New webpage offers tips, insights to help people understand when to reach out to doctors, hospitals

By Antonia Ehlers, PR & Media Relations, Kaiser Permanente Northern California

Battling the triple threat of COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) people of all ages are finding themselves sick as this “Tridemic” rages on. With emergency rooms and hospital beds filling up, Contra Costa Health and Kaiser Permanente have partnered to launch a public health education campaign to inform the community about simple self-care recovery tips and virtual treatment options for common illnesses.

“By partnering with Contra Costa Health, we bolster our efforts to disseminate critical health tips to our members and many others throughout the community,” said Dr. Sharon Mowat, pediatrician and physician-in-chief for the Kaiser Permanente Diablo Service Area. “If we can help people safely recover from the comfort of their homes, we can also lessen the extremely long wait times that people are seeing in the overcrowded doctors’ offices and emergency rooms throughout our community.”

The two organizations created a webpage in English (www.coronavirus.cchealth.org/get-care) and Spanish (www.coronavirus.cchealth.org/get-care-es), with information and resources about how people can recover from illnesses and access care from the comfort of their homes. If people have urgent or immediate concerns, they are encouraged to call an advice nurse or doctor’s office for guidance and virtual appointments by phone or video. Contra Costa Health Plan members and people who don’t have health coverage can call the advice nurse at (877) 661-6230. Kaiser Permanente members can call the advice nurse at (866) 454-8855.

Hospitals and ambulances are especially impacted during the winter virus season, so Contra Costa Health and Kaiser Permanente caution people to only call 911 or go to the hospital if their need for care is truly an emergency.

“The good news is most people who get sick can safely recover from home,” said Dr. Sofe’ Mekuria, deputy health officer for Contra Costa Health. “We want people to know the home care options available to them and know how to prepare themselves so they can recover quickly and safely if they get sick.”

Health recommendations include staying home when sick, getting lots of rest, drinking plenty of fluids and separating from others to avoid spreading illnesses. For peace of mind, people are encouraged to stock their medicine cabinets with items including over-the-counter cold/flu medicines to reduce fever and pain, saline spray or drops, cough syrups and lozenges, and COVID-19 home tests.

In addition to the webpage, a communications toolkit with digital graphics and handouts is also available for local schools, businesses and community organizations to share with their members.

To learn more about getting better when you’re sick, visit www.coronavirus.cchealth.org/get-care.

Police seek unknown suspect in city’s first homicide of the year at shopping center where Thorpe blamed property and business owners for crime

By Ashley Crandell, PIO, Antioch Police Department

On January 17, 2023, at approximately 10:45 am, the Antioch Police Department Dispatch Center received multiple calls regarding a shooting at The Spot Liquor Store (formerly Quik Stop) located at 1108 Sycamore Drive in the Sycamore Square shopping center. The callers advised there was someone shot at the location. Officers immediately responded and located a male in the parking lot, suffering from a gunshot wound. The 25-year-old Pittsburg resident was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

The Antioch Police Department’s Investigations Bureau responded and took over the investigation. Through their investigation, they learned prior to the shooting there was a dispute that ensued between the victim and the suspect. The suspect shot the victim and fled the scene. It is unknown if he fled on foot or in a vehicle. There is no known information for the suspect, but this was a targeted incident, and the public is not at risk.

Sycamore Square is the site of a press conference by Mayor Lamar Thorpe, last year at which he blamed the property and business owners for the crime problem in the shopping center. That was following District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker’s request for four more police officers for the Sycamore neighborhood. But the mayor refused to place the request on a council meeting agenda, instead opting to support overtime for existing officers. (See related article)

Anyone with information regarding the homicide is asked to contact Detective Cox at jcox@antiochca.gov. You may also text an anonymous tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword ANTIOCH.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Discover Diablo hikers exploring in Del Puerto Canyon. Photo by Sean Burke.

Begins January 21st

By Laura Kindsvater, Communications Manager, Save Mount Diablo

CONTRA COSTA, STANISLAUS, AND SAN BENITO COUNTIES— Explore some of the East Bay’s premiere hiking and natural areas with Save Mount Diablo in 2023, including places rarely open to the public. The Discover Diablo outings series offers guided hikes, themed walks, and other outdoor activities: mountain biking; rock climbing; trail running; meditation in nature; plein air painting events; and property tours. All are free to the public. Trailblazers of all ages and skill levels are welcome to choose appropriate outings from our extensive offerings.

In response to growing demand, Save Mount Diablo is offering a total of 36 excursions. The ever-popular tarantula walk will be offered twice, and we are offering two plein air painting walks, two meditation hikes, and a trail run in 2023.

We will also be offering rock-climbing outings, mountain-biking events, and bilingual hikes in Spanish and English.

Generously sponsored by the Martinez Refining Company, the 2023 Discover Diablo free public hikes and outings series will begin on January 21.

“Through the Discover Diablo series, people are fortunate to be able to explore and discover the beauty of Mount Diablo with experienced guides,” said Ann Notarangelo, Community Relations Manager for the Martinez Refining Company. “Our refinery has sponsored these hikes since 2017 in the hopes people will enjoy learning more about the mountain, while spending quality time with family and friends.”

Discover Diablo hikers checking out the view from Bob Walker Ridge in Morgan Territory Regional Preserve. Photo by Jennifer Willen

The Discover Diablo program was started by Save Mount Diablo in 2017 to connect local communities with the spectacular natural world of the Mount Diablo area and to build awareness about land conservation.

Hikes and outings take place on one of Save Mount Diablo’s conserved properties or on park lands in the Diablo Range. These include Mount Diablo State Park, East Bay Regional Park District, Walnut Creek Open Space Foundation, Stanislaus County, and National Park Service lands.

Discover Diablo hikes are guided by experts steeped in the natural history and lore of the region, who both educate and entertain while emphasizing the breathtaking beauty that the Diablo Range has to offer.

Save Mount Diablo hopes the Discover Diablo series will spark a passion for the Diablo Range and deepen people’s connections to the land and nature. All Discover Diablo hikes are subject to, and will honor, all applicable COVID-19–related restrictions then in place for our area.

According to Ted Clement, Executive Director of Save Mount Diablo, “It is the goal of the Discover Diablo program to build connections between people, Save Mount Diablo, and the land, helping our communities develop a strong sense of place and a deepened appreciation for our collective backyard. Most importantly, we want to cultivate a love of the land in participants, as that is what it will take to ensure the precious Mount Diablo associated natural areas are taken care of for generations to come.”

There is something for us all to discover in the nooks and crannies surrounding Mount Diablo and within its sustaining Diablo Range, so be sure to hit the trails in 2023 and find your own individual inspiration!

RSVP required. To ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to attend, registration for hikes and outings in March onward will open two months prior to each hike’s date.

See our schedule of upcoming hikes and outings below or view and RSVP online here:  https://savemountdiablo.org/what-we-do/educating-and-inspiring-people/discover-diablo-hikes-outings/

You can also download and print a flyer of the schedule here: http://bit.ly/DiscoverDiablo

Questions about hike program details and RSVP information: Denise Castro, Education and Outreach Associate, Save Mount Diablo C: 925-286-9327, dcastro@savemountdiablo.org

CEO Kevin Miller speaks in front of a rendering of Travis Credit Union’s new Hillcrest Avenue branch during the groundbreaking ceremony on Dec. 14, 2022. Photos: TCU

On December 14, Travis Credit Union was joined by the Antioch Chamber of Commerce for the groundbreaking ceremony at the future site of its Hillcrest Avenue Branch in Antioch. The new branch is set to open in late summer.

This 3,500-square-foot building will also provide space for financial education workshops, community-focused business development programs, and an opportunity to continue changing lives and lifting up communities through financial wellness.

TCU VP, Retail Sales and Service Jennifer Victor, Branch Manager Marivel Branco and CEO Kevin Miller are joined by Antioch Chamber CEO Daniel Sohn and Board Chair Ana Walker for the groundbreaking of the new branch.

The new branch will be located at 3500 Hillcrest Avenue just east of the Hillcrest Professional Center, and the Chevron and ARCO gas stations.

Currently, Travis Credit Union is the twelfth largest credit union in California, with 230,502 members and more than $4.7 billion in assets. Travis Credit Union is recognized as a Forbes 2019, 2020, and 2021 Best-in-State Credit Union.

San Francisco Magician and Balloon Twister Perry Yan brings his entertaining act to the Antioch Library on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at 3:00 p.m.

His Magic Show has been time tested through thousands of performances at schools, company events, kids’ birthday parties and more! His show is designed to engage both kids and adults, includes clean comedy and audience participation and offers visual and astonishing magic throughout. Perry’s Magic Show will have the kids AND adults entertained from start to finish!

The library is located at 501 W. 18th Street.

The Death of Triboulet is set to be Auditioned on Tuesday and Wednesday next week – January 17 & 18th from 6-8 pm at the Nick Rodriguez Theatre at 213 F Street in Antioch’s historic downtown Rivertown.

Please join us as we begin the process of creating this new, original story, written by Max Ballesteros.

Cast of characters include: Kings, Queen, Princess, Court Jester, Regents, Guards, Cook, Messenger, Assassins and Nobles of the Court.

Taking place in the Middle Ages, Triboulet – the Court Jester to the King of France – is tasked with saving the life of the King while trying to keep from being sent to the executioner himself.

The important details of the production, auditions and policies of the Drama Factory can be found at www.dramafactory.org.

(Martinez, CA) – Contra Costa County offices will be closed on Monday, Jan. 16, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Emergency services and law enforcement will remain available. Visit www.contracosta.ca.gov to find information about County services.

Las oficinas del condado de Contra Costa estarán cerradas el lunes 16 de Enero en conmemoración del Día de Martin Luther King Jr. Los servicios de emergencia y las fuerzas del orden seguirán disponibles. Visite www.contracosta.ca.gov para encontrar información sobre los servicios del condado.