Community | Contra Costa Herald

Supervisor Glover participates in “March for Meals Community Champions Week”

April 1, 2016 By Publisher Leave a Comment

Federal Glover delivers a meal to senior Ethel

Federal Glover delivers a meal to Ethel, a senior in Antioch.

The week of March 21 – 25 marked Meals on Wheels of America’s “March for Meals Community Champions Week,” a national campaign to raise awareness about senior needs, especially around hunger and isolation.

As a member agency, Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services (MOWSOS) participated locally and invited community leaders to take part in meal delivery ride-a-longs to homebound, frail seniors around the county.

“We’ve identified 23 Community Champions, community leaders…delivering meals,” said Elaine Clark, Chief Executive Officer of MOWSOS.

They included District V Supervisor Federal Glover; Antioch Mayor Pro-Tem, Lori Ogorchock; Clayton Mayor Howard Geller; Martinez Mayor Rob Schroder; Pleasant Hill Mayor Sue Noack; Oakley Mayor Kevin Romick; Orinda Mayor Victoria Smith; Walnut Creek Mayor Pro-Tem Rich Carlston; Pleasant Hill Councilmember, Tim Flaherty; Concord Councilmember Dan Helix; Walnut Creek Councilmember Bob Simmons; Bay Point All in One President, Delano Johnson; Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff, Lt. Paul O’Mary, and Deputies Katie Rhoe and Matt Buckley; Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County Executive Director, Will McGarvey; Bay Point Municipal Advisory Council Member Debra Mason; American Medical Response (AMR), Public Information Officer, Alicia Moore and EMT’s Sarah Dotson and Jason Kalan; Dayna Wilson, Keller Williams Realtor.

“The services provided by Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services is critical,” said Glover. “I was very happy to help spread the word along-side these incredible volunteers.”

If you or your civic or community group, are available to help, please contact Carol Louisell, Director of Community Engagement at clouisell@mowsos.org or 925-954-8736. An on-line application, an orientation, and background check are required.

Assistance League of Diablo Valley’s Operation School Bell to celebrate 50,000 children clothed, April 23

April 1, 2016 By Publisher Leave a Comment

Way Side Inn Thrift Shop in Lafayette

Assemblywoman Susan A. Bonilla (D-Concord), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Human Services, will be joining the Assistance League of Diablo Valley, a non-profit, member volunteer organization dedicated to improving lives in the community through hands-on programs, on Saturday, April 23rd to celebrate their most amazing achievement to date. One of ten philanthropic programs, Assistance League^® of Diablo Valley’s nationally acclaimed Operation School Bell^® has reached a milestone this year by clothing 50,000 children since 1994.

The free festivities open to the public include special guest speakers, refreshments, gift certificate drawings and discount coupons for the thrift shop. Help us celebrate how providing clothes for school children results in improved school attendance, campus citizenship, and academic performance.

WHEN: Saturday, April 23, 2016 at 11:00AM

WHERE: Assistance League Way Side Inn Thrift Shop, 3521 Golden Gate Way, Lafayette

To learn more about Assistance League of Diablo Valley and the Way Side Inn Thrift Shop, please visit their website: diablovalley.assistanceleague.org.

Contra Costa Fair to host 2016 Central Coast Wine Competition, entries now being accepted

March 30, 2016 By Publisher Leave a Comment

PASO ROBLES, CALIFORNIA – The Central Coast Wine Competition has announced that it is now accepting entries for the 2016 competition, which will take place June 14-16, 2016. The competition staff strongly encourages wineries to take advantage of the opportunity to enter the competition online at http://cmsfw.fairmanager.com/. The entry book, which details the entry classes and guidelines, can be found at the California Mid-State Fair webpage or the CCWC blog at http://centralcoastwinecomp.com.

The Central Coast Wine Competition is the largest evaluation event for wines produced exclusively on California’s Central Coast and is hosted by seven fairs: The California Mid-State Fair, Contra Costa County Fair, Grand National Livestock Exposition, Horse Show and Rodeo, Monterey County Fair, San Benito County Fair, Santa Barbara County Fair and the Ventura County Fair. The 2016 competition features our new chief Judge Tim McDonald and an internationally renowned panel of judges including wine writers, winemakers, sommeliers and wine buyers.

The 2016 competition will run June 14 -16, 2016. For further information, refer to our wine blog at centralcoastwinecompetition.wordpress.com. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @CCWineComp.

Funds found to reopen Ambrose Park pool in Bay Point

March 30, 2016 By Publisher 3 Comments

Rendering of redesign of Ambrose Park pool.

Kids and swimmers will soon be splashing around again in the Ambrose Park Pool after being shut down for seven years.

“I used to work at Ambrose Park when I was younger,” said Supervisor Federal Glover, “so I know the value that the pool provides for the community.”

The Contra Costa Board of Supervisors approved, Tuesday morning, the release of Keller Canyon mitigation funds to help fill in the shortfall for the cost of repairing the pool to bring it up to code. The action, at Glover’s instigation, released a total of $250,000 from the county: $150,000 from the fees collected from the Keller Canyon Landfill for the fiscal year 2015-16 and will draw upon $100,000 from the anticipated fees to be collected in 2016-17.

Glover met with the park district and the City of Pittsburg to hammer out an agreement to pay the $682,000 needed to include a contingency fund and bridge the gap and between the original repair estimate to bring the pool up to new state standards, which forced its closure in 2009.

The balance of the funding gap will be split between Pittsburg and the park district, which encompasses parts of western Pittsburg and the unincorporated community of Bay Point.

“As a resident and board member of the Ambrose District, I am so pleased that Supervisor Federal Glover and the City of Pittsburg are helping us complete the pool project,” said park district board chair Mae Cendaña Torlakson. “This cooperative effort demonstrates how great teamwork among agencies helps serve our families and children.”

The Pittsburg City Council approved the city’s portion of the funding last March 21.

“Ambrose Pool is important to families in Pittsburg as well as Bay Point,” said Pittsburg Mayor Ben Johnson. “The additional funds move us closer to the pool re-opening, so the kids can swim there again.”

According to Ambrose General Manager Doug Long, the pool should reopen Memorial Day of 2017.

“The renovation project has inspired a great deal of community spirit and we’re looking forward to providing the public with a refreshed pool facility,” said Long. “Without the support of County Supervisor Federal Glover and Board of Supervisors along with the City of Pittsburg City Council and staff, this project may not have come to fruition.”

The popular swimming pool complex, which first opened in the 1940s, closed down seven years ago because it didn’t meet modern safety standards.

After several design and cost revisions and several community meetings, the new facility will feature a renovated pool and pool deck, a new bathhouse, and upgraded landscaping.

The new pool will host a variety of activities including swim lessons, recreational swim, water aerobics, and special events for the entire family.

“Residents have been waiting a long time for their pool,” said Glover. “I hope that the pool opening will once again serve as a way to bring the community together.”

Ambrose Park is located at 125 Memorial Way in Bay Point. For more information on the pool click here.

For more information about the Ambrose Recreation and Park District visit www.ambroserec.org or call (925) 458-1601.

Diane Burgis receives Women Improving the Environment Award from the Contra Costa Women’s Hall of Fame

March 23, 2016 By Publisher Leave a Comment

Diane Burgis, a trustee on the East Bay Regional Parks District Board and Executive Director of Friends of the Marsh Creek Watershed received the Women Improving the Environment Award from the Contra Costa Women’s Hall of Fame, Tuesday night in Concord.

The Board of Supervisors established the Contra Costa Women’s Hall of Fame in October 1997 to acknowledge those exceptional, multifaceted women who have enhanced life in Contra Costa County through their careers and volunteer activities.

The honorees have made a difference through their efforts towards equity, innovation, service or achievement in commerce or community outreach.

Burgis was nominated by Susan Morgan, a Director on the Ironhouse Sanitary District Board. “Through Diane Burgis’ leadership as Executive Director of the Friends of the Marsh Creek Watershed, the protection of natural resources including creeks, water quality and open space has become a priority to our community and its leaders,” said Morgan. “Much of Diane’s work has been funded part time and she was able to accomplish great things for our environment and the Watershed by working beyond her paid hours and by recruiting and encouraging support from volunteers in the community.”

Marsh Creek is one of the fastest urbanizing watersheds in California, and the creek flows for 30 miles through the rapidly growing communities of Brentwood, Oakley and Antioch in eastern Contra Costa County and into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

“I am honored to receive this award on behalf of the many volunteers who contribute their time and talent to protecting, conserving and restoring the Marsh Creek Watershed,” said Burgis.

Burgis is a candidate for County Supervisor in District 3 in the June election. This is the second honor she has received since entering the race.

César E. Chávez March, Celebration and Healthcare Fair in Pittsburg, Saturday

March 22, 2016 By Publisher Leave a Comment

WHAT: César E. Chávez March, Celebration and Healthcare Fair

WHEN: Saturday, March 26, 2016

WHERE: 11:00 am – Noon Rally & March (rain or shine) from Pittsburg City Hall, 65 Civic Drive to the Celebration and Healthcare Fair at Marina Vista Elementary School, 50 East Eight Street, Pittsburg.

WHY: Cesar was a fighter for social justice with a simple creed. Si se puede! – Is, in three words, an entire philosophy for achieving the impossible, that out of many, we are one. César knew that when you lift up one person, it enriches a community; it bolsters our economy, strengthens our Nation, and gives meaning to the creed that out of many, we are one.

As we celebrate his life, we are reminded of our obligations to one another and the extraordinary opportunity we are each given to work toward justice, equal opportunity, and a better future for every one of our sisters and brothers.

Raised in the fields of Arizona and California. César believed every job has dignity and every person should have the chance to reach beyond his or her circumstances and realize a brighter future.

When no one seemed to care about the farm workers who labored without basic protections and for meager pay to help feed the world, César Chávez awakened our Nation to their deplorable conditions and abject poverty – injustices he knew firsthand.

He organized, protested, fasted, and alongside other organizers, founded the United Farm Workers.

Slowly, he grew a small movement to a 10,000-person march and eventually a 17-million-strong boycott of table grapes, rallying a generation around “La Causa” and forcing growers to agree to some of the first farm worker contracts in history.

Guided by a fierce commitment to nonviolence in support of a righteous cause, he never lost faith in the power of opportunity for all.

Cesar’s legacy is alive in the protests and rallies of the Dreamers – the young, undocumented immigrants whose families brought them to the United States and who are fighting to make a future for themselves in the only country that they have ever known. His legacy endures for Hispanics who are breaking barriers every day, rising in the world of politics, succeeding in business and making names for themselves in the arts. Future generations need to remember Cesar on the day we elect the first Hispanic president of the United States.

The Keynote Speaker will be Iliana Perez, DACAmented Doctoral Student with a M.A. in Economics. Perez was born in Hidalgo, Mexico and immigrated alongside her mother, father and younger brother to the U.S. at the age of eight. Iliana grew up in Turlock, CA and navigated the

educational system as an undocumented student for 18 years until she became a DACA recipient in 2013; her parents remain undocumented with no immigration remedy due to unjust immigration policies.

Iliana attended CSU-Fresno on a full-ride scholarship through the Smittcamp Family Honor’s Program, where she graduated from in 2009 with a degree in Mathematics and a minor in Economics. Iliana recently finished a M.A. in Economics from Claremont Graduate University and is completing a Ph.D. in Education Policy, Evaluation and Reform. Her research focuses on the occupational and educational attainment of immigrant students, the effects of deportation on the lives of young adults and economics of immigration. Iliana has shared her story and presented her work to various audiences across the country via keynotes and research presentations at professional conferences, organizations and college campuses.

Her personal story, as well as her work have been featured in several media outlets including LA Times, Business Insider, CNN, CNNE, The Huffington Post, Univision, La Opinion, Radio Bilingue and various other journals, blogs and newspapers around the world. Iliana plans to use her knowledge and research skills to help inform education and immigration policies in the U.S. and abroad.

ENTERTAINMENT: Ballet Folklorico from Pittsburg High School, Ritmo Mexicano (“quebradita” dance group) from Pittsburg High School and Spoken Word. After main celebration we will have a “Fiesta” with Alex Moreno Band, Andrés Soto and the Bay Breeze Band, Pinatas, Food, healthcare providers and nonprofit booths.

FREE TO ALL

EVENT SPONSORS: Mt Diablo Recycling, Federal Glover, Mechanics Bank – Pittsburg Branch, City of Pittsburg and Pittsburg Unified School District.

For more information visit www.pittsburgcesarchavez.org.

Travel magazine names Concord one of 10 Best Places in the World to Retire

March 18, 2016 By Publisher Leave a Comment

photo courtesy of Conde Nast Traveler magazine.

Conde Nast Traveler magazine has named Concord, California as one of 10 Best Places in the World to Retire. Chosen number seven on their list, according to their website, the magazine described Concord as follows:

“Located only 30 miles east of San Francisco, Concord is a big little city, home to farmers markets, excellent health care facilities, and free community activities throughout the year. Other bonuses are its location on the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) system, and a crime rate below that of San Francisco, despite its proximity and connection to the city. Concord is also one of the few U.S. cities to have a working drive-in theater, which is perfect for indulging in an evening of nostalgia.”

Vice Mayor Ron Leone was elated to hear the news.

“That’s great to hear,” he said. “Concord is a great place to live and retire. We have a lot of amenities and we’re close to everything.”

On the list in order are Coronado, Panama; Penang, Malaysia; Cascais, Portugal; San Miguel de Allenda, Mexico; Killarney, Ireland; Corozal, Belize; Concord, California; Grand Haven, Michigan; Santa Fe, New Mexico and Louisville, Kentucky.

See photos and descriptions of each city, here. http://www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2016-03-03/the-10-best-places-in-the-world-to-retire

Viewing party of Open Roads with Doug McConnell featuring a segment on Marsh Creek, Sunday

March 17, 2016 By Publisher Leave a Comment

By Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed

Join us Sunday, March 20th at 6PM for a viewing party of Open Roads with Doug McConnell featuring a segment on Marsh Creek. Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed invited our friends from Save Mount Diablo, the John Marsh Historical Trust & the Independence High School Outdoor Wetlands Learning (OWL) Program to participate in a quick look at Marsh Creek top to bottom.

We will have food and soft drinks for $10. This is a family event!

You can attend without eating just sign up for a free ticket.

When: Sunday, March 20, 2016 from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM (PDT) – Add to Calendar

Where: Providence Bar & Eatery – 2085 Main Street, Oakley, CA 94561 – View Map

Art workshop to help build veterans’ self-understanding through self-portraits Wednesday nights

March 16, 2016 By Publisher Leave a Comment

Join Us for Our Last Workshop This Year

The Arts and Culture Commission of Contra Costa County is offering two-day self-portrait painting workshops at no cost to all Contra Costa County Veterans. Workshops will take place in Martinez at ARTU4iA, a working art studio led by noted artist John Kleber. No art experience required. All painting materials will be provided.

MARCH 16 & 23, 2016

6:00 – 9:00 pm

If you are a Veteran living in Contra Costa County please register at AC5.org

Assemblywoman Bonilla honors Clayton resident Collette Carroll as the 14th Assembly District 2016 Woman of the Year

March 16, 2016 By Publisher Leave a Comment

Collette Carroll with Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla on Assembly floor, Monday, March 14, 2016. courtesy of Susan Bonilla’s Facebook page.

Assemblywoman Susan A. Bonilla (D-Concord) recognized Collette Carroll as the 2016 Assembly District 14 Woman of the Year during the annual floor ceremony, on Monday, March 14, which honors outstanding women making an impact in their local communities and across the state.

Collette Carroll, a resident of Clayton, California is a 2015 CNN Hero and the President and Executive Director of California Reentry Institute (CRI), a nonprofit organization that prepares and supports men through the transition from prison to freedom. Through her Empowered Reentry Program based out of San Quentin State Prison, Collette provides inmates with the tools and assistance to become contributing members of society, proving that with preparation and support, the cycle of incarceration can be broken.

“It is an honor to recognize Collette for her courageous work and its impact on California,” said Bonilla. “Her dedication, passion and commitment has transformed the lives of CRI graduates. The work she has accomplished inside and outside of our prisons for over 16 years proves that change and rehabilitation can happen when given the opportunity and support.”

In 2008, Collette created CRI when she realized the work she was doing was simply scratching the surface and that in order to make a successful transition from incarceration to freedom, men needed a solid and seamless pre-and post-release program. The comprehensive program which Collette runs inside San Quentin is a minimum 20 months and has had a remarkable, zero percent recidivism rate for all graduates of the program.

This past February, Collette held a graduation for a class of 43 and will begin a new class in late Spring. For more information about Collette and CRI, please visit: http://californiareentryinstitute.org/.

Assemblywoman Susan A. Bonilla (D-Concord) was elected in November 2010 and represents California’s 14th Assembly District, which includes Contra Costa County and Solano County.