District 3 Newsletter for August 8

The past week has been fantastic for summer community events in East County. Sunday, I attended The Makers Boulevard event at the Tri Delta Transit Hub in Oakley, where I spent more money on crafts than I had expected!

Tuesday, I attended National Night Out events in Antioch, Brentwood and Oakley. National Night Out events and block parties are great ways to connect with neighbors and have community-based interactions with law enforcement, elected officials and more.

Wonderful crafts and great folks, including former Oakley Mayor Sue Higgins and Contra Costa County Board of Education Trustee Annette Lewis, at The Makers Boulevard.

Velma Wilson hosted a National Night Out event on her block for the 12th(!) time, and former Antioch Mayor Don Freitas joined the fun.

Oakley Vice Mayor Shannon Shaw, Police Chief Beard and I made a new cowboy friend at the National Night Out at Happy Trails Riding Academy.

On August 16, the Friends of the Oakley Library is hosting an island-themed evening of enlightenment and entertainment to raise funds for a new 28,000 square foot Oakley Library and Community Center. The fundraising event will have guest speakers, a no-host bar, and catered food from Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.

Visit the Friends of the Oakley Library website to purchase your tickets. (RSVP by August 12.)

With evidence of increased COVID-19 infections throughout the Bay Area, Contra Costa Health (CCH) recommends masking in crowded indoor settings, particularly for those at high risk of serious illness if infected.

This recommendation is not a health order. It aligns with existing state requirements and recent advice issued in neighboring counties.

A particularly infectious strain of COVID-19, FLiRT, is currently spreading throughout the western U.S., and drives the current surge. Wastewater sampling from the county shows a steady increase in the presence of the virus.

From May 9 to July 9, for example, state lab testing of wastewater samples from the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District showed that concentrations of COVID-19 more than quadrupled. Recently, wastewater concentration has plateaued but still remain high.

For more information about COVID-19 in Contra Costa County, visit cchealth.org/covid19.

A FREE virtual Worm Composting Workshop will be offered by the Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development on Saturday, August 17, 2024, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.

RSVP on Eventbrite

You will learn how to make your own worm compost. Vermicomposting (“vermi” is Latin for “worm”) is the process of using worms to process organic food waste into nutrient rich soil. Worms eat decaying food waste and produce vermicompost, a very effective soil supplement. The worms will produce both a liquid fertilizer and worm castings (a fancy name for worm poop). Worm poop is the best compost! It is a solid, odor free byproduct of worm digestion. You can collect your worm castings periodically and use them as a soil addition, soil conditioner, or even light mulch.

All Contra Costa County residents are welcome. This event will be hosted live online via Zoom. Participants will be emailed the Zoom link once they are registered. To learn more about composting or recycling, just go to http://www.cccrecycle.org/.

Contra Costa Environmental health is partnering with community clean-up events throughout the County to collect waste tires.

The next tire clean-up event is August 24, 2024, from 8 am to noon, at 2030 Knightsen Ave. in Knightsen.

Call 925-608-5500 or visit tinyurl.com/cchealth-tire for more details. Special requirements apply if you wish to dispose of more than 9 tires.

Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff is now accepting Fall 2024 Citizens Academy applications. The Citizens Academy provides community members with an inside look at the Office of the Sheriff and its mission, duties, responsibilities and services.

Apply via the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office website.

Two programs from 511 Contra Costa can improve this year's school commute.

Pass2Class - Free Bus Passes for Students

Students can take the bus to school for free with 511 Contra Costa’s Pass2Class program. Families can apply for up to two months of free youth rides on County Connection. Passes are available while supplies last. Apply now at 511cc.org/pass2class.

Carpool to School for a Chance to Win a $250 Back to School Shopping Spree

Buddy up this year to save gas, reduce school zone traffic, and improve classroom air quality. School carpools are fun for students and save time for parents. Families that carpool with friends and neighbors can sign up for 511 Contra Costa’s free SchoolPool program for a chance to win one of ten $250 back-to-school shopping sprees at Target. Learn more and sign up at 511cc.org/schoolpool.

Local children in foster care need CASA Volunteer Tutors!

Your help ensures they receive quality, trauma informed, educational support. By meeting with kids weekly, tutors help them learn, build confidence, and feel supported. When you join the CASA Tutor Program, you help break the cycle of abuse and neglect, making a lasting impact for generations.

Sign up for an Info Session to learn more

Discover & Go is a program that offers free and discounted passes for museums, science centers, zoos, theatres, and other cultural destinations. Explore places like the Bay Area Discovery Museum, California Academy of Sciences, Chabot Space and Science Center, Exploratorium, The Marine Mammal Center, The Oakland Zoo and so many more.

The Library is now offering free Clipper cards for use with Discover & Go reservations to select museums and cultural destinations, while supplies last. County residents who are library card holders and are 18 or older can submit a one-time request for up to two Clipper cards by clicking on the banner ad on their Discover & Go pass for a qualifying attraction.

Visit https://ccclib.discoverandgo.net/ to get started.

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.

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.

"I think I have a little bit of imposter syndrome. I still feel like that little kid who just started wrestling. But currently, I just became an Olympic champion."

– Amit Elor, Contra Costa County Resident and 2024 Wrestling Olympic Gold Medalist