Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown is located between W. 10th Street and the river and from A Street to Auto Center Drive.

To open March 29 from Balancing Rock to Riggs Canyon on Mount Diablo

By Laura Kindsvater, Communications Manager, Save Mount Diablo 

On March 29, Save Mount Diablo will officially open the Knobcone Point to Riggs Canyon trail connection. This section of trail winds through the upper 560 acres of Mount Diablo’s Curry Canyon Ranch, through one of Mount Diablo’s wildest areas. It travels from Balancing Rock and Knobcone Point, to Cave Point, to Windy Point and Riggs Canyon.

Although the trail was once available to the public ranging all over the mountain before proliferation of cattle fencing, it’s been nearly a hundred years since it was legal.

The 1.25-mile-long trail will considerably expand the amount of open space available to explore on Mount Diablo’s southern hills. It will effectively fully connect Rock City and Mount Diablo to Riggs Canyon, Morgan Territory, and Los Vaqueros via publicly accessible trails.

Curry Canyon is the final missing major canyon entrance to Mount Diablo. Curry Canyon Ranch has over nine miles of fire roads, most of which will continue to be closed for now, while Save Mount Diablo works with California State Parks to transfer much of the property to the park.

Currently Mount Diablo State Park visitors must climb in and out of four canyons from Rock City to Riggs Canyon—going forward, they can follow a ridgeline with spectacular views.

Right now, state park staff must leave the state park to reach Riggs Canyon. Opening the ridgeline fire road on Save Mount Diablo’s property will solve this access and management issue.

In preparation for the grand opening, Save Mount Diablo’s staff and volunteers have been installing infrastructure, including access gates and informational signage.

They have also been removing dead material to minimize fire risk in the area. The removal of dead and scorched plants in this area will encourage new growth of native and endemic wildflowers and chaparral plants this spring.

This project has been a decade in the making, in the works since Save Mount Diablo acquired the 1,080-acre Curry Canyon Ranch property in 2013.

“Thanks to our terrific supporters, staff, partners, and volunteers, like our Trail Dogs, Save Mount Diablo has created and opened a number of public trails the last two years. Last year, we created and opened over four miles of trails at our new Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve. This year, we will finish and open an important 1.25 +/- mile trail on Save Mount Diablo’s Curry Canyon Ranch that will allow the public to hike from Knobcone Point at Mount Diablo State Park, through the upper portions of our spectacular Curry Canyon Ranch, to Riggs Canyon at the state park. All these trails we have built are portals that allow the public to enter nature and be transformed for the better,” said Ted Clement, Save Mount Diablo Executive Director.

As part of its goal of getting more people into nature, Save Mount Diablo has been opening more land to the public and creating new trails over the years. In 2022, Save Mount Diablo opened several miles of trails at its Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve in Concord for people to enjoy.

Now the highly anticipated Knobcone Point trail connection will further open up opportunities to enjoy Mount Diablo’s majestic views and wilderness—recreationalists will experience a rarely seen part of the mountain.

“This trail is the major recreational puzzle piece in the Mount Diablo area, allowing park users to connect the mountain to Morgan Territory and beyond to Los Vaqueros, furthering their adventure into this extraordinary place,” said Sean Burke, Save Mount Diablo Land Programs Director.

Traveling along this newly opened trail, visitors will be immersed in the knobcone pine forests after which the area is named and stunning sandstone rock formations. They may see golden eagles and songbirds fly overhead.

This trail will open up a rarely traveled area; it will give hikers an opportunity to explore and experience the solitude of one of the extraordinary parts of Mount Diablo.

A trail opening ceremony will take place on the property at the Knobcone Point gate near Balancing Rock at 11:00 AM on March 29, weather permitting. We invite the public to hike in and join us. If you’d like to come, meet at Curry Point in Mount Diablo State Park on South Gate Road at 9:30 AM. There is a park entrance fee of $10, and parking at Curry Point is limited. The hike from Curry Point to the ceremony is a little over two miles.

After the ceremony, staff will lead a hike to the Riggs Canyon gate. The hike from the Knobcone Point gate to the Riggs Canyon gate is 1.25 miles.

In the event of heavy rain, the trail will still be opened to the public on March 29, but we will cancel the trail opening ceremony.

It is with great pride and excitement that Save Mount Diablo will open this trail connection and share the beauty of Knobcone Point, Cave Point, and Riggs Canyon with all who visit.

About Save Mount Diablo

Save Mount Diablo is a nationally accredited, nonprofit land trust founded in 1971 with a mission to preserve Mount Diablo’s peaks, surrounding foothills, watersheds, and connection to the Diablo Range through land acquisition and preservation strategies designed to protect the mountain’s natural beauty, biological diversity, and historic and agricultural heritage; enhance our area’s quality of life; and provide educational and recreational opportunities consistent with protection of natural resources. To learn more, please visit www.savemountdiablo.org.

By Leeann Loroño, Manager of Customer Service and Marketing, Tri Delta Transit

Transit Driver Appreciation Day is Saturday, March 18 and Tri Delta Transit, County Connection, and WestCAT are celebrating in a special way– by going FARE FREE for the day. No payment will be required on all three agencies buses for fixed route and paratransit. Additionally, Tri Delta Transit’s ride-hailing service, Tri MyRide, will not require any payment for the day either.

Transit Driver Appreciation Day started in 2009 in Seattle as a blog about appreciating bus drivers. By 2014 the name was changed to cover the diverse transportation available throughout the United States. The day is set aside to thank and appreciate transit drivers for the great contributions they make to the community.

“The contribution drivers make has never been realized more than over the past three years of the pandemic. Transit operators performed a critical and essential service during this time by continuing to provide public transportation,” said Tri Delta Transit CEO, Rashidi Barnes. “Through these unprecedented times, our drivers showed continued courage, patience and perseverance.”

Transit Driver Appreciation Day, also known as Transit Operator Appreciation Day, continues to be a notable day for those who value public transportation. Through COVID-19 and risking possible exposure to the virus, transit operators continue to show up, adapting to ever changing regulations and working with unpredictable changes in ridership numbers as well as adapting to new schedules. Plus, national driver shortages add new responsibilities to cover shifts, perform extra cleaning and sanitizing of vehicle, all to ensure our transit system can keep running.

“There’s been a lot of unknowns in the past few years in public transit operations,” acknowledged Bill Churchill, General Manager of County Connection. “There can be a lot of multifaceted work a transit driver has to perform, including, thoroughly checking their vehicle before every route starts to ensure the safety of the riders, navigating traffic and accidents, learning new technology, and remembering customer service duties,” Churchill added, “We’re so proud that, despite any setbacks, we’ve maintained a high on-time performance rate—a testament to the dedication and hard work of our drivers.”

Rob Thompson, General Manager of WestCAT shared a similar sentiment of transit drivers, stating, “Our drivers truly are the front line for our agencies, their commitment and hard work are invaluable in providing public transit to our communities.”

Drivers are dedicated and hardworking because they drive as a service to the community. “We hope by going fare free, riders can focus on the driver and their rider experience, and visa-versa, instead of focusing on fares,” says Tri Delta Transit Board Chair Anissa Williams. “For Transit Driver Appreciation Day, agencies hope everyone takes a moment to thank their transit driver when riding the bus and posts positive messages on the social media pages of the system you ride so that the drivers can see them.” The transit agencies were also happy to offer free fares, as a day of fare free riding is also nice for passengers and helps to bring attention to this annual day of recognition.

To learn more about these transit agencies, visit TriDeltaTransit.com, CountyConnection.com and Westcat.org.

Named 2022 District 3 Outstanding Non-Profit Organization Partner in Parks & Recreation

By Allen D. Payton

The Celebrate Antioch Foundation (CAF) has been named the 2022 California Parks and Recreation Society (CPRS) District 3 Outstanding Non-Profit Organization Partner in Parks & Recreation. During the CPRS District 3 Awards & Installation Luncheon on Wednesday, March 8 at the Marina Community Center in San Leandro, CAF leaders, President Joy Motts and Vice President Michael Gabrielson, were presented with the award plaque. CAF Secretary Tammy Larsen was unable to attend the event as she was traveling out of town.

The luncheon was held to honor, “Outstanding Programs, Events, Professionals, Volunteers, and Non-Profit Partners”. The plaque reads, “In Grateful Recognition and Significant Contributions Toward the Spirit of Parks Make Life Better and the Mission of Parks and Recreation.”

On one of Motts’ Facebook pages she posted Thursday, “We are so honored to have our Celebrate Antioch Foundation chosen as the 2022 California Parks and Recreation District 3 Non-Profit of the Year! Chosen for our 10+ years of bringing quality events to our community and our work and partnership with the City of Antioch Park and Rec in organizing Antioch’s 150th Sesquicentennial celebration.”

CAF was nominated for the award by the Antioch Parks and Recreation Department and Director Brad Helfenberger informed Motts last week they had been chosen for the honor.

According to their website, the “Society’s mission is to advance the park and recreation profession through education, networking, resources and advocacy. CPRS members are united in their commitment to improving people’s lives. This networking happens across disciplines and agency boundaries to achieve together what we cannot do alone. CPRS strives to educate policy makers so that they vote with the premise that parks and recreation is an essential community service.

Founded in 1946, CPRS is a nonprofit, professional and public interest organization with over 4,000 members who are central to why Parks Make Life Better!

CPRS membership is well-distributed, with 86 percent of park and recreation agencies in California boasting at least one CPRS individual member. CPRS also has local, national and international company members that provide solutions to help our members work smarter and faster.”

 

Same location of January shooting death

By PIO Ashley Crandell, Antioch Police Community Engagement Unit

On February 9, 2023, at 8:42 pm, the Antioch Police Department Communications Center received an emergency call reporting a person shot in the parking lot of “The Spot” liquor store in the Sycamore Square center at 1108 Sycamore Drive in Antioch. Officers located a victim with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound who was subsequently transported to a local hospital – and survived.

This case was assigned to our Violent Crimes Unit. Through investigation, detectives learned the victim was robbed at gunpoint and shot after fighting back. We are asking for public assistance to help us identify the three individuals in the attached photographs.

The victim’s name remains confidential.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Gragg at (925) 481- 8494 or by email to rgragg@antiochca.gov. Individuals with information can also text an anonymous tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword ANTIOCH.

Another shooting that resulted in the death of the victim and arrest of the suspect occurred at the same location in January. (See related article)

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Has history of arrests dating to 2014; police withhold identity of victim; nearby shooting previous Tuesday

By PIO Ashley Crandell, Antioch Police Community Engagement Unit

On Saturday, March 4, 2023, at 4:39 am, the Antioch Police Department Communications Center received an emergency call reporting a person shot on East 6th Street. Officers responded and located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound to his forearm. He was transported by ambulance to a local hospital in stable condition. Responding officers located a crime scene associated with the shooting near East 18th and ‘A’ Streets.

On Sunday, March 5, 2023, at 10:48 am, the Antioch Police Department Communications Center received a call reporting a male shooting at someone near the intersection of ‘A’ and West 6th Streets.

Responding officers deployed an unmanned aerial vehicle (“drone”) to assess the scene and located a male – identified as 29-year-old Antioch resident Michael Clark – running nearby. He was detained and a shotgun he attempted to hide was recovered.

The identify of the victim, also an Antioch resident, remains confidential.

Clark was arrested for various firearm related offenses, including aggravated assault and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He is considered a person of interest in the shooting incident the previous day.

Both incidents are actively being investigated. Any witnesses or individuals with information on these cases are encouraged to contact Detective Duffy at (925) 779-6884 or by email duffy@antiochca.gov. Individuals with information can also text an anonymous tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword ANTIOCH.

Nearby Shooting on Previous Tuesday

According to residents another nearby shooting on Feb. 28 at about 12:30 p.m. occurred near 6th and F Streets.

“It was like the shootout at the OK Corral” said one neighbor who chose to not be identified. “A postal worker in the neighborhood had to duck for cover. The police came quickly. In a couple minutes.”

A bullet passed through the front door of one of the homes, the resident exclaimed.

Multiple gunshots can be heard on the ring video camera footage provided by one homeowner.

According to Antioch Police PIO Ashley Crandell that day, “There were no victims or suspects in that shooting. Shell casings were located.”

Has History of Arrests

According to localcrimenews.com Clark has a history of arrests dating back to 2014 by Contra Costa CHP, Martinez Police, Antioch Police and Contra Costa Sheriff’s Deputies, including for car theft, battery on a spouse/ co-habitant / former spouse, assault with a deadly weapon or with force likely to produce great bodily harm, receiving stolen property, carjacking, trespassing, assault with a deadly weapon not a firearm with likely great bodily harm to a peace officer or fireman, evading police and evasion with wanton disregard for safety, DUI, addict in possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition.

Last year he was arrested by Antioch PD on March 21 for being a felon in possession of a firearm and discharging a firearm in a negligent manner. Then the next day Clark was arrested again for assault with a deadly weapon or with force likely to produce great bodily harm and making threats of violence.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

For more information visit bethesdacommunity.org.

In the midst of contract negotiations

“a physician vacancy does not mean that there is a clinical vacancy, nor that care is compromised.” – Kim McCarl, CCHS

“A bigger medical and dental staff would help alleviate some of the load that our current employed members are carrying.” – Dr. David MacDonald, President, PDOCC

By Allen D. Payton

Last month the Physicians’ and Dentists Organization of Contra Costa (PDOCC) released data showing a high number of doctor vacancies in Contra Costa County Health Services.

According to a Feb. 16, 2023, PDOCC press release, based on county data, there are currently 83 out of 285 employed positions listed as vacant in Contra Costa Health Services, a 29 percent vacancy rate in the system. That includes 27 vacant positions in family medicine and primary care adult medicine, 5 vacant dentist positions and 5 vacant OB/GYN positions. With 19 vacant psychiatrist positions, only 27 percent of employed psychiatry positions are currently filled. 11 vacant employed positions in the emergency department – half of the department’s employed positions – means the county is unable to safely staff the emergency room.

Since November, 5 emergency department doctors have left county employment. The county interviewed and offered positions to 21 new emergency department applicants, but the offer was declined by every applicant.

The problem is expected to get a lot worse in 2024 when Contra Costa County will need an additional 40 primary care providers to care for 30,000 new Medi-Cal patients being added to the county’s health services due to an agreement between the county and California’s Department of Health Services.

The problem continues to worsen. Contra Costa County Health Services added 12,200 patients in the last two months, while only adding 1 new primary care physician. The result is that the average primary care physician employed by the county now has almost 200 more patients on their panel than at the end of 2022. There are no new primary care physicians anticipated to join county employment before July 2023.

On average, the county has only been able to fill three primary care doctor vacancies annually over the last three years.

In response, CCHS Communications Officer Kim McCarl, said doctor shortages are a nationwide challenge, are not compromising care, and confirmed that negotiations between the union and county “are underway”.

She wrote, “We value the medical staff who work across our department.

Health systems across the country are struggling to recruit and retain medical staff at all levels. Contra Costa Health is no different.

It’s important to note that a physician vacancy does not mean that there is a clinical vacancy, nor that care is compromised. We are confident that the right provider is caring for the right patient in the right way at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and Health Centers every day.

We provide flexibility in work schedule, an emphasis on proactive care, and mission-oriented work that helps us recruit and retain physicians who want to practice in an integrated environment. It’s not uncommon for our physicians to be expert in many areas of clinical medicine which our system values.

We value physicians who embrace our mission and choose to work for Contra Costa Health on a full-time, permanent basis but we also welcome doctors who take a less traditional approach to their careers by working part time or in partnership with other health care entities. These approaches help to alleviate the burnout that has been so costly to hospitals and healthcare systems since the height of the pandemic.

We are proud to be home to one of the most highly rated family medicine training programs in the country. We recruit well-trained physicians who are familiar with our system from each graduating class.

Recruitment and retention of physicians is a top priority at Contra Costa Health. We will continue to explore ways to fill every vacancy across our healthcare system.”

Doctors, Dentists Disagree

That opinion, however, is not shared by the county’s doctors and dentists or by best practice standards for patient care.

The severe shortages most certainly impact patient care, including the time a physician can devote to each patient along with the availability of appointments, according to county doctors.

Contra Costa County’s own policies recommend no more than 1,500 patients to a primary care physician’s panel (the number of patients assigned to a physician). Currently the average panel size for Contra Costa’s employed primary care physicians is 1,879.

“County leaders may be willing to turn a blind eye to severe staffing shortages, but doctors care too much about our patients to let the problem go unaddressed any longer,” said Dr. David MacDonald, PDOCC President. “We hear from patients all the time about how difficult it is for them to schedule appointments in our system. When they finally get an appointment, it is rarely for the amount of time they need because doctors are overstretched and taking on more patients because of all the vacancies. The patients who rely on Contra Costa County Health Services for care should not have to settle for less time and attention than patients in other systems or ones with private healthcare.”

In addition to the primary care vacancies, there are 5 vacant dentist positions and 5 vacant OB/GYN positions. With 19 vacant psychiatrist positions, only 27 percent of employed psychiatry positions are currently filled. 11 vacant employed positions in the emergency department – half of the department’s employed positions – means the county is unable to safely staff the emergency room.

The problem is expected to get exponentially worse in 2024 when Contra Costa County will need an additional 40 primary care providers to care for 30,000 new Medi-Cal patients being added to the county’s health services due to an agreement between the county and California’s Department of Health Services.

PDOCC is calling on county leaders to be proactive by filling the position vacancies which will improve patient care and support county revenues. “It’s hard to believe that Contra Costa County is not working more closely with our union to help it become more attractive and competitive in retaining and recruiting medical and dental talent. I believe the county is moving in the wrong direction and I’m concerned that patients are being put at risk,” MacDonald said.

PDOCC members are currently in negotiations with county management towards a new contract. Issues raised in negotiations by PDOCC members include high patient caseloads, insufficient time for administrative tasks, long waits for primary care appointments and specialty referrals, chronic short staffing and high turnover – all of which combine to negatively impact patient care and health impacts. PDOCC members also state that burnout is at an all-time high.

County Health, PDOCC Respond to Questions

Questions were sent to both McCarl and the union’s spokesman asking if the PDOCC is in the midst of contract negotiations with the county and if so, is this an effort to obtain an increase in compensation for its members.

While McCarl responded, “Yes, negotiations are underway” she did not respond to the additional question about their criticism.

The questions were also sent Tuesday afternoon to PDOCC president, Dr. MacDonald with the .

He responded, “PDOCC is engaged with Contra Costa County in negotiations at the level of state mediation. We have one more session to go.

We are focused on improving patient care and making the workplace in Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) more sustainable.

We have to be able to hire new medical and dental talent, so compensation has to be more market competitive. This would also help with retention. A bigger medical and dental staff would help alleviate some of the load that our current employed members are carrying. The situation at this time is untenable. And, per an agreement between CCHS and the state’s Department of Health Services, CCHS will become the single system to provide care for MediCal patients in the county (aside from small fraction of MediCal patients covered by Kaiser). This will mean for an additional 30,000 new patients into our system as of January 1, 2024. We’re not ready for that. We will need an additional 40 new primary care providers to handle the influx of new patients. The County is nowhere close to hiring that many (I believe the County has 3 new providers scheduled to start after July of this year).

In addition, half of our emergency department employed positions are vacant. This means that the County partially fills the gap with very expensive temp doctors. We think it would be smarter for the County to take the funds doled out to temps and invest that money in committed, dedicated and County career minded docs who will be here for the long term.

Another issue is that our primary care providers need more protected time to manage their patient panels. The in-basket work – lab follow up, med refills, answering patient calls & emails, etc., has been escalating. Our physicians take this work home with them and it takes away time from their families and individual restorative activities.

All of this after the three-year pandemic onslaught has left our physicians and dentists suffering more from burnout than ever before. The County must step up, be proactive, and work with our union on how to achieve meaningful improvements that will enhance patient care and move our system in the right direction.”