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Community Corner

🌱One Arrested At Concord DUI Checkpoint + CoCo Health Plan Voted Top

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

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Jeri Karges, Neighbor
(Patch Media)

Hello again, friends! I'm back in your inbox this morning with your new edition of the Concord Daily. Here are all the most important things to know about what's happening in town, including...

  • Administrative turnover at area high schools blamed on the pandemic
  • Deer Valley Road gets a major makeover!
  • Moraga immortalized in a time capsule

But first, today's weather:

An a.m. shower; mostly sunny. High: 78 Low: 58.

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Here are the top stories in Concord today:

  1. Concord Police were out Friday night conducting a DUI checkpoint. One arrest was made. Police remind you, as always, that impaired driving doesn't always mean drunk driving. Even over-the-counter medication can impair your ability to drive. If it says "do not operate heavy machinery," you can read that as "do not drive your car." And, while recreational marijuana is now legal, it is illegal to operate your vehicle while you are under the influence of the substance. (Claycord.com)
  2. Got a student in high school in the Concord area? Stop by and say "hi" to their principal. Chances are you may never have met them before. Ten area high schools have new principals and senior administrators since the pandemic began. In other words, students at those schools who were Freshmen in 2020 will receive diplomas this year from someone other than the administrator that originally welcomed them to campus. The stress of the pandemic is being blamed for the record turnover. (Pioneer Publishers)
  3. The national evaluator of health insurance plans, National Committee for Quality Assurance has recognized the Contra Costa Health Plan as one of the best in the nation. In fact, among health maintenance organizations (HMO) that offer Medi-Cal benefits, CCHP is rated the top organization according to NCQA. "We are especially proud of our rating for patient experience, because it comes directly from the people we care for," Contra Costa County Health Director Anna Roth said. "It shows how strong our county's healthcare delivery system is, from the medical professionals taking care of county residents to the hospitals and medical clinics serving our community." (Contra Costa Herald)
  4. You know that old, dilapidated building that used to be Longs Drugs on Deer Valley Road in Antioch? It's getting a facelift and a new lease on life (pun intended)! Developers Sean McCauley and Ron Harrison have purchased the building and are looking to turn it into incubator space for small businesses and full service executive suites. The building will also get a new moniker. It will be named the Deer Valley Executive Center. "There are over 120,000 people commuting out of the region each workday, just on Highway 4. The more people we can get off the roads and into local jobs, the more time they will have to spend with their families," McCauley said. "The plan is to get people out of the commute by bringing higher paying jobs to our city." Sounds like an excellent plan and I'm happy to see some sprucing up of that section of Deer Valley Road! (East County Today)
  5. Former longtime Lafayette city manager Steve Falk got bored during the pandemic. And lucky for us he did! Apparently, he's had an idea that he wanted to write a book about California for some time, now, and the pandemic gave him just the downtime he needed to get started. He put pen to paper, and now, not only do we get a new perspective on California history, we get a glimpse into Falk's family as well! He says he wanted to capture stories his dad and grandpa told before they got lost forever, so he committed those to the page, along with a broader tale of how California unfolded in the same timeframe. To read "California Story," visit www.californiastory.net/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email (lamorindaweekly.com)

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Today in Concord:

  • Head over to the Pleasant Hill Library for Food Truck Nights! East Bay residents and families can grab and go for food or stay for games and family-friendly entertainment. (5:00 PM)
  • Join your neighbors for The Veranda Unplugged on the new Pavilion Fountain Park Lawn! Bring a blanket, your friends & family. (6:30 PM)
  • Come to Vinnie's Bar in Concord and feel like a rockstar singing Karaoke on a professional stage! (8:00 PM)

From my notebook:

  • The Unity Council Festival Latino is coming to the Monument Corridor on September 25! Enjoy world-class live music, family-friendly games, activities, and traditional Latin American artisans. Organizers expect over 10,000 people to be there, so get there early and prepare to enjoy a party!
  • The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors is seeking applicants who are interested in serving on its 18-member Racial Justice Oversight Body. There are currently nine open seats. Learn more and find out how to apply at this link from East County Today.
  • Here's a cool story to tell your kids! The Moraga Town Council approved a letter to be placed in a Time Capsule in the new County Administration Building at 1025 Escobar Street. The letter is about Moraga and some of the Town's current challenges and includes a photo of the Town Council. I supposed it'll be there until they tear the place down. Maybe your kids can even tell their kids about it! You can find the letter and picture that will be built into the building at this link. (moraga.ca.us)

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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with 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...

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Concord Daily? Contact me at Concord-Ca@Patch.com

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