New York – Pleasant Hill, California resident Kimberly Anne Meredith is among the judges at the 145th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Presented by Purina Pro Plan® in Tarrytown, New York on June 13, 2021. Due to the pandemic the dog show was moved from its traditional winter date in New York City to an outdoor venue this spring at the Lyndhurst Estate, a property of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. She will officiate over several breeds during her eighth judging assignment at Westminster.
Meredith will be judging the Portuguese Water Dogs, Rottweilers, and Siberian Huskies. All Best of Breed winners she selects will go on to compete in the Working Group held on Sunday evening.
Meredith has been involved in the sport of purebred dogs since 1972. A breeder-exhibitor of Alaskan Malamutes, she has bred more than 60 champions, including multiple all breed Best in Show and multiple national specialty winners. In addition, she has owned and exhibited Akitas, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Doberman Pinschers, Lhasa Apsos, Clumber Spaniel, Bassett Hound, and Whippets. Meredith has judged numerous national specialties and judged abroad in France, Italy, Spain, Holland, Belgium, Finland, New Zealand, Germany, Australia, Japan, Denmark, China, and Korea. She judges the Working, Sporting, Herding, Hound, Non-Sporting, and Toy groups, Junior Showmanship, and Best in Show.
She currently serves as president of the Contra Costa County Kennel Club, Inc. of the American Kennel Club.
“I am honored to judge at Westminster Kennel Club,” Meredith said. “This will be my ninth time to judge.”
“All of the purebred dogs you see have extensive health testing done for many generations and have preservation breeders standing behind, helping owners and answering questions about their puppies for the life of the animal,” she explained. “The purebred dog fancy were the first groups to rescue their various breeds.”
“Do not purchase dogs from the internet that support puppy mills. I hope you enjoy watching the show!” Meredith added.
All daytime preliminary breed and junior showmanship judging as well as evening Group competitions will be held on Saturday, June 12 and Sunday, June 13, 2021. The Best in Show and Junior Showmanship Finals judging will be held on Sunday evening. The dog show is preceded on Friday, June 11, 2021 by the 8th Annual Masters Agility Championship at Westminster Presented by Purina Pro Plan® and the 6th Annual Masters Obedience Championship at Westminster Presented by Purina Pro Plan® will be held on Sunday, June 13, 2021.
For the schedule of events click here. For television coverage click here. Live streaming of daytime events and dog show results can be found at www.westminsterkennelclub.org. Westminster Weekend events are presented by Purina Pro Plan®.
About the Westminster Kennel Club
The Westminster Kennel Club, established in 1877, is America’s oldest organization dedicated to the sport of dogs. It hosts the iconic, all-breed Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the second-longest, continuously held sporting event in the U.S., and since 1948, the longest nationally televised live dog show. The annual dog show—a conformation competition for purebred dogs—and the Masters Agility Championship and Masters Obedience Championship—where dogs from all backgrounds are eligible to compete—make Westminster Week with its nearly 3,000 dogs from the U.S. and around the world a pinnacle experience for any dog lover. America’s Dog Show has captivated canine enthusiasts for more than a century with its educational benched format, where the public can engage with more than 200 breeds of dogs in New York City. The Club’s mission, which enhances the lives of all dogs, celebrates the companionship of dogs, promotes responsible dog ownership, and breed preservation. WESTMINSTER. There’s only one.® Visit: westminsterkennelclub.org and follow us @WKCDogShow.
About Purina Pro Plan
Purina Pro Plan is a leader in the advanced nutrition category, with more than 70 formulas in dry and wet pet food to help meet a variety of needs. Its science is backed by 500 Purina scientists globally, including nutritionists, veterinarians and behaviorists, who continuously rethink what nutrition can do. It is also the food of choice for 13 of the past 14 Westminster Best in Show winners*. For more information, visit www.proplan.com or follow @ProPlan on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. The brand is manufactured by Nestlé Purina PetCare, which promotes responsible pet care, community involvement, and the positive bond between people and their pets. A premiere global manufacturer of pet products, Nestlé Purina PetCare is part of Swiss-based Nestlé S.A., a global leader in nutrition, health, and wellness.
*The handler or owners of these champions may have received Purina Pro Plan dog food as Purina ambassadors.
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Bay Area Bike to Wherever Days (BTWD) organizers have named the winners of the 2021 Bike Champion of the Year awards. Given to individuals for inspiring bicycling in their Bay Area communities, this award recognizes an individual (or in one case, a whole family) from each of the nine San Francisco Bay Area counties for their commitment to bicycling as the primary mode of transport.
The 2021 winners include Smitty Ardrey, from Contra Costa County, who can be found every Thursday in the summer fixing bikes at Bike Concord’s Bike Tent at the Concord Farmers Market in Todo Santos Plaza. Nominator Claire Linder says: “He has organized bike rodeos, pop-up bike repair clinics, and since 2019, a bike education class at Olympic High School in Concord. His drive, foresight and commitment have made biking more accessible in central Contra Costa County, bringing to life [Bike Concord’s] mission of MBOB (More Butts on Bikes)!”
Daniel Wood and his triplets – Hazel, Alden, and Malia – from Santa Clara County, who can be seen riding their bikes to and from school each day. According to nominator Sharlene Gee, “I am so proud of them for using their own power to get to school on time, in good moods and ready to learn. I’ve seen their road skills and awareness rapidly and organically grow. They set a powerful example for everyone at the school.”
Here is the complete list of 2021 Bike Champion of the Year award winners:
- Contra Costa County: Smitty Ardrey helped organize advocates passionate about cycling in Concord into Bike Concord, which is now an integral part of the bicycle movement in the city and surrounding areas.
- Alameda County: Lionel McNeely first taught himself how to ride when he was 7, and his work with bikes hasn’t stopped since. He laughs, “I took my first bike apart when I was 10 years old and got it back together when I was 12.” An 11-year volunteer with youth empowerment program Trips for Kids in Marin, he leads monthly art rides with Oakland collective Rock Paper Scissors and has ridden and fundraised with AIDS/LifeCycle three times, among other achievements.
- Marin County: Hilary Noll has a vision of bicycling in the future: “People from ages 8 to 80 feeling comfortable biking for everyday needs. More women riding, especially as commuters. More women- and minority-owned bike shops. A cycling culture in which everyone – from elite riders to everyday folks getting started – are welcomed and empowered.”
- Napa County: Kate Miller started bike commuting in the mid-1980s when she lived in Seattle and never stopped. She recalls being mistaken for a bike messenger, because in major cities like Seattle, those were the only people found riding around the city.
- San Francisco County: Lydia Francis moved to the city in 2018 and took up cycling at the start of the pandemic. Getting a bike transformed her perspective of San Francisco, encouraging her to explore new neighborhoods and master the geography of the city. “Overall, biking has given me a deeper sense of belonging here in San Francisco,” said Lydia, “both to the literal geography of this place and the people I meet while exploring on two wheels.”
- San Mateo County: Sonia Elkes, avid bicyclist and founder of the advocacy group San Carlos Bikes, is referred to as “the voice for bicyclists in San Carlos.” She is constantly working to improve the state of biking in San Carlos and increasing the number of people who bicycle for their health and the environment.
- Santa Clara County: Daniel Wood and family (see above) encourages other parents to get their kids out on bikes and set an example, while making sure everyone knows and follows the rules of the road. “I think with everything it just starts with changing one mind and then that person hopefully changes one other,” says Daniel.
- Solano County: Cande Medrano, now 71, rides everywhere: from dental appointments to grocery stores, even all the way to Berkeley for doctor appointments. In 2020, Cande logged more than 14,000 miles.
- Sonoma County: Sherry Adams is not just a passionate cyclist, but a champion of social justice. She volunteered at local nonprofit Community Bikes – a reuse and repair training program and worked as a bike mechanic at the ReCyclery Bike Thrift Shop operated by Trips for Kids. Her biggest and most recent achievement has been the creation of Changing Gears, an educational program for inmates at the Sonoma County jail.
Each winner will receive a Tailgator Brake Light and water bottle from Mike’s Bikes, a bicycle-only membership for 24/7 roadside assistance from Better World Club, a laminated, boxed set of San Francisco Bay Trail map cards from the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), and a cycling jersey from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD). Read all about the winners here.
Details about Bike to Wherever Days can be found online at Bayareabiketowork.com. Follow us on Facebook at @biketoworkday, Twitter @BikeToWorkSFBay, and Instagram @biketoworkday_bayarea.
Bay Area Bike to Wherever Days is presented by MTC (the transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area), and 511 (the region’s traveler information system). BTWD 2021 also receives regional support from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), and Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), as well as from many sponsors at the local level. Prizes for the Bike Champion of the Year winners were donated by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), Better World Club and Mike’s Bikes.
Read MoreMonday afternoon, April 26, 2021, at approximately 12:45 pm, Contra Costa CHP was advised of a possible freeway shooting incident that occurred one hour prior (11:45am) in the area of HWY-4 westbound at I-680. The victim (adult female) self-transported herself along with her child (juvenile female) to John Muir Hospital. Once there the hospital staff notified law enforcement.
According to the victim, she was driving westbound on HWY-4 near I-680 when she observed a white sedan pull alongside, attempting to gain her attention. She continued driving and then heard several gunshots as the vehicle drove passed her. Her vehicle was struck and her daughter sustained a minor abrasion to her head as a result of the gunshots. The victim described the white sedan occupied by two black male adults and the passenger firing the gun.
This is an ongoing investigation and all the information we have at this time to release. Anyone with information regarding this shooting incident, the white sedan, or occupants inside is encouraged to call Contra Costa CHP at (925)646-4980. We are thankful the little girl and her mother did not suffer more serious injuries.
Read MoreBy Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff
Orinda police are continuing to investigate the burglary of four businesses on Moraga Way and Brookwood Road in downtown Orinda.
The burglaries occurred on Sunday, April 25, 2021, between midnight and 2 AM. In each case, the suspect entered the business after breaking the glass front door. The male suspect, who appeared to be the same suspect in all four cases, fled after taking some cash.
The Sheriff’s Office Crime Lab responded and processed the scenes for evidence. The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to contact Sergeant S. Valkanoff of the Orinda Police Department at (925) 253-4217. For any tips, please email: sorindatip@cityoforinda.org or call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.
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And Then…There Was Clay
Main Street Arts member, Olga Jusidman has gathered together a group of talented artists from the clay studio in Walnut Creek to for an exhibit at our gallery in Martinez. After a year of not working together in the studio, these artists are excited to put on this show of their new work and see each other again at the open house. Please join us on May 8 from noon to 6 pm for an open house reception.
For a preview of the show, see https://www.mainstreetarts.net/and-thenthere-was-clay.html
Opening: May 1st
OPEN HOUSE: May 8th from 12pm to 6pm
Closing: July 1st
Artists include: Melanie Wallas, Linda Goren, Nicole Collins, Mary Leigh Miller, Bonnie Fry, Karen Hildebrand, Mary Ellen Brownell and Olga Jusidman.
Main Street Arts is located at 613 Main Street in Martinez. For more information call (925) 269-8049 or visit www.mainstreetarts.net.
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“I invite all my friends and everyone in Contra Costa to visit us at Skylark Shores Resort, this year. We are committed to providing a clean, safe and fun resort where our guests create happy memories that will last a lifetime.”- Jeff Warrenburg, General Manager
Read MoreOn Saturday, April 24, 2021, from 10 AM to 2 PM, the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.
“This is a great way to get rid of unused prescription drugs in our homes,” said Contra Costa Sheriff David Livingston. “These drugs could fall into the wrong hands and harm family members and friends. This is an opportunity for everyone to help prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths.”
Needles and sharps cannot be accepted; only pills, patches, and liquids sealed in their original container will be accepted. Vape pens or other e-cigarette devices from individual consumers are accepted only after the batteries are removed from the devices.
The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. Bring your pills for disposal at the following sites. COVID-19 protocols will be followed.
DROP OFF LOCATIONS:
-Office of the Sheriff Muir Station, 1980 Muir Road, Martinez, CA. (Field Operations Building)
-Office of the Sheriff Bay Station, 5555 Giant Highway, Richmond, CA. (West County Detention Facility)
-Office of the Sheriff Valley Station, 150 Alamo Plaza, #C, Alamo, CA.
-Danville Police Department, 510 La Gonda Way, Danville, CA.
-Lafayette Police Department, 3471 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, CA.
-Orinda Police Department, 22 Orinda Way, Orinda, CA.
Check with your local police department for a location in your city.
The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.7 million people aged 12 or older misused prescription pain relievers in the past year. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the Take Back event, go to the DEA Office of Diversion Control website at: www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov
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Speakers want Sheriff’s requested $7.5 million for inmate mental health services to go to Walnut Creek’s Miles Hall Foundation
By Daniel Borsuk
The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors will probably act on a proposed $4.06 billion 2021-2022 budget at a May 4 meeting and will listen to another barrage of critics of Sheriff-Coroner David O. Livingston’s proposal that a portion of $54 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) funds be diverted to an outside nonprofit mental health organization.
Contra Costa County’s proposed 2021-2022 budget surpasses the current fiscal year budget of $3.98 billion and includes $7.5 million designated for the staffing of additional sheriff deputies assigned to protect inmates requiring mental health services.
A contingent of speakers opposing Sheriff-Coroner Livingston’s request for the additional funds for inmate mental health services, argued instead for all or a portion of the $7.5 million be awarded to the Walnut Creek-based Miles Hall Foundation. The newly established Miles Hall Foundation is named after the Las Lomas High School graduate who was slain by a Walnut Creek police officer in June 2019 while Hall was undergoing a mental health episode.
Lois Thomas of Lafayette was one of the speakers supporting the detouring some or all the $54.2 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) funding designated to the Sheriff-Coroner to the non-profit Miles Hall Foundation. “Keep deputies out of mental health, “Thomas demanded.
Sheriff Livingston said the additional funding to hire 10 new deputy sheriffs arises at a time the county has a new contract with the Prison Law Office to provide improved acute mental health care while behind bars.
Even though the jails have an average daily population of 785 inmates, Sheriff Livingston said, “We have had a 43 percent decrease of inmates in our jail (about 14,000 inmates) due to COVID-19.”
County Administrator Nino prepared a chart that showed the Coroner-Sheriff’s Office, and the Contra Costa County Health Services are in line to receive over half of the county-produced general-purpose funds with health services picking up 30.5 percent of the general-purpose revenue at $162.5 million while the Coroner-Sheriff collects 19.8 percent, or $104.7 million.
Supervisors were told funds from the November voter approved Measure X sales tax increase will not begin to arrive until next fall. The county has yet to hire tax auditors. “Measure X funding is not anticipated to be received until October 2021 for the first quarter of collections starting April 2021,” Nino wrote in her budget statement. “The amount of Measure X included in the recommended budget totals $600,000 for the new Department of Racial Equity and Social Justice and $65,000 for the sales tax auditors.”
Expenses the county will need to round up funding for the upcoming 2021-2022 fiscal year is $600,000 for the operation of the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice, $300,000 for redistricting and $15.3 million for a new finance computer system.
With ongoing efforts to vaccinate every age-eligible county resident with the COVID-19 vaccine, Contra Costa County Health Department Director Anna Roth said one of the biggest hurdles next fiscal year will be the county’s negotiations with the California Nurses Association. The CNA represents 812 county nurses, and the contract is set to expire on Sept. 30.
The health services are the county’s most expensive department to operate with general purpose funds at $162.5 million or 30.5 percent of overall general fund disbursements.
As for the five elected board of supervisors, the proposed budget designates $7.7 million or 1.4 percent of overall general-purpose funds to cover the salaries and expenses of themselves and support staff.
Board vice chair Federal Glover of Pittsburg said during the budget presentations one item that was missing was further analysis on the potential reuse of the Marsh Creek Detention Facility and “more discussion on the future of the Orin Allen Rehabilitation Center near Discovery Bay and juvenile hall in Martinez.”
Glover’s supervisorial colleagues and County Administrator Nino acknowledged the supervisor’s request that there will be discussion about the fate of the detention facility and juvenile hall.
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By Allen Payton
At 4:13 pm Wednesday, April 20, 2021, all three of East Contra Costa Fire Protection District’s (ECCFPDs) engines were on scene of a fire involving a home and two outbuildings in the 10800 block of Brentwood Blvd.
Three quarters of the structure destroyed by fire, smoke and water damage to the remaining quarter. The outbuilding was fully engulfed in flames. The damage was estimated at $362,551.52 and the cause was probably electrical failure according to Battalion Chief Craig Auzenne.
A defensive stance was taken while protecting a propane tank, he reported. Water supply established by three water tenders in a shuttle. Crews were able to contain the fire to the main residence and two outbuildings. The Red Cross was notified to assist the resident. There were no injuries to either civilians or firefighters.
Drivers were asked to find an alternative route as the roadway was blocked off by crews working to extinguish the fire. High winds hampered the firefighters’ efforts.
Read MoreBy Concord Police Department
On April 16, at approximately 7:00 PM, a 37-year-old male named Jesse Allen Alexander, went into Macy’s at the Sun Valley Mall and filled a bag full of cologne bottles, valued at over $1,400. He left the store and loss prevention personnel tried to stop him. Alexander reached into his pocket to retrieve a gun and one shot was fired, however, no one was hit.
Alexander was able to get away in his truck. Lafayette PD located him, and he fled on foot but was soon captured and arrested. Alexander was a fugitive from justice, wanted by Federal authorities for allegedly violating his Federal Probation. CPD Detectives will be presenting the case to the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office.
Anyone with information regarding this case may contact Detective Nicholas Davison with CPD’s Major Crimes Unit at 925-603-5853. CPD Case #21-03538
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