Concord, CA – On Thursday, October 6th at 11:30 a.m., STAND! For Families Free of Violence’s 24th Annual Rebuilding Lives Luncheon and more than 350 civic, business, and community leaders gathered at the Concord Hilton this year to honor Domestic Violence Awareness Month, celebrate the resilience of domestic violence survivors, and raise more than $140,000 for programs that help survivors of family violence.
Keynote speakerTony Porter, Co-founder and CEO of A CALL TO MEN, addressed the role of men in ending violence against women. Exploring the influence that men have with boys and other men as fathers and coaches, he discussed how to encourage boys and men to stand up to those promoting men’s violence. “It is time to stop asking why women stay and starting asking men to stop.”
“Today it is clearer than ever that domestic violence is a men’s issue too. We will end this problem only when men, too end their silence around violence and tell each other this is no longer acceptable behavior. We need to change the conversation.” said Gloria Sandoval, CEO of STAND! For Families Free of Violence.
Though the movement to end family violence has made great progress, there is still work to be done: On average, one in four women and one in seven men will experience intimate partner violence severe enough to send them to the hospital; one in five teens will experience teen dating violence; and 3.2 million children will experience domestic violence in their homes annually. Awareness-raising events, such as the Rebuilding Lives Luncheon, are important for strengthening the movement as well as inspiring new supporters to help end domestic violence.
About STAND! for Families Free of Violence
STAND! helps 15,000 people in Contra Costa County break the intergenerational cycle of violence each year by saving lives, rebuilding families, and changing the future: intervening when violence strikes, supporting victims as they rebuild their lives, and guiding the community as a whole toward nonviolence. Visit www.standffov.org for more information.
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The low-bid contract, awarded to two Contra Costa firms, is $3.9 million below costs budgeted for this final piece of State Route 4 Bypass Project
On Wednesday, October 19 the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) Board voted unanimously to award a contract to Brosamer & Wall, Inc. and Bay Cities Paving & Grading for the construction of a number of improvements to the State Route 4/Balfour Road interchange. The purpose of the project is to improve traffic flow on State Route 4 and enhance safety for everyone who uses the interchange at Balfour Road. It is the final roadway element of the State Route 4 Bypass Project, constructed with over $400 million in local funds and $25 million in State funds, over the last sixteen years. It includes the completion of the two lanes between Sand Creek and Balfour Roads.
Contra Costa-based construction firms Brosamer & Wall and Bay Cities Paving & Grading formed a joint venture to bid on this project (BWBCJV). BWBCJV’s low-bid is approximately $3.9 million below the $40,855,000 budgeted for the construction phase of the project.
The project has also benefitted from the Contra Costa Water District’s (CCWD) work with Caltrans to lift a mandate that would have required the relocation of a water line near the site. The deal allowed for the 90-inch water main to remain in place and saved Contra Costa taxpayers $18 million.
“I’m excited to see CCTA move forward on the State Route 4/Balfour Road interchange improvements by awarding this contract. That it is going to two Contra Costa construction firms who came in with an extremely competitive bid, makes it even better,” said Brentwood Mayor and CCTA Commissioner Robert Taylor.
The project will result in a new interchange at the junction of State Route 4 and Balfour Road in Brentwood replacing the existing at-grade signals with a new structure which will carry State Route 4 traffic over Balfour Road. New on- and off-ramps will allow traffic to smoothly enter State Route 4 from Balfour Road and vice versa. This new configuration will ease traffic congestion and improve safety at this busy intersection.
“Finally, we’re going to have this section of the Bypass completed, giving us a safer roadway and allowing people to spend less time sitting in traffic and more time with their family,” said Doug Hardcastle, Chairman of the State Route 4 Bypass Authority and Chair of Transplan, the East County division of the CCTA. “It’s our job as leaders to make sure the money is spent properly and to give the people living in East County a better quality of life. This is part of the progression of the road that will eventually connect to Tracy.”
This portion of the State Route 4 project is budgeted at $74.3 million including Environmental Clearance and Design, Utility Relocation, and Construction and Construction Management. The engineer’s estimate for construction was $40,855,000. BWBCJV’s bid of $36,925,826 results in a savings of $3.9 million. Both Brosamer & Wall, which is based in Walnut Creek and Concord-based Bay Cities Paving and Grading have a long history of providing excellent service on CCTA projects. Brosamer & Wall is currently under contract with the Authority on the I-80/San Pablo Dam Road project. Bay Cities Paving & Grading has worked on a number of projects for CCTA, including the State Route 4 Hillcrest project and the State Route 4 Widening and Sand Creek Interchange project.
“We are incredibly proud to be part of a project that will improve safety and improve the flow of traffic in our home county,” said Bob Brosamer with Brosamer & Wall. “By forming a partnership we’ve been able to offer a very competitive rate and we are putting local measure dollars to work using local residents on our workforce,” added Ben Rodriguez with Bay Cities Paving & Grading.
Utility work has already begun for the new interchange and construction is expected to begin in late 2016 or early 2017 and is expected to be complete in late Summer 2019.
About The Contra Costa Transportation Authority
The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) is a public agency formed by Contra Costa voters in 1988 to manage the county’s transportation sales tax program and oversee countywide transportation planning efforts. CCTA is responsible for planning, funding and delivering critical transportation infrastructure projects and programs that connect our communities, foster a strong economy, increase sustainability, and safely and efficiently get people where they need to go. CCTA also serves as the county’s designated Congestion Management Agency, responsible for putting programs in place to keep traffic levels manageable. More information about CCTA is available at ccta.net.
Read MoreThe Chancellor’s Search Committee has announced the selection of three finalists for the position of Chancellor of the Contra Costa Community College District (District). The finalists are: Eugene Huff, Dr. Kindred Murillo, and Dr. Fred Wood.
The 20 members of the Search Committee have been working since May 24th to recruit and interview candidates and narrow their choices down to the top three.
Public forums have been scheduled at each college and the District Office on Monday, October 31, 2016, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The three finalists will make statements and answer questions from attendees. The public forums will be 50 minutes each and are open to the community, students, faculty and staff. A detailed schedule of the public forums is available at www.4cd.edu.
If anyone is unable to attend the scheduled public forums, the public forums held at Contra Costa College will be streamed live, and links to these recorded public forums will be available on the District website. Online comments about the finalists will be accepted through November 1, 2016, 5:00 p.m.
The Governing Board will interview all three finalists on November 1, 2016, and conduct additional deliberations as needed. It is anticipated that a public meeting will be scheduled within a couple of weeks following the interviews at which time the Governing Board will take action on the Chancellor search.
The Chancellor serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the District and reports directly to the five-member elected Governing Board. The Chancellor, in collaboration with the three college presidents and other District leadership, is responsible for assessing, planning, organizing and evaluating the resources, programs and services of the District to meet the educational needs of the students and the community.
As the educational and administrative leader of the District, the Chancellor represents the District to community groups, business and industry, labor organizations, public school districts, the Chancellor’s Office of the California Community Colleges, the University of California, California State University, private colleges and universities, city and county agencies, and the California legislature.
Following are three finalists for Contra Costa Community College District Chancellor:
Gene Huff has been with the Contra Costa Community College District since 2001. He has served as Executive Vice Chancellor, Administrative Services, since 2013, overseeing the fiscal services, human resources, information technology, police services and risk management areas for the District. He first served as a contract administrator, Vice Chancellor of Human Resources, in 2004 and has been the District’s chief negotiator since that time. Prior to joining the District, Huff worked for Whirlpool Corporation in operations and human resources for eleven years. Huff serves on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors for the Contra Costa County Schools Insurance Group, and chairs the District’s Retirement Board of Authority. He is best known for training and presenting on collective bargaining, and interest-based bargaining in particular, to human resources and other groups for almost a decade. He graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in management.
Dr. Kindred Murillo is a passionate college educator serving for twenty years in the California Community College System. Serving for the past five years as the Superintendent/President of Lake Tahoe Community College, Kindred has worked with the campus and the local community to financially stabilize the college through Measure F, transparent and accountable budgets, and a focus on scheduling for “student access and success.” Before arriving in Tahoe, she served as the Vice Chancellor of Administrative Services for Contra Costa Community College District. Kindred also served as the Vice President of Administrative Services at Pasadena Area Community College District. She was promoted to Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services when Copper Mountain Community College became a separate district. Kindred was hired as an adjunct faculty at Desert Community College District in 1996, served as a full-time faculty member, and moved into college administration in 2000. She brings a unique background to community college with 13 years of business and six years of governmental relations experience. Kindred is a product of the community college system, graduating from Barstow College with a liberal arts degree. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at Redlands University and earned a Master of Science in Organizational Development and a doctorate in Organizational Leadership at Pepperdine University. Kindred enjoys spending time with her family riding bikes, hiking, and paddle boarding. She loves to read and is an avid seeker of knowledge.
Dr. Fred Wood presently serves as Chancellor at the University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC). UMC, which was a two-year technical college beginning in 1966 and transitioned to a baccalaureate granting institution in 1993, is a work-force focused campus of the U of M system of which half of the degree seeking students are on-campus students and the other half are on-line. UMC offers an experiential learning based curriculum where on-campus students are required to complete an internship and currently offers 14 degrees fully on-line. Chancellor Wood joined UMC after a 26-year career at the University of California, Davis, where he served as vice chancellor of student affairs from 2007 to 2012, leading one of the largest student affairs portfolios in the nation. His career at UC Davis included other leadership positions, as well, such as interim vice provost for undergraduate studies and associate dean of the College of Letters and Science, while concurrently serving as a faculty member in chemistry. He began both his college education and professional career at the community college. Prior to UC Davis, Dr. Wood was a faculty member at North Idaho College and his first teaching assignment during graduate school was at Diablo Valley College. A first-generation college graduate, Chancellor Wood earned an A.A from Diablo Valley College, and B.S. and Ph.D. in chemistry from UC Davis. He is married and has three grown children. He enjoys hiking, biking and skiing with his family.
The Contra Costa Community College District (CCCCD) is one of the largest multi-college community college districts in California. The CCCCD serves a population of 1,019,640 people, and its boundaries encompass all but 48 of the 734-square-mile land area of Contra Costa County. The District is home to Contra Costa College in San Pablo, Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, as well as educational centers in Brentwood and San Ramon. The District headquarters is located in downtown Martinez.
Following are the Members of the Chancellor Search Committee:
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Flexible scheduling makes Cancer Society’s Road To Recovery program attractive volunteer opportunity
Today’s busy lifestyles can make it hard to find time to volunteer, however, the benefits of volunteering are enormous to you, your family and your community. The right match can help you make an impact int he community, learn new skills and even advance your career. As an American Cancer Society volunteer, you also can honor a survivor or a loved one lost to cancer while joining the fight to end the disease.
The American Cancer Society’s Road To Recovery® program offers flexible scheduling and a chance to give back while literally helping to save lives.
An estimated 172,090 California residents will learn they have cancer this year and getting to their scheduled treatment will be their greatest concern. To helppatients get to the critical care they need without additional stress, the American Cancer Society Road To Recovery program can help providefree transportation to and from treatment for people who have cancer and who do not have a ride or are unable to drive themselves.
“One cancer patient requiring radiation therapy could need between 20 to 30 trips to treatment over the course of six weeks,” said Elizabeth Turney,Program Manager, Mission Delivery for the American Cancer Society. “A patient receiving chemotherapy may need weekly treatment for up to a year.”
Many cancer patients don’t own a vehicle, can’t afford the extra gasoline, or don’t have access to public transportation. Some patients may be elderly and unable to drive, too ill to drive, or have no family members or friends who are able to provide regular assistance with transportation.
“Volunteering doesn’t have to take over your life to be a valuable experience,” said Elizabeth Turney “In fact, just three or four hours per week can be highly beneficial to both you and your chosen cause. The important thing is to volunteer only the amount of time that feels comfortable to you. Volunteering should be a fun and rewarding experience, not another chore on your to-do list.”
The Road To Recovery program provides transportation options for patients in dire situations and currently is in need of volunteer drivers in Contra Costa County. Volunteer drivers donate their time and the use of their cars so patients can receive the lifesaving treatments they need. Drivers also provide encouragement and support.
To volunteer, you must have a valid driver’s license, a safe and reliable vehicle, and proof of automobile insurance. Drivers must be 18 years of age or older andhave a good driving history. They arrange their own schedules and can commit as many or as few hours as their schedule allows. The American Cancer Society provides free training to drivers and conducts criminal background and driving recordchecks.
Volunteer coordinators also are needed to schedule the requested rides. Coordinators can work from any location that is convenient for them. Great organization and communication skills can make a major impact on the well-being of cancer patients in the community.
“While learning new skills may be soughtby many, it’s not a requirement for a fulfilling volunteer experience,” said Elizabeth Turney “The most valuable skills you can bring to any volunteer effort are compassion, an open mind, a willingness to do whatever is needed, and a positive attitude.Volunteering is a great way to meet new people. It also strengthens your ties to the community, exposes you to people with common interests, and provides a sense of purpose.”
To learn more about the benefits of volunteering and how to become a Road To Recovery volunteer, call 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.
About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of 2.5 million volunteers saving lives and fighting for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. As the largest voluntary health organization, the Society’s efforts have contributed to a 22 percent decline in cancer death rates in the U.S. since 1991, and a 50 percent drop in smoking rates. Thanks in part to our progress,14.5 million Americans who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will celebrate more birthdays this year. We’re determined to finish the fight against cancer. We’re finding cures as the nation’s largest private, not-for-profit investor in cancer research, ensuring people facing cancer have the help they need and continuing the fight for access to quality health care, lifesaving screenings, clean air, and more. For more information, to get help, or to join the fight, call us anytime, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.
Read MoreCongressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), the only Bay Area member on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, received a perfect grade on the National Education Association’s (NEA) annual report card for the first session of the 114th Congress. The NEA is made up of 3 million members who are teachers and staff that work in every level of education, from pre-school to university graduate programs. Their Legislative Report Card measures Members of Congress’ overall support for public education and educators, with each Member receiving a letter grade of A, B, C, D or F.
“We know student success is highly dependent on early investment in their education. In my first year as a Member of Congress, I fought for a high quality and affordable education for every student in every classroom across the country. I am deeply honored to receive an A from the National Education Association and look forward to continuing to work with the NEA to improve our schools and prioritize student’s academic success,” said Congressman DeSaulnier.
“We commend Congressman DeSaulnier for listening to educators and getting the job done for students during the 114th Congress,” said Mary Kusler, NEA director of government relations. “The Congressional passage of the bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act, which Rep. DeSaulnier supported, is a direct result of what is possible when legislators from both sides of the political aisle put students ahead of partisan politics especially in an era of gridlock in Washington. This result also is an unequivocal recognition that many lawmakers still believe educators – those who know the names of their students – are the most trusted professionals best equipped to make school and classroom decisions to ensure student success regardless of ZIP code. We hope that the bipartisanship displayed at times last year will lead to greater future collaboration. We will continue to work with all elected officials to ensure the success of every student in America.”
Congressman DeSaulnier’s measures to improve Head Start programs, protect student athletes from concussions, and strengthen students’ access to support and “wraparound” services like tutoring, counseling, and other extracurricular activities were successfully included in the Every Student Succeeds Act. Additionally, Congressman DeSaulnier recently completed his Education Listening Tour, during which he visited every school district and in California’s 11th Congressional District.
Read MoreThe tall ship Lady Washington is visiting the Antioch City Marina in Antioch, again, now through November 1st. On Wednesday, October 26, Lady Washington invites guests for a Voyage of Explorers Sail, which is an all-ages public version of its popular three-hour educational program for 4th-7th graders.
On Saturday, October 29, the ship will welcome kids and adults in costume for special tours 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., followed by a two-hour Halloween Sail 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
![The Lady Washington docked near the former Humphrey’s restaurant in Antioch, on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015. Photo by Allen Payton](http://contracostaherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Lady-Washington-at-Antioch-dock-225x300.jpg)
The Lady Washington docked near the former Humphrey’s restaurant in Antioch, on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015. Photo by Allen Payton
October 20 Tours: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. ($5 donation)
October 21 Tours: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. ($5 donation)
October 22 Tours: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. ($5 donation); Adventure Sail: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. ($39/$47)
October 23 Tours: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. ($5 donation); Adventure Sail: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. ($39/$47)
October 24 Ship closed.
October 25 Tours: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. ($5 donation)
October 26 Voyage of Explorers Sail: 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ($35)
Tours: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. ($5 donation)
October 27 Tours: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. ($5 donation)
October 28 Tours: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. ($5 donation)
October 29 Tours: 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ($5 donation)
Halloween Sail: 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. ($39/$47)
October 30 Tours: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. ($5 donation)
Adventure Sail: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. ($39/$47)
October 31 Ship closed.
November 1 Tours: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. ($5 donation)
For more information visit www.historicalseaport.org/ships/lady-washington.
Read MoreBy Allen Payton
The latest court hearing in the Contra Costa District Attorney’s case against Contra Costa County School Board Member Jeff Belle, over a lie on his ballot his statement in 2014, was held on Monday, October 17th. However, according to Deputy D.A. Steve Moawad, “it was put over” and “the next court date is December 15th.”
At that hearing, Belle will have to either change his plea from not guilty or the judge will set a date for trial, Moawad explained.
Belle was charged with lying on his candidate’s statement in his campaign for school board in 2014, for writing that he had a college degree, when he had not yet obtained one. That fact was revealed in an interview with this reporter for an article posted on the Antioch Herald website.
If convicted, the maximum penalty for lying on a ballot statement is a fine of $1,000.
Belle represents Area 5 on the county school board, which includes Bethel Island, Clyde, Knightsen, Oakley, and parts of Antioch, Bay Point, Brentwood, and Pittsburg
Read MoreISLETON, CA – In concert with California Flood Preparedness Week, the Delta Protection Commission declares a week in October to be the annual Delta Flood Preparedness Week. In 2016, Delta Flood Preparedness Week will run from Monday, October 17 through Saturday, October 22.
Due to the unique conditions of life in the Delta, flood risk is dramatically different than in other regions of the state. In the Delta, drought conditions do NOT reduce flood risk, because Delta levees hold back water 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – not just when the rivers run high. These unique conditions are addressed at the Delta Flood Safety Fair, a fun and informative day at the Delta Farmers’ Market on Highway 12 west of the Rio Vista Bridge. In its third year, the event is sponsored by the Delta Protection Commission and the Discover the Delta Foundation, and is scheduled for Saturday, October 22nd from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
This year’s participants include perennial favorites River Delta Fire, offering photo ops for the kids with their ladder truck, Solano Office of Emergency Services (OES) giving tours of their Mobile Command Center, the Sacramento County Marine Patrol exhibiting their specialized watercraft, and the specially trained rescue dogs of Sacramento County Search and Rescue. Other participants include the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine addressing livestock and pet safety, the US Coast Guard, CalRecycle, the Department of Water Resources’ Division of Flood Management (DWR), the Diving Accident Rescue Team (DART), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Red Cross, the Delta Science Center and DCC Engineering.
The event also includes food vendors, Delta wine tasting, children’s activities and live music.
WHAT: Delta Flood Safety Fair
WHEN: Saturday, October 22, 2016 – 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
WHERE: Delta Farmers’ Market, Highway 12 at Highway 160, just west of the Rio Vista Bridge.
PHONE: (916) 375-4886
WHO: CalRecycle, Central California Valley Flood Control Association, DART, DCC Engineering, Delta Protection Commission, Delta Science Center, DWR, Discover the Delta Foundation, Dutra Museum of Dredging, FEMA, Red Cross, River Delta Fire, Sacramento County Marine Patrol, Sacramento Search and Rescue, Solano County OES, UC Davis, US Coast Guard
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Ghouls and goblins aren’t the only thing California residents have to worry about this Halloween. There’s another threat lurking in nearly every household: you can’t see or feel it, but it drains your hard-earned cash without you even realizing. This threat is the “energy vampire” – and it accounts for nearly 10% of all energy use in California homes.
“Energy vampires” (or standby power) is a term used for any electronic we leave plugged in that slowly sucks energy from our homes. These can be video game consoles, phone chargers, guitar amps, laptops, printers and more. What’s worse, the average U.S. household spends about $130 per year to power devices while they appear to be off.
So how can households reclaim some of these costs? Here are a few tricks and tips:
- Unplug your devices.Perhaps the most obvious thing you can do to battle energy vampires is to unplug devices when they are not in use. Make it a habit to unplug your charger when your phone is fully charged, or your video game console, when you’ve finished playing. These small, simple behavior changes add up in energy savings – and in dollars and cents.
- Enable ENERGY STAR power management settings. ENERGY STAR qualified computers and monitors offer a variety of power settings to help you monitor your energy use. By enabling these settings, you can have your devices go into power save mode when they are not actively in use.
- Use Advanced Power Strips (APS). Replacing your conventional power strips with advanced power strips can help reduce electricity waste when devices are idle – without your having to change the way you normally use your electronics. Advanced Power Strips work by preventing electronics from drawing power when they are off or not being used.
Congressman Jerry McNerney (CA-09) announced the start of his annual “Holiday Cards for Our Troops” program. In previous years, the Congressman’s district offices collected more than 10,000 cards from the community with personal messages of gratitude and hope for our men and women in uniform. Rep. McNerney is again inviting constituents to submit cards to his district offices that will be delivered to troops at home and overseas during the upcoming holiday season.
“Our servicemen and women make tremendous sacrifices for our country throughout the year, and oftentimes the holiday season can be difficult for those stationed away from home,” said Rep. McNerney. “This holiday card program provides an opportunity for the community to express their gratitude and thank our troops for their service and all that they do to keep us safe. Many service members have told me that these cards, with their messages of encouragement and support, help boost morale when they cannot be home with their families and friends during the holiday season.”
The holiday cards will be sent to troops stationed overseas in packages organized by the Contra Costa Blue Star Moms, East Bay Blue Star Moms, and A Million Thanks.
To participate in the program, make or purchase a holiday card and write a message of thanks inside to a service member. Cards must be delivered to Rep. McNerney’s office in Stockton or Antioch by Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. Cards should remain unaddressed and inside unsealed envelopes.
Holiday Card Guidelines:
- Make sure to sign your card
- Use salutations such as “Dear Service Member.” Cards addressed to specific individuals cannot be delivered through this program
- Do not include inserts such as photographs or candy
- Please no glitter or confetti
- Cards should not have an address or a return address
- Cards should be placed inside unsealed envelopes
Below are the addresses of Rep. McNerney’s offices. Cards can be dropped off at either office on or before November 4th.
Stockton
2222 Grand Canal Blvd., Suite 7
Stockton, CA 95207
(209) 476-8552
Antioch
4703 Lone Tree Way
Antioch, CA 94531
(925) 754-0716
McNerney represents California’s 9th Congressional District which includes portions of Contra Costa, San Joaquin, and Sacramento Counties, including most of Antioch. For more information on Rep. McNerney’s work, follow him on Facebook and on Twitter @RepMcNerney.
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