So This Happened… Week of April 12-18
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY — Joining the national rallying cry, members of the Clayton community and elected officials stood with resident Jonathan Lee to “Stop the Hate” on April 10 in the Grove downtown.
Lee and some of his fellow San Francisco State professors spoke out against anti-Asian language and violence. Other speakers included Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, state Assemblyman Tim Grayson, county Supervisor Karen Mitchoff and Clayton Councilmember Holly Tillman. Read the full story.
Daunting fire season ahead: In high-risk areas like Morgan Territory and Marsh Creek, residents are busy preparing for wildfires. “Vegetation is already dry much earlier,” warned fire marshal Steve Aubert of the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District. “Without more rain, we are in a world of trouble.” It would be wise to heed the Pioneer’s tips for weed abatement creating defensible space and getting your AC ready for the summer heat.
Turning to the garden: The Clayton Gardens Tour features in-person, self-guided tours of five gardens May 14-15, as the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour remains virtual this year. Meanwhile, the Pioneer’s Garden Girl offers tips for getting your garden ready for summer’s heat. And if it’s birds and butterflies you’re looking for, check out Concord’s Brazil Quarry Park.
Countering crime: The Concord City Council is looking into a local adjudication court to help thwart repeat offenders that aren’t facing prosecution at the county level. “If they’re not gonna do it in Martinez, maybe there’s some way that we can do it here that will give us a sense of justice – and justice quick,” said Councilmember Edi Birsan. Read the full story.
Airport update: The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce is hosting an informational session about Buchanan Field as well as the Byron Airport at 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 20, via Zoom and Facebook Live. Keith Freitas, Contra Costa’s director of airports, will speak – plus time for Q&A. Read the full story.
Looking for new developer: The Concord City Council expects to interview potential master developers for the former Concord Naval Weapons Station this summer. After a partnership with Lennar Concord LLC ended over union labor contracts, the city says the next developer must adhere to the Concord First labor policy. Read the full story.
More stories
Here are some other stories the Pioneer covered in the last week:
Walk-in vaccine clinics open in Contra Costa County.
Mt. Diablo, De La Salle hope to end football seasons undefeated.
Terrapins finally get to compete against another team for the first time in a year.
Local public school campuses reopen, but teens slower to return to their classroom.
Oscar’s top films about adapting to change.
Concord to bolster pedestrian, bike safety on Monument Boulevard.
Troupes look for a return to stage as restrictions ease.
Reflecting on Maj. Gen. Helix’s local legacy.
Theme for second round of utility art in downtown will ‘Celebrate Concord.’
Of windy weather and fly balls.
Concord chamber expanding aid for local education.
Walnut Creek ARF providing no-contact, virtual pet adoptions.
Yealimi Noh off to ‘slow’ start in second LPGA season.
Coming-of-age novel tells of the bright and the bruised.
Clayton residents: State of the city is sound.
Two programs aim to boost Concord businesses.
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.