The fire on the hill behind the Hillcrest Crossroads shopping center off Hillcrest Avenue and Larkspur Drive in Antioch started about 10:30 PM on July 4, 2024, and burned to the fence line behind the buildings at the bottom and the homes on Locust Court at the top. Fire & Rescue crew members head down off the hill near the KFC after extinguishing the fire. Photos by Allen D. Payton. Aerial shot of the area burned on the Hillcrest Avenue side of the hill. Photo by Con Fire.
Antioch had most fire-related calls
By Allen D. Payton
According to a report by the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire), they responded to a total of 317 incidents from 10:00 AM on July 4, 2024, to 3:00 AM on July 5th. That’s an increase of 30% over the 243 incidents Con Fire responded to last year.
Source: Con Fire
Of this year’s incidents, 129 were fire-related including 92 exterior fires, 16 vegetation fires, 13 structure fires and eight other types of fires. All four categories experienced increases over 2023 with more than double for exterior fires.
Antioch had the most fire-related calls with about 45 total, followed by 20 for Pittsburg and 10 for Bay Point. All other cities and unincorporated communities in the Con Fire service area had fewer than 10 fire-related incidents.
Source: Con Fire
Calls for significant fires began Thursday at 10:30 AM with a vegetation fire on Leland Road in Pittsburg confirmed to have been started by fireworks at consumed 10 acres. The last significant incident was another vegetation fire that started about 10:30 PM in Antioch on the hill off Hillcrest Avenue behind the Hillcrest Crossings Shopping Center between where KFC and the County Market Asian grocery store are located. It caused the evacuation of six homes.
Source: Con Fire
According to Con Fire PIO, Captain Christopher Toler, a care home on Lotus Court was first evacuated, then fire personnel decided to evacuate all six homes closest to the fire. Structure protection was in place and the fire stopped at the fence lines at both the top and bottom of the hill.
Join us tomorrow, Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at 1:30 pm for an exciting presentation by Wildmind Science Learning as we are transported to the tropical world of the rainforest. Featuring live animals such as the armadillo, coendou, macaw, skink, and spectacled owl, audience members will be introduced to the wide variety of animals and plants that call the rainforest home.
By Skylar Schaefer, Communications Specialist, Meals on Wheels Diablo Region
WALNUT CREEK, CA – Meals on Wheels Diablo Region (MOW Diablo Region) is pleased to announce that Lindy Maynes-Kolthoff has been elected to the organization’s Board of Directors. Maynes-Kolthoff has a close relationship with MOW Diablo Region as a volunteer for the Breakfast Bag Program.
Maynes-Kolthoff spent over 35 years serving students in higher education at both the university and community college levels. As the Executive Director of the Los Medanos College Foundation, she was active in her East Contra Costa County area as a member of the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce, member of the Industrial Association of Contra Costa County, was presented with a Proclamation honoring her volunteer work in the City of Pittsburg and served 21 years on the Board of Directors for the Rotary Club of Antioch. Maynes-Kolthoff currently serves on the Board of Directors of Delta Advocacy Foundation as the Grants Chair.
In addition to her volunteering for MOW Diablo Region, Maynes-Kolthoff has personal experience with the organization. Her father volunteered forty years ago and said that it was the best job he ever had. Ten years ago, when her father-in-law needed services, she says that the meal deliveries literally saved his life.
When reached for comment about her new position Maynes-Kolthoff said, “I’ve been volunteering for about two years, now and I deliver breakfast bags to clients in Antioch. Then I substitute, here in Pittsburg when they need a driver.”
“Board Chairman Tim Argenti (formerly of Republic Services) is the one who asked if I’d be willing to serve on the board and I said, ‘sure’,” she stated. “I enjoy volunteering because I think it’s important to support our seniors in our communities. I’m more than happy to, now serve on the board.”
“I’m very humbled to be a part of this amazing organization,” Maynes-Kolthoff added.
Meals on Wheels Diablo Region’s mission is to keep seniors nourished, safe, less isolated, and independent for as long as possible. MOW Diablo Region is the only Meals on Wheels that delivers both meals and supportive services to the entire county. In addition to home delivered meals, the organization provides breakfast bags, grocery bags, cultural cuisine, cafés, fall prevention, friendly visitors, callers, and helpers, case management, and exercise classes. All services are free of charge. To learn more about services, volunteering, or donating, visit mowdiabloregion.org.
About Meals on Wheels Diablo Region:
For more than 50 years, Meals on Wheels Diablo Region has improved the lives of vulnerable seniors in Contra Costa County by delivering nutritious meals and supportive services that allow seniors to remain in their homes safely and with dignity. Programs include home-delivered meals, Breakfast Bags, Grocery Bags, Fall Prevention, Cafés, Care Management, Friendly Visitors, Health and Wellness, and more.
About Meals on Wheels America
Meals on Wheels America is the leadership organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior hunger and isolation. Powered by a trusted volunteer workforce, this network delivers a comprehensive solution that begins with a meal and is proven to enable independence and well-being through the additional benefits of tailored nutrition, social connection, safety and much more. By providing funding, programming, education, research and advocacy, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time.
Live entertainment, dunk tank and fireworks will happen
Activities begin at 6:00 p.m.
Watch the Dunk Tank Fundraiser Livestream on Instagram @antiochrec_ca
By City of Antioch
After announcing earlier Tuesday, July 2, 2024, that the annual July 4th “parade and festivities are moving forward as planned” as of 6:05 p.m., the City of Antioch changed course and issued cancelled the parade and issued the following announcement:
The remainder of the event will start at 6:00 p.m. in historic Rivertown. Families can enjoy rides and games along with our dunk tank fundraiser in the Kids Zone, music by Universal Soul and Foreverland, and Food Truck Thursdays by the Foodie Crew, followed by our spectacular fireworks show over the Delta at 9:15 p.m.
Thank you to our community for your patience. Please stay cool and be safe this 4th of July!”
“An Excessive Heat Warning and a Heat Advisory is in effect now until 11 PM NEXT Tuesday. San Francisco will be under a Heat Advisory now until 7 PM Thursday. High temperatures in the upper 90s to near 110 are expected in the Excessive Heat Warning, while highs from the lower 80s to mid-90s are expected within the Heat Advisory. In addition, limited overnight cooling is expected for areas away from the immediate coast and in higher terrain. Never leave people or pets in vehicles! Limit outdoor activities during the afternoon and evening. Stay hydrated and take cooling breaks.”
As previously reported, two cooling centers plus, hydrating and misting stations in Rivertown will be provided during the celebration.
·Cooling Centers: City Hall and the Nick Rodriguez Community Center will be open as cooling centers during the event.
·Misting Stations: Stay refreshed with misting stations located throughout festivity locations.
·Hydration Stations: Free water stations will be available to keep you hydrated throughout the day.
Source: Temperature from Apple Weather app and notice from City of Antioch.
4 PM “parade and festivities are moving forward as planned”
City will offer options to beat the heat
By Allen Payton
In a post on its Facebook page today, Tuesday, July 2, 2024, the City of Antioch wrote, “We’re excited to celebrate Independence Day with you this year. Despite the expected high temperatures, our July 4th parade and festivities are moving forward as planned.
That’s in spite of the temperature forecast of 104 degrees that day.
Malaya (left) is one of Antioch Animal Services’ longest canine residents, who has been with them 157 days. Photo: Antioch Animal Services
“We hope that this free adoption fee event will help…find new homes for the plethora of wonderful pets in our care.” – Acting Animal Services Manager Cat Cottle
Antioch Animal Services is excited to announce that we are participating in BISSELL Pet Foundation’s Summer National Empty the Shelters™ reduced-fee adoption event, taking place from July 8th to July 31st. This event aims to find loving homes for deserving pets by offering reduced adoption fees and promoting pet adoptions. As the nation’s largest funded adoption event, Empty the Shelters has helped more than 253,000 pets find loving homes. During each nationwide event, BISSELL Pet Foundation sponsors reduced adoption fees of $50 or less to make adoption affordable for prospective pet owners.
Antioch Animal Services will participate July 8-31 offering $0 adoption fees for all dogs and cats.
Our business hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 10am to 5pm
All pets are listed at 24petconnect.com, and are spayed/neutered, microchipped & vaccinated
Walk ins are welcome, appointments will get priority, phone lines open at 830am, (925) 779-6989
“Shelters are struggling with a variety of challenges right now – some are evacuating pets because of wildfires, tornadoes, or even loss of air conditioning in extreme heat, and others are overcrowded and having to euthanize highly adoptable pets to make space, a tragic situation,” said Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation. “BISSELL Pet Foundation’s upcoming Summer National Empty the Shelters event is a crucial opportunity for people to make a real difference in their community through adoption. Every single adoption saves a life and creates space to save another. Please adopt and give a pet a chance it might otherwise not have. If you can’t adopt, fostering saves lives when shelters are full. Deserving pets across the country are counting on all of us.”
Following are key points and additional facts about BISSELL Pet Foundation and Antioch Animal Services:
Empty the Shelters is the nation’s largest funded adoption event and has helped more than 233,000 pets find homes
across the country and in Canada since its inception in 2016.
Empty the Shelters provides reduced adoption fees at shelters, typically ranging from $0 to $50 per animal adoption.
Each participating organization has their own adoption process and requirements.
Our nation’s shelters need your support. Please consider fostering or donating if you unable to add a pet to your family.
Antioch Animal Services has been a party of the Bissell Empty the Shelters™ event since 2016.
All of our adoptable pets are listed at 24petconnect.com, filter by zip code 94509.
“Our little shelter by the Delta is not escaping the effects of the rising cost of living, the increased cost of veterinary care and the restrictions placed on rentals / leases that require hefty deposits or don’t allow any pets to live in them and so, we have many owners requesting surrender of their pets or not coming to get them if they have come in as stray,” said Acting Animal Services Manager Cat Cottle. “With 4th of July fast approaching we know we will be seeing a spike in the number of stray animals that get loose after being spooked by the fireworks and so we will be waiving redemption fees for anyone’s pet that arrives at Antioch Animal Services between July 2nd and July 7th.”
“We hope that this free adoption fee event will help alleviate the overcrowding we have been experiencing and find new homes for the plethora of wonderful pets in our care,” she added.
Due to the excessive heat warning, the City of Antioch is providing cooling centers for your convenience. Residents without home air conditioning or with health conditions made worse with extreme heat and poor air quality are encouraged to seek out the cooling centers.
Cooling centers will be held:
Tuesday, July 2nd through Monday, July 8th from 12:00pm-8:00pm at the Nick Rodriguez Community Center in Rivertown, and the Antioch Community Center in Prewett Family Park except for Thursday, July 4th.
On Thursday, July 4th, cooling centers will be held at the Nick Rodriguez Community Center and Antioch Water Park in Prewett Family Park. The Antioch Community Center will be closed.
Nick Rodriguez Community Center is located at 213 F Street
Kiwanis Club of the Delta-Antioch $1,000 college scholarships and certificates of recognition were presented to Dozier-Libbey Medical High senior Alina Duong by Patty Chan, to Antioch High senior Nicole Harms by Archie Smith, Jr. and to Deer Valley High Class of 2024 graduate SheryKate Corpuz. Photo sources: (left & center) by Kiwanis Club of the Delta-Antioch, (right) Facebook.
To Antioch High, Dozier-Libbey, Deer Valley High graduates
By Allen D Payton
This year, from the proceeds of their fundraisers, including the annual Antioch Restaurant Tour, Holiday Run and Romano Marchetti Memorial Dinner, the Kiwanis Club of the Delta-Antioch awarded $1,000 college scholarships to three graduating seniors. Nicole Harms of Antioch High School, Alina Duong of Dozier-Libbey Medical High School and SheryKate Corpus of Deer Valley High School were honored during each schools’ annual awards ceremony.
Copy of the Certificate of Recognition presented to DVHS Class of 2024 grad SheryKate Corpuz.
The Kiwanis Club of The Delta-Antioch is a group of local men and women who believe in the international organization’s motto, “Serving the Children of the World”. Meetings are held every Tuesday at 8:00 AM, in-person and on Zoom. If you would like to join a meeting, please email kcoantiochca@gmail.com and they will send you an invite.
