Cover Story

Staff Picks: My Best Story and My Favorite Story of 2025

by Pleasanton Weekly staff 14 hours agoDecember 26, 2025 7:55 am

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Foothill High School swimmer Luka Mijatovic, who is making a name for himself in the pool at the local, state and national levels, was profiled in a cover story in 2025 that was our sports columnist Dennis Miller’s pick for his best story of the year. This picture was also our Chuck Deckert’s selection for his best photograph of the year. (Photo by Chuck Deckert)

We asked our editorial team to reflect on their coverage from 2025 and select what they felt was their favorite story and their best story of the year. Here are their picks…

Jeremy Walsh, associate publisher / editorial director

Best: ‘A snap move’: The story behind Emerald High principal’s shocking resignation

Favorite: Put the supe back on: How PUSD landed on retiree interim superintendent Ghysels as permanent leader

Cierra Bailey, editor

Best: Appellate court sides with city in its 2024 vote to readopt provisions for Eden Housing project in downtown Livermore

Favorite: Love and longevity: Podcast hosted by husband and wife doctor team explores sex, personal health and aging

Christian Trujano, reporter

Best: Amador exposé: Inside the grooming, Grindr investigation of former principal

Jonathan Fey addresses the crowd during the 2024 graduation ceremony at Amador Valley High School, which would be his last as principal following a shocking investigation into alleged grooming and inappropriate Grindr chats with two young men who went to Amador during his tenure. (Photo by Christian Trujano)

Favorite: ‘It’s just a godsend’: In-home care workers provide vital support for Tri-Valley seniors

Jeanita Lyman, reporter

Best: The beat goes on at the Golden Skate (for now)

Favorite: SRPD responds to ‘derogatory social media comments’

Jude Strzemp, reporter

Best: Tri-Valley school districts uphold state’s protections for LGBTQ+ students amid federal rollback

Favorite: ‘We are empowering. We are uplifting.’ Inside Livermore Library’s ASL series aimed at cultivating community

Author Vielka Montout (right) shared her book “Shayla Boo and You: All About My Hearing Book.” Kei-Che Randle (left) presents the story in ASL. (Photo by Jude Strzemp)

Gina Channell Wilcox, publisher

Best: Whistleblower lawsuit: Pleasanton, former employee seek judge’s decision before trial

Favorite: Pleasanton has a trust problem

Dennis Miller, sports columnist

Best: ‘A generational talent’: Foothill sophomore Luka Mijatovic focusing on the little things as he captures the attention of the swimming world

Favorite: Reminiscing with my old Amador teammates and coach

Deborah Grossman, blogger

Cuda Ridge Wines’ 2023 Cabernet Franc in the estate vineyard on Arroyo Road in Livermore. (Photo by Chuck Deckert)

Best: Is Cab Franc the Future of the Livermore Valley Wine Industry?

Favorite: Cook’s Seafood homeports in Pleasanton at long last

Tim Hunt, blogger

Best: Castlewood owners defeat county’s proposed special assessment

Favorite: Balloon Platoon celebrates 50 years filled with laughter

Nancy Lewis, columnist

Best: Local seniors making a difference

A snapshot of a summer’s day at the 2025 Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton. (Photo by Chuck Deckert; his favorite of the year)

Favorite: Streetwise: “If you could get into someone else’s head in order to truly understand how they think and what makes them tick, whose head would you like to get into — and why?”

Chuck Deckert, photographer

Best: ‘A generational talent’ – Luka Mijatovic cover photo

Favorite: Summer fun in Pleasanton – County fair cover photo

Doug Young, cover page designer

Best: Amador exposé

Favorite: Open Heart just keeps beating

Paul Llewellyn, cover page designer

Best: A county fair like no other

Favorite: ‘A musical catalyst to change the world’

Alameda County Opioid Project

Best: Generation O: Children harmed by opioids (by Hakim Rad)

Favorite: Micah’s Hugs: Fighting for change, one community at a time (by Eshaan Nair)

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