — Bay Area officials, including some from Martinez, joined a letter criticizing social media posts by Richmond’s mayor that they viewed as antisemitic and harmful to local residents. The broader news roundup also covers U.S. military action abroad and national debates over antisemitism, offering context for how these issues echo into local politics.
   

📸 Around Martinez

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Martinez

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday January 24

• The Anza Expedition 250th Anniversary plus CCCHS celebrates 75 yrs.
  Concord Museum and Event Center, 1928 Clayton Rd, Concord, CA, 94519,
  11:30 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Tuesday January 6

• Local playwrights looking for teen actors
  Hillcrest Congregational Church , 404 Gregory Ln , Pleasant Hill
  6:00 pm
• Tarot Social Meetup
  Martinez Library , 740 Court Street , Martinez
  6:00 pm

Saturday January 10

• Martinez Library Storytime
  Martinez Library , 740 Court Street , Martinez
  10:00 am
• Read to a Dog
  Martinez Library , 740 Court Street , Martinez
  12:00 pm

📣 Martinez Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Saturday January 3

• Martinez Library Storytime
  Martinez Library , 740 Court Street , Martinez
  10:00 am
• Empower Thyself - Initiation into the lineage of King Salomon
  Modern Mystery School Northern California , 1630 Contra Costa Blvd #212 , Pleasant Hill
  11:00 am
• Lego Builders Club
  Contra Costa County Public Library , 1750 Oak Park Boulevard , Pleasant Hill
  2:00 pm

Monday January 5

• Guessing Jar Game
  Lafayette Library and Learning Center , 3491 Mt Diablo Blvd , Lafayette
• Monday Book Club
  Contra Costa County Public Library , 1750 Oak Park Boulevard , Pleasant Hill
  1:00 pm
• Drop-In Shop for Adults
  Contra Costa County Public Library , 1750 Oak Park Boulevard , Pleasant Hill
  6:00 pm

Tuesday January 6

• Gaming for Teens
  Contra Costa County Public Library , 1750 Oak Park Boulevard , Pleasant Hill
  2:45 pm
• Drop-In Knitting & Sewing
  Contra Costa County Public Library , 1750 Oak Park Boulevard , Pleasant Hill
  6:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Martinez PatchAM possible:

• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• As the holiday season comes to a close, I wanted to express my heartfelt gratitude for your generous support this Christmas.
  Your contributions made a significant difference in bringing joy to our community, and I feel truly blessed to have you all in my life. Thank you for… (Nextdoor Arreba)
• ⚠️ Magnitude 3.24 earthquake reported
  Jan 1 at 4:58 PM PST: 3.02 magnitude earthquake occurred near San Ramon, CA. 395 neighbors felt it. (Nextdoor )

• Bank of America Corporation posted a job opening for Relationship Banker - Diablo Market in Martinez. Apply here.
• Jack in the Box, Inc. posted a job opening for Restaurant Crew in Martinez. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Martinez here.

🗞 Nearby News

Pleasant Hill

• Diablo Valley students in Pleasant Hill win big at entrepreneurship contest (mercurynews.com)
• Editorial: 10 Things I Want to See Happen in 2026 (contracosta.news)

Concord

• 1 Dead In Rollover Crash In SMC, Driver Arrested For DUI: Police (patch.com)

Ok Martinez! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I kept throwing out all the W’s.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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