CONTRA COSTA COUNTY

State Sen. Steve Glazer, D-Contra Costa, announced Wednesday that he has hired Concord City Councilmember Dominic Aliano as his new 7th District coordinator.

“I’m excited to bring Dominic on board to lead our district office,” Glazer said. “Dominic has a strong background in delivering on the needs of local constituents. And he brings a personal history to my Senate district, having been raised in Concord and serving their residents on the City Council.”

Aliano will begin his new role on Monday. He replaces George Escutia, who served under Glazer since 2015, the last three-and-a-half years as district director.

Since 2015, Aliano has served as district representative for two Contra Costa County supervisors — Karen Mitchoff and Federal Glover. His work included economic development, sustainability, environmental health, zoning and code enforcement.

Aliano has also worked in a variety of leadership positions. He has served on Concord’s City Council since December 2018, including as mayor; on the Boards of Directors for the Monument Crisis Center, Todos Santos Business Association and Support4Recovery; and as a Planning Commissioner for the city of Concord.

Aliano graduated in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in political science from Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington. The 7th District is comprised of the following cities: Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton, Antioch, Brentwood, Clayton, Concord, Danville, Lafayette, Martinez, Moraga, Oakley, Orinda, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, San Ramon and Walnut Creek.

— state Sen. Glazer’s office

ANTIOCH

‘Taste of Italy’ gala raises money for Elderly Wish group

Tickets are on sale for the 22 annual Heart to Heart Gala benefiting the Elderly Wish Foundation. “A Taste of Italy” will be held starting at 6 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Lone Tree Golf and Event Center in Antioch at 4800 Golf Course Road.

The gala will include an Italian buffet, silent auction, 50/50 raffle, live auction and entertainment. The cost is $80 per person. For tickets or more details, visit elderlywish.org online or call 925-978-1883 .

— Judith Prieve, staff

WALNUT CREEK

City’s Public Works crews continue storm recovery efforts

Walnut Creek Public Works crews worked steadily since the beginning of the storm surge on New Year’s Eve through Friday, by which time those efforts had paid off with relatively few major incidents at city facilities, parks, open spaces and streets. Unfortunately, there were some homes on private property impacted with flooding due to the magnitude of the storms.

While Public Works responded to more than two dozen storm-related incidents on Wednesday, nearly all of them were resolved by the end of the evening. Additional Police Department dispatchers were brought in to handle the expected increased call volume. The concern now turns to impacts the saturated ground will have with trees potentially falling.

“While we know the rain is going to continue for days, the worst of it appears to be leveling off into a regular winter storm,” said Walnut Creek City Manager Dan Buckshi. “The city proactively planned for extra staffing to clear storm drains, respond to calls of localized flooding and be available throughout the evening Wednesday night.”

Community members who see any problems on roadways, with landslides or localized flooding should call the Police Department’s nonemergency number, 925-943-5844. Please use 9-1-1 only for a life-threatening emergency. The city also is urging residents to register for emergency alerts issued from Walnut Creek by texting WCALERT to the number 888-777.

Since New Year’s Eve, the city had distributed 45,000 sandbags and 650 yards of sand as of Friday. The city will continue to monitor conditions and is prepared to open its Emergency Operations Center if the need arises.

— city of Walnut Creek

California Writers Club, Mount Diablo Branch to meet

Paul Zeidman, an award-winning screenwriter and the author of three “Go Ahead and Ask!” screenwriting books, will be the featured speaker at the Jan. 14 lunch meeting of the Walnut Creek-based California Writers Club, Mount Diablo Branch (CWC Mt. Diablo).

Zeidman’s talk will cover “The Magic of Storytelling through the Art of the Screenplay.” Check-in will be at 11 a.m. at Zio Fraedo’s restaurant in Pleasant Hill. Guests are welcome. For more details, to register for the meeting or join the club, visit cwcmtdiablo.org online.

— CWC Mt. Diablo

CONCORD

Apply by Jan. 20 for openings on several city panels

At a recent meeting, the Concord City Council announced recruitment for openings on several city boards and commissions listed below. Applications are due to the city clerk by 5 p.m. Jan. 20.

• Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee — the committee is seeking two individuals willing to each serve a four-year term ending Feb. 28, 2027.
• Commission on Aging — the commission is seeking three individuals willing to serve the remainder of a four-year term ending June 30 and two individuals willing to serve the remainder of a four-year term ending June 30, 2025.
• Community Services Commission — the commission is seeking one individual willing to serve the remainder of a four-year term ending June 30, 2025.
• Concord Pavilion Community Outreach Committee — the committee is seeking two individuals willing to serve a four-year term ending Feb. 28, 2027, and one individual willing to serve the remainder of a four-year term ending Feb. 28, 2025.
• Design Review Board — the board is seeking one public member willing to serve a four-year term ending Feb. 28, 2027, and one design professional willing to serve a four-year term ending Feb. 28, 2027.
• Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission — the commission is seeking one individual willing to serve the remainder of a four-year term ending June 30, 2025.
• Planning Commission — the Commission is seeking two individuals willing to serve a four-year term ending Feb. 28, 2027.

Information about the boards and commissions and a link to apply for the openings is on the city’s webpage at cityofconcord.org/263/Boards-Commissions.

— city of Concord

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