It's Back to School for Martinez Patch

Today promises to be what they call in my business a “slow news day.” There are several reasons for this, not the least of which is the fact that, unless you live on the east coast of this country, where the weather patterns can get a little gusty this time of year, August is typically a very slow month for news. Our City Council is on vacation until next week, a lot of city staff is out of town, etc.

The news stream, in other words, is kind of like the Giants’ season so far this month. There’s just not a lot going on.

The other reason things might be kind of slow today is the fact that yours truly will be out of the office for a large portion of the day. Unlike my colleague at the Martinez News Gazette, I will not be luxuriating on a Grecian excursion, frolicking in the sun and enjoying the cradle of democracy and gyros. Rather, I’ll be joining Ms. Henkell and Mr. Groess and their respective 7th grade English classes at Martinez Jr. High to play some blues.

Some of you know that I have another life as a musician. For several years, as a young man, I was a guitarist for John Lee Hooker. I have had the great fortune to meet and play with some of the men and women who are considered blues greats. I am nowhere near their class – I have listened all my life to their recorded and live performances in absolute awe, wondering how in the world they reach so far into their hearts and souls and lay out their truth so raw to the world.

But there are no actual blues players around willing to come to Martinez Jr. High at a price the district can afford, so here I go.

This is part of what Patch calls Give Five. Each year, Patch editors devote five days of volunteer efforts in their communities, as a way of giving back. This is one of those days for me.

I’ll have my laptop and cell phone with me; Martinez Patch headquarters is nothing if not portable, so if something comes up that you feel needs reporting, just call or write. I’ll be done by the early afternoon, at which point I’ll be back on the beat.

Meanwhile, have a great day. I’ll see you when school’s out.

TODAY IN HISTORY (from Wikipedia):

1803 - Lewis and Clark start their expedition to the west by leaving Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at 11 in the morning.

1864 - During the American Civil War, Union forces led by General William T. Sherman launch an assault on Atlanta, Georgia.

1866 - An earthquake kills 100 in Charleston, South Carolina.

1888 - Mary Ann Nichols is murdered. She is the first of Jack the Ripper's confirmed victims.

1895 - German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin patents his Navigable Balloon.

1897 - Thomas Edison patents the Kinetoscope, the first movie projector.

1920 - The first radio news program is broadcast by 8MK in Detroit, Michigan.

1994 - The Provisional Irish Republican Army declares a ceasefire.

1997 - Diana, Princess of Wales, her companion Dodi Al-Fayed and driver Henri Paul die in a car crash in Paris.

2006 - Stolen on August 22, 2004, Edvard Munch's famous painting The Scream is recovered in a raid by Norwegian police.