Delta Heritage Courier
May/June 2026
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DELTA STORIES
It's Delta Cherry Season!
Folks, it’s time to pick cherries!
Gather up your friends and family, grab a bucket or two and head out to our local u-pick orchards.
Delta cherry season typically runs from late April to mid-June, with peak harvest in May. In order to assure a continuous supply of the fruit, local farms wisely plant dozens of cherry varieties that ripen in stages, so when one variety reaches its peak, another is just beginning to ripen.
Visit Harvest Time to find local u-pick farms, roadside stands, and agricultural businesses across Brentwood and East Contra Costa County.
Save the Date: NHA Advisory Committee Applications
Applications will open June 2 for seats on the National Heritage Area Advisory Committee. The announcement will be posted here.
Five members’ and one alternate’s terms expire in September: members Lisa Craig, Carol Jensen, Morris Lum, and Elizabeth Patterson; a vacant member seat; and alternate Janet Lake. Current members are eligible to reapply.
The application deadline is July 20.
Swoon Over Wildflowers this Spring
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Nature lovers, check out East Bay Regional Park District’s Wildflowers In Your Parks, which encourages people to celebrate “hundreds of wildflower species” at local parks and nature preserves.
Included in the lineup is Antioch’s Black Diamond Mines Preserve, where fiery orange California Poppies brighten up the rolling hillsides.
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Celebrate California’s Birthday at Your Local State Park
California is celebrating 175 years of statehood this year! Jumping into the anniversary fun is California State Parks, which is offering more than 170 events during the fifth annual California State Parks Week, June 10-14.
The theme of the planned activities, “This is Where You Live”, highlights the “people, places and programs that make California’s 280 state parks truly special.”
Registration is now open, and the festivities include several Delta-centric events:
June 10: Catching Memories: Fishing 101 at Delta Meadows
June 11: Moving with Ease: Meditation Walk at Delta Meadows Park Property
June 12: Explore the Historic Town of Locke, California
June 13: Catching Memories: Fishing 101 at Brannan Island SRA
Family Harvest Farm's Inspiring Mission
Pittsburg’s Family Harvest Farm, a program of the John Muir Land Trust, is located in a densely populated neighborhood on a site that was once a vacant lot. The 3.5-acre parcel is currently being repurposed into a thriving organic farm.
Family Harvest employs transition-age foster youth, teaching them marketable skills and offering career development guidance. The farm’s hands-on job-readiness program aims to prepare these youth for life outside the foster care system.
The farm's mission is to empower people to discover and participate in a local food system that encourages healthy living, nurtures the environment, and feeds the community.
The program regularly donates fresh produce, grown by the apprentices, to local food banks and schools.
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The Coal Mine Experience
Beginning in the 1850s, people arrived from around the world to carve deep tunnels underground and mine coal (also known as “black diamond”) from the hills of what is now Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve in Antioch.
If you’d like to learn how this rock was “formed, extracted, and used to transform the land, people, and communities of the San Francisco Bay Area,” you can register for a weekend Coal Mine Experience at the preserve. This self-paced event “brings the miners' world to life” for visitors aged 7 and up. Parent participation is required.
Reserve your spot at the Coal Mine Experience.
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Remembering Robert “Bob” Benedetti, 1942-2026
Bob Benedetti, a leader in the Delta heritage community, passed away in February.
“Bob’s passion for Delta history and culture was infectious,” says Blake Roberts, program manager of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area. "His work provided an academic foundation for the National Heritage Area."
Amongst a lifetime of rich achievements, Bob was co-director of the Delta Narratives project, and he also compiled and edited Imagining the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta: Anthology of Voices Across Centuries. Bob participated in many Delta Heritage Forums and Delta Leadership Program events.
Bob’s obituary can be found on the East Lawn Memorial Parks website.
Avocados…in the Delta?
 Pears, almonds, cherries, and wine grapes are the main fruit and nut crops grown in the Delta, but now there’s a new kid on the block: avocados.
Rivermaid Trading Company, based in Lodi, is operating the first commercial avocado orchards in the Delta, producing early-season California avocados.
The Delta avocado project started six years ago with Chiles Wilson Jr., who began sourcing and planting different varieties of avocado trees with the hope of growing them commercially. Wilson teamed up with Mauricio Tapia, an experienced Chilean avocado agronomist and consultant, and together they navigated early challenges to produce the region’s newly successful orchards.
Delta avocados (including Hass, Gem, Fuerte, and Reed) can be harvested as early as January, about two to three weeks ahead of southern growing regions.
"We're achieving excellent yields,” reports Justin Bloss, Rivermaid's sales and marketing manager, “and given the challenges other growing regions are facing, it's reassuring to know we can cultivate fruit more sustainably here in the Delta.”
Seasonal Fun at John Muir National Historic Site
John Muir National Historic Site is chock-full of interesting activities this spring and summer!
Upcoming events include:
Love and Loss: Muir's Conflict & the Beginning of the National Park Service (May 16), which delves into “the struggle Muir faced protecting Hetch Hetchy Valley.”
Exploring Dr. Strentzel’s Fruit Orchard (June 5), where visitors can “taste a bit of history while learning about Dr. Strentzel's fruit ranch.”
Campfire Program (June 27) complete with storytelling, songs, and roasting marshmallows.
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Coast-to-Coast Relay in July Goes Through Delta
 The Delta will host a 71-mile segment of the American Discovery Relay 250 - a 6,800-mile coast-to-coast relay on the American Discovery Trail commemorating the nation's 250th birthday.
The multi-modal (run-walk-bike-ride) relay will be held July 1-November 26, and the Delta segment, which is bicycle-focused, will be on July 8.
Learn about the relay here, and see the detailed calendar here.
Clarksburg's "Mighty" Cornish House
New California Indian Heritage Center
A new California Indian Heritage Center is coming to West Sacramento, with construction now underway. State and tribal leaders broke ground in mid-April on the first phase of the Center.
The site, located on a 51-acre property at the confluence of the American and Sacramento rivers, will include gathering spaces, exhibits, and areas for cultural events led by California Native American Tribes.
The groundbreaking followed the Tribal Nations Summit, where tribal leaders and state officials met to strengthen government-to-government relationships and advance shared priorities—from protecting cultural resources to supporting tribal-led projects across the state.
ON THE WATER
Stone Lakes Guided Paddle Tours
It’s warming up fast, and what better way to spend a peaceful and refreshing afternoon than by canoeing or kayaking in the Delta!
If you’re interested in exploring a (normally restricted) waterway that most people don’t have the opportunity to enjoy, check out the docent-guided Spring Paddle Tours at Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in Hood.
The paddling experience (about three hours) occurs at Lower Beach Lake Slough, a 3-mile historic dredged area. This is a slower paced, relaxed paddle for viewing wildlife, so, warns the Stone Lakes website, “if you feel a need for speed, please visit a local reservoir.”
The guided paddle is free and no reservations are needed. Participants simply need to show up with their canoe or kayak on the specified date and time.
Upcoming paddles:
May 16 from 9am-12pm
June 13 from 9am-12pm
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Sacramento River Cruises featured in Islands Magazine
Islands online magazine recently extolled the “scenic…with serene vibes” experience of meandering down the Sacramento River on a Sacramento River Cruise - sipping local wine, nibbling charcuterie and learning about the river’s flora and fauna.
During the journey, guests will “navigate along a quaint and quiet stretch of the river,” the author enthuses, “enjoying views of waterfront farms and vineyards near Clarksburg.”
The article advises cruisers to look out for otters, turtles, great blue herons and egrets, as the "lush riverbanks are a natural habitat for a variety of species."
The author also recommends boat guests take some time to explore Clarksburg before or after their cruise. “The breezy river town, surrounded by orchards, wineries, and scenic paths,” she adds, “is a lovely getaway in its own right.”
NorthShore Trail Guide
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Want to get up close and personal with the communities of Crockett, Hercules, Pinole, Port Costa, Rodeo and San Pablo?
Check out this fun and informative NorthShore “trail guide,” highlighting not-to-miss spots to dine and drink, play with your dog, dance, day trip and much more.
If you’ve needed an excuse to visit this charming slice of the Bay Area, this guide is it!
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DELTA PRESERVATION
Historic Martinez Train Depot to Get a Glow-Up
Martinez is ready to revitalize its historic Train Depot!
Originally built in 1877 as the city's first train station, the depot is a well-known community landmark located between downtown Martinez and the Marina Waterfront.
In March the Martinez City Council approved the release of a Request for Qualifications and Conceptual Proposals (RFQ/P), seeking an experienced team “with ideas to rehabilitate the building and bring new life to this important site while preserving its character.”
The Council hopes to transform the depot into an “activated destination that supports Downtown businesses, economic vitality, and community activity.”
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Antioch Rallies for its 98-Year-Old Theater
In March, Antioch’s El Campanil Theatre Preservation Foundation announced that its recent GoFundMe campaign had not only reached, but exceeded, its $50,000 fundraising goal.
The campaign was launched in late fall to supplement the 2026 operating costs of the historic theater.
“The overwhelming support shows that people believe in preserving this historic venue, said Sharon Sobel Idul, Board President, “and ensuring it continues to serve as a home for the arts for generations to come.”
El Campanil Theatre opened in 1928 and is a performing arts venue in downtown Antioch. The theatre, whose continued preservation relies on community donations, is a cultural landmark presenting live performances, films, and educational programs for audiences of all ages.
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Contra Costa County Fair is Here!
The month of May is an exciting time in Antioch, home of the Contra Costa County Fair. This year the fair (established in 1859!) takes place May 14-17.
Events include the “Bulls & Broncs” rodeo, live music, pig races, exotic animals and a "walking dinosaur" exhibit. In short, something for the entire family!
To learn more about this year’s entertaining lineup, listen to the Be Curious Contra Costa podcast featuring Cheyenne Erickson, the new CEO of the Fair.
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Love Letter to Brentwood
Harvard University student Rohan Tyagi recently wrote a lyrical and illustrative homage to Brentwood, where he was raised.
“My Brentwood sits at the tail end of Contra Costa County,” he muses, “where suburbs loosen their grip, and the land remembers it used to be dotted with farms.”
Now on the East Coast, he finds himself reflecting on a town that he realizes he loves deeply—one that beckons him back with warm, colorful memories.
“We are Americana filtered through the delta wetland breeze,” he says, “blowing queen palm trees whose shadows stretch across sun-baked lawns.”
MUSEUMS
Picturing America's Pastime
 The Haggin Museum in Stockton is featuring a new exhibit, “Picturing America’s Pastime,” showcasing a selection of baseball images spanning 150 years of the sport’s history.
Curated by the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the world’s premier repository of baseball photographs, each image in the exhibit is accompanied by the “words of those who were there.”
Since the 19th century, “baseball and photography have grown up together,” notes the museum’s website. “From the grandeur of the early game to the vibrancy of today’s sport, every facet of our national pastime has been captured in sepia, color, and black-and-white.”
The exhibit is on view through May 31.
CLASSES AND WEBINARS
Los Medanos College Lecture Series: Lifelong Learning
The following courses will be held at the College's Brentwood Center:
• Balfour, Guthrie & Co: Financing the West and Trade. May 20, ID:100, Section 1. Session fee: $25
• Irrigation Districts and Domestic Water of East Contra Costa. June 17, ID:100, Section 1. Session fee: $25
Enrollment at Los Medanos is not required, but you must register in advance at the Los Medanos College website.
EVENTS
Find fun things to do in the Delta at VisitCADelta.com/events. The site includes community events throughout the legal Delta and the National Heritage Area.
Community events in the Delta (PDF map) or Delta National Heritage Area (PDF map) may be submitted for the calendar by using this form or emailing submit@delta.ca.gov. Please submit events at least one week in advance to ensure time for processing.
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