Health

Richmond bioscience company makes strides in HIV research

The cure for HIV could be as simple – well, almost — as a shot in the arm. The full process, which researchers started testing in 2009, would look something like this: extract patient’s blood, eliminate HIV receptive gene on white blood cells, multiply those new cells, infuse billions of the cells into patient’s blood stream. And voila, the virus roams veins and arteries, lonely, with no receptors to bond with. That process has a group of scientists hoping they…

Fun run on the Home Front

More than 200 people ran or walked the Bay Trail at Marina Bay on Saturday as part of the Home Front Festival. Runners and walkers had two options: 5k and 10k courses. The fastest man in the 5k run was 37-year-old Tim Stahler, and BZ Churchman, 49, was the fastest woman. In the 10k run, the champion Jack Wallace, 21, took less than 36 minutes. Emily Ferenzi, 31, was the women’s champion, taking about 39 minutes. The youngest “runner” was…

Richmond native Tania Pulido wins national award for youth activism

Tania Pulido of Richmond will accept a Brower Youth Award for exceptional youth activism and leadership on Tuesday at the Herbst Center in San Francisco. The Brower Youth Award is one of the most prestigious youth activism awards in the country. Presented by the Earth Island Institute the award recognizes six individuals under the age of 22 each year based on recommendations from their individual communities. “I am so proud,” said Urban Tilth member Sherwan Dean outside of Pulido’s earshot….

Shoreline Festival brings out hundreds and raises awareness about shoreline conservation

Fred Casanares got to Point Pinole Park a little before 8 a.m. on Saturday. He fired up the grill at 10 a.m. with almond wood, because it burns cleaner than charcoal. For the next five hours, Casanares cooked hundreds of pounds of burgers, hot dogs, quesadillas, and skirt steak, while smoke wafted around the festival and the persistent long lines in front of the grill. “I can’t even calculate how many people I’ve fed,” he said, wiping the trails of…

Scenes from the grand opening of Richmond’s Spokeshop Bike Lounge

On Sunday, Oct. 2, the Spokeshop Bike Lounge — billed as Richmond’s first full service professional bike shop — officially opened its doors after three years of planning. The Spokeshop plans to offer new and used bikes, and will offer apprenticeships for Richmond youth. Richmond Confidential was there at the opening to bring you scenes from the festivities.

After three years of dreaming, Spokeshop bike lounge opens its doors

It’s not really about bikes for Brian Drayton.

This week, he’s opening what he calls Richmond’s first full service professional bike shop, the Spokeshop Bike Lounge. But, says Drayton, “I don’t want to be a bike shop owner. Retail’s not my thing.” Really, he’s out to change the world – or at least Richmond. Spend fifteen minutes with him, and you begin to think he might just pull it off.

Richmond bans the sale of live chickens

The City Council voted Tuesday to prohibit the sale of live chickens at the Richmond’s Certified Farmer’s Market, igniting an eruption of cheers from animal rights supporters who filled City Hall. The crowd, which consisted mostly of visitors to Richmond, was there on a larger animal-rights agenda, fueled by a recent victory in banning live chicken sales at the Heart of the City Farmer’s Market in San Francisco. Despite the determination of supporters, the ban will affect only one vendor…

Contra Costa County woman recovering from West Nile

A 49-year-old East Contra Costa County woman is recovering after being hospitalized from the first confirmed case of West Nile Virus in the county this year. And although no cases have been reported in Richmond, the weekend’s rainfall has likely created additional breeding areas for the insects, and residents should be on alert, according to health officials. “Every year is different, and we can’t predict West Nile activity because of weather, because of how much water we get—it’s just very…