🌱 Patch AM: How this Martinez music festival turns crayons into comfort for sick kids

What's up Martinez! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How this Martinez music festival turns crayons into comfort for sick kids
• Why a Martinez-built home robot is betting on trust over flash

Also on today's calendar: Martini Shake Off and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the bartender say to the jumper cables when they walked in? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: Clouds giving way to some sun, with a high of 78 and low of 60 degrees.
• Thursday: A morning shower in spots, temps: high: 73, low: 56.
• Friday: Areas of low clouds, then sun, with a high of 79 and low of 56 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Martinez: The Crayon Initiative Melt With You Festival (kkiq.com) — A family-friendly Melt With You Festival is coming to 357 Bear Oaks Drive in Martinez on Saturday, Sept. 19, raising funds to bring crayons and art therapy to hospitalized kids. From 5–10 p.m., you'll get live music, BBQ from Slow Hand, drinks, and festival swag, all while supporting a Bay Area nonprofit focused on creative play for young patients.
   

• Hello Robot is Banking on Building Trust With Its Home Robot (automate.org) — A home-robot startup is quietly building its Stretch robots by hand in Martinez, focusing on safety and trust for people with disabilities and older adults. The company plans to produce 200–300 units here next year, keeping design open to researchers while exploring future uses in caregiving, data centers, and homes that want practical help rather than flashy humanoids.
   

📸 Around Martinez

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Martinez

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday September 12
• Martini Shake Off →
  525 Henrietta St, Martinez
  6:00 pm
Saturday September 19
• Melt with You Festival →
  357 Bear Oaks Dr, Martinez
  5:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday September 3
• Computer Docent Help at Martinez Library
  Martinez Library 740 Court Street, Martinez, CA 94553
  10:00 am
Saturday September 5
• Martinez Library Storytime
  Martinez Library 740 Court Street, Martinez, CA 94553
  10:00 am
• Calligraphy Workshop
  Martinez Library 740 Court Street, Martinez, CA 94553
  1:00 pm
Wednesday September 9
• Zoning Administrator Meeting →
  Contra Costa County Hybrid MeetingThe Zonin
  1:30 pm
• County Planning Commission Meeting →
  Contra Costa County Hybrid MeetingThe Zoning Administrator m
  6:30 pm
Thursday September 10
• Computer Docent Help at Martinez Library
  Martinez Library 740 Court Street, Martinez, CA 94553
  10:00 am
• Soft Pretzel Making Workshop →
  Five Suns Brewing, 626 Main St, Martinez
  6:30 pm
Sunday September 13
• Bike Family Fest 2026 →
  DVC Overflow Parking Lot, 440 Golf Club Rd, Pleasant Hill
  10:00 am
• Contra Costa Vintage Market Lafayette CA September 2026 →
  Vintage Vida, 3581 Mount Diablo Blvd, Lafayette
  10:00 am
Saturday September 19
• Martinez Pride →
  Waterfront Park, 245 N Court St, Martinez
  11:00 am

📣 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!

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

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Martinez PatchAM possible:

• Devine Records & Vintage — (925) 316-5953
• Jasmina Pique, Travel Agent

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

• Stolen car at the park ..
  dark van stopped and 2 girls and parents picked it up.. please let me know if you see this car… one mirror on the side was missing and some letter in… (Nextdoor Hidden Lakes)
• Hi neighbors.
  I am looking for a colorist who specializes in helping woman transition to gray hair. I have started the "transition" but am feeling a bit lost and… (Nextdoor Virginia Hills)

• BAY PRO posted a job opening for Obrero Paisajismo Construccion Laborer Landscape Construction in Martinez. Apply here.
• Ryder posted a job opening for Shop Operations Supervisor in Benicia. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Martinez here.

🗞 Nearby News

Pleasant Hill

• Bike Family Fest 2026 (contracosta.news)
• Napa construction worker arrested in home burglaries linked to more thefts, deputies say (cbsnews.com)
• Canyon football coach Vinnie Lopez excited to face former team Pacifica (modbee.com)

Concord

• These Oktoberfests Will Raise The First Stein And Pretzel In Walnut Creek, Concord (patch.com)

Walnut Creek

• Record Labor Day Gas Prices Projected: What Walnut Creek Motorists Should Know (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: Don't you 2 start anything (Thank you Mary L. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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