April 15, 2021 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM Online event
Join us as for a very special panel discussion with Pixar Animation Studios. Have you ever dreamed of working in animation or technology? Listen in as we discuss the highlights and challenges of being a woman in the business and get tips and advice from experts in their fields.
About the panelists: Jessica Tran is a Project Manager in the Tools Engineering department at Pixar. Emily Davis is a Feature Film Department Manager at Pixar. Becky Neiman Cobb is an Associate Producer at Pixar who has recently worked on the short film Bao and the feature film Onward.
Register with your email here. You will receive information on how to access the Zoom event on the day before the program. Closed captioning will be provided for this program.
Read MoreDetails the company’s extensive initiatives to positively impact their people, communities and planet
Their seven Contra Costa County store locations donated 696,281 total pounds of food to local distribution agencies via their food rescue program
By Kevin Buffalino, Raley’s Public Relations & Partnerships Manager
Raley’s, owners of 124 grocery stores, released their first-ever, annual Impact Report today, Wednesday, April 7, 2021, highlighting the organization’s actions in 2020 to support their purpose of changing the way the world eats, one plate at a time.
“Our first Impact Report exemplifies our team’s dedication to prioritizing purpose over profit and our commitment to serving multiple bottom lines,” said Keith Knopf, Raley’s President & CEO. “We are committed to being more than a grocery store, so it is both rewarding and humbling to see the progress we were able to make this past year to change the way the world eats and positively impact the communities we serve.”
“At Raley’s, we carefully balance purpose with profit and believe in serving multiple bottom lines,” he continued. “The success of our business relies on the vitality of the communities we serve.”
As detailed in the report, Raley’s efforts and initiatives in 2020 were aimed at nourishing their purpose, people, communities and the planet. Highlights of Raley’s inaugural Impact Report include:
Changing the Way We Eat:
- Opened the first Raley’s O-N-E Market, an acronym which stands for “organics, nutrition and education”, is a unique shopping destination focused on wellness education and offering a highly curated assortment of products that meet high standards of health, nutrition and sustainability.
- Continued outpacing the competition in sales of better-for-you items in categories such as clean label, grain free, non-GMO, keto, plant based, organic and nutrient dense.
Responding to COVID-19:
- Invested more than $60 million in enhanced safety protections.
- Hired and trained over 9,000 new team members.
- Provided more than $15 million to team members through appreciation pay and bonuses.
- Donated $200,000 to purchase devices and internet access to allow students in low-income districts to complete schoolwork at home.
Community Investment:
- Raised over $9 million, the equivalent of 6,482,118 meals, for 12 Feeding America aligned food banks through Raley’s Food For Families.
- Donated over $1 million in funds to causes and organizations to empower current and future generations to live healthier and happier lives.
- Issued $700,000 in Extra Credit grants to 48 schools and districts for programs that promote nutrition education, teach food literacy, address food insecurity, provide physical safety and directly impact students’ mental, emotional and physical well-being.
Sustainable and Responsible Operations:
- Diverted over 70% of all waste companywide from landfills.
- Donated 4.8 million pounds of food via Raley’s food rescue program.
- Continued commitment to and focus on ethical supply chain practices.
In addition to detailing the impact made throughout the past year, the report charts Raley’s course for the future by setting goals for 2021 and beyond. Raley’s intends to publish an Impact Report annually moving forward to transparently report progress toward these goals.
In Contra Costa County, Raley’s stores:
- Donated $22,064 to nonprofit organizations in Contra Costa County in 2020 through our charitable giving
- Raised $483,825 for the Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano during our Annual Holiday Drive
- Raley’s Food For Families gave $1,395,483.54 to the Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano in 2020
- Our seven Contra Costa County store locations donated 696,281 total pounds of food to local distribution agencies via our food rescue program
To learn more about Raley’s overall environmental, social and governance efforts and to download the full report, visit purpose.raleys.com.
About Raley’s
Raley’s is a privately-owned and family-operated customer experience grocery company headquartered in West Sacramento, CA. Raley’s stores are the destination for the best fresh products, affordable offerings and personalized service. The company’s commitment to infusing life with health and happiness by changing the way the world eats, one plate at a time, has made it a trusted source for food, nutrition, and wellness. Raley’s strives to enhance transparency and education in the food system in order to help customers make more informed, healthy food choices. Raley’s operates 124 stores under six banners: Raley’s, Bel Air Markets, Nob Hill Foods, Raley’s O-N-E Market, Food Source and Market 5-ONE-5. Making healthier offerings accessible to everyone, Raley’s has expanded beyond the store to operate grocery curbside pick-up and delivery in their nearby communities. For more information visit www.raleys.com.
Allen Payton contributed to this report.
Read MoreTelecommunications personnel are crucial link
By Fran Clader, Director of Communications, California Highway Patrol
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Public safety dispatchers, often the first assistance people reach in an emergency, provide a crucial link between the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and the public. In recognition of their service, the CHP joins other law enforcement agencies to recognize National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week on April 11-17, 2021.
California legislation enacted in 2020 reclassified public safety dispatchers as “first responders.” The new classification acknowledges their vital role in the state’s emergency response chain.
“As recognized first responders in California, our CHP public safety dispatchers and operators remain resilient in times of crisis,” CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray said. “They are devoted professionals who provide the timely handling of all calls for services and are the lifeline between the public and emergency services.”
The CHP employs more than 700 dispatchers who provide critical services to communities throughout California. In 2020, these dispatchers who work out of one of the 24 CHP communications centers statewide handled more than 4.9 million 9-1-1 calls from the public.
In emergency situations, dispatchers must instantly determine the correct response to ensure the safety of all parties involved. They are also in constant communication with patrol officers, looking up license plates, driver license numbers, and running criminal record checks on wanted subjects.
Those interested in a rewarding career as a CHP public safety dispatcher are encouraged to apply for one of the more than 175 positions available statewide. Details are available at www.chp.ca.gov/chp-careers.
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.
Read MoreBrentwood man died from crash of stolen car during Antioch police chase, Walnut Creek man was killed in the West County jail
By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff
In accordance with the Contra Costa County Chiefs’ of Police Association Officer Involved Fatal Incident Protocol, Sheriff-Coroner David O. Livingston will hold an inquest into the death of 21-year-old Omar Jalal Harb of Brentwood. He died after crashing a stolen car he was driving during a police pursuit. This incident occurred on July 18, 2019 in Contra Costa County. (See related article)
That same day there will also be an inquest into the death of 72-year-old Enrique Camberos Pina of Walnut Creek. Arrested for child molestation, Pina was killed while in the West County Detention Facility in Richmond. This incident occurred on October 16, 2019 in Contra Costa County. (See related article)
Both proceedings will convene on April 16, 2021 at 8:30 AM at the Wakefield Taylor Courthouse, 725 Court Street, Department 23, Room 200, Martinez, CA. The inquest for Harb will take place in the morning, while the one for Pina will happen in the afternoon.
The purpose of the inquest, which Sheriff-Coroner Livingston convenes in fatal incidents involving peace officers, is to present the facts of the incident to a jury for their deliberation and finding on the manner of death.
The inquest is open to the public and members of the media are invited to attend. However, no photographs or video may be taken during the proceedings.
The inquest will be held in-person. Face coverings are mandatory at the proceedings and state mandated social distancing guidelines will be followed.
Read More
Station will replace facility in continuous use since late 1940s
By Steve Hill, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) announced the start of construction of and broke ground for the new Fire Station 86 in Bay Point during a ceremony on Friday, April 9. When complete the station will replace the existing facility on Willow Pass Road, which has been in continuous service since its construction in the late 1940s.
When completed, Fire Station 86 will enhance emergency service capabilities and better support District firefighters, allowing for better quality of life, health, training and community interaction. The station will be built to modern earthquake standards to ensure its availability for facilitating disaster preparedness and response, and its three oversized bays will accommodate large apparatus such as the District’s fire dozers, if needed.
“We are pleased to announce construction of our long-awaited Fire Station 86 in Bay Point, offering enhanced facilities to support emergency services to neighboring communities,” said Lewis T. Broschard III, fire chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. “Today is the culmination of a project several decades in the planning that will soon provide a functional and long overdue modern fire station for our firefighters in Bay Point and the communities they serve.”
This fire station will serve Bay Point and the adjacent City of Pittsburg, areas that have experienced significant growth in recent years, and are expected to continue to do so. District 5 Supervisor Federal Glover who represents both communities attended Friday’s ceremony.
The station will house one engine company but will be capable of accommodating a second crew for Red Flag fire weather events or expansion of services in the future. The facility will comply with seismic standards as well as ADA requirements. It will provide fire protection for the community over the next fifty years and provide personnel with the systems and features found in modem fire stations.
The new Fire Station 86 will be a 10,800 square foot, single-story structure designed with cancer prevention in mind. It will include state-of-the-art gross decontamination showers, turnout extractors and modern systems for extraction of diesel exhaust particulates.
The design comprises three apparatus bays, a kitchen, seven firefighter dormitories, three restrooms, offices, training and exercise facilities, decontamination spaces, storage, day- and dining-rooms. The project also includes visitor parking, secured firefighter parking, an emergency power generator, an onsite fuel tank, and a photovoltaic roof system.
The project has been designed to meet LEED Silver equivalency per the County’s standard for public buildings.
The County Board of Supervisors, acting as the Fire Board of Directors, originally approved the design and bid documents on October 13, 2020. The same Board approved a construction contract with Overaa & Co. on Jan. 9, 2021 in the amount of $9,579,000. This project will be financed by lease revenue bonds, approved by the Board on December 15, 2020. The debt service for these bonds will be paid by a combination of revenue from development impact fees and the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District general operating fund over a 20-year period.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the new Fire Station 86, with elected officials from the County and District leadership making remarks and participating in a gold-shovel event, took place today at the construction site, 10 Goble Court, Bay Point.
About Con Fire — A recognized fire service leader – – Con Fire provides fire and emergency medical services to more than a million people across its 304 square-mile District area, and through mutual aid, in and around the 20 cities and unincorporated communities of Contra Costa County, California. With few exceptions, county emergency ambulance transport services are provided by Con Fire through its unique sub-contractor Alliance model across the District and beyond to include some 520 square miles of the county. In 2020, the District responded to nearly 75,000 fire and EMS emergencies and dispatched some 95,000 ambulances, providing expert medical care on more than 74,000 ambulance transports. The District, with 26 fire stations and more than 400 employees, is dedicated to preserving life, property, and the environment.
Read MoreBy Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa County Office of the District Attorney
The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office filed misdemeanors against two private security guards for the alleged altercation outside the Walnut Creek Planned Parenthood clinic. Specifically, defendants Ishatpal Momi (27-year-old resident of Elk Grove) and Peter Reeves (45-year-old resident of Sacramento) are each charged with battery and illegal possession of tear gas. Both defendants were armed with their respective firearms and carrying large canisters of pepper spray.
On October 13, 2020, members of the group 40 Days for Life were protesting outside the Planned Parenthood clinic on Oakland Blvd. Individuals were also gathered outside to support Planned Parenthood. Momi and Reeves were hired to provide security on behalf of 40 Days for Life.
During the late morning of October 13, an altercation ensued outside the clinic and as a result Momi and Reeves deployed their pepper spray canister against members of the opposing group. Hours later that same day, additional individuals arrived on scene and the security guards deployed their pepper spray again against the other victims. In total, four individuals were impacted by the pepper spray during October 13.
The canisters of pepper spray used by the private security guards were too large and against state law. State law only allows canisters of 2.5 ounces or smaller to be carried or used legally.
The case was reviewed and filed by Senior Deputy District Attorney Simon O’Connell. The defendants will be sent a notice to appear for their arraignment.
Read MoreCould be feeder system to BART and downtowns
The Tri Delta Transit Board of Directors has unanimously approved a resolution to support feasibility study findings regarding a Dynamic Personal Micro Transit (DPMT) system in Eastern Contra Costa County.
As a strong community partner and forward-thinking transit agency, Tri Delta Transit’s decision sets the stage for multiple cities in Eastern Contra Costa County to partner with Glydways to bring an innovative 28-mile, personal micro transit solution to the region through a public-private partnership model.
The feasibility study was conducted by Advanced Mobility Group (AMG) at the request of the Cities of Pittsburg, Antioch, Oakley, and Brentwood, as well as Contra Costa County and the Contra Costa Transportation Authority. Glydways Feasbility Study TDT BOD 032421
The study focused on a 28-mile DPMT system with 56 boarding locations planned between the Pittsburg/Bay Point BART Station and downtown Brentwood. The system is anticipated to complement existing transportation modes such as Tri Delta Transit bus service, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), and the Amtrak San Joaquins train line, and could deliver connectivity to more than 7 million riders annually.
With the feasibility study conclusions affirmed by Tri Delta Transit, the findings will also be presented to each city council for the above-mentioned cities in the coming months. The support of Tri Delta Transit’s board for a mobility option that complements existing transit service is significant, since it smooths the path for cities, partners, and stakeholders to consider entering into a project development agreement with Glydways to further plan and fund the potential system.
“We are looking forward to our collaboration with Glydways to deploy this new innovative mobility option in our community that we serve and increase public transportation options,” said Jeanne Krieg, CEO of Tri Delta Transit.
Founded by Mark Seeger in 2016, Glydways is a system of on-demand autonomous vehicles, right-sized to carry passengers to their personalized destinations, privately. These vehicles operate on dedicated roads that are closed off to all other forms of transport. These roads form an interconnected network optimized for mass-transit throughput. Passengers enjoy a direct-to-destination journey with a consistently premium experience.
“At Glydways, we believe that mobility is a basic human right. We believe that access to affordable housing, employment, education, commerce, and healthcare leads to social and economic prosperity—and that the key to the equitable distribution of this prosperity is access to low-cost and ubiquitous mobility for everyone, everywhere,” said Seeger, CEO of Glydways. “In a post-pandemic world where transit budgets and programs face hesitant ridership, mobility systems must be more efficient, passenger-focused, and resilient than ever. For riders, Glydways changes the concept of public transit to a premium passenger experience without the premium cost and frustration of traffic.”
Glydways is currently completing construction on its demonstration facility at GoMentum Station in Concord and anticipates being able to provide product demonstration in Spring 2021. GoMentum Station, in Contra Costa County, was chosen as the site for the first demonstration based on its reputation for advancing innovative mobility options. This initial demonstration will be the first to showcase the full potential of the Glydways system as a more sustainable and affordable mode of mass mobility for everyone.
Based in South San Francisco, Glydways has partnered with numerous Bay Area cities, transportation agencies, technology providers, employers, and experienced international infrastructure firms to bring mass micro transit into the 21st century and provide mobility that improves communities.
Those familiar with the CyberTran system, being developed in Richmond, will recall its leaders obtained unanimous support from the Cities of Oakley, Brentwood and Antioch in 2017 to pursue federal funding for a system from the Antioch-Hillcrest BART station to the Byron Airport. CyberTran is proposed to be the system of choice for the East County extension to BART and the Glydways system would serve as a connector, bringing passengers to the future BART stations. (See related article) (Note: The publisher of the Herald has a financial interest in CyberTran International, Inc.)
Read MoreOffers part-time employment
The Workforce Development Program at St. Vincent de Paul is a paid job training program aimed at helping the unemployed re-enter the workforce and find stable employment. The COVID-19 pandemic has seen millions suddenly find themselves out of work. In these hard times, it is more important than ever that job applicants understand workplace expectations and have the soft skills to be a contributing employee. The 24-week program teaches participants the skills and techniques to find a job and be successful in the workplace, offering training in resume development, interviewing, and organizational skills in a supportive & compassionate environment.
Mandatory orientation sessions, applicants should choose either the Pittsburg or Brentwood sessions, will take place on Wednesday, 4/21/21 & Saturday, 4/24/21 from 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM at 2210 Gladstone Drive, Pittsburg, and on Wednesday 4/28/21 & Saturday 5/1/21 from 2- 5PM at 8890 Brentwood Blvd., Brentwood. To register call (925) 439-5060. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
The Workforce Development Program aims to help tear down the barriers that stand in the way of employment for individuals who have struggled to obtain and maintain employment. Participants work with mentors and take weekly classes to develop workplace skills. A new class of participants is selected every three months.
Participants gain paid, part-time, (22.5 hours per week), work experience in a St. Vincent de Paul thrift store or SVdP’s trucking and transportation department. Additional training in retail operations including cash register operations, inventory display and optimization, and warehouse operations is also provided.
James Neitte, a graduate from SVdP’s 2017 WFD cycle, said, “SVdP was kind of a last ditch effort for me. Going through that program really changed my life.” Convicted of multiple felonies in 2011, Neitte has maintained a steady job since his graduation.
St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County has provided safety-net services in the county for over 57 years, serving 100,000 people annually and distributing over $1M of direct financial assistance and over $1.5M of in-kind aid. Over 750 SVdP volunteers and a small staff lead operations in Contra Costa including the SVdP Family Resource Center in Pittsburg, 28 branches, and 3 Thrift Stores. One of the largest charitable organizations in the world, St. Vincent de Paul is an international, nonprofit, Catholic lay organization of more than 800,000 men and women who voluntarily join together to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to the needy and suffering in 155 countries on five continents.
Read More
By Karen Ferriere, Development Director, Save Mt. Diablo
This coming Monday, April 12, 2021, will mark the one-year anniversary and conclusion of Save Mount Diablo’s weekly Mount Diablo Beacon lightings in response to the pandemic.
On Sunday, April 11th, the Mount Diablo Summit Beacon will be lit by Save Mount Diablo personnel shortly after sunset. Then on Monday, April 12th, Save Mount Diablo personnel will rest the Beacon shortly after sunrise – and that will mark the one-year anniversary and conclusion of Save Mount Diablo’s weekly Beacon lighting efforts.
The decision to conclude these efforts is based on the COVID-19 vaccines becoming increasingly well distributed. Furthermore, there have been tier-level improvements in the San Francisco Bay Area. Although the pandemic is not over, we have turned the corner for the better.
In response to the pandemic, for the past year, since April 12, 2020, Save Mount Diablo volunteers and staff have lit the Mount Diablo Beacon, the “Eye of Diablo,” from sunset on Sunday night until sunrise on Monday morning when the Beacon is rested.
Describing why Save Mount Diablo has been lighting the Mount Diablo Beacon in response to the pandemic, Ted Clement, Save Mount Diablo’s Executive Director, stated, “We light the Mount Diablo Beacon to thank our heroes, to honor those who have passed and are suffering, to bring our communities together, and to remind people to look up to the light and the healing power of nature.”
“I want to thank two special Save Mount Diablo volunteers, John Gallagher and Dick Heron, who helped me with this year-long effort,” said Ted Clement.
Though Save Mount Diablo is concluding its weekly Beacon lightings in response to the pandemic, the organization will continue its regular care and maintenance of the historic “Eye of Diablo,” as it has done for years.
The Beacon was originally lit by Charles Lindbergh in 1928 to assist in the early days of commercial aviation. The Beacon shone from the summit of Mount Diablo each night until December 8, 1941, the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
It was not relit until December 7, 1964, when Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, Commander in Chief of Pacific Forces during World War II, attended a ceremony on Mount Diablo’s summit in commemoration of the survivors of Pearl Harbor. He suggested that the Beacon be lit every December 7th to honor those who served and sacrificed.
Save Mount Diablo, California State Parks, the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors Chapter 5, California State University–East Bay (Concord Campus), and others organize the annual lighting ceremony of the Beacon every December 7th in honor of the National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
About Save Mount Diablo
SMD is a nationally accredited, nonprofit land trust founded in 1971 with a mission to preserve Mount Diablo’s peaks, surrounding foothills, and watersheds through land acquisition and preservation strategies designed to protect the mountain’s natural beauty, biological diversity, and historic and agricultural heritage; enhance our area’s quality of life; and provide recreational opportunities consistent with the protection of natural resources. Learn more at www.savemountdiablo.org.
Read More
By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff
The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office filed murder and attempted murder charges against 23-year-old Pierre Patrick Jackson of Antioch/Brentwood in connection with a shooting of two men and resulted in a homicide that occurred on March 31, 2021 in El Sobrante. (See related article)
On March 31, 2021, at about 8:41 PM, Bay Station Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon in the 4500 block of Appian Way. Deputies arrived on the scene, located two victims with gunshot wounds, and provided lifesaving measures until the fire department and ambulance arrived. One of the victims, identified as 25-year-old Dejante “Dj” Kennedy of Pittsburg, was pronounced deceased. The second victim was transported to a local hospital.
During the investigation, detectives from the Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit identified Jackson as the suspect in the shooting. A warrant was obtained for his arrest. Homicide detectives arrested Jackson on April 5, 2021. He is currently being held at the Martinez Detention Facility in lieu of $3.5 million bail.
According to mylife.com, Jackson’s current residence is in Brentwood and previously lived in Antioch.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this incident should contact the Sheriff’s Office Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600 or through Sheriff’s Office dispatch at (925) 646-2441. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.
Allen Payton contributed to this report.
Read More