In brief: East Contra Costa councils swear in new members, mayors

EAST CONTRA COSTA

East Contra Costa County city councils reorganized this month with new councilmembers and, in some cases, new mayors.

In Oakley, which rotates mayors, Aaron Meadows was sworn in Dec. 13 as the new mayor while Councilmember Anissa Williams became the new vice mayor. New councilmembers sworn in included Hugh Henderson and Shannon Shaw.

In Pittsburg, which also rotates mayors, Shanelle Scales-Preston was sworn in Dec. 12 as the city’s new mayor while Councilmember Antonio Banales became vice mayor. Other new councilmembers sworn in included Dionne Adams and Angelica Lopez.

In Brentwood, which doesn’t rotate mayors, new councilmembers sworn in Dec. 13 included Pa’tanisha Pierson and Tony Oerlemans. Joel Bryant will remain mayor until 2024 while Councilmember Susannah Meyer was sworn in as vice mayor.

In Antioch, Councilmember Monica Wilson was sworn in Dec. 13 for another, term as was Tamisha Torres-Walker, who was also named mayor pro tem. A recount is to take place Dec. 20 or Dec. 21 for the close District 1 race that pitted Torres-Walker against Joy Motts.

— Judith Prieve, staff

WALNUT CREEK

Council names Silva 2023’s mayor; next meeting Jan. 17

Walnut Creek councilmembers have selected Cindy Silva to serve as their mayor for the coming year.  Silva, who was recently re-elected, is serving her fifth term on the council. Councilmember Loella Haskew was selected as the city’s mayor pro tem.

Silva and former Mayor Matt Francois were formally sworn in Dec. 12 after winning re-election Nov. 8. City Treasurer Ron Cassano was also re-elected to office and was sworn in as well.

Silva highlighted issues she sees the city facing in 2023 in her remarks, as well as community partnerships she believes are incredibly valuable for Walnut Creek’s ability to maintain a high quality of life for residents.

“I’m honored to again be serving as mayor,” Silva said, “and I look forward to working with the community on our shared interests and opportunities.”

Francois said he found it to be a privilege and an honor to serve as the city’s mayor this past year. During the Dec. 12 meeting, the council also formally certified the Nov. 8 election results, including voter approval of the 10-year, half-cent sales tax increase that will go toward high-priority programs, services and infrastructure needs to maintain the city’s quality of life. The council’s next meeting is Jan. 17, and agendas and other meeting documents are available at www.walnut-creek.org.

— city of Walnut Creek

CONTRA COSTA

Bank of America donates $135K to food bank for holidays

Just in time for the traditional surge in demand for food banks over the holidays, the Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano (foodbankccs.org) recently received a boost in the form of a $135,000 donation from Bank of America to help address local food insecurity.

This year, food bank officials note that rising food prices and supply chain issues are creating an additional burden for families — and the food banks they rely on — this holiday season. The most recent funds from Bank of America will enable the Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano to provide an additional 270,000 meals for local people in need.

The donation is the result of a unique campaign Bank of America created encouraging its own area bank employees to get a flu shot or new COVID-19 booster shot this season, with money going to local hunger relief organizations for every shot an employee gets. Nationwide, Bank of America employees generated $8 million for food banks this fall.

— Janet Haney

LAFAYETTE

Garden club meeting Jan. 12

The Lafayette Garden Club’s (LGC) monthly meeting will begin at 10 a.m. Jan. 12 in the Veterans Hall at 3780 Mount Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette. Catherine Watters, a botanical artist who paints in watercolor and lectures and shows her work in many exhibitions each year in the U.S. and abroad, will be the guest speaker.

Watters will present her work and discuss techniques she has developed along with some of the history of botanical art at the meeting, which is free to attend. Anyone interested in attending or joining the club can email LCGMembershipCommittee@gmail.com.

— LGC

BRENTWOOD

Police to use $101K grant to increase patrols, road safety

The Brentwood Police Department has been awarded a $101,000 grant to deter unsafe behaviors and increase road safety. The department will use the grant to increase patrols throughout the community and provide other traffic safety programs to help reduce the number of serious injuries and deaths on roads. The grant will provide additional programs and resources, including:

• DUI checkpoints and patrols focused on stopping suspected impaired drivers;
• high-visibility distracted driving enforcement operations targeting drivers in violation of California’s hands-free cell phone law;
• enforcement operations focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of people biking or walking at risk;
• enforcement operations focused on top violations that cause crashes: speeding, failure to yield, stop sign and/or red-light running and improper turning or lane changes;
• community presentations on traffic safety issues such as distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding, bicycle and pedestrian safety;
• collaborative enforcement efforts with neighboring agencies;
• motorcycle safety campaigns focused on reducing motorcycle rider violations and promoting safety;
• enforcement operations focused on street racing and sideshow activity;
• and officer training and/or recertification for the Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST), Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) and Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) certificates.

“This grant funding allows us to support our ongoing traffic safety efforts in the community,” Brentwood Police Department Lt. Mark Louwerens said. “Our intent is to stop the most unlawful and dangerous behaviors that put people at risk and create an environment where everyone feels safe traveling.”

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The grant program will run through September 2023.

— city of Brentwood

WALNUT CREEK

Garden club’s next monthly meeting Jan. 9 at Elks Lodge

The Walnut Creek Garden Club (WCGC) will hold its next monthly meeting Jan. 9 in the Elks Lodge at 1475 Creekside Drive in Walnut Creek. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m., followed by a brief business meeting, social time and an educational program.

The guest speaker, Shawna Anderson, is a professional and certified horticulturist for Orchard Nursery who enjoys sharing her plant expertise and writing nursery articles. Her website is thrillersfillersandspillers.com. Anderson will demonstrate how to prune your roses using the correct tools.

The WCGC welcomes the public to visit their meetings and the club. For more information about the club visit walnutcreekgardenclub.org.

— WCGC

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