Weekly Update - March 10, 2023

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Prepare for the Storms with Free Sandbags

Status of Road Closures in Unincorporated County Areas

With the latest storms moving through the Bay Area, it's important to be prepared for flooding at your home or business. You can visit one of the free sandbag stations located throughout the county. Please note that you'll need to bring a shovel, but bags and sand are available for free.

County Public Work located at 2475 Waterbird Way, in Martinez, is  open 24 hours, 7 days a week. Bring a shovel. Bags are in a large gray plastic trash bin located at the parking stall north of the fueling station.

Howe Homestead, located at 2950 Walnut Blvd, Walnut Creek is open 24 hours, 7 days a week. Bring a shovel. Bags and sand located in the parking lot.

If you live within the boundaries of one of the 19 cities, please click on the button below to find a location near you.

Due to the overnight storm, some roads in unincorporated Contra Costa County are closed or have been closed and reopened. Check for the Status of Road Closures in Unincorporated County Areas by clicking the button below,

Town of Danville Replacing Drainage Culvert on Diablo Road

Full road closure, between Alameda Diablo and Avenida Nueva, will begin on March 23

The Board of Supervisors Recognize March as Women's History Month, Prescription Drug Awareness Month, and Red Cross Month

The Board of Supervisors proclaimed March 2023 as Women’s History Month, and recognized March 8, 2023, as International Women's Day in Contra Costa County.

The Supervisors also recognized March, as Prescription Drug Awareness Month, and Red Cross Month.

Pictured above, the proclamation for Women's History Month is presented to Joey Smith (left) and Marilyn Lucey of the Contra Costa Commission for Women and Girls.

Below on the left, Red Cross Month is honored with a proclamation presented to Stan Massie, Chair of the Contra Costa Red Cross Leadership Council.

On the right below, Prescription Drug Awareness Month is recognized with a proclamation presented to Mariella Sanding with the Contra Costa Meds Coalition.

To read each full proclamation, click on the button below and scroll down to Honors and Proclamations.

Sponsorship Opportunities Available for Public Art 

New project in Danville highlights art and reading with artful book bench installations

The Town of Danville is seeking sponsors for its third annual public art exhibit, Bound for Books, an Artful Book Bench Project. Local businesses and organizations can help support the Town’s public art program and its goal to create temporary and permanent outdoor public art exhibits. Previous installations include Hearts Around Hartz and Dogs of Danville, exhibits that promoted the arts and allowed residents and visitors alike to interact with art.  

The Bound for Books exhibit will be on display from June 9 to September 30. Artists were invited to paint and embellish fiberglass benches in the shape of open books, drawing on themes and inspiration for their designs from beloved children’s books and/or adult classics. Ten benches will be produced for display. 

For a sponsorship fee of $1,000 per bench, each sponsor will receive the following benefits: 

• A custom placard to include name of sponsor, logo and QR code to sponsor’s business or website 
• Logo and sponsor name included on printed materials 
• Logo and sponsor name included on Bound for Books page on the Town of Danville website 
• Promotion of the sponsor name on social media during the exhibit 

At the end of the exhibit, the book benches will be sold in a public auction, with proceeds returning to promote public art, in a fund the Town uses to coordinate future public art experiences.  

If you are interested in sponsoring a bench for the Bound for Books exhibit, please click on the button below and download the application form. The completed form and payment should be mailed or dropped off at the Village Theatre & Art Gallery at 233 Front Street in Danville. Sponsorships will be accepted through Friday, April 28.  

For more information or questions, please contact Visual Arts Coordinator Marija Nelson Bleier at mnelsonbleier@danville.ca.gov or 925-314-3460.  

March 2023 Actions of the Month: Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge

Get sustainable with the Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge if you haven’t already.

This free website provides a list of actionable steps you can take to save water, energy, waste and money. You can also earn prizes along the way. Why not check it out?

To get moving, try the March Actions of the Month by clicking on the button below.

Disaster Recovery Center Remains Open Through March 16 for Residents Impacted By December/January Winter Storms

Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers are still open for Contra Costa County residents impacted by the December 2022 and January 2023 winter storms to connect with federal recovery resources in person. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has opened two mobile centers throughout Contra Costa County. The mobile centers will be available at these dates and times, depending on need:

510 La Gonda Way, Danville, CA 94526

March 2 to March 16, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily

*Please note: This site will be closed Sunday, March 5, and Sunday, March 12 

Additional details can be found by clicking on the button below.

*Please note - applications are only being accepted for damage sustained in December and January.

 Veterans’ Voices Show to Discuss Post-traumatic

Stress Triggers 

On Monday, March 13, at 7 pm the Veterans’ Voices show will host a live panel of Veterans and clinical psychologists to discuss post-traumatic stress triggers and explore techniques for coping. Guests will include Army Veteran Therman McCormick and Clinical Psychologists Dr. Tara Neavins and Dr. Jeffrey Kixmiller.

Viewers can share their experiences or ask questions by calling 925-313-1170. They can also use the phone number to record a message for the panel any time prior to the show. Leave questions and comments at facebook.com/veteransvoices1 or email veteransvoices@contracostatv.org prior to or during the live television show. 

The Veterans' Voices program is broadcast live on Contra Costa Television (CCTV) on the second Monday of every month at 7 pm. It can be seen live online at facebook.com/veteransvoices1. You can find an archive of past shows and show resources at Contracosta.Veterans Voices or on our YouTube channel Veterans’ Voices of Contra Costa. The show is re-run multiple times on CCTV on Comcast Channel 27, Astound Channels 32 and 1027, and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99. 

Contra Costa County to hold 5 Community Visioning Sessions for Arts and Culture Planning

To see the dates and locations, click on the button below:

Measure X Community Advisory Board

Supervisor Andersen is seeking an individual who represents broad and diverse voices, and perspectives to fill the District 2 Alternate Seat. To be considered for this seat, candidates must either live or work in District 2. The Community Advisory Board currently meets monthly.

Measure X is a countywide 20-year, ½ cent sales tax approved by Contra Costa County voters on November 3, 2020. Collection of the tax began on April 1, 2021. The ballot measure language stated that the intent of Measure X is “to keep Contra Costa’s regional hospital open and staffed; fund community health centers, emergency response; support crucial safety-net services; invest in early childhood services; protect vulnerable populations; and for other essential county services.”

For more information on Measure X, please click on the button below.

County Connection Advisory Committee Seeks Member

The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors is seeking an individual to serve on the County Connection Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee’s role is to review and analyze issues and policies relating to fixed-route and paratransit service and advise the County Connection Board of Directors accordingly. The County’s appointee will also act as a citizen liaison from the County.

Regular meetings of the Advisory Committee are held bi-monthly on the second Tuesday at 1:00 PM in Concord. This is a volunteer position. The appointment will be for a two-year term ending June 30, 2025.

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 www.contracosta.ca.gov. Applications should be returned to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, County Administration Building, 1025 Escobar St., Martinez, CA 94553, no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, April 7, 2023. Applicants should plan to be available for public interviews in Martinez on Monday, April 10, 2023.

Further information about the County Connection Advisory Committee can be obtained by calling Ruby Horta at (925) 680-2048 or by clicking below.

Education to Workforce Pathways

East Bay EDA is excited to spotlight yet another outstanding program and partnership from California State University, East Bay, the 2022 Legacy Award winner for the East Bay Innovation Awards.

As part of East Bay EDA’s ongoing work to support education and workforce development investment that expands access to economic opportunity, they invite you to join in on Thursday, March 23 to hear from Cal State East Bay President Cathy Sandeen, Hayward Mayor Mark Salinas, Hayward Promise Neighborhoods Executive Director Edgar Chavez, and Cal State East Bay Black Excellence Project Lead Steven Cleveland to hear about the work they are doing to help strengthen connections between the community and the University, with a particular focus on Black student success. 

This webinar is presented in partnership with California State University, East Bay. There will be a Q&A to follow the discussion.

Contra Costa Resources for People Experiencing Homelessness

A strong storm system and associated atmospheric river are bringing widespread moderate to heavy rainfall and strong winds to the region through Tuesday. This will increase the threat of widespread flooding and wind damage across the Bay Area & Central Coast, increasing the need for sheltering the unhoused. The County's Health, Housing & Homeless (H3) Services department is expanding its services for this weather event as follows:

Outreach

• An all-county CORE Mobile Outreach team (2 staff) will be added to work 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday to expand the typical coverage of 4:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. 

Drop in Centers

• CARE Centers
• Greater Richmond Interfaith Program (GRIP) in Richmond
• Trinity Center in Walnut Creek
• For more information on locations/hours/services go to cchealth.org/h3 or call 211. 
• Concord Service Center 
• 2047 Arnold Industrial Way, Concord
• Added weekend hours last weekend and this coming weekend. The Service Center is typically open 8 am-4 pm Mon-Fri and has added 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. for this coming Saturday and Sunday (3/11 and 3/12).
• Warming Center has been operating at capacity and only accepts placements on the weekends.

Shelters

• Multiple shelters across the County have expanded capacity. Please refer to this list to learn more about locations and referral method.

Other Shelter resources 

• Call 211 to connect with CORE mobile outreach for information about shelter availability.

Gianni's Bistro "Tips for Change" Fundraiser to Benefit

National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse (NCAPDA)

Contra Costa County Looking for New Members for

the Civil Grand Jury - Deadline to Apply March 24

Contra Costa County Superior Court is accepting applications for jurors to serve the Civil Grand Jury for the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 term.

The Civil Grand Jury is made up of 19 members who serve for one year, July through June, to monitor, review and report on city and county governments, special districts, and school districts.

Every effort is made to ensure that the Grand Jury reflects the makeup of the residents of the county. Approximately 75 applicants will be selected to be interviewed by the Grand Jury Selection Committee, which is composed of Superior Court Judges.

Persons interested in applying may contact the Office of the Civil Grand Jury at (925) 608-2621 or visit the website by clicking the button below to receive additional information.

Application Deadline is Friday, March 24, 2023.