FULL FREEWAY CLOSURES:
There are no full freeway closures of State Route 4 planned for this week.
HIGHWAY LANE CLOSURES:
There will be highway lane closures in the westbound direction of State Route 4 between Hillcrest Avenue and Bailey Road on Monday through Friday from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm.
There will be highway lane closures in the eastbound direction of State Route 4 between Bailey Road and Hillcrest Avenue on Monday through Friday from 4:30 am to 12:00 pm.
RAMP CLOSURES:
There are no ramp closures of State Route 4 planned for this week.
LOCAL STREET CLOSURES:
There will be lane closures in the eastbound and westbound directions of Larkspur Drive between Hillcrest Avenue and Wildflower Drive on Saturday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm to 6:00 am.
There will be lane closures in the eastbound and westbound directions of Sunset Drive between Hillcrest Avenue and Devpar Court on Saturday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm to 6:00 am.
There will be lane closures in the northbound and southbound directions of Hillcrest Avenue between Larkspur Drive and Sunset Drive on Saturday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm to 6:00 am.
There will be lane closures in the northbound and southbound directions of A Street / Lone Tree Way between Rossi Avenue and E. Tregallas Road on Saturday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm to 6:00 am.
For questions or comments please send e-mail to info@4eastcounty.org.
Read More
A machine gun was among the many guns seized from a home in Crockett by the Contra Costa Sheriffs CASE team in a May raid.
Seized .30 caliber machine gun.
Following an investigation, the CASE (Contra Costa County Anti-Violence Support Effort) team last month served a search warrant on a home in Crockett.
Inside the residence, CASE team members located numerous weapons, including an assault rifle and a .30 caliber machine gun. The investigation is ongoing.
The CASE Team is a joint effort by the Office of the Sheriff, California Department of Justice, California Highway Patrol, Pittsburg Police Department and Walnut Creek Police Department. CASE was created in November 2011 as a collaborative effort to reduce violent crimes in Contra Costa, especially those related to illegal firearms.
Read More
Summary
Upcoming construction activity for the Express Lanes on I-680 between Walnut Creek and San Ramon requires temporary, nighttime ramp closures. The construction activity will include the excavation and paving of maintenance vehicle pullouts on the ramp shoulders. Once complete, the vehicle pullouts will create a safer environment for highway maintenance crews.
Due to the dynamic nature of this work, the ramp closures are scheduled to occur intermittently Monday, June 13 through Friday, July 1 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. The ramp closures will be intermittent and will alternate as work is completed.
The following ramp closures are scheduled:
- The southbound Rudgear Road on-ramp
- The northbound Stone Valley Road off-ramp
- The northbound El Cerro Boulevard on-ramp
- The southbound Bollinger Canyon Road on-ramp
What to Expect
- In addition to the ramp closures, intermittent and alternating nightly closures will occur in the northbound and southbound directions in the lanes closest to the median, and in the lane closest to the shoulder from Martinez to Dublin. Approved construction work hours are: Monday through Thursday from 8 p.m. – 5 a.m., Friday from 8 p.m. – 7 a.m., Saturday from 7 p.m. to 10 a.m.
- Construction crews will be present on some city streets during the day near I-680 from Martinez to Dublin with temporary and minor pedestrian detours to maintain public safety.
- Construction lighting will be present and directed away from residential areas.
- When traveling near construction activity
- Always use caution
- Be prepared to reduce speeds
- Follow posted signs
Ramp Closure Detour Routes
- Southbound Rudgear Road on-ramp: Enter northbound I-680 from Rudgear Rd, continue on northbound I-680, exit at Olympic Blvd., head west on Olympic Blvd., and enter southbound I-680.
- Northbound Stone Valley Road off-ramp: Continue on northbound I-680, exit at the Livorna Rd. off-ramp, head west on Livorna Rd., enter southbound I-680, and exit at the Stone Valley Rd. off-ramp.
- Northbound El Cerro Boulevard on-ramp: Enter southbound I-680, continue on southbound I-680, exit at Diablo Rd., head east on Diablo Rd, and enter northbound I-680.
- Southbound Bollinger Canyon Road on-ramp: Enter northbound I-680, continue on northbound I-680, exit at Crow Canyon Rd., head west on Crow Canyon Rd., and enter southbound I-680.
Construction is a dynamic process and information is subject to change without notice. Please use caution while traveling through the construction zone.
Read More
By Allen Payton
While the County Elections Office continues to count ballots and provide updates, it’s clear that both Supervisor Federal Glover and Martinez Councilwoman Anamarie Avila Farias have taken the top two spots in the race for District 5 Supervisor, and will be in the November run-off.
County Elections Office staff stated they had 56,000 ballots in the county left to count as of Wednesday, not including 19,000 provisional ballots nor those ballots that were postmarked by Tuesday and received by today.
As of the Thursday afternoon vote count update, Glover holds the top spot with 10,443 votes which is 35.26% of the votes and Avila Farias is in second with 9,197 votes which is 31.05%. Trailing in a distant third is former Martinez Mayor Mike Menesini with 4,339 votes or 14.65%, Hercules Mayor Dan Romero with 3,930 votes or 13.27% and then Conrad Dandridge with 1,604 votes or 5.42%.
Avila Farias received a large boost of support from both the firefighters and the deputy sheriffs in the county, with over $68,000 spent on her behalf.
The Elections Office has 28 days to certify the election and is expected to provide another update, later today and more next week, as the remaining ballots are counted.
Following are the results from the County Elections website as of Thursday, June 9, 4:04 p.m.:
| ANAMARIE AVILA FARIAS | 9,197 | 31.05% | |
| CONRAD DANDRIDGE | 1,604 | 5.42% | |
| MICHAEL MENESINI | 4,339 | 14.65% | |
| FEDERAL GLOVER (I) | 10,443 | 35.26% | |
| DAN ROMERO | 3,930 | 13.27% | |
| WRITE-IN | 107 | 0.36% | |
| Total | 29,620 |
By Allen Payton
An update on the Contra Costa County Elections Office website on Thursday, June 09, 2016 at 4:04 p.m. shows Brentwood City Councilman Steve Barr expanding his lead over East Bay Regional Parks District Board Member Diane Burgis, to 1,930 votes. Burgis expanded her lead over Oakley Councilman Doug Hardcastle to 1,227 votes, with about an additional 4,000 votes counted since Tuesday night.
Barr has secured his place in the November run-off. If the trend continues as the remaining ballots are counted, Burgis will have secured her place, as well, as the top two finishers face off in the General Election.
The latest vote counts and percentages are as follows:
| ODESSA LEFRANCOIS | 1,787 | 5.73% | |
| DIANE BURGIS | 7,044 | 22.57% | |
| STEVE BARR | 9,014 | 28.88% | |
| MONICA E WILSON | 2,798 | 8.97% | |
| DOUGLAS F. HARDCASTLE | 5,817 | 18.64% | |
| WADE HARPER | 4,684 | 15.01% | |
| WRITE-IN | 66 | 0.21% | |
| Total | 31,210 |
John Muir Health announced this week, the donation of $10,000 to local high schools across Contra Costa County. The funds will support programs and services related to the schools’ 2016 “Safe and Sober Grad Night” celebrations, which are held to honor the graduating senior class in a safe environment.
Twenty high schools each received a $500 check from John Muir Health to help finance graduation night festivities hosted by the schools, including professional entertainment such as hypnotists, magicians, karaoke, casino games and live DJs.
“Graduation is one of the most celebrated and yet potentially dangerous nights in a teenager’s life,” said Marci Jones, co-chair of the 2016 Grad Night celebration for Ygnacio Valley High School. “Our primary goal is to keep our graduating seniors in a safe and sober environment. Having John Muir Health’s support is a huge testament to our shared interest and concern with keeping our kids out of harm’s way.”
This year marks the 30th anniversary of John Muir Health’s trauma center, which cares for critically injured patients in Contra Costa County and parts of Solano and Marin counties. In addition to treating critical injuries, John Muir Health actively works to prevent them. Trauma physicians, nurses and staff are participants in the Every 15 Minutes program to educate high school juniors and seniors about drinking and driving and the impact their decisions have on family, friends and other members of their community. John Muir Health also participates in Beyond Violence, an intervention program for trauma patients treated at the medical center between the ages of 14-25 who are victims of intentional injuries (e.g. gunshot, knife assault) and reside in West or East Contra Costa County. Support for Safe and Sober Grad Nights is another form of injury prevention.
“As a health care provider in the community with the county’s only trauma center, we’re well aware of the dangers involved with teens driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs,” said Kacey Hansen, executive director of Trauma and Transfer Services at John Muir Health. “This is an important time in their lives and we appreciate the efforts by local high schools to provide an appropriate environment for them to celebrate. The last place we want to see members of the class of 2016 on their graduation night is in one of our hospitals.”
The high schools receiving donations included: Acalanes High School, Alhambra High School, Antioch High School, California High School, Campolindo High School, Clayton Valley Charter High School, College Park High School, Concord High School, Deer Valley High School, El Cerrito High School, Freedom High School, Heritage High School, Las Lomas High School, Liberty High School, Miramonte High School, Monte Vista High School, Northgate High School, Pittsburg High School, San Ramon Valley High School and Ygnacio Valley High School.
About John Muir Health
John Muir Health is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit health care organization east of San Francisco serving patients in Contra Costa, eastern Alameda and southern Solano Counties. It includes a network of more than 1,000 primary care and specialty physicians, nearly 6,000 employees, medical centers in Concord and Walnut Creek, including Contra Costa County’s only trauma center, and a Behavioral Health Center. John Muir Health also has partnerships with San Ramon Regional Medical Center, UCSF Medical Center and Stanford Children’s Health to expand its capabilities, increase access to services and better serve patients. The health system offers a full-range of medical services, including primary care, outpatient and imaging services, and is widely recognized as a leader in many specialties – neurosciences, orthopedic, cancer, cardiovascular, trauma, emergency, pediatrics and high-risk obstetrics care.
Read MoreBy Allen Payton
Election results from Tuesday night show Brentwood Councilman Steve Barr in a commanding first place lead and East Bay Regional Parks District Board Member in second place in the race for District 3 Supervisor. But, the battle for second place to determine who will face Barr in the run-off election in November may not yet be decided.
Oakley Councilman Doug Hardcastle trails Burgis by just 1,025 votes and according to County Elections Office staff, there are still about 56,000 vote-by-mail ballots in the county, turned in at the polls, Tuesday that are left to be counted. That figure does not include an additional 19,000 provisional ballots, plus the ballots turned in to the 19 City Clerks’ offices, on Tuesday, nor those ballots postmarked by Tuesday and received by this Friday.
All the ballots of those who voted at the polls were counted and included in Tuesday night’s totals.
According to the County Elections website, the results for the District 3 race as of Tuesday night are as follows:
Steve Barr – 7,996 votes, 28.9%
Diane Burgis – 6,136 votes, 22.2%
Doug Hardcastle – 5,109 votes, 18.49%
Wade Harper – 4,234 votes, 15.32%
Monica Wilson – 2,516 votes, 9.11%
Odessa Lefrancois – 1,584 votes, 5.73%
Vote counts will be updated as the County Elections office has them, with the first one expected on Friday.
Read MoreBy Allen Payton
The final financial reports were due on Friday, June 2 for the candidates in races for Contra Costa County Supervisor. In District 3, Oakley Councilman Doug Hardcastle continues to maintain his lead in total contributions and total expenses. East Bay Regional Parks District Board Member Diane Burgis shows the most in monetary contributions. Brentwood Councilman Steve Barr is in second in that category. But, Burgis shows the second most spent during the campaign and the most in outstanding debts.
Below is the summary of the campaign finances based on the latest reporting (please see copies of their reports at the bottom of this story):
Doug Hardcastle
Monetary Contributions Received during the period: $1,300
Loans Received during the period: $1,000
Non-Monetary Contributions Received: $1,400
Total Contributions Received for the period: $3,700 (1st)
Monetary Contributions Received during the campaign: $27,308.16 (4th)
Total Contributions during the campaign: $52,633.16 (1st)
Payments Made during period: $2,511.13
Accrued Expenses (unpaid bills) for the period: $ -0-
Total Expenditures Made during the campaign: $52,155.00 (1st)
Ending Cash Balance: $478.16
Outstanding Debts: $16,500 (2nd) – all loans from himself
Hardcastle submitted two amended reports showing $700 in additional monetary contributions and a $750 in-kind contribution not previously reported.
Steve Barr
Monetary Contributions Received during the period: $2,567
Loans Received during the period: $ -0-
Non-Monetary Contributions Received: $ -0-
Total Contributions Received for the period: $2,567 (2nd)
Monetary Contributions Received during the campaign: $30,352 (2nd)
Total Contributions during the campaign: $40,752 (3rd)
Expenditures Made during period: $ -0-
Total Expenditures Made during the campaign: $38,768 (3rd)
Ending Cash Balance: $3,984
Outstanding Debts: $7,000 (3rd) – $5,000 in loans from himself
Barr submitted an amended report showing a change from an in-kind contribution of $450 to an Accrued Expense.
Diane Burgis
Monetary Contributions Received during the period: $2,000
Loans Received during the period: $ -0-
Non-Monetary Contributions Received: $ -0-
Total Contributions Received for the period: $2,000 (4th)
Monetary Contributions Received during the campaign: $31,655 (1st)
Total Contributions during the campaign: $31,755 (3rd)
Expenditures Made during period: $8,137.80
Accrued Expenses (unpaid bills) for the period: $23,370.06
Total Expenditures Made during the campaign: $50,043.18 (2nd)
Ending Cash Balance: $5,082.43
Outstanding Debts: $23,470.06 (1st) – $100 in a loan from herself
Monica Wilson
Monetary Contributions Received during period: $2,095
Loans Received during the period: $ -0-
Non-Monetary Contributions received: $ -0-
Total Contributions Received for the period: $2,095 (3rd)
Monetary Contributions Received during the campaign: $29,170.92 (3rd)
Total Contributions for the campaign: $31,216.86 (4th)
Expenditures Made during period: $5,254.59 paid down previous unpaid bills of $1,874.98
Accrued Expenses (unpaid bills) for the period: $ -0-
Total Expenditures Made during the campaign: $34,470.54 (4th)
Ending Cash Balance of $3,175.32
Outstanding Debts: $1,250 (4th)
Odessa Lefrancois
Monetary Contributions Received during period: $ -0-
Loans Received during the period: $ -0-
Non-Monetary Contributions received: $ -0-
Total Contributions Received for the period: $ -0-
Monetary Contributions Received during the campaign: $13,025.00 (5th)
Total Contributions for the campaign: $13,025.00 (5th)
Expenditures Made during period: $2,312.22
Accrued Expenses (unpaid bills) for the period: $ -0-
Total Expenditures Made during the campaign: $11,590.02 (5th)
Ending Cash Balance of $1,434.98
Outstanding Debts: $ -0-
She will have to file an amended report, as hers once again, does not show the Year to Date Totals on the Summary page.
Wade Harper
Monetary Contributions Received during period: $ -0-
Non-Monetary Contributions received: $ -0-
Total Contributions Received for the period: $ -0-
Monetary Contributions Received during the campaign: $9,725.00 (6th)
Total Contributions for the campaign: $9,725.00 (6th)
Expenditures Made during period: $ -0-
Accrued Expenses (unpaid bills) for the period: $ -0-
Total Expenditures Made during the campaign: $8,950.54 (6th)
Ending Cash Balance of $774.46
Outstanding Debts: $ -0-
Publisher’s Note: For full disclosure and as explained in the March issue of the Antioch Herald, I, the writer of this article, am the paid consultant for Doug Hardcastle’s campaign for County Supervisor.
Read MoreBy Allen Payton
It has been confirmed by Jeff Koertzen, Chair of the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County, that former President Bill Clinton will be in Antioch on Monday, June 6th to campaign for his wife Hillary in her bid for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Reports have been circulating since Thursday that campaign staff were at Nuce Nuce Deli, in Waldie Plaza in Antioch’s downtown, looking for a location for the event.
UPDATE: The event will be held at Marsh Elementary School, 2304 G Street, Antioch at 2:00 p.m. Doors open at 1:00 p.m.
Read More
Contra Costa County voters can receive and cast their ballots at seven Regional Early Voting sites throughout the county before Election Day.
Regional Early Voting sites are structured so that any registered Contra Costa voter can vote at any location. For example, a Concord resident who works at Bishop Ranch in San Ramon can vote at the site in either of those cities.
The Regional Early Voting sites will be open for voting on Saturday, June 4th from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.
The sites are geographically balanced and are located in convenient and accessible locations.
- Prewett Water Park Multi-Purpose Room, 4701 Lone Tree Way, Antioch
- Bay Hills Community Church, 4100 Klose Way, Richmond
- Lafayette Learning Center, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette
- San Ramon Community Center at Central Park, 12501 Alcosta Blvd., San Ramon
- Pittsburg City Hall, 65 Civic Ave., Pittsburg
- The Salvation Army Church, 3950 Clayton Road, Concord
In addition to the Regional Voting Center sites, vote-by-mail voters can continue to drop off their ballots at “CoCo Vote-N-Go” drop-off boxes at all 19 city hall buildings and the County Administration building on 651 Pine Street, Martinez.
For more information on Regional Early Voting, visit www.cocovote.us.
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FULL FREEWAY CLOSURES:
There are no full freeway closures of State Route 4 planned for this week.
HIGHWAY LANE CLOSURES:
There will be highway lane closures in the westbound direction of State Route 4 between Hillcrest Avenue and Bailey Road on Monday through Friday from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm.
There will be highway lane closures in the eastbound direction of State Route 4 between Bailey Road and Hillcrest Avenue on Monday through Friday from 4:30 am to 12:00 pm.
RAMP CLOSURES:
There are no ramp closures of State Route 4 planned for this week.
LOCAL STREET CLOSURES:
There will be lane closures in the eastbound and westbound directions of Larkspur Drive between Hillcrest Avenue and Wildflower Drive on Saturday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm to 6:00 am.
There will be lane closures in the eastbound and westbound directions of Sunset Drive between Hillcrest Avenue and Devpar Court on Saturday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm to 6:00 am.
There will be lane closures in the northbound and southbound directions of Hillcrest Avenue between Larkspur Drive and Sunset Drive on Saturday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm to 6:00 am.
There will be lane closures in the northbound and southbound directions of A Street / Lone Tree Way between Rossi Avenue and E. Tregallas Road on Saturday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm to 6:00 am.
For questions or comments please send e-mail to info@4eastcounty.org.
Read MoreA machine gun was among the many guns seized from a home in Crockett by the Contra Costa Sheriffs CASE team in a May raid.
Seized .30 caliber machine gun.
Following an investigation, the CASE (Contra Costa County Anti-Violence Support Effort) team last month served a search warrant on a home in Crockett.
Inside the residence, CASE team members located numerous weapons, including an assault rifle and a .30 caliber machine gun. The investigation is ongoing.
The CASE Team is a joint effort by the Office of the Sheriff, California Department of Justice, California Highway Patrol, Pittsburg Police Department and Walnut Creek Police Department. CASE was created in November 2011 as a collaborative effort to reduce violent crimes in Contra Costa, especially those related to illegal firearms.
Read More
Summary
Upcoming construction activity for the Express Lanes on I-680 between Walnut Creek and San Ramon requires temporary, nighttime ramp closures. The construction activity will include the excavation and paving of maintenance vehicle pullouts on the ramp shoulders. Once complete, the vehicle pullouts will create a safer environment for highway maintenance crews.
Due to the dynamic nature of this work, the ramp closures are scheduled to occur intermittently Monday, June 13 through Friday, July 1 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. The ramp closures will be intermittent and will alternate as work is completed.
The following ramp closures are scheduled:
- The southbound Rudgear Road on-ramp
- The northbound Stone Valley Road off-ramp
- The northbound El Cerro Boulevard on-ramp
- The southbound Bollinger Canyon Road on-ramp
What to Expect
- In addition to the ramp closures, intermittent and alternating nightly closures will occur in the northbound and southbound directions in the lanes closest to the median, and in the lane closest to the shoulder from Martinez to Dublin. Approved construction work hours are: Monday through Thursday from 8 p.m. – 5 a.m., Friday from 8 p.m. – 7 a.m., Saturday from 7 p.m. to 10 a.m.
- Construction crews will be present on some city streets during the day near I-680 from Martinez to Dublin with temporary and minor pedestrian detours to maintain public safety.
- Construction lighting will be present and directed away from residential areas.
- When traveling near construction activity
- Always use caution
- Be prepared to reduce speeds
- Follow posted signs
Ramp Closure Detour Routes
- Southbound Rudgear Road on-ramp: Enter northbound I-680 from Rudgear Rd, continue on northbound I-680, exit at Olympic Blvd., head west on Olympic Blvd., and enter southbound I-680.
- Northbound Stone Valley Road off-ramp: Continue on northbound I-680, exit at the Livorna Rd. off-ramp, head west on Livorna Rd., enter southbound I-680, and exit at the Stone Valley Rd. off-ramp.
- Northbound El Cerro Boulevard on-ramp: Enter southbound I-680, continue on southbound I-680, exit at Diablo Rd., head east on Diablo Rd, and enter northbound I-680.
- Southbound Bollinger Canyon Road on-ramp: Enter northbound I-680, continue on northbound I-680, exit at Crow Canyon Rd., head west on Crow Canyon Rd., and enter southbound I-680.
Construction is a dynamic process and information is subject to change without notice. Please use caution while traveling through the construction zone.
Read More
By Allen Payton
While the County Elections Office continues to count ballots and provide updates, it’s clear that both Supervisor Federal Glover and Martinez Councilwoman Anamarie Avila Farias have taken the top two spots in the race for District 5 Supervisor, and will be in the November run-off.
County Elections Office staff stated they had 56,000 ballots in the county left to count as of Wednesday, not including 19,000 provisional ballots nor those ballots that were postmarked by Tuesday and received by today.
As of the Thursday afternoon vote count update, Glover holds the top spot with 10,443 votes which is 35.26% of the votes and Avila Farias is in second with 9,197 votes which is 31.05%. Trailing in a distant third is former Martinez Mayor Mike Menesini with 4,339 votes or 14.65%, Hercules Mayor Dan Romero with 3,930 votes or 13.27% and then Conrad Dandridge with 1,604 votes or 5.42%.
Avila Farias received a large boost of support from both the firefighters and the deputy sheriffs in the county, with over $68,000 spent on her behalf.
The Elections Office has 28 days to certify the election and is expected to provide another update, later today and more next week, as the remaining ballots are counted.
Following are the results from the County Elections website as of Thursday, June 9, 4:04 p.m.:
| ANAMARIE AVILA FARIAS | 9,197 | 31.05% | |
| CONRAD DANDRIDGE | 1,604 | 5.42% | |
| MICHAEL MENESINI | 4,339 | 14.65% | |
| FEDERAL GLOVER (I) | 10,443 | 35.26% | |
| DAN ROMERO | 3,930 | 13.27% | |
| WRITE-IN | 107 | 0.36% | |
| Total | 29,620 |
By Allen Payton
An update on the Contra Costa County Elections Office website on Thursday, June 09, 2016 at 4:04 p.m. shows Brentwood City Councilman Steve Barr expanding his lead over East Bay Regional Parks District Board Member Diane Burgis, to 1,930 votes. Burgis expanded her lead over Oakley Councilman Doug Hardcastle to 1,227 votes, with about an additional 4,000 votes counted since Tuesday night.
Barr has secured his place in the November run-off. If the trend continues as the remaining ballots are counted, Burgis will have secured her place, as well, as the top two finishers face off in the General Election.
The latest vote counts and percentages are as follows:
| ODESSA LEFRANCOIS | 1,787 | 5.73% | |
| DIANE BURGIS | 7,044 | 22.57% | |
| STEVE BARR | 9,014 | 28.88% | |
| MONICA E WILSON | 2,798 | 8.97% | |
| DOUGLAS F. HARDCASTLE | 5,817 | 18.64% | |
| WADE HARPER | 4,684 | 15.01% | |
| WRITE-IN | 66 | 0.21% | |
| Total | 31,210 |
John Muir Health announced this week, the donation of $10,000 to local high schools across Contra Costa County. The funds will support programs and services related to the schools’ 2016 “Safe and Sober Grad Night” celebrations, which are held to honor the graduating senior class in a safe environment.
Twenty high schools each received a $500 check from John Muir Health to help finance graduation night festivities hosted by the schools, including professional entertainment such as hypnotists, magicians, karaoke, casino games and live DJs.
“Graduation is one of the most celebrated and yet potentially dangerous nights in a teenager’s life,” said Marci Jones, co-chair of the 2016 Grad Night celebration for Ygnacio Valley High School. “Our primary goal is to keep our graduating seniors in a safe and sober environment. Having John Muir Health’s support is a huge testament to our shared interest and concern with keeping our kids out of harm’s way.”
This year marks the 30th anniversary of John Muir Health’s trauma center, which cares for critically injured patients in Contra Costa County and parts of Solano and Marin counties. In addition to treating critical injuries, John Muir Health actively works to prevent them. Trauma physicians, nurses and staff are participants in the Every 15 Minutes program to educate high school juniors and seniors about drinking and driving and the impact their decisions have on family, friends and other members of their community. John Muir Health also participates in Beyond Violence, an intervention program for trauma patients treated at the medical center between the ages of 14-25 who are victims of intentional injuries (e.g. gunshot, knife assault) and reside in West or East Contra Costa County. Support for Safe and Sober Grad Nights is another form of injury prevention.
“As a health care provider in the community with the county’s only trauma center, we’re well aware of the dangers involved with teens driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs,” said Kacey Hansen, executive director of Trauma and Transfer Services at John Muir Health. “This is an important time in their lives and we appreciate the efforts by local high schools to provide an appropriate environment for them to celebrate. The last place we want to see members of the class of 2016 on their graduation night is in one of our hospitals.”
The high schools receiving donations included: Acalanes High School, Alhambra High School, Antioch High School, California High School, Campolindo High School, Clayton Valley Charter High School, College Park High School, Concord High School, Deer Valley High School, El Cerrito High School, Freedom High School, Heritage High School, Las Lomas High School, Liberty High School, Miramonte High School, Monte Vista High School, Northgate High School, Pittsburg High School, San Ramon Valley High School and Ygnacio Valley High School.
About John Muir Health
John Muir Health is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit health care organization east of San Francisco serving patients in Contra Costa, eastern Alameda and southern Solano Counties. It includes a network of more than 1,000 primary care and specialty physicians, nearly 6,000 employees, medical centers in Concord and Walnut Creek, including Contra Costa County’s only trauma center, and a Behavioral Health Center. John Muir Health also has partnerships with San Ramon Regional Medical Center, UCSF Medical Center and Stanford Children’s Health to expand its capabilities, increase access to services and better serve patients. The health system offers a full-range of medical services, including primary care, outpatient and imaging services, and is widely recognized as a leader in many specialties – neurosciences, orthopedic, cancer, cardiovascular, trauma, emergency, pediatrics and high-risk obstetrics care.
Read MoreBy Allen Payton
Election results from Tuesday night show Brentwood Councilman Steve Barr in a commanding first place lead and East Bay Regional Parks District Board Member in second place in the race for District 3 Supervisor. But, the battle for second place to determine who will face Barr in the run-off election in November may not yet be decided.
Oakley Councilman Doug Hardcastle trails Burgis by just 1,025 votes and according to County Elections Office staff, there are still about 56,000 vote-by-mail ballots in the county, turned in at the polls, Tuesday that are left to be counted. That figure does not include an additional 19,000 provisional ballots, plus the ballots turned in to the 19 City Clerks’ offices, on Tuesday, nor those ballots postmarked by Tuesday and received by this Friday.
All the ballots of those who voted at the polls were counted and included in Tuesday night’s totals.
According to the County Elections website, the results for the District 3 race as of Tuesday night are as follows:
Steve Barr – 7,996 votes, 28.9%
Diane Burgis – 6,136 votes, 22.2%
Doug Hardcastle – 5,109 votes, 18.49%
Wade Harper – 4,234 votes, 15.32%
Monica Wilson – 2,516 votes, 9.11%
Odessa Lefrancois – 1,584 votes, 5.73%
Vote counts will be updated as the County Elections office has them, with the first one expected on Friday.
Read MoreBy Allen Payton
The final financial reports were due on Friday, June 2 for the candidates in races for Contra Costa County Supervisor. In District 3, Oakley Councilman Doug Hardcastle continues to maintain his lead in total contributions and total expenses. East Bay Regional Parks District Board Member Diane Burgis shows the most in monetary contributions. Brentwood Councilman Steve Barr is in second in that category. But, Burgis shows the second most spent during the campaign and the most in outstanding debts.
Below is the summary of the campaign finances based on the latest reporting (please see copies of their reports at the bottom of this story):
Doug Hardcastle
Monetary Contributions Received during the period: $1,300
Loans Received during the period: $1,000
Non-Monetary Contributions Received: $1,400
Total Contributions Received for the period: $3,700 (1st)
Monetary Contributions Received during the campaign: $27,308.16 (4th)
Total Contributions during the campaign: $52,633.16 (1st)
Payments Made during period: $2,511.13
Accrued Expenses (unpaid bills) for the period: $ -0-
Total Expenditures Made during the campaign: $52,155.00 (1st)
Ending Cash Balance: $478.16
Outstanding Debts: $16,500 (2nd) – all loans from himself
Hardcastle submitted two amended reports showing $700 in additional monetary contributions and a $750 in-kind contribution not previously reported.
Steve Barr
Monetary Contributions Received during the period: $2,567
Loans Received during the period: $ -0-
Non-Monetary Contributions Received: $ -0-
Total Contributions Received for the period: $2,567 (2nd)
Monetary Contributions Received during the campaign: $30,352 (2nd)
Total Contributions during the campaign: $40,752 (3rd)
Expenditures Made during period: $ -0-
Total Expenditures Made during the campaign: $38,768 (3rd)
Ending Cash Balance: $3,984
Outstanding Debts: $7,000 (3rd) – $5,000 in loans from himself
Barr submitted an amended report showing a change from an in-kind contribution of $450 to an Accrued Expense.
Diane Burgis
Monetary Contributions Received during the period: $2,000
Loans Received during the period: $ -0-
Non-Monetary Contributions Received: $ -0-
Total Contributions Received for the period: $2,000 (4th)
Monetary Contributions Received during the campaign: $31,655 (1st)
Total Contributions during the campaign: $31,755 (3rd)
Expenditures Made during period: $8,137.80
Accrued Expenses (unpaid bills) for the period: $23,370.06
Total Expenditures Made during the campaign: $50,043.18 (2nd)
Ending Cash Balance: $5,082.43
Outstanding Debts: $23,470.06 (1st) – $100 in a loan from herself
Monica Wilson
Monetary Contributions Received during period: $2,095
Loans Received during the period: $ -0-
Non-Monetary Contributions received: $ -0-
Total Contributions Received for the period: $2,095 (3rd)
Monetary Contributions Received during the campaign: $29,170.92 (3rd)
Total Contributions for the campaign: $31,216.86 (4th)
Expenditures Made during period: $5,254.59 paid down previous unpaid bills of $1,874.98
Accrued Expenses (unpaid bills) for the period: $ -0-
Total Expenditures Made during the campaign: $34,470.54 (4th)
Ending Cash Balance of $3,175.32
Outstanding Debts: $1,250 (4th)
Odessa Lefrancois
Monetary Contributions Received during period: $ -0-
Loans Received during the period: $ -0-
Non-Monetary Contributions received: $ -0-
Total Contributions Received for the period: $ -0-
Monetary Contributions Received during the campaign: $13,025.00 (5th)
Total Contributions for the campaign: $13,025.00 (5th)
Expenditures Made during period: $2,312.22
Accrued Expenses (unpaid bills) for the period: $ -0-
Total Expenditures Made during the campaign: $11,590.02 (5th)
Ending Cash Balance of $1,434.98
Outstanding Debts: $ -0-
She will have to file an amended report, as hers once again, does not show the Year to Date Totals on the Summary page.
Wade Harper
Monetary Contributions Received during period: $ -0-
Non-Monetary Contributions received: $ -0-
Total Contributions Received for the period: $ -0-
Monetary Contributions Received during the campaign: $9,725.00 (6th)
Total Contributions for the campaign: $9,725.00 (6th)
Expenditures Made during period: $ -0-
Accrued Expenses (unpaid bills) for the period: $ -0-
Total Expenditures Made during the campaign: $8,950.54 (6th)
Ending Cash Balance of $774.46
Outstanding Debts: $ -0-
Publisher’s Note: For full disclosure and as explained in the March issue of the Antioch Herald, I, the writer of this article, am the paid consultant for Doug Hardcastle’s campaign for County Supervisor.
Read MoreBy Allen Payton
It has been confirmed by Jeff Koertzen, Chair of the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County, that former President Bill Clinton will be in Antioch on Monday, June 6th to campaign for his wife Hillary in her bid for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Reports have been circulating since Thursday that campaign staff were at Nuce Nuce Deli, in Waldie Plaza in Antioch’s downtown, looking for a location for the event.
UPDATE: The event will be held at Marsh Elementary School, 2304 G Street, Antioch at 2:00 p.m. Doors open at 1:00 p.m.
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Contra Costa County voters can receive and cast their ballots at seven Regional Early Voting sites throughout the county before Election Day.
Regional Early Voting sites are structured so that any registered Contra Costa voter can vote at any location. For example, a Concord resident who works at Bishop Ranch in San Ramon can vote at the site in either of those cities.
The Regional Early Voting sites will be open for voting on Saturday, June 4th from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.
The sites are geographically balanced and are located in convenient and accessible locations.
- Prewett Water Park Multi-Purpose Room, 4701 Lone Tree Way, Antioch
- Bay Hills Community Church, 4100 Klose Way, Richmond
- Lafayette Learning Center, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette
- San Ramon Community Center at Central Park, 12501 Alcosta Blvd., San Ramon
- Pittsburg City Hall, 65 Civic Ave., Pittsburg
- The Salvation Army Church, 3950 Clayton Road, Concord
In addition to the Regional Voting Center sites, vote-by-mail voters can continue to drop off their ballots at “CoCo Vote-N-Go” drop-off boxes at all 19 city hall buildings and the County Administration building on 651 Pine Street, Martinez.
For more information on Regional Early Voting, visit www.cocovote.us.
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