Contra Costa Herald

What you need to know about voting in Contra Costa

By Dawn Kruger, Civic Outreach/Engagement Specialist, Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder-Elections Department

Debi Cooper, County Clerk-Recorder & Registrar of Voters, announced today that all registered voters in Contra Costa County should have received their County Voter Information Guides and will soon receive their Official Ballots for the upcoming June 7, 2022 California Primary Election. Ballots will be mailed to voters on May 9th.  If you do not receive your ballot by May 20th, email ballot@vote.cccounty.us or call 925-335-7800.  State Voter Information Guides are also either in the mail, or soon to be mailed, from the Secretary of State’s office.

Here’s what you need to know about voting in the upcoming election:

Register to Vote:

To ensure you receive a ballot in the mail, confirm that you are registered to vote and that your address is correct at cocovote.us/myvotinginfo. If you need to register or update your registration, visit registertovote.ca.gov. After May 23rd, new voters will need to register and vote in person at the Elections Division in Martinez, at one of the County’s early voting sites, or at a polling place on Election Day.

Voting by Mail:

Vote by Mail now happens for every election!  Great news!  All eligible voters will continue to receive vote by mail ballots, and your return envelope is postage paid. Put your completed ballot in the envelope, seal it, sign it, and mail it to us. Voted ballots returned by mail must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received within seven (7) days of the election to be considered timely. 

You can drop your ballot in the mail, at one of the County’s 37 official drop boxes or at any of our in-person voting locations. Official drop boxes will be open for service when ballots are mailed to voters. Dropping your ballot at an official drop box is just like dropping it at the Elections Office and saves taxpayer dollars by reducing the cost of return postage. 

Voters can find a list of convenient drop-box locations and early voting locations at cocovote.us/drop-boxes. Ballots must be dropped off no later than 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

Avoid long lines and be sure your vote is included in the Election Night count – Vote early and mail or drop off your ballot so the Elections Division receives it by Friday, June 3rd.   

You can track your ballot! 

Ballot tracking is a service provided by the Secretary of State that will send you notices about your ballot, including when it’s mailed, received, and counted. Know where your ballot is every step of the way!  Sign up at https://WheresMyBallot.sos.ca.gov.

“We want registered voters to know that the Elections Office is your trusted source of information about elections,” said Registrar of Voters, Debi Cooper. “If you have any questions about voting or elections, please reach out to us.” 

For more information about the June 7, 2022 Primary election, go to our website at  www.cocovote.us and select the “June 7, 2022 Statewide Election” icon, or call 925-335-7800 M-F 8 am to 5 pm.

Kellen Chadwick #83 maintained his championship hopes by winning his second IMCA Modified Main Event of the season. Photo by Katrina Kniss

Patricia Robles wins Mother’s Day Mini Van race

By Don Martin II, DCRR Racing Media

Antioch, CA…May 7...Kellen Chadwick won the 20 lap IMCA Modified Main Event Saturday night at Antioch Speedway. This was the second win of the season for the 2006 champion. The night was also a salute to mothers with several things taking place, including a Mother’s Day Mini Van race and lucky ride alongs in Hobby Stocks for the mothers.

Sean Wilson led the opening lap ahead of Bobby Motts Jr before a yellow flag waved. On the restart, Terry DeCarlo, Jr. made an impressive maneuver on the outside of Turn 2 to gain the lead with point leader and brother Nick DeCarlo following him into second. Debris fell in turn two for a Lap 3 yellow flag. Terry DeCarlo, Jr. led his younger brother on the restart with Chadwick settling into third. Following a yellow flag for Eric Berendsen on the front straightaway, DeCarlo, Jr. continued to lead with Chadwick moving into second on the Lap 6 restart. DeCarlo, Jr. was doing a good job of leading the way when another yellow flag waved for Wilson and Jeffrey Partain in Turn 1 on Lap 11. DeCarlo, Jr. led Chadwick on the restart, but Chadwick made an inside move on the backstretch on Lap 17 to take over. Motts started pressuring DeCarlo a little bit for the second position as Chadwick pulled away. A yellow flag for a Berendsen crash on the front straightaway on Lap 19 bunched the field and set up a one lap shootout, but Chadwick would prevail ahead of Terry DeCarlo, Jr., Motts, Trevor Clymens and Gary Hylton.

Tommy Fraser #12 won his second-straight IMCA Sport Modified Main Event. Photo by Katrina Kniss

Tommy Fraser won his second-straight IMCA Sport Modified Main Event. The 2019 champion benefited from traffic in making his winning pass. Dylan Connelly jumped into the early lead ahead of Jake Bentancourt. Fraser went low in Turn 4 on Lap 3 to take second, and a yellow flag waved for Nick Caughman Jr on Lap 6. Dylan Connelly continued to lead Fraser and Kenny Shrader on the restart. During this lengthy green flag run, Connelly was doing a good job of holding off Fraser. The leaders caught traffic around Lap 13. One little mistake going through Turns 3 and 4 on Lap 16 allowed Fraser to make a move on the inside down the front straightaway as they worked through traffic. A lap later, Caughman brought out a yellow flag once again. Without the traffic to deal with, Fraser maintained his lead on the restart and brought it home to victory. Connelly faded as Shrader ended up second ahead of Chester Kniss, Mark Garner and Fred Ryland.

Jason Robles #78 won his second IMCA Stock Car feature race as he remains in title contention. Photo by Katrina Kniss

Jason Robles kept his IMCA Stock Car championship hopes strong with his second 20 lap Main Event win. Despite a short field of entries, this race provided plenty of excitement as it closed the evening’s activities. Andrew Pearce jumped into the lead from the start ahead of Robles and Kellen Chadwick. Point leader Travis Dutra went low in Turn 2 on Lap 6 to gain third, but he was a bit behind the lead duo by then. As Dutra began to close in on Robles, Pearce ducked into the infield with problems on Lap 16. Robles had his hands full over the five final five circuits in his quest for victory, but he held off Dutra to the checkered flag. Chadwick settled for third, followed by Jason Jennings and Jeff Bentancourt.

Patricia Robles #724 won the second ever Mother’s Day Mini Van Race. Photo by Katrina Kniss

Patricia Robles bested Kayte East to win the three Mother’s Day Mini Van races. East was piloting a van painted like the Mystery Machine of Scooby Doo cartoon fame. The two ladies competed for $100 in sponsored prize money in the final race with Robles winning ahead of East.

The Contra Costa County Fair happens this Saturday night, but the track will be offering its first Destruction Derby in many years. Fans will need to come in through the Fair entrance. The next oval track race happens on May 21st, featuring The Wingless Spec Sprints, Pacific Coast General Engineering Hobby Stocks, Delta Dwarf Cars and IMCA Stock Cars. For further information, go to www.antiochspeedway.com.

Unofficial Race Results Antioch Speedway

IMCA Modifieds

Heat Winners (8 laps) – Nick DeCarlo, Kellen Chadwick. Main Event (20 laps) – Kellen Chadwick, Terry DeCarlo Jr, Bobby Motts Jr, Trevor Clymens, Gary Hylton, Eric Berendsen, Jeffrey Partain, Kenneth Robles, Sean Wilson, Nick DeCarlo.

IMCA Sport Modifieds

Heat Winners (8 laps) – Tommy Fraser, Jason Ryan Jr, Kenny Shrader. Main Event (20 laps) – Tommy Fraser, Kenny Shrader, Chester Kniss, Mark Garner, Fred Ryland, Andrew Pearce, Chuck Golden, Jason Ryan Jr, Dylan Connelly, Jacob Mallet, Jr.

IMCA Stock Cars

Heat Winner (8 laps) – Andrew Pearce. Main Event (20 laps) – Jason Robles, Travis Dutra, Kellen Chadwick, Jason Jennings, Jeff Bentancourt, Joe Gallaher, Andrew Pearce.

By Ted Asregadoo, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa County District Attorney

The Contra Costa District Attorney announced, today murder charges have been filed against a Concord couple. 34-year-old Ismael Alvarez and 44-year-old Francesca Charlene Lopez are currently being held at the Martinez Detention Facility for the murder of Felipe Dejesus Lopez which occurred on January 31, 2022, in Concord. Alvarez was scheduled to be arraigned on May 3, 2022, in Martinez while Francesca Lopez’s arraignment was today, May 4, 2022.

Francesca Lopez is the wife of Felipe Lopez, but it appears she was in a relationship with Alvarez at the time of the murder in Felipe’s home.

Alvarez and Francesca Lopez are also charged with two special circumstances allegations accusing the pair of murder for financial gain and murder in the course of a burglary. Alvarez faces other allegations due to a prior conviction for attempted robbery in 2019.

Case information: People v. Ismael Alvarez. Docket Number: 01-22-00305

People v. Francesca Charlene Lopez. Docket Number: 01-22-00307

Agamroop Kaur. Source: LinkedIn

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Agamroop Kaur of San Ramon, CA, has been named the Barrie Fiske National Youth Advocate of the Year by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Agamroop will be honored on May 5, 2022, for her leadership in the fight against tobacco at the Tobacco-Free Kids’ annual Youth Advocates of the Year Awards celebration in Washington D.C.

Now, a senior at Dougherty Valley High School, Agamroop Kaur’s advocacy work began in middle school when she noticed that every bathroom smelled like a candy store and many of her classmates were already hooked on Juul e-cigarettes. She made it her mission to educate her peers about the dangers of vaping and to stop the tobacco industry from targeting her generation. She has also authored op-eds and produced a documentary on the youth e-cigarette epidemic – titled “BIG Tobacco BIGGER Epidemic” – that won a prize in C-SPAN’s student documentary contest. Agamroop also worked on successful campaigns in five California cities and Contra Costa County to end the sale of flavored e-cigarettes and other tobacco products, expand smoke-free policies and limit tobacco retailers in youth centered areas.

“We are thrilled to honor Agamroop Kaur as the Barry Fiske National Youth Advocate of the Year,” said Matthew L. Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. “Seeing first-hand the impact of tobacco use, Agamroop has become a passionate advocate for the health of her peers and community. She exemplifies the qualities of a new generation of leaders who are standing up to the tobacco industry and fighting with us for a healthier and more equitable future.”

The National Youth Advocate of the Year Award is named after Barrie Fiske, a tireless champion for the right to breathe smoke-free air and a longtime member of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Board of Directors, who passed away in 2019.

Every year, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids honors a National Youth Advocate of the Year, four Individual Youth Advocates of the Year and a Group Youth Advocate of the Year. The winners receive scholarships to continue their tobacco prevention efforts and serve as youth ambassadors for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

“I am an ambitious high school student, venturing through the world with an open mind,” Agamroop wrote on her LinkedIn page. “With my passion for policy, research, human biology and behavior, I seek to expand the realm of public health with innovative solutions.”

Last year, she served for four months as a Policy and Media Intern for the Contra Costa Health Services Tobacco Prevention Project and has been a Teen Research Advisor for the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media since February 2021. Agamroop is also a Stanford University Research and Policy Intern serving as a Youth Action Board member of Stanford’s REACH Lab where she’s working to build and review curriculum reaching 2 million youth.

Tobacco use is the No. 1 cause of preventable death in the United States, killing over 480,000 Americans and costing the nation $226 billion in annual smoking health care costs.

In California, tobacco use claims 40,000 lives annually and costs $13.29 billion in health care bills each year. Currently, 1.2% (24,400) of California high school students smoke cigarettes, and 8.2% use e-cigarettes.

Additional information about the youth award winners can be found at tfk.org/awards and more resources and information about tobacco can be found at www.tobaccofreekids.org

Photo: MTC

For purchase and preservation

Agency aims to attract more borrowers in more Bay Area communities

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) announced, recently new underwriting guidelines for its four-year-old Bay Area Preservation Pilot loan fund, which is designed to help nonprofit housing developers and community land trusts finance the acquisition and preservation of existing multifamily properties that are affordable for lower- and moderate-income renters and located in areas with high-frequency transit service. Revisions to the $49 million revolving loan fund include a lower leveraging-ratio requirement and the allocation of up to $6 million for designation as forgivable long-term debt.

The goal of the new underwriting rules is to attract more borrowers by funding loans more quickly for a more diverse set of properties in a more diverse set of Bay Area communities. All loans funded through the Preservation Pilot to date have been used to finance the borrowers’ purchase of rental properties in Oakland. MTC last year approved policy revisions for the Bay Area Preservation Pilot designed to make these funds more accessible to buyers of properties throughout the Bay Area, including those in communities that don’t have their own local preservation funds; properties in which tenants face a high risk of displacement or house families with children, seniors, people of color, people with disabilities, people with extremely low-incomes and people with language barriers; and prospective buyers working in close partnership with existing tenants.

Nonprofit developers and joint venture partnerships can tap the Preservation Pilot fund for loans with terms as long as 10 years to buy nonsubsidized apartment buildings with at least four units. Rents for at least 75 percent of the units must be considered affordable for households whose annual income is no more than 80 percent of the area median. Borrowers also can use the loan proceeds to fund an operating reserve for the acquired property, and to perform life safety upgrades and other rehabilitation work.

MTC established the Bay Area Preservation Pilot in 2018 with a $10 million commitment supplemented by an additional $39 million from program managers Enterprise Community Loan Fund (ECLF) and Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF). Loans are originated on a first-come, first-served basis. Prospective borrowers are encouraged to contact Enterprise and/or LIIF directly to apply. More details on the Bay Area Preservation Pilot fund may be found on the MTC website at https://mtc.ca.gov/BAPP.

MTC is the regional transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. ECLF has invested more than $2.3 billion and leveraged over $21 billion in additional capital to create or preserve more than 127,000 housing units affordable for lower-income households nationwide. San Francisco-based LIIF has provided over $3 billion of financing and technical assistance and leveraged another $13 billion to provide some 2.4 million lower-income people around the country with stable housing and community services.

Comprehensive Plan for Regional Rapid Transit, prepared for the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit Commission by Parson Brinckerhoff Hall & MacDonald from 1956 shows extensions to Brentwood in East County and Crockett in West County and beyond, as well as to Livermore in Alameda County. Source: Erica Fischer | Flickr

Current Policy was adopted in 1999

To best serve the needs of an evolving Bay Area, BART is revisiting our System Expansion Policy. The updated policy will guide us as we consider new ways to expand and improve our system.

As part of these efforts, BART has developed a brief survey to help us understand your priorities for system development. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey. Your valuable input helps us plan future projects and continue to provide the best service for Bay Area riders and residents.

We want to hear from you! Make your voice heard by taking the survey: http://s.alchemer.com/s3/BART-System-Expansion-Policy-Survey

Expansion & Capacity Enhancement

BART’s System Expansion Policy states goals and strategies for expanding the system including criteria for evaluating expansion opportunities. This updated policy will serve as a guide as we evaluate proposed projects. The current Policy was adopted in 1999.

The Planning Department at BART assesses strategic opportunities for system expansion by conducting corridor studies for future BART services, assessing alternative methods for expanding transit services in the region, completing assessments of environmental impacts of proposed projects, and analyzing opportunities for new stations within the existing system (infill stations).

To learn more about BART’s expansion planning and policy update, visit us at: https://www.bart.gov/about/planning/strategic

Lo invitamos a compartir sus opiniones en una encuesta sobre la política de expansión del sistema de BART. Puede acceder a la encuesta haciendo clic en el enlace anterior o cortando y pegando todo el enlace en su navegador. ¡Gracias!

誠邀您填寫問卷調查，分享您對舊金山灣區捷運系統擴展政策的意見。只要按一下以上連結或將整個連結剪貼至您的瀏覽器，即可開始填寫這項問卷調查。謝謝您

Screenshot of video by Sabrina Pedrotte

By Don Martin II, DCRR Racing Media

Antioch, CA…The Malicious Monster Truck Insanity Tour is in high demand on the West Coast. On Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, the fans at Antioch Speedway were given an example as to why. From the moment the music played at the start of the festivities to the final ride alongs for the fans at the conclusion of the program, they were entertained. (See Facebook videos here,  here and here)

The crowd on Saturday night April 30, 2022. Photo by Sabrina Pedrotte

Antioch Speedway fans were given an induction to this exciting touring group last September. Promoters Chad and Tina Chadwick were so delighted by the response that they booked them on two weekend occasions this year. This was the first one, and they will be back in town in September.

They bring two ride along trucks. One is named after one of their star attractions, Identity Theft The Ride. The other is Skeletor. Both proved to be very popular as rides were given prior to the start of the contest, during intermission and then at the conclusion of the show. Everybody who wanted one was able to get a ride and feel what it’s like to be in one of these gargantuan machines.

Identity Theft monster truck. Photo by Don Martin, II

Skeletor monster truck offered rides. Photo by Sabrina Pedrotte

Once Dallas, who expertly announces this program, got the fans on their feet, the five Monster Trucks went off in various directions at the same time to the delight of the crowd. Then, there was the introduction of the competitors on the front straightaway.

There is the dragon themed Monster Truck called Spitfire. This truck actually shoots fire out it’s nose and is piloted expertly by Nick Jones of Chimacum WA. There’s also Weekend Warrior, driven by Myles Parker of Colfax, CA, the California Kid, driven by PJ Solorio of Paso Robles, CA and Identity Theft, piloted by Dwight Mathews.

Some will correctly say that they are all the stars, but there is a little more love generated from the fans by Spitfire, Identity Theft and immensely popular Rockstar. Rockstar is a unique truck in that it has two drivers, the husband and wife team of Bill and Lorna Payne of Port Orchard, WA. The duo are also the promoters of the tour itself.

The fans see a series of competitions, and there are three judges giving them scores. Dallas serves as one of them, there is also another judge in the booth and one on the track itself. The competition ranges from freestyle to time trials to one-on-one racing. Spitfire is known for the fire shooting out of the truck’s nose. Identity Theft does an impressive rear wheel stand, and Rockstar takes it up a notch as they stand it on its front wheels. That proves to be very popular with the fans as they roar their approval.

Monster trucks in action. Screenshot of video by Sabrina Pedrotte

Dallas will go through the grandstands and find the rowdiest fans. Everybody is up on their feet as he hands out T-shirts throughout the night. He pretty much has the fans in his hands and is an expert in presenting these gargantuan, highflying machines to the public. The fans are into it from the start as they pick their favorite trucks and cheer them on all night.

When it comes to freestyle, they hold nothing back. It takes a steady hand to pilot one of these big machines. One miscalculation, and you land improperly from a jump and risk doing damage. You can end up on your roof. They don’t want that to happen as it means one less truck for the rest of the evening. They try to give the fans a little razzle dazzle while also exercising caution when necessary. By the time they get to freestyle, nobody holds anything back.

The freestyle competition at the end of the night is what closes the competition. Therefore, if you put a little more into a jump at the conclusion of the night and land awkwardly, it’s damage that can be repaired for the next night. Every truck seems to take it up a notch.

Spitfire usually runs third and is raising the bar. Identity Theft takes it up even higher. Rockstar is probably the fan favorite. You see more pink colored “Breast Cancer Awareness” Rockstar shirts among the crowd in the stands. Bill and Lorna give it their all. They proved to be the winners on this occasion, but the real winners were the fans.

Identity Theft monster truck also offered rides. Photo by Don Martin, II

Saturday was the bigger night in terms of attendance. Some would compare the numbers to what was seen on a weekly basis in the grandstands back in the 1980s and before.

However, even the Sunday afternoon turnout was bigger than what you’d see on an average night. Management is doing things like this to create awareness and get more fans coming out to the show, and things are improving gradually.

While the show went well and the track looks forward to the Monster Truck visit on September 10th and 11th, racing will return this Saturday night. On the Coco Farms Antioch Speedway Racing calendar for this Saturday night, we find a Mother’s Day Mini Van race, and the other competing divisions will include IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds and IMCA Stock Cars. For further information, go to www.antiochspeedway.com or go to the Antioch Speedway by PROmotions Facebook page.

Local artisan vendors needed

The Streets of Brentwood shopping center brings you a special day to celebrate Mom! A day full of live music, dancers, and performers along with a sparkling array of select local artisans. This event is the day before Mother’s Day, and the shopping is on!

SATURDAY, MAY 7 10AM-3PM

THE STREETS OF BRENTWOOD

One Day Only in Center Court

2455 Sand Creek Road, Brentwood

11AM-2PM
FREE* $10 Gift Card

11AM-1PM
FREE Entertainment

10AM-3PM
Small “pop-up” Market

Vendors who would like to participate can contact Claudette or Johnny at 510-220-1609 or email jstatonprod@aol.com. More for Mom May 7th – local artisan vendor info

*With original receipt(s) totaling $75 or more from any The Streets of Brentwood retailer or restaurant, while supplies last. One gift card per customer, per receipt(s). To redeem, randomly draw your $10 The Streets of Brentwood Tenant Gift Card in Center Court from 11AM-2PM. No Exchanges Please. 

By Delano Johnson, ED, Bay Point Community All-N-One

We are pleased to be celebrating our Annual Memorial Day’s Parade again which is being held on Monday, May 30, 2022, in front of the Ambrose Recreational and Park District at 3105 Willow Pass Road in Bay Point. It will commence at 9:00AM -and conclude by 12:00 Noon. We are looking forward to everyone in the community joining us.

Memorial Day remembers and honors our U.S. military men and women who died while serving during wartime.

This practice of honoring our fallen service men and women began as Decoration Day after the Civil War when families of both Union and Confederate forces began to decorate the graves of the fallen. Decoration Day eventually became Memorial Day.

Our Memorial Day’s Parade will include traditional elements beginning with prayers, tributes to our uniformed men and women and a parade performance from participants of the communities.

As a participant you may sign up to perform with us and we welcome you also to become a sponsor.

For more information about how to join us, please contact Mrs. Nelda Hills, (510)409-6123 or Mr. Charles Davies (510) 692-5706.