Publisher | Contra Costa Herald

Glover, Avila Farias in November run-off in race for District 5 Supervisor

June 10, 2016 By Publisher Leave a Comment

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

Barr, Burgis expand leads in Thursday’s District 3 Supervisor race vote count update

June 9, 2016 By Publisher Leave a Comment

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 gives $10,000 to support high school “Safe and Sober Grad Night” celebrations in Contra Costa County

June 9, 2016 By Publisher Leave a Comment

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.

Election for District 3 Supervisor may not yet be over, about 56,000 ballots left to count

June 8, 2016 By Publisher 1 Comment

By 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.

Hardcastle maintains lead in finances in District 3 Supervisor race, Burgis leads in monetary contributions, is second in spending

June 7, 2016 By Publisher Leave a Comment

By 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 (4^th)

Total Contributions during the campaign: $52,633.16 (1^st)

Payments Made during period: $2,511.13

Accrued Expenses (unpaid bills) for the period: $ -0-

Total Expenditures Made during the campaign: $52,155.00 (1^st)

Ending Cash Balance: $478.16

Outstanding Debts: $16,500 (2^nd) – 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 (2^nd)

Monetary Contributions Received during the campaign: $30,352 (2^nd)

Total Contributions during the campaign: $40,752 (3^rd)

Expenditures Made during period: $ -0-

Total Expenditures Made during the campaign: $38,768 (3^rd)

Ending Cash Balance: $3,984

Outstanding Debts: $7,000 (3^rd) – $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 (4^th)

Monetary Contributions Received during the campaign: $31,655 (1^st)

Total Contributions during the campaign: $31,755 (3^rd)

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 (2^nd)

Ending Cash Balance: $5,082.43

Outstanding Debts: $23,470.06 (1^st) – $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 (3^rd)

Total Contributions for the campaign: $31,216.86 (4^th)

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 (4^th)

Ending Cash Balance of $3,175.32

Outstanding Debts: $1,250 (4^th)

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 (5^th)

Total Contributions for the campaign: $13,025.00 (5^th)

Expenditures Made during period: $2,312.22

Accrued Expenses (unpaid bills) for the period: $ -0-

Total Expenditures Made during the campaign: $11,590.02 (5^th)

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 (6^th)

Total Contributions for the campaign: $9,725.00 (6^th)

Expenditures Made during period: $ -0-

Accrued Expenses (unpaid bills) for the period: $ -0-

Total Expenditures Made during the campaign: $8,950.54 (6^th)

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.

Barr 460 0522-060216

Barr Amend 0424-052116

Burgis 460 0522-060216

Hardcastle 460 0522-060216

Hardcastle Amend 0101-042316

Hardcastle Amend 0424-052116

Harper 460 0522-060216

Lefrancios 460 0522-060316

Wilson 460 0522-060216

Former President Bill Clinton to be in Antioch to campaign for Hillary, Monday

June 5, 2016 By Publisher 1 Comment

By 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.

Early voting locations in Contra Costa County open 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m, today

June 4, 2016 By Publisher Leave a Comment

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 4^th 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.

Businesses give big to help East County foster kids

June 3, 2016 By Publisher Leave a Comment

L to R: Dan Peterson, Dave Bowers, Sue Bowers, Michael Bernamonti, Jeff Cornelius, Brian Helmick, Jenny Nunes, Christy Kenney, John Kenney with the large replicas of the two checks. photo by Sean Pearson

By Sean Pearson

More foster children in East County will be able to attend summer camp, this year, due to the generosity of two Brentwood businesses. On Thursday, 02 June 2016, Dan Peterson of Movement Mortgage and John Kenney of JDK Realty & Associates formally presented Royal Family KIDS of Brentwood with two checks of $10,000 each. The presentation took place at the JDK & Associates office on in the Vic Stewart’s Center in Brentwood.

Accepting the checks on behalf of Royal Family KIDS were Dave and Sue Bowers, camp directors at RFK Brentwood. Dave Bowers explained the impact this grant will have:

“We appreciate the $25 checks too,” Dave said. “But checks like this, kind of push us over the top, and allow us to get ahead a little bit. Every year we’ve gone, in the past we’ve had to reset…I write a check for camp…for thirty, 35 thousand dollars… and the bank account’s…back almost to zero.”

“We’re not going to be there this year, which is a beautiful thing,” he added. “Plus we’re able to do more things for the kids this year.”

Royal Family KIDS is a faith-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded by Wayne and Diane Tesch to serve children in the foster system and take them to a week-long summer camp. The RFK website, it stated, “In 2015 Royal Family KIDS served over 7,700 children in 209 camps in 40 states and 4 international countries. Over one hundred thousand children have attended the camps since 1985.”

Sue Bowers was very emotional as she expressed her gratitude to Kenney and Peterson.

“The kids thank, you, the kids that don’t have a voice,” she said. “ Thank you for making something positive that they will never forget.”

All the funds will be used for the local, RFK Brentwood camp.

For more information visit www.brentwood.royalfamilykids.org or follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rfkbrentwood.

Contra Costa County Fair 2016 Schedule for Friday-Sunday

June 3, 2016 By Publisher Leave a Comment

Friday, June 3 FUN FAMILY FRIDAY

Kids 12 & Under– FREE admission all day for kids 12 and under!
Family Carnival Deal-Buy 1 Ride Wristband & Get 1 FREE until 6:00pm…$25 savings

12:00 Gates Open
12:00 Splash Dogs Registration begins
1:00 Splash Dogs
1:30 Circus Imagination
2:00 Wild About Monkeys
3:00 Splash Dogs
4:00 Circus Imagination
5:00 Splash Dogs
5:00 Rabbits & Cavy Show – Small Animal Barn
5:30 Circus Imagination
6:30 Wild About Monkeys
7:00 Splash Dogs
7:00 Pop, Rock, & Soul- Main Stage
7:30 Jr. Sheep Lead – Shady Oak Arena
7:30 Undead Betty’s Roller Derby– Paradise Skate
8:00 Wild About Monkeys
9:15 & 10:30 Big Bad Boogie Rock- Main Stage

Saturday, June 4

9:00 Swine Show-Livestock Arena
11:00 Gates Open
11:00 Splash Dogs Registration begins
12:00 Splash Dogs
12:00 Pocket Pets-Shady Oak Arena
12:30 Circus Imagination
1:00 Wild About Monkeys
1:30 The Doritos Rollerskating Dance Team-Paradise Skate
2:00 Splash Dogs
3:00 Circus Imagination
3:30 The Doritos Rollerskating Dance Team-Paradise Skate
4:00 Wild About Monkeys
4:00 Small Animal Showmanship-Livestock Arena
5:00 Woodcarver Auction
5:30 Gwen In Doubt-Main Stage
5:30 The Doritos Rollerskating Dance Team-Paradise Skate
6:00 Large Animal Showmanship-Livestock Arena
6:00 Splash Dogs
6:45 Circus Imagination
7:00 Metalachi-Main Stage
7:30 Wild About Monkeys
8:00 The Doritos Rollerskating Dance Team-Paradise Skate
9:15 & 10:30 Long Duck Dongs- Main Stage

Sunday, June 5 Fiesta De La Familia Day

10:00 Junior Livestock Auction-Livestock Arena
11:00 Gates Open
11:00 Splash Dogs Registration begins
12:00 Circus Imagination
1:00 Wild About Monkeys
1:30 Splash Dogs
2:00 Live Hispanic Musical Entertainment – Main Stage
2:00 Battle of the Bullriders-Antioch Speedway
2:30 Circus Imagination
3:00 Undead Betty’s Roller Derby-Paradise Skate
3:00 Wild About Monkeys
3:00 Livestock Awards Ceremony-Livestock Arena
3:30 Splash Dogs
5:00 Splash Dog Finals
5:30 Woodcarver Auction
6:00 Wild About Monkeys
6:30 Circus Imagination

Back-to-Back Finals for Golden State

May 31, 2016 By Publisher Leave a Comment

The Warriors’ Steph Curry answers questions at the press conference following Game 7 of the Western Conference finals, on Monday, May 30, 2016. photos by F.D. Purcell

Warriors win three in a row beating Thunder 96-88 to head to their second straight NBA Finals

The 2016 Western Conference Championship trophy was presented to the Warriors following Monday night’s victory.

By F.D. Purcell, Herald Bay Area Sports Reporter

When two-time MVP Stephen Curry did his usual pregame ball toss and pop with courtside security guard Curtis Jones on Monday his eyes were dark and dim, but there was something about his aura. He was laser focused. Curtis inbounded the ball, Curry missed the first shot, the crowd gasped. After he missed his next three, he held up one finger, head bobbing to the music…splash.

What a precursor to the game he’d have scoring 36 points in his team’s 96-88 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder 4-3 in the best of seven.

“No one ever had any doubt we could get this done,” said Draymond Green following the game.

Fans paid as much as $29,000 for courtside seats for this game after the Warriors won Game 6 in Oklahoma. The Oracle fans stayed afterwards as the team received their Western Conference Championship trophy midcourt.

“We were a mature basketball team that tried our best not to listen to the noise outside,” said Curry. “Let’s figure this out let’s go out and take it one game at a time and crawl our way back into the series and see what happens.”

They crawled and clawed back, winning three in a row, silencing all who said they couldn’t do it.

Now they’ll face the Cavaliers for the second straight year. The Warriors swept them in the regular season. King James will certainly be looking for redemption.

The Warriors host Cleveland in Game 1 of the NBA Finals Thursday, June 2nd. Tip-off is at 6:00 p.m.