Francisco Martinez
What I cover
Francisco covers Tiburon: the Town Council and town government, development and housing, and the people and events of the town.
Background
Francisco joined The Ark in July 2023. He previously worked for NPR member station KCBX-FM in San Luis Obispo, where he reported "Beyond the Furrows," an award-winning 12-part series about farmworkers in Santa Barbara County. Francisco was also a reporter, news anchor and radio DJ for student-run Mustang News and KCPR-FM at the California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo; he graduated in 2021 with a bachelor's degree in journalism. Francisco lives in Point Richmond with his wife and their four cats. A former record store employee, he spends his free time listening to music old and new, going on walks and solving puzzles of all kinds. Francisco remains an eternally suffering Tottenham Hotspur fan.
Our standards
Ark journalists avoid conflicts of interest, refuse gifts, favors, free travel and special treatment, and correct information throughout the life of a story. Read The Ark’s ethics policy and corrections policy.
Latest from Francisco
Thier’s Town Council re-election bolstered by $76,000 in fundraising
Mayor Holli Thier’s council run was backed by more than $76,000 in contributions; Isaac Nikfar again missed the state filing deadline.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Corte Madera skate park honors former Tiburon teen Scotty Lapp
A renovated and expanded skatepark honoring late former Tiburon resident Scotty Lapp opened Feb. 12 in Corte Madera Town Park.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Owners of new wine bar say they want to create community
Husband-wife duo Fedric D’Costa and Emily Lund are the owners of Mog Asu, which is now open ahead of a grand opening Feb. 24.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
A part-time resident and her senior dogs savor local winters
Karen Pence ended up in California because her husband previously lived in Tiburon and she’s traveled to the Bay Area for work.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Serving up aces: Tiburon literary agent, poker buff three-peats as 65-plus tennis champ
Amy Rennert says she’s just had the “most satisfying sports experience” of her life — and at age 70, that’s “especially gratifying.”
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Marin City artists’ collective to exhibit works at Town Hall
Artists from the Marin City Arts and Culture collective will exhibit their works at Tiburon Town Hall this spring.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Tiburon painter Fran Hall served on Heritage and Arts board for more than a decade
Tiburon resident Fran Hall, a longtime Heritage and Arts commissioner and painter, died Nov. 4. She was 89.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Tiburon OKs Little League block party on lower Main Street to kick off year’s festivals
Tiburon Peninsula Little League will once again celebrate the start of its season with a parade and block party on lower Main Street.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Del Mar and Redwood robotics teams unite to win tournament championship
Del Mar Middle School’s robotics team joined with Artemis Robotics to take first place among 16 teams.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Iconic gift shop Diana’s of Tiburon closing after 30 years
Diana’s of Tiburon, The Boardwalk shopping center boutique known for its unique collection of greeting cards, stationery, gifts and party su
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Tiburon parks board pushing for quick wins in long-term vision
Tiburon parks officials are moving forward with their pledge to bring some simple improvements to the town’s miniparks.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·McKegney Green plan: New scheduling rules, higher fees, no community-use priority
Tiburon parks commissioners have signed off on an updated use policy for McKegney Green.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Storm knocks out power to more than 1,000 in southern Tiburon
More than 1,000 Pacific Gas and Electric Co. customers in Tiburon are without power amid an atmospheric river pummeling the Bay Area.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Tiburon could expand pickleball hours after club’s noise-fix efforts
Town officials say they’ve been impressed with the Tiburon Peninsula Club’s efforts to mitigate the noise impacts of pickleball over the...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·New Redwood hall-of-famers: Tiburon native reflects on historic mile relay with Robin Williams
Former Tiburon residents Tom Estudillo (third left) and late comedian Robin Williams (left) will be inducted into the Redwood High School...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
A teacher turned instructional-tech educator and her street-artist son
Tiburon resident Sonja Hartl (left) and her son, Robert Sakovich of San Francisco, were walking to the Railroad & Ferry Depot Museum as part of their Shoreline Park walk Jan. 23 when they spent some time chatting to The Ark. (Francisco Martinez / The Ark) It’s been nine years since Sonja Hartl, a 77-year-old retired teacher, moved to Tiburon near Reed Elementary School. An avid walker who sometimes brings along neighbor kids, she says she was just talking with her son about one famous...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Developer files preliminary application for 120 new housing units downtown
A rendering shows a conceptual design for a three-story, 45-foot-tall residential building featuring 82 units at the former Bank of...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Tiburon Town Council again rejects streamlining for bigger second units
The Tiburon Town Council has approved routine updates to the town’s second-unit rules so they align with existing and pending state laws,...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Downed line knocks out power to 3,900 Tiburon Peninsula customers
Nearly 4,000 Pacific Gas and Electric Co. customers on the Tiburon Peninsula, including all of Belvedere and most of incorporated Tiburon...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
‘Madam Belvedere’ Connie Wiley dies at 98, leaves legacy of civic dedication
Ex-Belvedere Mayor Connie Wiley died on Christmas Eve at age 98. (via Paige Peterson) Longtime Belvedere resident Connie Wiley, a former...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
