In brief: Ground broken on Deer Valley High stadium project in Antioch

ANTIOCH

The Antioch Unified School District (AUSD) is excited to announce the recent groundbreaking for the Deer Valley High School stadium project.

The new turf field will give students the ability to access physical activity year-round, promoting health and wellness as the AUSD community continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The space will also include a regulation lacrosse field — one of very few in Contra Costa County.

The school district has invested in this renovation to give students a positive outlet that promotes good physical and mental health to support higher academic outcomes. The modern turf field will benefit Deer Valley High’s physical education program, athletic teams, school events such as graduation and youth teams in the community.

With the implementation of elementary sports camps and the expansion of the middle school athletic leagues, all students in Antioch will be able to use the state-of-the-art all-weather field. The environmentally friendly field also will require no watering or other major maintenance for more than 10 years.

AUSD officials are happy to provide this community field and hope it will be a source of pride and community engagement. For updates on the stadium renovation project, which is slated for completion in spring 2024, visit facebook.com/ausd.k12 online.

— AUSD

Small businesses can apply for Facade Upgrade Program

Applications for the city of Antioch Small Business Facade Upgrade Program are now open for small businesses in Antioch. Forward, a partner in program administration for local governments, has partnered with the city to administer the program, which is designed to provide a facade upgrade reimbursement payment for eligible small businesses that have experienced a negative financial impact from COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

The city has allocated $450,000 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds through its Small Business Facade Upgrade Program to help Antioch small businesses alleviate the economic challenges faced by pandemic measures, offering them much-needed assistance to maintain and repair the facades of their businesses.

“The city of Antioch is dedicated to investing in Antioch small businesses through its Facade Upgrade Program and in providing an easy application process for applicants,” said Kwame Reed, Antioch’s acting city manager. “This program further solidifies the city of Antioch’s continued partnership with Forward and the shared commitment to financially empower and assist the Antioch small business community.”

Antioch small businesses that meet eligibility requirements are encouraged to learn more and apply online at forwardplatform.com/city-of-antioch-small-business-programs.

— city of Antioch

PITTSBURG

Center for visually impaired takes group to pumpkin patch

Blind and visually impaired clients of the Pittsburg-based Lions Center for the Visually Impaired (LCVI) visited Cool Patch Pumpkins in Dixon to enjoy the fall season Oct. 24 with a hay ride, a dip in the “Corn Bath” and a search for the perfect gourd to take home.

The group of 33 from Contra Costa, Alameda and Solano counties noted the kindness of the Cool Patch staff and how they helped make the activities accessible and fun for everyone. For lunch the group continued on to Dawson’s Bar and Grill in Dixon before returning home.

“Cool Patch Pumpkins was a great place for our seniors,” said LCVI event coordinator Richard Grange. “It was fun to get out there and explore the corn fields, pumpkin patch and cool fall activities. Many thanks to the Cool Patch staff who were so very helpful in accommodating our seniors with vision loss.”

LCVI provides free supportive services for blind and visually impaired seniors in Contra Costa, Alameda and Solano counties. For more information, visit lcvi.org online or call 925-432-3013.

— LCVI

WALNUT CREEK

Insurance firm commits $25M to assist forest restoration

In Northern California, wildfire season now runs all year long, so to address the risks posed by catastrophic wildfires, Walnut Creek-based CSAA Insurance Group earlier this year announced a $25 million commitment to the California Wildlife Innovation Fund, a climate-solutions strategy that aims to decrease the severity and frequency of catastrophic wildfires by supporting economic development related to forest restoration.

CSAA developed the fund in partnership with Blue Forest, the nonprofit group behind the Forest Resilience Bond, which deploys private capital to finance forest restoration projects for wildfire prevention. CSAA was also one of the first investors in the Forest Resilience Bond.

“We are confident that this new fund will deliver meaningful outcomes for our customers, our communities and anyone that recognizes the importance of protecting California from the threat of wildfire and climate change,” said Jeff Huebner, CSAA’s chief risk officer.

Alongside a financial return, the California Wildfire Innovation Fund is expected to deliver numerous environmental, economic and social benefits, including climate and ecological resilience, community safety, job creation and positive health outcomes. For more information about the fund, visit blueforest.org online.

— CSAA Insurance Group

City’s Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 11 at the Lesher Center

The city of Walnut Creek will host its annual Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 in the Hoffman Theater at the Lesher Center for the Arts.

Walnut Creek Mayor Cindy Silva will host the event that will feature Elena Kim as its keynote speaker. Kim served as a human intelligence expert in the U.S. Army from 2005 through 2010 in conjunction with Operation Iraqi Freedom. She is now the County Veterans Service Office director in San Francisco.

Kim is also an associate producer and co-host of the monthly television show “Veterans Voices,” which covers topics of interest to veterans throughout Contra Costa County. The theme of this year’s ceremony is “service,” and the program will pay tribute to those honorable men and women who have served our country.

The ceremony will feature musical selections provided by the Walnut Creek Concert Band under the direction of Matthew Sadowski, including the traditional salute to each of the armed forces. The event is free and open to the public, and the Lesher Center is at 1601 Civic Drive in Walnut Creek.

— city of Walnut Creek

Discover ‘Fascinating Foliage’ at garden club’s next meeting

The Walnut Creek Garden Club will hold its free monthly meeting Nov. 13 at the Elks Lodge in Walnut Creek at 1475 Creekside Drive. Join the club for a special program, “Fascinating Foliage: The Drama of Variegated Plants.”

Registration will start at 9:30 a.m., followed by a brief meeting, social time and an educational program. Complimentary tea and coffee will be available. In the program, speaker Katie Creighton will talk about some of the characteristics of variegated foliage and get into the dos and don’ts of incorporating them into large and small gardens.

Creighton, who can be reached at Kcgardens@gmail.com, recently retired after 24 years as a Bay Area landscape designer. The garden club welcomes the public to visit their meeting and join the WCGC. For more information, visit walnutcreekgardenclub.org online.

— WCGC

Community Forum on Homelessness planned for Nov. 13

Do you ever wonder why Walnut Creek needs affordable housing? Are you curious about the real impacts of affordable housing? Can you describe affordable housing?

Join the Walnut Creek Homeless Task Force from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 13 to hear the answers to these questions and more in the Community Forum on Homelessness in Walnut Creek. The panel presentation will include affordable and market-rate housing developers, service providers, local employers and city leaders.

Panelists will bring different perspectives to the discussion that will illuminate the true impacts of affordable housing and the challenges we face to build these structures. This will a free public event sponsored by the Walnut Creek Homeless Task Force (WCHTF).

The forum will be held in the City Council chambers on the first floor of Walnut Creek City Hall at 1666 N. Main St. and via Zoom for attendees who wish to participate online. Virtual attendees must RSVP to receive the Zoom link. For more details about the forum, visit wchomelesstaskforce.org online.

— WCHTF

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY

Apply by mid-November to volunteer for AARP Tax-Aide

Managers of the AARP Tax-Aide program are looking for volunteers to become members of a team providing free tax preparation service in Contra Costa County.

The Tax-Aide program needs individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences. While prior tax preparation experience is beneficial, it is not a requirement. The program provides comprehensive training and ongoing support to ensure all volunteers feel confident and capable in their roles.

Volunteer positions include tax counselors who are trained by the AARP program and certified by the Internal Revenue Service and client facilitators, who schedule appointments and help clients at tax sites. For more details or to apply online by mid-November 2023, visit aarpfoundation.org/taxaidevolunteer online or call 925-726-3199.

Orientation sessions will be held in December, and certification classes will start in January. Tax preparation service will be from Feb. 1 through April 15. The program is administered by the AARP Foundation in cooperation with the IRS, California Franchise Tax Board and Contra Costa County. Volunteers do not need to be AARP members.

— AARP Tax-Aide

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