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Community Corner

🌱 County Settles With Pick-N-Pull + DeSaulnier Hosts Town Hall

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

First, today's weather:

Considerable cloudiness. High: 69 Low: 53.

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Here are the top five stories in Concord today:

  1. Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton announced the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office, together with 13 other California District Attorneys have agreed to a $2.5 million dollar settlement with Pick-N-Pull over the company's illegal disposal of hazardous waste and storm-water pollution issues. The judgment provides for $1,850,000 in civil penalties, $350,000 in costs of enforcement, injunctive provisions requiring the implementation of compliance assurance measures as well as $350,000 to environmental projects, which includes the Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund. (Claycord.com)
  2. Firefighters responding to reports of smoke and flames at a building in the 1100 block of Buchanan Road in Antioch arrived to find heavy smoke and flame coming from the Planned Parenthood office on Buchanan. The fire was reported at 6 a.m. with initial indications that it stated at an electrical box and moved into the building's attic space. The fire was declared under control by 6:45 a.m. (News 24/680)
  3. The Benicia Police Department announced Saturday it has arrested a suspect in the killing of merchant Bahadur Singh, shot to death in Benicia's Rose Market shortly after 10 p.m. Tuesday. Officers working jointly with other agencies located and arrested Nyzell Marquis Dubusson, 21, in the 3600 block of Broadway in Oakland on Friday night. Dubusson faces charges of murder, first-degree robbery and a conspiracy to commit a crime. (News 24/680)
  4. Following the BART board's adoption of new redistricting maps on Thursday, BART announced it was determined as of Wednesday, the BART District 7 Board of Director seat is vacant. BART staff has confirmed Lateefah Simon has moved outside the boundaries of District 7. Based on state law, this move disqualifies her from serving as a BART Director of District 7. According to a report by Bay City News, "Simon said in a statement to supporters that she moved from her previous residence last year due to threats her family received as a result of her support for police reform" and that she was assured by district staff that her new residence was within the District 7 boundaries. BART General Manager Bob Powers issued a statement about the issue early Friday evening. In it he said "If I had the ability to return Lateefah to the BART Board, I would immediately." Questions have been forwarded to BART's legal counsel and District Secretary's Office to work together to answer them. (Contra Costa Herald)
  5. Since its inception in 2013, White Pony Express (WPE) has delivered 18 million pounds of fresh food to over 120,000 people in Contra Costa County. Now the organization is ramping up its rescue efforts to meet an ever-increasing demand for food with the launch of a "Food Rescue Hero App." With the app, food donors can signal to volunteers when they have excess food. An available "food runner" then picks up and delivers the food directly to a matching recipient. Instructions for download and use can be found at this link. (Walnut Creek Magazine)

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Today in Concord:

  • Learn to Grow Tomatoes in Your Home Garden at this San Ramon Library presentation. (6:00 PM)
  • Paint a beautiful Sun Shape Mandala at Painting with a Twist in Pleasant Hill. (6:30 PM)
  • The Batman is playing at the Solano Drive-in in Concord. (7:45 PM)
  • Come jam with instructor Vince Lay lead guitar/vocals and Joey Nunez acoustic guitar on the new stage and dancefloor @ Vinnie's Open Mic Monday event at Vinnie's Bar and Grill. (8:30 PM)

From my notebook:

  • Hey Concord! Here's your weather forecast for the week ahead. (Concord Patch)
  • This curious statue stands in the center of one of the suburban East Bay's busiest traffic turnarounds. Do you know where it is? If you do, enter this contest and you could be selected to receive a local restaurant gift certificate!
  • Congressman Mark DeSaulnier will host a virtual town hall Tuesday, March 15 at 7:00 p.m. to recognize the progress made for women's rights and what he says are the battles ahead to protect reproductive freedom, secure pay equity, and address the cost of child care. The event will be held on Zoom and will be streamed live on Representative DeSaulnier's Facebook page. To register, submit a question, or request special accommodations, visit https://desaulnier.house.gov/t... or call 925-933-2660. (Claycord.com)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

  • Walnut Creek Concert Band Concert "Ides of March" (March 15)
  • ST PATTYS DAY DINNER DANCE, 80s PARTY BAND RE-WIND (March 17)
  • 27th Annual East Bay International Jewish Film Festival (March 19)
  • Artists 4 ERA: Art Show & Benefit for Gender Equality (March 19)
  • Contra Costa Wind Symphony - "Myths, Legends and Epic Tales" (March 20)
  • American Diabetes Association Diabetes Alert Day: Understand Your Risk (March 22)
  • Employment for Everyone: Award-Winning Film Showcases at the Bankhead (March 26)
  • Add your event

Housing:

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Monday! See you tomorrow morning for your next 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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