In brief: Apply by Jan. 31 for openings on various Walnut Creek panels

WALNUT CREEK

Will this be the year that you serve your community? Several opportunities are available to serve on Walnut Creek commissions.

Applications will be accepted through 5 p.m. Jan. 31 for vacancies on the following: Arts Commission (two seats vacant); Design Review (one vacancy, must be a city resident); Park, Recreation and Open Space (one vacancy, must be a city resident); Planning Commission (two seats vacant, must be a city resident); Transportation Commission (two seats vacant, must be a city resident); and the Board of Appeals (four seats vacant).

On Feb. 6, the City Council will select applicants to invite for interviews to take place Feb. 20. Appointments are expected to be made at the conclusion of the interviews. Apply online and get more information on the city’s website at walnutcreekca.gov.

— city of Walnut Creek

LAFAYETTE

“Can We Trust Our Elections?” webinar happening Jan. 25

The Lafayette-based League of Women Voters Diablo Valley (LWVDV) will present the webinar “Can We Trust Our Elections?” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 25. Learn from speaker Tommy Gong, Contra Costa County’s chief deputy clerk-recorder, as he shares his experiences in California voting environments.

Gong, who started his job in July 2021, serves as an advisory board member for the Election Official Legal Defense Network and has led the efforts of the Coalition of Bay Area Election Officials for counties to join forces and collaborate on building public trust in elections in shared media markets.

The webinar will cover voting issues (with voting process detailed); assessing credibility in election processes around the country (a brief summary); what the webinar meeting’s participants have experienced in their work that could act as alerts for all elections; trust in government; who trusted messengers are and why; positive and negative influences on trust; and how trust issues can be addressed and mitigated (“prebunking”).

To participate in the Zoom webinar, register online at bit.ly/3TYwsVZ.

— LWVDV

CONCORD

Youth scholarships to provide recreational opportunities

The city of Concord’s Recreation Services Department has relaunched its youth scholarship program to provide recreation opportunities for young residents.

Through this program, underserved Concord youth can experience traditional summer recreation activities, including group swim lessons and Splash Camp at Concord Community Pool, Lil’ Explorers day camp for preschoolers, Backyard Explorers day camp for elementary students, East Bay Explorers day camp for middle school students and the Counselor-in-Training program for teens ages 12 to 15.

The Youth Scholarship Program is open to all Concord residents younger than 18 who meet financial qualifications and submit a completed application. Awardees will pay a nominal enrollment fee of $10 to $50 per program. Participation is limited and based on funding availability.

“We are delighted to bring back the scholarship program for summer 2024, creating more opportunities for Concord youth to experience our most popular summer programs,” said Steve Voorhies, the recreation services director.

Applications will be available starting Jan. 10 and will be accepted until spaces or funding are exhausted. To learn more about the program online and to apply, visit cityofconcord.org/youthscholarship.

Funding for this program was made possible by the one-time allocation of federal funds through the federal American Rescue Plan Act. Concord received $27 million from the act, and the Concord City Council directed $7 million into various city projects and initiatives, including this scholarship program, which received $100,000.

— city of Concord

EAST BAY

Beware of toxic mushrooms in parks during rainy season

With the return of winter rains, park visitors may have noticed mushrooms popping up in East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) properties. Mushrooms are an ecologically important part of the district’s parklands and may look beautiful but sometimes contain dangerous toxins.

The death cap (Amanita phalloides) and western destroying angel (Amanita ocreata) are two of the world’s most toxic mushrooms, and both can be found in East Bay parks during the rainy season.

Both species contain amatoxins, molecules that are deadly to many animals. Symptoms may not appear until up to 12 hours after consumption, beginning as severe gastrointestinal distress and progressing to liver and kidney failure if treatment is not sought immediately.

Both mushrooms can be lethal to humans and pets if consumed. They are mainly associated with oak trees and can be found growing anywhere oak roots are present. The death cap is a medium to large mushroom that typically has a greenish-gray cap, white gills, a white ring around the stem and a large white sac at the base of the stem.

The western destroying angel is a medium to large mushroom that usually has a creamy white cap, white gills, a white ring around the stem that can disappear with age, and a thin white sac at the base. It fruits from late winter into spring.

Park district officials urge the public to be safe and knowledgeable about toxic mushrooms when encountering them in the parks. Collecting any mushrooms in the district is not allowed. Pet owners should contact a veterinarian immediately if they suspect their pet may have eaten a toxic mushroom.

While the death cap and western destroying angel mushrooms are responsible for most cases of mushroom poisonings in California, deadly toxins can also be found in Galerina and Lepiota mushroom species, which also occur in the Bay Area. For more details online, visit ebparks.org/safety/trails/toxic-mushrooms.

— EBRPD

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