ALL Fireworks are Illegal in Contra Costa County

As the Fourth of July approaches, our Contra Costa County firefighters remind you that all fireworks are illegal in Contra Costa County.

Contra Costa County Fire Protection District has opened a toll-free hotline for use by residents to immediately reach their local law enforcement non-emergency phone lines to report illegal fireworks use in their areas. The illegal fireworks reporting phone number is 1-833-885-2021.

Con Fire’s Fire Investigation Unit also asks residents to help them fight the dangerous use of illegal fireworks by reporting fireworks sales across the county to the Arson Tip Line at 1-866-50-ARSON.

Instead of risking injury or fire, I encourage you to celebrate America’s independence with professional fireworks in Antioch or the Light Up the Night drone show in Brentwood.

Celebrating One Year of Con Fire Service

Joining Con Fire Chief Lewis Broschard and Deputy Chief Brian Helmick (then ECCFPD Chief) at the Station 95 re-opening in Oakley, June 2022

What a difference a year makes!

On July 1, 2022, our former East Contra Costa Fire Protection District was annexed by the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire). Since then, the combination of a larger, more efficient agency and new funding from the voter-approved Measure X sales tax has provided better fire protection for East County than ever before.

• Station 95 re-opened in Oakley in June 2022 (a month before the Con Fire merger).
• Two new fire stations will open in Brentwood in the next year.
• In addition to the new stations, additional three-person crews and a ladder truck have been added to Station 81 in Antioch and Station 92 in Brentwood.
• EMS crews are now staffed with a paramedic instead of an EMT, so response crews are more trained than before and are able to react to more types of emergencies. EMTs are able to administer medications, start intravenous lines, provide advanced airway management and provide emergency care to patients with life-threatening medical or traumatic emergencies.

I’m proud of how well the transition has gone in its first year to protect East County property and lives. I’m thankful to our firefighters, my staff, and the many elected officials and community members who made these improvements to fire service possible.

Congratulating Bob Butler on 42 years at KCBS Radio

Congratulations to my dear friend, Bob Butler on his retirement after 42 years of work with KCBS Radio, his 44 years in broadcast journalism in the Bay Area, and his lifetime commitment to serving his community. Thank you for keeping us informed and for giving back to the community! 

Bob was hired in 1981 by KCBS Radio in San Francisco, where he has covered every kind of story in the United States, including the topics of politics, business, natural disasters, and crime. He has also reported on important stories from several countries, including Brazil, Northern Ireland, South Africa, Rwanda, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, and Senegal.

Bob is a graduate of San Francisco State University with a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism and has been recognized with numerous awards for his work, including a national Edward R. Murrow Award in 2012 for his coverage of struggling homeowners during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, recognition as the 2021 Antioch Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year and the KPIX Jefferson Award for his service delivering essentials to his community during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the SAG-AFTRA Howard Keel Award in 2022 for his significant contributions to the organization.

 

At Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, my colleagues and I passed a county resolution recognizing Bob’s contributions to journalism and the community. Happy retirement, Bob!

Community Info

California State Parks Reopens Application Period for State Park Peace Officer Cadet Exams

California State Parks has reopened the application period for the State Park Peace Officer Cadet exams. The department invites individuals to “Live the Parks Life” as rangers or lifeguards in the nation’s largest state park system. The new deadline to apply is Monday, July 31, 2023. Cadet academy graduates can serve the state as rangers and lifeguards to safeguard both visitors and the historical, cultural and natural resources found in 280 state park units. Offices are located near beaches or waterways, or in deserts, parks, museums, historic parks and state vehicular recreation areas.

“I know firsthand how rewarding it is to be a ranger to not only ensure public safety, but to educate our visitors about the rich history and amazing state parks available here in California,” said California State Parks Director Armando Quintero. “We invite you to Live the Parks Life by applying to the State Park Peace Officer Cadet Academy.”  

The minimum age to be a peace officer is 21 years old. Candidates are required to have a valid California driver’s license and have 60 units of college credits, with 21 units being general education. 

The entire selection process for becoming a ranger or lifeguard takes approximately 15 months. The first step in the selection/examination process is to mail, email or hand deliver an application during the open application period. The application is used to determine if the candidate meets the minimum qualifications for admission into the examination, which consists of the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Entry Level Law Enforcement Test Battery written exam. This exam is used to admit the candidate into the next phases of the selection process, which include the physical agility test, background investigation, oral interview, and medical and psychological evaluations. Successful applicants will be sent a notification to attend the eight-month-long POST-certified law enforcement academy. 

The academy instruction prepares cadets physically, mentally and emotionally to enter the workforce as a state park peace officer ranger or lifeguard. Rangers and lifeguards are sworn officers equipped with a firearm and badge. Cadets will learn how to conduct investigations, make physical arrests, use firearms and perform emergency responses. Training also includes how to actively protect park resources, assist visitors and run interpretive programs.

To hire a workforce reflective of California’s diverse population, California State Parks is committed to ensuring equal access and connecting all job seekers to opportunities through fair hiring and employment practices. For more information on the cadet exams, minimum qualifications, additional frequently asked questions and a timeline of the recruitment cycle, please visit LiveTheParksLife.com. 

Please send questions regarding other employment opportunities at California State Parks to the Workforce Planning and Recruitment Office at recruiting@parks.ca.gov. 

To support individuals and families in cancer journeys, we are partnering with Equiva Health to:

• Help your household enroll in the ACP
• Coordinate monthly internet service
• Give you a cellular-enabled tablet device (preloaded with valuable cancer resources)

You can readily access Cancer Support Community San Francisco Bay Area services from your home or on the go – at no cost to you:

• Join online support groups and discussion boards
• Attend online classes: nutrition, exercise, treatment options, mindfulness, etc.
• Connect socially via virtual video calling, online photo albums, and virtual coffee groups
• Relax: enjoy the radio, play games, read a newspaper or magazine
• Get referrals to our partners in local and national communities

You are eligible if someone in your household is already enrolled in one or more of the following: SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, WIC, Tribal-specific programs, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Lifeline and other government assistance programs. Note that households that have already accessed the ACP award are NOT eligible

Equiva Health covers the one-time fee of $10.01 to activate the tablet. We are available to assist you with the enrollment process and with coordinating this payment.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM

Please call us at (925) 933-0107

Everybody Loves a Free Ride!

In partnership with The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) and the Contra Costa Crisis Center, Tri Delta Transit is participating in the East County Ticket Program.

ADA paratransit riders using Tri Delta Transit Services may be eligible for FREE paratransit rides! Households eligible for assistance programs should call 211 in Contra Costa County to see if they qualify.

Looking for free summertime activities, fun for the whole family? Check out 511 Contra Costa’s Summer Bike Challenge. June-August, riders of all ages will explore their hometowns on two wheels. Simply bike to each destination and cross off the squares as you go. Pick up free prizes on select dates, take weekly Bonus Challenges, and enter the iPad Grand Prize Drawing just by signing up. Ready to roll? Visit 511cc.org/sbc to get started.



Pick up your free SBC gamecard at the library, City Hall, and Community Centers.

The Summer Youth Pass is a three-month bus pass that gives kids a great way to get around town, all summer long. For just $30, passholders ages 6-18 can take unlimited bus rides on County Connection, Tri Delta Transit, and WestCAT from June through August. On sale now at 511cc.org/youthpass

The City of Brentwood is sponsoring an

old-fashioned day of fun for July 4th!

Carnique, 4:00pm

Since Brentwood is celebrating its 75th Anniversary this year, we will come back downtown in the evening for an additional special event – the Brentwood Lion’s Club Carnique, presented by the City of Brentwood. Carnique was a combination BBQ/Carnival hosted by the Brentwood Lions Club for 35 years beginning in the late 1950's. The event was held as a fundraiser for the Lion's Club that featured carnival games, BBQ dinner, dancing, music, swimming, and a fireworks display. As we celebrate Brentwood's 75th Anniversary, the Lions Club has generously allowed us to bring back this event to mark this important occasion. 

Carnival Games, 4:00-7:00pm 

18 classic carnival games for all ages will be located long Oak Street between First and Second. Tickets are $0.50 each, or an unlimited play wristband can be purchased for $20. In the spirit of the original Carnique event, which focused on fundraising, all proceeds from carnival game tickets sales will be donated to the non-profit groups volunteering to run the games. 

Food Vendors, 4:00-9:00pm 

A wide assortment of food will be available for sale including BBQ, seafood, carnival favorites, desserts, and international flavors to represent Brentwood’s diverse backgrounds. You may even find some famous Brentwood corn! Portions of food sales will be donated to the Brentwood Lions Club as well as the Parks and Recreation Youth Scholarship Fund. Want to sit, eat, and enjoy mingling with other members of the community? Tables and chairs will be available along Oak Street in front of City Park. 

Community Center, 4:00-9:00pm 

The Community Center will be open for those who want to cool off, learn about activities and facilities, buy a limited edition retro Brentwood shirt or hat, or check out the Hometown Highlights videos in the Main Hall, featuring some familiar Brentwood faces and lots of history from the last 75 years and beyond. 

Concert in the Park, 7:00-9:00pm 

A 7:00pm, get ready to rock in City Park! RagDolls - The Ultimate Aerosmith Experience is dedicated to recreating Aerosmith’s iconic sound, energy and stage presence with their well-tailored, high voltage live production. Covering all of the recognizable material from Aerosmith's five decades as one of America’s rock & roll legends, RagDolls deliver blistering true to sound reproductions for fans of both the classic rock period as well as the more recent MTV era hits.  

Recreation Swim at the Liberty Pool, 4:00pm-7:00pm: Come take a dip in the new Jack Ferrill Aquatic Center at Liberty High School. A popular activity during the original Carnique event, swimming at the Liberty High School pool was many Brentwood resident’s favorite ways to cool off back in the day. Space is limited and non-swimmers must stay in the shallow end. Only USCG approved life jackets are permitted. Diving boards will be open. 

Light Up the Night 4th of July Drone Show, 9:05pm 

Presented by the Downtown Brentwood Coalition, this one of a kind experience will take place at approximately 9:05pm and will wrap up an incredible day of celebrating 4th of July in Brentwood. This dazzling drone sky show by Sky Elements featuring patriotic and Brentwood themed animations will have several great viewing locations including but not limited to City Park, most Downtown streets including all Carnique event locations, Liberty High School Football Field (opens at 7:30pm, bleacher and turf seating, no chairs allowed, blankets ok). 

Antioch Fourth of July Celebration

Date: July 4th, 2023

Time: 4:00pm | Fireworks will begin after dusk

Location: Waldie Plaza

Join the City of Antioch in celebrating Independence Day in our historic Rivertown. Set up along W 2nd St. and W 3rd St. before 4:00pm to watch our annual 4th of July Parade pass by. Visit Waldie Plaza to experience live entertainment and enjoy local food vendors and trucks. Have an exciting time with friends and family in the Games Zone located at City Hall, before picking your spot to see the big firework show.

Parade Route

The parade will begin on July 4, 2023 at the intersection of W 2nd St. and E St. Antioch, CA at 4:00 PM. The Judge’s Station will be located at the center of Waldie Plaza. A second parade performance stop will be on W 3rd St. next to City Hall. We will finish the parade on W 3rd St. at the corner of D St.

Celebration Site

The main celebration site will take place in Waldie Plaza and the parking lot of City Hall, encompassing W 2nd St. to W 3rd St. and G St. to I St. There are many occurrences within the celebration site including a live entertainment stage, local vendors, food trucks, kids zone, DJ stage and much more.

Live Entertainment

Tony Lindsay

In 1980, RnB Jazz-Soul vocalist Tony Lindsay arrived in the San Francisco Bay Area from Kingston, New York and after 25 years as the lead vocalist for Santana, Lindsay has garnered 11 Grammy awards, traveled on several world tours and recorded on seven CDs.

Foreverland – The Electrifying Tribute to Michael Jackson

Since 2009, Foreverland has been mesmerizing audiences around the country with their larger-than-life tribute to the one and only Michael Jackson. Featuring three dynamic vocalists, a powerhouse rhythm section, and the hardest working horn section in the biz, Foreverland recreates hits from the Jackson 5 era through the end of Michael’s incredible career in a way that honors the King of Pop’s musical genius and legendary showmanship like no other tribute band has ever done.

Food Vendors/Trucks

Straw Hat Pizza, Freddie’s BBQ, Charley’s Cheesesteaks, Rita’s Italian Ice, Sno Shack, Twisted K’s Ice Cream, Sherry’s Kids, California Steamers

Schedule of Events

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Parade

4:00 PM – 9:00 PM Kids Zone

5:00 PM – 5:15 PM That Math Magician

5:00 PM – 6:30 PM Live Entertainment | Tony Lindsay

7:30 PM – 9:00 PM Kids Zone Stage | DJ Melly Mel

7:00 PM Announcement of Parade Winners

7:15 PM – 9:15 PM Live Entertainment | Foreverland

9:15 PM Fireworks Show

**Times subject to change

Application Period For 2023 Fall

Community Academy Now Open

Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton is opening

applications for the 2023 Fall Community Academy.

The free, 9-week course will be held at the DA's Office in downtown Martinez from 6:00-8:30 p.m. every Wednesday starting September 6th.

“One of my goals as District Attorney is to be more transparent with the community about what our office does in the criminal justice system,” said District Attorney Becton. “The Community Academy is an integral program that strengthens our community through education, information, and understanding.”

Participants in the academy will get an in-depth view of the criminal justice system by hearing from deputy district attorneys, investigators, victim advocates, support staff, community-based organizations, and justice partners. Moreover, people will learn firsthand how the DA’s Office files cases, will meet with a Superior Court judge during a court tour, gain knowledge about prosecutions and investigations, visit the Martinez Detention Facility, and understand the office’s outreach efforts for children, parents, and victims.



The Community Academy is open to residents 18-years-old and older who live or work in Contra Costa County. To apply, go to contracostada.org by June 30th. 

Museum Greeters Needed!

The East Contra Costa Historical Museum is becoming a more and more popular as a place to visit. Last year, they welcomed 284 week-end visitors, which is a 500% increase over previous years!

Do you have a Saturday or Sunday afternoon or two between now and the end of October that you could be a friendly face that welcomes visitors to the museum?  

Greeters do not lead tours, but help guide visitors around the grounds.

Background information is provided and new Greeters are always paired

with someone who is experienced.

The museum is open every Saturday and third Sunday 2:00-4:00pm.

April through October

If you can help fill the schedule, email here or call 925-206-5087.

Your ECCHS Museum needs you! Let's keep the doors open and visitors coming!

Contra Costa County Seeks Applicants for Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council

The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors is seeking applicants who are interested in serving on its 20-member Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council (JJCC). The following positions will be held for a two-year term residing or working within the County of Contra Costa:

• Two At-Large representatives residing or working within Contra Costa County
• Two At-Large youth, 14 to 25 years old and residing or working within Contra Costa County

The Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council is a multiagency advisory body that informs the development and implementation of a countywide juvenile justice plan composed of several critical parts, including,but not limited to an assessment of existing law enforcement, probation, education, mental health,

health, social services, drug and alcohol and youth services resources, which specifically target both at-promise as well as system-involved youth, and their families.

The JJCC will also coordinate on a countywide basis the work of those governmental and non-governmental organizations engaged in activities designed to reduce the incidence of juvenile crime and delinquency in the greater community, develop information and intelligence-sharing systems to ensure that county actions are fully coordinated, and provide data and appropriate outcome measures.

The JJCC meets monthly March and April, and bi-monthly the remainder of the year. Members have the option to serve on two subcommittees.

Applications are due by 5 p.m., Monday, July 17, and all timely applicants will be invited to the public interview process conducted by the Board of Supervisors’ Public Protection Committee: Supervisors John Gioia, District I, and Federal Glover, District V. This committee will then recommend a selection of applicants for the Board of Supervisors to appoint.

Application forms can be obtained from the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors by calling (925) 655-2000 or by visiting the County webpage at http://www.contracosta.ca.gov/3418/.

Public Advisory Committee Members Needed for the

East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy

The East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy is seeking four (4) individuals or organization representatives to serve on the Public Advisory Committee (PAC) to provide input on the implementation of the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservation Plan / Natural Community Conservation Plan (HCP/NCCP or Plan). The PAC is composed of members representing a variety of interest groups, including three members from the development community, three representatives from the conservation community, three private landowners and/or agriculturalists, three representatives of suburban and/or rural residents within the Plan area, as well as staff members from interested public agencies. PAC members are appointed for a four-year term and are expected to attend all PAC meetings. The PAC meets (remotely) on the 2nd Thursdays at 1 pm of February, May, August, and November. The May meeting is typically an in-person field trip.

The current vacancies are for:

• 1 private permit seeker from the development community

• 1 representative from the conservation community

• 1 private landowner and/or agriculturalist (or their representatives) • 1 suburban or rural resident from the Plan Area

The PAC currently meets quarterly (remotely three times a year and once for an in-person field trip) and is responsible for reviewing and commenting on the general implementation processes of the HCP/NCCP including providing input on implementation policies, budgeting, workplan, restoration projects, a small research grant program, the operation of preserves, and the adherence to plan commitments. For more information on the HCP/NCCP and the role of the PAC visit cocohcp.org .

To be considered, applications must be received no later than August 1, 2023 at 5 p.m. either by mail or email at the following address (hard copy or electronic):

Maureen Parkes

East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy

30 Muir Road

Martinez, CA 94553

Email: Maureen.Parkes@dcd.cccounty.us

Background information on the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy: The East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy is a joint exercise of powers authority formed by the Cities of Brentwood, Clayton, Oakley and Pittsburg and Contra Costa County to implement the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservation Plan / Natural Community Conservation Plan (HCP/NCCP or Plan). The HCP/NCCP provides a framework to protect natural resources in eastern Contra Costa County, while improving and streamlining the environmental permitting process for impacts on endangered species. The Plan will allow Contra Costa County, the Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, the East Bay Regional Park District and the Cities of Brentwood, Clayton, Oakley, and Pittsburg (collectively, the Permittees) to control endangered species permitting for activities and projects in the region that they perform or approve. The Plan also provides for comprehensive species, wetlands, and ecosystem conservation and contributes to the recovery of endangered species in northern California. The Plan avoids project-by-project permitting that is generally costly and time consuming for applicants and often results in uncoordinated and biologically ineffective mitigation. 

The Board of Supervisors receives valuable input and community participation from numerous citizen advisory boards on a range of issues. Boards usually meet monthly regularly.

Candidates for these positions must live in District 3 or any specified boundary area for special districts. 

District 3 is comprised of the cities of Antioch, Oakley, and Brentwood, and the unincorporated communities of Bethel Island, Byron, Knightsen, and Discovery Bay.

Find out more by visiting the Board of Supervisors 

Appointed Bodies, Committees & Commissions 

webpage.

Download application here:

https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/6408/Boards-and-Commissions-Database

Applications should be submitted to the Clerk of the Board’s office located at 1025 Escobar Street, 1st Floor, Martinez, CA 94553

or by email to clerkoftheboard@cob.cccounty.us 



For more information, including on how to apply, contact District 3 Representative Alicia Nuchols at Alicia.Nuchols@bos.cccounty.us.

Board of Supervisors' meetings are held in person at the County Administration Building 1025 Escobar Street, 1st floor, Martinez. The public is encouraged to attend the meetings.

The Board meetings are also accessible via television, and via live-streaming to all members of the public. Board meetings are televised live on Comcast Cable 27, ATT/U-Verse Channel 99, Astound Channels 32 & 1027, and can be seen live online at www.contracosta.ca.gov or www.contracostatv.org.

Persons who wish to address the board during public comment or with respect to an item on the agenda may comment in person or may call in during the meeting by dialing 888-278-0254 followed by the access code 843298#. A caller should indicate they wish to speak on an agenda item, by pushing "#2" on their phone. Access via Zoom is also available using the following link: https://cccounty-us.zoom.us/j/87344719204. Those participating via Zoom should indicate they wish to speak on an agenda item by using the “raise your hand” feature in the Zoom app. To provide contact information, please contact Clerk of the Board at clerkoftheboard@cob.cccounty.us or call 925-655-2000.

Meetings of the Board are closed-captioned in real time. Public comment generally will be limited to two minutes. Your patience is appreciated. A Spanish language interpreter is available to assist Spanish-speaking callers.

See information about parking and access to the County Administration Building at 1025 Escobar Street, Martinez, CA 94553.

“America is another name for opportunity.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson