Presented in coordination with Seven Stars Baptist Church and Midnight Basketball League
Last day to register: Dec. 19
By Yvette Williams
Antioch Seasons of Sharing event on Saturday, Dec. 21, will feature free photos with Santa Claus, live entertainment, gifts, games and activities for the entire family, free groceries and free pop-up Community Boutique. The event will be held from 12:00-4:00 p.m. at Antioch Middle School, 1500 D Street.
Community Supportive Programs
Employment opportunities
Free Community resources
Free Mental Health
Union Apprenticeship Employment Sign Up
Free Hot Lunch & Free toy giveaways will be provided until supplies run out.
The last day to register is December 19, 2024. Secondly due to our limited supplies of toys, this event is for our Antioch community members only. All children registered will need to be present for Gift Giving. All Antioch residents will need proof of where they live in Antioch. This information will be verified at the registration table upon entering.
We are grateful for any toy donations or financial support to the success of the event. Anyone can donate through this site, via the donation option. Additionally, we have an Amazon Wish List to guide you. $25 and under https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/JP44T9CR7EDR?ref_=wl_share
For toy drop-offs we will have volunteers at our registration table, ready to receive donations. We can also make alternative arrangements if needed.
For Vendors or community member questions please call or email me directly at (925) 658-8278 or Yvette4Hope@gmail.com. Please follow my Eventbrite page for future Community Events open to the public.
For more information and to register visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1105967541689.
CA State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and State Senator Lena Gonzalez want to keep U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents off California school campuses without a judicial warrant in their efforts to deport illegal immigrants.
Introduced by Senate Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez
“to protect California schools from a drop-off in attendance or funding in response to federal threats of mass deportation.”
By Liz Sanders, Director of Communications, California Department of Education
SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent Tony Thurmond is sponsoring legislation introduced by Senate Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez (D-33) on Monday, December 16, aimed at keeping U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents off of school campuses to protect California schools from a drop-off in attendance or funding in response to federal threats of mass deportation.
The legislation to be introduced by Gonzalez will protect California schools from a potential decline in attendance or funding during potential increased immigration enforcement by protecting school zones, as well as school data and sensitive family information.
The bill would:
prohibit school districts, county offices of education, charter schools, and their personnel from granting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers or other federal authorities access to campuses without a judicial warrant;
prohibit police cooperation with any immigration enforcement efforts within a one-mile radius of school to ensure a safe corridor for parents to bring their children to and from school; and
prohibit the sharing of any information about students, families, their households, or school employees with ICE officers.
“This bill seeks to push back against threats of deportation that create fear in immigrant families. These practices suppress school attendance and rob schools of needed revenue,” said Thurmond. “I am honored to partner with bill author Senator Lena Gonzalez, other legislators, and immigrant rights groups to support our families and keep ICE off our school campuses—period.”
“All California children deserve safe school environments that prioritize student learning, regardless of immigration status,” said Gonzalez (D-Long Beach). “As Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, I’m proud to be partnering with Superintendent Tony Thurmond to author this important legislation, which will prevent disruptions to student learning, keep children in school, and prevent families from being torn apart.”
Research has shown that immigration enforcement in the area of schools has a chilling effect on school attendance for students from impacted communities, regardless of students’ citizenship or immigration status. It is reasonable to expect such adverse impacts on immigrant communities throughout California.
The legislation would also strengthen safeguards against unauthorized disclosure of education records and personal information to federal agents. Combined, these protections would ensure that families are able to safely send their children to school without fear of being separated from their children, and families would also be able to fill out necessary school forms that are essential to students’ well-being and educational services without fear of being separated from their children.
In California, 93 percent of children who have one or more undocumented parents are U.S. citizens. Additionally, all children in the United States, regardless of immigration status, have a right to a free and appropriate public education.
The proposed bill reflects California’s commitment to ensure that pandemic-era increases in chronic absenteeism do not recur and also reiterates California’s commitment to make sure that schools are welcoming environments where all families can safely bring their children to learn. It aligns with California’s broader efforts to promote equity, inclusion, and the protection of immigrant communities.
As schools continue to face challenges related to student safety and data privacy, this bill sends a strong message that California is committed to safeguarding our students and families.
BART System Map for January 13, 2025, schedule change. Source: BART
On January 13, 2025, BART will make schedule changes to accommodate the launch of construction to replace BART’s aged train control system with a modern Communications Based Train Control System.
The schedule change is happening in coordination with the region’s other transit systems as part of a collective effort to synch schedules, reduce impacts, and improve transfers for transit riders in the Bay Area.
Minor Adjustments
Overall, some departure times will shift by a few minutes, and we encourage riders to check the schedule before January 13, 2025, to see if their trip is impacted. In the coming days, BART will post the new PDF timetables and will update the Trip Planner with the new schedule.
Late Night Construction between Colma and Millbrae for New Train Control System
Crews will be working on the track between Colma and Millbrae nightly after 9pm to upgrade our train control system. To reduce delays from this work, the Yellow Line will terminate at SFO instead of Millbrae to provide the resiliency our system needs to keep trains running on time and as optimally as possible in this section of track during the construction.
Late Night Changes for Millbrae Riders
After 9pm, Millbrae station will be served by a train that will run every 15 minutes between Millbrae and SFO only and riders will have an easy cross platform transfer at SFO to board a Yellow Line train to finish their trip.
At Millbrae, two of the four trains each hour will be timed with Caltrain’s 30-minute service schedule to provide a good transfer between Caltrain and BART.
As previously noted, after Red Line service ends each night, Yellow Line trains will terminate at SFO instead of Millbrae. Once at SFO, riders heading to Millbrae will cross the platform to board the Millbrae train, it will be labeled as a Yellow Line train to Millbrae.
However, after midnight, the final four Yellow Line trains to SFO station will proceed to Millbrae (riders will not need to transfer for Millbrae service), similar to the current schedule. The final train of the evening will bypass SFO, as it always does, and go straight to Millbrae. This is consistent with the current schedule.
These late evening changes will be displayed in the PDF timetable and in the Trip Planner to guide riders. And the official BART system map online, and posted at stations, will indicate a change in trains is necessary between 9pm-midnight.
This nightly service plan for Millbrae riders is expected to last several years as BART has prioritized this section of track to be the first area to bring on Communications Based Train Control (CBTC) in the BART system. The state-of-the-art CBTC system will transform BART service by enabling trains to run closer together and by updating aged equipment. A modernized train control system will enable BART to increase projected Transbay capacity to 30-trains per hour per direction in the core system area, from the current limitation of 24-trains per hour per direction.
Transit Coordination – The Big Synch
Bay Area transit agencies are now syncing schedules in a whole new way with a focus on improving transfers between systems and making schedule changes at the same time.
Most Bay Area transit agencies are rolling out new schedules in mid-January in coordination with each other and have now aligned the timing of schedule changes twice each year, once in summer (mid-August) and once in winter (mid-January). Since 2022, the number of transit agencies with full schedule change alignment (changing schedules at the same time August and January) has increased from 4 to 19, for a 375% increase.
Advancing schedule change alignment is a key priority for Bay Area transit general managers who meet on a weekly basis to make transit more rider-focused and efficient.
Since 1978, Antioch resident Frank Ballesteros has been performing as the character of Ebenezer Scrooge in and directing “Humbug!”, an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella entitled, “A Christmas Carol”.
This year, the performances will be held at Friday, December 20 at 7 PM and Saturday, December 21 at 2PM and 7PM at El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. 2nd Street in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown.
Ballesteros has been teaching acting skills to children and adults and holding performances of various plays since 1968.
“I’ve always loved the classic movie ‘A Christmas Carol’, the 1954 version,” he said. “We used to watch it every year. Then George C. Scott played the part of Scrooge in the 1980’s adaptation.”
“Then I put in the Christian message. Instead of Scrooge accepting Christmas, in my show, Scrooge accepts Christ, which is the same as the message of Christmas,” Ballesteros shared. “No one has ever been offended in the 40 years, that it’s not the original story. Charles Dickens did that when he had Scrooge say, ‘I want to follow that star to Bethelehem’.”
Releases 2024 Post-Election Analysis Report detailing successful efforts taken to deliver nation’s election mail securely, effectively
On average, ballots were delivered from voters to election officials within one day
CALIFORNIA — Today, the United States Postal Service released its 2024 Post-Election Analysis Report, outlining the agency’s steps to process more than 99.22 million ballots in the 2024 general election. The full report can be read here: 2024 Post-Election Analysis Report.
“In 2024, the Postal Service once again admirably performed our role of efficiently and effectively delivering the nation’s ballots,” said Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. “As we continue to transform the nation’s postal network to better meet the demands of the modern mailing and shipping customer, we stand ready to work with policymakers at all levels to make the nation’s effective vote by mail process even stronger.”
The Postal Service’s success in 2024 was the result of a deepened focus on operational precision and integrated communications, the engagement of the USPS Election and Government Mail Services team and execution of longstanding, proven operational processes and procedures, including extraordinary measures.
As in previous general elections, the Postal Service deployed extraordinary measures in the final weeks of the election season to swiftly move Ballot Mail entered close to or on Election Day and/or the state’s return deadline. Extraordinary measures began on Monday, Oct. 21, continued nationwide through Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 5, and extended through the last day in each state that boards of elections accepted completed mail-in ballots as timely.
In 2024, the Postal Service’s extraordinary measures included but were not limited to: extra deliveries and collections; special pick-ups; specialized sort plans at processing facilities to expedite delivery to boards of elections; and local handling and transportation of ballots.
Key 2024 Election Mail Performance Statistics
As part of the nation’s critical infrastructure, USPS is responsible for processing, transporting, and delivering the nation’s Election Mail safely, securely, and on time. During the General Election, USPS processed more than 99 million ballots. On average, Ballot Mail sent from voters to election officials were delivered within one day.
99.22 Million Ballots Processed in the 2024 General Election: During the general election period of September 1 – November 15, the Postal Service delivered at least 99.22 million ballots to or from voters.*
99.88 Percent of Ballots Delivered to Election Officials Within a Week: The agency successfully processed, transported and delivered 99.88 percent of ballots from voters to election officials within seven days, and 99.64 percent within five days.**
97.73 Percent of Ballots Delivered from Voters to Election Officials Within Three Days: The Postal Service successfully returned 97.73 percent of ballots from voters to local election officials in fewer than three days.
1 Day Average Delivery Time for Ballots from Voters to Election Officials: On average, the Postal Service delivered ballots from voters to election officials within one day.
3.37 Billion Pieces of Political and Election Mail Delivered in 2024: The total mail volume surpassed 3 billion mailpieces for both Political and Election Mail tracked.
As an essential part of the nation’s disaster response network, readiness and preparation for natural disasters are standard procedure for the Postal Service. In September and October 2024, Hurricanes Helene and Milton devastated portions of Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina just weeks before the election. However, through the deployment of extraordinary measures in the weeks before Election Day, voters in the impacted areas who chose to use the mail to vote received performance comparable with the rest of the nation.
Recommendations To Improve the Nation’s Vote by Mail System in Future Election Cycles
The Postal Service is both a national service and a world-class logistics organization. As such, consistent policies are needed nationwide to ensure that operations run smoothly, that the 640,000 USPS employees understand what is expected of them, and the millions of customers can have trust in the Postal Service’s ability to deliver for them. At the same time, when it comes to the delivery of Election Mail, there are 50 states and nearly 8,000 election jurisdictions that are far from uniform in their election laws and practices, and that often do not consider how the mail system works.
This can result in a mismatch of timeframes, deadlines, ballot return suggestions and the practical reality of using the mail. Many of these laws and practices were not established with the Postal Service’s operations in mind.
As USPS continues to transform the nation’s postal network to better meet the demands of the modern mailing and shipping customer, the organization stands ready to work with policymakers at all levels to continue educating them on how the mail works. While the Postal Service provides effective, efficient, and reliable service for all mail, including Election Mail, there are long-standing recommendations that policymakers should consider to help expedite the transport of mail-in ballots to and from voters including:
Following and implementing USPS recommendations on mail piece preparation
Applying visibility tools to Election and Ballot Mail
Better understanding of Postal Operations
Continuing voter education initiatives on state laws and reasonable mailing deadlines
*Total volume reflects volume that was identifiable as Ballot Mail by the Postal Service.
**Performance data for outbound Ballot Mail (sent from local boards of elections to voters) includes only those ballots that were properly identified as ballots and consistent with our service performance measurement rules.
Performance data for inbound Ballot Mail (sent from voters to local boards of elections) includes both those ballots that were properly identified as ballots and consistent with our service performance measurement rules as well as the volume identified by a survey for which data is available from 10/21/2024 to 11/13/2024.
Please Note: The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to nearly 169 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America, to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial sustainability, dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories, and maintain the organization as one of America’s most valued and trusted brands.
The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
On December 20, 2024, the Antioch Police Department will conduct a driving under the influence (DUI) Checkpoint from 6pm to 11pm at an undisclosed location.
DUI checkpoint locations are determined based on data showing incidents of impaired driving-related crashes. The primary purpose of DUI checkpoints are to promote public safety by taking suspected impaired drivers off the road.
“Impaired drivers put others on the road at significant risk,” Sergeant Rob Green said. “Any prevention measures that reduce the number of impaired drivers on our roads significantly improve traffic safety.”
The Antioch Police Department reminds the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol. Some prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving. While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal.
Drivers charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
You are invited to join us for a Grand Chanukah Celebration on Sunday, December 29, 2024, at 4:30pm!
Come celebrate the Festival of Lights with Chabad of the Delta and our surrounding communities as we light the grand Menorah in Brentwood City Park. A reception will follow inside the adjacent Brentwood Community Center.
Our local community leaders will participate in kindling the giant “Menorah of Freedom”. There will be fun activities for everyone including:
Epic LED Light show
Giant Menorah Lighting with Dignitaries
Chanukah Donuts
Latkes
Chocolate Gelt
Chanukah Crafts
Festival Indoors, Lighting Outdoors
Win Chanukah Gifts
Security Presence
Free Fidget Dreidel for the first 50 Children
For many of us, Chanukah prompts warm, loving memories from our childhood. We light the Menorah every night of the 8-night holiday. These lights offer warmth, joy, strength, inspiration and renews our sense of identity.
This year, Chanukah begins at sunset on Wednesday, Dec. 25th and ends at nightfall on Thursday, Jan. 2nd.
Rabbi Peretz Goldshmid, director of the Chabad of the Delta Jewish Center, describes Chanukah as “a holiday that enriches our lives with the light of tradition. In ancient times our ancestors rededicated the Temple in Jerusalem with the Menorah. Today, we rededicate ourselves to making this world a better and brighter place.”
As we celebrate in East Contra Costa, we join millions the world over, promoting the universal message that good will prevail over evil, freedom over oppression and light over darkness!
Make sure not to miss this opportunity to celebrate with your family and friends! Brentwood City Park is located at 790 2nd Street and the Brentwood Community Center is located at 35 Oak Street.
For more information, contact Chabad of the Delta at (925) 420-4999 or online at JewishDelta.com/Chanukah.
By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, CCC Sheriff’s Office
In 2025 the Office of the Sheriff will celebrate its 175th anniversary as a Sheriff’s Office. The Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff has come a long way since Nathaniel Jones became Sheriff in 1850. The agency now has nearly 1,200 sworn and professional employees who proudly provide a wide range public safety services to over 1.1 million residents in the county and multiple law enforcement agencies.
Contra Costa County has had 22 Sheriffs. Although the faces have changed, the mission of the Sheriff’s Office has not: making Contra Costa County a safe place for residents, families, communities, and businesses and to provide the highest level of service possible.
“In recognition of our proud history as a law enforcement agency, I am authorizing uniformed staff to wear a special commemorative shoulder patch to recognize our 175 years of service,” said Sheriff David Livingston. “Not only do we continue deeply held traditions of the Office, but we also honor our long line of service and pay tribute to the many members of the Office who came before us.”
The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office offers a full range of law enforcement services to over 1,100,000 residents in the 715 square mile county. Besides patrolling the unincorporated areas, Deputy Sheriffs provide comprehensive police services to a number of contract cities and special districts. Additionally, the Sheriff’s Office operates county detention facilities, provides security for the courts and runs the Office of Emergency Services. Log on www.cocosheriff.org for more information.
