By Kathy Chouteau Big band-style music will fill the air aboard the Red Oak Victory when the ship’s “Spring Swing” hits the decks Saturday, April 20 from 6-10 p.m. on the Richmond shoreline. “Our Spring Swing will feature live 30s-40s big band music from the George Cole Orchestra,” said the ship’s crew on Facebook, encouraging swing dancers to attend in vintage clothing. However, those who aren’t dancers or that type of clothing are “just as welcome,” said the crew, with tours of the WWII-era ship, music, food and cocktails on hand. The Factory Bar will travel across Richmond to serve up beer ..read more

The suspect in a homicide in the 300 block of South 36th Street on Wednesday was located and arrested the following day with help from an outside law enforcement agency, according to the Richmond Police Department. RPD detectives identified the suspect after “working throughout the day and night,” police said. The suspect’s identity wasn’t immediately released. At 5:51 a.m. Wednesday, Richmond police dispatch received a call about a disturbance in the area, with the caller reporting that a person had been injured and needed medical help. First responders arrived and found the victim, who died ..read more

The Richmond United Soccer Club is offering a new program that provides an opportunity for youth with special needs to experience the beautiful game. TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer) will be held weekly, beginning Friday, April 5, at 7 p.m. at the football field at Richmond High School, according to Club representative Samantha Torres. English/Spanish bilingual coaches and players from Richmond United will assist players and their families with communication and support. The cost of the program is $50 per player. Registration will soon be available online but can also ..read more

Congressman John Garamendi secured $13.5 million in federal funding earlier this month which will benefit several local projects. In total, 13 projects across California’s 8th Congressional District will receive funding from a package that aims to deliver affordable housing, healthy food access, public transit improvements and more walkable neighborhoods to local communities, according to Garamendi’s office. Projects funded include: the Giant Road Apartment Rehabilitation Project in San Pablo, which will receive $1.67 million to rehabilitate the 86-unit affordable housing complex. the Hercule ..read more

By Kathy Chouteau When it comes to Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center’s East Bay BizFest, visitors will experience a diversity of small businesses with offerings like tasty burgers, luxurious body butters, hair care products and more. Set for April 6th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at CoBiz Richmond, the gathering aims to spotlight the “innovation, dedication and spirit of local small businesses,” while providing a place to spotlight their products, artisanal crafts and gourmet food, according to organizers. Hourly raffles will also be held. Among the businesses lined up to appear at BizFest include ..read more

Seventy abandoned cars were removed from city streets in southern areas of Richmond during a recent parking enforcement operation.  A team of eight officers accompanied the RPD Parking Enforcement Team to the RPD’s Southern District to address community complaints of abandoned cars causing blight. “They spent the morning identifying cars creating blight issues for the neighborhood and vehicles with registration expired more than six months,” police said. “Their efforts resulted in 70 cars being removed from the streets, as well as 15 additional vehicles being tagged for removal after 72 ..read more

Richmond police officers arrested a man who was allegedly seen cutting down telephone wires in broad daylight in the 1200 block of Castro Ranch Road earlier this week. Police responded to the area on a report of a wire theft in progress. They quickly located and detained the suspect. Officers found stolen wire and tools used to steal wire in the suspect’s illegally parked vehicle, police said. AT&T estimated the suspect caused over $20,000 in damages to the phone lines. Telephone and internet access was also disrupted in the area. “Incidents of wire theft have increased in the area,” poli ..read more

By Kathy Chouteau When the “Easter Fest” hatches Sunday, March 31 at The Backyard, its egg hunt will send the kids scrambling for 300 treasure-filled eggs hidden throughout its abundant lot in Richmond. The annual seasonal fest, which runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. that day—with the egg hunt starting at 2 p.m.—will offer seasonal fun for everyone at the Cutting Avenue outdoor eatery. Featuring a menu of numerous burgers, sandwiches, tartines and kiddie options, The Backyard’s food truck will also serve up a guava keg from Richmond’s Far West Cider Company, as well as $20 mimosa pitchers. Live mus ..read more

Richmond police are investigating a homicide that occurred in the 300 block of South 36th St. this morning. At 5:51 a.m., Richmond police dispatch received a call about a disturbance in the area, with the caller reporting that a person had been injured and needed medical help. First responders arrived and found the victim, who died at the scene from wounds suffered in the incident. No further information was immediately shared about the active homicide investigation. Anyone with information regarding this crime is urged to contact RPD Detectives at 510-233-1214.  The post Richmond police ..read more

The City of El Cerrito will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the El Cerrito del Norte Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Complete Streets Project on Wednesday, March 6, at 10 a.m.  This event will take place in front of the Mayfair Station development at 11600 San Pablo Ave. in El Cerrito. The project spans several streets along and around San Pablo Avenue and will include enhanced and new protected crosswalks and bicycle lanes, bus boarding islands, circulation improvements, and various streetscape enhancements. As a result of the project, cars will be able to enter the BART station at ..read more