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Community Corner

🌱Contra Costa Mask Exception Rescinded + 'Green Slime' in Orinda

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 Thursday, Concord! Let's get you all caught up to start today off on an informed note.

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny and cool. High: 51 Low: 37.

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Here are the top stories today in Concord:

  1. Contra Costa Health Services announced Tuesday a new health order requiring masks in all public indoor places without exceptions for certain indoor settings. With the COVID-19 omicron variant circulating through the county, officials decided to no longer make exceptions for fully vaccinated public speakers and performers, and fully vaccinated groups of 100 or fewer people that were allowed to remove their face coverings under controlled conditions. The new order, which went into effect Wednesday, requires all people in Contra Costa, regardless of vaccination status, to mask in public indoor settings. (Concord Patch & Claycord.com)
  2. Officers responded to locations in Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek, searching the Treat Boulevard overpass above Interstate 680 and reportedly finding casings left after shots were fired from a vehicle earlier in the evening. There were no reports of injuries or damage. (News 24/680)
  3. A new scheme has thieves smashing car windows and taking items while the driver is pumping or paying for gas nearby. Once such incident occurred Tuesday Dec. 28, in Concord at a gas station on Oak Grove Road when a thief smashed the window of a woman's car and stole her purse while she was filling up. In another recent incident at a gas station on Oak Park Boulevard at Hook Avenue in Pleasant Hill, a woman who had been asked to pay for her gas at the cashier's office returned to her car in time to see a man smash her window and attempt to access the interior – with her child inside. She was able to chase the would-be thief off. Please be aware and vigilant as you are gassing up. (News 24/680)
  4. The Contra Costa Superior Court has suspended jury selection/panels out of an abundance of caution with the increased infection rate in the County having risen 165%. This will only impact any case in which voir dire is currently underway or in cases set to begin between now and January 14th. Cases in which a jury has already been empaneled and the trial underway, shall proceed as previously scheduled, according to a court spokesperson. All other services remain open to the public and are functioning. (Contra Costa Times)
  5. At 8:20 pm Tuesday, the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District was dispatched to a report of a vehicle crash at Brentwood Blvd. near Spruce Street in the City of Brentwood. One person was suffering from major injuries and the victim was taken in a medical helicopter that landed at the Liberty High School baseball field. (East County Today)

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Today in Concord:

  • Michelle Lambert will be at Monica's Riverview in Antioch. (6:00 PM)
  • Check out Jeff Richards: 'Twas the Night Before New Year's featuring Ditto Kiddo at Retro Junkie in Walnut Creek. (7:00 PM)
  • Try out your new Christmas dancing shoes at Salsa Dancing Thursday at Vinnie's Bar & Grill in Concord. (8:00 PM)

From my notebook:

  • Two sci-fi flicks are taking center screen at the Orinda Theater this month. While both are of the same genre, they really couldn't be any different. In the worst column, we have The Green Slime, released in 1968. The title alone should tell you all you need to know. On the opposite end of the spectrum is the International Film Showcase New Year's entry I'm Your Man. (The Orinda News)
  • On January 10th, the 36th edition of the midget spectacular Chili Bowl Nationals is set to get underway with two local drivers among the pack. The action takes place on a 1/4-mile dirt track inside the Tulsa Expo Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Drivers are battling for just $10,000. However, prestige alone makes it the biggest dirt midget event of the season and I'm sure Damion Gardner and Robert Carson, both from Concord, are in it to win it. (Racing News)
  • The Concord Library will be closed from January 10-25, 2022 while the children's area undergoes a refresh. The book drop will not be open and holds will not be available for pickup during the closure. Other libraries will be available. (Press Release Desk)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed. See you all tomorrow morning for another 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...

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