EAST CONTRA COSTA
The East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) has announced changes to its boat inspection and banding policies that will take effect May 7 in response to increasing concerns about invasive mussel species.
The EBRPD has long required watercraft inspections to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species into local lakes and reservoirs. To simplify reentry for frequent visitors, park staff have used tamper-proof bands placed between the watercraft and trailer when the boat leaves the lake.
These bands serve as proof that the vessel hasn’t launched in other waters. Boats returning with an intact band have not required reinspection when entering any lake in the park district or East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD).
Starting May 7, the EBRPD’s banding program is transitioning to color-coded, lake-specific bands and will no longer accept EBMUD bands. Watercraft returning to the same EBRPD lake or reservoir with an intact lake-specific band and a copy of the prior inspection form will receive an abbreviated inspection and will not be subject to another inspection fee.
Entrance and launching fees will still apply. Each boat without a band for that specific body of water will require a full inspection before each launch and pay the inspection fee again. Boaters coming from different bodies of water should plan on additional time needed for reinspections.
The inspection process for car-top watercraft such as kayaks, canoes and inflatables has not changed. These types of watercraft are inspected each time they enter a lake, but the inspection fee is only charged once every 30 days.
The owner must provide a copy of the initial inspection form, with the receipt dated within the previous 30-day period. The policy change is in response to the detection of the highly invasive golden mussel in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta last October at the Port of Stockton.
This discovery is the first known occurrence of golden mussels in North America and is believed to have been introduced by a ship traveling from an international port, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The species is native to rivers and creeks in coastal Asia and parts of South America.
Currently, golden mussels have not been detected in EBRPD-managed waters. The golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei) is an invasive, non-native freshwater/brackish water bivalve that poses a threat to natural ecosystems and water quality throughout California and beyond.
The golden mussel is similar to the quagga (Dreissena bugensis) and zebra (Dreissena polymorpha) mussels. The golden mussel can thrive in waters with much lower calcium levels and, thus, puts local water sources at higher risk of invasion. For more information, visit ebparks.org/mussels.
— EBRPD
PITTSBURG
Group from center for visually impaired visits Ardenwood
A lively group of two dozen clients, volunteers and staff from Pittsburg’s Lions Center for the Visually Impaired (LCVI) recently visited Fremont’s Ardenwood Historic Farm.
The group, mostly ages 65 or older, spent half a day enjoying time outdoors and experiencing life on a farm in the 1800s, including making felt from raw sheep’s wool and “shelling” dried popcorn with park naturalists.
After lunch, the seniors were able to tour the historic Queen Anne-style Patterson House and ask lots of questions about the family and daily life in the 19th century.
“Today at the farm was like a special gift to us blind seniors,” commented Pleasanton’s Anna Moca, an LCVI client. “I was pleasantly surprised we even got a private tour of the Patterson House, which is usually closed during the week. What a special experience!”
LCVI provides free supportive services and activities for blind and visually impaired adults in Contra Costa, Alameda and Solano counties. Call 925-432-3013 or visit lcvi.org for more information.
— LCVI
BAY POINT
Garden club holding workshop, plant sale May 3
Join Keith “Tool Time” Silva and the Bay Point Garden Club for a workshop and plant sale from 10 a.m. to noon May 3 in the Ambrose Community Center at 3105 Willow Pass Road in Bay Point. With any project around your home, having the right tool for the job can mean the difference between success and failure.
Silva will discuss proper tool types, tool maintenance and tips to help you have a healthy and productive garden. Then choose from the many plants nurtured by club members to bring home for Mother’s Day!
— Diane Wynn-Busby
CONCORD
High school athletic Hall of Fame to induct its 2025 class
The Clayton Valley Charter High School Athletic Hall of Fame will induct its 2025 class Friday night in a banquet at Centre Concord.
The event will begin at 5 p.m. with a beer and wine social. Dinner is at 6, followed by the induction ceremony at 7 p.m. Centre Concord is at 5298 Clayton Road in Concord, behind Clayton Bowl.
This will be the eighth class of inductees since the CVCHS athletic hall was introduced in 2008. Inductees include 11 individual athletes, two school officials/team
associates and three teams, all as listed below.
Athletes — Mitch Buich: Class of 1977, football, basketball, baseball; Rocco Cardinale: Class of 1977, wrestling; Laura Langraff-Wilson: Class of 1978, gymnastics, diving; Brett McNamar: Class of 1981, wrestling; Steve Warren: Class of 1990, track and field; Brian Foreman: Class of 1998, football, basketball, track; Mike Gausman: Class of 1999, swimming; Adam Elliot: Class of 2002, football, baseball; Lindsay Vanderstraeten: Class of 2006, cross country, soccer, track; Kelsey Chambers: Class of 2008, basketball, softball; Lindsey Chambers: Class of 2008, basketball, softball
Team associates — Bill Nelson, coach, athletic director; Mikey Hamilton, team manager. Teams — 1990 girls soccer team, 1998 football team, 2002 baseball team.
— Herc Pardi
PLEASANT HILL
Diablo Valley College wins medals at speech, debate tourney
The Diablo Valley College (DVC) Speech and Debate team delivered another stellar performance at the recent Phi Rho Pi National Championship Tournament in Norfolk, Virginia, bringing home an impressive 22 individual awards. The Vikings earned five gold, four silver and 13 bronze medals, including their historic first national title in Reader’s Theater, a multiperson ensemble performance.
DVC’s excellence was on full display across a variety of speech and debate events, earning the team silver overall in both speech and debate, and placing third nationally among all colleges competing in this premier championship for community college students. Fourteen DVC students participated in multiple events, including extemporaneous speaking, poetry, debate, and more. For more details online, visit dvc.edu/news/dvc-speech-and-debate-team-shines-national-championship.
— DVC
DANVILLE
High school junior a finalist in prestigious science contest
Sriyan Daggubati, a Monte Vista High School junior, has been selected as a finalist for the 2025 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), a prestigious precollege science competition that has been described as an “experience of a lifetime.” He will present his research May 10-16 in Columbus, Ohio.
Inspired by the widespread impact of chronic inflammation, Daggubati developed a gelatin-based biodegradable film designed for the localized release of Resolvin D1 (RvD1), a molecule promoting inflammation reduction and tissue repair. His lab tests showed promising results in reducing inflammation related to vascular issues.
Daggubati has filed two patents based on his findings. He has also earned top honors at the 2025 Contra Costa County Science & Engineering Fair, including the ISEF Finalist recognition and first place in Physical Sciences, and he won Honorable Mention at the California Science and Engineering Fair 2025.
Daggubati credits Mr. Taylor, his Advanced Placement chemistry teacher, with fostering and deepening his love for science and inspiring him to continue future projects and credits Mr. Long, his Advanced Placement language teacher, with teaching him how to voice his ideas.
Daggubati applied the latter skill to found NeuroGuidance, a nonprofit empowering neurodivergent students through workshops and mentorship. Driven by a desire to make a difference, he aims to inspire other young minds to pursue science and tackle global challenges and looks forward to representing his community at ISEF.
— Kishore Daggubati
CENTRAL CONTRA COSTA
Blood drives being held May 6-8 at various spots in county
Blood donors are needed every day for patients who need transfusions for planned medical treatments and emergencies. During National Trauma Awareness Month in May, nonprofit blood services provider Vitalant asks all who are eligible to give and make sure blood is available for even the most unexpected events.
Every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood. Vitalant provides lifesaving blood to over 45 area hospitals. Most people are eligible to donate blood. To review eligibility requirements and schedule an appointment, visit vitalant.org, download the Vitalant app or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825).
These are some of the upcoming blood drives in Contra Costa County: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 6 in Walnut Creek at the Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church, 10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. May 7 in Concord at In-Shape and 1 to 6 p.m. May 8 in Lafayette at the Oakwood Athletic Club.
Donors can give at any community blood drive or one of six Vitalant donation centers in the Bay Area.
— Kevin Adler
To submit an item for our East and Central Contra Costa County weeklies’ “In brief” section, which is now published in print on each month’s first Friday, please email it, at least one week before print publication, to njackson@bayareanewsgroup.com. Each item should be 90 to 180 words and include a short headline along with the name of the group or individual to credit for it.