🌱 Patch AM: How a Walnut Creek interview helped unravel a $1 million fraud

Good morning Walnut Creek! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How a Walnut Creek interview helped unravel a $1 million fraud
• Are Walnut Creek parents really buying mopeds thinking they’re e-bikes?
• Which Hollywood director once produced theater in Walnut Creek?

Also on today's calendar: "Voting Challenges Ahead" by League of Women Voters, Diablo Valley and 6 more events.

Today's riddle: I used to work in a doughnut shop. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: Clouds and sun, a few showers, with a high of 61 and low of 51 degrees.
• Thursday: Windy with occasional rain, temps: high: 56, low: 46.
• Friday: Breezy with periods of rain, with a high of 53 and low of 39 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Two women charged in $1 million grant fraud - Eden Prairie Local News (eplocalnews.org) — Investigators interviewed a San Pablo woman in Walnut Creek as part of a case alleging $1 million in grant funds were diverted from an Eden Prairie foundation to sham business accounts. Prosecutors say two women in California and North Carolina moved the money through banks, cryptocurrency, and frozen accounts before most of it was recovered and the hospital ultimately received the full grant.
   

2. Amid holiday buying surge, concerns about e-bikes continue (mercurynews.com) — Walnut Creek City Council member Cindy Darling is helping lead a regional push to educate parents about the risks and rules around e-bikes as holiday demand surges. The story explains confusing e-bike classes, safety regulations, and how some high-powered mopeds are marketed as kids’ bikes, while highlighting steps nearby cities and schools are taking to reduce injuries.
   

3. Vallejo/Vacaville A/E Source: 'Song Sung Blue' has Vallejo ties (mercedsunstar.com) — Walnut Creek gets a brief shout-out in a new profile of filmmaker Craig Brewer, who recalls producing theater here before his career took off with movies like “Hustle & Flow.” The story mainly highlights his Vallejo roots and his new music-filled film “Song Sung Blue,” opening on Christmas Day, while underscoring how Bay Area experiences shaped his creative voice.
   

4. At America Fest, the post-Kirk MAGA movement met at a crossroads (washingtonpost.com) — A Walnut Creek high school senior skipped exams to join thousands of conservatives at America Fest in Phoenix, where Turning Point USA grappled with life after founder Charlie Kirk’s killing. The gathering mixed worshipful tributes, sharp infighting among right-wing media figures, and a push to rally the MAGA movement behind JD Vance.
   

📸 Around Walnut Creek

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Walnut Creek

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Thursday December 25

• Sausage Fest Comedy: Secret Ladies Comedy Show Live
  Retro Junkie, 2112 N Main St, Walnut Creek
  7:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday December 25

• 90's Comedy Night
  Retro Junkie , 2112 N Main St , Walnut Creek
  7:00 pm

Friday December 26

• StoryWalkÂŽ with Dougherty Station and San Ramon Libraries
  San Ramon Library , 100 Montgomery St , San Ramon
• Pick Your Project Workshop**ages 7+**
  Board & Brush Creative Studio - Walnut Creek , 1414 N Main St Suite A , Walnut Creek
  11:00 am
• Garden of D'Lights
  The Ruth Bancroft Garden & Nursery , 1552 Bancroft Rd , Walnut Creek
  5:30 pm

Saturday December 27

• StoryWalkÂŽ with Dougherty Station and San Ramon Libraries
  San Ramon Library , 100 Montgomery St , San Ramon
• Drop-in 3D Printing Information Booth
  San Ramon Library , 100 Montgomery St , San Ramon
  3:00 pm
• Frosh Boys Basketball @ Dougherty Valley
  Dougherty Valley High School , 10550 Albion Rd , San Ramon
  4:00 pm

Thursday January 1

• "Voting Challenges Ahead" by League of Women Voters, Diablo Valley
  Diablo Valley Area
  9:00 am

📣 Walnut Creek Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Wednesday December 24

• Senior SWELL with Lamorinda Village
  Lafayette Library - Contra Costa County Library , 3491 Mount Diablo Blvd , Lafayette
  10:00 am
• Pick Your Project Workshop OR Doormat **Age 21+**
  Board & Brush Creative Studio - Walnut Creek , 1414 N Main St Suite A , Walnut Creek
  11:00 am

Thursday December 25

• Computer Help
  Pleasant Hill Park , 147 Gregory Ln , Pleasant Hill
  10:00 am
• Storytime Junction
  Lafayette Library and Learning Center , 3491 Mt Diablo Blvd , Lafayette
  10:30 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Walnut Creek PatchAM possible:

• Downtown Walnut Creek Ace Hardware — (925) 705-7500
  Master Nursery, Benjamin Moore Paint, BBQ Center & More
• Diablo Escapes — (925) 393-7171
  Epic Escape Room Adventures at Diablo Escapes

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• For Adoption, here’s Neptune!
  A Cute Cuddly 9 week old Female Shepherd mix Puppy Available through Rocket Dog Rescue. I am fostering her so she has a comfy home for the holidays!… (Nextdoor Rancho San Miguel)
• ⚠️ Magnitude 2.7 earthquake reported
  Dec 23 at 12:11 AM PST: 2.7 magnitude earthquake occurred near San Ramon, CA. 74 neighbors felt it. (Nextdoor )

• Accenture posted a job opening for Customer Experience & Service Transformation Consultant in Walnut Creek. Apply here.
• PrideStaff posted a job opening for Legal Litigation Secretary - Walnut Creek in Walnut Creek. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Walnut Creek here.

Ok Walnut Creek! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I got tired of the hole business.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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