In brief: Joybound Around Town pets event May 19 in Walnut Creek

The longtime community celebration downtown was formerly known as ARF's Animals on Broadway.

WALNUT CREEK

Joybound Around Town, formerly the Animal Rescue Foundation’s (ARF’s) Animals on Broadway, will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 19 at downtown Walnut Creek’s Broadway Plaza (1275 Broadway Plaza).

Joybound Around Town will start with the Paw-rade Pet Walk — a fundraising walk with teams and individuals, joined by their four-legged pals, strolling for a mile around Broadway Plaza to raise “fun” and funds for programming by Joybound People & Pets (formerly ARF) that forms, supports and elevates the human-animal bond.

The day will continue with the Pet Wellness Festival, featuring animal product and services booths, games and entertainment, including the popular Best-dressed Pet Contest on the main stage.

Adoptable animals from Joybound and partner shelters will be on-site, ready to go home with a loving family. All fees for Joybound adoptions at the event will be sponsored by Pet Food Express. For more information online, visit joybound.org.

— Joybound People & Pets

LAFAYETTE

‘State of Local Journalism’ webinar on May 16 via Zoom

Local journalism, as many have known it, seems to have disappeared. Join a community conversation webinar via Zoom at 4 p.m. May 16 titled “The State of Local Journalism and Why We Should Care.”

Hosted by the Lafayette-based League of Women Voters Diablo Valley (LWVDV), the presenters will examine the challenges facing local journalists and offer practical hands-on solutions that people can use to be more media-literate, become better informed about local issues and motivate their civic engagement.

Panelists will include professors and authors Mickey Huff and Nolan Higdon, from Diablo Valley College and Project Censored, along with Bob Butler, a retired KCBS news reporter, all of whom will lead the discussion moderated by the LWVDV’s Susan Hildreth.

Register for the Zoom link online at bit.ly/4a093bn. Information on how to access the Zoom webinar will be sent to your email address 24 hours before the program. Audience questions will be collected and answered through the Zoom Q&A.

Visit lwvdv.org or email programs@lwvdv.org for more information.

— LWVDV

PITTSBURG

Pavement improvements to industrial corridor underway

As part of Pittsburg’s ongoing efforts to improve roadways around town, the city will address a major need along a high-volume industrial corridor with pavement rehabilitation and new striping along Loveridge Road from State Route 4 to the Pittsburg-Antioch Highway.

The slated improvements will support the city’s goal of implementing the pavement management program to help ensure timely maintenance of frequently traveled roadways. The project is being funded through a $2.4 million One Bay Area grant, as well as a nearly $2 million match from city local funds via the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account Gas Tax and Measure M funds.

“The City Council has been consistent with their desire to improve the pavement condition of our roads,” said John Samuelson, a public works director and city engineer for Pittsburg. “We are grateful to the Contra Costa Transportation Authority and Caltrans for their funding assistance on this project that will repair this essential section of road. We appreciate the community’s patience with delays caused by the construction.”

The roadway improvements to this area will also serve Pittsburg’s economic development goals through the provision of high-quality infrastructure that supports businesses in the area.

“We understand the need for the rehabilitation of this roadway segment,” Associate Engineer Gabriel Piña said. “The team has worked hard to move this project into construction, and we are excited to deliver a high-quality roadway to the residents and local businesses.”

The improvements along Loveridge Road are underway and expected to take four to six weeks. Most of the work will be performed in the evening and overnight to minimize impacts on businesses and their employees who travel the area each day.

For more information, call the Pittsburg Public Works Department, Engineering Division at 925- 252-4930.

ADU permit-ready plans, guidebook available for residents

The city of Pittsburg plans significant improvements to its Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) permitting process and accessibility with the release of its ADU guidebook and permit-ready plan set for residents.

The city received grant funding from the Senate Bill 2 Planning Grants Program to develop helpful tools and resources to further housing production. Pittsburg’s permit-ready ADU plan set was drafted to aid in the overall cost to construct and reduce review timelines.

The plan set is available for free Pittsburg residents looking to build an ADU within city limits and consists of 750 square feet with two bedrooms, one bathroom and a separate living and dining area.

As part of the guidebook’s development, the city identified commonly asked community questions pertaining to ADU construction in the city. Staff used this information to draft the guidebook in a “How-to-ADU” format to create an easy-to-read guide for public use. The guidebook provides an in-depth review of ADU basics, frequently asked questions, permitting and other resources.

“Pittsburg strives to meet the housing needs of all community members,” said John Funderburg, Pittsburg’s assistant director of community and economic development. “The release of the ADU guidebook will increase public knowledge of the different types of accessory dwelling units available.”

For more information, call the city of Pittsburg Community and Economic Development Department’s Planning Division at 925-252-4920 or visit the city’s ADU webpage at bit.ly/3UBFpVp.

— city of Pittsburg

DANVILLE, ALAMO AND WALNUT CREEK

Garden tour to fundraise for education of women and girls

Get ready to refresh your spirit — the American Association of University Women, Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek (AAUW DAW) garden tour is returning for the 22nd time in 2024.

Continuing last year’s theme of “Gardens That Inspire,” the 2024 tour will feature six lovingly curated landscapes for tour attendees to visit. The gardens are in Walnut Creek, Danville and Alamo and will cover a fascinating range of styles from California natives to extravagant flowers to a beautiful rose garden.

The self-guided tour of six gardens will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 10-11. Tickets are $40 per person before May 1, $45 thereafter, and proceeds provide will college scholarships for local women, STEM educational activities for middle school girls and other educational programs. For tickets or more details, visit daw-ca.aauw.net/2024-garden-tour online.

— AAUW DAW

WALNUT CREEK

May 13 golf tournament to fundraise for the school district

The Walnut Creek Education Foundation (WCEF) has opened registration for their third annual “FORE! Education Golf Tournament” at Rossmoor’s Dollar Ranch golf course May 13.

Funds raised are invested in our Walnut Creek public schools to support the education of 5,000 students. This year, WCEF will raise $1.5 million to fund critical programs and salaries not paid for by the state. This includes weekly art, music and science lab classes for elementary school students, as well as a credentialed librarian.

Middle school students have access to more electives including robotics, computer programming and world language. High school students benefit from a fully staffed Wellness Center, advanced placement classes for college readiness, dozens of visual and performing arts classes, four world languages, career pathways in medical and engineering fields and so much more.

These opportunities are available because our community supports public education and donates to WCEF every year. Interested in playing? You can sign up online at wcefk12.org/golf or donate at wcefk12.org/donate.

— WCEF

Church to celebrate 30 years of LGBT inclusion, activism

Walnut Creek United Methodist Church (WCUMC) will celebrate its 30th year this June as a reconciling congregation. This means that everyone is welcome, including members of the LGBT community. No one is asked or expected to change who they are, and everyone is loved, seen and appreciated.

Since 1994, the church has been involved in advocacy and activism: participating in countless LGBT pride events throughout the Bay Area, supporting same-sex marriages and working with other organizations in the community to provide safe spaces and events for members of the LGBT community.

WCUMC plans to celebrate 30 years of inclusive love this June with special messages from their pastor, the Rev. Mantu Joshi, and honors for those who have created and championed safe spaces for those in the LGBT community. All are invited to attend. For more information, visit walnutcreekumc.org online.

— WCUMC

CONCORD

Free Saturday postseason tax clinics will start on May 18

Do you need tax help after April 15? Did you request an extension and now need to file a tax return? Have you received a letter or notice from the IRS or FTB? Do you need to file a prior-year tax return? Do you need to amend a tax return? Do you have a tax question?

Tax-Aide volunteer counselors are available to help, and the free service will be available on Saturdays in the Concord Library at 2900 Salvio St. in Concord from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 18, June 15, July 13, Aug. 17 and Sept. 14. Those interested should bring the following:

• a government issued photo identification (a California driver’s license or state identification card, U.S. passport, etc.; this is required) for you and your spouse;

• proof of Social Security Numbers or Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers for you, your spouse and all dependents on your tax return (this is required);

• copies of any IRS and/or California Franchise Tax Board notices received;

• a copy of your most recent state and federal tax returns;

• all your income and deduction forms, including 1099-SSA, 1099-R, W-2, 1099-INT, 1099-DIV, 1099-B, 1099-MISC, 1098, etc. for the relevant tax year;

• any other documents that report income or deductible expenses, such as real estate tax paid, DMV renewal fees paid, charitable contributions, etc.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 925-471-5686. For more details online, visit taxaide.aarpfoundation.org.

— AARP Foundation

Council OKs provision of $150K to seven local nonprofits

The Concord City Council on April 23 authorized the distribution of $150,000 to seven local nonprofit groups to support projects in the areas of workforce development; youth drug prevention and education; and mental health and substance abuse services.

The funds, which will be distributed in fiscal year 2024-25, were received from retail cannabis businesses in Concord as part of the city’s Cannabis Community Benefit Fund. These are voluntary contributions from the developers of the business as part of their development agreement with the city of Concord.

In 2022, the City Council established this fund and last year determined a procedure for distributing funding through grant awards based on applications reviewed and recommended by Concord’s Community Services Commission.

Funding was also allocated to support the city’s recreation scholarship program, which supplements the cost of summer camps and swimming programs for youth from lower-income households.

More information about youth scholarships, including eligibility and a list of popular summer programs is available at cityofconcord.org/youthscholarship. City residents are encouraged to apply now.

— city of Concord

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