Antioch

Candidates forum Thursday: The Antioch Chamber of Commerce will host a candidates forum for Antioch city and school board elections, and for the county supervisors District 5 race.

The forum will go from 5 to 9:45 p.m. Thursday at Antioch City Council Chambers, at Third and H streets in downtown Antioch. All questions have been submitted to the candidates in advance, and are based on the Clear Vision 20/20 long-range planning project.

The school board forum will be at 5 p.m.; the City Council forum at 6 p.m.; the mayor forum at 7 p.m.; the supervisor forum at 8 p.m.; and the treasurer forum at 9 p.m.

For more information, call the Chamber of Commerce at 925-757-1800.

— Hilary Costa

Antioch

October is adopt-a-shelter-dog month: The Antioch Animal Shelter is marking October as the ASPCA's national Adopt a Shelter Dog Month by holding a drawing for a custom-made dog house valued at $550.

Each person who adopts an animal from the shelter during the month will have his or her name entered in a drawing to win the "fur chalet," a log cabin replica made by Antioch resident Julie Carlson. The dog house features a shingled roof, fresh air vent, and detachable winter door.

As another way to mark the month, the nonprofit group Friends of Animal Services will pay

For more information, call the Antioch Animal Shelter at 925-779-6989.

— Hilary Costa

Pittsburg

HEALTH CARE DISTRICT TO DISTRIBUTE DEFIBRILLATORS: In hopes of bringing a much-needed life-saving tool to public settings, the Los Medanos Community Healthcare District is looking to place a limited number of automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, in nonprofit public locations.

The defibrillators, which are being purchased by the district, would be donated to sites with large gatherings where there are high risks of sudden cardiac arrest. There have been many requests for AEDs throughout the county, said Marilyn Condit, a district board member.

More importantly, said Pam Dodson of Contra Costa Emergency Medical Services, the nonprofit groups will get training and education on using the AEDs.

The units and alarmed cabinets to store them cost about $1,500 apiece, Dodson said. Seventy-five percent of the people who die suddenly of heart disease, often without previous symptoms, are outside of a hospital setting. Statistics show that fewer than 5 percent of those who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital will survive. AEDs can increase a person's chance of survival when used immediately.

Training on how to use AEDs would be conducted by the CPR F.A.S.T. group, Condit said, adding that Mt. Diablo Healthcare District is also looking to provide AEDs for its area.

Interested groups should apply by completing the form on the district Web site, www.lmchd.org. For more information, call 925-432-2200.

— Paul Burgarino

Antioch

foreclosure workshop set for saturday: Antioch's First Five Center will hold a free foreclosure seminar from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Nonprofit attorneys and HUD-certified housing counseling agencies will be on hand to help homeowners understand the foreclosure process, tenants rights, refinance procedures, and income tax issues related to foreclosure.

Homeowners can bring their loan documents and discuss them with lenders or housing counselors in one-on-one sessions. Renters whose landlords are in foreclosure are also invited to attend. Translators will be available for Spanish speakers.

The First Five Center is located at 512 W. 5th St. in Antioch. For more information, call 510-412-9290.

— Hilary Costa

Pittsburg

Man Recognized for valor: A local man was nominated to be the Air National Guard 129th Rescue Wing's Airman of the Year for his involvement fighting California fires this past summer.

Shane Peralta of Pittsburg, who holds a senior rank as an aerospace medical technician, was assigned to help combat the Telegraph Fire near Yosemite National Forest.

After weeks of checking for hot spots, removing any fuel for the fires and fulfilling medic duties, he and his group were successful in their efforts to squelch the wildfire, according to a news release.

Peralta is a care staffer and field supervisor at Eldercare Services in Walnut Creek.

Last weekend, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger honored Peralta with the California Commendation for his efforts.

If Peralta is chosen as the Airman of the Year for the 129th Rescue Wing, he will move on to consideration for the statewide Airman of the Year award for the California Air National Guard, and ultimately could be nominated as the prestigious Air Force Airman of the Year.

— Paul Burgarino