River Town Square Site Plan from presentation at Antioch City Council meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021.
12-year effort by River Town Square supporters continues but City’s consultant recommends applying for funds to renovate City Park
Torres-Walker to participate remotely from resort and spa in Santa Cruz
By Allen D. Payton
During their meeting on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, the Antioch City Council will discuss using state grant funds for either a park at the former Beede Lumber Company Yard, in downtown where the Council-supported River Town Square project has been proposed, or at City Park.
District Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker will attend remote via ZOOM from the Chaminade Resort & Spa, (Seascape Room) in Santa Cruz. Unlike during the last council meeting on July 28, this time, the councilwoman’s remote location is included in the agenda as required, allowing her to participate other than calling in during public comments as she did twice that night.
Source of State park grant funds.
State Park Grant
According to the City staff report for item #8 on the agenda, the California Department of State Parks Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS), will be administering a competitive grant funded by Proposition 4 in the next 12-18 months. This is the same agency that administered Proposition 68 grant funds, of which Antioch received a $2.9M grant for the renovation of Contra Loma Estates Park. The grant will require that there be less than three acres of parkland per 1,000 residents and/or residents are below median income within a half-mile radius of a selected point within the project site.
Source: City of Antioch
According to the presentation by Townsend Public Affairs, there are five locations in the City that meet the criteria. They include Antioch City Park, Eagleridge Park, Waldie Plaza, Beede Lumber Yard and Contra Loma Estates Park, which was already renovated.
Council is being given two options for use of the funds, either Antioch City Park at the corner of A and W. 10th Streets or the former Beede Lumber Company Yard bordered by W. 2nd, W. 3rd and E Streets, across the street from the old Lumber Company building, that now houses Prime Vintage Realty.
Save The Yard sign with website that no longer exists and rendering of River Town Square by Jody Mattieson. Source: River Town Square Facebook page
History of 12-Year River Town Square Effort
For more than a decade, an effort, formerly known as Save The Yard, led by former Antioch Councilwoman and District 1 candidate Joy Motts, has been to change the lumber yard into the “River Town Square” park and event center. The City has owned the dirt lot since the late 1990’s and originally planned to build condominiums or townhouses. But neighbors on W. 3rd Street have opposed that through the years, sharing concerns that their views of the river would be blocked.
The idea was first proposed in 2014 during a joint meeting of the Antioch Planning and Economic Development Commissions on November 19th, regarding the Downtown Specific Plan. Several of the speakers were in favor of the creation of an event plaza, as opposed to construction of additional housing, downtown. Lee Ballesteros, representing Citizens for Responsible Antioch Waterfront Development, spoke about a proposal her group had submitted to the city advocating just such an idea. “Our vision for Downtown is for an active, vibrant, event plaza, as opposed to selling it and putting up homes. Events and quality of life is something that is very important to people,” she said.
Then during their meeting on June 23, 2015, the Council in approving the Downtown Specific Plan voted 5-0 for a Mixed-Use designation for the Beede site that would restrict the number of units to 18 per acre but still retain the possibility of a park, pleasing supporters of the River Town Square project.
Renderings of proposed townhomes on the Beede Lumber Yard. Sources: Antioch 2016 State of the City presentation and marketing video.
But during Closed Session at their meeting on Aug. 25, 2015, the Council reversed course with a vote of 4-1 to build condos on the lot instead, agreeing to sell the property along with eight other City-owned parcels to one developer. Supporters of the event center vowed to pursue a ballot measure. Two signature gathering efforts, including an initiative effort in 2016, that included fundraisers to support it, failed to garner enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. A second effort was announced later that year but did not materialize into a ballot measure.
During the Council meeting on Sept. 13, 2016, Councilwomen Lori Ogorchock and Monica Wilson offered some light at the end of the tunnel for the project when they “suggested reclassifying the lot from ‘Medium Density’ to ‘Open Space’, which would prevent the City from developing it in the near future, and clear the way for the Save the Yard movement to begin raising funds for a new event center.”
Antioch Lumber Company lot and wharf circa 1905. Photo courtesy of Katie Bookman Lamothe. Aerial view in 2016. Source: City of Antioch
It wasn’t until the Nov. 23, 2021 Antioch City Council meeting, Motts and other Save The Yard representatives received the go ahead from the Council after providing a presentation on the River Town Square proposal. All five council members agreed to “explore” the idea, including Torres-Walker, in whose district the lot is located, who said, “yes, this should be green space.” She also mentioned people not having to “go to San Francisco for 420 fests”, which is a large, annual pot smoking event. “We should do it, here like we do all these other things,” Torres-Walker stated.
“We can begin a process for exploring a community gathering space, a green space,” then-City Manager and now-Mayor Ron Bernal said at that meeting.
That process began in July 2022, when the Council hired Mill Valley-based RHAA Landscape Architecture & Planning and approved a contract for the Rivertown Community Space Project in the amount of $350,000 for design of the former Antioch Lumber Company lot to, according to that meeting agenda’s staff report, “that will transform the area into a family friendly public space.” RHAA also designed the City’s Prewett Park Community Center.
Source: City of Antioch
Then, in May 2023, the City announced in a press release, “the development of a new gathering place in downtown Antioch” and invited the public, “to share your vision for the future central attraction of historic Rivertown. This new outdoor public space is uniquely situated along the Sacramento-San Joaquin River. It will benefit our diverse community by fostering a vibrant, thriving downtown.” The survey is still available on the City’s website at Antioch Rivertown Community Open Space Design Survey.
Rivertown Community Space location aerial photo and renderings. Source: City of Antioch
The Parks & Recreation Department currently has a page on the City’s website dedicated to the Rivertown Community Space that offers renderings of what a park, there could look like and a link to the survey.
Then in February 2024, the City held two Community Design Workshops to obtain public input on the development of the new gathering place at the former Beede Lumber Yard.
But no results of that survey or the workshops have been provided to the Council or public.
Then, at a recent Council meeting, Torres-Walker switched and said she now supports building homes there. However, because the City owns the property, any homes built there would have to be within the affordable range, which would undermine efforts to attract residents of means to the historic downtown area to live, shop and dine.
The former Barbara Price Marina Park and sign (inset). Source: Yelp It is now the location of the Marina Boat Ramp and parking lot. Source: City of Antioch
One argument offered in support of the River Town Square project is the City’s downtown hasn’t had a large park since the much larger Barbara Price Marina Park was replaced with the marina boat launch and parking lot in 2012. Concerts and community events are held in Waldie Plaza, but it’s much smaller and can hold fewer attendees than at the proposed River Town Square.
According to the staff report for Tuesday’s agenda, the Parks and Recreation Commission discussed use of the grant at their meeting on February 19, 2026. The commissioners were provided with an overview of the grant program requirements, eligibility criteria and the Community Fact Finder tool https://www.parksforcalifornia.org/communities/ which assists agencies in determining project eligibility and priority status for grant funding.
Since that meeting, staff conducted a preliminary evaluation of potential project sites and narrowed the focus of the Proposition 4 grant opportunity to two locations: City Park and the Beede Lumber Yard site.
Source: Townsend Public Affairs presentation to City Council 8/11/26
City Park was last significantly renovated more than 20 years ago and continues to serve as one of Antioch’s most heavily utilized park facilities. According to Placer.ai visitation data, City Park ranks as the City’s most visited park. The site presents an opportunity for a transformational community investment that could include improvements such as a synthetic turf field, an all-inclusive playground, renovated and fully operational restroom facilities, pickleball courts, enhanced gathering spaces, and other recreational amenities. Due to its central location, City Park also has the potential to generate income from user groups and continue to be a community hub.
Source: Presentation to Antioch City Council by Townsend Public Affairs
The staff report continues: The Beede Lumber Yard site is currently an undeveloped property located in Downtown Antioch. Preliminary community outreach and conceptual renderings for a future park at this location were completed in 2024. Development of the site would create a new public park and gathering space in the downtown area, further supporting community activation, recreation opportunities, and economic vitality.
Source: Townsend Public Affairs presentation to City Council 8/11/26
While development of a new park at the Beede Lumber Yard site would result in additional annual maintenance and operational costs estimated between $200,000 and $250,000, public spaces in downtown areas can provide broader economic and community benefits by attracting visitors, supporting local businesses, and creating a “third place” for residents to gather outside of home and work.
Both locations appear to meet the preliminary eligibility requirements of the Proposition 4 grant program and present significant opportunities to expand recreational amenities and enhance quality of life for Antioch residents.
Staff is seeking City Council direction regarding which project site should be advanced for further evaluation, community engagement, conceptual design and grant application development.
Renderings by both the River Town Square proponents and RHAA include a concert stage, grass, trees, benches and pathways. The RHAA renderings include an amphitheater for seating near the corner of W. 3rd and E Streets.
The playground at City Park. Photo: City of Antioch
Consultant Recommends City Park
In the presentation by consulting firm Townsend Public Affairs, who was hired by the City to provide state and federal legislative advocacy and grant writing services, they recommend the Council choose City Park as the location for the state grant funds.
They wrote, “City Park is definitively the most competitive project site across both selection criteria (lack of park space and significant poverty). While TPA and the City of Antioch considered multiple potential project sites, other options that were able to demonstrate significant poverty were less competitive in terms of park space, primarily due to their proximity to Corteva Wetlands Preserve and other large preservation areas.”
River Town Square and Save The Yard supporters in the July 4th Parades in 2026 and 2016 (right). Herald file photos
River Town Square Supporters Continue Effort
At one point, supporters of the River Town Square project said the cost would be covered privately without any City funds. But with the potential state grant funds, the supporters have changed to asking the Council to fund it.
Since 2015 supporters have maintained a Facebook page, participated in parades including this year’s Independence Day Parade, and launched an effort on Change.org, posted by Kim Stadtler, asking for people to sign a petition until tomorrow, Sunday, Aug. 9th. So far, 836 people of the 1,000 goal have added their names. She wrote:
“The Issue
“What would a Town Square mean to you?
“For decades, residents have advocated for preserving one of the last large historic waterfront sites (at 2nd and E Streets), known as the “Yard” in downtown Antioch for a community Rivertown Square. Volunteers have organized petitions, attended meetings, participated in workshops, and contributed ideas to help shape a vision for a Rivertown Square.
“This petition continues that community-driven effort and demonstrates that residents remain committed to creating a public space that serves all of Antioch. This spacious area is not just a piece of land; it represents a precious opportunity for our community allowing seniors, families, and people from all walks of life to come together and enjoy a versatile community space.
Concept Design 01 for the Rivertown Community Space by RHAA Landscape Architecture & Planning. Source: City of Antioch
“Once this property is developed for another use, the opportunity to create a town square may be lost forever.
“Turning this space into a Town Square would create a hub for recreation, cultural events, farmers markets, and community celebrations. The town square could serve as a vibrant gathering place that celebrates our diverse community and enhances the quality of life for everyone in Antioch.
“To make this vision a reality, we need the Antioch City Council to choose the “Yard” in their application for the Prop 47 grant of up to $8 million, to build our Town Square. THIS MONEY CAN ONLY BE USED FOR THE RENOVATION OR DEVELOPMENT OF A COMMUNITY GREEN SPACE. By securing these funds, we can ensure that the site truly reflects the needs and desires of our community, transforming it into a welcoming venue that honors our diverse history.
“Numerous cities (Pittsburg, Brentwood, Oakley, Clayton) have benefited from similar initiatives, finding that such spaces boost local business and improve public well-being. The town square would be a testament to the city’s commitment to revitalizing downtown.
“PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION by August 9th, 2026, and urge the Antioch City Council to seize this opportunity and use these grant funds to build our Town Square. Together, we can make a lasting difference for Antioch’s future! Take action now.”
Concept Design 02 for the Rivertown Community Space by RHAA Landscape Architecture & Planning. Source: City of Antioch
Meeting Details
The meeting will be held in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 200 H Street, in historic, downtown Rivertown and can be viewed via livestream on the City’s website or on Comcast cable TV channel 24 or AT&T U-verse channel 99.
KP LAUNCH Program Coordinator Stephanie Ponce with Summer Intern Jessica Chambers and Jessica in her scrubs at Kaiser Permanente Antioch Medical Center. Photos: Kaiser Permanente
Including Antioch resident, an LMC student
By Elissa Harrington, Senior Media Relations & Public Relations Representative, Kaiser Permanente Northern California
Stephanie Ponce, an Antioch resident and student at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, spent her summer interning at the Kaiser Permanente Antioch Medical Center.
She applied for the eight-week paid summer internship program, earning $25.09-$29.16 per hour, after taking a college course that piqued her interest in medicine.
“This is an amazing opportunity to see if health care is for you,” said Ponce. “There are many jobs in health care that aren’t just working with patients, but also administrative roles.”
Ponce is one of more than 300 interns who participated in Kaiser Permanente’s KP LAUNCH program. The paid internship gives high school and college aged students exposure to careers in health care at Kaiser Permanente hospitals and medical offices. They learn practical skills and receive mentoring from health care professionals.
Ponce said she did administrative work and had the chance to shadow pediatric nurses. She watched one nurse help a child who was scared to get a shot. “I saw how she comforted the patient during a shot. She stayed there, talked to them, and explained what the medication was and how it was going to work.”
Jessica Chambers is a Program Coordinator for the KP LAUNCH program at the Antioch Medical Center. She helped with scheduling and coordinated with the departments on how to provide opportunities for the interns to learn and grow.
“We educated the interns on a variety of different topics,” said Chambers. “We have different people who come out and tell them a little bit about their departments or their jobs.”
Chambers said it was important to keep the interns engaged every day and provide them with opportunities to develop their skills. “We gave the interns an opportunity to see what it looks like in real life. We also had a variety of different guest speakers, because every journey is not the same,” she said.
Ponce said she has always loved helping people, and this internship confirmed she’s on the right career path: “It reinforced my love for health care and doing a people-facing job like this.”
The SmartGateway weapons detector. Graphic source: Xtract-One
Adopts AI-powered weapons detection at medical facilities ahead of state law compliance deadline
By Kristen Aikey, JMG Public Relations
Toronto, ON –Xtract One Technologies(TSX: XTRA)(OTCQX: XTRAF)(FRA: 0PL) (“Xtract One” or the “Company”) announced recently multiple SmartGateway deployments across California healthcare facilities, reflecting growing demand from health systems across the state ahead of the March 2027 compliance deadline for California Assembly Bill 2975. Deployments are underway at Contra Costa Health in Martinez and Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital in Hollister, with expected completion by mid-August, in addition to the previous San Mateo Health deployment.
AB 2975 requires hospitals across California to implement enhanced security measures at high-traffic public entrances by March, 2027. The mandate reflects a broader recognition among healthcare administrators and state regulators that emergency departments and other public-facing hospital entrances require dedicated screening to protect staff and patients from weapons-related violence.
“California health systems are making real procurement decisions right now, and the facilities selecting Xtract One are doing so because the technology fits the environment,” said Peter Evans, CEO of Xtract One. “SmartGateway was built for high patient and visitor volumes, diverse populations, and clinical staff who need to focus on care. What we’re seeing across Hazel Hawkins, Contra Costa Health, and San Mateo – and more broadly with healthcare systems in general – is that once an organization sees accurate, high-throughput detection running in a real hospital environment, expanding the solution across the facility becomes an obvious next step.”
Xtract One’s presence in California healthcare predates the AB 2975 mandate. San Mateo Medical Center deployed SmartGateway at its main campus in 2025 following extensive testing of available solutions, with plans to expand to all satellite clinics. The Contra Costa Health deployments build on that established footprint as health systems across the state accelerate their procurement timelines ahead of the March 2027 deadline.
Xtract One’s SmartGateway is designed specifically for high-throughput environments with lower volumes of personal belongings. The system identifies concealed guns and knives while allowing individuals to walk through at a natural pace without divesting personal items, distinguishing it from traditional walk-through metal detectors that alert broadly on any metal object. For healthcare environments where speed and accessibility are
Contra Costa Health, Martinez, CA
Contra Costa Health has also selected three SmartGateway systems for deployment across its main entrance, emergency department, and psychiatric entrance in the primary hospital facility. The deployment is driven by a clear security mandate of detecting and intercepting firearms and bladed weapons before they reach clinical environments. Contra Costa Health has prioritized detection accuracy above all other operational considerations, implementing a bag check protocol alongside SmartGateway screening at its main entrance to ensure the most thorough possible security posture across all three entry points.
Xtract One Technologies is a leading technology-driven provider of threat detection and security solutions leveraging AI to deliver seamless and secure experiences. The Company makes unobtrusive weapons and threat detection systems that are designed to assist facility operators in prioritizing- and delivering improved “Walk-right-In” experiences while enhancing safety. Xtract One’s innovative portfolio of AI-powered Gateway solutions excels at allowing facilities to discreetly screen and identify weapons and other threats at points of entry and exit without disrupting the flow of traffic. With solutions built to serve the unique market needs for schools, hospitals, arenas, stadiums, manufacturing, distribution, and other customers, Xtract One is recognized as a market leader delivering the highest security in combination with the best individual experience. For more information, visit www.xtractone.com or connect on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.
About Contra Costa Health
Contra Costa Health is the integrated public health system serving Contra Costa County. The system operates a network of hospitals, clinics and public health programs serving hundreds of thousands of residents across the county, with a focus on accessible care for all community members regardless of ability to pay. For more information, visit www.cchealth.org.
About Threat Detection Systems
Xtract One solutions, when properly configured, deployed, and utilized, are designed to help enhance safety and reduce threats. Given the wide range of potential threats in today’s world, no threat detection system is 100% effective. Xtract One solutions should be utilized as one element in a multilayered approach to physical security.
Forward Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance and customer contracts, are “forward-looking statements”. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “estimates”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, events or developments to be materially different from any future results, events or developments expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risks detailed from time to time in the continuous disclosure filings made by the Company with securities regulations. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risk factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other risk factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements. The Company has no obligation to update any forward looking statement, even if new information becomes available as a result of future events, new information or for any other reason except as required by law
With the close of filing on Friday, August 7, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., according to Appointed City Clerk Michael Mandy, all those who pulled nomination papers, except for Diane Gibson-Gray, have filed them to run for the Antioch City Council. Incumbent Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker will face former Antioch Councilwoman and School Board Trustee Joy Motts for a third time in District 1 and incumbent Monica Wilson will face three challengers in the race for District 4. Gibson-Gray announced earlier Friday in a letter to the editor she will not be running in District 1, again.
Torres-Walker defeated Motts who ran for re-election in 2020, then Motts lost again to Torres-Walker in 2022 by just four votes following a recount.
Former Antioch Police Crime Prevention Commission Chair Sandra White will run for a third time against Wilson, having also run in 2020 and 2022. First-time council candidates Andrew Becker, a local homeless advocate and regular public speaker at council meetings, as well as Metty Mathews Alappat have also entered the race. According to her LinkedIn page, Alappat was a Senior Technical Account Manager for Amazon Web Services until July 2025.
Wilson is running for a fifth term, or a rather fourth-and-a-half term. She was first elected in 2012, then re-elected in 2016, then re-elected in 2020 for a two-year term following the City’s move to district elections, and again re-elected in 2022 for another full, four-year term.
Former Antioch School Board President Diane Gibson-Gray will not run for the Antioch City Council again. Photo source: 2022 campaign
“This isn’t stepping away from the fight for accountability in Antioch.” – Diane Gibson-Gray
To the Editor:
In 2022, I ran for Antioch City Council, District 1, because I believe in serving the greater good of this community. That race came down to four votes — Tamisha Torres-Walker’s margin of victory over Joy Motts. I finished just 128 votes behind Torres-Walker myself.
I’ve thought hard about what that result actually tells us. Together, Joy and I represented roughly 60% of the vote in that race. We split it, and a three-vote margin decided the outcome for all of District 1.
I fully intended to run again in 2026. My commitment to fiscal accountability and transparent government in Antioch hasn’t wavered. My reason for running was, and always has been, the greater good — making sound decisions for District 1 and for Antioch as a whole.
Yesterday, Joy Motts and I had a conversation about the race. We talked through the reasons each of us is qualified to serve, and the reasons we each felt called to run. The call ended the same way it began, with both of us still in the race.
I’ve seen comments on social media about vote-splitting, and I’ve had conversations with valued friends and family who share that concern. After a great deal of thought, I’ve decided to withdraw — for the greater good. Joy Motts and I have real differences in experience, style and approach, and in many ways have similar ideas and values. District 1 voters deserve to hear those differences clearly, head-to-head with Tamisha Torres-Walker, not blurred across a three-way field.
This isn’t stepping away from the fight for accountability in Antioch — it’s making sure that fight is decided by voters, not by how the numbers happen to fall. I’ll continue doing the work I’ve always done in this community, watching the budgets and asking hard questions, from outside the ballot box this time.
I wish both candidates a hard-fought, honest campaign. District 1 deserves nothing less. The outcome is theirs to decide.
Finally, I want to thank everyone who signed my nomination papers, and everyone who encouraged and supported me along the way. Your belief in me and in this community means more than I can say.
U.S. News & World Report’s annual study rates Kaiser hospitals among nation’s best for providing high-quality, specialized care
Antioch ranked Best Regional Hospital and among best in state
By Elissa Harrington, Senior Media Relations & Public Relations Representative, Kaiser Permanente Northern California
OAKLAND, CA – Kaiser Permanente Northern California’s hospitals are nationally recognized as “high performing” for treating complex medical conditions and procedures including congestive heart failure, pneumonia, and stroke.
U.S. News & World Report’s 2026-2027 Best Hospitals annual study rates Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals as among the top 30% of hospitals in the nation for at least one of the 37 measures evaluated.
Approximately 4,500 hospitals participated in the study, which analyzes performance in 14 specialty care areas and 23 procedures and conditions. The “high performing” designation honors those hospitals that deliver high-quality care when treating complex medical conditions, including congestive heart failure, pneumonia, colorectal cancer surgery, stroke, and diabetes.
Kaiser Permanente hospitals are consistently recognized as among the top hospitals in the nation for providing high-quality, safe patient care that leads to improved health outcomes.
“Kaiser Permanente continues to be a national leader in preventing disease, providing world-class treatment, and using evidence-based research to help our patients and members live longer and healthy lives,” said Mike Bowers, FACHE, president of Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California region. “Our clinicians and staff are delivering exceptional care to our patients every day getting them the right care when they need it.”
Top hospitals in California
Eight Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals are designated by U.S. News & World Report as “Best Regional Hospitals” and are ranked among the best in the state: Antioch, Richmond, Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Clara, Roseville and South Sacramento.
Three Kaiser Permanente hospitals are also ranked among the top 50 in the nation for providing high-quality specialty care:
San Francisco is ranked 34th for cardiology, heart and vascular surgery
Santa Clara is ranked 42nd for cardiology, heart and vascular surgery
Vallejo is ranked 45th for rehabilitation
Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa is also rated high-performing nationally for its geriatric care.
“Everything we do is centered around making sure our patients receive high-quality and high-value care,” said Maria Ansari, MD, FACC, chief executive officer and executive director of The Permanente Medical Group. “This recognition underscores the strength of our integrated model and the dedication of our physicians, nurses, and care teams, who provide compassionate, evidence-based care for our members and patients every day.”
In its hospital analysis, U.S. News & World Report uses publicly available data such as volume, mortality rates, infection rates, staffing levels, and patient satisfaction rates, among other factors.
The annual ratings and rankings are designed to help patients make informed decisions about where to receive care for challenging health conditions or elective procedures.
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.9 million members in 9 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. For more information, go to about.kp.org.
Advice from pediatric experts across Sutter Health on helping children and teens thrive this school year.
By Monique Binkley-Smith, Manager, Media Relations, Sutter Health
The countdown to a new school year has begun. For many families, that means shopping for supplies, filling out forms and preparing for busy schedules. It’s also the perfect time to reset healthy habits.
Pediatricians across Sutter Health share 11 back-to-school tips to help children and teens stay healthy, focused and ready to learn.
Start adjusting sleep schedules now
One of the biggest mistakes families make is waiting until the night before school starts to reset bedtime.
“As the school year approaches, it’s time to start adjusting your sleep routine,” says Dr. Dan Brennan, Greater Central Coast Children’s Service Line medical director with Sansum Santa Barbara Medical Group in Santa Barbara. “In the weeks leading up to the start of school, start moving bedtime up by 15 minutes a night until you get to the expected school-year bedtime.”
Know how much sleep children really need
Adequate sleep helps regulate metabolism, maintain a healthy weight, promote positive mood and behavior, and support memory retention and mental alertness needed for academic success, says Dr. Jessica Tsai, with Sutter East Bay Medical Group in Antioch.
Dr. Rakhi Mehrotra, with Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group in Livermore, also recommends helping kids and teens stay on track by keeping the same bedtime and wake-up time every day, including weekends.
Drs. Tsai and Mehrotra recommend the following hours of sleep by age:
• Preschoolers: 10-13 hours daily, including naps
• Children age 6-12: 9-12 hours nightly
• Teens: 8-10 hours nightly
Fuel kids for learning and growth
Healthy eating habits help children get the nutrients they need for energy, growth, focus and overall well-being, according to Dr. Mehrotra.
She recommends:
• Starting the day with breakfast
• Eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein and dairy each day
• Choosing colorful fruits and vegetables throughout the week
• Filling half the plate with fruits and vegetables, one-quarter with whole grains and one-quarter with healthy protein
• Choosing healthy snacks such as fruit, yogurt, nuts, vegetables and whole-grain options
Make water the beverage of choice
Hydration becomes especially important as children spend more time outdoors and return to sports.
“With kids outside more, we want to encourage families to provide as much hydration as possible, water being our first choice,” explains Dr. Brennan.
Sugary and caffeinated beverages should be avoided. Caffeinated beverages work against hydration and generally lead to more dehydration, he notes.
Encourage kids to get moving
Physical activity supports both physical and mental health.
“Whether it’s organized sports, riding bikes, walking the dog or playing at the park, daily physical activity supports both physical and mental health,” says Dr. David Tejeda, with Sutter West Bay Medical Group in San Francisco.
For children interested in organized athletics, Dr. Brennan suggests recreational sports leagues and individual activities such as swimming, running, biking, gymnastics, and rock climbing.
Avoid specializing in one sport too soon
Playing the same sport year-round may sound like a path to success, but pediatricians often see the downside.
“I discourage my pediatric patients from specializing in one sport too early,” emphasizes Dr. Brennan. “High-level athletes benefit from cross training that comes with playing a variety of sports.”
He notes that children who play one sport year-round can develop chronic overuse injuries.
Prepare young athletes before the season begins
As children return to practices, tryouts and games, Dr. Anita Juvvadi, with Sutter West Bay Medical Group in San Francisco, encourages families to focus on the basics:
• Increase activity gradually before organized practices begin
• Stay hydrated throughout the day
• Prioritize consistent sleep
• Eat enough to support increased activity
“The body needs time to acclimate to new movement and sustained activity,” she says.
Warm up the right way
Before sports and physical activity, Dr. Liang Xue, with Sutter East Bay Medical Group in Brentwood, recommends active, dynamic warm-ups rather than static stretching.
Dynamic warm-ups use movements such as jogging, skipping, lunges and arm circles to increase blood flow, raise body temperature and prepare muscles and joints for activity.
In contrast, holding static stretches before exercise may temporarily reduce strength and power. Saving static stretching for after activity, when muscles are warm, can help improve flexibility and support recovery.
Protect growing bodies and brains
Protective gear matters, according to Dr. Brennan.
“A helmet when riding a bike, skateboard, or scooter can protect that precious brain, and don’t forget to buckle the helmet,” he advises.
He also cautions parents about e-bikes and electric scooters, which account for a growing number of serious injuries, emergency room visits and hospitalizations.
“When possible, skip the electric version and stick to good old-fashioned pedaling,” he says.
Know the signs of concussion
As children return to school sports, parents should familiarize themselves with concussion symptoms.
Dr. Angela Lumba-Brown, a pediatric emergency medicine physician with Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group in Palo Alto, reminds parents to watch for:
• Worsening headaches
• Repeated vomiting
• Balance problems
• Seizures
• Neck pain
• Unusual behavior
“If a concussion is suspected, children should be removed from play and evaluated before returning to sports,” she says.
Don’t forget vaccines and sun protection
The start of the school year is an ideal time to review routine immunizations.
“Vaccines save lives and keep children healthy by building immunity to many serious viral and bacterial infections,” advises Dr. Brennan.
He stresses the importance of families staying up to date on routine vaccinations and annual flu vaccines.
For outdoor activities, Dr. Yvonne Nicole Lee, with Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group in Santa Clara, recommends broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, hats, UV-protective clothing and sunglasses. Sunscreen should be applied 10 to 15 minutes before sun exposure and reapplied every two hours.
The Bottom Line
Healthy school years don’t happen by accident. Good sleep, nutritious meals, physical activity, hydration, injury prevention and routine healthcare all work together to help children learn, grow and thrive.
