Hemme Station Park Grand Opening Set for September 23
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Alamo residents and travelers on the Iron Horse Trail will soon be able to enjoy a new trailside park, located at the corner of Danville Boulevard and Hemme Avenue. The September 23rd Ribbon Cutting, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., will unveil the new train-themed park. Park amenities include a tot lot play area, picnic pavilion, restrooms, bike racks, drinking fountains, walking path, tables, benches, trash cans, turf and beautiful native landscaping.
Throughout the park visitors will be able to read about the history of Alamo, native plants, and the original Southern Pacific Railroad Hemme Station on informational
plaques.
The Hemme Station Park project is the result of a partnership between Supervisor Candace Andersen's office, Contra Costa County Public Works Department, Alamo Municipal Advisory Committee and the community.
Contra Costa County Supervisor Candace Andersen, the Alamo Municipal Advisory Council, and the Public Works Department are pleased to host the celebration of the recently completed project. The project was funded through the County Service Area R7 Parks and Recreation Fund.
The park will be a wonderful
respite
spot for the local community and Iron Horse Trail users, who will access the park on foot and by bicycle. Thus, there is no automobile parking provided at the site or on the adjacent streets. Those coming to the festivities on September 23rd are encouraged to walk or bike; limited parking will be available at Rancho Romero Elementary School just up the street on Hemme Avenue.
Children's crafts and activities will be available. Refreshments will be provided.
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Please join Supervisor Andersen, along with Assemblywoman Catharine Baker and Orinda Mayor Eve Phillips, for a Town Hall in Orinda from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, September 25th in the Orinda Library Auditorium, 26 Orinda Way, Orinda. Please rsvp by
clicking here.
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Local First Responders Dispatched to Help with
Hurricane Harvey
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 Late Saturday evening, FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 4 (US&R TF-4) was activated to support rescue operations as a result of Hurricane Harvey. The team, based out of the Oakland Fire Department, is comprised of members from Alameda and Contra Costa County fire agencies. There are 28 US&R Task Forces located throughout the country, with eight based in California. At least three teams were activated from California, including TF-4, committed to the affected area.
Contra Costa County Fire sent five of our personnel, who are members of TF-4, as part of the response to Texas.
There are approximately 70 total task force members on this deployment and they arrived in Texas Monday morning. It is anticipated their commitment to the region affected by the hurricane will be extended in duration and there is no current estimate of how long they will be in Texas. As we've all seen on the news coverage, the devastation is catastrophic and it continues. Local and state resources in the affected areas are beyond their capacity and federal resources are being deployed, including the FEMA US&R Task Forces.
The personnel from Contra Costa Fire arrived in good spirits after the long drive, and are anxious to help and do the specialized rescue work they've been trained and equipped to perform. To learn more about the team and what they do, click here.
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9/11 Community Remembrance - All are Welcome
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 Supervisor Andersen was thrilled to welcome Danville Canine Officer
Emily Neabeack and her
partner Aik, Danville Police Chief Allan Shields, and Assemblymember Catharine Baker to her neighborhood's National Night Out event in Danville. The annual event draws guests of all ages.
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Seeking Nominations for Arts Recognition Awards
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 The Contra Costa County Arts & Culture Commission (AC5) is seeking nominations for the 2017 Arts Recognition Awards; the deadline for submitting nominations has been extended through Thursday, September 28th.
AC5 is celebrating its 20th Anniversary of honoring those who have made a significant artistic or philanthropic contribution to the residents and communities in the County. The Commissioners ask that you nominate someone you feel is deserving of this award. Five worthy honorees were recognized in 2016:
- Michael and Shannon Demers - President, Board Members and Bookkeeper of Contra Costa Musical Theatre.
- Sylvia Amorina - Founder and Artistic Director of Solo Opera.
- Lawrence Kohl - President Lamorinda Arts Council and Music Director of the Pacific Chamber Orchestra.
- Jay Bedecarre - Former Concord Pavilion Marketing Director and KidsFest Producer.
- Richmond RYSE Center - works with youth of City of Richmond.
The nominees must be, or have been, an active supporter of arts and culture, with sustained contributions and work, that has had a far-reaching impact. Up to five honorees will be selected by a panel of jurists, with special recognition from the County Board of Supervisors on November 14, 2017. A reception will be held at a later date to honor the recipients.
Consider those you feel have made a difference in visual arts, music, performing arts, dance digital arts or arts education for this award. Other worthy candidates might be those who have shown exceptional leadership, vision and commitment to the growth and support of arts and culture, or organizations that have kept the arts alive through continuous or significant financial support.
Please visit the
Arts and Culture Commission website
by clicking here for more details and to submit nominations online.
The nomination period closes at midnight on Thursday, September 28, 2017.
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Moraga Annual Pear & Wine Festival
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American Red Cross Blood Drive in Moraga
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San Ramon Chamber Seeking Nominations for 2017 Community Awards
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 The San Ramon Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for its 2017 Community Awards.
Community members are encouraged to nominate deserving people for five awards: Citizen of the Year, Business (or Business Person) of the Year, Educator of the Year, Employee of the Year and Green Company/Individual of the Year Award.
The Nomination form and information regarding the criteria for each award category are posted on the San Ramon Chamber website,
www.sanramon.org. Nominations are due September 21, 2017. Forms may be faxed to )925) 242.0603; mailed to the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce, 2410 Camino Ramon, Suite 125, Bishop Ranch 6, San Ramon, CA, 94583; or e-mailed to
kathy.fanning@sanramon.org.
Awards will be presented at the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce Community Awards celebration to be held Thursday, December 7, 2017 at Bridges Golf Club in San Ramon. Gala tickets will be sold online through the Chamber of Commerce by clicking
here. Contact the Chamber office for more information at (925) 242.0600.
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5th Annual Autos of Alamo
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Lafayette Art & Wine Festival
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The Lafayette Art & Wine Festival, held each year on the third weekend in September, is the largest event in Lamorinda and one of the five biggest outdoor festivals in Contra Costa County. In 2016, over 80,000 people strolled among the booths of art, handmade crafts, sampled food from top local restaurants, and enjoyed quality wines and microbrews, pausing to enjoy continuous music from the two main stages.
Admission is free for all, with a minimal ticket cost for Kids Zone activities.
Drink tickets are $7 for wine or beer. Combination packages are available with big discounts.
The dates for this year's event are Saturday, September 16th, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, September 17th, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For complete details about this year's event,
click here.
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Culture in the Community Celebration
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 Come celebrate 150 years of San Ramon's many rich cultures in the community. Join the fun on Sunday, October 15th, from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the San Ramon Community Center for the Cultures in the Community Celebration! This exciting event will feature cultural booths, multicultural performances, music, art, activities, fashion, and food from around the world. Admission and parking are free. This event is in collaboration with the San Ramon 150 program. For more information about this event or other San Ramon 150 events,
click here.
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Orinda Classic Car Show and
Dancing with the Cars Fundraiser
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On Saturday, September 9th from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., the town of Orinda
will host the 13th Annual Classic Car Show.
This free event continues to delight car fans of all ages and
benefits the "Seniors Around Town" transportation service,
an Orinda Association program, The Educational Foundation of Orinda (EFO)
and other fine causes.
The 13th Annual Orinda Classic Car Show Weekend kicks off the night before with "Dancing with the Cars" at the beautiful Orinda Country Club on Friday September 8th at 5:30 p.m. Click here for more information about all of the Car Show events.
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I-680 Express Lanes Update
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Get FasTrak® or FasTrak Flex®
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Carpools, eligible clean air vehicles and motorcycles must use a Fastrak Flex toll tag set to 2 or 3+ to travel toll-free.
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The I-680 Contra Costa Express Lanes are scheduled to open this Fall. All drivers will need a FasTrak or FasTrak Flex toll tag to travel in the lanes weekdays between 5:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. To travel toll-free as a carpool, motorcycle, or eligible clean air vehicle, drivers must have a FasTrak Flex toll tag set in the "2" or "3+" position as appropriate. Solo drivers can use either a standard FasTrak toll tag or a FasTrak Flex toll tag set in the "1" position to pay the toll for a more reliable trip.
FasTrak is a way to pay tolls at Bay Area bridges and on express lanes electronically using a toll tag. To get a toll tag, open a FasTrak account
online and a ready-to-use toll tag will be mailed to you. If you're already a FasTrak account holder and need additional toll tags, login to your account at
bayareafastrak.org. Order additional toll tags from the Manage Tags & Vehicles menu and they will be mailed to you.
Get a standard FasTrak or FasTrak Flex toll tag to pay to use the lanes; get a FasTrak Flex toll tag to carpool toll-free.
Click here
for more information about express lanes or
bayareafastrak.org
to order a toll tag
Construction Highlights
Toll system testing continues. The tests confirm that toll prices are properly calculated and displayed on highway signs, that toll tags are prope
rly read as they pass under the tolling equipment, and that tag reads p
roduce accurate charges.
Motorists can expect to see dots, test toll amounts, and notification that testing is underway on the electronic signs. While motorists will see prices on the signs, cars will not be tolled during the tests. Nighttime lane closures on I-680 continue throughout the next month.
The "under construction" labels on the overhead signs will be removed prior to the lane opening. As labels are removed, messages on the variable toll messaging signs will indicate when the lanes are functioning as express lanes. For more information,
click here.
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September is Library Card Sign-up Month
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September is Library Card Sign-up Month, a time when the American Library Association and libraries nationwide join together to remind parents, caregivers and students that signing up for a library card is the first step towards academic achievement and lifelong learning.
With innovative programming, access to resources, and hands-on mentorship, students are sure to find something to spark their interest. Visit your local Contra Costa County Library or
click here to visit online.
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County Services Summer Block Party
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 On August 10th, the Clerk-Recorder-Elections Department held a Summer Block Party event in their parking lot, giving residents an opportunity to access a wide variety of County services at one location. A single person could have left the event with a marriage license, a foster child application and a pet adoption appointment! The event was very successful and will likely be an annual occurrence.
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Moraga 6th Annual Golf Tournament
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 The CAPA community education fund held their annual 2017 Intern Graduation ceremony on Sunday, August 20th at Crow Canyon Country Club in Danville. District II Chief of Staff Gayle Israel attended the event and presented our intern, Chloe Chu, with a certificate of appreciation for her hard work this summer. For more information about the CAPA intern program,
click here.
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2017/2018 San Ramon Presenting Series Line up and 10th Season Anniversary Celebration
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 This fall the City of San Ramon will present its 10th Season of Entertainment at the Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center.
October 7 - John Tesh
November 18 - Blood Sweat and Tears
February 17 - One night of Queen
March 25 - Judy Collins
April 21 - Sara Evans
For more information regarding the presenting series and ticket sales, click here.
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The Run for Education, taking place on Sunday, October 1st, formerly "Primo's Run," has been a tradition in the San Ramon Valley for 34 years. The 10K, 5K Timed, 5K Fun Run Walk and Mini Run are the primary fund-raising activities for the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports and promotes education in our community in partnership with the San Ramon Valley Unified School District. Together with their 34 affiliates, they raise more than 7 million dollars a year to support the district's underfunded schools.
To learn more or to register
click here
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RecycleSmart Composting Workshops
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County Finance Building Remodel Open House
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Bob Campbell, County Auditor-Controller, stands with Elizabeth Graux in the newly refurbished break room in the County Finance Building on Court Street in Martinez.
Elizabeth is the architect in charge of the remodel project which took about 2 years to complete. The building had not been remodeled since it was built over one hundred years ago. Stacks of boxes and old file cabinets have been replaced with well-lit, organized new cubicles and restored floors and windows. The renovation makes the offices much more service friendly to the residents of Contra Costa County.
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Relics on Railroad, Danville Antiques & Art Faire
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If you love the ageless beauty of antiques, you won't want to miss Relics on Railroad, Danville's Art and Antique Faire on
Monday, September 4
th
from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., located in the Railroad Lot at Prospect in Downtown Danville.
Grab a bite at downtown eateries, enjoy live music, entertainment, and fun for the kids while strolling through the streets of downtown. Have a few heirlooms of your own? For a nominal fee, you can find out how much they're worth at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley's antique appraisal clinic. To learn more, contact Daniel Dunn from the Museum of San Ramon Valley at (925) 837-3750, or
click here
. The Danville Art and Antique Faire is free and open to the public.
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Senior Transportation Forum
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PG&E Opens New Center for Gas Safety and Innovation
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In photo from left to right: PG&E CEO Geisha Williams, Tom Guarino with PG&E, San Ramon Chamber Board Member Patience Ofodu, Jennifer Quallick, District II Staff, and Cindy Chin, District Director for Assemblymember Baker.
On Friday, August 11th, PG&E opened its new Center for Gas Safety and Innovation, which is another significant milestone in the energy company's efforts to provide customers with safe, reliable, affordable and clean energy.
The facility, located in Dublin, includes workspace and a lab that's home to three groups within PG&E's Gas Operations division. The teams will use some of the industry's most advanced tools, testing capabilities, and lab resources to ensure the safe operation of its gas system.
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Walnut Creek Welcomes New City Manager
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Supervisor Andersen joined a gathering of Walnut Creek City leaders, including several former mayors, business executives, and interested citizens on August 29th to welcome new City Manager Dan Buckshi. Dan had been with San Luis Obispo County since 2002, serving as budget director, assistant county administrative officer, and as their county administrative officer since 2012.
Candace is shown above with City Councilmember Kevin Wilk and Mayor Rich Carlston.
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District Attorney Public Forum
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 On Tuesday, August 15th, the public had the opportunity to attend a community forum in the Board of Supervisors chambers highlighting the five finalists under consideration to serve as the Interim District Attorney for Contra Costa County.
The questions asked of the candidates were submitted by the public. The forum, which was moderated by former County Clerk-Recorder Steve Weir, was also televised live on CCTV and streamed live online.
The June 14th resignation of Mark Peterson from the position of District Attorney created a vacancy that will extend until the current term of office expires on January 7, 2019. The next election for the District Attorney will take place in June of 2018, with a potential runoff election in November of 2018.
The Board of Supervisors will interview the final applicants at their September 12th public meeting; a decision could be made that day, or possibly at the following meeting on September 19, 2017. The public is invited to this open meeting, which will also be televised live on CCTV and streamed live online here.
The District Attorney, in addition to being the Public Prosecutor, also conducts Victim/Witness Assistance, Rape Crisis Services, Battered Women Alternatives, and Adult Pretrial Diversion Programs, and anti-truancy, cease fire and safe streets initiatives. The District Attorney manages a department consisting of approximately 205 employees of whom 103 are attorneys. The Department's operating budget for Fiscal Year 2017/18 is $19.5 million.
The District Attorney's Department also cooperates with State and other local agencies in the detection, suppression, and prevention of crime, and in the enforcement of regulatory laws as well as handling fugitive warrants, extraditions and writs.
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Final Hacienda Nights Food Truck Event on
Friday, September 8th
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 The last Hacienda Nights food truck event in Moraga will be
on Friday, September 8th from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m
. This event features six food trucks, picnic tables for dining, and fun games for the entire family. The Hacienda is located at
2100 Donald Drive
in Moraga, and entry into the event is free. This event is hosted by the Moraga Parks and Recreation Department and sponsored in part by the Hacienda Foundation of Moraga and the Moraga Park Foundation. Beer, wine, and margaritas will be available for purchase with proceeds benefiting the Hacienda Foundation. For more information and to see which trucks will be at the event, please visit
click here
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Animal Services Cat Adoption Promotion and
New Barking Dog Reporting Process
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Animal Services has a new process for reporting barking dogs/noisy animals.
The new process places the burden on the dog/property owner to prove that there is not a nuisance. Most importantly, the new process will better facilitate bringing neighbors together to work out these issues, which should always be a first step. The new process also removes the requirement that a second complaint needs to be filed by a second neighbor within 300ft of the noise nuisance.
To report a noisy animal, click here, and click on the "Report Noisy Animal" in the left-hand navigation bar, then click on "First Complaint" and complete the Barking Dog Complaint Form.
After submitting the complaint, Animal Services will send both the complainant and the dog owner/caretaker letters about the complaint on the next business day. The owner/caretaker will have 15 days from the date on the letter to correct the issue. If the issue is not corrected in that time, a second complaint can be filed to move to a citation/hearing.
Complaints can also be processed by a phone call to Animal Service at (925) 608-8400 for those without computer access.
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Bollinger Canyon Road Widening Project
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Las Trampas School in Lafayette Holds Annual Fundraiser
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 Las Trampas invites you to a fun event for the entire family that also supports a good cause. You can walk, roll or run at their 8th
Annual Walk n' Roll 1 mile or 5k on Saturday, September 23, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. on the Lafayette-Moraga Trail at 3460 Lana Lane. Registration fee of $25.00 includes: T-shirt, raffle, Whole Foods bag, games by KKDV, refreshments and entertainment by KKDV and the Jan Coogan Group of Bread & Roses. You can register online by
clicking here
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John Muir Health Center Opens in Orinda
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Supervisor Andersen's Chief of Staff Gayle Israel, on right, attends the grand opening of the health center.
John Muir Health celebrated the
grand opening of the Orinda Urgent Care Center and the newly renovated Orinda Internal Medicine office
on Monday, August 21st. The facility also includes new onsite imaging services allowing patients the convenience of multiple health services all in one location. The facility is located at 140 Brookwood Road in Orinda
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Orinda Senior Health and Wellness Fair
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 On September 23rd, the Orinda Chamber of Commerce will host its first Senior Health and Wellness Fair. The event is for seniors and their children who are interested in receiving information about staying healthy past retirement.
The free event will feature Dr. Patrick Arbore as the keynote speaker talking about Senior Empowerment. He will be followed by an expert's panel presenting effective ways to improve health and wellness through exercise, nutrition, continuing education, spirituality, connectedness, alternative medicine.
Dr. Patrick Arbore's presentation is titled "Senior Empowerment". Dr. Arbore is a winner of the Jefferson Silver Award and a nationally recognized speaker and expert in the field of elderly suicide prevention and grief services. He will be followed by an expert panel presenting effective ways to improve health and wellness through exercise, nutrition, continuing education, spirituality, and connections.
There will be yoga seminars, healthy food and refreshments, live music, prizes, fall prevention specialists, health specialists, information about housing options for seniors, and more.
If you are interested in sponsoring this event or becoming a vendor,
click here
or call (925) 254-3909. Chamber member vendors get a 50% discount. The number of tables is limited.
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NAMI Family-to-Family Mental Illness Education Courses
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 NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Family-to-Family is a free, 12-session educational program for family, significant others and friends of people living with mental illness. It is a designated evidenced-based program. Research shows that the program significantly improves the coping and problem-solving abilities of the people closest to an individual living with a mental health condition. The program begins in Lafayette in September, 2017 and in Brentwood in January, 2018. To learn more c
ontact F2F Program Assistant Gloria Davidson for class flyers and registrations, (925) 244-0873 or e-mail by
clicking here
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Family to Family program in Mandarin for Mandarin speaking individuals is being held every Saturday from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., through October 21, 2017, at the Danville Chinese Bible Church, 2278 Camino Ramon, in San Ramon. To register, call (925) 238-6286 or to e-mail clicking here.
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California Independent Film Festival
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 Enjoy an exciting afternoon of cars for a cause at Danville d'Elegance, Danville's premier charitable event benefiting the Parkinson's Institute. The event takes place on Sunday, September 17th from 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. on Hartz Avenue in Danville. Picturesque downtown provides the perfect backdrop for showcasing some of the finest exotic automobiles past and present. Visit fine wine and food stations throughout the event, and learn more about Parkinson's Disease and how your contributions can help find a cure. To learn more click here.
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Advance Care Planning Essentials: Training for Financial Life Planners, Attorneys and Support Professionals
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Contra Costa County Volunteer Opportunities
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Looking for a
volunteer opportunity? To follow is a list of vacant seats which will allow you to learn more about county government and offer your expertise to improve services within Contra Costa County:
District 2 vacancy available:
- Agricultural Advisory Task Force
- County Service Area P-5 Citizen Advisory Committee
- Alcohol and Other Drugs Advisory Board http://cchealth.org/aod/board/
- First 5 - Contra Costa Children and Families Commission http://www.first5coco.org/
- Iron Horse Corridor Management Program Advisory Committee - Alamo Seat Click here for information about the committee
In addition, Supervisor Andersen would like to draw your attention to the following list of countywide advisory bodies that currently have seats available:
Alcohol and Other Drugs Advisory Board
Affordable Housing Finance Committee
Alcohol and Other Drugs Advisory Board
Arts & Culture Commission (AC5)
Aviation Advisory Committee
Bicycle Advisory Committee
Community Corrections Partnership, Community Advisory Board
County Connection Citizen Advisory Committee
Developmental Disabilities Board
Economic Opportunity Council
Local Planning and Advisory Council for Early Care and Education
Equal Employment Opportunity Advisory Council
Contra Costa Council on Homelessness
Affordable Housing Finance Committee
In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority Advisory Committee
Juvenile Justice Commission/Delinquency Prevention Commission
Managed Care Commission
Workforce Development Board
To apply for any of these seats,
click here
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August Board Actions
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Ever wonder what your Supervisor does at the Board of Supervisors Meeting held on most Tuesdays? Here are some of the board actions from the month of August which impact the residents of District 2:
Reviewed 12 applications for the position of District Attorney and selected 5 applicants for further consideration.
Adopted Traffic Resolution No. 2017/4455 to prohibit vehicles over 40 feet in length on Pinehurst Road (Road No. 2631A), as recommended by the Public Works Director, Canyon area.
Adopted Resolution No. 2017/270 accepting an Offer of Dedication for a Trail Easement for road agreement RA07-01234, for a project being developed by Shapell Industries, Inc., as recommended by the Public Works Director, San Ramon (Dougherty Valley) area. (District II)
Adopted Resolution No. 2017/271 accepting an Offer of Dedication for a Landscape Easement for subdivision SD16-09301, for a project being developed by Shapell Industries, Inc., as recommended by the Public Works Director, San Ramon (Dougherty Valley) area. (District II)
Approved and Authorized the Public Works Director, or designee, to execute an Amendment to the Transportation Service Agreement for Operation of a School Bus Route within County Service Area (CSA) T-1 with the Measure J Traffic Congestion Relief Agency (TRAFFIX), to authorize payment of TRAFFIX operational and overhead costs to run two school bus routes within CSA T-1, as recommended by the Public Works Director, Danville area.
Adopted a Resolution honoring the 57th Annual Contra Costa Championship Swim Meet as recommended by Supervisor Andersen.
Appointed Dennis Reigle to the District II Seat on the Contra Costa County Merit Board for a four-year term with an expiration date of June 30, 2021, as recommended by Supervisor Candace Andersen.
Approved response to Civil Grand Jury Report No. 1711, "Alamo Parks Planning and Development".
Adopted Resolution No. 2017/283 authorizing the Sheriff-Coroner, or designee, to apply for and accept the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services' 2017 Emergency Management Performance Grant in an initial allocation of $356,598 to develop and maintain the level of capability to prepare for, mitigate, respond to, and recover from emergencies and disasters for the period July 1, 2017 through the end of grant funding availability.
Approved Annexation No. 4 to Drainage Area 76A, for Minor Subdivision 16-0004, Alamo area.
Held a public hearing on the Saranap Village Mixed-Use Project.
Certified the Environmental Impact Report for the Saranap Village Mixed-Use Project.
Adopted a Resolution recognizing the 150th Anniversary of San Ramon.
Recognized the contributions of Julia Bueren, Director of Public Works, on the occasion of her retirement from Contra Costa County.
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Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Please help save a life and make a donation! The Town of Moraga will be hosting a blood drive with the American Red Cross 
