In brief: Lafayette peace, justice center bestows art, writing awards

LAFAYETTE

Nearly 100 were in attendance at the recent Art & Writing Challenge Awards Dinner hosted by the Mount Diablo Peace and Justice Center in Lafayette. This was the 21st year of the event organized to encourage and support local youth to address issues of peace and social justice. The center received submissions from 19 high schools and 12 middle schools from throughout Contra Costa County.

This year’s topic was “Cultivating A Peaceful World: Visions for the Future.” The grand prizes went to two very thoughtful and talented students: Las Lomas High School junior Yoon-Ju Kim won for her painting/collage “Breaking Stereotypes.” She will traveling to Washington, D.C., to represent District 11, for the recognition ceremony with East Bay U.S. Rep. Mark DeSaulnier. The middle school grand prize was awarded to Vincent Zhang for his submission in the writing/essay category for “The Truest Liberation.” He has attended Dorris-Eaton School and is off to high school in the fall.

Middle school prize winners in art were Sydney Tatsumi (first place) and Natalie Mangani (second place), both of Walnut Creek Intermediate; and Rianna Herrera (third place), of Martinez Junior High School. Creative writing prize winners were Rio Meyers-Dahlkamp (first place), of Canyon School; Braeden Chen (second place), of Dorris-Eaton School; and Daisy Penney (third place), of Joaquin Moraga Intermediate.

In the essay category prizes were awarded to Luca Dovichi (first place), of Dorris-Eaton School; Ella Charlesworth Suring (second place), of Korematsu Middle School; and Nethra Dhamodaran (third place), of Windemere Ranch Middle-School.

High school prize winners in art included Jenny Atkins (first place), of Miramonte High School;
Yamna Ahmadi (second place), of Pinole Valley High School; and Natasha Ghesquiere (third place), also of Miramonte High School. In creative writing, awards were given to Kendall Albert (first place) of Clayton Valley Charter High School, Ally Edel (second place) of Independence High School and Sam Aiden Millson (third place) of Alhambra High School.

Essay prize winners included Ashley Wong (first place), of Dougherty Valley High School; and Kailyn Lindaman (second place) and Madison Sullivan (third place), both of Independence High School. To view and read the winning entries and learn more about the Art & Writing Challenge, visit creatingpeacefulschools.weebly.com online.

— Mount Diablo Peace and Justice Center

ANTIOCH

Community center cooling stations open for summer

Antioch community centers are ready to greet anyone who needs to escape the heat throughout the summer. The Antioch Senior Center is a recognized cooling station and is open to all residents from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is plenty of room, and residents can visit and keep cool at the Nick Rodriguez Community Center during senior center hours.

The Antioch Community Center at 4703 Lone Tree Way is open for all residents from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; the lobby is a great place to rest and visit. The Antioch Water Park is open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Aug. 4, followed by afternoon and weekend hours through Sept. 2. The Water Park has season passes, all-day admission prices and afternoon discounted fees. There are five different pools and spray parks for all ages at the water park. For additional help please call the Recreation Department at 925-776-3050, ext. 0.

— city of Antioch

OAKLEY

Register for city’s next beading class that starts July 15

Mondays mean the weekend is over, but that’s not a bad thing if you’re in the city of Oakley’s beading class. Beading (ages 16 years and up) is a hands-on experience in which each week is an interesting beading project using different methods to create your own personal jewelry. Class projects include earrings, bracelets, and necklaces in alternative patterns and styles. This is a great place to explore your creativity while socializing with others who share the same desires. Learn to market your creations and maybe make some income with your newfound hobby. All materials are included.

The next six-week beading class begins July 15th from 6:30 to 8:30 pm with a fee of $48 for Oakley residents or $58 for nonresidents. Space is limited and preregistration is required. Online registration is available at ci.oakley.ca.us/registration. For more details, contact the Oakley Recreation Division at 925-625-7041 or email hicks@ci.oakley.ca.us.

— city of Oakley

CONCORD

City seeks input on commercial cannabis regulations

To solicit feedback about potential commercial cannabis regulations, the city of Concord recently issued a 10-question survey designed for city residents.

In 2016, California voters approved Proposition 64, which legalized adult-use cannabis in the state. Under this ballot measure, each California city and county can choose to regulate or prohibit cannabis. In 2018, the city of Concord developed regulations applying to medicinal and adult-use cannabis testing laboratories, as well as medicinal cannabis manufacturing and distribution businesses.

This spring, the City Council and Concord Planning Commission directed staff to develop regulations regarding commercial cannabis retail (storefront and nonstorefront) and microbusinesses (small-scale cultivation, distribution, manufacturing and/or retail) for their consideration. The city’s cannabis survey is available on the Concord Community Town Hall platform at cityofconcord.org/townhall through July 19. For more information, visit cityofconcord.org/cannabis.

City to host June 29 workshop on how to help hoarders

The concord Parks and Recreation Department will host a free workshop, “Hoarding: The Challenge for Caregivers and Loved Ones,” from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 29 at the Concord Senior Center, 2727 Parkside Circle. Join speakers and a panel of industry professionals who discuss the cause, speak the language, provide support resources and learn the impact hoarding can have on mental health. Guest speaker Michael Tynan will share personal challenges he and his family faced in dealing with his mother’s hoarding.

Panelists will include Joyce Martin, Janet Flint, Heather Argueta and Officer Jeff Conner from city of Concord code enforcement. All are welcome, but reservations are required. Space is limited to 150.  Book your seat at bayareane.ws/2ZGyDyo.

— city of Concord

Teens donate equipment to city’s Junior Giants League

This week, Headfirst Leadership: Beyond the Field, co-founded by East Bay teens Dawson Mann and Nick Walker, donated more than 1,000 pieces of equipment to the local Concord Junior Giants League.

Local kids will now be able to participate in baseball activities in style with their new equipment which can often be costly for families. The nonprofit organization has spearheaded this donation drive for the past three years and donated more than 3,000 items. Mann and Walke also assistant-coach and are entering their second year as volunteers for the Junior Giants tee-ball league.

— Joe Laland, contributor

Kids’ Summer Food Service Program sites open to public

The Mount Diablo Unified School District (MDUSD) is participating in the Summer Food Service Program again this year. Meals will be provided to all children age 18 or younger without charge.  Acceptance and participation requirements for the program are the same for all regardless of race, color, national origin, gender or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service.

Lunch and breakfast are offered at various sites. For a list of sites visit mdusd.org/foodservices online or call 925-682-8000 ext. 4124. Meals will be provided on weekdays now through July 10, (and at some sites through July 18). There will be no meals served July 4-5.

— MDUSD

WALNUT CREEK

Shop’s ‘Christmas in July’ sale to benefit area causes

Leftovers Thrift Shop will hold its ‘Christmas in July’ sale July 2-31, when all Christmas items will be one-half off the marked price. Come by to see their large selection and get a jump on the Christmas season. While in the shop, you might also find some other well-priced treasure.

Leftovers Thrift Shop supports the Contra Costa Crisis Center, Meals on Wheels and the Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano (counties). The shop is located at 2281 Olympic Blvd. (corner of Tice Valley Blvd.) in Walnut Creek and has an all-volunteer staff. Staff welcome all new shoppers and especially new volunteers — come by, tour the shop, meet the staff and consider donating some time to support the Contra Costa Crisis Center. Applications are available in the shop.

— Leftovers Thrift Shop