August 13, 2020
HEALTH SERVICES UPDATES

For a current list of opening guidelines, see the "Openings at a Glance" Document.

For current COVID-19 updates, visit Contra Costa Health Services at https://cchealth.org/coronavirus.

If you have questions about the Coronavirus, contact the Multilingual Call Center 1-844-729-8410, open daily from 8 am to 5 pm (available in English and Spanish). 

For assistance in multiple languages after hours, please call 211 or 800-833-2900 or text HOPE to 20121.
PROTECT YOURSELF, PROTECT YOUR FAMILY & FRIENDS
Read and share these tips to Slow the Spread of COVID-19
EHSD plans to make three of its district offices available as “places to cool” through the end of this week and early next week. 

Please note that during the COVID-19 shelter in place, EHSD’s regular programs and services are NOT currently available at these offices.  

Open Thursday-Friday, August 13-14, and
Monday-Tuesday, August 17-18, 2020, from 1 to 5 p.m.:
 
EHSD District Office
4545 Delta Fair Blvd.
Antioch
 
EHSD District Office
400 Ellinwood Way
Pleasant Hill
 
EHSD District Office
1305 Macdonald
Richmond
 
Water will be available.

Social distancing and face covering requirements are in place at all locations. 

Capacity may be limited in order to comply with County health orders.

Community members should NOT go to any of these places to cool off if they have been exposed to or are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, or if they have been ordered to quarantine. 

All visitors to EHSD offices will be asked screening questions before they can enter the buildings. 
 
Additional Antioch location open for cooling:

Nick Rodriguez Community Center at
213 F Street, Antioch 

Open Friday, August 14 - Wednesday, August 19
12 noon to 6 p.m. 
Call (925) 778-1158 for more information. 
 
Call below locations prior to visiting to confirm if open and hours of operation:

Concord Senior Center, 2727 Parkside Circle, Concord   
(925) 671-3320

Martinez Senior Center, 818 Green Street, Martinez      
(925) 370-8770
East Contra Costa Fire Protection District to Hold Town Halls
ECCFPD will hold a series of Virtual Town Hall meetings. Bethel Island residents are encouraged to attend the Town Hall on August 13, 2020 at 7PM.

For more information about East Contra Costa Fire Protection District, please visit https://www.eccfpd.org/

Note: You can find additional information about Zoom Meetings at the bottom of this newsletter.
St. Anne’s Church and American Red Cross are teaming up for blood drives.

Wednesday, September 16, 2020
12:00 noon-6:00pm
St. Anne’s Church
2800 Camino Diablo Road
Byron, CA 94514

Donating is a safe process and people should not hesitate to give or receive blood or platelets. 

For a limited time, the American Red Cross will test all blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies as an additional health service to our donors. 

To schedule an appointment Click Here or call 1-800-733-2767
For more information about the Red Cross visit redcross.org.
Friendship Line for Seniors
As many older and at-risk Californians continue to stay home to minimize exposure to COVID-19, feelings of isolation and loneliness may be increasing.

To offer support, Institute on Aging and the California Department of Aging want to share with you all additional resources to bring awareness to the toll-free warm line, Friendship Line California.

As you may know Friendship Line California is both a crisis intervention hotline and a warmline for non-emergency emotional support calls connecting individuals to a friendly conversation 24/7.

Call 1-888-670-1360 now for an ear ready to listen and warm voice. You don't have to feel alone.
49 DAYS LEFT TO COUNT ALL RESIDENTS - VISITS BEGIN
The U.S. Census Bureau has begun following up with households nationwide that have not yet responded to the 2020 Census.

Based on the current self-response rate, the Census Bureau estimates it will need to visit about 116,000 addresses to collect responses in person.

The Census Bureau is working to complete data collection as quickly and safely as possible, while ensuring a complete and accurate count as it strives to comply with the law and statutory deadlines.

Census takers will follow local public health guidelines when they visit.


View Non-Response Follow Up map to see when Contra Costa County residents may see census takers going door to door. 

Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee
The Contra Costa County Internal Operations Committee of the Board of Supervisors is now accepting applications from individuals to fill
two (2) At-Large Member Seats and one (1) At-Large Alternate member seat on the Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee.

Existing members seeking reappointment and individuals seeking a new appointment may apply.

Applications are due by October 2, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. 

The Fish and Wildlife Committee has ten members: Five District representatives nominated by individual members of the Board of Supervisors, four At-Large positions, and one At-Large Alternate position nominated by the Internal Operations Committee.

The Internal Operations Committee considers applications from all interested individuals and conducts interviews even when an existing At-Large member seeks reappointment. Read More...

Apply for the Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council
The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors is seeking applicants who may be interested in serving on its 19-member Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council (JJCC).

The JJCC is a multi-agency advisory body charged with creating and maintaining the County’s comprehensive Juvenile Probation Consolidated Annual Plan and coordinating county-based juvenile delinquency prevention initiatives. The state-mandated Juvenile Probation Consolidated Annual Plan is designed to improve services for Contra Costa County’s juvenile justice population by assessing existing practices and resources, identifying system needs and gaps, and prioritizing and recommending solutions. Read more...

CCTA Call for a County Representative
Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) seeks an individual to serve as the County Representative on its Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC).

The individual selected for this position must live in the unincorporated area of the County, be available to attend committee meetings on the 4th Wednesday of every month at 6:00 p.m., which are normally held at the CCTA offices, located at 2999 Oak Road, Suite 100, Walnut Creek, CA 94597, and have the ability to review CAC agenda packets and develop input on agenda items beforehand. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, meetings presently occur via videoconference.

The individual will serve a four-year term in a volunteer capacity and be eligible for reimbursement for travel expenses.

The CCTA CAC reviews transportation programs and plans throughout the County, with the objective of advising and providing recommendations to the CCTA Board of Directors.

This includes transportation projects and programs funded by the county half-cent transportation sales tax (“Measure J”) which CCTA oversees.

CCTA maintains its standing CAC in order to provide citizen perspective, participation, and involvement in the Measure J-funded and voter-approved Transportation Expenditure Plan and Growth Management Program. The CAC members have an opportunity to learn about and influence transportation and growth issues within Contra Costa County and in other jurisdictions through scheduled presentation by transportation experts, advocates, and CCTA staff.

To apply for this position, please fill out the application form online at https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/6408 or download it at https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6433 and fax the completed form to the attention of Robert Sarmiento at (925) 674-7250.

Should you have any questions, please call (925) 674-7822.

Interested individuals should apply by August 31, 2020.
Countywide Guardrail Upgrade Project Continues
The Contra Costa County Public Works Department will begin the second phase of construction on the Countywide Guardrail Upgrade Project on Marsh Creek Road. Guardrail work is scheduled for the following locations:

Vasco Road: Construction began on Wednesday, July 15, 2020 and is anticipated to be completed by Friday, August 7, 2020. The work will occur Monday through Friday, 6:00 pm to 6:00 am, barring unforeseen circumstances. Work will take place between Walnut Boulevard and the Alameda County Line.

Marsh Creek Road: Construction is expected to begin on Monday, August 3, 2020. The work will occur Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 3:00 pm, barring unforeseen circumstances. Work will take place between the Clayton City limit and Camino Diablo.

San Pablo Dam Road: Construction is expected to begin in late-August, 2020. The work will occur Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. Work will take place between the Richmond City limit and Bear Creek Road.

Construction will be complete in mid-September 2020, barring unforeseen circumstances. Construction operations will be scheduled to minimize impacts to commute traffic. Drivers can expect delays up to 15 minutes during construction. Current social distancing protocol will be observed.
County Agricultural Commissioner Instructs Residents Not to Open Unsolicited Seed Packs Originating from China
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has recently become aware of a number of reports regarding unsolicited seeds from China being received by homeowners throughout the US, including Contra Costa County.

CDFA is communicating with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to determine any necessary actions for shipments received in California. 

In the meantime, CDFA is instructing residents NOT to open any unsolicited seed packets received and to contact their local county agricultural commissioner’s office. Seed packets should NOT be opened, shipped, or disposed of by residents in order to prevent potential dispersal of invasive species, diseases, and/or quarantine pests. Unopened seed packets should be held by the resident or county official until further instructions are provided. 

Please contact the Contra Costa Agricultural Commissioner's Office at (925) 608-6600 if you received seeds in the mail that you did not order or have questions. If you are in possession of any of these seed packets, we will arrange for an inspector to pick it up at your convenience. If seeds have already been planted, please retrieve the seeds and any contaminated soil for pickup by a county Agricultural inspector. 

NOTE: Do not open seed packets. Do not plant unsolicited seeds.

Contact: Matt Slattengren,
RCF Seeks Engagement Coordinator
Richmond Community Foundation’s goal is to create healthy, sustainable communities in Contra Costa County.

We believe in the Theory of Change, in which we identify a realistic long-term goal and consider what conditions need to be in place to reach it.

The majority of our long-term goals entail measuring and tackling social and economic challenges that local residents face.

RCF seeks an English/Spanish bilingual individual to join their team of two Community Engagement Coordinators supporting a program focused on East County.

You will find job information on the RCF Website: 
What is a Zoom Meeting?