EAST CONTRA COSTA
The Contra Costa County Library system is looking for volunteer adult literacy tutors for its free, confidential literacy program, Project Second Chance (PSC), which offers free, one-on-one tutoring to adults who would like to improve their English reading and writing.
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Many adults need help with reading so they can pass a GED or U.S. citizenship test or read to their kids. PSC is specifically interested in finding tutors who live in or can travel to East Contra Costa County.
The need is great in Pittsburg, Bay Point, Oakley, Antioch and Brentwood for in-person PSC tutors, all of whom are provided with training. PSC tutors must be at least 21, comfortable with their own English reading and writing and willing to meet with an adult learner for 90-minute sessions twice a week.
PSC tutors must also be able to commit to volunteering for at least six months. Those interested can call 925-691-3960 or email leslie.mladinich@library.cccounty.us about how to test-drive the role before committing to an Aug. 16 training in Antioch.
— Contra Costa County Library
WALNUT CREEK
City urges youth to apply for seats on various commissions
In 2022, the Youth Leadership Commission recommended a pilot program to add youth members to other city commissions to broaden youth representation in Walnut Creek.
This program, dubbed “A Seat at the Table,” aimed to expand youth participation in city government and resulted in youth members appointed to the Arts, Transportation and Park, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) commissions.
During the last next two years, Commissioners Skye Loumeau (Arts), Angie Yao (Transportation) and Karlina Meyer (PROS) represented their peers and provided a fresh perspective on the issues before their commissions.
The pilot program tested the viability of youth seats on city commissions and demonstrated the valuable contributions of youth in the community. Following the successful program, the City Council voted to make the seats permanent.
Now the city is actively recruiting youth for multiple opportunities to be involved and represent their peers on the Arts, Transportation, Youth Leadership and PROS commissions. Applications are open through 10 p.m. Aug. 18. For more details or to apply online, visit bit.ly/3VEVQR8.
— city of Walnut Creek
CONCORD
Program keeps downtown clean, safe to welcome visitors
With summer’s arrival, Concord is ready to welcome throngs of residents and visitors downtown for concerts, dining, shopping and other fun. Visitors may notice that the downtown area is looking particularly sharp, thanks to a new program that was implemented last summer to enhance its appearance.
Through a partnership with the nonprofit Todos Santos Business Association (TSBA), the city of Concord introduced a Downtown Concord Welcome Program, which includes a day porter, a security officer acting as an ambassador and pressure washing of sidewalks and streets.
Concurrently, the city has implemented a new garbage and recycling program and pressure-washed and painted its downtown garages and will soon add more security cameras and lighting.
“The goal of the programs are to promote a welcoming, clean, and safe environment for visitors frequenting Todos Santos Plaza and the surrounding businesses, many of which struggled financially due to lack of foot traffic during the pandemic,” said Justin Crossley, TSBA executive committee member and owner of The Hop Grenade.
The day porter attends to designated routes within the business district to pick up trash, clean graffiti and wipe down park benches, tables and trash cans. The ambassador patrols the parking garages, Todos Santos Plaza, and the downtown business district by foot, bike, and vehicle.
This officer is uniformed and unarmed, carrying a clearly marked identification badge and cell phone. Through nonconfrontational techniques, he is able to displace and discourage inappropriate behaviors, with notable success in the public parking garages.
Pressure washing services are also conducted monthly on popular pedestrian pathways and sidewalks of Todos Santos Plaza and the surrounding streets. This helps supplement the maintenance work being performed by the city’s Public Works Department.
“The program has proven to be and continues to be successful,” said Concord Mayor Edi Birsan. “We appreciate our partnership with the downtown businesses that have made our community more attractive and desirable to visit. Our visitors are taking notice and returning in greater numbers.”
The program was made possible by a $458,000 grant from the city of Concord using federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and an additional grant of $50,000 from the Brenden-Mann Foundation.
Come downtown and enjoy it all! The four-month Music & Market concert series has begun and the concert lineup is online at cityofconcord.org/downtownevents.
— city of Concord
School district providing free summer meals to area kids
The Concord-based Mount Diablo Unified School District is again hosting its summer program that serves nutritious meals to all children ages 18 or younger. Meals are served Monday through Friday at no cost under the Summer Seamless Meal Program.
Meal service began June 10. For a list of locations and serving times, go online to mdusd.org/departments/business-services/food-nutrition-services. For any questions, call 925-682-8000, ext. 3775.
— MDUSD
WALNUT CREEK
Apply for free removal of wisdom teeth by June 30
With the average cost of in-state college tuition and fees in California now sitting at about $24,000 a year, a Walnut Creek medical practice is launching its third Wisdom for Wisdom program. Muir Oral, Facial & Dental Implant Surgery will provide free wisdom teeth extraction, a procedure that often coincides with the college years, to one East Bay student in need.
Wisdom teeth typically erupt between the ages of 17 and 25, and for some, the removal of wisdom teeth is not in their budget when also trying to juggle the cost of higher education. The Wisdom for Wisdom program reaches students with financial challenges and oral health needs and provides an opportunity to make textbook costs and other expenses more affordable.
Local students or parents of students can apply by watching a video about wisdom teeth extraction, taking a short quiz, and submitting their application by June 30 at muiroralsurgery.com/w4w.
— Bob Diehl
MARTINEZ
Contra Costa Animal Services offers June license amnesty
Contra Costa Animal Services (CCAS) is offering a License Amnesty Program in June to help county residents protect their pets in advance of the July Fourth holiday.
In June, county residents who have overdue animal licenses or who have never licensed their pets will have all late and penalty fees waived. Pet owners who take advantage of the License Amnesty Program will also receive a free designer license tag equipped with 24/7 lost pet protection services, adding an extra protection to ensure their pets find their way home if they are ever lost.
“The Fourth of July sees more pets becoming lost than any other time of the year,” said Ben Winkleblack, the director of Contra Costa Animal Services. “Licensing your pet can be the difference between losing your pet and getting them back, so there’s no better time to offer this program to help people protect their pets.”
Contra Costa County residents are required by law to license owned dogs that are more than 4 months old. While not required, Contra Costa Animal Services recommends licensing of owned cats that are allowed outdoors. Licenses can be bought online at ccasd.org, where more information can also be found. Fees are range from $25 for a year to $180 for three years (for an unaltered pet) or $60 for a three-year license if altered.
— Contra Costa Animal Services
PITTSBURG
City allocates over $1.9M in state funds for road repairs
The Pittsburg City Council on June 3 allocated $1,951,212 in funding gained as part of the state’s 2017 Senate Bill 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (or “SB1”), to be used for road repairs during the upcoming fiscal year that starts July 1.
For fiscal year 2024-25, the city prioritized maintaining a safe and efficient transportation system. Pittsburg sought public input to help develop the SB1 project list to ensure revenues are being used on the highest-priority and most cost-effective projects that meet the community’s priorities for transportation investment.
The identified project — which includes the area bounded by the California Seasons Neighborhood, PG&E power line corridor, Highway 4 and the Union Pacific railroad tracks — will rehabilitate multiple streets. The project will use various treatments based on the needs of each road, such as crack seal, microsurfacing, cape seal, three-layer treatment, mill, overlay and base repair.
“Road repairs and infrastructure funding continue to be one of the highest priorities in the city,” said Pittsburg City Manager Garrett Evans. “We have a long way to go, but we remain steadfast in finding ways to continue essential road maintenance and rehabilitation projects.”
SB1 was signed into law in 2017 to address funding shortfalls for transportation projects across the state. The city must adopt a list of projects proposed to receive funding each fiscal year from the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) created by SB1 and must include a description and the location of each proposed project, a proposed schedule for the project’s completion, and the estimated useful life of the improvement. This is the eighth year the city has received SB1 funds for road projects.
The project design is scheduled to begin this fall, with construction starting in spring 2025. Once complete, the roadways’ useful life is estimated to have been increased by up to 20 years. For more information, call the Pittsburg Public Works Department’s Engineering Division at 925-252-4930.
— city of Pittsburg
ANTIOCH
City introduces optional protection for utility service lines
Antioch is introducing SLWA Insurance Services (SLWA) to educate residents about their utility service line responsibilities and makes residents aware of optional protection for the water and sewer service lines that connect their homes to the city’s utility systems.
The coverage is voluntary and administered by SLWA, not the city. Many residents are not aware that they are responsible for repairs to the service lines on their property, and, in the event of a service line leak or break, the homeowner is responsible for arranging and paying for the repair, city staff said.
“As Antioch homes age along with the infrastructure serving them, plans from SLWA can provide residents with an optional solution so they can be prepared for this type of unexpected repair,” said Tom Rusin, the chief executive officer of SLWA parent HomeServe North America.
“Our service plans not only cover the cost of the repair but they also provide homeowners with reputable, local contractors who will do the best possible job.”
The SLWA Program helps protect against repairs needed to the pipes on homeowners’ properties. Repairs to these pipes are not covered by Antioch, and a basic homeowners insurance policy usually doesn’t cover normal wear-and-tear to these pipes.
If a participating resident’s service line needs to be repaired, they can call the SLWA 24-hour hotline to schedule a covered repair. SLWA will dispatch a local, licensed and insured contractor familiar with local code to complete the repair. There are no service fees or deductibles on covered repairs, and repairs are guaranteed for one year.
This program is voluntary for city homeowners, and no public funds are used to promote or administer the program. There is no obligation for homeowners to participate. For questions about this service or to enroll, contact SLWA at 844-257-8796 or visit slwofa.com.
— city of Antioch
1894 Belshaw Mansion built for state senator up for sale
Antioch’s Belshaw Mansion is one of Contra Costa County’s most historic homes. Built in 1894 for then-California state Sen. Charles Belshaw, this majestic manor has 14 rooms, 4.5 bathrooms, two kitchens, three fireplaces, a dumbwaiter, an oversized basement and bonus rooms across 4,492 square feet of living space.
Originally, the lot sat across the entire city block. The second owner of the home was Assemblymember Robert Easley. The mansion revels in the grandeur of high-ranking ceilings that flow seamlessly throughout the home, offering an air of glamour and prestige.
The soaring ceilings are beautifully complemented by stately floors, distinguished window treatments and elegant, old-world moldings. Modern energy needs are met with updated solar systems. Outside, are well-established garden beds and greenery; an array of rose bushes; and pomegranates, figs and a palm tree.
This custom Victorian-style home, with elements of Tudor design, has hosted numerous civic events, showcase tours, and gatherings. The Belshaw Mansion, ideal for spacious single-family living or two separate units, is celebrating its 130th anniversary this year and became available for sale June 14.
— Dave Costello
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