Greetings Walnut Creek! We're your go-to source for what's happening in town. Read on to get plugged in! ☀️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: The Prediabetes Wake Up Call and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: What has a neck but no head? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. New Shop Opening In Walnut Creek Is Piercing: Reports (patch.com) — Walnut Creek shoppers will soon have a new ear-piercing option as Rowan prepares to open at Broadway Plaza in the former Aveda space on Broadway Lane. The nurse-staffed studio will offer lobe and cartilage piercings for all ages, using clinical standards and hypoallergenic jewelry. An exact opening date for the Walnut Creek location has not yet been announced.
2. Walnut Creek's 8-Story Housing Plan Sparking Intense Attention Tonight (patch.com) — Downtown Walnut Creek's Planning Commission is set to weigh a major mixed-use project tonight that would replace a Mt. Diablo Boulevard parking lot with 104 homes, retail space, and underground parking. Housing advocates are mobilizing supporters, while commissioners will also decide on permits for a new alterations shop and day spa on Mt. Diablo Boulevard.
3. A Berkeley restaurant closes after 6 months, a fire shuts down Walnut Creek lunch spot, and Jerusalem Coffee House breaks to prep legal defense (richmondside.org) — A recent fire has forced popular downtown Walnut Creek lunch spot Lettuce on Locust Street to close indefinitely, though no injuries were reported. The roundup also notes other East Bay restaurant changes, but the biggest impact for locals is losing a longtime go-to for sandwiches, salads, and pasta while owners assess the damage and future plans.
4. Gas Prices Remain Elevated as August Approaches Record Highs (yubanet.com) — Gas prices in California, including Walnut Creek, remain painfully high as August heads toward record territory, with the state average at $5.63 per gallon. The piece breaks down how California compares with other states, explains crude oil trends, and notes current EV charging costs, giving local drivers context for what they're paying at the pump.
5. Mental Health Workers Say Algorithmic Triage Is Hurting Patients (prospect.org) — A Kaiser triage clinician at Walnut Creek Medical Center says staffing cuts and growing reliance on AI-driven triage are leaving more local patients frustrated and sometimes waiting weeks for appropriate mental health care. The wider investigation tracks similar concerns across California and Wisconsin, as unions and lawmakers push for stricter rules on how hospitals use algorithms in clinical decisions.
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Ok Walnut Creek! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A bottle (Thank you Netty W. for sending it in!)
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