WALNUT CREEK

Walnut Creek police Chief Jamie Knox has appointed Lt. Ryan Hibbs his department’s next police captain.

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Hibbs began his career at the Police Department in Susanville (in Lassen County, about 86 miles northwest of Reno) before a lateral transfer to the Napa Police Department. He joined the Walnut Creek Police Department in 2009 and has held numerous assignments throughout the department, including, patrol officer, defensive tactics instructor and field training officer.

Hibbs was assigned to the Community and Downtown Policing Team and has been a member of the Crime Scene Investigations Team. He brings more than eight years of supervisory and management experience to this position, having most recently served as a lieutenant watch commander in the department’s patrol bureau and as manager of the Field Training Officer Program. Hibbs has been a member of the Rossmoor Policing Enhancement Committee and is part of the department’s social media team.

A 21-year veteran in law enforcement, Hibbs holds an associate’s degree in administration of justice and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He is a graduate of the Drucker Executive Leadership Institute at Claremont Graduate University near Los Angeles and is pursuing a master’s degree in negotiations, conflict resolution and peace building. The promotion became effective Oct. 15.

“Ryan brings a breadth of increasingly responsible police experience with him to this position, and he will be a welcome addition to my executive team,” Chief Knox said.

Take survey through Nov. 9 on pool at Heather Farm Park

The city of Walnut Creek is conducting an online survey to receive feedback from residents on plans relating to the new aquatics and community center coming to Heather Farm Park, especially concerning recreational pool amenities and architectural building styles.

The existing facilities have served the community well for more than half a century, but the aging aquatics and community centers are in need of replacement. The project is being funded primarily by the Walnut Creek voter-approved Measure O, a 10-year, half-cent sales tax measure.

City officials invite residents to learn more on the project website (walnut-creek.org/heatherfarm), where the conceptual site plan can also be viewed. The survey is to ensure the new facilities will best balance the needs and wants of the community well into the future. The 8-minute survey can be taken online through Nov. 9 at bit.ly/heatherfarmsurvey2023.

— city of Walnut Creek

Thrift shop holding Parking Lot Christmas event on Oct. 30

This year has been very busy at Walnut Creek’s Leftovers Thrift Shop (leftoversthriftshop.org), and the shop’s staff want to thank their loyal shoppers and donors, without whom they could not fulfill their mission of supporting many local charities.

Among charities the shop supports are the Contra Costa Crisis Center, Meals on Wheels, the Contra Costa Food Bank, Rossmoor Scholarship Foundation, Rossmoor Fund, Monument Crisis Center and the Contra Costa Crisis Nursery. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 30, the shop at 2281 Olympic Blvd. will hold its third annual Parking Lot Christmas event.

This year, as an added attraction, the store will be open during the event for shoppers’ convenience. As in the past years during the event, the shop will pay customers’ sales tax on all purchases.

Also, as Leftovers Thrift Shop always needs new volunteers, anyone looking for a rewarding new venture is asked to consider giving three hours a week to the shop. For more information contact Vicki at [email protected].

— Leftovers Thrift Shop

Discover ‘Fascinating Foliage’ at garden club’s next meeting

The Walnut Creek Garden Club will hold its free monthly meeting Nov. 13 at the Elks Lodge in Walnut Creek at 1475 Creekside Drive. Join the club for a special program, “Fascinating Foliage: The Drama of Variegated Plants.”

Registration will start at 9:30 a.m., followed by a brief meeting, social time and an educational program. Complimentary tea and coffee will be available. In the program, speaker Katie Creighton will talk about some of the characteristics of variegated foliage and get into the dos and don’ts of incorporating them into large and small gardens.

Creighton, who can be reached at [email protected], recently retired after 24 years as a Bay Area landscape designer. The garden club welcomes the public to visit their meeting and join the WCGC. For more information, visit walnutcreekgardenclub.org online.

— WCGC

Seniors group, church launch free monthly workshop series

Sensational Seniors, an East Bay Area organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of older adults, is proud to announce its partnership with Saint Matthew Lutheran Church to introduce a series of monthly educational workshops.

These events are designed to create a connection over a shared meal and to empower and engage seniors in the local neighborhoods and beyond. The workshops will cover a wide range of topics for those 60 or older who are aging in place and/or transitioning, including health, wellness, safety, transportation, spirituality, financial independence, downsizing, legal aspects and more.

The goal is to provide older adults with access to valuable knowledge and quality local resources while fostering social connections and personal growth. Workshops take place on the first Tuesday of each month from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Saint Matthew Lutheran Church at 399 Wiget Lane and are open to adult children, retirees, empty-nesters and seniors from all walks of life. For more details, visit sensationalseniors.net online.

— Sensational Seniors

PLEASANT HILL

Contra Costa Chinese school set to hold its annual carnival

Attention, Asian food aficionados: The Contra Costa Chinese School will hold its annual carnival from 11:30 a.m to 1:30 p.m Oct. 28 at the Diablo Valley College Liberal Arts Building courtyard at 321 Golf Club Road in Pleasant Hill.

The carnival will feature a variety of Asian food and drink specialties for sale, reminiscent of a traditional Asian night market. Featured delicacies will include Chinese tea eggs and egg tarts, Japanese spam musubi and Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches, vermicelli salad and pandan waffles.

Carnival games and crafts also will be available for kids. The proceeds from food sales will go to fund individual classroom activities at the nonprofit language school, which has a 48-year history in the county. For more information, visit cococs.org online.

— Joyce Tsai

LAFAYETTE

Cancer support facility needs donations to open by fall 2025

Cancer Support Community (CSC) San Francisco Bay Area recently announced its plans to open a state-of-the-art facility in the Lafayette. The 6-acre property adjacent to the Lafayette Reservoir will offer outdoor healing spaces, a community garden and several amenities.

The facility will include a children and teens activity center, spacious classrooms, a fully equipped demonstration kitchen, counseling rooms, an arts room, movement studio, music room, library, and treatment rooms for acupuncture and massage.

This innovative care model will revolutionize the way cancer treatment is approached by focusing on holistic well-being. CSC envisions the center as a peaceful haven, offering support for emotional and financial challenges.

The community’s overwhelming support has brought CSC to 80% of their $25 million capital campaign goal, including an additional $5 million given by an anonymous donor, to complete the project by fall 2025. While CSC is very close to breaking ground, they need community support to cross the finish line so they can start improving lives throughout the region. To learn more about CSC’s campaign or to donate, go online to cancersupport.net/about-us/new-center.

— CSC

BRENTWOOD

Husband, wife open walk-in health and urgent care clinic

American Family Care (AFC), which provides accessible primary and urgent care and occupational medicine, is continuing its West Coast expansion with the opening of its newest location in Brentwood (afcurgentcare.com/brentwood).

“Brentwood has become a popular destination for people living in the Bay Area,” said Derrick Shelton, AFC Brentwood’s independent owner and operator. “They enjoy the ‘small town’ feel but still desire the amenities and options that a big city offers.

“One of those amenities is the presence of accessible, high-quality health care. My wife and I recognized this, and that’s why we decided to open this facility in East Contra Costa County.”

AFC Brentwood is led by Dr. Poornima Goyal, M.D., who brings more than a decade of primary and veteran care experience to the clinic. Dr. Goyal and her team will offer a comprehensive suite of medical services such as sports physicals and COVID-19 testing, as well as flu vaccinations, pediatric urgent care, digital X-rays and occupational health exams. The new AFC clinic is open seven days a week, and appointments are not needed.

— AFC

City attorney to retire at year’s end; replacement is sought

With the retirement of long-serving City Attorney Damien Brower at the end of the 2023 calendar year, the city of Brentwood has started the recruitment process for a new city attorney. Working with the executive search firm of Peckham & McKenney, the City Council hopes to have a new city attorney onboard by early 2024.

“My family and I are fortunate to have found Brentwood over 18 years ago,” Brower told the council. “We could not have asked for a better community to raise our sons, and our efforts were made so much easier by the strong support that I have received over the years from the mayors, city councils, city managers and staff with whom I have worked. And for that, I am so very grateful.”

— city of Brentwood

WALNUT CREEK

Community Forum on Homelessness planned for Nov. 13

Do you ever wonder why Walnut Creek needs affordable housing? Are you curious about the real impacts of affordable housing? Can you describe affordable housing?

Join the Walnut Creek Homeless Task Force from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 13 to hear the answers to these questions and more in the Community Forum on Homelessness in Walnut Creek. The panel presentation will include affordable and market-rate housing developers, service providers, local employers and city leaders.

Panelists will bring different perspectives to the discussion that will illuminate the true impacts of affordable housing and the challenges we face to build these structures. This will a free public event sponsored by the Walnut Creek Homeless Task Force (WCHTF).

The forum will be held in the City Council chambers on the first floor of Walnut Creek City Hall at 1666 N. Main St. and via Zoom for attendees who wish to participate online. Virtual attendees must RSVP to receive the Zoom link. For more details about the forum, visit wchomelesstaskforce.org online.

— WCHTF

Arts group seeks board members, help with raising funds

The Community Arts Foundation (CAF) in Walnut Creek (commartsfoundation.org) is actively seeking new board members. Consider joining the foundation as they work to raise funds for their county-wide scholarship program, which serves students of all ages who want to pursue their passion in the arts at Walnut Creek’s Center for Community Arts.

Foundation members believe in “arts for all” and advocate for and work to provide access to arts education for all, regardless of one’s ability to pay. As a board member, you will not only help raise scholarship funds but will join the foundation in bringing arts awareness, advocacy and accessibility to all of Contra Costa County.

The group is looking for individuals with experience in marketing and social media as well as those with fundraising and finance experience. Above all, the foundation welcomes voices and perspectives from all backgrounds.

Foundation officials are looking for board members who are passionate about the future of arts and culture in this community. For more information and to apply, contact Cole Portocarrero, the foundation’s development director, at [email protected].

— CAF

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY

AARP Tax-Aide program volunteers can apply by November

Managers of the AARP Tax-Aide program are looking for volunteers to become members of a team providing free tax preparation service in Contra Costa County.

The Tax-Aide program needs individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences. While prior tax preparation experience is beneficial, it is not a requirement. The program provides comprehensive training and ongoing support to ensure all volunteers feel confident and capable in their roles.

Volunteer positions include tax counselors who are trained by the AARP program and certified by the Internal Revenue Service and client facilitators, who schedule appointments and help clients at tax sites. For more details or to apply online by mid-November 2023, visit aarpfoundation.org/taxaidevolunteer online or call 925-726-3199.

Orientation sessions will be held in December, and certification classes will start in January. Tax preparation service will be from Feb. 1 through April 15. The program is administered by the AARP Foundation in cooperation with the IRS, California Franchise Tax Board and Contra Costa County. Volunteers do not need to be AARP members.

— AARP Tax-Aide

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