Back by popular demand, the Columbia Sportswear Company Employee Store in Richmond is again opening its doors for a limited time to Point Isabel Dog Owners members.

From November 25 through December 18, PIDO members will get steep discounts on Columbia Sportswear, Prana, Sorel and Mountain Hardwear brands apparel and gear at the Richmond store.

If you’re already a PIDO member, you will receive instructions in The PIDO Pointer Winter newsletter (being mailed in late November) on how to take advantage of this exclusive discount — use any PIDO Pointer with your address (back page) as proof of affiliation and be sure to download this invitation flyer.

You may take four guests. The store is located at 1414 Harbour Way near the Rosie the Riveter Museum and Craneway Pavilion in Richmond.

PIDO’s famous Barktoberfest dog costume contest and parade is Sunday, October 30, noon to 2 pm, in the field next to (north of) Mudpuppy’s/Sit & Stay Café at Point Isabel Regional Shoreline.

The costume contest is free for PIDO members, $5 for nonmembers. (You can join on the spot. A lifetime PIDO membership is just $10 to $20.) The parade and festive atmosphere are free for everyone.

The short parade along the shoreline begins at 1 pm, followed by judging, prizes, and photos of winners.

Prize categories are Small Dog (up to around 20 lbs.), Medium Dog (around 20 to 45 lbs.) and Big Dog (45 pounds and up). The grand prize includes a custom pet portrait by Olive Little. The celebrity judges this year include East Bay Regional Park District Director Elizabeth Echols and Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia.

The City of Richmond has been very responsive to PIDO's request to fix the traffic hazard at the corner of Central Avenue and Isabel Street (where the Costco gas station queue is hard to get around or see around).

Step one was painting the curb red to eliminate any vehicles parking there. Next, the city will begin work with Costco on traffic management, and we hope it includes signs and paint lanes (one for the queue, one for through-traffic) and arrows on the pavement, too.

Big thanks go to Nickie Mastay, Robert Chelemedos, and others at City of Richmond. Thanks to Mark Delepine for bringing the issue up again and to Janet Lyons for her firsthand account of having had her car hit near the gas station entrance. Many thanks to Mary Barnsdale who has been urging the city to address this situation on behalf of the PIDO board of directors.