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Community Corner

🌱 Concord Canine COVID Crew + Byron Wreath Ceremony

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 Concord today.

First, today's weather:

Occasional afternoon rain. High: 52 Low: 48.

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Here are the top stories today in Concord:

  1. Early Alert Canines, located in Concord, is part of a pilot program with the California Department of Health and the Association of Public Health Laboratories. At Early Alert Canines, dogs are being trained to use their extraordinary sense of scent to detect people who have the COVID-19 virus. The dogs aren't sniffing for the virus itself. Instead, their sense of smell picks up the chemical changes bodies produce when fighting COVID. The ultimate goal of the pilot program is to use the dogs in schools. (KTVU San Francisco)
  2. A coalition of tenant rights organizations called on the Concord City Council this week to reject a proposed anti-harassment ordinance that critics say is too weak to effectively protect residents. Tony Bravo, a community organizer with Monument Impact, a nonprofit that advocates on behalf of immigrants, refugees and low-income residents said the proposal, which the city has been working on for months, doesn't protect tenants from harassment by property managers and would put "more burden on tenants to prove harassment" by landlords. It also fails to clearly define what services landlords are forbidden from withholding, among other things, he said. (CBS San Francisco)
  3. The BART Board of Directors voted 8-1 in August to require all of the agency's nearly 4,000 employees to prove their vaccination status or provide a valid medical or religious exemption. More than 90 percent of BART workers were fully vaccinated against COVID-19 ahead of Monday's deadline, with some 300 employees remaining unvaccinated, according to data provided by the transit agency. (Bay City News)
  4. Union Cemetery in Byron, an official Wreaths Across America (WAA) location, will host a wreath-laying ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 18, joining more than 2,800 other locations across the country. The public is invited to join military and local dignitaries, veterans, active service members and their families for the ceremony and the following laying of the wreaths. To sponsor one or more wreaths, visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org. (Contra Costa Herald)
  5. Diablo Valley College (DVC) and Los Medanos College (LMC) each received the 2021 Equity Champion of Higher Education Award, an honor given by the Campaign for College Opportunity to recognize California Community Colleges and California State University campuses for their success in conferring the Associate Degree for Transfer to Black and Latino students at higher rates than other colleges. DVC awarded 1,161 ADTs, more than half of all Associate Degrees awarded by the college during this time. Black and Latino students out earned ADTs over other student populations at the college by 6% and 3.4% respectively. LMC awarded 548 ADTs, or one of every three Associates Degree awarded by the college during this time. LMC's Latino students out earned ADTs over their other student populations by 2.9%. (Contra Costa Herald)

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Today in Concord:

  • Can you find the pictures hidden on the Concord Library holiday I Spy board? Everyone who completes the I Spy challenge will receive a small prize. Come back each week for new clues! This program is ongoing through the month of December. (All Day)
  • Come to downtown Walnut Creek, take a horse and carriage ride and Celebrate the Season. Bring an item for the WCPD Holiday Toy and Clothing Drive. (5:30 PM)
  • Join the skilled trainers at Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation for a puppy social! Your puppy will get 45 minutes of supervised fun with other puppies 10-20 weeks old in a clean environment. (6:00 PM)
  • Fat-Kid Comedy Presents: Stand-up at Retro Junkie in Walnut Creek. (7:30 PM)

From my notebook:

  • Wild 'N Out fans, you're in luck. Presented by Nick Cannon, a 2022 Wild 'N Out tour is coming to the Concord Pavilion on June 24th, 2022.
  • Look! There's snow on Mount Diablo!
  • Calling all Bay Area Foodies: The 5th annual Concord Comfort Week is returning Jan 14th-31st with tasty new temptations, specials & deals. Registration starts Jan 7th. (Instagram)

From our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

  • Brighten The First Day Of Winter With 15 Percent Off FTD's Sunniest Blooms (December 21)
  • Christmas Comedy Bash Starring Kabir Singh from AGT LIVE in Pleasanton (December 23)
  • Christmas Eve Special Take-Out Dinner - Roxx on Main (December 24)
  • New Years Eve Party at Roxx on Main (December 31)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Wednesday off right. I'll see you around!

— 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...

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