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In the hearts of many in Tulancingo, late Pleasanton resident Bob Athenour now truly has a permanent presence in the community of his hometown’s sister city in Mexico — a life-size bronze sculpture of him sitting on a park bench.

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CalMatters is a Sacramento-based nonpartisan, nonprofit journalism venture committed to explaining how California's state Capitol works and why it matters. It works with more than 130 media partners throughout the state that have long, deep relationships with their local audiences, including Embarcadero Media.

Jeremy Walsh is the editorial director of Embarcadero Media Foundation's East Bay Division, including the Pleasanton Weekly, LivermoreVine.com and DanvilleSanRamon.com. He joined the organization in late...