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Community Corner

🌱 Bay Bridges Increase Toll + Orinda Mayor’s Award of Excellence

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Concord.

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Jeri Karges, Neighbor
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(Patch Media)

Happy Wednesday, Concord! Here's everything you need to know about what's happening in town today.

First, today's weather:

Chilly with periods of rain. High: 47 Low: 38.

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Here are the top five stories in Concord today:

  1. Contra Costa County announced Monday it will require first responders and workers in homeless shelters to verify they've received a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The order will take effect Jan. 10 and require unboosted workers to test weekly with either a PCR or antigen test for COVID-19. (Claycord.com)
  2. New Year's Day will usher in a $1 increase in tolls on seven bridges around the Bay Area. Starting Jan. 1, tolls will rise from $6 to $7 for two-axle vehicles and motorcycles on seven state-owned spans including the San Francisco-Oakland Bay, Antioch, Benicia-Martinez, Carquinez, Dumbarton, Richmond-San Rafael and San Mateo-Hayward bridges. The increase is the second of three $1 toll hikes approved by the state Legislature in 2017 through state Senate Bill 595, and by voters through Regional Measure 3 in June 2018. A legal challenge to SB 595 and Regional Measure 3 is pending before the California Supreme Court, and the new toll increase, when collected, will be placed into an escrow account managed by an independent trustee. (Claycord.com)
  3. The Mount Diablo Interpretive Association and Save Mount Diablo are starting off the new year with the premiere of the newest film in their series of multi-media presentations on the natural and cultural history of the mountain and its environs. The film features two Bay Area Indigenous cultural leaders, Vincent Medina and Louis Trevino, founders of Berkeley's Café Ohlone, one of the first Native American restaurants in the country. Native to Right Here: The Plants, Animals, and People of Tuushtak will be offered as a free, Zoom webinar on Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at 7 pm PST. (Pioneer Publishers)
  4. Contra Costa County Public Works Department has issued a permit to Pacific Gas & Electric to allow it to replace gas mains and service lines with upgraded pipes in Bay Point. There are no plans for this work to interrupt gas service. Work will begin in early January 2022 and continue through July 2022, barring unforeseen circumstances. (East County Today)
  5. With over 2,025 rides given to local seniors in 2020 – 2021, The Orinda Association's Seniors Around Town (SAT) program has provided an invaluable service to residents during the pandemic. In recognition of its dedication to senior Orinda residents, Mayor Amy Worth bestowed the Orinda Mayor's Award of Excellence for 2021 on the organization at the Dec. 14 City Council meeting. (The Orinda News)

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Today in Concord:

  • Stand Up comedians show their secret talents after making you laugh at Comedians Got Talent in Walnut Creek. (7:00 PM)
  • Come on down to Bourbon Highway for Swing Dancing Lessons with Jay and Noelle! Bring a partner or come alone. (7:30 PM)
  • It's karaoke night at Retro Junkie in Walnut Creek. (9:00 PM)
  • Wednesday nights are hopping with DJ Louie Louie at the Roundup Saloon in Lafayette. (11:00 PM)

From my notebook:

  • The Orinda Theatre's popular concert series returns Jan. 30 with two-time Tony nominated actress/singer Christine Andreas. Beginning at 5 p.m., Andreas and her Grammy-nominated husband, producer/composer Martin Sylvestri, will perform numbers from her solo album Love Is Good.
  • Hundreds of bird-loving Bay Area residents flocked on Sunday to the many parks, shorelines and woods, hoping to spot the winged creatures to help the National Audubon Society complete its annual Christmas count. Check out the AMAZING pictures they captured. (East Bay Times)
  • ICYMI here's The City of Concord's latest newsletter.

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That's it for today! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow morning with a new update.

— Jeri Karges

About me: Jeri Karges has been living in and loving the Sacramento region for over 30 years. Her passion is finding new and unique ways to enjoy the city and surrounding areas. On weekends, you can find her pestering her friends to sample the restaurant that doesn't have silverware, or try their hand at throwing an axe. Jeri also enjoys writing about retirement planning at https://rockinretirement.subst...

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

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