Richmond Area News Feed

A running list of restaurants that have recently closed in Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond, and beyond.

While Richmond's city council was split on extending its Flock contract, the company handbook characterizes the city as embracing the technology.

The kitchen and welding shop will be closed pending further PCE testing, but now students can start school as planned on Aug. 18.

Highlights include: A Plunge centennial party in Point Richmond; Open Studios continues; Soulful Softball Sunday at Nicholl Park.

The commission ruled Doria Robinson failed to properly disclose a conflict of interest though it found "insufficient evidence" she influenced the city's Urban Tilth contract.

WCCUSD considers sending students to other schools, opening up select 'safe' Kennedy buildings, or offering off-campus learning.

For decades, the carcinogen was widely used in dry-cleaning and consumer products. Now the state is working to clean up at least 10 local sites where it’s been detected.

WCCUSD officials and medical experts emphasized that the dry cleaning chemical hasn’t been found in Richmond’s drinking water and medical testing is not necessary.

Killing of a Martinez man, 59, at a Belding Woods transitional home is the city's fifth homicide of 2026, police said.

The council interrupted its mid-summer break to discuss hiring Shasa Curl’s successor and extended the contract with a recruiter.

Muralists are transforming a warehouse wall in Point Richmond into a large public artwork featuring Ohlone history, Rosie the Riveters, Betty Reid Soskin and present-day community heroes.

A running list of restaurants that have recently opened in Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond, and beyond.

Kennedy families will gather for a private student summit while worried residents can join a public webinar with UCSF doctors or attend the school board meeting.

Point San Pablo Harbor, once dilapidated, is a blossoming entertainment hub with a restaurant, bar, event space and live music.

A running list of restaurants that have recently closed in Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond, and beyond.

Also: North Richmond residents get priority for new affordable homes; East Bay Regional Parks hires a general manager; voters said to favor transit tax.

What is PCE? Are students safe? When can we expect test results? Answers from the state's Department of Toxic Substances Control.

If National Night Out is built on a simple idea—that safer neighborhoods start with neighbors who know one another—the Iron Triangle transformed that theme into something you could see, hear and pack into a Go Kit.

On Tuesday, Aug. 4, Nevin Park in Richmond’s Iron Triangle neighborhood buzzed with families enjoying hot dogs, bounce houses, kids’ chess and sticker “badges” from Richmond police officers and firefighters, while learning about emergency preparedness.

Community members were encouraged by event organizers to turn on their porch lights in memory of late, beloved community member Joe Lee Fisher, Sr.

The Standard attended the National Night Out gathering in the Iron Triangle at the invitation of neighborhood councilmember Fred Franklin, an artist and local leader who served as one of this year’s Richmond Juneteenth grand marshals. Franklin gave the quick tour: “We got the bouncy houses for the children,” he said, noting that kids also had access to “all the existing equipment here.”

The evening’s official theme was emergency preparedness, according to a flyer posted by the Richmond Police Department. That message showed up in various ways, including community information tables, emergency-kit item giveaways and raffle prizes. But the broader theme was also hard to miss: Knowing who is around you, who can help, and who you can help in return.

The Standard witnessed numerous interactions not only between neighbors, but also emergency personnel and community members. Children at Nevin Park received badges, and were also treated to fire helmets from the fire department, as well as visits to the large red fire truck parked nearby. Richmond police officers and young Explorers engaged with locals, and even provided this reporter tips on staying safe when out & about. The overriding message? “We are your partners in community and are here to keep each other safe.”

Richmond Mayor Eduardo Martinez, who was making multiple National Night Out stops, called the event “one of the best times for the community to get out and get to know each other, not just your community, but all the other communities that make up Richmond.” He said Nevin Park was his second stop after Shields-Reid Park and that he hoped to visit several more communities before the night was over.

For Sherwin Harris, president of the Iron Triangle Neighborhood Council, bringing National Night Out back to the Iron Triangle mattered. “Last year we partnered with Parchester Village, and we thought we’d come back to the Iron Triangle because so few people from this neighborhood ventured to come to that one.” He added, “We wanted to have it on our own this time.”

And “our own” had the feel of a family gathering with a civic purpose. “The kids are here [and] the mothers and fathers are with them,” Harris highlighted. “This is a time for family to just come together in a safe neighborhood and have a good time.”

Harris said the preparedness theme had already hit home. “I started formulating my own kit at home,” he said, adding that he is 71 and had never had one before. “We never know when a disaster is going to happen—anything can happen at any moment, and if you have that Go Kit out and are prepared, you can sustain yourself until help comes.”

Inside the Nevin Park Community Center, the overriding sense of connection took a creative turn through the Iron Triangle Neighborhood Council’s “Senior Circle” artwork. Franklin, who specializes in cartooning, helped spearhead the project, which invited local seniors to create T-shirt designs surrounding social issues. The artwork was made possible through a Richmond Arts & Culture Commission Neighborhood Public Art Mini-Grant and was framed and displayed during the event.

Elsewhere at the park, the neighborhood’s civic ecosystem was out in force. Community vendors included the Harbour Hall Community Resilience Center at Harbour 8 Park; Safe Organized Spaces; Richmond folk artist Erika Stitt; Mending of Mothers Inc., an organization looking to open a Richmond chapter; the Richmond Museum of History & Culture; and Jayson Johnson of 530 Macdonald Avenue, a budding Iron Triangle hub for film, events and the arts in a historic brick building that once housed the First National Bank.

Also volunteering throughout the evening were members of the Bay Area Rescue Mission, who worked alongside Iron Triangle Neighborhood Council members to help wherever they were needed. Richmond Main Street Initiative Executive Director Sarah Wally and Richmond Museum of History & Culture Executive Director Evelyn Santos were also on hand, chatting with residents and connecting with community members.

The Iron Triangle neighborhood’s event at Nevin Park was one of 36 National Night Out “Community Caravan” sites across Richmond that were visited Tuesday night by City leaders and emergency personnel.

Those wanting to prepare themselves and their families for emergencies can visit Ready California for all the essential information. Also sign up for Nixle, Richmond’s Official Notification System, by texting your zip code to 888-777.

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State officials confirmed Thursday that the source of the underground chemical is a plume from the Miraflores housing site.

Kaiser Permanente’s Richmond Medical Center has been recognized as one of California’s “Best Regional Hospitals” in the latest U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings, with the health system also earning national recognition for treating complex medical conditions.

The 2026-2027 rankings recognized Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals as “high performing” for treating serious conditions and performing specialized procedures, placing them among the top 30% of nearly 4,500 hospitals evaluated nationwide.

The annual study assessed hospitals across 14 specialty care areas and 23 procedures and conditions. The “high performing” designation recognizes hospitals that deliver strong outcomes for patients receiving care for conditions such as congestive heart failure, pneumonia, stroke, diabetes and colorectal cancer surgery.

Richmond was one of eight Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals designated as a “Best Regional Hospital” and ranked among the best in California. The other recognized hospitals are located in Antioch, Oakland, Roseville, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Clara and South Sacramento.

“Kaiser Permanente continues to be a national leader in preventing disease, providing world-class treatment, and using evidence-based research to help our patients and members live longer and healthier lives,” said Mike Bowers, president of Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California region, in a statement. “Our clinicians and staff are delivering exceptional care to our patients every day, getting them the right care when they need it.”

Several Northern California Kaiser Permanente hospitals also earned national specialty rankings for high-quality specialty care. San Francisco ranked No. 34 in the nation for cardiology, heart and vascular surgery, Santa Clara ranked No. 42 in the same specialty, and Vallejo ranked No. 45 nationally for rehabilitation. Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa was also recognized as high performing in geriatric care.

Maria Ansari, MD, chief executive officer and executive director of The Permanente Medical Group, said the recognition reflects the organization’s integrated approach to patient care.

“Everything we do is centered around making sure our patients receive high-quality and high-value care,” Ansari said. “This recognition underscores the strength of our integrated model and the dedication of our physicians, nurses and care teams, who provide compassionate, evidence-based care for our members and patients every day.”

According to U.S. News & World Report, the rankings are based on publicly available data, including patient outcomes, mortality rates, infection rates, staffing levels and patient satisfaction. The annual report is intended to help patients make informed decisions when seeking care for serious illnesses or elective procedures.

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Highlights include: Richmond Open Studios; a Western swing pancake breakfast aboard the SS Red Oak Victory and family movie night at Marina Bay Park.

​Metro by T-Mobile in Richmond is hosting its annual Back-to-School Backpack Giveaway on Friday, Aug. 7, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 12800 San Pablo Ave.

The store plans to distribute 500 free backpacks to local children on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. No purchase is necessary for families to receive a backpack.

​The family-owned location operated at the corner of San Pablo and Esmond avenues has a long-standing tradition of giving back to the West Contra Costa community. The business regularly holds back-to-school distributions to help local students prepare for the academic year and to reduce seasonal expenses for parents.

​During the holidays, the store hosts annual toy giveaways, provides free photos with Santa Claus, and offers festive activities for children, among other efforts.

Owner Ian Taha says they host the community events as a thank you to its customers and to support local children.

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Art lovers will have a chance to hear directly from two featured artists and enjoy live music during a special event at the Point Richmond Gallery on Saturday, Aug. 15 from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The gallery will host an artist talk with Mary O’Connor and Doug Wittnebel, whose joint exhibition, Landscape Dreamscape, is currently on display. The pair will discuss the inspiration behind their work, the creative process that shapes their art and what they have planned for the next stage of their artistic careers.

Following the conversation, attendees can stay for a live musical performance.

The event is open to the public, and the gallery is inviting community members to attend, learn more about the artists behind the exhibition and experience the combination of visual art and live performance.

Learn more about the event here.

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While the source of the PCE found at Kennedy High hasn't been released, there are other locations citywide being monitored by the state.

The East Bay Regional Park District has appointed Max Korten as its new general manager, placing the longtime parks leader in charge of one of the nation’s largest regional park systems.

The Park District Board of Directors voted 6-0 on Tuesday to appoint Korten, who has served as acting general manager since November 2025.

Korten joined the district as deputy general manager in October 2024 and has overseen several high-profile initiatives during his tenure. His work has included helping negotiate a new telework agreement with union leaders, supporting efforts to preserve Brentwood’s historic Flag Barn and working with regional partners on the potential acquisition of Golden Gate Fields in Berkeley and Albany.

Looking ahead, Korten said one of his top priorities will be strengthening the district’s wildfire preparedness by aligning fire, stewardship and operations teams under a comprehensive vegetation management strategy. The effort will include mapping wildfire risks and habitat opportunities across the park system.

“I’m honored and grateful for this opportunity, and I don’t take it lightly,” Korten said in a statement. “The Park District is a special place, and I’ve learned so much from the people who came before me. These parks are meant to be here forever, for everyone, and my focus is on keeping the organization strong so we can protect these resources while making sure they remain accessible and welcoming to all.”

Board President Olivia Sanwong said Korten has demonstrated “steady, thoughtful leadership” and praised his collaborative approach, saying the board is confident he will help expand access to nature while protecting the district’s natural and cultural resources.

Before joining the East Bay Regional Park District, Korten spent a decade with Marin County Parks, including eight years as director and general manager. During that time, he helped secure voter approval for the 2022 renewal of Measure A, a countywide sales tax that funds park maintenance, wildfire fuel reduction, farmland preservation and public access. He also led efforts to eliminate park entrance fees and helped pass a $20 million land acquisition bond.

Earlier in his career, Korten worked as a wilderness ranger for the U.S. Forest Service, natural resources program director for Conservation Corps North Bay and a backcountry ranger with the Bureau of Land Management.

Korten holds degrees in environmental studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and natural resources from Humboldt State University. He lives in Berkeley with his family and is a frequent visitor to Tilden Regional Park.

The East Bay Regional Park District manages more than 73 parks and over 125,000 acres of parkland across Alameda and Contra Costa counties, including popular Richmond-area destinations such as Point Pinole Regional Shoreline, Wildcat Canyon Regional Park and Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline. Under Korten’s leadership, the district says it will continue focusing on conservation, wildfire resilience and expanding equitable access to parks throughout the East Bay.

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​The West Contra Costa Unified School District has barred all staff and students from entering the Kennedy High School campus until further notice after preliminary testing detected chemical vapor beneath the site.

​The closure comes after district officials received preliminary test results Friday showing tetrachloroethylene, or PCE, underneath the property. District Superintendent Cheryl Cotton issued the notice restricting access out of an abundance of caution while further testing is completed to verify that the campus is safe.

​The campus is currently undergoing a multi-phase modernization project that was designed to keep the school open during construction so students could continue learning on site.

​The Department of Toxic Substances Control informed the district that the available preliminary data indicates no immediate risk to health and safety. However, additional testing is required before staff and families can return to the school.

​With the start of the school year approaching, district leaders are coordinating with the City of Richmond, Contra Costa County, the California Department of Education, and labor and community partners to build contingency plans. These steps will determine where and how Kennedy High School students will start the school year while testing and any necessary mitigation take place.

​The district, the Department of Toxic Substances Control, and the City of Richmond will hold a community meeting on Thursday, Aug. 6, at 6:30 p.m. to discuss the ongoing environmental testing. The event will take place at the Richmond Auditorium, located at 403 Civic Center Plaza, and will stream live on the District’s YouTube channel.

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Six years ago, The Factory Bar says it “struck a match.” On Saturday, Aug. 8, the Richmond neighborhood bar plans to keep the flame going with a “Year Six Celebration” packed with music, local food, Richmond gear and a raffle that gives back.

The party happens on the patio from 2-6 p.m., with live music continuing from 7-10 p.m. The Factory Bar is inviting the community to raise a glass to a milestone that has turned the San Pablo Avenue spot into something more than a place for a drink. The bar relays that it’s spent the last six years sharing thousands of cocktails, hosting musicians, welcoming old friends and new faces, and watching “this little neighborhood bar become Richmond’s living room.”

That living-room energy is the point. The Factory Bar’s website describes it as “the unofficial home of the Richmond Historical Society,” a 21-and-over cocktail bar and garden built for Richmond, with locally themed cocktails, local beers on tap, a patio and the speakeasy-styled Polka Dot Room.

For the anniversary bash, guests can expect tasty eats all day, Richmond merch from 1905apparel and the Richmond Historical Society, and an anniversary raffle packed with prizes and giveaways. Raffle drawings are set for 5 to 6 p.m., with proceeds benefitting the Richmond Museum of History & Culture.

“Six years is a good amount of time,” said proprietor Tom Lyons, who added that The Factory Bar began “as a little neighborhood bar” and has grown into “a space for the community to celebrate itself and each other.” This year, he said, the anniversary is also a chance to mark the City of Richmond’s 121st birthday and to partner with the Richmond Museum of History & Culture and 1905apparel “in the celebration of The Factory Bar’s sixth birthday and Richmond’s 121st birthday.”

The celebration is less “anniversary party” than neighborhood roll call, with the bar using the day to spotlight the people, makers and organizations that help give the city its spark.

Lyons said the day will include a Richmond Historical Society tent on the patio, where Year Six T-shirts will be on sale, as well as custom shirts on the fly, with “a good amount of the proceeds” going to the museum. Guests can enter the raffle by following the museum on Instagram or becoming a member, he said, and can also buy more raffle tickets. “All the proceeds from the raffle go to the museum,” Lyons emphasized, noting that prizes will include giveaways from “local small businesses in our area,” including spots such as Catahoula and Tacos El Tucan.

Raffle drawings are planned for 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. at The Factory Bar, following the museum’s Open House that day from 1-4 p.m. Chef Henrik’s Brazilian food truck will serve food for the bar’s celebration, and after the raffle, Lyons said, “we’ll start kicking the music up,” with live music from the Simonoto’s Moonglow Trio featuring Simon Keyser Petty from 7 to 10 p.m.

Since opening, The Factory Bar has leaned into Richmond pride, framing itself as a gathering place for the city’s hardworking people to celebrate each other and the things they make. Saturday’s anniversary event follows that same blueprint: Pour something cold, turn up the music, feed the crowd, sell some hometown gear and send raffle dollars toward local history.

The Factory Bar is located at 12517 San Pablo Ave. in Richmond. More information is available here.

The post The Factory Bar celebrates six years of ‘lighting up Richmond’ appeared first on Richmond Standard.

The Richmond ferry route is seeing strong ridership as San Francisco Bay Ferry continues its record-breaking year.

The regional transit agency announced recently that it carried more than 343,000 passengers in July, setting a new all-time record for riders in a single month and surpassing its previous high of 332,314 passengers set in August 2019.

Newly available ridership data also shows the Richmond route carried 205,545 passengers between Jan. 2 and June 30, averaging 1,254 weekday riders and 866 weekend riders during the first half of 2026.

Ridership on the Richmond route steadily increased throughout the first six months of the year, climbing from 29,203 boardings in January to 38,771 in June, the busiest month during the period.

According to preliminary figures, SF Bay Ferry carried an average of 11,070 passengers per day in July, another all-time high for the agency. Through the first seven months of 2026, systemwide ridership is up 17% compared with the same period last year and is running 10% above the agency’s pre-pandemic peak.

“Our record-setting ridership is proof that offering reliable, affordable and high-quality transit service is the key to increased demand,” SF Bay Ferry Executive Director Seamus Murphy said in a statement. “Thanks to our crews and riders for carrying us to new heights.”

SF Bay Ferry also recently launched a public ridership database that allows riders to explore passenger boardings, bicycle boardings, passenger miles and trips operated by route and date. Users can filter the data by individual routes, including Richmond, and compare weekday and weekend ridership trends.

The Richmond Ferry Terminal provides weekday and weekend service between Richmond and San Francisco’s Ferry Building, offering commuters an alternative to Interstate 80 traffic and BART.

While July route-level ridership data has not yet been released, it is expected to be added to the public database as it is updated in the coming weeks.

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Richmond firefighters responded to two serious crashes on Interstate 80 less than 12 hours apart, including one that left a person trapped inside a vehicle and another involving a vehicle fire.

According to Richmond Firefighters Local 188, the union representing the city’s firefighters, Engine 64 and Truck 64 were first dispatched Sunday evening to the area of Interstate 80 near the Interstate 580 merge for a two-vehicle collision.

Firefighters extricated one person who was trapped inside a vehicle. The patient was transported to a local trauma center with severe injuries, according to Local 188.

Several hours later, at about 4 a.m. Monday, the same crews responded to another two-vehicle crash on Interstate 80 near the Carlson Boulevard exits.

The union said both vehicles sustained major damage and one caught fire. Despite the extent of the damage, only minor injuries were reported.

The cause of both crashes has not been release.

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A Contra Costa County Superior Court judge on Friday sentenced a Pinole man to 50 years to life in prison for the 2024 murder of his former girlfriend, according to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.

Jeffery Kendall, 39, was convicted by a jury in May of first-degree murder in the Feb. 16, 2024, killing of 30-year-old Brittany Elizabeth Ligdis. Jurors also found him guilty of child endangerment after determining the couple’s young son was placed in danger during the shooting.

Prosecutors said Ligdis was on the phone with 911 after Kendall broke into her home. She was hiding in a laundry room with their 4-year-old son when Kendall entered the room and fatally shot her. The child witnessed the attack before fleeing the room, according to the district attorney’s office.

Deputy District Attorney Tylyn Wells sought an enhanced sentence, citing the circumstances of the crime and its impact on the couple’s young child. During a separate bench trial, Judge Glenn Kim also found Kendall guilty of possessing a 3D-printed assault weapon and found multiple aggravating sentencing factors.

At Friday’s sentencing, Kim imposed two consecutive terms of 25 years to life, for a total sentence of 50 years to life. The judge also prohibited Kendall from contacting his son, with limited court-approved exceptions, until the child turns 16 in 2035. Kendall remains in county jail awaiting transfer to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

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