Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

Women Forward International brings together Mexican, Calif. food recovery partners for distribution event in Antioch Thursday

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Source: White Pony Express

Under the auspices of WFI, the Mexican Association of Vegan Entrepreneurs is joining with California’s White Pony Express to create a model for attacking food insecurity on a global scale

On July 7, 2022, a new global partnership will make the first of many shared moves against food insecurity.

Women Forward International, the global non-profit that is building creative partnerships to bring about unity, collaboration and service to humanity, will bring their Mexican partners, the Association of Vegan Entrepreneurs of Mexico (EVM), for a site visit and food distribution with their California partner, White Pony Express (WPE), a leading food rescue and recovery non-profit, located in Contra Costa County. This follows on WPE’s site visit sponsored by WFI to EVM’s headquarters in Monterrey, Mexico last month.

The food distribution will be held in conjunction with RR Ministries, a community bilingual church in Antioch. The event will take place on Thursday, July 7 at (time) in the church’s parking lot at 512 W. 2nd Street. Sweetgreen, the health-focused casual food restaurant chain and WPE partner, is providing 150 vegan salads for the volunteers. World Centric, leader in compostable materials and sustainability, will be providing earth friendly containers for the food distribution.

The event represents WFI’s expansion of a volunteer-powered food delivery service initiative in Mexico. The non-profit organization is bringing together White Pony Express and the Association of Vegan Entrepreneurs of Mexico in order to provide technical assistance and support for EVM’s Mesa Redonda Round Table initiative, aimed at reducing hunger in America’s neighbor.

Throughout EVM’s visit, WPE will help EVM deepen its work underway, institute safety policies and practices, raise awareness, and ultimately expand their services. WPE will provide lessons learned and will help develop manuals and approaches that will enable Mesa Redonda to incorporate more restaurants and other types of businesses into their network as well as serve additional organizations supporting women who have suffered from gender-based violence (GBV).

Source: White Pony Express

According to Kent Davis-Packard, founder and president of Women Forward International, “The collaboration of White Pony Express with its Mexican counterpart demonstrates the power of cross-border partnership to alleviate food insecurity and contribute to social equality. It also provides an example of a new paradigm of philanthropy that is based on love and human unity.”

Eve Birge, Executive Director of White Pony Express, added, “We look forward to deepening the impact of the Mesa Redonda initiative through sharing best practices and approaches to building trust and collaboration. In short, we will help them create a model that will be scalable and is based on our belief in the ‘all of us taking care of all of us’ vision.”

Rocio Cavazos, founder and president of EVM, envisions a deeper purpose for her organization’s visit, “WFI and WPE are helping us achieve a shared goal of uplifting lives, protecting the environment, and putting an end to hunger and marginalization. This model can be applicable to the entire world.”

ABOUT WOMEN FORWARD INTERNATIONAL (WFI)

WFI(www.womenforwardinternational.org) builds creative partnerships that bridge mind and heart to bring about unity, collaboration and service to humanity. WFI’s partnerships encompass a range of private sector, academic and non-profit clients to identify research critical to human progress, and then pairs teams of graduate international studies students with these organizations to complete that research and implement innovative solutions. These projects include empowering women artisans in conflict zones, enabling sustainable farming with gender equity and taking steps toward the elimination of hunger along with inclusive access to education through digital and other unique platforms. WFI uses the reflective power of Art to reveal and investigate the underlying cultural issues at stake in a given international relations issue. It thus provides the next generation of global leaders with a more holistic approach to human relationships.

ABOUT VEGAN ENTREPRENEURS OF MEXICO (EVM)

Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, the Association of Vegan Entrepreneurs of Mexico (en.aevm.mx) is an NGO and entrepreneurial community that strives to empower consumers to adopt conscious and healthy lifestyles. Members make plant-based options accessible to the general public, replacing the use of animals to achieve balance with the Earth, the health of our bodies and an ethical interaction with other living beings with which we share the planet.

ABOUT WHITE PONY EXPRESS (WPE)

Based in the California Bay Area, White Pony Express (WPE) (www.whiteponyexpress.org) is a volunteer-powered organization with a mission to eliminate hunger and poverty by delivering the abundance all around us to those in need—with love. They serve 120,000 people each year by partnering with more than 80 non-profit agencies who have strong ties to the community. The rescue program at WPE has expanded this model by subjecting all collected food to a meticulous culling process and promising that it is obtained, sorted, and redistributed within a twenty-four-hour time period—seven days a week.

ABOUT RR MINISTRIES (MINISTERIOS REY DE REYES): RR Ministries is a bilingual ministry, located in Antioch, California. We believe God has called us to teach His word as an instrument of restoration and healing for the families in our community. We, as a church are committed to create an environment that builds healthy individuals and strong families. The church’s Promise Keeper Program conducts regularly conducts food and supplies distribution on the second and fourth Saturday of each month. For information, call (925) 588-4818.

Patriots Jet Team to perform over Venice Island before Mandeville fireworks show Sunday evening

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Source: Patriots Jet Team

By Patriots Jet Team

Venice Island, are you ready for an airshow this weekend!! We are super excited to perform prior to the Mandeville fireworks show! Thanks to the Venice Island Owners, Inc. we’ll be performing a six-jet aerobatic show July 3rd at 6:30pm. Make sure your radio is tuned in to 95.5FM for the show. #airshow #mandevillefireworks #californiadelta

For more information about the Byron Airport-based Patriots Jet Team visit patriotsjetteam.com.

Oakley Summer Fest and Ironhouse Sanitary District 5K Fun Run Saturday, July 2

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Summer Fest is coming up this Saturday, July 2nd!

This festival will include live music on the main stage, a vintage car show on Main Street, a giant kids area (inflatables, water games, carnival slides, face painting, goat petting zoo, and more!), local artisan makers, and delicious food vendors.

Folks can also sign up for a 5K, cornhole tournament, and take part in a car show.

Check out www.OakleySummerFest.com to learn more!

From Oakley Parks & Recreation Department

Do you want to add a fun 5k medal to your collection?

We are so excited to partner with Ironhouse Sanitary District to have an Oakley Summer Fest 5K. This event will be held before Oakley Summer Fest with runners starting at 7:00 AM. All runners must be finished with their 5K prior to 8:30 AM.

Registered runners will receive a goodie bag with a t-shirt and commemorative medal for this inaugural event. Registration is now open on our website and is $25 per person!

Use the link below to register!

https://oakley-summer-fest-2022.yolasite.com/5k/

#OakleySummerFest #OakleyCA #CityofOakley #OakleyCalifornia #SummerCelebration #5K #OakleySummerFest5K

East Contra Costa Fire Chief Helmick offers his farewell, gives final State of the District

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ECCFPD Chief Brian Helmick. Official photo

City of Oakley offers their thanks

As the transfer of command to the Contra Costa Fire Protection District will occur this Friday, East Contra Costa Fire Chief Brian Helmick in a post on his own Facebook page on Monday, June 27, which was then shared on the district’s Facebook page, he offered the following farewell:

“It’s been an Honor and Privilege to Serve You as East Contra Costa Fire Protection Districts Fire Chief.

Today marks my last week as the Fire Chief of the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD). In April of 2017, I was given the opportunity to serve as the Interim Fire Chief of ECCFPD and in January 2018, I became the permanent Fire Chief.

This article is intended to say thank you to my extended family and community for the patience and continued support through this entire painstakingly hard process. Below one will find the ones who are responsible for correcting ECCFPD’s historical Fire, Rescue, and EMS challenges.

ECCFPD Chief Brian Helmick, with his wife, Kristen and their daughters. Photos: Brian Helmick

Below are the ones who deserve the credit for fixing once and for all ECCFPD’s challenges.

They are as follows:

To God, my family, friends, appointed / elected Fire Board members, ECCFPD’s employees past and present, IAFF Local 1230 and other Labor Representatives, and ECCFPD Contractors. I start by thanking God (with God shall nothing be impossible-thank you Jesus!) for all of you. Personally, over the last five years, I trusted and worked to be obedient to God (stumbling many times along the way) and HE blessed me with The Dream Team. For years, I have been consistently confident that if I was obedient to Him, that in His time, and according to His plan, ECCFPD’s issues would be resolved.

To my Family, ECCFPD Family, and the “Dream Team”, your efforts collectively and perseverance are what brought the concept of fixing ECCFPD’s historical issues to a conclusion. I thank you all.

To the elected Officials and their Staff of the City of Brentwood, City of Oakley, Contra Costa County, the Towns / Municipal Advisory Councils, and The Discovery Bay Community Service District. Your continued collaboration, patience, and trust over the past five years have been a catalyst to moving the Fire District forward. I thank you all.

To the long list of Partner Fire, Law, and EMS agencies. Thank you for the years of responding to mutual aid and automatic aid requests and for filling the gap where we could not ourselves. Your dedicated support has saved many lives and property. Thank you for helping us do what we could not do on our own.

To the federal, state and local elective representatives and affiliate associations. Thank you for helping ECCFPD identify what options were available (and were not) at the federal, state, and local level. The education and collaboration brought millions of dollars to the fire district. Thank you.

To the citizens and businesses of East Contra Costa. Thank you for working with ECCFPD to develop the 2019-2023 strategic plan and to challenge the District to explore all options in lieu of taxes to fix the Fire District’s historical challenges. The communities continued patience and accountability helped define the path that the district took that led to annexing into Con Fire.

I have been asked if I’m OK with this transition, and no longer serving as the Fire Chief of ECCFPD?

Although the process is truly bittersweet, I can confidently say, yes!!!! I say this confidentiality because the District’s men and women, that I served with, have demonstrated that they are more than capable of moving forward and into the next chapter or our organization’s story. As of July 1, 2022, the community will be receiving, for the first time in decades, sustainable and acceptable Fire, EMS, and Rescue services.

As the annexation becomes reality on July 1, please know that I’m not going anywhere. I will be transitioning from my current Fire Chief’s position into a Deputy Fire Chief position with the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. In my new position, I will continue to advocate for the first responders, citizens and businesses of eastern Contra Costa County and throughout the County as a whole.

In closing, as your Fire Chief, I say thank you to all of those mentioned in this article (apologies to anyone missed), as it has been a tremendous privilege and honor to serve you and to be part of the team that did what many said was impossible to do.

Mission accomplished!!

Sincerely, In His service and always at heart, your Fire Chief,

Brian Helmick”

——————-

City of Oakley Offers Their Thanks to Helmick

In a post on Thursday, June 30, the City of Oakley posted the following message of thanks to Helmick on their Facebook page:

“On his last day as Chief of the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD), we extend our sincere gratitude to Fire Chief Brian Helmick.

Chief Helmick is a selfless leader who has put the residents of East Contra Costa before all else. For the past few years, he’s worked to have ECCFPD annexed by Contra Contra Fire Protection District (Con Fire) so that East County would have access to more personnel, equipment, and resources. The annexation means more fire services in our area and faster, life-saving response times.

He has literally worked himself out of a job for the benefit of our East County community and we couldn’t be more grateful for his selfless efforts. Chief Helmick is a public servant in every sense of the word, and we salute him for his service to Oakley. We look forward to working with him as he transitions to Con Fire!”

Helmick Provides a Final State of the District

Then on Wednesday, Helmick gave a final State of the District in a live video on the fire district’s Facebook page which can be viewed, here.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

East Contra Costa Fire to transfer command to Contra Costa Fire District during ceremony Friday morning

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About East Contra Costa County Fire Protection District – The East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD) is a rural-funded fire district that currently operates 3 fire stations and has a 3-station deficit. The District protects a population of more than 128,000 across its 249 square-mile service area. ECCFPD provides firefighting personnel, emergency medical services (basic life support) and fire prevention to the residents and businesses of the cities of Brentwood and Oakley, and unincorporated communities of Discovery Bay, Bethel Island, Knightsen, Byron, Marsh Creek, and Morgan Territory.

About Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) — A recognized fire service leader – Con Fire provides fire and emergency medical services to some 625,000 residents in nine cities and five unincorporated areas across our 304 square-mile jurisdiction. With few exceptions, county emergency ambulance transport services are provided by Con Fire through our unique sub-contractor Alliance model across the District and beyond to include some 520 square miles of the County. In 2021, the District responded to more than 141,000 incidents of all types, including some 55,000 fire and EMS emergencies, and dispatched nearly 100,000 ambulances, providing expert medical care on more than 75,000 ambulance transports. The District, with 26 fire stations and more than 400 employees, is dedicated to preserving life, property, and the environment.

Three women killed, one from Antioch when Amtrak train hits car near Brentwood Sunday afternoon

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Emergency personnel on scene of the crash that occurred at a rural railroad track crossing in unincorporated Brentwood Sunday afternoon, June 26, 2022. Source: CBS13 video screenshot. Published with permission.

Two other people including child sustain major injuries

The damaged victims’ Honda Civic following the collision with an Amtrak train in unincorporated Brentwood Sunday afternoon, June 26, 2022. Source: KPIX5 video screenshot. Published with permission. Redacted by the Herald.

By Allen D. Payton

Three people were killed, and two others were injured when an Amtrak train hit a car near Brentwood Sunday afternoon.

According to Con Fire PIO Steve Hill, at 1:00 P.M. in the 3000 block of Orwood Road located in unincorporated Brentwood, a single passenger vehicle was struck by a west bound train with 85 people aboard. Three people were pronounced dead on scene. Two other victims were air lifted due to major injuries. The scene was turned over to CCC Sheriff’s Office and BNSF.

One of the injured was a child who was transported by helicopter to Children’s Hospital in Oakland.

“A third person was transported due to unrelated medical conditions,” East Contra Contra Fire Protection District PIO Steve Aubert added.

East Contra Costa County Firefighters transport a victim to an ambulance from the destroyed Honda Civic. Screenshot of video by Art Ray. Published with permission.

The Contra Costa Coroner’s Office released the identities of the victims. Mercedes Regalado aged 50 of Antioch, Maria Nieves, 27, and Julia Mondragon, 40, both of Dixon died when the Honda Civic they were in was struck as it crossed the railroad tracks.

A report by CBS13 Sacramento included video of the scene showing the damaged car. According to that report, nobody on board the train was hurt.

According to CHP-Contra Costa PIO Lane Adams, “the collision is being investigated by BNSF railroad police.” An effort to reach BNSF Rail spokesman Juan Acosta for additional details on Monday was unsuccessful.

Please check back later for any updates to this report.

Fireworks cause of four-alarm June 17 major Pittsburg grass fire

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Threatened 100 homes, prompted evacuation of 2,200 residents

By Steve Hill, Con Fire PIO

Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) today announced last week fire investigators have determined fireworks were the cause of the early morning June 17 grassfire that originated in the open space south of Jacqueline Drive, Pittsburg. The fire threatened some 100 homes and forced the mandatory evacuation of approximately 2,200 residents.

The blaze, first reported at 2 a.m., prompted a four-alarm response from both Con Fire and Cal Fire, with more than 100 firefighters and support personnel dispatched to the scene. Structure protection crews, who were aided by substantial work by residents to create defensible space around their properties, were required to protect numerous homes.

When the fire was declared knocked down at 6 a.m, the fire had burned 121 acres.

Weather conditions at the time – principally high winds, gusting to 30 miles per hour – coupled with extremely dry and dangerous vegetation, quickly fed the fire, which burned to the northeast, northwest and south, threatening homes to the north.

The mandatory evacuation order implemented by incident commanders, and executed by Pittsburg Police and the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, was Con Fire’s first significant use of the

new Zonehaven digital evacuation tool, evacuating zone PTS-E008. Many residents also self-evacuated ahead of the order as flames quickly spread.

Con Fire encourages all County residents to learn their home’s zone by visiting www.cwsalerts.com and clicking on the “Know Your Zone” tab at the top of the page.

No firefighters or civilians were reported injured as a result of the blaze.

The fire remains under investigation at this time to identify the person or persons responsible for setting off the fireworks.

Motorcycles entertain the fans at Antioch Speedway

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Tony Meiring #1 on his way to the Pro Am heat race win. He swept all three of his races. Photo by Katrina Kniss

By Candice Martin, DCRR Racing Media

Antioch, CA…June 25…The flat track motorcycles invaded Antioch Speedway for a special night of racing on the 3/8 mile clay oval track. Over a dozen different classifications of bikes took their turns on the speedway in heat race and Main Event competition. However, the focus was on the Pro Am division, which competed for a $1,000 prize.

There were eight competitors for the Pro Am class, and the Top 4 heat race finishers would earn the right to compete in the winner take all $500 Dash for Cash. After winning the 10-lap heat race, Tony Meiring proceeded to score the big victory in the four lap Trophy Dash.

Meiring had his eyes on the $1,000 prize in the 20 lap Main Event, and he led that race from the outset. Brandon Weller moved into second on Lap 2, and Chris McDougall battled his way into third. They would finish in that order with Meiring the happy winner.

Donnie Darrah #48 led the pack in both the 230 Motorcycle heat race and Main Event. Photo by Katrina Kniss

The 12-lap Running Of The Bulls event didn’t have quite the first prize that was originally intended due to sponsorship pulling out at the last minute. However, the drivers on hand competed for $500 to win. After winning the 10-lap heat race, Blake Ash proceeded to win the 12-lap Main Event. Jonathan Schaefer was second ahead of William McDonnell.

The Schaefer name was at the head of the pack in the 85cc class, which brought nine riders to the show. Colton Schaefer won the 12-lap Main Event ahead of Rider Fitz-Hay and Jeff Katarzy. Schaefer and Chris Knox picked up their respective 10-lap heat race wins.

The 250 class saw Myles Henderson win their 12-lap Main Event ahead of James Arraiz and Christian Knox. Henderson also won the 10-lap heat race.

Donnie Darrah opened the evening with the Vintage A 10-lap heat race win and followed that up by holding off William McDonnell and Larry Greene to win the 12-lap Main Event.

Ryder Meiring #56 and C Elscholz #199 battle for position in the Peewee heat race. Photo by Katrina Kniss

The Peewee class for kids four- to six years old proved to be very popular, and Indy Tallent won the 12-lap feature ahead of C Elscholz and Ryder Meiring. Tallent also picked up the win in the 10-lap heat race.

The 100-150 4 Stroke win went to Dean Rabideau ahead of Ryder Fitz-Hay. Pedro Brown won the 12-lap Hooligan Main Event ahead of Dean Thompson and Victor Tallent.

The event ran smoothly from the start with only one crash stopping the action for fallen rider Joe Pereira. Pereira was shaken up in the incident on the back straightaway, but he was said to be doing well after a trip to the hospital.

This Saturday night is an off week for the speedway, but action resumes on July 9th with the Hetrick Memorial race. Extra money will be on the line for the event that will feature the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars and Pacific Coast General Engineering Hobby Stocks. For further information, go to www.antiochspeedway.com.

Harmful algae blooms reported in Discovery Bay

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Source: CA Water Quality Monitoring Council

Stay away from algae and scum in the water. Do NOT let pets go in the water, drink the water, or eat scum on the shore. Keep Children away from algae. Do not eat shellfish from this waterbody.

Contra Costa Health (CCH) advises caution on the part of anyone who boats, fishes or swims in or around Discovery Bay after large blooms of blue-green algae were discovered in multiple locations in and around the community.

A bloom is a buildup of blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, that creates a green, blue-green, white or brown coloring on the surface of slow-moving waterways. Contact with a toxin produced by the bloom can make people and pets very sick.

The state Water Resources Control Board recently sampled water at Discovery Bay after a person and a dog, in separate incidents, each developed minor symptoms consistent with exposure to cyanobacteria toxin after contact with water in the community. Sampling revealed elevated levels of harmful algae.

CCH has provided caution signs to Reclamation District 800 to post at the marina in Discovery Bay. Everyone should follow the instructions on the signs and stay away from algae and scum in the water.

Keep children and pets on shore, away from the blooms, and do not touch or handle algae in the water or scum on the shoreline. It is also unsafe to drink or cook with water in these areas, or to eat fish or shellfish caught in or near them.

Visit cchealth.org/eh/hab to learn more about harmful algae blooms. Visit mywaterquality.ca.gov/habs for more information and resources, including an online map showing where high concentrations of harmful algae have been reported across the state.