Community Corner
🌱Farewell Chief Hill + Pleasant Hill BART Service Interruptions
The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Concord.
Hey, everybody. I'm back in your inbox this morning with all the most important things happening in Concord. Let's have at it.
First, today's weather:
Clouds yielding to sun. High: 79 Low: 58.
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Here are the top five stories in Concord today:
- The U.S. Executive Office for Immigration Review confirmed that the federal agency plans to open a new immigration court at the Gateway II office building in Concord sometime in 2023, according to spokeswoman Kathryn Mattingly. Meanwhile, the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors has turned down a request to expand funding for a program that offers free legal representation to immigrants facing the threat of deportation. Contra Costa County only has one public defender deportation defense attorney and the office helps fund two others. According to FOX2, the request that was turned down was for "$1.8 million to Stand Together Contra Costa, which runs out of the public defender's office, which had sought to pay for three new attorneys, three legal assistants and two social workers." (KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco)
- Rapper Amir Rashad (aka Mark "Kafani" Hicks), 42, from Oakley was sentenced to 87 months in prison and ordered to pay $1.9 million in restitution for a fraud and identity theft conspiracy that the judge called "sprawling." As the ringleader, Hicks was sentenced to the most time in prison. His five co-conspirators ended up with sentences ranging from 15 to 48 months. All were ordered to pay $1.9 million in restitution. Hicks was convicted of the personal information of nine people and taking out loans and mortgages in those names. With the money he collected, he bought gold bars and coins that his co-conspirators sold for cash. A seventh alleged co-conspirator remains a fugitive, according to the DOJ. (Claycord.com)
- The heat-related BART derailment on the track near Pleasant Hill Station in June caused damage to concrete ties. BART has been working on replacing them and has been slowing trains near the station as repairs are underway. On September 24 and October 2, the transit company will operate only one track for service near the Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Centre Station as they continue this repair work. Riders are cautioned to plan for extra time on these Sundays. Then, on October 15-16, October 29-30 and November 12-13, there will be no train service between the Pleasant Hill and Concord stations. Instead free buses provided by County Connection will replace trains between Pleasant Hill and Concord. (Claycord.com)
- Pleasant Hill Police Chief Bryan Hill would like to thank you. He thanks you for all of the support for his tenure, as he announces his retirement in this letter published by The Pioneer. He will be retiring as of November 2. Read his farewell letter here. (Pioneer Publishers)
- Get to know the four candidates vying for 2 seats on the Clayton City Council. All are making fiscal responsibility and sustainability central to their campaigns. Per The Pioneer "with projected expenses increasing at an annual rate of 4% and revenues lagging behind at only 2-3% growth, Clayton will be in a fiscal hole by next year." See how each of the candidates would address this issue in this article from The Pioneer. (Pioneer Publishers)
Today in Concord:
- Take the night off kitchen duty. Enjoy food truck cooking every Thursday night with your friends and neighbors at the Orinda Community Center. (5 p.m.)
- Come out to Todos Santos Plaza for a Farmers' Market and free Concert in the Park with a great line-up of wonderful Bay Area musicians playing salsa, jazz, zydeco, blues, and more. (6:30 p.m.)
- Head over to the plaza in front of Jack's Restaurant and Bar in Pleasant Hill for the last free summer concert of the season! The finale band is Fleetwood Mask. (7 p.m.)
From my notebook:
- Concord has nearly 40 amazing taquerias and restaurants participating in this year's Taco Trail Challenge. Try them all for a chance to be crowned as this year's Taco Trail Champion! Don't forget to download the official Concord Taco Trail map! (Visit Concord via Instagram)
- Applications to be a Monument Crisis Center Teen Center Tutor are open! Their program for 6-8th graders is returning for a fall semester of hybrid learning! Join the fall session virtually or in-person by applying here: https://forms.gle/g3zVjGeqM84W... (Monument Crisis Center via Facebook)
- Teens are invited to celebrate National Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month and learn how to craft Repujado tin art into unique bookmarks at the Pleasant Hill Library on September 27. Local artist Rachel-Anne Palacios will lead this fun afterschool program just for teens. Registration required; must be at least 11 years old to attend.
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Featured businesses:
- Curry House — (Visit website)
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Events:
- David Doubilet & Jennifer Hayes Speaker Series: "Coral Kingdoms and Empires of Ice" (September 15)
- The 12th Annual Martini Shake Off Gala & Competition (September 17)
- Big-band Blues: Delta Wires at Almost Famous (September 17)
- Stageright Drama Presents: "The Butler Did It" by Todd Wallinger (September 22)
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Gigs & services:
- Hole In The Wall (Details)
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You're officially in the loop for today! 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...
Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Concord Daily? Contact me at Concord-Ca@Patch.com
