Fun- filled day to celebrate new “Next Generation” office design

WHAT:          AAA Northern California announces the grand opening of its new location and newly designed AAA Antioch branch office that is now open to the public. This “Next Generation” design features digital interative areas that make waiting more productive and informative for members. AAA Antioch is a full service branch office staffed with AAA insurance agents providing life, auto, home insurance, AAA memberships, and AAA travel assistance. Free maps and tour books will also be available free of charge to all members. DMV services are now available Monday through Saturday from 9am to 6pm.

WHEN:          Saturday, April 30, 2016

11:00 am to 2:00 pm.

11:00 am -Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

11:30 am.- 12:30 pm –Vida Blue, former A’s & Giants player Meet & Greet

12:30 pm -1:30 pm SF Giants Mascot Lou Seal Meet & Greet

WHERE:       AAA Antioch Branch Office  Slatten Ranch Shopping Center, 5799 Lone Tree Way, Antioch

AAA Antioch Grand Opening Event activities include:

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 11:00 a.m. with city officials and AAA executives.

Meet & Greet with Oakland A’s legend and SF Giants pitcher alum Vida Blue and SF Giants Mascot Lou Seal

Live broadcast  by 10.7.7 “The Bone” radio station

Food truck tastings – Road Dog’s Weenie Wagon

Contra Costa Fire Department representatives

Baseball games and giveaways throughout the day

WHY:             AAA is dedicated to servicing its members with the expertise and quality they have come to expect. AAA Northern California offers a wide array of automotive, travel, insurance, DMV, financial services and consumer discounts to more than 4.5 million members. AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers since it was founded 116 years ago.

Imagine the thrill of winning a blue ribbon at the Fair for a special talent. Think you own the best pig, bake the most delicious apple pie, made a beautiful quilt, or have an uncanny knack for making crafts? Want to see who’s the best in all of Contra Costa County? Then be sure to enter the Contra Costa County Fair’s competitive exhibits. There’s something for everyone. Download our Exhibitor Handbook and find the best division for your special talent.

All entries must be entered online or postmarked by April 30th.  Walk in entries must be received by April 29th by 4pm at the fair office.

Check our website for entries instructions and more information on entry requirements.
Don’t wait, enter early, and often……..

http://contracostafair.com/become-an-exhibitor-today/

This year’s fair will be held Thursday, June 2 through Sunday, June 5 at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds, 1201 West 10th Street in Antioch. For further information, please visit:

www.contracostafair.com

Learn more about Opportunity Junction and the free job training, career counseling and college assistance programs it offers by attending an Open House on Tuesday, May 3, from 9 a.m. to noon at 3102 Delta Fair Blvd. in Antioch. Anyone interested in the programs — including neighbors, donors, friends and job seekers — can drop by to meet the staff, tour the facilities and enjoy light refreshments.

Job seekers who bring a resume will receive a free review and expert advice on ways to sharpen it, and those who sign up in advance will be entered into a raffle for prizes. Go to http://rsvpojopenhouse.eventbrite.com or call Eva at (925) 776-1133 to sign up in advance for the resume review or the Open House.

This event coincides with East Bay Gives Day, which is a regional day of charitable giving.

State Senator Steve Glazer released the following statement, this week, about the agreement the BART has entered with its labor unions:

“About 60 days ago, 40 state and local elected leaders joined me in sending a letter to the BART Board and their unions calling on them to take steps to restore the public’s trust in the financial management of the BART system.

Specifically, we asked that BART negotiate an extension to its labor contract that would ensure that the trains would keep running without a work stoppage for the next five years and to do so in a financially responsible way.

Given what we know today, this proposed agreement takes a positive step forward in delivering on those requirements. If approved by the unions and the BART Board, we can be confident that there will be continuous train operations for the next five years without debilitating strikes.

The BART unions and management should be commended for doing this.

Strikes are too debilitating for BART riders and commuters. That is why transit strikes are banned in New York, Chicago, Washington DC, Boston and San Francisco.

There is still much more that BART should do to raise the level of confidence in the financial and operational management of the system. And I encourage them to continue the momentum with these confidence-building steps.

They are:

1.  Do not apply these cost of living raises to highly-paid managers. Their pay should be based on merit, not a “Me Too” clause.

2.  Commit to undertaking a salary study before the expiration of the next contract so that that we can closely examine each position’s compensation with the marketplace.

3.   Set up a capital depreciation fund so that savings for repair and replacement is funded every year rather than in a balloon payment through new bond proposals.

4.  Present clear projections of retirement costs and how they will be funded.

5.  Support legislation banning future BART strikes.

6.  Explore ways to train replacement managers to operate the system in the case of future work stoppages.

The financial elements of this proposed deal are not what I would have negotiated. BART workers are highly paid and system financial needs are great. However, I respect the collective bargaining process, and even if I disagree with some of the financial terms, I appreciate that compromise is required to bring all parties together.

This proposed contract represents the start of a turnaround for BART. We were going down the tracks, these past few years, in a very negative direction. The actions today have stopped that negative train and we are now heading in a positive direction. Let’s keep that momentum going with the confidence building steps that I have outlined.”

Glazer represents most of Contra Costa County in the California State Senate.

Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Oakley) is among the sponsors of a special seminar for those who operate nonprofit, faith-based and other tax-exempt organizations in Contra Costa County.  The seminar will be from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 19, 2016, at the Brentwood Community Center, 35 Oak Street. It will feature speakers from State Board of Equalization, the

California Employment Development Department, the Franchise Tax Board and the California Association of Nonprofits.

“I know how confusing it can be to start or step into a nonprofit organization, especially if you are a volunteer,” said Assemblymember Frazier. “My hope is that this seminar will provide useful guidance for those whose main purpose is to help other people.”

Topics to be discussed include tax rules for fundraising and events; advocacy rules for nonprofits; funding sources; philanthropic foundations; property tax exemptions, and employment taxes.

Other sponsors of the free seminar include Fiona Ma and George Runner of the State Board of Equalization; State Sen. Steven M. Glazer; the City of Brentwood; the California Association of Nonprofits; and the East Bay Community Foundation.

Drop-ins are welcome, but registration is encouraged and can be done online at www.boe.ca.gov/sutax/nonprofitsched.htm.