Supervisor Andersen and her District 2 Staff wish you

a Merry Christmas and a Happy Hanukkah.

We will be taking a break from our newsletter next week.

Contra Costa County offices will be closed on Wednesday, December 25, for Christmas. Emergency and law enforcement services will remain available. 

After decades of County service, Contra Costa County Supervisor Federal D. Glover chaired his final board meeting on Tuesday, December 17, thus ending six consecutive terms as the District 5 Supervisor.

During his tenure, Supervisor Glover has been a tireless advocate for the people of Contra Costa County, working to improve the lives of residents in District 5 and beyond.

Pictured above, Supervisor Glover holds the picture presented to him by Supervisor Andersen, who is the incoming Board Chair.

To watch a video of Supervisor Glover's public service journey go to Honoring Federal Glover.

On December 16th, Supervisor Andersen swore in returning Orinda Union School District Trustee Hillary Weiner and new board member Vinita Anantavat. 

In the background is outgoing Trustee Cara Hoxie, who has just been sworn in as the newest member of the Orinda City Council.  

Pictured on the left is Darlene Gee, outgoing Mayor for 2024.

Darlene will continue as a councilmember for the City of Orinda and provides tremendous leadership, especially in transportation issues.

Carol Mascali, District Representative for Supervisor Candace Andersen, was proud to present a resolution honoring Chief Allan Shields upon his retirement as Chief of Police for the Town of Danville.

During his distinguished tenure, Chief Shields led the department to ensure that Danville was consistently recognized as the safest city of its size in California remarkable achievement that reflects his steadfast dedication to public safety and the well-being of the community. Throughout his career, Chief Shields has remained focused on his core mission: providing exceptional municipal services that enhance the quality of life for all residents.

Although Chief Shields is retiring from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department, which provides police services to Danville, he will be coming back to the Town of Danville in a new role, as its Transportation Manager.

Friday | December 20

“Shir Joy: Hanukkah” — B’nai Tikvah presents musical service with special Hanukkah choir. Followed by oneg with sufganiyot. At Congregation B’nai Tikvah, 25 Hillcroft Way, Walnut Creek. 7:30-8:30 p.m. Free, RSVP required. 

Friday | December 27

“Light Up The Night” — Jewish Gateways presents virtual Hanukkah event with singing, blessings and candle lighting. Online. 6-7 p.m. Free. 

Sufism Reoriented Presents "Upon a Midnight Clear,"

Holiday Concert on December 22nd

Guest parking will be available off-site at 1295 Boulevard Way and 1300 Boulevard Way, a two-block walk. On-site parking will be available for anyone with mobility issues and families with small children. Kindly avoid street parking. Please walk or carpool if you live in the neighborhood.

Your support will help provide healthy, nourishing food to over 65,000 households in your community – and ensure all our neighbors can come together to enjoy a meal and make memories with the ones they love. Make this holiday season brighter for all.

Make an Impact Today!

Food Bank Donation

Alamo Wreaths Across America

On Saturday, December 14^th, Supervisor Andersen and many other community members weathered a storm to join the Wreaths Across America ceremony held at the Alamo Cemetery in Danville, paying tribute to all those who have served our nation in the fight for freedom.

Community volunteers laid dozens of wreaths, one at each grave site to ensure no one is forgotten during the holiday season.

For more information or if you and yours wish to sponsor a wreath for a Veteran next holiday season, please visit their site at Wreaths Across America.

Pictured left to right is San Ramon Mayor, Mark Armstrong, Supervisor Andersen, Danville Councilmember Mark Belotz, and Erika Corday, community volunteer.

San Ramon Christmas Tree Collection Dates

The City of San Ramon's 2024 Christmas tree collection schedule is as follows: 



• Boy Scouts Annual Christmas Tree Pick Up: Saturday, January 6, 2024
• ACI of San Ramon Curbside Collection: Monday through Friday, January 8–12, 2024, on regular collection days
• Multi-Family Holiday Tree Collection: January, 2024

Trees must be free of decorations and no taller than 6 feet to be collected. Trees will be picked up on the same day as regular garbage service, but by a separate truck. 

ACI of San Ramon observes holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. If a holiday falls on a weekday, service on the previous weekday is not affected. If a customer's regular service day falls on or after a holiday, service will be one day late.

San Ramon Valley Unified School District (SRVUSD) proudly celebrates the extraordinary achievements of two of its students, Braelyn Schaffer and Presley Nava, who won gold medals representing the United States of America at the prestigious World Tap Dance Championships in Prague, Czech Republic, October 23-27, 2024.

Often referred to as the “Olympics of tap dance”, the World Tap Dance Championships brought together over 1,700 dancers from 40+ countries. Through a highly competitive selection process led by the United States Dance & Sports Federation and approved by the International Dance Organization, Braelyn and Presley were two of only three dancers chosen from Northern California. 

In addition to their gold-medal win, the girls also competed in the large group formation category, which placed sixth with a performance to The Devil Went Down to Georgia and Presley tapped in the duo category and placed fourth. 

The opportunity to compete at the international level required immense commitment from Braelyn and Presley, with weekly practices in Southern California and balancing academics alongside an extremely rigorous training schedule. Their triumph is a reminder of the powerful impact of pursuing dreams and the value of experiences that transcend the classroom. 

The Walnut Creek Ice Rink will be open through January 12, 2025. New this year at the rink, which is located in Civic Park, is an ice slide. For those who would rather watch than skate, there are fire pits for rent adjacent to the rink.



Find out more about Walnut Creek on Ice.

EBMUD Says Beware of Water Agency Imposters

The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) has received reports from customers who received visits at their homes by individuals pretending to be EBMUD representatives, saying they need to test their tap water. These are not EBMUD employees. 

EBMUD wants you to know: 

• EBMUD maintenance employees will never ask to enter your home. EBMUD workers repairing pipelines in your neighborhood may knock on your door to notify you about work in the area but will never ask to enter your home. 

• EBMUD employees will schedule visits. Plumbing inspections, water conservation audits, or tap water tests are always pre-arranged with customers. If this visit is not scheduled or if you are suspicious, do not open the door. 

• EBMUD employees always carry identification with their name, photo and employee number visible. Many, but not all, are uniformed. All maintenance vehicles are marked with the EBMUD logo. 

• Your EBMUD drinking water quality surpassed every state and federal requirement that safeguards public health. See ebmud.com/waterquality

What is the Point in Time Count? 

• The Point in Time (PIT) Count is a snapshot of the number of families and individuals experiencing homelessness in Contra Costa on ONE night. 
• This count is required by the United Stated Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for all communities receiving their homeless service funding. 
• This information is used to decide how much funding communities get to help with homelessness. 

What Am I Being Asked To Do? 

• Be part of a one-day, county-wide project to count unsheltered people in Contra Costa 
• Work in a pair [with someone you know or we can pair you with someone] 
• Either drive (if you have a car) or capture data on an iPhone based app with someone else while they drive 
• Choose the area where you will do the count (with some limitations) 

When Do You Need Me? 

• The week of January 13th for one (1) two hour IN PERSON Volunteer Training. You will select when/where you want to do the training when you register 
• Thursday, January 30th from 5:30 am - 9:00 am for the actual count!

How Do I Sign Up? 

• Click here:  Volunteer Registration 

 How do I learn more about the Point in Time Count?

• Click here to learn more

Questions? 

• Email contracostacoc@cchealth.org 

Registe

Contra Costa County’s new Administration Building in Martinez has achieved historic recognition as the first government building in the world to receive Total Resource Use and Efficiency (TRUE) certification for waste reduction in a construction project. In addition, the project achieved LEED Platinum certification, the highest level awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Adding to these accolades, the building was honored with the California Green Building Award for Honor in Zero Waste & Circular Solutions, further solidifying the County’s leadership in sustainable development.

The USGBC’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification signifies that the building meets rigorous environmental standards, including energy and water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, and more. TRUE certification, administered by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), acknowledges the project’s success in diverting 90 percent or more of solid waste from landfills, incineration, and the environment, fostering public health and reducing the carbon footprint.

Located at 1026 Escobar St., the three-story, 66,361-square-foot building anchors a new civic plaza in downtown Martinez. The site replaces a previously outdated office tower and a jail dating back to 1902. Construction costs for the building and plaza totaled $66.3 million. The innovative project has created a modern hub for County departments, including the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice, the Law Library, the Public Defender, and the County Sheriff’s Civil Division, streamlining services and enhancing community interaction.

For more information about this award-winning project, visit the County’s Public Works webpage: contracosta.ca.gov/adminbuildingdemo.

The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors is now accepting nominations for the 2025 Contra Costa County Youth Hall of Fame Awards.

These awards are presented annually to outstanding Contra Costa County residents between 12 and 18 years old. Students will be recognized at the 31st Annual César E. Chávez Commemorative Celebration on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at 11 am in Board Chambers at 1025 Escobar St. in Martinez. Community members can also join the event live on Contra Costa Television channels and the County’s website.

We invite you to submit your nomination by completing the form and uploading it to the County website or emailing the application and your letter of recommendation to Lia Bristol at YouthNomination@dcd.cccounty.us.

Nominations must be received or postmarked by February 25, 2025. Recipients will be recognized at the April 1, 2025, Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors’ César E. Chávez Celebration.

BART fares will increase January 1, 2025, to keep pace with inflation so that the agency is able to pay for continued operations and to work toward restoring financial stability. BART's current funding model relies on passenger fares to pay for operations.

Fares will increase 5.5 percent on New Year’s Day. The increase is tied to the rate of inflation minus a half-percentage point. It’s the second such increase – the first took effect January 1, 2024.

The average fare will increase 25 cents, from $4.47 to $4.72. BART's fare calculator and Trip Planner have been updated with the new fares for trips with the date 1/1/25 and beyond. Riders can learn how the increase will affect their travels by entering a 2025 date for their trip.

The fare increase is expected to raise about $14 million per year for operations. Combined with the previous year’s fare adjustment, BART will use this $30 million per year to fund train service, enhanced cleaning, additional police and unarmed safety staff presence, and capital projects such as the Next Generation Fare Gates project. For more information go to www.bart.gov.

Resources PG&E offers customers to help manage energy use and bills:

• Check out our Energy Action Guide for product and program guidance to help customers meet their unique energy needs.
• Personalized Rate Comparison supports customers by providing the best rate plan options for their household, which can help save money on energy bills.
• Budget Billing averages out energy costs for more predictable monthly payments and helps customers avoid seasonal bill peaks.
• Medical Baseline is an assistance program for residential customers who depend on power for certain medical needs. It offers cost reduction on energy bills and extra notifications before a planned safety outage.

Income-eligible programs that can help customers lower their bills:

• California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) Program offers a discount of 20% or more each month on energy bills.
• Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) Program offers a monthly discount of 18% on electricity bills for households with three or more people.
• Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): a federally funded assistance program overseen by the state that offers a one-time payment up to $1,000 on past due bills to help low-income households pay for heating or cooling in their homes.

Energy Efficiency Support Programs

• GoGreen Home Financing: a statewide program which offers affordable financing for energy efficiency upgrades to help homeowners and renters reduce their energy use.
• Golden State Rebates: This is a statewide program that provides residential residents with instant rebates on energy-efficient products including smart thermostats, air conditioners, and water heaters. Homeowners and renters are eligible to receive these rebates through single-use coupons they can redeem in-store or online at participating retailers.

To learn more about ways to save, go to PG&E Energy Efficiency

San Ramon Valley Street Smarts "Be Reel" Video Contest

The Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County (WDBCCC) is launching its strategic planning efforts in December. 

As required by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), the Regional and Local plans must be updated every four years to ensure they effectively respond to changes in the labor market and economic conditions, aligning with the State Plan.

Virtual public sessions focused on the Local plan have already been held. One in-person public input session will take place in Richmond on January 8. Registration will open soon; please check our website for updates. 

If you have any questions, please contact Maureen Nelson, Administrator, at 925-671-4542 or via email at mnelson@ehsd.cccounty.us.

County Board and Commission Volunteer Opportunities

Community Advisory Board (CAB) on Public Safety Realignment -

The Community Advisory Board (CAB) on Public Safety Realignment was established by the Community Corrections Partnership (CCP) Executive Committee in December 2012 to provide input on community needs; assess implementation of the realignment plan; review data on realignment outcomes; advise the CCP on community engagement strategies; offer recommendations for ongoing realignment planning; advise County agencies regarding programs for implementation in the County; and encourage outcomes that are consistent with the County’s Reentry Strategic Plan. 

County Service Area P-5 Citizen Advisory Committee (Roundhill Residents only) Alternate Seat

To advise the Board of Supervisors on the needs of the Alamo community for extended police services for Roundhill.

Submit an Application Online here. Questions? Contact The Office of Reentry & Justice, by phone at (925) 313-4087.

Find out more information about volunteering for an advisory body here co.contra-costa.ca.us/3418.