 Greetings,
With Halloween just around the corner, please see the story below for tips from the Alameda County Public Health Department on enjoying a safe Halloween. I know in my neighborhood we are looking forward to the little ones dressing up in their scariest costumes to Trick-or-Treat.
As we’ve slowly reopened and attempted to return to more regular operations across the county and in our daily lives with kids back in school, restaurants opened for indoor dining, movie theaters opened, we’ve received reports of an increase in student mental health needs. When we face an extended period of high stress and uncertainty as we have over the past year and a half, one of the most important things we can do for ourselves is to take care of our mental health. Thankfully, our behavioral health department has a wide range of services and programs that may offer the support you or a loved one may be looking for. At District 2, we recognize the important role that art and creativity plays in promoting mental health, especially amongst our youth. For this reason, we will be doing another county-wide youth poetry slam for youths ages 11-24 starting November 29, 2021. In addition to sharing poetry and artistic expression with a tight knit group of peers, all participants will win gift card prizes to help them and their families offset some of the financial burdens incurred during the pandemic. For more information and to sign up, visit: www.slammingdown.com.
Just as we are focused on improving mental health outcomes for our kids and residents, District 2 is also a champion for the environment and seeks to mitigate the effects of climate change. The recent oil spill off our Southern California coast and this recent story that ran in the SF Chronicle about this past summer being the driest on record in more than 100 years underlines the critical need to address our climate policies and practices at every level from within our own homes to globally.
Thankfully the recent rains have dampened the high fire danger we’ve experienced into the fall in recent years. But we still experienced more devastating fires this year in Tahoe and across the west. Unfortunately, due to our national and global inability to fully address climate change since the 1970's, we have experienced continued drought conditions and record setting high temperatures that have caused fire season to start earlier and earlier each year. Please take this respite from the fire season to familiarize yourself with local Community Emergency Response Teams training, defensible space, and other fire safety resources that can help prepare you and your home for future seasons.
If you're curious about climate justice, you can stay up to date on climate related issues through local publications (such as this article from the SF Chronicle on the future of plastic recycling in California) or join a climate justice organization such as Environmental Defense Fund. By staying informed, coming together, and taking action, we can make the difference needed to help secure the safety of future generations.
 Halloween is spooky but staying healthy shouldn't be! These tips from the Alameda County Public Health Department will help keep your family safe while out trick-or-treating or celebrating Dia de los Muertos.
- Get fully vaccinated
- Vaccines are our best protection against infection. All three currently available vaccines are safe and effectively reduce risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death due to COVID-19.
- Find a vaccination location near you: https://covid19.acgov.org/vaccines.page?#availability and https://www.cityofberkeley.info/covax/
- Stay home if you have, or think you may have, COVID-19.
- Do not attend celebrations or participate in activities if you feel sick, or if you have come into close contact with someone who has COVID-19 and you are not yet fully vaccinated.
- Wear a face mask.
- Vaccinated individuals can carry COVID-19 without showing symptoms. Everyone, regardless of vaccination status, is required to wear a face mask in indoor public settings.
- Face masks are recommended in private settings where not everyone has been vaccinated or when around people who are otherwise vulnerable or whose immune systems are compromised.
- A costume mask is not a substitute for a well-fitted face mask that covers your mouth and nose.
- Avoid wearing a costume mask over a protective cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe.
- Gather outdoors.
- Indoor activities where people from different households mix, like haunted houses or indoor mazes, are higher risk for everyone—especially for persons not yet vaccinated.
- Take safety precautions when trick-or-treating. o If participating in traditional outdoor trick-or-treating, wear a face mask or keep your distance from others to help reduce your risk of getting COVID-19.
- Take hand sanitizer with you and use it frequently. Remember to wash your hands after coming home, and especially before eating any treats.
- Keep gatherings small.
- Large gatherings, even if they are outdoors, pose risk for COVID-19.
- Events with crowds greater than 1,000 indoor attendees or crowds greater than 10,000 outdoor attendees must comply with California’s Mega-Event Guidance.
Read and download the full notice here.
October offers some fun activities in the Regional Parks.
Here are a few Halloween-themed activities that families might enjoy!
*Registration required
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- Fri, Oct 29, 6-8:30pm, Halloween Night Exploration, Sunol*
- Sat-Sun, Oct 30-31, 11am-2pm, Halloween Hangout: Wings, Webs, and Wetlands, Big Break*
- Sun, Oct 31, 11:30am-12:30pm, Costume Clothespin Dolls, Ardenwood
- Sun, Oct 31, 1:30-2:30pm, Halloween Farm Games
- Sun, Oct 31, 9:30am-3pm, Spooky Scavenger Hunt, Del Valle
For full list of calendar events, visit: https://www.ebparks.org/cals/
The Alameda County Board of Supervisors will hold a public community forum to provide information and to receive and consider public comment, under Transparent Review of Unjust Transfers and Holds (TRUTH) Act in accordance with Government Code Sections 7283 and 7283.1.
Information about access to individuals that has been provided to the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency by law enforcement departments under the Board’s jurisdiction in calendar year 2020 will be presented on Tuesday, November 2, 2021 at 2p.m.
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Due to COVID-19 the Board Chambers remained closed to in-person participation. Members of the public may observe and provide public comment during the meeting by following the instructions in the teleconferencing guidelines posted online at: http://acgov.org/board/broadcast.htm.
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In response to the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the local workforce, ACWDB is seeking submissions to satisfy the heightened need for sector-based training programs. This funding resource is made available through federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding (future awards may include distinct funding). |
This funding opportunity seeks to serve 60 dislocated workers through innovative sector programs that prioritizes training and job placement of dislocated workers into ACWDB’s Industry Sector and Occupational Framework (ISOF) aligned employment opportunities. Applicant program strategies should enhance and promote partnerships within the Alameda County’s network of service providers and be in alignment with ACWDB’s Four-Year Local Plan.
Currently, ACWDB is making available $240,000 for this solicitation. ACWDB anticipates funding 2-3 proposals. Contingent upon the availability of additional funds, as well as future needs, ACWDB may continue, expand, or otherwise consider future funding awards resulting from successfully qualifying submissions to this solicitation.
Applications are to by 5pm on Friday, November 5, 2021. Click here for more information and application.
 The East Bay Regional Park District will be hosting a public workshop via Zoom for the Restore Hayward Marsh Project. The project website is here, and includes a flyer and the Zoom link information. Please join us if you (or others from your organization) are available for this workshop on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 at 6:30PM.
The Zoom link is also here: https://ebparks.zoom.us/j/82229191777
 Christ Center Missionary Baptist Church and the Hayward South Alameda County NAACP are bringing a COVID Vaccination Clinic to the community. The clinic will be open from November 6 - December 4, 2021 from 11am - 3pm at 229 Maud Ave. Hayward, CA 94541.
 East Bay Community Energy (EBCE) and Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) residential customers who are behind on their bills can take advantage of a new statewide program aimed at helping relieve their debt.
Through the program, each on-time payment of future bills earns customers forgiveness on one-twelfth (1/12) of their total eligible debt. In other words, one year of on-time payments could equal complete forgiveness on eligible debt up to $8,000.
PG&E is managing this program for both PG&E and EBCE customers. To learn more about eligibility and enroll, speak with a PG&E customer service representative at (800) 743-5000 or visit www.pge.com/amp.
 The annual Hearts of Hayward event normally is held each year in October in the grand white tent at St. Rose Hospital.
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, this large in-door event had to adjust and the Planning Committee opted to go with a pre-recorded event honoring people who volunteer their time for the benefit of the residents in the City of Hayward. We hope you enjoy the show and hope you will decide to volunteer in your city too!
You can watch the prerecorded event here.
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