In brief: Apply by Jan. 20 for committee openings with city of Concord
Information about the various panels and application forms are available online.
CONCORD
At its Dec. 13 meeting, the Concord City Council announced recruitment for openings on several city boards and commissions listed below. Applications are due to the city clerk by 5 p.m. Jan. 20.
- Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee — the committee is seeking two individuals willing to each serve a four-year term ending Feb. 28, 2027.
- Commission on Aging — the commission is seeking three individuals willing to serve the remainder of a four-year term ending June 30 and two individuals willing to serve the remainder of a four-year term ending June 30, 2025.
- Community Services Commission — the commission is seeking one individual willing to serve the remainder of a four-year term ending June 30, 2025.
- Concord Pavilion Community Outreach Committee — the committee is seeking two individuals willing to serve a four-year term ending Feb. 28, 2027, and one individual willing to serve the remainder of a four-year term ending Feb. 28, 2025.
- Design Review Board — the board is seeking one public member willing to serve a four-year term ending Feb. 28, 2027, and one design professional willing to serve a four-year term ending Feb. 28, 2027.
- Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission — the commission is seeking one individual willing to serve the remainder of a four-year term ending June 30, 2025.
- Planning Commission — the Commission is seeking two individuals willing to serve a four-year term ending Feb. 28, 2027.
Information about the boards and commissions and a link to apply for the openings is on the city’s webpage at cityofconcord.org/263/Boards-Commissions.
— city of Concord
BRENTWOOD
Orphan relief group organizers thank event sponsors
The International Orphan Relief Foundation (IORF) of Brentwood held their 16th annual children’s pajamas, toy and grocery gift card giveaway on Dec. 17. Led and organized by former Brentwood Councilmember Claudette Staton and her husband, Johnny Staton, they partnered with the U.S. Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots program and helped about 150 families this year.
The families signed up for the giveaway through three organizations: Sisters of Immaculate Heart, Delta Community Services and Village Community Resource Center of Brentwood. The giveaway was held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Brentwood.
“It was heartfelt to see people, especially the children with smiles on their faces and so grateful to receive the gifts,” Johnny Staton shared. “We want to thank Fremont Bank branch in Brentwood, specifically branch manager Deborah Willis and Community Outreach Manager Julie Moore, who supported us throughout the years as well as McNally Insurance Company, as they are our major donors.”
For more information or to donate to the IORF, visit iorf.org online.
— IORF
WALNUT CREEK
California Writers Club, Mount Diablo Branch to meet
Paul Zeidman, an award-winning screenwriter and the author of three “Go Ahead and Ask!” screenwriting books, will be the featured speaker at the Jan. 14 lunch meeting of the Walnut Creek-based California Writers Club, Mount Diablo Branch (CWC Mt. Diablo).
Zeidman’s talk will cover “The Magic of Storytelling through the Art of the Screenplay.” Check-in will be at 11 a.m. at Zio Fraedo’s restaurant in Pleasant Hill. Guests are welcome. For more details, to register for the meeting or join the club, visit cwcmtdiablo.org online.
— CWC Mt. Diablo
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
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.
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
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
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