In brief: Pittsburg residents can help shape marina, Old Town’s future

PITTSBURG

The city of Pittsburg will hold a community meeting from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 16 to explore concepts and ideas about enhancing the city’s downtown marina and improving connections to the Old Town district.

City staff and design consultants will discuss different development concepts and alternatives and solicit community input. Preliminary plans can be viewed online at bit.ly/49Vb60F.

For more information, contact Maurice Brenyah-Addow, the projects’ senior planner, at mbrenyah-addow@pittsburgca.gov, 925-252-4261 or 65 Civic Ave. in Pittsburg.

ANTIOCH

Black History Month closing ceremony honors trailblazers

Antioch recognized local Black trailblazers Feb. 29 at its first Black History Month closing ceremony at Delta Bay Community Church.

The event honored Contra Costa County Supervisor Federal Glover, civil rights activists Willie Mims and Frances Greene; Shamawn Wright, founder of Bridge Builders of the New Generation; Mayor Pro Tem Monica Wilson, Antioch’s first Black woman councilmember.

The late Reggie Moore, the city’s first Black councilmember, and the late Dietra King, a business leader and founder of Hearts Realty and Dad’s BBQ, were also honored. Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe presented keys to the city to each of the honorees or their relatives.

Antioch was predominantly White until the mid-1990s and now is the second most racially diverse city in the Bay Area, with 20% of its residents Black. With a majority Black council, it also is home to the Bay Area’s largest concentration of Black Americans with advanced degrees, said Hernandez-Thorpe, who is Black and was raised by adoptive Latino parents.

— Judith Prieve, Staff

LAFAYETTE

Troop 204’s newest Eagle Scouts to be honored March 16

Lafayette Scouts Troop 204 proudly announces the successful completion of Eagle Scout service projects by its newest Eagle Scouts.

Eagle Scout James Bymaster spearheaded a repair and restoration project at the Tilden Park steam train area for Golden Gate Live Steamers, preserving a beloved local attraction. Jace Carter oversaw the creation of a Lego activity table and conducted a Lego drive for Lafayette’s Springhill Elementary School, fostering creativity and learning among students.

Ronan Collins organized a toiletry drive for Project Open Hand in San Francisco, providing essential supplies to support the sick and vulnerable in the community. Lars Erickson led a project to restore a historic walnut huller and installed a sign sharing historical significance at Lar Rieu Park in Walnut Creek, preserving local heritage. Matthew Hoffman collaborated with Core Academy to build picnic tables, stump seats and shade coverage, enhancing outdoor recreational spaces for the students.

Ethan Lee worked with the special education classroom at Springhill Elementary by designing a sensory cart and alphabet bowling blocks, promoting inclusive learning experiences. Nicholas Owens managed the collection and shipped tennis equipment to Club de Tenis Las Cabras in rural Chile, expanding access to sports for underprivileged youth.

Griffin Rotundo partnered with Lafayette Nursery School to establish a vertical edible school garden, enriching preschoolers’ learning with a “Garden to Snack Table” experience. Luke Springer collaborated with Walnut Creek’s Lindsay Wildlife Experience to build perches for large birds at their animal hospital, contributing to the well-being of wildlife.

Naoto Watanabe conducted a music workshop for students at Maya Lin Elementary School in collaboration with the Bay Area Music Project, enriching their educational experience. Lawrence Zhang organized a fundraising initiative with Calvary Church to create Christmas gift boxes shipped worldwide to support less fortunate individuals.

Troop 204 will honor its new Eagle Scouts at the Troop’s 71st Eagle Court of Honor in Our Savior’s Lutheran Church at 1 p.m. March 16 in Lafayette. For more information about the troop, visit troop204.com online or email scoutmaster@troop204.com.

— Lynda Rotundo

Free garden club meeting March 14 at veterans building

The next monthly meeting of the Lafayette Garden Club (LGC) will start at 9:30 a.m. March 14 for social time and nibbles before a short business meeting at 10. At 10:30 a.m., club member Melinda Kell will then discuss “Soil Preparation for Your Summer Vegetable Garden.”

At 11, the LGC’s guest speaker will be Kim Bancroft, a longtime teacher who became an editor and writer. Bancroft will present her address, “Nature, Landscapes, Farms and Gardens Through Two 19th Century Bay Area Women’s Eyes.”

She will bring copies of her book for sale, and the club will hold a raffle. The LGC meets in the Lafayette Veterans Memorial Center at 3780 Mount Diablo Blvd. The meeting is free to attend, and the club welcomes guests. Visit lafayettegardenclub.com online for more information.

— LGC

CONCORD

Apply by March 8 for city’s free spring Community Academy

The city of Concord is accepting applications for the spring session of the Concord Community Academy — a free program designed for applicants who live, work or own a business in Concord to learn more about the city. Academy participants take part in discussions and activities with fellow community members and meet elected officials and staff to gain insight into how the city operates.

“Not only do you get to network with like-minded residents and have a genuinely nice time together, you learn so much about Concord and where you can get involved,” said fall 2023 graduate Dena Acosta-Beere. “Every session taught me something new about our city, and the behind-the-scenes access to places like the former Concord Naval Weapons Station and the Police Department was thrilling.”

For the spring session, six classes will be held from April 13 to May 11 and participants must be able to attend all classes. Three classes will be held on Saturdays during the day, while the other three will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursdays.

At the first meeting, staff will present an introduction to local government, followed by a bus tour of the city and lunch. Participants will learn about an array of topics including public safety, the former Concord Naval Weapons Station base reuse plan, economic development efforts, recreation services, public works, budgeting and finance, city planning and the development review process.

The final class on May 11 will conclude with a tour of the former Naval Weapons Station, a wrap-up and a graduation certificate presentation. Space is limited. The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. March 8. For more information or to apply online, visit cityofconcord.org/academy.

— city of Concord

PLEASANT HILL

Contra Costa Chinese School’s open houses March 9, 16

The Contra Costa Chinese School (CCCS), one of the East Bay’s longest-running Chinese language schools, will holding its annual open houses on March 9 and March 16 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m in the Liberal Arts Building on the Pleasant Hill campus of Diablo Valley College at 321 Golf Club Road.

Families can come and learn about the school’s history of more than 45s, its Chinese learning environment and its classroom spaces, as well as meet its teachers and administrators. Visitors also can attend live demonstrations of Chinese calligraphy and brush painting by its instructors.

The school offers kindergarten to 10th grade Mandarin instruction during the academic year and a summer program for children ages 5 through 9. For more details online, visit cococs.org.

— CCCS

WALNUT CREEK

Nonprofit group’s 2024 Gift of Schooling Gala on March 9

Yours Humanly, a Walnut Creek-based global nonprofit that transforms the lives of children in need by providing them with access to quality education and equitable resources, is holding its 2024 Gift of Schooling Gala, a fun, formal affair, on March 9 at Danville’s Blackhawk Museum at 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle.

Attendees will feature Bay Area leaders and advocates in private, public and nonprofit sectors who support educational initiatives for children in need around the world. Festivities will include a cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception, dinner, silent and live auctions, music, and dancing.

KPIX news anchor Juliette Goodrich will serve as the gala’s master of ceremonies and will be joined by guest speaker John Sasaki, the Oakland Unified School District’s communications director and a former longtime KTVU news reporter and anchor. Sabrina Lewis, Miss California, will also join Goodrich.

Oral Lee Brown, who founded the Oral Lee Brown Foundation, will be recognized as this year’s Yours Humanly Leading With the Heart Honoree for her inspired vision and leadership on behalf of children and youth. Purchase tickets online for the event at giftofschoolinggala.com.

— Yours Humanly

Garden club to meet March 11

The Walnut Creek Garden Club (WCGC) will hold its free monthly meeting March 11 in The Gardens at Heather Farm, featuring the special program, “A Visual Presentation of a 27-Year Journey: The Making of Beauty & the Beast — California Wildflowers.”

Registration will start at 9:30 a.m., followed by a brief meeting, social time and an educational program. Complimentary tea, coffee and snacks will be available.

The special program will feature internationally acclaimed conservation photographers Rob Badger and Nita Winter sharing their photos on plant diversity, California’s spectacular wildflower blooms and gorgeous landscapes along with a coffee table book for purchase. Badger and Winter (winterbadger.com) are recent recipients of the Sierra Club’s 2020 Ansel Adams Award for conservation photography.

The Gardens at Heather Farm are at 1540 Marchbanks Drive in Walnut Creek. The club welcomes the public to visit their meeting and join the WCGS. For more information, visit walnutcreekgardenclub.org online.

— WCGC

ANTIOCH

Join the city water park’s lifeguard team

Take the first step in joining the Antioch Water Park lifeguard team. Come to the recruitment clinics of the Antioch Recreation Department (ARD) to learn what it takes to become a lifeguard.

Candidates will complete the lifeguard course prerequisite test, sign up for the lifeguard class, complete paperwork and have the chance to ask current lifeguard staff any questions they may have. March clinics will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. March 11, 13, 18 and 20. Email Michael Shaikh for more details at mshaikh@antiochca.gov.

— ARD

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