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Chevron’s pipe repair review consistent with industry standard, city expert says

The city’s metallurgical consultant wrote in a report submitted to City Manager Bill Lindsay Tuesday afternoon that Chevron’s choice of piping to replace the No. 4 crude unit at the Richmond refinery is “consistent with industry standards.” Chevron submitted plans detailing recommendations for repairing the piping in the refinery to Lindsay on Dec. 12. The company’s analysis argued that making the new pipes of 300-series stainless steel, as the U.S. Chemical Safety Board has suggested, would introduce “a new damage…

Community garden robbed of tools, not hope

More than $700 worth of power and carpentry tools were stolen from a locked shed at the Happy Lot Farm and Garden run by Andromeda Brooks. Brooks reported the theft to the police Dec. 6. Happy Lot Farm and Garden is a patch of land on the corner of 1st Street and Chanslor Avenue designed one year ago to give residents the chance to grow their own chemical-free food. Prior to becoming a food haven, the 14,000 square foot lot…

Richmond upholsterer will save you a seat

Patrick McStravick runs his fingers over the bare bones of an old chair. “Look at the thickness of the wood,” he says reverently in heavy brogue. “Honduran mahogany.” Jute webbing, tacked and stretched from the bottoms of the outer wooden slats, forms the base of the seat. A half-dozen metal springs sit on top of the jute. “These are all hand-tied,” he says, pushing down lightly on the springs. Like a cooper her barrels or a tinker his cans, McStravick,…

Oilers battle wintry elements, fall to Mt. Eden

Pre-game warm ups at Richmond High’s basketball gym took on a literal meaning Saturday afternoon. The gym’s heater didn’t work. So as the Mt. Eden Monarchs and Richmond Oilers players ran around the gym shooting layups and popping short jumpers, the fans in the stands kept their coats and hoodies on and huddled together. It could’ve been worse. Instead the home crowd saw the Oilers warm it up and play good basketball. The final score was 71-57 Monarchs, but the…

Three shootings over the weekend, none resulting in homicides

Three shootings occurred in Richmond over the weekend. None appear to be gang-related, police said, and all of the victims are expected to live. On Friday, shortly after 8 p.m., police responded to a call for a shooting on the 3400 block of Richmond Parkway. A man was transported to a local hospital with gunshot injuries to his abdomen. Police have one person in custody. The second shooting occurred around 8:30 p.m. Saturday at the 2700 block of Macdonald. A…