So This Happened… Week of April 18 through 24, 2022
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Apr. 24, 2022) — Residents gathered April 16 for a somber memorial for Mt. Diablo High School student Jose Castillo, who was killed while riding his bicycle home from school in February.
As the school community rallied to send money to his family in his native El Salvador, students and teachers also shared memories of the recent immigrant. “He was one of us,” said sophomore Anahi Nava Flores.
Arrest in Concord shooting: On April 17, Concord police arrested a suspect in the shooting of a bicyclist at Meadow Lane and Johnson Drive the previous morning. Traffic had been closed in the area as investigators combed the scene. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Concord PD.
New marching orders: Jim Verrett is the new CEO for Blue Devils Performing Arts, replacing Shaun Gallant. Verrett has been involved with the Blue Devils Board of Directors since 2018. “We conducted an extensive search for an individual with the experience and skill set we believe essential to build upon the foundation that the leadership team has established, and to shepherd the organization to new heights,” said board president Donna Batchelor.
Fresh from your garden: With a nod to Earth Day, consider planting fruit trees, grapes and berries in your yard. The Pioneer’s Garden Girl Nicole Hackett explains how to enjoy the best of nature’s bounty.
More stories
Here are some other stories the Pioneer covered in the last week:
Concord City Council to review ARPA funding feedback.
Crystyl Ranch a combination of the best of nature and convenience.
Rattlesnake activity increasing in East Bay parks as weather warms.
De La Salle High solar project a lesson in sustainability.
Concord Crawl: Art and Wine Walk funds women and girls’ scholarships.
Concord Historical Society honors jazz great Brubeck at May fundraiser.
From blueberries to peaches, fruit in the garden yields tasty results.
No way around it, TikTok’s ‘privacy’ policy is not safe.
Concord artist explores the joys of plein air painting.
The evolution of Earth Day: From 1970 pesticide fears to today.
Words not said can have lasting impact on LGBTQ+ kids.
Teaching kids proper interactions with dogs.
CVCHS, De La Salle each earn No. 1 baseball ranking.
Pioneer Athlete Spotlight on Jack Stack of Clayton Valley Charter High.
Each week, the Concord Clayton Pioneer posts a summary of our news stories called “So This Happened…” If you would like to check out past weekly roundups, click here.
Bev Britton
Bev Britton graduated with a degree in journalism from the University of North Dakota and moved to the Bay Area with her soon-to-be husband Jim in 1986. She was features editor at the Contra Costa Times in Walnut Creek before becoming managing editor of the Contra Costa Sun in Lafayette in 1995. She retired from newsrooms in 2001, but an ad for the Clayton Pioneer drew her back in. The family moved to Lake Wildwood in the Gold Country a few years ago - but working at the Pioneer keeps her in touch with her old neighborhoods in Concord and Clayton.