County Connection's September bingo card turns bus trips into shop stops

Transit Month started Tuesday, and County Connection is marking it with a bingo card that can only be filled in at local shops.

The cards are free and are kept by the 19 participating businesses, all of them on or near a County Connection route. Each shop holds one stamp, and that stamp matches one square. Four stamps in a row, across, down or diagonally, is a bingo. Only the official stamps count.

Every bingo wins County Connection merchandise, which the agency lists as caps, stickers, keychains, pins and patches, and earns one entry in a grand prize drawing. Fill in every square and the blackout bonus is worth 11 entries. The grand prize is a bundle contributed by seven of the participating businesses.

The closest stops for readers here: in Walnut Creek, Easy Breezy Frozen Yogurt and Up the Creek Records. In Pleasant Hill, Pot of Gold and Zachary's Chicago Pizza at 140 Crescent Drive. In Martinez, The Artisan Market, Ember Rest and Fair Arrow Books + Goods. In Concord, Alpine Pastry & Cakes, Flying Colors Comics and The Kreamery & Bake Shoppe. The rest are in Danville, Lafayette and Orinda.

Cards are due by 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 1. The agency prefers the online form, with a photo of the card attached. You can also email the photo to marketing@cccta.org with the card number and your mailing address, or drop the card at County Connection's office at 2477 Arnold Industrial Way in Concord, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. One card per person, and the agency says it can disqualify incomplete or duplicate entries.

The grand prize winner is drawn Friday, Oct. 2. Questions go to marketing@cccta.org or customer service at 925-676-7500.