Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

Second suspect arrested in June 2022 Walnut Creek Macy’s smash-and-grab case

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Suspect Gerald Dial of Vallejo was arrested on March 23, 2023 in the June 2022 smash and grab theft at Macy’s in Walnut Creek. WCPC video screenshot

By Lt. Holley Connors, Walnut Creek Police Department

A 19-year-old Vallejo man is in custody following his arrest in connection with the June 18 robbery at the Macy’s in Walnut Creek’s Broadway Plaza. Walnut Creek Police identified Jammoni Simon as one of the suspects in the robbery. Patrol and Investigations worked together to identify the suspect and a warrant was subsequently authored for his arrest. Simon was taken into custody by the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s office on July 5, 2022. During his arrest, Simon was found to be in possession of a loaded firearm.

Walnut Creek Police Chief Jamie Knox said the arrest is a signal to others involved in that crime and to the public. “Walnut Creek Police Department puts the public safety of those who live, work, or visit here at the highest priority,” Knox said. “We will continue to actively pursue this case; Walnut Creek is not an open target for criminals.”

The case was presented to the District Attorney’s Office on July 8th and Simon remains in custody on the following charges:

PC 211, Robbery

PC 459, Burglary

PC 25850(a)(c)(6), Possession of a Loaded Firearm

Detectives continued to develop leads and determined Gerald Dial, a 20-year-old male from Vallejo, was involved and presented this case for review to the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office. On February 28th, 2023, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office filed the following felony charges against Dial:

PC 211 Robbery

PC 459 Burglary

PC 487 Grand Theft

On March 23rd, 2023, WCPD Detectives located and arrested Dial on a warrant at the San Francisco Airport. Dial was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility. Dial is no longer in custody, as he posted bail.

Walnut Creek Police would like to thank the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in locating and apprehending Simon.

The Department is still actively conducting this investigation. If you have any information related to this case, please contact the Walnut Creek Police at 925-943-5844 or call our anonymous tip line at 925- 843-5865.

Organized retail thieves arrested in Concord

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Several thousand dollars of stolen merchandise was recovered from the retail thieves on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. Photo: Concord PD

By Concord Police Department

On Wednesday, April 5, 2023, a newly installed Flock camera alerted a CPD Investigator to a felony vehicle in the City of Concord. The vehicle was linked to a CPD investigation for organized retail theft of thousands of dollars in merchandise from local stores.

CPD Officers were able to locate and arrest both of the suspects responsible for a multitude of crimes committed all over the Bay Area. Organized retail theft is a problem which results in the loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars each year from our local businesses and this case is just one example of technology assisting us in the apprehension of criminals.

Thank you to our friends at Park N Shop for supporting new resources CPD is employing to keep our community safer!

 

Pittsburg Detectives track down, arrest murder suspect in Modesto

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Murder suspect Gregory Rossignon arrested on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. Photos: Pittsburg PD

Subject of hours-long standoff in Antioch, last week in which pregnant girlfriend was arrested

Jessica Russo. Photo: Pittsburg PD

By Pittsburg Police Department

On March 22, shortly after 9:00 PM, officers responded to a convenience store on the 1000 block of Power Avenue.  There, 44-year-old Abdul Raouf, a store clerk, was found suffering from gunshot wounds and unfortunately did not survive.  Through the investigation, it was learned that while in the store, Jessica Russo had a disagreement with another store clerk.  Shortly after the disagreement, Gregory Rossignon entered the store and shot Abdul for no apparent reason.  Both Rossignon and Russo fled after the shooting.

As the investigation progressed and detectives searched for the suspects, on March 29, Jessica Russo. was located and arrested during the service of a search warrant at a residence in Antioch. According to Rossignon’s father, Russo is the son’s girlfriend and pregnant with the son’s child. (See related article)

Tuesday night, April 4, detectives received information that Gregory Rossignon had fled to Modesto and was hiding in an apartment.  Working with the Modesto Police Department and their Tactical Team, a search warrant was served shortly after 7:00 AM Wednesday.  During the service of the warrant, it was determined that Rossignon was in the apartment but refused to come outside.  After several hours of negotiating with the Modesto Police Departments Crisis Response Unit, Rossignon peacefully surrendered.  Rossignon was brought back to Pittsburg and will be booked into Contra Costa County jail for murder.

We would again like to thank community members in Pittsburg, Antioch, and now Modesto for their cooperation and patience while pursuing these suspects.  We would also like to thank the U.S. Marshals Service, the Modesto Police Department and all their staff for the dedication and resources that led to Rossignon’s arrest.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Get Off Your Apps. April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

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By California Office of Traffic Safety

In the smartphone age, people are more connected than ever before, but also attempting to stay connected when they shouldn’t: behind the wheel. And it is not just cell phones. Distracted driving is anything that takes your eyes or mind off the road or hands off the steering wheel – especially when texting or using your phone.

Using your cell phone while driving is not only dangerous, but also illegal. In California, you cannot use a cell phone or similar electronic communication device while holding it in your hand. You can only use it in a hands-free manner, such as speaker phone or voice commands, but never while holding it. Any driver under the age of 18 is prohibited from using a cell phone for any reason.

Because engaging in distracting behaviors with a phone like dialing, talking, or texting is so dangerous (it increases the risk of getting into a crash by three times), The California Office of Traffic Safety started the “Put Your Phone Down. Just Drive” public awareness and education campaign. Like the “Silence the Distraction” campaign that started in 2015, it is intended to appeal to the smartphone culture and younger audiences – specifically those between the ages of 16 to 24. The youngest and most inexperienced drivers are most at risk when driving distracted. The campaign emphasizes that all functions of a phone can be distracting: using an app, shuffling through music or playing videos, looking at social media, maps or photos. They are all dangerous and illegal when you are driving, and the safest thing drivers can do is put down the phone and just drive.

And remember. Other serious driver distractions such as eating, grooming, reading, reaching for objects on the floor, changing clothes or talking with passengers are just as dangerous and can result in a “reckless driving” or “speed unsafe for conditions” ticket.

The “Put Your Phone Down. Just Drive.” PSA, along with tips, facts and other information about distracted driving laws and prevention, can be found at gosafelyca.org.

Additional information, programs and resources on distracted driving:

California’s Cell Phone Laws

Focus on the road, not your status. That phone call, text or email can wait. Put down the phone and just drive. Our roads are safer when they are distraction-free.

  • California has a hands-free cell phone law, which prohibits drivers from holding a phone or other electronic device while behind the wheel.
  • Drivers under the age of 18 may not use any mobile communications device at all, whether hands-free or hand-held.
  • Starting July 1, 2021, violations that occur within 36 months of a prior conviction for the same electronic device violation is subject to a point against a driver’s record.
  • If you need to make a call or send a text, pull over and park at a safe location.
  • Avoid the temptation of using the phone while driving altogether! Put the phone in the glove box, trunk, or back seat; anywhere you cannot reach.
  • Other distractions: deep conversations with passengers or fussy children in the back seat. If you find yourself in any of these situations, find a quiet, safe place to park and address the distraction!

#justdriveCA

East Bay Good Friday Seder at Campos Family Vineyards April 7

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Public meeting for all churches: Traditional Seder feast in true Jewish style

Join with members of East Bay churches at a Jewish-style Seder on Good Friday, April 7, 2023 from 5:00 – 8:30pm.at Campos Family Vineyards located at 3501 Byer Road in Byron.

The traditional Passover meal includes reading, drinking four cups of wine, telling stories, eating special foods, singing, and other Passover traditions.

It is held after nightfall on the first night of Passover (and the second night if you live outside of Israel), the anniversary of the Jewish nation’s miraculous exodus from Egyptian slavery more than 3,000 years ago, as per Biblical command. In 2023, the Seder meal will be held after nightfall on April 5 (and 6 in the Diaspora).

Former pastor Ralph Rechnitz (a messianic Jew) and pastor Saed Awwad (a Palestinian by birth) will host the Good Friday Seder event. It will include a meal as well as a time of fellowship and community centered on Jesus’ message in the Passover.

For tickets, visit the Eventbrite page.

Hosts needed for international high school students throughout San Francisco Bay Area

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Source: AFS

Experience the world without leaving your home

By Meaghan Airey, AKCG – Public Relations Counselors

NEW YORK, New York – In an age when international relations are often tenuous, AFS-USA Intercultural Programs, a leader in international high school student exchange for 75 years, is focused on providing opportunities for intercultural exchange that can help lead to a more just and peaceful world. 

AFS-USA invites families and individuals from the San Francisco area and surrounding communities to become hosts for international students for 12 weeks, a semester, or an academic year.

Hosting provides individuals, families, high schools, and communities with opportunities to learn about the unfamiliar by exploring a diversity of cultures, all while sharing their own culture with a young person from a different country.

“AFS-USA nurtures active global citizens who make the world a better place,” AFS-USA President and CEO Tara Hofmann said. “Every new AFS student is another global citizen in progress—an individual primed to help build a more just world that reflects peace and fellowship. The impact doesn’t stop with the students. Host families’ lives are transformed by students from across the globe and host communities gain greater cultural diversity.”

Exchange students represent nearly 80 countries and cultures, including Kenya, Ukraine, Egypt, Türkiye, Italy, Germany, Chile, Thailand and more. They are among the more than 1,000 international AFS students hosted in the U.S. each year.

AFS-USA host families represent a broad range of U.S. cultures, including individuals and families of multi-national/ethnic backgrounds, those with and without children, those who are members of the LGBTQ+ community, and more.

In addition, AFS-USA has a more than 50-year partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), which offers numerous sponsored scholarships for international students to study abroad in the U.S. including the following programs:

  • Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (KL-YES): Through the U.S. Department of State’s YES program, high school students from countries with significant Muslim populations live and study for an academic year in the United States. Participants live with a host family, attend an American high school, acquire leadership skills, and engage in activities to learn about U.S. society and values; they also help educate Americans about their home country and culture. 
  • Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX): Jointly funded and managed by the U.S. Department of State and German government, CBYX provides full scholarships for German students to live and study abroad in the U.S. for an academic year. Participants live with a host family, attend an American high school, acquire leadership skills, and engage in activities to learn about U.S. society and values; they also help educate Americans about Germany and German culture.
  • Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX): Through the U.S. Department of State’s FLEX program, high school students from Europe and Eurasia live and study for an academic year in the United States. Participants live with a host family, attend an American high school, acquire leadership skills, and engage in activities to learn about U.S. society and values; they also help educate Americans about their home country and culture. 

Once students and host families are matched, they receive ongoing support from trained staff and are welcomed into their local chapter of dedicated volunteers, alumni, and fellow host families. One thing that sets AFS-USA apart is the network of almost 3,000 volunteers throughout the U.S. Many volunteers have hosted international exchange students or studied abroad with AFS and will support families, students, and schools in gaining the most from their hosting experience.

Hosts are expected to provide their student(s) with a bed, meals and support and encouragement throughout their program. Students arrive with their own spending money and medical coverage.

“These students attend local high schools, participate in local community life, and are encouraged to share aspects of their culture,” Hofmann said. “They also discover first-hand what it’s like to live in America and form lasting friendships that create enduring links between the U.S. and other countries. In many cases, the bonds that form between AFS students and their host families last a lifetime.”

AFS-USA is the largest organization within the international AFS network that includes 54 partners around the globe.

For More Information 

Those interested in hosting an AFS Exchange Student are encouraged to contact 1-800-AFS-INFO or visit www.afsusa.org for more information. For those interested in studying abroad please browse our programs and apply now to start your journey. You can also get involved as an AFS-USA Volunteer. Visit www.afsusa.org/volunteer to get started or learn more about opportunities to make a difference.

Commemorate the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt during Passover with Chabad of the Delta

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Pesach (Passover) The Festival of Freedom 2023 is from April 5 to April 13.

Begins with Erev Pesach (‘Eve of Passover’) Community Seder Dinner in Brentwood Wed., April 5 – TONIGHT!

By Chabad of the Delta

Join our community for an inspirational Passover Seder and experience the deeper meaning of Passover in a warm and motivational environment, complete with a delicious traditional Seder dinner, insights, singing, four cups of wine, and Matzah galore! Whether you are a Seder veteran or a curious explorer, the Chabad Seder offers a stimulating and satisfying experience. Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Apple Hill Clubhouse, 700 Apple Hill Drive in Brentwood. Space is limited. RSVP is necessary. No one will be turned away due to a lack of funds. For details visit The Passover Community Seder | Facebook and for tickets click, here.

Art by Sefira Lightstone from Chabad of the Delta.

About Passover

Passover is celebrated by Jews every year, commemorating the anniversary of our miraculous Exodus from Egyptian slavery, as told in the Bible. The eight-day festival of Passover is celebrated in the early spring, from the 5th through the 13th of the Hebrew month of Nissan. Passover (Pesach) commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. Pesach is observed by avoiding leaven, and highlighted by the Seder meals that include four cups of wine, eating matzah and bitter herbs, and retelling the story of the Exodus

On the first two nights of Passover (just the first night in Israel), we hold a Seder. After candles have been lit, we enjoy a ritual-rich 15-step feast, which centers around telling the story of the Exodus.

Some highlights include: Drinking four cups of wine, dipping veggies into saltwater, children kicking off the storytelling by asking the Four Questions (Mah Nishtanah), eating matzah (a cracker-like food, which reminds us that when our ancestors left Egypt they had no time to allow their bread to rise) and bitter herbs, and singing late into the night.

Beginning on the evening preceding 15 Nissan, Passover lasts for 8 days in the Diaspora and 7 days in Israel (here’s why).

On Passover, Jews may not own or consume chametz, anything containing grain that has risen. This includes virtually all breads, pastas, cakes and cookies. Prior to the holiday, homes are thoroughly cleaned for Passover, kitchens are purged (here’s how to kosher the kitchen), and the remaining chametz is burned or sold.

Following the intermediate days, when work restrictions are somewhat relaxed but chametz remains forbidden, we celebrate the final two days of Passover (just one day in Israel), during which we look forward to the future redemption through Moshiach (Messiah).

Passover is important to Jews, as it celebrates our birth as a nation.

Learn more at jewishdelta.com/pesach.

How community banks drive local economic growth

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April is Community Banking Month

By Josef Britschgi, BAC Community Bank

April is Community Banking Month, a time to recognize the important role that community banks play in supporting local economies while helping individuals and small businesses achieve their financial goals. As part of this celebration, community banks across the country are highlighting their commitment to local economies.

Community banks play a vital role in supporting local economies. Small banks are often key lenders to small businesses, providing the capital they need to start, grow, and succeed. Often referred to as America’s favorite lenders, community banks provide roughly 60% of all small business loans. By investing in local businesses, community banks help create jobs, drive economic growth, and build strong communities. “As a small business ourselves, we take our role in the local economy very seriously,” says Eddie Lira, Chief Commercial Banking Officer at BAC Community Bank.

Another way community banks support their local economies is by providing financial education. Community banks understand that financial education is essential to making informed decisions about money management, investing, and credit. BAC Community Bank is a local example of a community bank that provides online educational videos and tools to customers. BAC recently expanded its community outreach by providing the Banzai financial literacy program to Antioch High School, Bidwell Continuation High School, and Deer Valley High School. By promoting financial literacy, community banks are empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their finances and build a strong financial future.

Community banks prioritize building personal relationships with their customers. This means taking the time to understand each customer’s unique financial needs and goals, and then providing customized financial solutions. Relationship banking is a hallmark of community banking. Such personalized service builds customer confidence and trust.

Community banks are also keeping pace with advances in technology – sometimes even setting the pace. For example, BAC Community Bank recently launched their Smart ALAC service to provide customers anywhere face-to-face interaction with a dedicated personal banker without the need to travel to a branch. Such innovations, along with other advanced digital banking services, are provided by BAC while continuing to be recognized as one of the strongest financial institutions in the nation.

Community Banking Month highlights the value that community banks bring to their customers and communities. Through their focus on community investment, financial literacy, and relationship banking, community banks are helping individuals and small businesses achieve their financial goals and driving economic growth in their local communities.

Free pet adoptions at Contra Costa Animals Services in April

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By Contra Costa Animal Services Department

Our shelter is FULL and we need your help! Through April all animals are FREE* to qualified homes. Come visit us and let us help you find your new best friend. To see a full list of available animals with pictures, check out our website: ccasd.org

The Contra Costa Animal Services Department Martinez Shelter is located at 4800 Imhoff Place.

Would you like to serve on Contra Costa County’s Retirement Board?

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Applications for three-year term due April 21

By Julie DiMaggio Enea, Contra Costa County Office of Communications & Media

The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors is seeking individuals with a sound business background, experience in pension fund investment or administration, or in equity investments or banking to serve on the Contra Costa County Employees’ Retirement Association Board of Trustees.  To be considered, candidates must be County residents, must not be Retirement System members or retirees, and may not market any investment, consulting, or related service to the Contra Costa County Retirement Board or any other 1937 Act Retirement Board.

Regular meetings of the Retirement Board are held on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, beginning at 9:00 a.m. and sometimes extending into the afternoon.  There may also be additional meetings on special topics that arise from time to time.

Members of the Retirement Board receive $100 per meeting up to a monthly maximum of $500, plus reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses.  The appointment will be for a full three-year term beginning July 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2026.

Application forms can be obtained from the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors by calling (925) 655-2000 or by visiting the County webpage.  Applications should be returned to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, County Administration Building, 1025 Escobar St., Martinez, CA  94553, no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, April 21, 2023.  Applicants should plan to be available for public interviews in Martinez on Monday, May 9, 2023.

Further information about the Retirement Board can be obtained by calling CCCERA CEO Gail Strohl at (925) 521-3960 or by visiting the website www.cccera.org.