Eagle Scouts
Wed, 22 Feb 2012 23:28:56 GMT

Lance William Boettcher, son of Dale and Debbie Boettcher of Concord, has earned the rank of Eagle Scout, which was presented in Jan.

An Oscar-watching cocktail party gets a little movie-inspired glamour
Wed, 22 Feb 2012 23:28:55 GMT

There is plenty of culinary inspiration for an Oscar watching cocktail party, from the chocolate pie in "The Help," to a savory French tart to salute "Midnight in Paris". Photographed Friday, Feb.

Heaven on a half shell
Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:19:09 GMT

It’s no accident that oysters are identified by the specific tidal region in which they are grown.

Activists Call for Oakland to Cut Ties With Goldman Sachs
Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:04:31 GMT

Decision to Come Next Week on Contra Costa Sufi Facility The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors says it will decide next week whether to approve a request from a Sufi group to build a 66,000 square foot sanctuary and school.

Ruiz, Sherfy Awarded Weekly Honors
Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:59:57 GMT

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - ARIZONA STATE senior first baseman Abe Ruiz has been named Pac-12 Player of the Week and OREGON sophomore right-handed pitcher Jimmie Sherfy has been voted Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week for Feb.

Bogue: Anyone lose a weird-looking exotic lizard?
Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:55:11 GMT

Dear Gary: Last Friday about 11:30 a.m. I was driving on St. Mary's Road toward the Moraga border.

Sufism sanctuary proposal draws passionate debate during all-day hearing in Walnut Creek
Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:40:46 GMT

A hotly disputed proposal to build a 66,000-square-foot church near Walnut Creek drew accusations of everything from a secret agenda to build a convention center to religious discrimination during an emotional, all-day hearing Tuesday that again pitted neighbor against neighbor.

Son arrested for attempting to murder mother with baseball bat
Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:35:59 GMT

San Ramon Police arrested a 27-year-old man Monday night in connection with the attempted murder of his mother, according to reports.

Gas prices soaring at Northern California pumps
Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:26:16 GMT

Sticker shock was on the rise at Northern California service stations Tuesday as the price of a gallon of gasoline surge over $4 in many cities up more than 15 cents since mid-January, according to the California State Automobile Association.

Aiming For Traffic Light Synchronization
Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:16:34 GMT

Transit agencies have the green light to take lessons learned synchronizing time intervals with traffic signals in Walnut Creek and speed them out to other cities.

Preparing for college could start earlier
Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:02:13 GMT

It's that time of year when high school seniors wait impatiently for their college acceptance letters to arrive.

Can't Duck the Duck Sightings
Tue, 21 Feb 2012 06:57:33 GMT

The naturalists are quacking at me from two different places. Duck volunteer Brian Murphy contributed a couple pictures of wood ducks from Civic Park.

Column: Traffic Jammin' with Janis Mara ? Every Monday at 2pm on Claycord.com
Tue, 21 Feb 2012 02:52:58 GMT

Editor's note: This is an SFGate.com Neighborhood Blog. These blogs are not written or edited by SFGate or the San Francisco Chronicle.

Sufi Sanctuary: Letter Raises Parking Issue
Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:38:23 GMT

By Wendy Lack The Sufism Reoriented sanctuary project in unincorporated Walnut Creek is making newsA again.

Police Probe Break-ins at Golf Course
Mon, 20 Feb 2012 18:28:44 GMT

Walnut Creek police are investigating a series of early morning break-ins at the city's Boundary Oak golf course.

Sprouts & Shutters: New Mexican Restaurant, Salons, Floor Store and More
Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:14:30 GMT

Wondering what's moving into your neighborhood shopping center? Our Sprouts & Shutters column highlights the latest Tri-Valley restaurant, retail and other business news.

Calstar Helicopter in Walnut Creek's Ygnacio Plaza Shopping Center
Mon, 20 Feb 2012 05:59:53 GMT

The Calstar air ambulance helicopter made an appearanceA at the Ygnacio Plaza Shopping Center in Walnut Creek on Sunday afternoon.

On the Fly - Birds of the Beaver Dam
Sun, 19 Feb 2012 19:40:57 GMT

A My friend who lives on the Alhambra Way part of the creek has a new pastime: watching for hooded mergansers.

Shooting in the City of Pleasant Hill
Sun, 19 Feb 2012 11:21:39 GMT

We're hearing at least one person was shot in the chest, and is currently in critical condition at John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek.

Victim's Terror As Drunken Man Busts In
Sun, 19 Feb 2012 07:12:05 GMT

In the last 40-plus hours, Erica Spacher has gone past sadness to anger as she thinks about a strange, drunken man who broke through her chained door in what was apparently a case of mistaken apartment identity.