We’re gearing up for our annual homeless Point in Time Count for late January and we are seeking volunteers to help us conduct this very important project!
Each year in late January, Contra Costa’s homeless Continuum of Care (CoC), conducts a federally required comprehensive Point-In-Time (PIT) count of families and individuals experiencing homelessness in our County. Every CoC in the Country is required to do this survey and the data used by the federal, state and local government to determine funding resources for homeless services.
We gather data in a number of ways including trained volunteers who will conduct the short survey at service and community sites throughout the Contra Costa. Volunteer trainings will take place the week of January 21st and the actual count will take place the week of January 28th.
“Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan…. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory….. With confidence in our armed forces—with the unbounding determination of our people—we will gain the inevitable triumph—so help us God.”President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
With these words 75 years ago the United States declared war with Japan. On December 11, Germany and Italy declared war on the US and thus began the conflagration know as World War II. The war lasted four years, ending in Europe on May 7th 1945 and in Japan on September 2nd. The estimated loss of life during this war varies between 50 and 70 million people.
I asked my mom what she remembered of that day:
My mother was 11. In 1941 my mother’s parents purchased a fixer upper high on a hill in San Francisco. They were all at home because Sunday (even then the shipyards worked six days a week) was the only day my grandfather had friends and relatives who could help him with the house. On that day, they were pouring cement walkways from the backyard down to the basement. The men were out working and my mother and friends were in the kitchen when my grandmother heard the news on the radio. As soon as she heard she went to where the men were working and announced to them that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. At least that was the first report. The men paused in what they were doing and voiced their concern as to how they would be affected by the U.S. entering into the war. My grandfather was 39. The other men were around the same age, but considered they might be drafted into the service even though they were a bit too old. My grandfather was working at Mare Island out of Vallejo at the shipyards — a war-effort job — which usually deferred those men from being drafted. Even though war wouldn’t be declared until the following day, everyone was certain that with the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. had no choice but to enter the war. My mom remembers being worried about the war even just hearing about the war in Europe and sensed the concern of the adults. And on the next day, even before FDR declared war, young men from every walk of life were lined up four across and around the block to sign up for the military (the old guys needn’t have worried).
Unprepared to enter the war, it was amazing how everyone in the country became united (a few dissenters, of course) and sacrificed anything and everything for the war effort. Factories immediately retooled to manufacture for the war. It was truly a united America for the next 4 years. Rationing took place very soon and everyone was issued a ration book: meat, canned good, shoes, gasoline. Just about everything was either rationed, difficult to get or impossible to get.
My dad was 14 living in Berkeley. Somewhere around the age of 12 or 14 he joined the Sea Scouts and fell in love with sailing and the water. Around 15, maybe younger because he did lie about his age, he joined a “Bay Waters Only” section of the Merchant Marines. As he grew more and more interested in being a part of the war, he brought home papers for his parents to sign telling them his participation would be for Bay Waters only. Without reading it through, they signed. It was full parental release for him to become a Merchant Seaman and off he went. They sent him to Cooks and Bakers school in Santa Catalina (which was taken over for Merchant Marines and Naval training). (My parents found his graduating photo when they were there in the 80s.) He was then assigned to a sea-going tugboat where he cooked for about 18 to 20 fellow seaman. While not a fighting ship, it did have guns and each seaman had a station if duty called. Their main job throughout the war was to tow portable dry docks from one Pacific island to another, where ever there was a need for ship repair. My mom has often said that while his roll was not one of banner waving and glory, it was an important cog in the wheels of war. Without the ability to repair the naval ships in the war theater, the Navy would have been hard pressed to get a wounded ship “home” for repairs on the Pacific coast of America.
He was in the Merchant Marines ages 15, 16 and 17. It was during a brief leave back for some R and R that he turned 18. He had not re-registered for the Merchant Marines, and while home received his Greetings letter from Uncle Sam commanding him to report to his draft board, which he did. Usually when one is drafted, they go into the Army, but because of his training as a cook and baker, the sent him over to the Navy. They also examined his eyes and found him to be 4F because of his poor eyesight (A 4F rating by the American Selective Service System meant you were physically unfit for service). However, still wanting to use his skills, they assigned him to a WAVES unit (women’s’ Navy at that time) located at Seattle, WA., where he cooked (with other sailors) for that branch of the military. I believe he entered the Navy in June of ’45 and the war ended in August of ’45. Not sure when he was discharged, probably somewhere in 46 or 47. As a sailor, he never set foot on a Navy vessel much to his disappointment.
At 0753 hours the first wave consisting of 40 Nakajima B5N2 “Kate” torpedo bombers, 51 Aichi D3A1 “Val” dive bombers, 50 high Altitude bombers and 43 Zeros struck airfields and Pearl Harbor Within the next hour, the second wave arrived and continued the Attack.
Battleships
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USS Arizona (BB-39) – total loss when a bomb hit her magazine.
USS Oklahoma (BB-37) – Total loss when she capsized and sunk in The harbor.
USS California (BB-44) – Sunk at her berth. Later raised and Repaired.
USS West Virginia (BB-48) – Sunk at her berth. Later raised and Repaired.
USS Nevada – (BB-36) Beached to prevent sinking. Later repaired.
USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) – Light damage.
USS Maryland (BB-46) – Light damage.
USS Tennessee (BB-43) Light damage.
USS Utah (AG-16) – (former battleship used as a target) – Sunk.
Cruisers
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USS New Orleans (CA-32) – Light Damage..
USS San Francisco (CA-38) – Light Damage.
USS Detroit (CL-8) – Light Damage.
USS Raleigh (CL-7) – Heavily damaged but repaired.
USS Helena (CL-50) – Light Damage.
USS Honolulu (CL-48) – Light Damage..
Destroyers
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USS Downes (DD-375) – Destroyed. Parts salvaged.
USS Cassin – (DD-372) Destroyed. Parts salvaged.
USS Shaw (DD-373) – Very heavy damage.
USS Helm (DD-388) – Light Damage.
Minelayer
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USS Ogala (CM-4) – Sunk but later raised and repaired.
Seaplane Tender
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USS Curtiss (AV-4) – Severely damaged but later repaired.
Repair Ship
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USS Vestal (AR-4) – Severely damaged but later repaired.
Harbor Tug
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USS Sotoyomo (YT-9) – Sunk but later raised and repaired.
Aircraft
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188 Aircraft destroyed (92 USN and 92 U.S. Army Air Corps.)
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), in conjunction with other state entities and private partners, will host the state’s first convening of thought leaders and practitioners from state and local governments, academia, and the technology industry to discuss the challenges of wildfires and tools that can help better manage these devastating disasters.
WHAT: Wildfire Technology Innovation Summit
WHEN: Two days: March 20, 2019, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and March 21, 2019, 8 a.m. – noon
WHERE: Sacramento, CA
WHY: To initiate an ongoing dialogue between the technology industry, academic researchers, utilities, and government on the needs and tools to address wildfire challenges.
“We cannot just accept devastating wildfires as the new normal. California is the global leader in technology and innovation. We can develop game-changing solutions and get ahead of this problem,” said CPUC President Michael Picker.
Summit attendees will have the opportunity to hear from leading experts, practitioners, and entrepreneurs and discuss innovative technologies, strategies, and practical tools.
Wildfires in California are occurring more often and are more destructive than ever. There are nearly four million Californians who live in high fire-risk areas defined by the CPUC’s fire hazard map, which makes up 44 percent of California’s land mass. There are 1.4 million housing units within the high fire threat areas. Further, it is estimated that 4.2 million wooden utility poles and 200,000 miles of overhead electric distribution lines cross through these expanding high fire hazard areas to serve these growing populations.
The CPUC is one of the government agencies tasked with ensuring that investor-owned utilities operate a safe and reliable grid. To ensure public safety in this time of increased wildfire occurrence, the CPUC is addressing wildfires in many settings, including initiating regulatory proceedings, implementing new legislation such as Senate Bill 901 (Dodd, 2018), engaging with communities on de-energization programs, and working with other state agencies on developing wildfire plans.
Visit http://firetechsummit.cpuc.ca.gov/ for information on cost of attendance and a draft agenda. Additional information, including location address, will be posted on the site as it becomes available.
While a quorum of Commissioners and/or their staff may attend, no official action will be taken.
If specialized accommodations are needed to attend, such as non-English or sign language interpreters, please contact the CPUC’s Public Advisor’s Office at public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov or toll free at 866-849-8390 at least three business days in advance of the event, if possible.
The CPUC regulates services and utilities, protects consumers, safeguards the environment, and assures Californians’ access to safe and reliable utility infrastructure and services. For more information on the CPUC, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov.
Meet at the Lockeport Grill & Fountain 13959 Main St
Walnut Grove, CA 95690 (MAP)
Join Martha on the first Friday of each month for a gentle hike and the opportunity to paint a postcard watercolor painting. Art supplies are available for all participants. A water bottle and a small snack are recommended. Visit the event page for more details. (Note the event page link may not work in Internet Explorer, try Chrome, Safari, or Firefox browsers)
Discovery Bay Parade of Lights
Lighted boat parade and party at the yacht club!
Saturday, December 8
4:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Discovery Bay Yacht Club 5871 Marina Road Discovery Bay, CA 94505 (MAP)
Decorate your boat or just visit and watch the festivities! There will be a party at the Discovery Bay Yacht Club and nonmember boats that participate are welcome to the club after the parade. Register your boat online.
San Joaquin Yacht Club Lighted Boat Parade
Take a festive trip around Bethel Island!
Saturday, December 8
5:30 PM – 9:00 PM
San Joaquin Yacht Club 550 Riverview Place Bethel Island, CA 94511 (MAP)
The public is welcome to enter a boat in the San Joaquin Yacht Club lighted boat parade. Make sure to keep and eye out for Santa & Mrs. Claus on board a yacht! The parade starts at the San Joaquin Yacht Club and goes around Bethel Island. Even if you don’t enter a boat in the parade you can still come out and enjoy the festivities as the boats pass by! Email sanjoaquinyc@aol.com with any questions or to let them know you will be joining in the parade.
Saturday, December 8
10:00 AM – 11:00 AMAntioch Dunes
801 Wilbur Ave
Antioch, CA 94509(MAP)
Every Second Saturday docents lead FREE tours of the Antioch Dunes, a National Wildlife Refuge that is otherwise closed to the public. The Dunes are home to the endangered Antioch Dunes evening primrose, the Contra Costa wallflower, and the Lange’s metalmark butterfly. Put on your hiking shoes and grab your water bottle to explore the only wildlife refuge in the country that has been established to protect endangered plants and insects.
* All ages welcome. No reservations required. No restroom facilities. Call 707-769-4200 for more information or visit the website.
Meals on Wheels Diablo Region 50th Anniversary Holiday Auction November 28, 2018 to December 12, 2018
This holiday season, bid and shop for unique holiday gifts during our online 50th Anniversary Holiday Auction. Proceeds will directly benefit the seniors we serve throughout Contra Costa County.
We have something for everyone on your list including a private cooking class of a four course dinner for 8 guests featuring Master Chef Charles Vollmar, a whale watching cruise in Monterey Bay, VIP tastings at wineries, dinners at some fabulous SF Bay Area restaurants, and more!
As always, thank you for your continued support of Meals on Wheels Diablo Region. We wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday season!
Interested in donating an auction item? Please contact Erica Marcus, Donor Relations Manager at emarcus@mowdr.org or 925.937.8315 for more information.
This week OPD officers were dispatched to the 400 Block of Anvilwood Drive for the report of a package just having been stolen from the porch of a residence. As officers responded to the area, they were advised the resident had a camera system and had captured images of the suspects and their vehicle. When officers arrived in the neighborhood, additional neighbors reported that packages had also been taken from their homes.
Because of the photo captured by the homeowner, OPD officers were able to locate the vehicle a short time later and three suspects were arrested. A search of the vehicle located a series of packages that had been taken from various residences in the neighborhood.
This type of crime is especially common during the holiday season as people’s online shopping purchases arrive.
We all know this is the time of the year when crooks patrol our neighborhoods looking for packages that have been left in the front of our homes. These thieves, often referred to as “Porch Pirates”, can often be found following the delivery vehicles as they move through our neighborhoods – picking up the packages as quickly as the driver deposits them.
There are a few things that all of us can do to reduce the possibility that our packages are intercepted by thieves.
USPS Notifications – A great service provided by the postal service can be found on their website (myusps.com) that allows you to be alerted within minutes of a package being delivered. The postal service will also hold the package at the post office so you can pick it up there. The postal service offers another service that allows you to preview the mail that you will receive the next day.
Federal Express Notifications – Package recipients can set some basic times for delivery and delivery notifications through their website.
United Parcel Service (UPS) – Package recipients can set notifications when the package has been delivered.
Have the package delivered to your workplace – The easiest way to prevent the package from being stolen is to have it delivered to your business. This should especially be done with higher value items that you’ve ordered such as cameras and video games.
Consider Using “Secure Lockers” – Many on-line retailers offer “secure lockers” where packages are stored to await for you to arrive. Within our area, Amazon has several locker locations.
Install Security Cameras – Security camera systems have significantly dropped in price and are now fairly easy to install. Having a camera covering the front entry and driveways of your home is an important part of the overall security plan for your home. An image of the suspect or their vehicle may be the key in solving the case and returning your property. One neighbor with a camera system in the neighborhood can significantly improve the chances of finding the suspect.
If you see a suspicious vehicle in your neighborhood or see someone take a package from your neighbor’s home, please give our dispatch center a call immediately. Getting a good description of the suspect(s) and their vehicle to officers quickly could save the day for a neighbor.
Over the next few weeks, our detectives will be doing sting operations involving packages within our community. We’ll be leaving the bait to entice crooks to steal our goods instead of yours – with the purpose of making our community a place where the crooks never know whose package they may have gotten.
Emergency 911
Dispatch (Non-Emergency) (925) 625-8060
Police Department Office (925) 625-8855
Tip Line OPD@ci.oakley.ca.us
