Membership has its privileges. PIDO members have been invited to the Columbia Sportswear Company employee stores (Richmond and Union City) to enjoy 40 percent off full retail pricing between March 7-30!

The Richmond store is at Mountain Hardwear headquarters, Ford Point (near Rosie the Riveter Museum and Craneway Pavilion).

The discount applies to the store’s family of brands: Columbia, SOREL, Mountain Hardwear, and prAna – all items are 40% off Full Retail Pricing. For store access, please provide your digital invite (printed or shown on your mobile device) and proof of affiliation. Invitees can bring up to four additional guests with each visit. This offer is for store access (not valid online).

PIDO emailed the invitation and proof of PIDO membership to PIDO members on March 5. Contact us at info@pido.org if you are a member and we don’t have your email address.

Several years ago, EBRPD’s Regional Parks Foundation granted $10,000 to PIDO to help with the production of a history of the Point Isabel area from prehistory up to the park’s 50th anniversary this year. From July through September of 2025, the Point Isabel History Project is making the draft available for comments, corrections, and additions. The final document will be available in 2026.

To review the draft and learn about any 50th Anniversary celebrations at the park, visit www.point-isabel-history.org.

El Cerrito Historical Society is hosting a free talk by Mary Barnsdale about the project at 7 p.m. on April 10 at Hana Gardens Senior Center, 10870 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito. The event is free and will serve light refreshments. (map)

A EBRPD Wildlife Program Manager has confirmed that the burrowing owl found dying at Point Isabel in early January did test positive at the CA Dept of Fish & Wildlife’s Wildlife Health Lab for Highly Pathenogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).

It’s also very likely the other birds that recently died at Point Isabel — a Great Blue Heron, several Black-crowned Night Herons, a crow, and others — also had bird flu, although EBRPD did not report on the other birds.

The guidance for people and dogs at Point Isabel remains the same:

Avoid contact with any birds at Point Isabel. Don't touch dead or dying birds, don't let your dogs touch them, and phone EBRPD Dispatch at 510-881-1833 if you find any. Give Dispatch the exact location so park district staff can deal with it appropriately.