The Valley Sentinel_February 2022

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always for the community VOL 29 NO 2

February 2022

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SPOTLIGHT

Taking Action over misinformation at Rancho Romero

By Greg Bernard

With many students newly returning to school in-person this semester, both students and parents remain uncertain of what preventative measures to take.

To combat misinformation and help prevent unnecessary spread of the virus, one local teacher is taking action.

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Bringing the California Condor back from the edge of extinction, has been a phenomenal effort. The numbers had dwindled down to just twenty two individuals, and has now reached 400 birds. All are fitted with radio transmitters, and last year one had ventured north to Mount Diablo. This was the first known visit to Contra Costa County in over 100 years. Read on for tis exciting story in full! Photo: Wendy Miller / CC BY-NC-ND

Returning the California Condor to the Northern Diablo Range With a wingspan of almost 10 feet, the California condor is the largest land bird in North America.

Several hundred years ago, it was found frequently across California’s landscape. Yet by the 20th century, the California condor disappeared from the Diablo region, and almost went extinct.

Last year, a California condor visited the Mount Diablo region.

This was the first recording of the bird in Contra Costa County in more than a hundred years. We recently awarded a grant to the Pinnacles Condor Recovery Program to better understand condors’ recovery in the Diablo Range.

There’s good reason to think the Diablo Range is playing a critical role in the return of this endangered species, emphasizing the need to preserve one of California’s least protected mountain ranges.

More Phoenix Than Condor The recovery of the California

condor is one of the most famous success stories in conservation history, and for good reason.

The plight of the California condor began, unsurprisingly, because of human impacts. Lead poisoning, habitat destruction, pollution, poaching, and other factors all led to a dwindling population.

The condor nearly went extinct. In 1987, the last remaining birds were captured for protection.

Elizabeth Kolbert describes the incredible effort that went into saving the species in her Pulitzer Prize–winning book, The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History: “By the mid-nineteeneighties the population of California condors had dwindled to just twenty-two individuals.

To rescue the species—the

largest land bird in North America—wildlife biologists raised condor chicks using puppets. They created fake power lines to train the birds not to electrocute themselves; to teach them not to eat trash, they wired garbage to deliver a mild shock. They vaccinated every single condor—today there are about four hundred—against West Nile virus, a disease, it’s worth noting, for which a human vaccine has yet to be developed. They routinely test the birds for lead poisoning— condors that scavenge deer carcasses often ingest lead shot—and they have treated many of them with chelation therapy. Several condors have been taken in for chelation more than once.”

Today, there are more than 500 condors living both in and outside of captivity. Like a

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phoenix, the condor came back from virtually nothing. Instead of rising from the ashes, they returned with the helping hands of conservationists.

Tracking Condors within the Diablo Range In 2021, a California condor visited the Mount Diablo region for the first time in over 100 years—an event that received a great deal of regional attention.

The flight path of Condor 828 showed it circling around the eastern flanks of Mount Diablo before returning south to Pinnacles National Park.

Condor 828 came from the Pinnacles Condor Recovery Program. All their condors are outfitted with a visual ID tag and a radio transmitter, but only some are given GPS transmitters.

See CONDOR page 9

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THE VALLEY SENTINEL February 2022

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Walks With A View

by Beverly Lane, East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors

Recent rains have turned the hills a verdant green, the air is fresh and clear, so between storms it’s a great time to hit the trails and enjoy some of the grand views that are available from the heights of the East Bay Regional Parks.

And since Feb. 14 is coming soon, take your Valentine along for the trip.

Here are some suggestions: The Rocky Ridge Trail at Las Trampas Regional Wilderness in San Ramon is a bit of a workout, but the reward is great views of Las Trampas Ridge and Mt. Diablo.

Start at the trailhead at the north end of Bollinger Canyon Road and follow the paved road almost to the top. If you continue on the unpaved trail to the ridgetop, there are great views west as well toward distant Mt. Tamalpais.

From Inspiration Point on Wildcat Canyon Road in Tilden Regional Park near Berkeley, you can walk or bicycle paved Nimitz Way north two miles to Wildcat Peak. There’s a dirt fire road to the top of the peak (no bicycles on this section), from which there’s a 360-degree view of the north Bay Area. You can see San Francisco, the Golden Gate, Mt. Tamalpais, Solano County, San Pablo Reservoir, and Mt. Diablo to the east.

And yes, the trail is named after Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, who used to walk on it after he retired from naval service.

Dogs have to be leashed on Nimitz Way. But across Wildcat Canyon Road, dogs can be unleashed on the Seaview Trail, as long as they are under their owner’s control.

The unpaved Seaview Trail heads south atop San Pablo Ridge towards Vollmer Peak. From its high point, on a clear day, you can see the Farallon Islands, 30 miles out in the Pacific Ocean.

On the park district’s northern shoreline, the George Miller Trail is a 1½-mile paved link along Carquinez Scenic

Drive between Martinez and Port Costa. Accessible from either end, it is closed to motor vehicles but open to walkers, cyclists and equestrians.

W h e e l c h a i r a c c e s s i b l e, too. Mostly flat, it offers unrivaled views of Benicia and Carquinez Straits with its frequent maritime traffic, from sailboats to container ships.

George Miller is a retired Congressman and longtime supporter of the park district.

One of the most spectacular viewpoints in the Bay Area is the top of Mt. Diablo. You can drive there via North Gate Road in Walnut Creek or South Gate Road in Danville. It is within Mt. Diablo State Park; there’s an entrance fee of $10 per vehicle.

Because the surrounding terrain is much lower, Mt. Diablo boasts clear-day views from San Francisco and the Pacific in the west to the Sierra Crest in the east. On exceptionally clear days you can see Mt. Lassen to the north.

The Mary Bowerman Trail, named for a prominent botanist, encircles the summit and is notable for springtime wildflower displays.

Briones Regional Park in central Contra Costa County has a wilderness ambience, even though it is close to many communities, because from its heights you can see only open space in many directions.

The park’s highest point is Briones Peak, 1,483 feet, on the Briones Crest Trail. But you can enjoy an unobstructed view of the greater Diablo Valley, Mt. Diablo and the Delta from a bench on the Table Top Trail, about 100 yards past the peak.

Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve in Antioch has a fascinating cultural and natural history. It was the epicenter of a 19th century coal mining boom, and there are beautiful wildflower displays in the spring.

For some fine panoramic vistas, start at the trailhead at

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the south end of Somersville Road and climb the Chaparral Loop Trail to the Ridge Trail.

From there you look down on the Somersville town site, Rose Hill Cemetery and the Delta.

To the east are the Central Valley and the Sierra Crest.

Mt. Diablo looms to the south.

Maps and information on all of these parklands

except Mt. Diablo State Park are available at the East Bay Regional Park District website, www.ebparks.org.

For Mt. Diablo, the Save Mount Diablo organization has a map, “Mount Diablo, Los Vaqueros & Surrounding Parks,” which shows trails on just about every public open space in Contra Costa County.

It’s available at sporting goods stores.

So don’t wait for Valentine’s Day although that’s a fine day for an excursion. Join your Valentine in exploring some of the many wonderful public parklands that are preserved and protected for us in the East Bay and beyond.

Protecting The Peregrines At Mt. Diablo As is the case every year, the Castle Rock formation overlooking Diablo Foothills Regional Park near Walnut Creek is closed to public access from now through July 31 to proect peregrine falcons during their nesting season.

The rocks are actually located in Mt. Diablo State Park, but visitors usually climb to them from the Stage Road Trail in Diablo Foothills. Signs are posted at several access points advising of the closure.

In general, the boundary line is Pine Creek.

Peregrine falcons are remarkable birds. About the size of crows, they prey mostly on smaller birds, but also on mammals including rodents and bats. They are capable of diving at speeds of more than 200 miles per hour, which makes them the world’s fastest animal.

Peregrines are no longer on the federal endangered

species list, but in California they are still fully protected under the state’s Fish & Game Code.

It’s vital to leave them alone during the nesting season, which runs from Feb. 1 to July 31. If disturbed, they can fail to mate or abandon their nests.

An all-volunteer natural history education team keeps watch on the peregrines at Castle Rock during the mating season. In 2021, nesting

peregrines hatched four chicks.

But an owl predator killed all four. It was unfortunate, but not uncommon in the world of nature.

Please do not venture up into the Castle Rock formation during the peregrines’ mating season. The hope is for a successful start to a new generation of the raptors.

Everyone’s cooperation is appreciated. Trespassers can be cited and the fine is expensive.

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February 2022

THE VALLEY SENTINEL

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Save Mount Diablo Protects Almost 154 Critical Open Space Acres on Mount Diablo

By Floyd McCluhen

I n D e c e m b e r 2 01 9 , Save Mount Diablo and the Concord Mt. Diablo Trail Ride Association (CMDTRA) signed a two-year option agreement, giving Save Mount Diablo time to raise over $1.04 million to permanently protect almost 154 acres of open space on Mount Diablo’s North Peak with a conservation easement.

Save Mount Diablo raised the necessary funds. And on Tuesday, January 11, 2022, the parties closed escrow, with Save Mount Diablo successfully purchasing the conservation easement and thereby forever protecting this highly strategic land.

“We are so happy and grateful to start 2022 by permanently protecting almost 154 acres on Mount Diablo! The land that we just conserved is contiguous with Mount Diablo State Park and other lands protected by Save Mount Diablo. I want to thank our terrific Save Mount Diablo supporters and our wonderful partners at Concord Mt. Diablo Trail Ride Association for making this possible,” said Ted Clement, Save Mount Diablo’s Executive Director.

This Mount Diablo open space land that was protected

by Save Mount Diablo on January 11 had been vulnerable. More than 15 houses and other buildings had been constructed near

the approximate 154 acres just conserved with a Save Mount Diablo conservation easement.

A conservation easement is a perpetual legal agreement between a landowner and a qualified organization, like a nonprofit land trust or government agency. It restricts future activities and development on the land to protect its conservation values for the benefit of the public.

The newly protected land will continue to be owned by the Concord Mt. Diablo Trail Ride Association with Save Mount Diablo overseeing its conservation easement with annual monitoring.

“It is with great happiness and a sense of future vision that the Conservation Easement Agreement between the Concord Mt. Diablo Trail Ride Association and Save Mount Diablo is signed. This agreement will assure that future generations will be able to fully enjoy the natural beauty of this area of California without the threat of development.

Save Mount Diablo took into consideration the history of our equine needs while sculpting the agreement,” said Diane Jorgensen, CMDTRA Board member. “ I t i s a l m o s t s u r re a l t h a t a f t e r m o re t h a n 1 5 years in the making, we are finalizing the Conservation Easement between Concord M t . D i a b l o Tr a i l R i d e

Association and Save Mount D i a b l o . T h i s a g re e m e n t affords us the security of knowing that a beautiful piece of the mountain will be forever protected from urban development without sacrificing land ownership. The heritage of horses on Mt. Diablo can continue indefinitely. We are eternally grateful that Save Mount Diablo has been so supportive and patient, t i re l e s s l y n av i g a t i n g u s through the entire process. I hope that other landowners will follow in our footsteps to protect their land too,” said Elaine Baker, CMDTRA Board President.

“I would like to thank Ron Brown, Seth Adams and Ted Clement for their patience, determination and love for Mt Diablo that facilitated the formation of the unique Save Mount Diablo/CMDTRA C o n s e r va t i o n E a s e m e n t .

This partnership allows all of us to protect this vital, beautiful piece of Mt Diablo for perpetuity while allowing CMDTRA to retain ownership and the right to use the property as we always have in the past and will in the future. This agreement took over 15 years to finalize.

S ave M o u n t D i a b l o wa s very supportive of the needs of CMDTRA and are a wonderful group of caring and dedicated people who are dedicated to preserving Mt Diablo in perpetuity for future generations to come.

It is with pride and love for Mt Diablo that CMDTRA h a s a g re e d t o p l a c e t h e Conservation Easement on 154 acres of CMDTRA land,” said Chris Barnhart, CMDTRA Board Treasurer.

The $1.04 million needed to purchase this permanent conservation easement, along with additional transaction costs, was raised through Save Mount Diablo’s Forever Wild Campaign, which was completed in 2021.

The mile-wide property is part of the “Missing Mile,” a square mile of privately owned open space land on Mount Diablo’s North Peak.

The property is adjacent to Save Mount Diablo’s Young Canyon property and our North Peak Ranch project and is also surrounded by Mount Diablo State Park on three sides.

It rises from 1,100 feet to 2,010 feet with views from

the Carquinez Strait and Suisun Bay to Lassen Peak and the Sierra Nevada Range.

The property’s rich biodiversity is due to the complicated geology of Mount Diablo’s main peaks, including serpentine soils that host dozens of rare plant species like the Mount Diablo globe lily.

The now protected property will help secure the extremely important Mount Diablo high peaks area local ecosystem and preserve the scenic value the mountain affords to countless numbers of people.

The Concord Mt. Diablo Trail Ride Association will keep a separate approximate 47 acres where the association’s buildings are located, next to the almost 154 acres of open space just conserved with Save Mount Diablo’s conservation easement.

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THE VALLEY SENTINEL

February 2022

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Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan’s Bill to Eliminate the “Pink Tax” Passes off Assembly Floor AB 1287 eliminates the “Pink Tax” by prohibiting different prices for goods based solely on the gender they are marketed to The bill passed off the Cervantes (D-Corona), Adrin economically from the ongoing AB 1287 eliminates the “Pink Tax” by prohibiting different prices for goods based solely on the gender they are marketed to.

Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer Kahan’s (D-Orinda) bill eliminating the “Pink Tax” on goods marketed to women has passed off the Assembly floor.

AB 1287 will build on the work begun in 1995 by then Assemblymember Jackie Speier. Speier’s “Gender Tax Repeal Act” prohibited charging women higher prices for similar services. This bill prohibits price differentials for substantially similar goods.

The bill would allow for price differences when goods have a significant difference in the cost or time to produce.

“The “Pink Tax” is a sexist burden on women’s financial security” said Assemblymember BauerKahan. “Paying a financial cost for being a woman is unjust and only adds to the gender wage and wealth gaps. This type of arbitrary gendered pricing has no place in California. It’s past time to ensure price equality.”

Goods can have drastically different prices based solely on their target market. From toiletries to toys, the pink item

AdvAnced LAser

tends to cost more than an identical blue item. A study by the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs that found that more than half of women’s products cost more than the same product marketed to men.

“Simply being a woman shouldn’t cost money – but it does. Women pay roughly $1,300 a year that men don’t for the exact same products; with women as a whole making an average of 79 cents to every dollar a man makes, and women of color making even less, this isn’t a tax we can afford to ignore,” said Holly Martinez, Executive Director of the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. “Women make up as much as 85% of consumer purchases in the United States and the Pink Tax represents $1,300 that can’t go into a women’s retirement fund, toward home ownership, toward her education, or to feed her family. The California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls is proud to cosponsor AB 1287 to end arbitrary price differences for everyday products that are unjust and harmful, and that make it even more difficult for women to recover

pandemic crisis.”

“It’s insulting that it’s 2022 and women are not only earning less on average than our male counterparts, but we have to pay more for products marketed to women. This gender-based price discrimination, or the pink tax, cheats women of hard-earned income and only further exacerbates the income inequality and barriers we face every day just for being born a woman. These economic injustices are of greater concern now, during a time when women are trying to recover from the COVIDinduced recession which disproportionately impacted women of color and those who are low income,” said Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens), Chair of the California Legislative Women’s Caucus. “I am proud of the work Assemblywoman Bauer-Kahan is doing to move our great state of California toward true equality.”

With AB 1287, Assemblymember BauerKahan is fighting to remove a last pillar of commercial gender discrimination to ensure women equal access to products without paying a “tax” for their gender.

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Nazarian (D-Van Nuys), Autumn Burke (D-Inglewood), Luz Rivas (D-Arleta), Cristina Garcia (D- Bell Gardens) and Senators Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), Connie Leyva (D-San Bernadino) and Ben Hueso (D-Imperial Beach)

Make Your Own Valentine Card

By Ned MacKay, East Bay Regional Park District

If you can’t find quite the right card to give to your Valentine on Feb. 14, the East Bay Regional Park District is here to help.

Stop by the visitor center at Del Valle Regional Park near Livermore any time between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 13. Naturalist Alex Collins will offer information about courtship among the animals, and help you to create your own nature-inspired valentine to give to someone special.

The program is free of charge, and registration is not required, although Del Valle has a parking fee of $6 per vehicle.

Del Valle is located on Del Valle Road off Mines Road about nine miles south of Livermore. The visitor center is next to the west swim beach.

If you are thinking of a gift as well as a card, there’s a program just for you at Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont: “Abalone and Pine Nut Bead Making.”

It’s from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the visitor center. Instructor Maeron Yeshiwas will talk about the Ohlone peoples and their connections to the land as you make your own necklace from natural materials. Again, no registration is required and the program is free of charge.

All ages are welcome at both programs. Parent participation is required.

B e c a u s e o f C OV I D - 1 9 restrictions, masks are obligatory and social distancing must be maintained.

Coyote Hills Regional Park is at 8000 Patterson Ranch Road off Paseo Padre Parkway in Fremont. There’s a parking fee of $6 per vehicle. * * *

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Assembly Floor today on a bipartisan vote of 59-0.

The bill now heads to the California Senate for committee assignments and hearings.

Coauthors of the bill include Assemblymembers Evan Low (D–San Jose), Marc Levine (D-Marin), Sabrina

Feb. 13 is Super Bowl Sunday, but if you want to get in some pre-game exercise, join naturalist Kevin Dixon from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for a seven-mile hike at Round Valley Regional Preserve south of Brentwood.

Minimum age for the hike is nine years; it’s moderate, but not steep. And Round Valley is one of the district’s most remote and beautiful parklands.

Bring water and food; the group will stop for lunch at an oak grove. Kevin will talk about Valentine-style pairings-up in nature.

The hike is free of charge and there’s no parking fee.

Registration is required. To register, call 888-327-2757 and select option 2. * * * Besides needing love, animals need food. Your little children will enjoy taking care of the animals at the Little Farm in Tilden Nature Area near Berkeley. No registration is required. Meet at the chicken coop from noon to 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 13 for animal feeding and a variety of other age-appropriate activities.

The Little Farm is at the north end of Tilden’s Central Park Drive, next to the Environmental Education Center. For information, call 510-544-2233. * * * B i rd wa t c h i n g i s a n enjoyable hobby and a good way to get some fresh air and exercise. Naturalist Anthony Fisher will lead one of his Monday Birding walks from 9 a.m. to noon on Monday, Feb. 14 at Briones Regional Park near Orinda.

Meet Anthony at the Bear Creek Staging Area. It’s on Bear Creek Road about five miles east of the intersection with Camino Pablo in Orinda. The program is free and no registration is required. For information, call 510-544-2233. * * * This is just a sample.

There are lots of great programs scheduled in coming days in the regional parks. For a full listing, visit the website, www.ebparks. org, and click on “Things to Do” at the top of the home page.

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February 2022

THE VALLEY SENTINEL

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valleysentinel.com

February 2022

Community Events Sons in Retirement San Ramon Valley Wednesday February 16th at 11 a.m.

We h a v e m o n t h l y luncheons with interesting speakers and good fellowship.

Our luncheons normally occur on the third Wednesday of each month at 11:00 a.m.

Location is the Bridges, 9000 S. Gale Ridge, San Ramon.

Our guest speaker in February will be Mr. Scott Horton the President and CEO at J.P. King Advisors, Inc. in Walnut Creek, CA. J.P. King Advisors is a Registered Investment Advisory firm serving as fiduciaries for approximately 400 client households NOTE: due to the current COVID challenges, and, for the safety and well being of our members and guests, the next SIR128 meeting will be a VIRTUAL event using Zoom.

It will be held on Wednesday, February 16th at 11 a.m.

If you’re interested in accessing the January virtual meeting as a guest, please email membership@sir128.com.

To learn more about our Retirement branch, please go to: www.SIR128.com.

Ve t e r a n s — S a v e t h e dates for our 2022 painting workshop!

Workshop 1: March 5, March 12, March 19 Workshop 2: April 30, May 7, May 14 ABOUTFACE is building Veterans’ self-understanding through self-expression.

The Arts and Culture Commission is offering ABOUTFACE to encourage arts learning and the artistic expression of Veterans and contribute to public understanding of, and appreciation for, the diverse range of Veterans’ experiences.

The workshops will be held virtually through zoom due to the recent COVID spike in our county. Technical assistance is available.

Aboutface 2022 Workshops Registration Re g i s t ra t i o n f o r t h e ABOUTFACE 2022 workshops is now open. Please sign up today!

To sign up and for more information visit www.AC5.org

Visit Tri-Valley is excited to announce the second annual Taste Tri-Valley Restaurant Week, taking place from February 18th-27th, 2022!

You are invited to join us in this year’s ten days of dining throughout the region. We’d love to have you join for 2022.

What is Taste Tri-Valley?

Through the restaurant week programming, we’re proud to simultaneously celebrate the incredible wineries, breweries, and hotels in the area.

After a successful inaugural restaurant week p ro g ra m i n Fe b r u a r y o f 2021, we are bringing back special menus for lunch and dinner throughout the Tri-Valley region. Whether it’s a restaurant, a brewery, a bakery or a cafe, you’re invited to enjoy special prix fixe menus at one or more of the price tiers including: Brunch or Lunch: $15, $25 Dinner: $20, $35, $50.

THE VALLEY SENTINEL

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State Officials Provide Resources on Storm Response Mark Ghilarducci, Director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), issued the following statement regarding the state’s response to ongoing winter storms:

California continues to work aggressively to help our communities manage and recover from the series of storms that have impacted the state.

The Governor has declared a State of Emergency in multiple counties to amplify the response to and the recovery from these winter storms.

This order clears regulatory hurdles and increases the states capacity to rapidly respond to the impact of these storms and will bolster long term recovery.

This executive order is just latest action by the state to keep Californians safe.

The team at the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services has been coordinating the response to these storms on behalf of the state.

As part of this work, the Governor activated the State Operations Center to monitor storm conditions and coordinate the states response and support requests for assistance from local governments.

We a re a l s o c l o s e l y coordinating with and supporting the work of state partners like Caltrans, the California Highway Patrol, Cal Fire and others to rapidly respond to issues as they arise.

I n re s p o n s e t o t h e record snowfall, Caltrans has redirected all available crews into the mountains to reopen roadways, bringing operators from as far away as the Bay Area to assist.

Caltrans alone has 1,350 field staff clearing mountain highways, working 24/7 in 12hour shifts, and has deployed more than 600 snowplows statewide.

The CHP is monitoring road conditions, responding to calls for assistance and working to keep travelers safe.

And here at the SOC, Cal OES has mission tasked numerous state agencies to provide support operations including Cal FIRE to assist Cal Trans and local governments to clear trees and debris from local roads and critical lifelines, the CEC to assess fuel reliability and the National Guard to open Armories as shelters.

And, we are working to ensure continuity of the supply chain coordinating closely with organizations such as the California Grocers Association on supply chain resiliency.

In addition, the Cal OES Fire and Rescue Division is coordinating with counties to preposition fire and rescue apparatus and personnel around burn scar areas to augment local resources in preparation for significant new weather events, allowing teams to quickly mobilize in the event of mud flows, avalanches or flash floods.

We a l s o c o n t i n u e t o f o c u s o n p ro t e c t i n g t h e health of our most vulnerable Californians, who would be disproportionately affected by long-term power outages and winter storms - Including having CDSS coordinate closely with the ARC and County Offices of Emergency Services on assisting with n e e d s s u c h a s wa r m i n g shelters and commodities.

As well, we are also closely working with our investor-owned utilities to ensure power is restored as quickly as possible

and that they provide any needed support to the most vulnerable. This includes ensuring that PGE is working on outreach to residents without power in hard-toreach areas, working with Independent Living Centers to provide resources to the most vulnerable community members and those with Access and Functional Needs and establishing multiple Community Resource Centers in foothill communities. These CRCs will provide services s u c h a s p owe r c h a rg i n g stations, snacks, water, and blankets.

In particular, the SOC is coordinating with PG&E and counties to facilitate and prioritize access for crews to gain entrance to areas hardest to reach.

We have made clear to PG&E that sustained long term power outages are not acceptable.

Overall, much thanks to our local, state and private sector partners for the tremendous work this past week to keep Californians safe. Local governments have stepped up to provide resources, including warming centers, emergency response teams, charging areas and shelters for those who may need it.

As a reminder, if you find you need help with local resources or services, please dial 2-1-1 or 3-1-1 to get help or ask questions and if you have a critical emergency, call 911.

Finally, as we look at the weather forecast over the next few weeeks, don’t let those sunny days fool you.

Sample classes and programs at Danville’s Recreation Expo & Open House Spring Activity Guides &

Danville area residents of all ages are encouraged to save the date and attend the Town of Danville’s 12th Annual Recreation Expo and Open House on Saturday, February 26, between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

Participants can get a sneak peek at what the Town has to offer this summer and get questions answered in person with specialty class instructors and Town staff. This year, all downtown Recreation facilities will be open, including the Danville Community Center, Danville Senior Center, and the Village Theatre & Art Gallery.

Participants can visit each

building to see demonstrations of classes and programs, with something for all ages.

Attendees are encouraged to start at the Danville Community Center located at 420 Front Street.

The Recreation, Arts & Community Services mascot, Auggie the Acorn, will be at the event. Participants will get a chance to win raffle prizes by collecting an Auggie Passport and visiting as many instructors as possible.

Community members wanting to learn more about Auggie can visit the new Auggie the Acorn webpage at www.danville. ca.gov/Auggie.

Summer Camps Brochures were mailed to Danville, Alamo, and Diablo residents beginning on January 27, 2022. All activities can also be viewed online at www.danville.ca.gov/ ActivityGuide. Registration for Spring programs, Summer Camps, and Aquatics begins on Tuesday, February 15.

Open registration will begin on Tuesday, February 22. The last chance for “early bird” pricing will be at the Recreation Expo and Open House.

For more information, contact the Danville Community Center at (925) 314-3400 or recreation@danville.ca.gov.

valleysentinel.com

February 2022

Money Tip for Students, February 2022

Now is the time to start planning for retirement in stocks, bonds, certificates of Retirement may be a distant concern for high school and college students, but they might want to start thinking about it now, according to KHEAA. The best time to start p l a n n i n g f o r re t i re m e n t is when you’re young. You should research your options for investing early so the money you invest now has more time to grow and help you when you get older.

Two options for members of tomorrow’s workforce are a 401(k) savings account and an individual retirement account (IRA).

Many employers offer their workers a 401(k) option. With a 401(k), the employee has a percentage of their wages deducted and deposited into a tax-deferred account. Most contributions are invested in mutual funds. Some employers may wholly or partially match what an employee contributes.

IRAs come in several forms, but perhaps the most popular are the traditional IRA and the Roth IRA. Both types are held by a custodian, usually a bank or a brokerage firm. IRA contributions can be invested

deposits and even real estate.

In a traditional IRA, the contributions are made before taxes. The account owners pay taxes on the funds they withdraw. With a Roth IRA, the contributions come from aftertax money, which means that withdrawals are tax free.

Keep in mind that the federal government can change the rules about retirement accounts at any time. You should consult a trained professional to make sure you choose the best plan for you.

KHEAA is a public, nonprofit agency established in 1966 to improve students’ access to college. It provides information about financial aid and financial literacy at no cost to students and parents. KHEAA also helps colleges manage their student loan default rates and verify information submitted on the FAFSA. For more information about those services, visit www. kheaa.com.

In addition, KHEAA disburses private Advantage Education Loans on behalf of its sister agency, KHESLC. For more information, visit www. advantageeducationloan.com.

Reimagining Danville’s Downtown Future

By Renee Morgan, Danville Town Council

While so much has changed in the past year, one thing remained the same in our community - the innate desire to gather in our well-loved public spaces. As we transition through the pandemic, the Town has begun the process of updating the Downtown Master Plan. The Town has partnered with urban design firm SWA, to reimagine how we might use some of the public spaces within our downtown to provide essential connection, interaction and engagement.

Building upon the strong framework of Danville’s

small-town charm and to further enhance its villagelike character, the aim is to create activated public spaces that are visually coordinated and balance the need for adequate public parking, drainage facilities, accessibility to all businesses and essential services such as trash pick-up.

In early 2022, the Town and its urban design team SWA will be conducting outreach and seeking input on how each component of the community – from its businesses to its residents – envision how it wishes to live, work and play within its treasured downtown.

INFORMATION from page 1

supplies like crayons, pen cases, crayons and more. By having their own items, she hopes to help prevent the spread of germs.

She is also handing out vaccination stickers, which were designed by her friends at Bay Area Nonprofit Olive Tree Gifts.

A little goes a long way, and she hopes her gifts and instruction will encourage other teachers and parents to do their part.

Let your Voice and ideas be heard!

Jessica Rovenko is a teacher at Rancho Romero Elementary School in Alamo. As the school year is beginning, she has taken to encouraging and educating students in proper safety procedures they ought to adopt for their safety and the safety of those around them.

She gathered together hygienic products for the students including masks and hand sanitizer, as well as school

THE VALLEY SENTINEL

page 7

San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District Achieves Iso Class 1 Rating Protection District are The San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District is pleased to announce that it has received the Insurance Services Office (ISO) top rating of Class 1, which is the designation it reserves for superior fire protection programs. The Class 1 rating was based on the ISO’s independent analysis of the structural fire suppression delivery system provided to the San Ramon Valley community.

According to the ISO, out of the roughly 40,000 fire districts they evaluate across the country, only 411 have earned the Class 1 rating, with the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District being only 1 of 42 in California to receive the top rating.

The ISO collects information on communities and analyzes

t h e d a t a u s i n g i t s F i re Suppression Rating Schedule, which evaluates four primary categories of Fire Suppression – Fire Department Operations, Emergency Communications, Water Supply, and Community Risk Reduction – intended to measure the effectiveness of protecting homes and other structures, with better fire protection leading to better loss experience.

This plays an important part in the decisions insurers make affecting the premiums for property insurance. The price of property insurance in a community with a high ISO rating is lower than in a community with a poor ISO rating. Homeowners within the San Ramon Valley Fire

encouraged to contact their property insurance providers and ask how the Class 1 rating will affect their premiums.

“What an amazing accomplishment for our Fire District and our entire community,” said Fire District Board President Matt Stamey.

“This is a true testament to the level of commitment in providing excellent service to our residents.” “ I a m p ro u d o f t h e professionalism and dedication that the men and women of this Fire District continue to demonstrate each and every day,” said Fire Chief Paige Meyer. “This rating exemplifies our mission of providing the highest level of fire protection to our community.”

Composting becomes law in California!

As of January 1, 2022, all California residents (including multifamily complexes) and businesses are required to recycle organic waste such as food scraps, yard trimmings and uncoated food-soiled paper. The goal of the law, Senate Bill 1383, is to reduce the amount of organic waste in landfills by 75 percent by 2025.

Why does composting matter?

When your food waste - veggie trimmings, coffee grounds, chicken bones, even pizza boxes - goes into the trash, it ends up decomposing in the landfill without oxygen. And without oxygen, the decaying organic waste emits methane, a greenhouse gas that’s many times more potent than carbon dioxide. Currently, about onethird of the content of California landfills is organics, producing

20 percent of our state’s total methane emissions.

Recycling organics has benefits far beyond the critical need to reduce the amount of methane in the atmosphere.

• Compost is a rich, complex mix of trace minerals, fungi, and microbes as well as the decaying organic matter.

Practically all our food comes from the soil, so composting is simply returning the favor.

• Adding compost to the soil reduces the need for fertilizers and pesticides.

• Compost-rich soil holds water better.

How to recycle your organics Backyard Composting: Residents can purchase a compost bin, receive a quarterly home composting discount on your Republic Services bill

(single-family only) and find additional resources. Worm composting is a simple, compact option for small spaces!

Green Organics Cart: Place organics including all food scraps, yard trimmings and uncoated food-soiled paper in your green organics cart and Republic Services will compost the material at a commercial composting facility. Call Republic Services at 925-685-4711 to request a free kitchen food scrap container (townhome organics service is coming soon!). For residents in apartments/condos, or businesses, email a request for organics service or additional resources to recyclecoordinators republicservices.com.

For more information about prevention, reuse and recycling programs and services visit www.RecycleSmart.org.

Senior Living page 8

valleysentinel.com

February 2022

Is it normal aging or dementia?

Sometimes we notice changes in our loved one that concerns us. Often, these can be just ‘normal’ aging issues and not indicators of dementia.

As we age there are normal changes that occur in our brain. The following are some age-related changes: they may be more absentminded, take longer to think of the “right” word, have difficulty multitasking, and shorter attention spans. As we age, it is normal for us to take longer to come up with the “right” word and then recall it, or forget what we went into a room to get but remember later, or misplace where we put things but we can retrace our steps.

Normal “forgetfulness” or

“absentmindedness” doesn’t affect our ability to take care of ourselves and interfere with our ability to perform activities of daily living.

If your loved one is showing signs of dementia, it is more than just memory loss and it’s more pronounced.

Dementia causes several changes in a person’s ability to communicate, reason, process information, schedule, plan and remember appointments and events. Because of how dementia affects the brain, the disease may cause the following changes: 1. Behavioral changes and increased confusion.

Some of the changes you may have already started to

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notice are hoarding, hiding t h i n g s, a c c u s i n g yo u o f things, and shadowing you.

Shadowing is when your loved one follows you everywhere you go. Some people refer to shadowing as being joined at the hip.

2. Difficulty reading, writing, and communicating.

Your loved one may not understand what they have read or may have difficulty finding the right words or using the correct names. They may also lose their ability to communicate or express themselves clearly.

3. Repeating the same questions over and over again.

Dementia causes short term memory loss; therefore, your loved one may ask you the same question a hundred times.

For example, they just had lunch and he/she continues to ask you when it’s time for lunch. Repetitive questions are a very common symptom of dementia.

4. Inability to recognize familiar people, places, and things.

As dementia progresses, memory loss becomes more severe and familiar people, places, and things become unfamiliar. For example, your loved one may call family members by the wrong name, or become confused about the location of their home or the passage of time. At some point, this may include not knowing who you are, which can be incredibly painful emotionally.

5. Inability to sensor or filter what your loved one is saying.

As the brain deteriorates, dementia may cause your loved one to lose their ability to filter what they are thinking.

It is not uncommon for a person with dementia to blurt out what they are thinking and say things that are inappropriate, offensive, rude, or embarrassing. For example, they might make a comment about the size of a person, the color of a person’s skin, or their physical appearance, etc.

6. Lack of initiative and motivation.

Dementia robs people living with dementia of their ability to be self-starters, which means your loved one will need assistance starting projects or various tasks. For example, you may need to set up an activity such as doing a puzzle, folding napkins, and possibly participate with them initially to get them started.

7. Withdrawal from family and friends.

As the disease progresses, people with dementia tend to withdraw from family and friends. For example, they may resist leaving the house or lose interest in visiting with people.

Some of the reasons this occurs are: anxiety- they become fearful about leaving their home; or as it becomes more difficult for them to process information and engage in conversation, they withdraw. As a result, people living with dementia may feel overwhelmed and overstimulated, which can result in frustration and anger.

8. Living in the past.

The part of the brain that is most affected by dementia initially is short term memory.

It takes longer for long term memory to be affected. As a result, people with dementia may not remember what they ate for lunch seconds ago but will remember events from their past that occurred 20, 30, or 40 years ago. In some cases, people with dementia may relive past experiences These eight dementia behavior changes are common.

If you notice these changes in your loved one, they can be dealt with best with compassion and understanding. Along with educating yourself.

Remember that dementia behavior is caused by a brain ‘disease.’ It affects the brain, and thus behavior, in odd ways. As with any disease, the person is not intentionally making things difficult, it is the way the disease manifests.

They are not doing anything on purpose. The more you know about these common behavior changes, the easier it is to deal with them. Be respectful and discuss your observations and concerns with their physician.

Tami Anastasia, M.A. is a dementia consultant and educator. She is the author of Essential Strategies for the Dementia Caregiver: Learning to PACE Yourself.

She has a private counseling practice and provides in person, online and phone support, guidance and care strategies for families caring for a loved one living with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

In addition, Tami facilitates Caregiver Support Groups and has partnered with numerous agencies to conduct monthly educational workshops, trainings, and webinars.

Contact Tami at (408) 3774716, or email her at:tami@ tamianastasia.com, or on her website: www.tamianastasia. com.

Meals on Wheels’ Annual ‘Feed the Soul’ Fundraiser providing much needed Food Aid to isolated Seniors NBC Bay Area News and Telemundo have joined as the media sponsor of Meals on Wheels Diablo Region’s 2nd Annual Feed the Soul Campaign. The goal of Feed the Soul is to raise $28,000 in 28 days so we can provide breakfasts to food-insecure seniors.

When Covid-19 hit, we realized that many seniors were rationing the meal they receive to have enough food for lunch, dinner, and to take at night with medications. “For elders who are hungry, one meal is just not enough,” says Caitlin Sly, Executive Director of MOW Diablo Region. “Our mission is to keep seniors healthy at home with dignity.

Rationing food and going hungry is neither healthy nor living with dignity. We knew we should do more as an organization and as a community.”

Each Breakfast Bag has fresh fruit, hard-boiled eggs, oatmeal, yogurt, a healthy grain, and coffee and tea. Last year with the help of NBC Bay Area and Telemundo, MOW Diablo Region provided 4,600 breakfasts to hungry seniors and we hope to do even more this year. The Breakfast Bag Program has been so successful, that it has expanded, allowing us to serve even more older adults than ever before.

“There was clearly a need for the Breakfast Bag Program,” says Sly. “We’ve seen an improvement in our clients’ wellbeing. We appreciate NBC Bay Area and Telemundo joining as our media sponsor and promoting Feed the Soul. Thanks to their help we can address the challenges food-insecure seniors face every day.”

Senior Living valleysentinel.com

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February 2022

The Amazing Travels of John Muir

Her Side of the Story: Tales of California Pioneer Women In February the Museum of the San Ramon Valley will be presenting an exhibit that illuminates the hardships, joys, and life of pioneer women in California. These women will tell, in their own words the story of traveling by land and sea to settle in California prior to statehood.

In 1900, The Association of Pioneer Women of California formed and collected the reminiscences of women who arrived in California before 1854 in a single ledger. This incredible

CONDORS from page 1

Radio transmitters emit high-frequency radio pulses that are picked up by a receiver, so trackers can tell which way the animals are going and when they’re getting closer to it.

Unlike GPS transmitters, radio transmitters won’t consistently track geospatial positioning.

Without a GPS transmitter, a condor’s flight path won’t be recorded (Condor 828 was one of the lucky birds with one).

GPS transmitters are much more costly than radio transmitters. Because not all condors currently have a GPS transmitter, there is a very real possibility other condors are making the voyage to Mount Diablo under the radar.

And there are larger implications. To use the overused maxim, it’s not the destination, it’s the journey.

A key point if we find more of them is how they’re using the Diablo Range to travel. It could be that condors that call Pinnacles National Park home are using the Diablo Range as a wildlife corridor.

“For years Save Mount Diablo has been saying that as the California condor population grew that they would end up at the peaks and cliffs around Mount Diablo,” Land Conservation Director Seth Adams stated. “The Diablo Range is a mountain lion, golden eagle, California condor wildlife corridor freeway—they all follow major undeveloped

document, filled with over 800 handwritten stories of California pioneer women and in the collection of The Society of California Pioneers, is the basis for this exhibition. Together, the ledger and exhibition create a more complete and balanced understanding of our shared history, by highlighting the voices of women who traveled to California.

The ledger, however, does not represent all women. As such, an important section of the exhibition is comprised of

diverse portraits of unidentified women. These women represent the thousands of pioneers whose stories were never recorded; each one had a story to tell which is lost to time.

This exhibit will run through May 22, 2022.

The Museum of the San Ramon Valley is located at 205 Railroad Ave Danville CA 94526.

Our hours are Tuesday-Friday 1-4, Saturday 10-1,Sunday 12-3.

You can contact the museum at museumsrv.org or call 925-8373750.

open space corridors, and that’s exactly what the Diablo Range is.”

Pinnacles National Park is located near the central region of the 200-mile-long Diablo Range. The entire range is largely undeveloped (only two freeways cross the entire strip), and because Pinnacles is located near the middle, it offers condors various options of where and how to venture out.

To better understand California condors and their migration routes, we’ve given a grant to the Pinnacles Condor Recovery Program so they can purchase more GPS trackers to more accurately monitor condors.

GPS trackers for birds are still a relatively new technology.

In the past, GPS devices were bigger and heavier and could only be attached to larger species like bears. Since they’ve become light enough for birds, they’ve helped scientists understand things like hunting, migration, mating, feeding patterns, and so forth. They can even be used to help catch poachers.

This grant is the furthest south project we have supported in our 50-year history. Pinnacles National Park is about 105 miles as the crow files—or rather as the condor flies—from Mount Diablo State Park.

Recently, we’ve been expanding our area of interest further south into the Diablo Range. We believe that the

Diablo Range can be California’s next great conservation story, and if endangered species like the California condor are using this range as a freeway—relying on it for safe travel—there is an undeniable need to preserve it.

More Condors Coming to Mount Diablo Soon?

Kelly Sorenson, Executive Director of the Ventana Wildlife Society (a nonprofit that releases and monitors condors), states, “As the population grows, it will expand its range into the Bay Area.”

California condors aren’t the only species that are returning from near extinction.

After nearly going extinct nationally—and disappearing f ro m t h e D i a b l o re g i o n altogether—the peregrine falcon can once again be seen in the cliffs of Pine Canyon, thanks to a project initiated by Save Mount Diablo.

Success stories like these show the effectiveness of caring for species and how populations can bounce back near zero. Bringing species back is, though, a multidimensional process. If the animal lacks any suitable habitat in the wild, they’ll be forced to spend their lives in captivity regardless of how strong their population grows.

By continuing and ex p a n d i n g c o n s e r va t i o n efforts, we can ensure that these endangered species can return to the places that they once called home for thousands of years.

We all associate John Muir with Yosemite and rightly so. But do you ever consider that he was a world traveler and had a large impact on the world far b eyo n d C a l i f o r n i a ? We l l join the Museum of the San Ramon Valley for a free virtual program on John Muir: World Traveler. This virtual program will be on February 17 at 11:30.

Garrett Dailey an attorney and noted authority on John Muir will be returning with a fascinating program on the Muir's worlds travels and the impact he had. Ever heard of the Muir Glacier? Yes the same Muir but his impact was to extend far beyond North America.

To attend this free online presentation please visit our website at museumsrv.org and go to the Events section or call 925 837-3750.

The Museum of the San Ramon Valley is located at 205 Railroad Ave Danville CA 94526. The museum is open Tuesday-Friday 1 to 4 Saturday 10 to 1 and Sunday 12 to 3.

page 10

THE VALLEY SENTINEL

AUTO March 2009 February 2022

2022 Volkswagen GTI 2.0T SE

Your Smile Is Our Business

Photos and Story By David and Judy Colman

We Welcome Patients of All Ages www.PorteousFamilyDentistry.com Hours M-F 9am to 7pm Sat. by appointment

As soon as I bought a new VW Scirocco back in 1977, I wanted to trade it in on a new VW GTI. The first 110hp version of the GTI hit the market just as I was taking delivery of my 76hp Scirocco.

The GTI mated a Rabbit chassis to a 1.6 liter fuel injected (the “I” in GTI) four cylinder engine capable of propelling it to a

items buried deep in the frontal lobe of the GTI’s obsidian dash facade. All in all, I would take the 7th generation Golf layout in an instant over this grave new world. But in defense of the new system, as the days of my week with the GTI passed, my familiarity with its operational idiosyncrasies increased to the point that I

top speed of 110 mph. For the past 46 years, VW has sold the GTI continuously through 7 generations of Rabbit and Golf sedans. Now, for 2022, VW has scrubbed all lesser models of the Golf for sale in North America save 2 versions. The 8th generation Golf is available here only in front-wheel-drive form as the 241hp Golf GTI, and in all-wheel-drive spec as the 315hp Golf R. Given that background, you might say I was eagerly expectant when a Kings Red Metallic ($395 optional) Golf GTI ($36,880) arrived in my driveway. Initial reaction? It was the first GTI I didn’t want to own. Although the slick exterior appearance and the plaid seat inserts kindled familiarity, the re-imagined blacked out plastic dashboard spoiled the fun. VW, like so many manufacturers, seems intent on retraining their customers in basic car operation. To that end, VW’s interior designers have eliminated anything resembling a switch or button in favor of countless video screens to confuse you. It took me 45 minutes to figure out how to unearth a simple channel roster for the 350 stations broadcast on SiriusXM, and install 4 as favorites. I remember when this used to be done by twiddling a single knob for maybe 5 seconds.

The same objections can be raised for dealing with climate control, navigation, and countless other menu

actually overcame my initial dislike and felt quite at home in the very supportive plaid driver’s seat. Thankfully, the single biggest selling point of the GTI has always been its handling prowess and zippy spurt. The 2022 version upholds and exceeds that expected high threshold of performance.

Our test car sported the $395 optional “Black Wheel Package” which looked quite understated against the flashy red bodywork. It’s a shame that the GTI’s trademark red brake calipers don’t match the Kings Red Metallic exterior color. The rims mounted allweather Pirelli P Zero radials (225/40R18) that were quite well suited to all the wet weather we had during the week of my test drive. Make no mistake, the latest GTI is still the hot hatchback screamer it has always been and then some. With the TDI motor now rated at 241hp, and kicking out 273lb.-ft. of torque, the 3,082lb. sedan sports a stellar power to weight ratio of 12.7lb/ hp. With 7 gears on offer from the slick shifting “DSG with Tiptronic” transmission, you are never at a loss for instant punch. Pull the stubby DSG lever on the center console back toward you one notch for Drive. Hitting it a second time places the transmission in full manual mode, with small paddles behind the wheel to control all shifts. One of the wonders of the digital

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FEBRUARY 12, 2022, 10 AM - 4 PM 655 OLD ORCHARD DRIVE, DANVILLE

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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Danville has teamed up with San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church to host a blood drive: Saturday, February 12th from 10am-4pm 655 Old Orchard Drive Danville.

To sign up: Go to redcrossblood.org and search for sponsor code: LDSDANVILLE.

Be Kind to the Environment Please Recycle This Newspaper

valleysentinel.com dash is that you can select the information it displays from a variety of options. I selected large numbers to indicate the current gear in use. These digits are displayed inside the tachometer. This facilitated intelligent and quick use of the gearbox to maximize acceleration. The GTI will run the standing start 1/4 mile in 14.6 seconds at 99.8mph, and cover the 0-60mph run in 6 seconds.

VW offers 4 modes of driving operation. We chose to leave the selection in “Sport” for the whole week. We are indebted to VW for allowing us to select Sport just once, with no need to re-select it after every restart. Thanks to improvements in shock valving, and the benefits accruing from the VAQ limited slip front differential lock and the XDS cross-differential system, the GTI never lost traction, even when pressed hard on streaming wet secondary roads. While the ride is a bit stiff and uncompromising in Sport, that’s just the way we like it.

By the end of the week, our initial reservations about the newly complicated dashboard were receding as a wave of favorable driving impressions took precedence. The latest GTI is an absolute blast to drive enthusiastically. Once you configure the glass dash to your liking, that aspect of ownership pretty much stays plug and play. In the final reckoning the 8th gen GTI is still the car I would most like to own.

2022 VOLKSWAGEN GTI 2.0T SE ENGINE: 2.0 liter inline 4, TSI 16-valve DOHC turbocharged H O R S E P OW E R : 241hp@6500rpm TORQUE: 273lb.ft.@4000rpm FUEL CONSUMPTION: 25MPG City/34MPG Highway PRICE AS TESTED: $36,880 H Y P E S : Q u i c ke r a n d Slicker Than Ever GRIPES Haptic Dash is Hapless STAR RATING: 10 Stars out of 10

valleysentinel.com

February 2022

THE VALLEY SENTINEL

page 11

Contra Costa County Unveils New Initiative for Alternatives to Police Response to a Mental Health Crisis program with the City of San

By Candace Andersen. Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors

Many residents in our county struggle with mental and behavioral health issues, and in a crisis, police have typically been called to respond. That is now changing. A3 – Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime is a new crisis initiative which will change how we respond in Contra Costa County.

A3 was created in c o l l a b o ra t i o n w i t h l o c a l government, first responders, mental health advocates, patients, and their families, and will be funded through Contra Costa County’s Measure X sales tax. The

program’s goal is to connect people in crisis with the level of help they need right then, rather than just relying on local law enforcement, which can be overwhelming and intimidating in situations where clinical expertise is needed.

The A3 collaborative began when Contra Costa assembled a multidisciplinary, county-wide team with different expertise and backgrounds in the Fall of 2020 to build a framework and to develop a system that allows anyone in the county to get prompt and appropriate behavioral health crisis care anywhere, at any time. It is currently a trial initiative that will be expanded into a 24hour service in the coming months.

This much-needed service will be available by dialing 911, 211, 988, or through calls by health care providers with all calls routed

to the Miles Hall Community Crisis Hub, a call center s t a f f e d by C o n t ra C o s t a Health Services clinicians who will triage calls, select appropriate responses, and send crisis response teams as needed. The crisis hub is named for Miles Hall, who was a Walnut Creek teen killed in 2019 during a mental health episode where police were unable to subdue him using non-lethal means.

Specially trained reaction teams will be stationed at various sites throughout the county 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The appropriate response team will be dispatched based on the judgment made by the Miles Hall Community Crisis Hub using a sophisticated algorithm for triage.

The composition of response teams will vary depending on the needs of the person. There will be three levels of team composition:

Contra Costa Reaches 80% Vaccinated Sunsets Vaccine Verification Requirement With 80% of all county residents now fully vaccinated, Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) today lifted its health order requiring certain businesses, including restaurants and gyms, to verify the vaccination status or recent negative test results of customers.

CCHS continues to urge everyone 5 and older to get vaccinated for the best possible protection from COVID-19 – and especially to receive a booster dose when eligible, as growing local data show boosters provide substantially more protection.

Te s t i n g d a t a s h o w COVID-19 transmission, fueled by the highly contagious omicron variant, remains high in Contra Costa, but that the average daily number of new cases have likely peaked, and countywide hospitalizations due to COVID-19 have also begun to decline.

“We believe now is the right time to loosen a requirement that made a lot of sense last summer, when a different variant of COVID-19 was dominant and there was less community immunity,” said Dr. Ori Tzvieli, acting Contra Costa County health officer.

“But by no means are we back to normal. There are still many more cases of COVID-19 in our community now than there were in mid-December, so we need to continue to take precautions when we go out.”

The best protection against COVID-19 infections, and serious illness from infections, is to be fully vaccinated and up to date with a booster dose whenever eligible.

“We deeply appreciate everyone who has chosen to vaccinate. You have made yourselves, your loved ones, and the entire community safer,” Contra Costa Health Director Anna Roth said. “If you are eligible and you have not gotten your booster, it is really important that you get one. People who get boosted are significantly safer from serious COVID-19.”

County data show that the daily COVID-19 case rate for Contra Costa residents who received booster doses is more than three times lower than that of unvaccinated people, and about nine times more effective at preventing hospitalization due to the virus.

On Thursday, Contra Costa reached a new milestone, with 80% of all county residents now fully vaccinated. So far, 48.4% of eligible residents have received booster doses.

The verification order, which took effect last September, applied to businesses where people remove face coverings to eat or drink indoors, such as restaurants, bars and entertainment venues, and to gyms and other indoor fitness facilities, including yoga and dance studios, where patrons breathe more heavily due to exercise.

The order required these businesses to verify that indoor customers were fully vaccinated, or had tested negative for COVID-19 within the past three days. It also included a requirement for workers in indoor areas of these businesses to show proof of full vaccination or test weekly.

Though the county requirement may be lifted, private businesses may choose t o i m p l e m e n t t h e i r ow n verification requirements to better protect customers and staff, and CCHS encourages them to consider doing so as a safest practice during the pandemic.

Other state and countywide health orders remain in effect, including workplace vaccine verification requirements for healthcare workers, first responders and congregate care workers, and a requirement for most people to wear face coverings in most indoor public spaces.

C u r re n t s t a t e h e a l t h orders still require proof of vaccination or a recent, negative test result in certain situations, including when visiting hospitals or long-term care facilities, or attending indoor “mega events” of 500 or more people.

Visit cchealth.org/ c o ro n a v i r u s f o r u p d a t e s regarding Contra Costa County health orders and the county’s emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

( 1 ) A we l f a re c h e c k or response where there is no risk of escalation, such as addressing social n e e d s . A Pe e r S u p p o r t Worker, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) will be dispatched. ( 2 ) A Pe e r S u p p o r t Worker, a Mental Health Clinician, and maybe an EMT or a substance abuse counselor will be dispatched to individuals w h o a re ex p e r i e n c i n g a severe behavioral health crisis or who require further examination.

(3) For individuals in an acute and major behavioral health crisis, a Peer Support Wo r k e r, M e n t a l H e a l t h Clinician, Law Enforcement, and maybe an EMT will be dispatched with the idea that personal risk is heightened.

These response teams will be stationed in different parts of the county to respond promptly, and they will be spread out throughout the day depending on demand.

To ensure that teams arrive on schedule, existing county or city facilities might be used as regional deployment centers.

San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District (SRVFPD) is also starting a different but complementary pilot

Ramon, where rather than having police be the first on the scene when someone is having a mental health crisis, a specially trained Firefighter/EMT will respond to the call. Police will be available on standby should there be the need for law enforcement.

Now, more than ever, we need to get rid of the stigma of mental health and encourage individuals to get the mental help they need.

Our county is pulling together its resources and agencies to ensure our residents receive the care necessary for mental health safety. Mental illness to mental wellness is our county’s objective and we intend to do all we can to get there.

My office is here to serve the residents of Contra Costa County District 2, which includes Alamo, Blackhawk, Canyon, Danville, Diablo, Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, R o s s m o o r, S a n R a m o n , Tassajara Valley, and unincorporated Walnut Creek.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can provide you with additional information on this topic or on other County issues. I can be reached at SupervisorAndersen@bos. cccounty.us or (925) 9578860.

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THE VALLEY SENTINEL February 2022

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