So This Happened…Week of Feb. 24-Mar. 2, 2025
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Mar. 2, 2025) — In the week since the fatal shooting of an armed robbery suspect at S&S Fast & Easy Market, many Concord residents have reached out to owner Gaurav “Gary” Sharma. “They came down here to support us, even people who we don’t know,” he told the Pioneer. “It means people care about us. It makes you want to become an even better person, seeing all this love.”
As the investigation continues, Concord police say that the employee who fired the shot purchased the weapon legally and that the two store employees who fought off the intruder were not arrested. For more from Concord PD, see the latest arrest report.
Federal impact on city funding: Concord Mayor Carlyn Obringer delves into how the Trump Administration’s funding freezes may affect city programs. Her list includes money for affordable housing, addressing the slop failure at Holbrook Creek and citywide bridge repair, along with grants for public safety and expanding the city’s aging tree canopy.
Obringer will travel to Washington, D.C., this month with Councilmember Dominic Aliano to discuss such issues at the National League of Cities Conference. She also encourages concerned residents to contact U.S. Rep. Mark DeSaulnier and Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff. Read the complete story.
Upscale dining in Clayton: With Eñye Latin Table, Kent Ipsen brings a communal, shareable dining experience to the small downtown. “The Latino culture in general is underserved from the perspective of nicer dining,” said Ipsen, owner of neighboring Skipolini’s Pizza. “There’s a taqueria on every corner but no dining spot that showcases the flavors of their culture.” Read the complete story.
More news
Here are some other stories the Pioneer covered recently:
In sports: NCS soccer features 10 area teams seeking section titles, plus 10 more senior athletes sign college commitments.
For seniors: Residents concerned as Diamond Terrace plans to cut meals and services, and early planning for senior care is a smart option.
In Concord: Hindus celebrate Thaipusam with walk to Concord temple, and the Pulse of Concord aims to gain perspective on local viewpoints.
At BART: Bach in the Subways celebration March 21-31.
Read past installments of “So This Happened…”: Click here.
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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.