In brief: Concord Turkey Trot race raises $20K for Loaves and Fishes

Thanksgiving Day's annual 5K event brought in twice the funds of last year's for the Contra Costa charity group.

CONCORD

The annual Concord Turkey Trot witnessed a capacity Thanksgiving crowd of more than 1,200 participants and volunteers at the city’s Newhall Community Park and ideal weather conditions as runners and walkers tackled the 5-kilometer course.

Civil Air Patrol Squadron 44 presented the colors, and the Women’s Ensemble Choir from Clayton Valley Charter High School sang the national anthem. A kids run followed the main 5K run with a quick loop around the park.

Dylan White, of Chico, won the men’s race with an astounding time of 14:50, breaking his own course record set last year. Dublin resident Agustin Gomez de la Vega secured second place while Concord’s Alex Walker took third.

In the women’s race, Pleasant Hill’s Nichole Vensko clinched the top spot with a time of 20:41, setting a new course record. Bella DeFreitas, of Concord, was second, and Clayton’s Annie Morris secured third place

The event raised $20,000, doubling what was raised last year, for nonprofit charity group Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa (loavesfishescc.org). The group serves more than 2,400 meals daily, with an impressive total of 388,996 served last fiscal year alone. Moreover, the organization distributed over 249 tons of groceries in that time as well.

In addition to their impactful meal programs, they maintain a thriving culinary arts program that trains students for work in the food service industry. This workforce development program collaborates with local businesses, ensuring successful placement for graduates.

“We are thrilled with the large turnout, which gives us the opportunity to showcase the day-to-day outreach activities of our organization,” said Karen Introcaso, a member of Loaves and Fishes’ board of directors.

The Concord Turkey Trot takes place every Thanksgiving, and next year’s race is again scheduled at Concord’s Newhall Community Park.

“It was our pleasure to work with our sponsors and volunteers to present this joyous event to our community,” said John Pamer, the chief executive officer of presenting sponsor Diablo Valley Federal Credit Union (DVFCU). “To see families and friends together having fun is what it’s all about.”

— DVFCU

Junior Optimist Baseball League Spring registration open

Junior Optimist Baseball League (JOBL) registration is open for spring 2024 for boys ages 4 to 11 years old and girls ages 4 to 8 years. All games are played at the JOBL complex. Register online at joblconcord.com. For any questions, contact Mark Northrup at info@joblconcord.com.

— JOBL

ANTIOCH

47th annual Kiwanis/Rotary Holiday Run slated for Dec. 9

The Kiwanis Club of the Delta-Antioch and the Rotary Club of Antioch are hosting the 47th annual Kiwanis/Rotary Holiday Run and Walk for Health, starting at &:30 a.m. Dec. 9 in Antioch’s Contra Loma Regional Park at 1200 Fredrickson Lane. The event will feature a medal for the top five runners in every age category, as well as cash prizes and trophies to our top three high, middle and elementary schools.

This year, Antioch’s Kiwanis and Rotary chapters are celebrating the life of former race director Paul Schorr. Many people have put a lot of work together over the years to make this event happen, and none more important than Schorr, who passed away this summer but not before teaching all of the club’s members about every task needed for a great event. For details on race event categories and fees or to sign up, visit bit.ly/antiochkiwanisrotaryholidayrun online.

— Kiwanis Club of the Delta-Antioch

WALNUT CREEK

Diablo Women’s Chorale to present ‘Under A Winter’s Sky’

If the sounds of the holiday season fill you with cheer, join the Diablo Women’s Chorale (DWC) as they present “Under A Winter’s Sky,” celebrating the season’s magic through the joy of music.

The DWC’s concerts will be at 7 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Dec. 10 in the Walnut Creek United Methodist Church (1543 Sunnyvale Ave. in Walnut Creek) and promise an uplifting program with music from John Williams; Brian Wilson and Mike Love from The Beach Boys; Pink Zebra and many more, performed alongside live musicians and a children’s choir.

The Diablo Women’s Chorale, founded in 1942 and one of the oldest secular community choruses in the Bay Area, offers seasonal concerts in December and late spring and welcomes new singers in January and August each year.

Their members include women from all over the East Bay who share a passion for spreading joy through music. For advance ticket purchase information, visit the DWC’s website at diablowomenschorale.org or Facebook page at facebook.com/DiabloWomensChorale.

— DWC

State agency certifies city’s general plan housing element

The California Housing and Community Development (HCD) Department has certified the city of Walnut Creek’s housing element of its general plan. The sixth cycle of the state’s planning period covers the time period between 2023 and 2031.

The city’s housing element provides a framework of goals, policies and programs to support the creation of an additional 5,805 new units of housing in the city during that timeframe, including 3,501 affordable homes. The city has also provided for an additional 525 housing units to provide a buffer to ensure sufficient capacity for affordable housing opportunities.

“I want to thank the city’s community development and legal staff for dedicated hard work to see this through to the finish line,” said Mayor Cindy Silva. “There is considerable effort that goes into meeting the complex requirements set by the state, but the certification of our housing element update shows the commitment of Walnut Creek to providing a range of housing needs.”

More information about the update can be found online at walnut-creek.org/HEU. For more details, call Stefanie Brynen, Walnut Creek’s housing manager, at 925-943-5899, ext. 2208.

— city of Walnut Creek

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