Expanded hours for Richmond e-bike program
There are now more hours that you can check out an electric bicycle in Richmond.
The city’s Electric Bike Share program has expanded its hours to 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
The bikes are placed in strategic locations throughout the city. You simply get on the bike, pay the rental fee and zip to your destination.
There are vouchers available for people who live in Richmond Rising project areas to ride for free, including the Iron Triangle, Coronado and Santa Fe neighborhoods.
Free youth Civic Leaders Academy
The Practice Space, a women-led nonprofit in Richmond, is launching a free youth program for youths in grades five to 12 called the Civic Leaders Academy. Over the course of seven months, students will explore the issues they care most about and learn how to participate in meaningful and impactful advocacy.
Mentors will guide students on how to research problems, develop solutions and share their ideas through podcasts and a community panel. The program meets once a month on Saturdays from October to April.
Applications for the program close on Mon., Sept. 22.
Fundraising campaign for mobile spay/neuter bus
A local nonprofit organization is raising money to help buy a mobile clinic for spaying and neutering pets.
The Milo Foundation, a Richmond-based group that rescues adoptable dogs and cats from animal control centers, has launched the campaign to purchase the mobile unit.
A $50,000 donation has already been secured, but the organization needs to raise another $215,000 by Nov. 1 to buy the fully equipped mobile spay and neuter unit known as the SNIP bus to serve communities in Contra Costa County.
Milo Foundation officials say that 6,500 animals entered the county’s animal control system in 2024 and more than 1,100 were euthanized.
They say a crucial solution to the pet overpopulation crisis is spaying and neutering animals to prevent unwanted litters.
“This is a make-or-break moment,” said Lynne Tingle, the founder of The Milo Foundation. “The SNIP Bus will allow us to provide affordable, accessible spay/neuter and basic veterinary care directly in neighborhoods that need it most. Every dollar raised helps prevent future suffering and reduces the strain on our shelters. Right now, the Milo Foundation finds cats and dogs dumped on our doorstep nearly daily and there simply isn’t enough room to shelter them all.”
Fire advisory commission seeking new board member
You have an opportunity to help protect west Contra Costa County from fire danger.
Contra Costa supervisors are looking for candidates to fill a slot on the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District’s Advisory Fire Commission.
The seat is for an at-large alternate on the commission board. Applicants must live in the service area of the former Rodeo-Hercules Fire Protection District.
The position isn’t compensated and applicants must be available for public Zoom interviews on Mon., Oct. 27.
The appointee will fill the remainder of the current term, which ends on June 30. They then would be eligible for a full term that extends to June 30, 2030.
The commission is responsible for confirming cost of abatement reports, conducting weed abatement appeal hearings, approving surplus equipment declarations and advising the district’s fire chief on service matters.
For more information, contact Emily Cooper at ecoop@cccfpd.org or (925) 941-3300, ext. 1200.
Group fighting illegal fireworks reports progress
Speaking of fire danger, a local group that was formed last year to fight illegal fireworks polled the community about its efforts and was encouraged by the results.
“When we launched our efforts in February, we knew it would be a long-term effort,” says Julie Freestone, one of the founders of Stop Illegal Fireworks, in a statement sent to Richmondside. “The survey shows that we accomplished more than we expected.”
She pointed to an Aug. 14 report by the Richmond Police Department that summed up the results of increased enforcement:
- One arrest
- 15 fireworks-related citations and/or reports
- 249 fireworks service calls
- 19 reports shots fires
- Three recovered firearms
- $10,000 worth of fireworks seized
While the Stop Illegal Fireworks survey showed that 60% of those surveyed still felt that the impact of illegal fireworks was “intolerable,” a majority reported that the time period leading up to July 4 was better than the previous year.
Volunteer Janice Haugan, who created and coordinated the survey, says the survey also showed that police dispatchers were overwhelmed by calls.
College preparation workshop for Richmond families
A series of workshops is being held at the West Branch Library to help Richmond families get young children on the path to college.
Workshops this fall will focus on specific grade levels and careers in education, social services and human services. The schedule is:
- Grades K-3: Tue., Oct. 7
- Grades 4-6: Tue., Oct. 21
- Grades 7-12: Thur., Nov. 4
Reporter Jana Kadah and Editor Kari Hulac contributed to this report.
