Contra Costa Herald

The newly restored and daylighted Alder Creek flows through the former McCosker property in Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve. Photo: EBRPD

Ribbon cutting for largest creek restoration project in East Bay Regional Park District’s history.

At Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve

By Flora Csontos, Acting Public Information Specialist, Public Affairs, East Bay Regional Park District

Join East Bay Regional Park District on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at 11 A.M. to celebrate the completion of the Alder and Leatherwood Creek Restoration and Public Access Project at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve – the largest creek restoration project in the Park District’s history. The Alder and Leatherwood Creek Restoration and Public Access Project removed several culverts and opened up 3,000 linear feet of creek to a more natural run. The event will include a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the restoration project and the reopening of the Eastport Staging Area.

Speakers will include East Bay Regional Park District General Manager Sabrina Landreth, Board President Ward 1 Member Elizabeth Echols and Ward 2 Board Member Dee Rosario.

The Alder and Leatherwood Creek Restoration and Public Access Project, previously referred to as the McCosker Project, provides natural habitat for special status or protected species, including the California red-legged frog, California foothill yellow-legged frog, Alameda whipsnake, San Francisco dusky-footed wood rat, golden eagle, Cooper’s hawk, loggerhead shrike, northern harrier, and white-tailed kite. Water quality and streamflow were also improved by the project, providing new habitat for rainbow trout.

Stabilizing jute protects the creek’s soil while plants begin to grow in December 2022. Photo: EBRPD

The project (Alder Creek Project), which began construction in 2020, daylights, or opens up and restores to natural conditions, approximately 2,900 linear feet (approximately half a mile) of previously culverted, or buried, creek and restores riparian habitat along portions of Alder, Leatherwood, and San Leandro creeks. The 250-acre site is situated within a deep canyon of dense oak woodland at the bottom of a ridgeline of rolling grassland hills.

The restoration also created habitat for the rainbow trout (a native salmonid species) by creating stream corridors, using a step-pool system that incorporates a mix of cascades and resting and pocket pools in steeper areas. This newly created stream channel with riparian vegetation and pool riffle complexes, allows sediment transport, slows flows and helps reduce erosion to provide benefits to aquatic organisms and provide spawning sites for rainbow trout. In fact, a young-of-year (juvenile) rainbow trout was observed in the channel in spring 2021. Engineers designed the restoration project using fundamental concepts in fluvial geomorphology and engineering principles to meet the goal of creating a dynamically stable and self-maintaining creek channels that require a low level of adaptive management and maintenance practices.

Plants sprout along the newly daylighted creek in January 2023. Photo: EBRPD

The restoration project also increased the carbon sink, flood capacity on site, removed invasive species, enhanced habitat, and added revegetation. In support of inclusive public access, additional enhancement work included new nature trails and future amenity areas.

The restoration area within Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve is now opened to the public. It includes an 11-car staging area along Pinehurst Road, with trail connections for a loop trail (the McCosker Loop Trail) and trails that follow the creeks on the property.

The project was made possible through $4 million in funding secured by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan in the 2019 state budget. Additional funding came from the Park District’s voter-approved Measure WW and other state and federal grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, CA Natural Resources Agency, Wildlife Conservation Board, Coastal Conservancy, California State Parks and voter-approved Propositions 1, 84 and 50 allocated by the California Natural Resources Agency.

Source: EBRPD

The Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve and Eastport Staging Area are located at 920 Pinehurst Road in Orinda.

The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest regional park system in the nation, comprising 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,330 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and environmental education. The Park District receives an estimated 30 million visits annually throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Photos from top left: Riders wear helmets while on horseback in Auburn State Recreation Area. Life jacket loaner programs are available in many state parks and other recreation areas. A family practices safe riding in Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area. Hiking with a buddy amongst the big trees on a trail in Humboldt Redwoods State Park. Source: CA Department of Parks and Recreation

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California State Parks invites Californians and visitors from around the world to recreate responsibly during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, one of the busiest outdoor holiday weekends of the year. California’s diverse landscape has recreational activities for everyone, from swimming in lakes, rivers, and oceans to hiking among giant redwoods or sequoias to off-highway vehicle riding in deserts and mountains to camping along the coastline. Following simple safety precautions, such as wearing a properly fitted life jacket or proper riding gear, avoiding alcohol, and knowing one’s limits while engaged in aquatic activities, can help save lives.

With 280 state parks, California State Parks manages over 340 miles of coastline, 970 miles of lake and river frontage, and 5,200 miles of trails. There are plenty of outdoor opportunities to spend time with family and friends, reconnect with nature and enjoy the benefits state parks offer to your mental and physical health. But keep in mind, preparing for recreational activities should include simple precautions for safe recreation.

Safety around water is important as people seek cool activities during hot weather, as demonstrated by this swimmer wearing a life jacket at Caswell Memorial State Park. ©2009, California State Parks photo by Brian Baer

Here are some helpful tips to stay safe during this holiday weekend:

• Wear a Life Jacket Around Water: Water-related accidents can happen suddenly and rapidly. Make sure you and those with you wear properly fitting, U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets, especially children. Wearing a life jacket is the best way to increase your chances of survival during an incident. View locations where public agencies and private organizations offer to loan life jackets to the public.
• Prepare an Itinerary: No matter what type of recreational activity you are planning, leave an itinerary of your trip with a family member or friend with information such as the names and ages of all participants, your travel destination, and your expected return date. This will provide law enforcement personnel with essential information if an emergency response may be needed.
• Know Before You Go: Prior to leaving home, check the statusof the state park you want to visit to find out what current restrictions and guidelines are in place. Have a back-up plan in case your destination is crowded. On arrival, park only in designated spaces.
• Check the Weather:
  • Plan activities based on temperatures throughout the day.
  • Dress in proper clothing for the activities you are planning.
  • Shield yourself from the sun with a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
  • Drink plenty of water and avoid alcoholic and caffeinated fluids.
• Protect Your Loved Ones Around Water:
  • Always supervise children by appointing a designated “water watcher,” taking turns with other adults. Never assume someone is watching your children.
  • Know your limits. Swimming in a lake, ocean, or river is different than swimming in a pool. Waves, tides, strong rip currents, and other water hazards can appear quickly and provide little time to act.
  • If someone is in distress, seek help from a lifeguard or call 9-1-1 if one is not available.
  • Obey posted warnings and swim in designated areas or near a lifeguard tower, if available.
• Avoid Alcohol: Operating a recreational vehicle, including a boat or an off-highway vehicle (OHV), with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or more is against the law. Impaired boaters can be arrested even with a lower BAC if the conditions are not safe and your boat can be impounded. Some parks do have alcohol bans. Check each specific park website to determine if there are local ordinances concerning alcohol.
• Ocean Rip Currents:If you get caught in a rip current, stay calm and do not fight the current. Swim or float parallel to the shore until you are out of the current and then swim toward the shore.
• Learn the Rules of Recreating in Boats and OHVs: There are laws specific to operating OHVs on public lands and boats on California’s waterways. Learn about these laws by visiting the webpage of your state park destination. For boating laws, please visit com. OHV regulationsare also available to review online.
• Trails: Whether you are hiking, horseback riding, or operating an OHV, stay on designated trails. This includes boardwalks in sensitive ecological areas. You are not only protecting natural resources, but also ensuring you do not get lost. Check with State Park staff or volunteers about trails best suited for your abilities. Make sure to hike with a buddy.
• Leave No Trace: Leave areas better than you find them by packing out all trash. Put food waste and other waste in the bags until it can be disposed of properly. For human waste, the use of waste alleviation (WAG) gel bags or other portable toilet options is recommended. WAG bags can be safely disposed of in regular trash. Do not disturb wildlife or plants.

You can find additional safety tips and information on backpacking, biking, camping, horseback trails, and laws at parks.ca.gov/SafetyTips.

California State Parks is honoring the service of veterans, and active and reserve military members, by offering free admission to 143 participating state park units on Memorial Day – Monday, May 27, 2024. The list of participating park units can be found at State Parks Memorial Day 2024.

About CA State Parks

The California Department of Parks and Recreation, popularly known as State Parks, and the programs supported by its Office of Historic Preservation and divisions of Boating and Waterways and Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. Learn more at parks.ca.gov.

Eric J. Ferguson arrest photo. By Kootenai Co Sheriff’s Office

DNA match for former East Contra Costa resident Eric J. Ferguson; U.S. Marshals, Idaho police, sheriff’s deputies assist in SWAT team operation

By Allen D. Payton

A suspect in a 22-year-old case of sexual assault of a girl in Oakley was identified and arrested this past week. Eric J. Ferguson, age 49 of Rathdrum, Idaho previously lived in Eastern Contra Costa County.

On Tuesday, May 21, 2024, Oakley Police Chief Paul Beard provided the following information:

In April 2002, a sexual assault accord near Laurel Road in Oakley that involved a juvenile female who had been out walking her dog. The juvenile was approached by a man who got out of his vehicle, pointed a gun at her, ordered her into the back seat of the vehicle and ordered her to perform several sexual acts at gun point. At some point, the juvenile escaped.

The juvenile went to a nearby house for help and the police were called. DNA was collected and analyzed as part of the investigative protocol. In 2022, a CODIS hit alerted the Oakley Police Department to a possible DNA match from the sexual assault case in 2002.

CODIS, or Combined DNA Index System, is a national database that contains DNA profiles from convicted offenders, unsolved crimes and missing persons. The database also includes profiles from detainees, legal samples and arrestees. CODIS automatically searches its indexes for matching DNA profiles, which allows law enforcement to cross reference their data to learn the identity of suspects of confirm identities.

The CODIS notification identified a man residing in Northern Idaho. With this information, Oakley Police Detectives began coordinating with the U.S. Marshals Service and a detective from Coeur d’Alene Police Department. Oakley Police Detectives Gill and Pistello travelled to Idaho on May 12, 2024, and were assisted by the U.S. Marshals Service, Coeur d’Alene Police Department and the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office in serving a search warrant for DNA collection from the lead suspect in the case.

Detectives Gill and Pistello traveled back home and presented DNA from the lead suspect to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office Laboratory so it could be compared to the DNA in the sexual assault case; the DNA from the lead suspect was a direct match to the DNA recovered during the initial investigation in 2002.

On May 16, 2024, Oakley Detectives presented the case to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office and a formal complaint was filed against the man, who is identified as Eric J. Ferguson (49, Rathdrum, Idaho). Ferguson is a former resident of the East Contra Costa County area (he lives in the area in 2002). The formal complaint was signed by a judge from the Contra Costa County Superior Court, for the charges of: Rape of an Incompetent Person, Forcible Oral Copulation and Kidnapping for Rape.

On May 16, 2024, the U.S. Marshals Service, Coeur d’Alene Police Department and Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, utilizing their SWAT team, conducted an operation which brought Ferguson into custody. Oakley Detectives Gill and Pistello will bring Ferguson back to California later this week and book him into the Contra Costa County jail for the crimes that were committed 22 years ago.

According to Kootenai County Sheriff’s Lt. Zachary Sifford, Ferguson was 29 yearsold at that time and allegedly used a dangerous or deadly weapon during the commission of the crimes.

“I am truly in awe of all the work that was put into this case,” said Chief Beard. “Everything from the foresight 22 years ago to collect DNA evidence to all of the cooperation and assistance we received along the way has yielded powerful results. I owe a debt of gratitude to all of the involved men and women of the United States Marshals Service, Coeur d’Alene Police Department and Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office who helped us with this case. I am well informed by my people that a great deal of hospitality was extended to them while they did their work in Idaho. For that I am especially grateful for how my people were taken care of and treated.

“I am extremely proud of Detective Gill and Detective Pistello for bearing down on this case and putting in all of the diligent and intricate work that was needed to bring resolve to this longstanding investigation. The work of Detective Gill and Detective Pistello are indicative of what I have come to expect out of the men and women of the Oakley Police Department – good police work, no matter how many jurisdictional lines that need to be crossed.

“Again, thank you to all who were involved in this case; stay safe, Oakley.”

As of Wednesday morning, May 22, Ferguson was still in custody of the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office at the Kootenai County Jail awaiting extradition.

Sheriff Robert “Bob” Norris said, “Kootenai County is a safer place because Ferguson is now in jail. A firearm was used in this alleged violent sexual attack and the suspect needs to be held accountable for his actions.”

United States Marshal for the District of Idaho, Brent Bunn, expressed his gratitude for the interstate collaboration of multiple law enforcement agencies in order to get one step closer to bringing justice to the victim in this case. U.S. Marshal Bunn noted, “The persistence of the Oakley Police Department detectives throughout this investigation was exceptional.” U.S. Marshal Bunn also commends the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, the Coeur d’Alene Police Department and the Idaho Department of Corrections for their partnership and strong commitment to increasing public safety in North Idaho.”

The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the USMS, Coeur d’ Alene Police Department and the Oakley Police Department for their assistance and collaboration in the investigation and apprehension of Ferguson.

Screenshot from Eric Ferguson’s Facebook profile.

According to Ferguson’s Facebook profile, he is from San Ramon, has been married since October 23, 2004, attended De La Salle High School and studied at San Diego State University.

Oakley Police provided the following additional information: If you or a loved one needs local support related to sexual assault or family violence, please visit Community Violence Solutions at https://cvsolutions.org/rape-crisis-center/.

Half-off passes on sale now through June 30th only.

Kids don’t want to be stuck at home for the summer, and parents don’t want to be stuck driving everywhere.

Give your kids their own set of wheels with a Summer Youth Bus Pass.

The Summer Youth Pass is the perfect way for youth riders to get around Contra Costa County during the summer. Passholders can take unlimited rides on Tri Delta Transit, West CAT, and County Connection local and express buses for an affordable and discounted price.

For only $30*, youth 6-18 can take unlimited bus rides from June 1 through Aug. 31, 2023 – one of the best summertime bargains for getting around Contra Costa County!

Click here to purchase your pass https://511cc.org/youthpass or come to our office.

*Actual pass price $60. Advertised $30 price reflects a $30 supplement per pass provided by 511 Contra Costa. Passes receiving the 511 Contra Costa supplement are limited in quantity and available only while supplies last.

Source: EBRPD

It’s better to be ticked off than ticked on

By East Bay Regional Park District

Whether you’re hiking in East Bay Regional Parks, venturing into nearby open spaces, or simply relaxing in your own yard, it’s important to be wary of ticks, which are often present in tall grass, brush, and wooded areas. Visitors are encouraged to keep tick safety precautions in mind when visiting East Bay Regional Parks throughout the spring, summer, and fall seasons.

Ticks carry germs that can cause a number of diseases, including Lyme disease. Lyme disease is an infectious disease transmitted by the bite of a tick. It may be treated and cured with early diagnosis, but if not properly treated, it may persist in the body for years. Visit www.bayarealyme.org for more information.

What Does a Tick Look Like? In California, the western black-legged tick is the major carrier of Lyme disease. The adult female is reddish brown with black legs, about 1/8 inch long. Males are smaller and entirely brownish black. Both are teardrop shaped. Most ticks can’t fly or jump. They wait on the tips of grasses and in shrubs along well-used paths. With their front legs outstretched, they easily climb aboard unsuspecting hosts when they brush by.

Tick Safety Tips

1. Wear long pants, long sleeves, and closed-toe shoes.
2. Tuck shirt into pants, and pants into socks.
3. Use insect repellent on shoes, socks, and pants.
4. Check yourself, your children, and your pets for ticks thoroughly and frequently.
5. Keep children and pets nearby. For maximum safety, consider keeping your dog on a leash.
6. Stay on trails. Avoid brush and grassy areas.

What To Do If Bitten By A Tick

1. Pull the tick gently from the skin using a tissue or tweezers (not with bare hands).
2. Scrape to remove any mouthparts left behind. An item such as a credit card can be used.
3. Wash hands and the tick bite with soap and water; apply antiseptic to the bite. Prompt removal of ticks may prevent disease transmission.
4. See a physician immediately if you think you have found a tick attached to your skin and you have any of the above symptoms. Early symptoms may include a spreading rash accompanied by fever, aches, and/or fatigue.

Download the Park District’s Living with Ticks brochure. Additional information is available at ebparks.org/safety/wildlife-encounters.

The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest regional park system in the nation, comprising 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,330 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and environmental education. The Park District receives an estimated 30 million visits annually throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Photos source: Town of Discovery Bay

To serve home confinement and probation, pay restitution

Defendant was former employee of contractor and admitted to unleashing attack

By U.S. Attorney, Northern District of California

OAKLAND – Rambler Gallo was sentenced to serve six months of home confinement and 36 months of probation for intentionally causing damage to the computer network for the Discovery Bay Water Treatment Facility, located in the Town of Discovery Bay, Calif., and thereby threatening public health and safety. Specifically, Gallo intentionally uninstalled the main operational system for the water treatment plant that operates the automated monitoring system that protects the entire water treatment system, including monitoring and controlling the chemical levels and filtration of the water across all the Discovery Bay water service facilities. The sentence was handed down on Wednesday by Haywood S. Gilliam Jr., United States District Judge. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp.

Gallo, 53, of Tracy, Calif., was a full-time employee of a private Massachusetts-based company identified in the indictment as Company A, which contracted with Discovery Bay to operate the town’s wastewater treatment facility. The facility provides treatment for the water and wastewater systems for the town’s 15,000 residents. During his employment with Company A, from July of 2016 until December of 2020, Gallo was the company’s “Instrumentation and Control Tech,” with responsibility for maintaining the instrumentation and the computer systems used to control the electromechanical processes of the facility in Discovery Bay.

According to his plea agreement, while Gallo was employed with Company A, he installed software into his own personal computer and into Company A’s private internal network that allowed Gallo to gain remote access to Discovery Bay’s Water Treatment facility computer network. Gallo resigned from his employment with Company on November 25, 2020, giving two weeks’ notice. Approximately five weeks later, Gallo accessed the facility’s computer system remotely and transmitted a command to uninstall certain software which was designed to perform as the main hub of the facility’s computer network.

The software that Gallo accessed protected the entire water treatment system, including water pressure, filtration, and chemical levels. Documents filed by the government in connection with Gallo’s sentencing describe how Gallo’s actions took the monitoring software offline into the following day when it was discovered by employees. Employees thereafter took steps to rectify the situation and mitigate any potential damage to the water treatment system. The government argued that Gallo’s actions “were well thought out to be as disruptive as possible” and “caused a potential threat to the health and safety of the community’s water supply.”

A federal grand jury indicted Gallo on June 27, 2023, charging him with one felony count of transmitting a program, information, code, and command to cause damage to a protected computer, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1030(a)(5)(A) and (c)(4)(B)(i). Gallo pleaded guilty to the charge.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Gilliam ordered Gallo to forfeit his computer and to pay $44,250 restitution.

Assistant United States Attorney Cynthia Frey is prosecuting this case with assistance from Kathy Tat and Kevin Costello. The case is being investigated by the FBI.

Michael Lee Patterson one of 7 arrested during 15-agency Operation Spring Clean in May 2023, including men from Oakley, San Ramon, another from Brentwood

By U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California

OAKLAND – A federal grand jury has indicted Michael Lee Patterson for receipt of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(2) and (b), and possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 5861(d), announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey, United States Secret Service (USSS) Special Agent in Charge Shawn M. Bradstreet, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Cicolani. The indictment, filed April 18, 2024, was unsealed on May 6, 2024, at Patterson’s initial federal court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna M. Ryu. On May 16, 2024, Magistrate Judge Ryu ordered Patterson detained pending trial.

According to the government’s detention memorandum, in late May 2023, the Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (SV-ICAC) conducted an operation to identify and arrest adults engaging in sexual conversations with undercover chatters posing online as minors. During this operation, Patterson engaged in an online conversation with an undercover officer posing as a 13-year-old girl, and eventually planned to meet and engage in sexual conduct. Officers arrested Patterson when he arrived at the agreed upon location. In Patterson’s car, officers located the phone Patterson had used to communicate with the undercover officer, and next to the phone, officers located a loaded .38 caliber revolver. The government further argued that after his arrest, Patterson was found to have been in possession of over 600 videos and over 1,200 individual images depicting child sexual abuse material on various electronic devices, as well as dozens of firearms, firearm components, boxes of ammunition, and firearm manufacturing machines and components, including a computerized gun milling machine. Three of the firearms were unregistered short-barreled rifles and one was an unregistered fully automatic machine gun.

Patterson is scheduled to appear before the Honorable U.S. District Judge Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr. on June 26, 2024, in Oakland.

As previously reported, Patterson was one of seven men arrested during the week of May 31st, 2023, while the Brentwood Police Department hosted the Contra Costa County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force for an operation targeting adults who were seeking to meet minors for sex with the goal of identifying victims of child sexual abuse. A total of 15 law enforcement agencies participated in “Operation Spring Cleaning,” which encompassed over 1,200 law enforcement work hours throughout the week. The ICAC Task Force seized approximately 40 illegal firearms and 39 electronic devices, executed eight (search warrants, and impounded five vehicles. In total seven arrests were also made: 29-year-old Nhouel Dulay (Oakley), 42-year-old Michael Patterson (Brentwood), 43-year-old Jeffrey Pallesen (Stockton), 25-year-old Carlos Vera (Brentwood), 21-year-old Edward Stinson (Merced), 54-year-old Robert Stearns (San Ramon), and 29-year-old Randall Alston (Berkeley).

According to localcrimenews.com, Patterson is White, five-feet, seven-inches tall and 150 lbs.

The ICAC program helps state and local law enforcement agencies develop an effective response to technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and internet crimes against children. This includes forensic and investigative services, training, technical assistance, victim services, and community education. Our agency remains committed to protecting the most vulnerable in our community and would like to thank all of the participating agencies for their contributions last week in combatting child exploitation.

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison and a fine of $250,000, plus restitution if appropriate, for a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(2) and (b), and 10 years imprisonment and a fine of $10,000 for a violation of 26 U.S.C. § 5861(d). However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonah Ross is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Kay Konopaske and Claudia Hyslop. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the USSS, ATF, SV-ICAC, the Brentwood and Walnut Creek Police Departments, and the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Receives Honorable Mention in Read Naturally’s 2024 Read Live School of the Year Awards

By Anne Hauth, Director of Communications, Read Naturally

Schools across North America have been recognized in the 2024 Read Live School of the Year awards for their effective use of Read Naturally’s Read Live program to achieve significant gains in student literacy. Celebrating these schools aims to unite communities around educational success.

This year’s awards spotlight a variety of schools that have excelled at using the Read Live program to enhance literacy in both English and Spanish, meet diverse student needs, build students’ self-confidence in reading, and demonstrate measurable gains on assessments and standardized tests.

It has been gratifying to read the many inspiring success stories from schools far and wide. Join us in congratulating our 2024 winners!

Winner: Main Street Elementary (Lake City, SC)

Main Street Elementary has achieved significant literacy advancements through their dedicated use of Read Live, increasing the percentage of students reading at grade level from 19% to 46.8% within one school year. This success is exemplified by the transformation of a student, Jay, who evolved from self-doubt to confidence in his reading abilities.

Runners-Up: Del Rey Elementary (Del Rey, CA), Estrella Mountain Elementary (Goodyear, AZ), Miami Trace Elementary (Washington Court House, OH)

At Del Rey Elementary, integrating Read Live into the dual language program has significantly boosted student performance on ELPAC and CAASPP assessments. This approach has turned struggles into successes, particularly for a student, Lala, who moved from special education due to low reading skills in first grade to testing in the top ten of her class in reading by sixth grade.

Estrella Mountain Elementary’s community-driven Read Live Lab has established a district-wide standard for educational excellence and collaboration. Teachers report that, thanks to Read Live, Estrella is leading its district in many ELA standards this year.

Miami Trace Elementary School has sustained significant growth in reading fluency and comprehension over the past decade, and even throughout the pandemic, through its implementation of Read Live. With increased confidence in their reading skills and access to high-interest texts, students who previously struggled with learning to read are now excited about reading to learn.

Honorable Mentions:

Additional schools acknowledged for their outstanding efforts include Almond Grove Elementary School (Oakley, CA), North Dickenson County School (Felch, MI), Lower Dauphin Middle School (Hummelstown, PA), Annie L. Gaetz Elementary School (Red Deer, Alberta) and Hamilton Elementary School (Moline, IL). Each has utilized Read Live to improve literacy outcomes and address diverse needs. The schools will each receive a $100 Read Naturally gift certificate.

About Read Naturally:

Read Naturally’s research-based programs provide interventions and differentiated instruction for developing and struggling readers of all ages. Since its founding in 1991, Read Naturally has established itself as a pioneer in the industry and has developed a variety of programs targeting the essential components of reading instruction. For more information visit www.readnaturally.com/ school-of-the-year-winners.

19-year-old Trevionne Levar Williamson of Sacramento and a juvenile were arrested for thefts of mail carriers in Belmont and Palo Alto, CA. Booking photo by Palo Alto PD

Up to $150,000 rewards offered; may be tied to mail carrier thefts in Contra Costa County

By Allen D. Payton

Palo Alto Police Lt. Con Maloney issued the following information on May 14, 2024, announcing the arrests of two suspects for the robberies of two mail carriers:

Police arrested two suspects this weekend after they committed robberies of United States Postal Service mail carriers in Belmont and Palo Alto, and then led officers on a vehicle pursuit in a stolen car before crashing into a tree and fleeing on foot. Police recovered two airsoft pistols and the stolen property.

The incident began around 2:12 p.m. on Saturday, May 11, 2024, when our 24-hour dispatch center put out an alert on the police radio about a strong-arm robbery of a mail carrier that had occurred around 1:30 p.m. in Belmont. The Belmont Police Department described the two suspects and the vehicle they were driving (a black 2013 Infiniti G37 two-door, bearing a stolen license plate that belonged on a Ford).

At about 2:18 p.m., our 24-hour dispatch center received a call from a witness reporting they had just seen two males loitering in the 800 block of Ilima Court. When the males spotted the witness, they quickly walked away and entered a black Infiniti sedan parked on Laguna Avenue. The witness continued to watch them and saw them exit the Infiniti and walk back towards Ilima Court. The witness’ description of the males and their car closely matched the alert from Belmont. Officers began responding to the area to investigate.

A few minutes later, other witnesses called police to report that a mail carrier had just been robbed at gunpoint in the 800 block of Ilima Court by two suspects matching the earlier description.

Responding officers located the suspect vehicle driving northbound on El Camino Real from Matadero Avenue. When officers attempted to make a stop, the suspect vehicle fled at a high rate of speed, leading police on a vehicle pursuit that turned westbound onto Hansen Way. The suspect vehicle lost control and crashed into a tree in a private parking lot in the 3100 block of Hansen Way, and both suspects inside then fled on foot. Officers chased the suspects, arresting them both without incident nearby a short time later.

Both suspects sustained minor injuries as a result of the collision. Personnel from the Palo Alto Fire Department treated and released them at the scene. Neither suspect, nor any officers, were injured during the arrests.

The suspect vehicle sustained major damage from the collision and had to be towed from the scene. It turns out the Infiniti itself had been reported stolen from Alameda on May 1, while the license plate on its rear had been reported stolen from Hayward on May 11.

Inside the vehicle, officers located two sets of stolen postal keys that were later confirmed to be the ones stolen from the two mail carrier victims (one from Belmont, one from Palo Alto). Officers also located two realistic-looking replica handguns; one inside the vehicle, and the other on the ground outside the vehicle.

The Palo Alto robbery investigation revealed that the victim, a mail carrier in his sixties, had been approached by both suspects. One suspect pointed a gun at his head while demanding his postal keys. Both suspects grabbed the victim and forcibly took the keys from him. The victim was not physically injured.

The robbery in Belmont occurred around 1:30 p.m. on May 11 in the 700 block of Old County Road. In that case, the mail carrier was a woman in her forties who received minor physical injuries but declined medical treatment at the scene. No weapon was used.

Police booked 19-year-old Trevionne Levar Williams of Sacramento into the Santa Clara County Main Jail for robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse (due to the age of the Palo Alto victim) and committing a felony while out on bail for another felony (all of which are felonies), and also for misdemeanor resisting arrest (for running from the police after the collision). Williams is currently out on bail in Sacramento County for multiple firearms-related violations. Police arrested the second suspect for robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, and vehicle theft (all of which are felonies), and also for misdemeanor evading police (for leading them on the pursuit); as he is a 17-year-old male, police transported him to the Santa Clara County Juvenile Hall. In accordance with our standard release of information procedures, no additional information on that suspect is available since he is under the age of 18. The juvenile was driving the stolen vehicle at the time of the collision.

Palo Alto detectives are working in close collaboration with detectives from the Belmont Police Department, as well as investigators from the United States Postal Inspection Service. Palo Alto detectives are also actively investigating to see if these suspects may also be responsible for a strong-arm robbery of a mail carrier that occurred in Palo Alto in December 2023. For details on that incident, see the news release we distributed at the time. That case is unsolved and remains open.

Robberies of mail carriers for postal keys, which are used to access locked Postal Service mailboxes, are becoming increasingly more common (though this is only the second such case in recent memory here in Palo Alto). Thieves then use the keys to assist them in committing mail theft, which in turn facilitates identity theft, fraud and other crimes.

Unauthorized possession of a postal key is a federal crime, a conviction which can land someone in prison for up to ten years. The United States Postal Inspection Service encourages anyone who knows the location of any stolen postal keys or who has information about any robberies of mail carriers to contact their 24-hour hotline at (877) 876-2455. They offer a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any suspects.

According to Postal Inspector Matthew Norfleet of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Oakland Team, Palo Alto Police and postal inspectors are investigating another robbery of postal keys from a mail carrier in that city. We are asking residents to report any financial crimes related to theft of U.S. Mail as it may be related to the robbery and assault of postal workers. A reward up to $150,000 is available for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone who robbed or assaulted a postal worker.

According to localcrimenews.com, the six-foot, one-inch tall, 290-lb. Williams was also arrested in Sacramento on May 4, 2024, for carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle and for the manufacture, import and/or sale of a large-capacity magazine of bullets.

Strong-Arm Robbery of Mail Carrier

Then, on Friday, May 17, 2024, Palo Alto Police Lt. David Lee issued the following about the second incident:

Police are investigating a strong-arm robbery of a United States Postal Service mail carrier that occurred yesterday in the Midtown neighborhood. The two suspects are unknown and at large.

On Thursday, May 16, 2024, at about 11:57 a.m., our 24-hour dispatch center received a call from a Postal Service supervisor stating that one of their mail carriers had been robbed of his postal keys about ten minutes earlier in the parking lot of the Southwood Apartments at 2850 Middlefield Road.

The investigation revealed that the victim, a man in his sixties, had been delivering mail when two men approached him and demanded his postal keys. The victim complied and turned over the keys. The men then demanded his wallet and cell phone, and when the victim refused, a fistfight ensued between all three. The suspects knocked the victim to the ground, and then fled on foot towards the parking garage. A short time later, the victim saw a black vehicle drive out of the garage at a high rate of speed to head southbound on Middlefield Road. The victim called his supervisor to report the incident.

The victim described the suspects as Hispanic males in their twenties, both about 5 feet 8 inches tall with average builds and no facial hair. The victim said they were both wearing black hooded sweatshirts with the hoods up. He said that when the suspects approached him, both had one hand reaching into their waistbands. He never saw either of them with a weapon. The victim described the vehicle he saw driving away as an older model Nissan Altima four-door sedan, with paint that looked old.

The victim sustained minor injuries to his face, rib cage, and knee. He declined medical attention at the scene.

Detectives are working with investigators from the United States Postal Inspection Service to conduct follow-up investigation. Palo Alto detectives are also investigating to see if these suspects may also be responsible for a strong-arm robbery of a mail carrier that occurred in Palo Alto in December 2023. For details on that incident, see the news release we distributed at the time. That case is unsolved and remains open. Detectives do not know if there is any connection between yesterday’s case and the arrests made of two individuals over the weekend for mail carrier robberies.

Robberies of mail carriers for postal keys, which are used to access locked Postal Service mailboxes, are becoming increasingly more common. Thieves then use the keys to assist them in committing mail theft, which in turn facilitates identity theft, fraud, and other crimes. Please report any financial crimes connected to the U.S. Mail to postal inspectors, even if the loss was minimal or covered by another institution.

Unauthorized possession of a postal key is a federal crime, a conviction which can land someone in prison for up to ten years. The United States Postal Inspection Service encourages anyone who knows the location of any stolen postal keys or who has information about any robberies of mail carriers to contact their 24-hour hotline at (877) 876-2455. They offer a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any suspects.

In light of these robberies, police are asking that the public keep a watchful eye out, remain alert for suspicious behavior around mail carriers, Postal Service vehicles, and common mailboxes, and promptly report any suspicious activity to law enforcement. This could include vehicles and/or individuals appearing to follow mail carriers.

Inspector Unsure if Connected to Robberies in Antioch, Contra Costa

Norfleet was asked if the juvenile suspect is from and if either are suspects in robberies of mail carriers in Antioch or Contra Costa County. He responded, “I am not aware of a specific connection to Contra Costa County in the Belmont or Palo Alto robberies. We are still looking at possible connections between these suspects and any of our open robbery investigations in Contra Costa and Alameda counties. We have seen several Bay Area robberies committed by suspects using cars stolen from the Sacramento area, so we know they are at least passing through Contra Costa, and it’s not unreasonable to suspect the same individuals may be responsible for robberies in Antioch (or Contra Costa). We continue to look for leads on mail thefts throughout Contra Costa County, particularly if they relate to robberies of postal workers.”

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call our 24-hour dispatch center at (650) 329-2413. Anonymous tips can be e-mailed to paloalto@tipnow.org or sent via text message or voice mail to (650) 383-8984.

By Neil Sterud

In times of financial distress, corporations often turn to the U.S. government for assistance, as seen with airlines during the COVID-19 pandemic and financial institutions in the 2008 Great Recession. However, the government must implement stricter conditions for firms seeking bailouts, particularly those engaged in stock buybacks before their financial downturn.

Stock buybacks, a practice where firms repurchase their own shares, have garnered controversy. While it artificially inflates share prices, it often neglects vital investments in the company’s growth and resilience. Executives’ tendency to sell their shares post-buyback suggests the share price is overvalued, raising ethical concerns, especially when buybacks are financed through debt, heightening bankruptcy risks.

The historical prohibition of buybacks until 1982 underscores their dubious nature as stock manipulation tactics driven by executives’ self-interest. Instead of bolstering shareholder returns through buybacks, firms should prioritize investments that fortify their market resilience, such as capital expenditure. Government bailouts effectively subsidize shareholder returns at taxpayers’ expense, highlighting the need for a paradigm shift in corporate behavior. Many argue stock buybacks should be illegal altogether.

Executives’ vested interests in buybacks, often tied to their compensation, don’t necessarily translate to enhanced business performance. This bipartisan concern resonates with workers and policymakers alike, who advocate for redirecting working capital toward workforce training and sustainable reinvestment.

While federal tax breaks aim to spur economic growth, the misuse of tax savings for buybacks undermines this objective. Therefore, stricter conditions should accompany government bailouts, emphasizing long-term resilience over short-term gains.

In contemplating bailouts, leniency could be extended to firms severely impacted by mandated government shutdowns. Nonetheless, the overarching principle remains: corporations must prioritize resilience against unforeseen crises rather than fleeting market performance.

Sterud is a Contra Costa County resident.