For 20 years, it was easy to find Bill and Sharon Marshak: in the Tri-City Voice Newspaper offices six days a week, accompanied in the last few years by their rescue dog Mocha. When they retired in June 2024, they didn’t want to make a big fuss. Luckily, office staff and new management from Weeklys newsgroup persuaded them to have a retirement party on the back patio of Massimo’s in Fremont. The June 21 event was well-attended by current and former staff, friends of the paper, and local city officials.
Newark Mayor Michael Hannon talked about how Tri-City Voice has grown over the years from covering Fremont, Newark, and Union City, to reaching a community of 500,000 residents across the East Bay. He also shared how crucial Tri-City Voice has been over the years. “During Covid, when cities were struggling financially, they recognized that and gave the cities discounts when it came to putting information in the paper. That’s the kind of people they are. They’re community driven, community focused, and that’s why they’re going to be so missed.”
Hannon presented a commendation to the Marshaks, praising Tri-City Voice as, “An independent, locally-owned newspaper that has grown to become the standard for local in-depth reporting.” The commendation also noted, “William and Sharon Marshak offered our local communities a blend of insightful, authoritative coverage of local news, art, culture, sports, and entertainment.”
Dan Pulcrano, new publisher at Tri-City Voice, also introduced himself at the event. Later he wrote in his introductory editorial (published in the June 25 issue of Tri-City Voice), “Growing a community newspaper is no small feat in the digital media era, and their accomplishment speaks to the loving tenacity they brought to the mission. It also speaks to the strength of communities in and around Fremont, Newark and Union City that understand how sectors and civic institutions work together to forge a whole that’s greater than the sum of its parts.”
As a guest on The Fremont Podcast (thefremontpodcast.com), Bill Marshak shared that when he moved to Fremont, “The common wisdom was, Nothing happens here.” Tri-City Voice changed that perception by making people more aware of the different communities around them. This is a mission that the paper will continue.
