By Timothy Leong, Public Information Officer, CCCCD
The Contra Costa Community College District (District) has decided to offer predominantly online courses and student services for the entire 2020-21 academic year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. A limited number of students will continue to be allowed on campus to attend hard-to-convert courses and labs — strict adherence to county social distancing guidelines will be enforced to ensure student and employee safety. The District has been operating remotely since March 16, 2020.
“We thought it was best to make this decision as early as possible to give our students, classified professionals, faculty and administrators the opportunity to plan accordingly,” said interim chancellor Gene Huff. “This has been a challenging time for many of our students who are taking online courses for the first time, and we want to thank them for their perseverance and flexibility. Our many support services like tutoring and counseling are ready to assist our students achieve their academic goals with us.”
Registration for spring 2021 courses begins in November and depends on a student’s priority. To view what classes may be offered, students should visit their InSite account or college website of their choice for specific details.
Read MoreTips for navigating plan options during the COVID-19 Pandemic
By Rick Beavin, Desert Pacific Medicare President, Humana
The annual Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plan open enrollment period is traditionally a time for educational events, classes and one on one meetings, but this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are some new and different ways to learn about Medicare. October 15 to December 7 is the time when millions of people eligible for Medicare can access the latest information about available health plans for 2021. In California alone, more than 6.4 million people are enrolled in Medicare including more than 2.9 million with Medicare Advantage
There are resources to help you choose the plan that’s right for you without having to leave home, including informational websites, virtual educational events and one-on-one virtual meetings with sales agents. At the same time, it’s important to safely access Medicare information online while protecting your personal information and avoiding fake offers and other scams.
Here are some tips for how to prepare for the Medicare fall open enrollment period:
- Use an online tool
Go to the Medicare Plan Finder on Medicare.gov to compare plans, benefits and an estimated cost for each plan based on an average member.
If you are interested in Medicare Part D, which helps cover the cost of prescription medications, you can also enter the names of prescription medications you take to ensure those medications are covered by the plan you are considering. You can enroll directly on Medicare.gov.
On Medicare.gov, you can also learn about and enroll in Medicare Advantage plans, sometimes called Part C or MA Plans, and you can also visit an insurance company’s website to learn more about what they offer. Insurance companies that offer Medicare Advantage plans can provide you with detailed information about their plans and services, plus prescription pricing information and other benefits. You can also check to see if your primary care physician or other providers are in-network with the Medicare Advantage plan.
- Sign up for a virtual education workshop
Many insurance companies are offering online workshops to review 2021 Medicare Advantage plan options. Also, check to see if you can set up a virtual one-on-one meeting with an insurance company sales agent – meaning, by phone or video chat. Before you attend a virtual event or meeting, find out in advance how to log on to the meeting to avoid technical issues. It’s a good idea to also prepare a list of questions so that you can ensure you get the information you need. Does the plan include vision, hearing and dental coverage? Will telehealth services be covered? Is transportation to your medical appointments included?
- Protect yourself against Medicare scams
The federal Medicare agency has warned that scammers may try to use the pandemic to steal Medicare beneficiaries’ Medicare numbers, banking information or other personal data. Scammers may try to reach out to you by phone, email, text message, social media or by visiting your home. Only give your Medicare number to your doctor, pharmacist, hospital, health insurer or other trusted health care provider. Do not click links in text messages and emails about COVID-19 from unknown sources, and hang up on unsolicited phone calls offering COVID-19 tests or supplies.
If you are not comfortable accessing plan information online, Medicare.gov has an option for setting up a phone call
For more information, go to Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227).
For more information about Humana plans, you can visit www.Humana.com/Medicare or speak with a licensed Humana sales agent by calling 1-800-213-5286 (TTY: 711) from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time, seven days a week.
Rick Beavin is Desert Pacific Medicare President at Humana in California.
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Tried to run them over with his car; held on $1.5 million bail
By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff
On Sunday afternoon at about 2 PM, an unknown person entered the Blackhawk Police Substation in the Blackhawk community and contacted a deputy sheriff there. The subject displayed erratic behavior and was asked to leave the community. Due to the subject contact, Danville police responded to the substation to assist the deputy.
As the man was leaving in his car, he accelerated his vehicle rapidly and deliberately attempted to run down the officers and deputy. The suspect’s vehicle struck the deputy and a Danville officer. Both fell to the ground. A Danville Police Sergeant discharged his firearm, striking the vehicle, but not the suspect. The suspect fled in his vehicle.
The suspect and his vehicle were located about a mile away by responding deputies. He was apprehended after a struggle with deputies.
The deputy who was hit by the vehicle was treated and released from a local hospital. The officer was treated at the scene by paramedics.
The suspect has been identified as 25-year-old Eduardo Carrillo of Stockton. After being interviewed by detectives, he was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on three counts of attempted murder of a peace officer and a probation violation. He is being held in lieu of $1.5 million bail.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.
Read MoreArrested for elder abuse, in jail since Oct. 2; Sheriff’s Office investigating
By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff
On Saturday, October 17, 2020, at about 6:15 PM, a deputy sheriff escorted a Mental Health Clinician to speak with an inmate at the West County Detention Facility in Richmond.
As the deputy opened the door to the inmate’s cell, she found him unresponsive with a bed sheet wrapped around his neck. Deputies and jail medical staff provided life saving measures until an ambulance and the fire department arrived. The inmate was later pronounced deceased at the scene.
The inmate is identified as 42-year-old Gregory Lynds of Antioch. He was originally arrested by the Antioch Police Department and was booked into jail on October 2, 2020. He was being held on two felony counts of elder abuse (likely to produce great bodily harm or death), two felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon, parole violation, and battery on a peace officer.
The investigation into the apparent suicide is being investigated by the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office and Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.
Read MoreWard 5 of the Community College Board needs change – Enholm must go!
Ward 5 of the Contra Costa Community College District, including Bay Point, Pittsburg, Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley, Knightsen and Bethel Island, is badly in need of new leadership. The current Trustee for this area, Greg Enholm, has engaged in poor decisions, erratic behavior, and unethical acts that have not served the District, Los Medanos College in particular, very well.
This is not new, but enough is enough.
When the Board of Trustees approved in a 4-1 vote the building of the new Campus located in Brentwood, on donated land, with an approved Bond Measure E in 2014, Enholm continued to oppose its construction. An alternative site would have taken years for approval adding costs for acquisition of land and increased taxes. The new campus was needed as the existing leased building in a retail district of Brentwood was over-capacity. In 2016 Enholm also recommended the residents of the nearby Trilogy community sue the District to keep its construction at bay.
This opposition caused numerous delays, added hundreds of thousands of dollars to the cost due to litigation, and for a time imperiled the use of the approved Bond as expenditures needed to begin within an approved time. Covid-19 has impacted its opening, but the students will be served well by this new educational facility.
Especially troubling has been allegations of multiple ethics violations by Enholm that have recently come to light. He has not denied the allegations. The allegations were found to be true by an investigator of the District which included inappropriately trying to get a friend re-classified to be considered for a top-level position as well as ghost-writing an email to the District. As part of the investigation it was noted that Enholm went directly to the Chancellor to ask him to reconsider his friend for the position even though the person was already deemed to be unqualified for the position.
Of late, with the District facing challenges due to COVID-19, he also voted to terminate upper-level district managers, ignoring numerous requests from faculty and classified staff to reconsider that decision. Enholm has stopped listening to the faculty, staff, and his constituents and has engaged in recent actions that have put our District’s financial future at risk.
It is time for new leadership on the Contra Costa Community College District Board: Elect Fernando Sandoval.
Valerie T Lopez
Pittsburg
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Includes grants for temporary housing, home repairs, low-cost loans for uninsured property losses, more
WASHINGTON – Oct. 16, 2020 – 9:20 PM EST – FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of California to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by wildfires from Sept. 4 and continuing.
The President’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Fresno, Los Angeles, Madera, Mendocino, San Bernardino, San Diego and Siskiyou counties. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.
Federal funding is also available to the state, tribal and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency protective measures in Fresno, Los Angeles, Madera, Mendocino, San Bernardino, San Diego and Siskiyou counties.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.
Willie G. Nunn has been named the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Additional designations may be made at a later date if warranted by the results of damage assessments.
Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated area can begin applying for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621- 3362 or 1-800-462-7585 TTY
Read More“This is an opportunity to provide the people of Brentwood and Far East County with the fire service we need and deserve.” – Joel Bryant
Brentwood, CA – Oct. 16, 2020 – Today, in his ad in the Brentwood Press, Brentwood Vice Mayor Joel Bryant, the former President of the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD) Board of Directors, announced his support for the consolidation of the ECCFPD with Contra Costa County Consolidated Fire District (ConFire). The proposal would provide the staffing necessary for the re-opening of two fire stations in the district, with at least one in Brentwood, to help get to the additional three stations that are needed, now.
For Bryant to support it, however, the proposal must be achieved without a tax increase to the residents of Brentwood or the rest of those in both fire districts. It must also provide better pay and benefits to the men and women firefighters of the ECCFPD.
“This is an opportunity to provide the people of Brentwood and Far East County with the fire service we need and deserve,” Bryant said. “The two districts already provide mutual aid to each other, mainly with fire stations and personnel in Brentwood, Oakley, Discovery Bay and Antioch.”
Following is Bryant’s complete statement on the proposal:
“I am currently working with Chief Brian Helmick and Board President Brian Oftedal of the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District, to finalize a permanent solution which provides sustainable fire protection and medical response for not only the families and businesses in Brentwood, but for the entire fire district that we are a part of.
At this time, ConFire is conducting a feasibility study regarding the possibility of consolidating both departments. In order for this to be a successful remedy the merger would need to include significant additional resources, such as:
- At least two additional staffed fire houses, immediately.
- Advanced life support available as part of normal operations.
- Bringing the salaries and benefits of our firefighters in ECCFPD equal to that of ConFire personnel.
The consolidation would, of course bring additional vehicle resources as part of the normal operations, such as a ladder truck, helicopter, and fire boat, to cover the areas that are currently vulnerable.
The goal is to accomplish this without the need to raise additional revenue, such as a local tax, by the residents.”
“I completely support this effort and appreciate the opportunity to work with both Chief Helmick and ConFire Chief Lewis Broschard, the ECCFPD Fire Board, as well as the Board of Supervisors in their diligent efforts to accomplish this goal,” Bryant added.
Joel Bryant has served on the Brentwood City Council for 10 years, 7 of them as Vice Mayor, elected by his fellow councilmembers. He has the support of the East Contra Costa firefighters.
Read MoreModerators include Assemblywoman Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, NBC Bay Area’s Candice Nguyen
Citizens will have opportunity to be a party to political leaders discussing sexual assault prevention and survivor empowerment
Zoom – This town hall is to allow survivors, politicians, and non-profit leaders to engage and brainstorm tangible policy changes and actions to support survivors. We look forward to holding a space to hear potent testimonies of the struggles victims have endured post attack, to listen to the demands of victims, and to address the flaws in our criminal justice system. This will be a platform for a conversation and a chance for leaders to reflect on the direct impact they could have on victims’ lives through their policy decisions.
“I knew we needed to get the people who can make change happen in the same room,” said The Yellow Heart Committee Founder N’dea Johnson. “Getting people together, especially during COVID, is never easy. But the work we’re doing, and the education we’re spreading, it’s just too important to wait.”
The virtual town hall is scheduled for October 17th, 2020 at 4 PM PST/7 PM EST. It consists of three panels: Urgency of the Issue, Reimagining Support for Survivors, and Addressing Necessary Policy Changes. In addition, there will be testimonials from survivors, and a panel of political figures. They are listed below.
Speakers:
US Congressman Eric Swalwell
US Congressman Mike Thompson
CA State Assemblymember Rob Bonta
CA State Assemblymember Shirley Weber
Panelists:
CA State Assemblymember Tim Grayson
SC State House Candidate Dr. Jermaine Johnson
Antioch City Council Member Monica Wilson
Oakland City Council President Rebecca Kaplan
President of Alliance For Hope International Casey Gwinn
CEO of Love Never Fails Vanessa Russell
President of SF Pride Carolyn Wysinger
Moderators
CA State Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
NBC Investigative Reporter and Survivor Candice Nguyen
Suisun City Vice Mayor Wanda Williams
Event Details:
What: Virtual Zoom Town Hall
When: Saturday, October 17, 2020
Where: Zoom. Register Here: https://bit.ly/3mJ9yiv
For any additional information, please contact us at yellowheartcommittee@gmail.com
The Yellow Heart Committee is an organization that is mobilizing to help survivors of trauma through policy making and community outreach. For more information, please visit and get involved at https://www.yellowheartcommittee.com/
Read MorePLEASE JOIN US.
Supervisor Federal Glover was there for our firefighters and our residents during the massive fires we experienced the last couple of years. We wholeheartedly support Supervisor Glover’s re-election and look forward to working closely with him for another term.
Read MoreBy Daniel Borsuk
The opening of the Contra Costa Health Department thirteenth Covid-19 testing site in Bay Point has helped the county ramp up test, the county’s chief goal in turning the tide on COVID-19, Contra Costa Public Health Director Anna Roth told the board of supervisors on Tuesday.
“Testing is one area of focus as over 45,000 tests have been given in our county to date,” Roth told supervisors when she also informed the elected officials via teleconference about the opening this week of a COVID-19 testing site at 215 Pacifica Ave. in Bay Point, one of the county’s major underserved areas.
“This week’s opening of aa new test site in Bay Point has drawn a lot of good feedback,” Roth said. As of Tuesday, Contra Costa County had 17,728 COVID-19 cases and 230 deaths had been recorded since flu struck in March.
Before the opening of the Bay Point test site, the county was giving 3,200 tests a day at 12 sites and the goal is to eventually boost the frequency rate to 4,500 with the Bay Point location.
Roth also reported that the county has an overall COVID-19 positivity rate of 2.4 percent, which is a major improvement from a 6 percent positive rate that the county had bothered county health officials during the earlier months of the pandemic.
In Other Board Action:
At the meeting, the elected officials approved three abatement cases located in Crockett, Richmond and Bethel Island.
Supervisors assessed a $28,307.15 tax bill on the property at 232 Kendell Ave. in Crockett for removal of debris. The Crockett property is owned by Mark Noonan. Supervisors charged a $14,481.70 bill to Donald Hampton for clean up and debris removal costs related to his property at 319 Chesley Ave. in Richmond. Supervisors also assessed a $9,309 clean-up bill to Darlene Joy Gargulio for abatement action taken at her property at 2600 Dutch Slough Road in Oakley.
“I know neighbors are gratified for the abatement action,” Supervisor Diane Burgis of Oakley said after the vote. No one spoke on behalf of the property owners.
Supervisors approved their 2021 schedule which includes 30 regular board meetings, 12 fire commission meetings and five housing authority commission meetings.
Without discussion, supervisors approved as a consent item the fiscal year 2020-2021 secured property tax rates will generate more than $2.5 billion in property tax revenue to be apportioned to the county, cities, and other eligible agencies.
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