Don't Forget to Change Your Clock!

November 8 is General Election Day in Contra Costa

The General Election is on Tuesday, November 8th, 2022. Federal, state, local, and hyperlocal candidates are on the ballot. Check for details, locations, and key dates at  November 8 elections.

Do not miss this important opportunity to vote!

Your Roadmap to Voting 2022

Community Conversations, a partnership of The League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley, The League of Women Voters of West Contra Costa County, the Contra Costa County Library, and CCTV produced a webinar called "Your Roadmap to Voting 2022" that was recorded on September 15th on Zoom.

County Election Office representatives shared information with participants about the changes the County has made to enhance security and improve the efficiency of counting ballots, as well as timely information about tools their office provides to voters.

Marian Shostrom shared information on the League's Voter’s Edge unbiased online guide and how voters can use it to inform their choices for the midterm election.

They also produced a webinar which aired on October 13th "Get the Lowdown on the 2022 Propositions Pros/Con" which includes 5-minute video presentations of each proposition written by the League of Women Voters Diablo Valley and produced with St. Mary's College with their students as narrators.

The links for the two webinars are:

Your Roadmap to Voting 2022

Get the Lowdown on 2022 Propositions Pros & Cons

Please Join Us at the County's Veterans Day Ceremony

on November 8

Contra Costa County’s Board of Supervisors honors Veterans and invites the community to the Annual Veterans Day Celebration on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. in the Board Chambers at 1025 Escobar Street, Martinez, CA. 

The keynote speaker is Brigadier General Bart Gilbert. Gilbert is a retired United States Army Officer with over 40 years of Army and Reserve service. Gilbert also served 27 years in Contra Costa as Director of the County’s General Services Department. 

This year, the ceremony will feature a special recognition for the 75th anniversary of the Contra Costa County Veterans Service Office and the assistance they have provided to the veterans in our community. In 2021, 2,279 new veterans’ claims were submitted and $17,683,945 was awarded to the veterans, with an average claim of $7,760 awarded. 

To learn more about Veterans Day Ceremony, visit https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/6035 on the Contra Costa County website.

 The community can also watch the event live online at www.contracosta.ca.gov/6086 or www.contracostatv.org. The celebration will be broadcast live on Contra Costa Television

Mount Diablo Beacon to be Lit in Honor of Veterans Day

Cleaner Contra Costa FALL CHALLENGE: November Update! 

Haven't joined the Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge yet? Now is the time to get sustainable! This free website provides a list of actionable steps you can take to save water, energy, waste, and money. When we work together as a community, we can hit some impressive goals - like saving over 1000 tons of CO2 by the end of this year! Bonus - you can also earn prizes along the way.

Be sure to check off any action that you have completed on Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge in order to have your points, water savings, and CO2 reduction count for Contra Costa. 

Operation Documentation III

The Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder office is pleased to announce that Operation Documentation is back. All veterans are invited to bring their DD 214 (discharge paperwork) to the Clerk-Recorder office and they will record it at no charge for safe keeping and peace of mind. Whenever the Veteran needs a certified copy of the form, they can get one from their office – free of charge.

Angel Tree Program - Help a Child in Need this Holiday Season

It is estimated that roughly 1,800 children are in the foster care system in Contra Costa County. The holidays can be particularly rough on children displaced from their homes and their families.

VESTIA (Volunteer and Emergency Services Team in Action) Angel Tree program was created in 1990 to provide gifts in response to the specific wishes of children in out-of-home placement in Contra Costa County. The generous “Angels” are individual donors who provide these gifts and they come from agencies and corporations all over the county.

The Angel Tree program has evolved from wrapped gifts for each child, to gift cards for the children and families, to help purchase from the child’s wish list as well as basic needs.

The Angel Tree program is just one of the ways you can help children and families. To learn more about VESTIA and other ways you can volunteer or donate, visit VESTIA.

Donate to the Angel Tree Program HERE.

Measure X Town Hall

Contra Costa Health Services (CHSS) and the Contra Costa Department of Conservation and Development (DCD) will be holding a series of 3 joint Town Halls to get input on what housing-related and homelessness-related services should be prioritized in the first year. 

Measure X is a voter-approved 20-year tax initiative that will provide funding for many critical services in Contra Costa County, including services for people at-risk of homelessness and experiencing homelessness. On November 16, 2021, the Board of Supervisors approved and committed a portion of Measure X funds for the creation of the Measure X Housing Fund to support the development of new affordable housing, housing-related services (including homeless prevention services), innovation/capacity building activities, and homeless crisis response services. 

Please just register for/attend one (1) of the sessions listed below. 

Town Hall #2

Monday, November 7, 2022

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Register:  https://homebaseccc.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMpcOqsqj4tGdEgX_QZ-dlHiFHej7WSdq2_

Town Hall #3

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Register: https://homebaseccc.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZArd-yvqT4oHdcLr6twos0-rmpOpG3q7OUQ

Q: What are we asking the community to provide input for?

A: We’re connecting with unhoused residents, persons/households at risk of homelessness, and community providers in Contra Costa County to understand which housing prevention services and homeless crisis response services should be prioritized; we’re seeking input on community needs and priorities, and are looking to understand how we can build a user-friendly application process for organizations

Q: Why do we need your input?

A: The Contra Costa County community voted to pass the Measure X tax initiative; it’s important that residents and service providers inform the funding process to ensure the County allocates funding in a way that meets community needs and expectations

Q: What will we do with your input?

A: Your input will be used to identify priorities for available funding and to create an application process that is streamlined and responsive to community needs

Metropolitan Transportation Commission

Webinar: The Future of Freeways

Freeway traffic hasn’t just returned – it’s worsening – and it will continue to deteriorate the Bay Area’s transportation system if we don’t shift gears.

To that end, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) is exploring new strategies to better manage Bay Area congestion more sustainably and equitably, while also addressing lasting impacts of 20th century policies. As part of this effort, MTC will conduct two webinars on The Future of Freeways to inform participants about the challenges and opportunities before us and to collect community input to help envision the future of this vital infrastructure.

Join the conversation live and lets craft solutions for the Bay Area, together.

• Webinar #1
• Thursday, November 17, 2022 | 12–1:30 p.m.
• Participate on Zoom 
• Webinar ID: 895 1811 8931
• Passcode: 440623
• Call in: (408) 638-0968 or (669) 444-9171
• Webinar #2
• Tuesday, November 29, 2022 | 6-7:30 p.m.
• Participate on Zoom 
• Webinar ID: 830 5959 1588
• Passcode: 393107
• Call in: (408) 638-0968 or (669) 444-9171



Please note: the information shared at both webinars will be the same.

Can’t join us live? We’ll be posting the webinar recording on or after November 18. We welcome your comments submitted online.

Local Blood Drives - Help Save Lives!

Omicron Booster Shots Available for Kids

Children ages 5-11 are eligible to receive the new Omicron booster shots. Contra Costa Health is offering the updated booster shots at its COVID-19 vaccination sites in Antioch, Concord, Richmond, county health centers, and pop-up clinics.

​

These updated “bivalent” booster shots are designed to protect against both the original coronavirus strain and the newer Omicron variants now dominant in the United States.

​

To be eligible, people must have completed their primary vaccination series or gotten their last booster shot at least two months prior to getting the Omicron booster.

​

People can schedule a booster appointment at county-run vaccination sites online or by calling (833) 829-2626. Walk-ins without appointments are also accepted. Community members also can get the Omicron boosters through their regular healthcare providers or local pharmacies.

Getting Tested in Contra Costa County

COVID-19 tests are available at State sites, commercial and healthcare provider sites and county health centers

To Read the Latest Contra Costa Covid-19 Information and To See the Data Summary, Visit COVID-19 updates

PG&E's Tom Guarino Remembered with Memorial Bench

Several years ago, it was necessary for PG&E to remove one of Alamo’s beautiful downtown oak trees because the roots were interfering with a main utility box.

The late Tom Guarino, East Bay Public Affairs Manager for PG&E, knew how important the tree was to the community and offered to have the tree’s wood saved and made into a bench. After the wood was appropriately aged and milled, the bench was beautifully crafted. Unfortunately, Tom passed away from Covid-19 complications on December 30, 2020.

On Wednesday, November 2nd, the bench was dedicated in memory of Tom at Alamo’s downtown Andrew H. Young Park. Cutting the ribbon in the photo above is Tom’s daughter Teresa. Many friends, colleagues from PG&E, and members of the Alamo Municipal Advisory Council attended this special event. Supervisor Andersen remarked, “It was so nice for us to gather together and once again pay tribute to a great friend.”

Nobel Laureate Recipient From Walnut Creek Honored at Board of Supervisors Meeting

Dr. John Clauser, (pictured in the center) a Walnut Creek resident, was honored by the Board of Supervisors at their November 1st meeting for receiving the Nobel Prize in Physics.

Dr. John Clauser, Alain Aspect and Anton Zeilinger together received the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work in quantum mechanics, which showed “quantum entanglement,” an odd phenomenon in which one particle can instantaneously influence the behavior of other particles — even if they are far away, such as at opposite sides of the universe.

Contra Costa County ADR Project Becomes 1st to Achieve

TRUE Pre-Certification

Chief Assistant County Administrator Eric Angstadt (center) holds the TRUE Pre-Certification at the Greenhouse International Conference in San Francisco.

On November 2, 2022, Contra Costa County was recognized as a leader in sustainability and innovation at the Greenbuild International Conference at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. Contra Costa County’s former Administration Building (651 Pine Street) and Jail Demolition & Redevelopment Project (ADR) has become the first government construction project in the world to achieve Total Resource Use and Efficiency (TRUE) pre-certification. Pre-certification is the first step to achieving TRUE certification which is awarded at the conclusion of the construction based on the total performance of the project.

TRUE is a zero-waste certification program used to define, pursue, and achieve zero-waste goals, cut the carbon footprint, and support public health. TRUE is administered by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), whose primary goal is to divert 90% of solid waste from landfills, incineration, and the environment.

The County Administrator’s Office and Public Works Department engaged the design-build team of Webcor/Perkins & Will in the fall of 2021 to deliver the ADR project, which includes the demolition of the Old Administration Building at 651 Pine Street as well as the Jail at 650 Pine Street. The site will then be developed with a Satellite Administration Building and Public Plaza, continuing the County’s investment in Martinez and further enhancing the County’s campus along Pine and Escobar Streets.

The County and Design-Builder team are working on various practices to reduce waste during the demolition phase of the project. A few examples include: 

• Reuse furniture and office supplies from the existing building in other County buildings and the contractor’s field trailers.
• Reuse fire extinguishers, lights, and interior windows in the contractor’s field trailers and site operations.
• Pursuing closed loop lifecycle opportunities, e.g., concrete reused for sub-base or winterization of the site.
• Developing and adapting a Zero Waste Policy: ADR Zero Waste Management
• Promoting waste reduction in different operational areas, e.g., the job site trailer will not have a printer onsite to reduce waste, and all construction documents will be available virtually.
• Reuse efforts will continue during the design with: 
• Salvaging and reusing existing marble wall panels in the new building lobby.
• Salvaging and reusing existing granite blocks in the new plaza hardscape.
• Selecting building materials with recycled content.
• Reusing or returning packaging of products or building materials that are delivered to the site.

Contra Costa County’s Administration Building and Jail Demolition & Redevelopment Project (ADR) completion is expected in the second quarter of 2024. For more information about this project, visit the County’s Public Works webpage contracosta.ca.gov/adminbuildingdemo. 

SRVUSD Seeks Access to Excellence Ambassadors

The San Ramon Valley Unified School District (SRVUSD) announces the Access to Excellence (a2e) Ambassador application is now open.

SRVUSD a2e Ambassadors will have the key role of promoting that academic excellence and a broader definition of success are a priority in SRVUSD. Ambassadors can be current SRVUSD high school juniors or seniors, staff members, parents/caregivers, or interested community members.

Individuals are encouraged to apply who are interested and invested in spreading the message that SRVUSD’s excellent schools enhance the quality of life in our community. It is an opportunity to build awareness around how great schools contribute to a great community, and why it’s important to be involved in our schools and help us reimagine success. Watch their video to learn more about being an a2e Ambassador. Spread the word and apply today.

Danville Alamo Walnut Creek AAUW  Presents

TITLE IX: FAST FORWARD 50 YEARS!! with Alison Kern

Join the American Association of University Women’s (AAUW) Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek branch in an informative FREE presentation by speaker, Allison Kern, Director of Athletics, Cal State East Bay. Alison has been both a student-athlete as well as a university leader. Join in to learn about the impact of Title IX on Women’s athletics in our local universities.  The presentation will take place on Thursday, November 17th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Greenbrook Clubhouse located at 300 Greenbrook Drive, in Danville.   

In August 2021, Allison Kern was named Assistant Vice President/Director of Athletics at Cal State East Bay. Kern will lead the Pioneers' 15 intercollegiate athletics programs which consist of more than 230 student-athletes competing in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), Pacific Collegiate Swim and Dive Conference (PCSC), and the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA). 

See their branch website for details daw-ca.aauw.net/2022nov.

Contra Costa County Announces Innovation

Fund Grant Program

Contra Costa County is seeking ideas for innovative projects that respond to local public service needs, can improve equitable access to public services, can remove structural barriers that cause inequities and poverty, provide the greatest impact for every dollar spent, and have the potential for transformative change.

Up to $2 Million in grants will be made available on a competitive basis to nonprofit, tax-exempt community-based organizations to fund the planning and implementation of one or more selected projects in the following categories:

1. Safe & Engaged Communities – Improving health, wellness, and public safety outcomes through community outreach/awareness, education, and engagement.

2. Agriculture and Food Systems – Improving environmental health, economic profitability, and social and economic equity.

3. Economic Vitality – Providing education, job training, decent jobs, and viable businesses to reduce the number of people at a poverty level.

4. Clean & Sustainable (Clean and Green) Environment – Safe food and water, proper waste disposal, clean air, pest control; preventing waste.

5. Reliable & Accessible Infrastructure – Modernization, technology, or equity in digital access, cybersecurity, and resilience.

Phase 1 of the Innovation Fund grant process offers Five Thousand ($5,000) to each of up to ten (10) selected projects to fund the development of a comprehensive Phase 2 Project Grant proposal.

Statements of Qualifications and Concept Papers may be submitted no later than 3:00 p.m. on November 28, 2022, by clicking on the Grant Portal.

Funding Applications are now Being Accepted for Consideration for the Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund

The Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee is pleased to announce that completed funding applications are now being accepted for consideration for the Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund. Proposals must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 5, 2023.

The Fish and Wildlife Committee strongly encourages applications related to:   

•  improving habitat 
• scientific research 
• public education
• threatened and endangered species
• resolving human/wildlife interaction issues

In addition to the above areas of interest, the Fish and Wildlife Committee wishes to fund one or more projects that increase collaboration with law enforcement agencies and community cultural organizations on enforcement issues and education focusing on communities that may be unaware of local fish and game laws. Projects that provide multilingual signage and educational materials are encouraged.  

Due to the current drought conditions, proposals should seek to minimize water usage and address the project’s water requirements in the grant application.

Click here to access more information and the application: contracosta.ca.gov/Fish-and-Wildlife-Propagation-Fund-Grant.

Should you have any questions about the Fish and Wildlife Committee or this funding program, please contact Maureen Parkes at 925-655-2909 or maureen.parkes@dcd.cccounty.us.  

Would You Like to Serve on a Contra Costa County Committee, Commission, or Board? There are Opportunities Available

District 2 Volunteer Opportunities 

Alamo Police Services Advisory Committee (CSA P-2B/APSAC)

To advise the Board of Supervisors and the Sheriff's Department on the needs of the Alamo/Danville community for police services.

1 Regular Seat

1 Alternate Seat

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

To advise the Board of Supervisors and the Sheriff's Department on the needs of the Alamo community for police services.

The Measure X Community Advisory Board - Supervisor Andersen is seeking an individual that represents broad and diverse voices, and perspectives. To be considered for this seat, candidates must either live or work in District 2. The Community Advisory Board currently meets monthly. Currently, the meetings are via online conferencing. For more information about Measure X, please click here.

Fish and Wildlife Committee - The Board of Supervisors is now accepting applications from individuals to fill two (2) At-Large Member Seats on the Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee. Existing members seeking reappointment and individuals seeking a new appointment may apply. Applications are due by November 30, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. For more information regarding the Fish and Wildlife Committee, please visit the Committee’s website at https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/4317/Fish-Wildlife-Committee-FWC. A fillable application is available on the website for your convenience.

Find out more information about volunteering for an advisory body here co.contra-costa.ca.us/3418. To apply online go to www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/.