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Brentwood PD’s new ERV was used Saturday night, Dec 16, 2023, by SWAT to assist Antioch Police in serving a search warrant on a murder suspect. Photo courtesy of Art Ray, Bay News Video
Enhancing community safety with our brand new Emergency Rescue Vehicle.
By Brentwood Police Department
Our recent acquisition of the Lenco Emergency Rescue Vehicle (ERV) marks a significant step forward in enhancing community safety and effective crisis management. After extensive efforts and planning, we’ve successfully integrated the ERV into our suite of resources.
At the core of our crisis management philosophy lies the commitment to peaceful resolutions, and this vehicle plays a vital role in providing our agency with the capability to foster dialogue and negotiation. Moreover, its advanced medical features, including secure litters, a fully equipped medical workstation, and onboard oxygen, ensure rapid and critical medical assistance in crucial moments.
See video of Brentwood PD’s new ERV.
Read MoreBy Kelly Kalfsbeek, PIO, Contra Costa County Public Works Department
Contra Costa County Public Works will be performing geotechnical borings in preparation for the Highland Road Erosion Repair Project east of San Ramon on Friday, December 22, 2023, between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, barring unforeseen circumstances. Work will repair the roadway and road embankment along the eastbound shoulder of Highland Road, at a Tassajara Creek tributary crossing, approximately 50-feet west from the intersection with Collier Canyon Road.
The project will, approximately 50 feet northwest of the intersection with Collier Canyon Road. Repair work will included construction of a soldier pile retaining wall to restore and stabilize the roadway embankment. The project will also include installing guardrail along the retaining wall and backfilling and reconstructing the damaged roadway and shoulder.
Drivers should expect 15-minute delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes.
For construction and project status contact Jorge Hernandez, 925.313.2346. For more information visit: www.contracosta.ca.gov/Highland-Road-Erosion-Repair
About Contra Costa County Public Works Department:
Contra Costa County Public Works Department (CCCPWD) maintains over 660 miles of roads, 150 miles of streams, channels, and other drainage and over 150 County buildings throughout Contra Costa County. CCCPWD provides services such as Parks and Recreation, Sandbag Distribution and Flood Control throughout unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County. CCCPWD operates two airports, Buchanan Field Airport in Concord, and Byron Airport in Byron. For more information about CCCPWD, please visit us at: www.cccpublicworks.org
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Fire Break by Rebeccah DeJesus, Daisies by Barbara Lind and Goodnight Mt. Tam by Rebecca Alarcon. Source. Main Street Arts
Main Street Arts Gallery in Martinez will be bringing in the New Year with beautiful watercolor paintings! The California Watercolor Association will display their pieces from January 5th – February 25th. A reception will be held on January 13th from 4-7. Please join us as we celebrate the following artists:
Rebecca Alarcon Goodnight Mt. Tam
Alexandra Connor Blake Gardens Kensington
Judith Cunningham January chill
Andrew J Dodd Altar Rock at Blind Beach Sonoma Coast
Andrew J Dodd Bodega Dunes Reverie
TIffany Ferreri Succulents
John Giannotti Dreamscape 1
Dmitry Grudsky Old Niles Vintage
Juanita Hagberg Synergy IV
Sharon Hind-Smith Where the Otters Play
Glen Jarvis Palms
Jessica De Jesus Fire Break
Jessica De Jesus Happy Cactus
Marion Leggett Columbine
Barbara Lind Daisies
Jana Lowe Pebble Beach
Craig Moline St George Statue
Craig Moline Sonoma Fields
Jaladhi Pujara Misty Morning Catch
Jaladhi Pujara Moored Memories
Susan Routledge Coastal Cypress 2
Judy Rowe Home Grown
Heidi Schmidt Secret Oak
Jane Sneed. Lake Anza Youth
Bernie Stein Up Little Lake Street
Kathleen Stumpfel Cottage
Kathleen Stumpfel Night Mist
Sujit Sudhi Heritage
Joseph Tringali Pohono Bridge
Rae Ann Williams The Last of the Berries
Georganne Zaro Break of Dawn
Georganne Zaro Abstract
Georganne Zaro Day at the Beach
Main Street Arts is a co-op, with eleven members. Each member is responsible for hanging new artwork every two months. Our new January/February show will be open for you to enjoy beginning January 3rd. Sadly, we have to say goodbye to Lynne McManus, one of our founding members. A talented watercolorist, Lynne is retiring from the gallery. She will be missed! In February we expect to have a new Main Street Arts gallery member. Who will it be? We don’t know yet!
We will resume our First Friday celebrations on February 2nd. Main Street Arts and many other shops on Main Street stay open and offer refreshments between 6 pm and 9 pm every first Friday of the month. Our free raffle continues into 2024 and in January you can have a chance to win art by Eric Carlstrom. In February Bonnie Fry’s artwork will be the free raffle prize. All you have to do is come in and fill out a raffle ticket, for free!
The gallery is located at 613 Main Street in Martinez. For more information visit www.mainstreetarts.net
All of us at Main Street Arts wish everyone a Happy New Year and we look forward to making lots of new art for the gallery.
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By Kelly Kalfsbeek, PIO, Contra Costa County Public Works Department
Contra Costa County (County) is accepting applications for the upcoming Member at Large opening on the Aviation Advisory Committee (AAC). This position is designated for someone who works or resides in Contra Costa County to represent all County stakeholders in matters related to Buchanan Field and Byron Airports. Upon appointment by the Board of Supervisors the new appointee would serve a term expiring on Sunday, February 28, 2027.
The AAC serves as an advisory group to the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors (Board) to provide advice and recommendations to the Board on aviation matters related to the Contra Costa County Airports. The AAC typically meets every other month at either Buchanan Field or Byron Airport.
Application forms can be obtained from the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors by calling (925) 655-2000 or at: https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/3418/Appointed-Bodies-Committees-Commissions. Applications should be submitted online or returned to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, County Administration Building, 1025 Escobar Street, 1st Floor in Martinez, no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 28, 2023. Applicants should plan to be available for public interviews in person or via Zoom, tentatively scheduled for Monday, January 22, 2024, at 11:00 am at the County Administration Building, 1025 Escobar Street, Conference Room 110 A & B, Martinez, at the Airports Committee Meeting.
For more information on the Contra Costa County Airports or the AAC visit us at www.ContraCostaCountyAirports.org or by calling (844) Fly-ToUs or (844) 359-8687.
Read MoreRunning to replace Tim Grayson, Sonia Ledo is the sole Republican in the race against three Democrats
Sonia Ledo, a resident of Concord and Realtor, has announced her candidacy for the California State Assembly. She aims to bring an improved quality of life for all residents of District 15.
“I’m excited to take this important step in seeking to represent much of Contra Costa County in the California State Assembly,” said Ledo. “I believe my professional and personal experiences give me a unique understanding of the needs of the district and the challenges we face. I will work to develop common sense solutions to improve the quality of life for not only Contra Costa residents, but all Californians.”
Through her professional experience in mortgage lending and real estate, Ledo has helped many first-time buyers purchase their dream homes utilizing various down payment assistance programs. Personally, she has raised four sons in the public education system in Contra Costa, including autistic twins who require special needs assistance.
The bi-lingual candidate who is fluent in Spanish and a first-generation American, has also volunteered locally over the years by coaching Challenger baseball for special needs players, sorting food at the Food Bank, feeding the needy on Christmas morning, and directly assisting families through personal donations. Ledo served as treasurer for the Women’s Council of Realtors Contra Costa and is also a longtime member of the One Hundred Club organization that supports families of fallen firefighters and police officers.
According to her webpage on the Compass, Inc. real estate website, she has been a licensed California Realtor® since 1991 and earned a bachelor’s degree in legal studies from JFK University and is a certified paralegal. In her free time, Ledo enjoys hiking the Contra Costa trails with her dog.
This blend of professional and personal experience has given her a deep understanding of the challenges faced in our communities by small businesses, families, seniors, disabled, people in crisis, and those with special needs.
If elected to the State Assembly, Ledo promises to work hard to bring fairness, transparency and a strong work ethic to Sacramento. Her priorities would include public safety, education, improved mental health services, increasing housing supply, and serving as a good steward of taxpayer money when faced with tough decisions regarding the looming state budget deficit of $68 billion.
Regarding housing, Ledo emphasizes that, “Building more housing alone won’t solve the issues of housing affordability. The underlying reasons for the high cost of housing must be addressed. We also need to better serve individuals with disabilities, mental health issues, and homelessness as a collaborative state effort.”
The seat being vacated by Assemblymember Tim Grayson includes all or parts of the cities of Antioch, Brentwood, Clayton, Concord, Martinez, Pittsburg and Pleasant Hill and unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County including Bay Point, Crockett and Pacheco.
The only Republican in the race, Ledo is looking forward to the March 5th primary elections and will be ready on day one to begin with a strong commitment to working with all bay area and California elected leaders for the well-being of our communities, region and state.
She faces Antioch Councilwoman Monica Wilson, Contra Costa School Board Trustee Anamaria Avila Farias and former county Supervisor Karen Mitchoff in the primary. The top two vote-getters will continue on to face off in the general election in November.
For more information about Ledo’s campaign visit www.sonialedo.com.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
Read MoreJob Posting
Position: District Executive Position
Position location: Pleasanton, CA
Council Website: www.ggacbsa.org
Since 1910, Scouting has helped mold the future leaders of this country by combining educational activities and lifelong values with fun. The Boy Scouts of America believes and understands that helping youth puts us on a path towards a more conscientious, responsible, and productive society.
Today’s professional Scouters are a diverse group of men and women sharing a dynamic career offering independence, achievement, and stability. This is work that makes a difference, work that calls one to continual learning and challenge, work that offers solid compensation, benefits and advancement.
The District Executive selected will:
- Work with a volunteer board of directors and other community and business leaders to identify, recruit, train, guide, and inspire them to become involved in youth programs.
- Achieve progress towards specific goals and objectives which include: program development through collaborative relationships, volunteer recruitment and training, fundraising, membership recruitment and retention.
- Be responsible for extending programs to religious, civic, fraternal, educational, and other community-based organizations through volunteers.
- Secure adequate financial support for programs in assigned area. Achieve net income and participation objectives for assigned camps and activities.
- Recruit leadership for finance campaign efforts to meet the financial needs of the organization.
- Ensure that all program sites are served through volunteers, regular leader meetings, training events and activities.
- Collaborate with adult volunteers and oversee achievement of training for their respective role.
- Be a good role model and recognize the importance of working relationships with other professionals and volunteers. The executive must have communication skills and be able to explain the program’s goals and objectives to the public.
- Provide quality service through timely communication, regular meetings, training events and activities.
- Have a willingness and ability to devote long and irregular hours to achieve council and district objectives.
Desired Skills:
- Strong marketing, fund-raising and program development background is highly desired.
- Non-profit, fundraising or sales experience is a plus.
- Must be comfortable with public speaking and interacting with diverse audiences. Excellent people skills, enthusiastic, punctual, responsible and creative.
- Self-motivated individual with solid time management skills and strong organizational skills in management, budgeting, and planning.
- Committed to personal and professional productivity, while maintaining high ethical and professional working standards.
Requirements:
- Must be willing to accept and meet the Boy Scout of America’s leadership and membership standards and subscribe to the Scout Oath and Law.
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university (transcript with the date degree conferred stated is required for employment).
- Attained 21 years of age or older unless prohibited by any applicable law.
- Ability to work varied hours when necessary, evening activities and weekend work is frequently required to achieve positive objectives.
- Ability to travel for training at least once a year for one to two weeks.
- A Scouting background is helpful but not required for employment.
- Offers for employment are subject to criminal, reference and motor vehicle background checks.
Compensation:
All councils are equal opportunity employers. In addition to offering a competitive salary of $64,480, Professional Scouting offers benefits to include major medical, prescription coverage, dental, vision, life-insurance, long-term disability, accidental death, a defined benefit retirement plan, plus compensation for authorized and approved business related expenses to include phone and mileage reimbursement. We also offer generous vacation policy and ten holiday observances.
How to apply:
Qualified candidates must submit cover letter and resume with salary history to kara.miller@scouting.org only the most qualified candidates will be contacted.
Additional information on a career as a District Executive can be found at this link: http://www.scouting.org/Careers/WorkingWithUs/EssentialSkills.aspx.
Read MoreThrough New Year’s Day
By Brentwood Police Department
The holiday season can be a dangerous time for people on the roads. In December 2021 alone, 1,013 people were killed in the U.S. in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Brentwood PD wants to remind the public of the dangers of driving impaired and celebrate the holiday season responsibly by not driving under the influence.
From December 13th through New Year’s Day, Brentwood PD will have additional officers on patrol looking for drivers suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. The high-visibility enforcement effort is part of a national campaign, “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over”, with the goal of stopping suspected impaired drivers who put others on the road at risk.
Brentwood PD encourages everyone to stay in for the night or have a “go safely” game plan by scheduling a ride or designating a sober driver if you plan to consume alcohol.
San Ramon Police Department will continue to conduct DUI enforcement throughout this Holiday Season.
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By Hercules Police Department
Can you spot the firearm? Swipe to see if you would have located it… good eye, Officer.
On Monday, Dec. 11, 2023, at approximately 1:53 AM an officer conducted a traffic stop on a black Chevrolet Malibu on Willow Ave at Hawthorne Drive. While speaking with the driver, the officer observed the barrel of a silver and black firearm protruding from underneath a jacket on the front passenger seat.
The driver was detained, and a search of the vehicle was conducted. The search revealed a loaded, silver and black Springfield XD-M 40 pistol. The firearm was unregistered. The driver was arrested for firearm violations and booked in jail.
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By San Pablo Police Department
This is how you get on Santa’s naughty list!!!
On Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, officers were patrolling our city and located a stolen vehicle driving around. They were able to stop the vehicle and contacted three subjects inside. All three subjects were detained and while searching the vehicle, officers located approximately 600 lbs. of copper wire.
An AT&T representative responded and identified it as stolen AT&T wire and stated that it was worth approx. $10,000.00 dollars. These suspects earned themselves a spot on Santa’s naughty list and were booked into county jail. The copper wire was returned to AT&T and the vehicle to its owner.
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