The Amador Valley varsity girls basketball team, the No. 12 seed in the North Coast Section Division I playoffs, pulled a pair of upsets last week to advance to the semifinals of the tournament.

The “African-American Living Museum” at Fairlands Elementary last week highlighted some of the United States' most important African-American figures in U.S. history, including Martin Luther King Jr. and Harriet Tubman.

In my role as Pleasanton's mayor, I recently traveled with the other Tri-Valley mayors for our annual trip to Washington, D.C. for the U.S. Conference of Mayors. I'm pleased to report that despite the government shutdown, we had a successful trip advocating for our region.

Livermore-Amador Symphony continues its 56th regular season with "Colorful Characters" this Saturday at the Bankhead Theater, with music director Lara Webber conducting. In addition, winners of the Symphony's 2018-19 Competition for Young Musicians will be featured: pianist Daniel Mah of Pleasanton (shown).

Parents joined together to create an authentic display of Asian culture and traditions at this month's Lunar New Year celebration at Vintage Hills Elementary School.

Pick up a guitar. With your left fingers hold down a string or two. Strum with your right hand. Sound! Music? Magic. John Kibildis, owner of JAMS Music in Dublin, said his favorite instrument has always been the guitar.

Team members at Pleasanton Middle School were reminded of the importance of being trained and prepared for life-or-death situations. That training helped assistant principal Mike O’Brien come to the aid of a choking student.