Contra Costa Herald

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

Cancer Support Community reschedules 6th Annual Hope Walk due to COVID-19 shelter in place

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New Date is October 17, 2020

By Alexandra Rubin, Director of Communications, Cancer Support Community San Francisco Bay Area

WALNUT CREEK, April 6, 2020 – Cancer Support Community San Francisco Bay Area (CSC) has announced that their 6th annual Hope Walk, originally scheduled for May 16, has been rescheduled to October 17. The fun event, which is a major fundraiser for the organization, draws over 1,000 registered walkers and more than 70 exhibitors to Heather Farm Park each year.

“The Hope Walk is a way for our members, supporters, and the whole community to come out and celebrate the great work that Cancer Support Community does, which is helping people live longer and live better when faced with cancer,” said CSC’s Development Director and the event’s manager, Carol Louisell. “And, it’s just a really great time for families to get out and get some exercise along with music, entertainment, and a thousand friends!”

While the Hope Walk has had to be postponed due to the shelter-in-place order, CSC has been able to continue bringing support, hope, and healing to cancer patients and their caregivers without interruption. CSC started providing virtual support groups the same day the order was announced, on Monday, March 16. By the next week, CSC not only had very strong participation in support groups and individual counseling sessions – with their therapists and facilitators working from their homes – but also had moved many movement classes and some workshops online.

“This is exactly what our mission is,” said James Bouquin, CSC’s Chief Executive Officer. “We help people deal with the unexpected, dramatic crisis of cancer every day. It’s one of the most isolating of diseases, creating anxiety and fear. We are proud and profoundly grateful that we can continue to be a source of hope, community, and relief for our members.”

People can register for the walk and make donations at http://www.hopewalkbayarea.net/. All registrations for the May date will be transferred to the new date.

CSC’s gala, “An Evening of Hope and Healing,” is still scheduled for September 19. For information on either of these events, please contact Carol Louisell at clouisell@cancersupport.net.

About Cancer Support Community San Francisco Bay Area

Celebrating 30 years in the East Bay, Cancer Support Community provides comprehensive, integrative care—including counseling, support groups, nutrition training, exercise classes, and patient education programs—for people with cancer, their caregivers, and their families. Our evidence-based services enable cancer patients to partner with their medical teams to manage their treatment and recovery most effectively, increase their chances for survival, reduce their chances of recurrence, and provide for the highest possible quality of life. We never turn anyone away, and all of our services are always provided free of charge. With services provided at our Walnut Creek center, in local medical centers throughout the Bay Area, and now in Antioch, we serve more than 2,200 people annually.

DUI driver crashes off Highway 4 in Martinez Sunday afternoon

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Photo by Martinez Police Department.

By CHP – Contra Costa

Today at about 4:50pm, Contra Costa CHP units were advised of a solo vehicle collision off the roadway on Hwy-4 westbound just east of Pine Street in Martinez. Upon CHP and emergency personnel arrival, a solo white Toyota Corolla had crashed completely off Hwy-4, overturned and landed on its roof and into a fire hydrant on Arnold Drive (north of Hwy-4).

The 26-year-old male driver of the Toyota suffered major injuries. He was also suspected of driving under the influence.

The driver, Michael Moore from Martinez, was transported to John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek for his injuries. While at the hospital, Moore was investigated and arrested for DUI. Due to his injuries, he was admitted to the hospital and will remain there for an unknown amount of time.

There is no reason to drive impaired and risk injuries to yourself or others. There are many responsible choices available to get home safely. Please utilize them and never drive impaired.

 

Alhambra High School in Martinez to be used as alternative county care site

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Alhambra High School. Photo: www.alhambrahigh.org.

Another possible site at former Los Medanos Hospital in Pittsburg

Joint Statement from Contra Costa Health Services and Martinez Unified School District Regarding Local COVID-19 Preparations

We want to thank our community for its support and vigilance as we respond to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). We know this is a difficult time for many and we appreciate the sacrifices being made by everyone in Contra Costa County to protect the community. By staying home and practicing social distancing, Contra Costa residents are helping “flatten the curve” so our hospital systems aren’t overwhelmed, and people can get the care they need when they need it.

Nonetheless, we can’t stop preparing for the surge of people with COVID-19 we are likely to see over the coming weeks. Contra Costa County currently has 131 confirmed cases.

Pittsburg Health Center. From practicelink.com.

Contra Costa County has been exploring and preparing “alternate care sites,” facilities to care for people with less complicated medical needs. These alternate care sites could provide community members a safe place to receive care. We are preparing Pittsburg Health Center to possibly serve as an alternate care site, including identifying staff and bringing in necessary equipment and supplies.

Contra Costa County recently requested supplies from the federal government to help establish an alternative care site at Alhambra High School in Martinez. We expect the shipment of beds, medical equipment and other supplies to arrive within the next few days. The proximity of the high school to Contra Costa County Regional Medical Center is important to our ability to run the site efficiently.

Contra Costa County is working to identify shelters for people who are unhoused. We have identified a number of hotel rooms and other resources throughout Contra Costa County that will be used in this way.

We are still figuring out the details of how these alternate care sites will operate. We are likely to identify additional sites in the coming days. Our hope is that we won’t ever have to use these sites because of the protective actions we’ve taken, like the stay-at-home order, that will stem the tide. As we hope for the best, we still must prepare for the worst.

Statement from Superintendent CJ Cammack,

Martinez Unified School District Martinez Unified has just been officially notified by federal, state, and local agencies that part of Alhambra High School is being considered to create additional spaces for providing care. As you all know and understand, in any emergency situation, schools are regularly used by agencies such as the Red Cross and other temporary emergency services. Given the immediate proximity to Contra Costa County Regional Medical Center (County Hospital), it is understandable that AHS would be a location identified for this purpose. Both as a district and as a community, we have a legal obligation as well as a moral and ethical obligation, to provide the highest level of cooperation during this time.

As we support the care of patients in our community, I remain committed to ensuring the health and safety needs of our students and staff of AHS. Please know that prior to any student and/or staff use of AHS facilities the entire school campus will undergo a comprehensive cleaning process to ensure the entire campus is cleaned, disinfected, sanitized, and properly prepped for safe and secure use by students and staff. Just as I am committed to doing our collective part to support our county and the overall COVID19 response, I am equally committed to ensuring the AHS campus will be a safe place for all staff and students, prior to reopening for any school-related functions.

If anything highlights the importance of our collective actions to stay home and the magnitude of our current health crisis related to COVID19, it is this development. We must continue to work together, in ways we might not have ever imagined to be part of the solution. I have been so proud of the resiliency and grit our staff, students, and community, have shown over the last few weeks. Throughout Martinez, the AHS Bulldogs represent the courage of our students, the commitment and professionalism of our staff, and the passion of our community. I am confident these pillars of Alhambra High School will be evident for community members and medical staff during these challenging times. Together, as a community, we will welcome these guests with grace, compassion, and empathy.

DUI driver from Pittsburg arrested for death of Oakland passenger in fatal Clayton car accident Tuesday morning

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By Clayton Police Department

At approximately 9:36 am Tuesday morning, March 24, 2020 we received the report of a vehicle accident in the 5400 block of Clayton Road (Clayton Road near Duncan Drive), in the city of Clayton. Officers responded and found that a solo vehicle had crashed into an unoccupied, parked work truck. The truck belonged to a private utility company. The suspect/driver, a 26–year–old female from Pittsburg, was transported to the hospital with minor injuries and the 24–year–old male passenger from Oakland was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The female driver was determined to be under the influence of alcohol, and was booked into county jail after being released from the hospital. The investigation is ongoing.

CA Army National Guard ready for humanitarian efforts, not martial law

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By Allen Payton

Concerns that the National Guard or other branches of the military are mobilizing in Contra Costa County in preparation for martial law are unfounded.

Screenshot of video of a military convoy on Port Chicago Highway, posted by Loco Viral on Facebook, Tuesday, March 17, 2020

A video showing a convoy of mostly flatbed trucks driving on Port Chicago Highway at Military Ocean Terminal Concord (MOTCO – formerly known as the Concord Naval Weapons Station), was posted on Facebook on Tuesday.

According to the MilitaryBases.com website, “MOTCO is the primary West Coast common-user ammunition terminal, and it is home to the 834th Transportation Battalion (TB) of the Army’s Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC) installation.” It “is the primary west coast common-user ammunition terminal, supplying Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps facilities in the area.”

But, according to an Army National Guard spokesman, he isn’t aware of anything happening in Concord.

“The Guard has been alerted and we have a contingent activated for humanitarian efforts, whatever is needed. Not for any martial law,” Lt. Colonel Jonathan Shiroma said. “It’s an unprecedented situation, here. So, we understand the concerns.”

The humanitarian efforts may include distributing food. He also confirmed that there have been no exercises by the National Guard this week in Concord. The Guard will be responding now, since the governor, who is their commander in chief, issued his stay at home order statewide, last night.

So, the convoy could have been any one of the four branches of the military served by MOTCO.

White Pony Express continues food deliveries to families who use school food pantries

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Despite school closures

Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, almost all Contra Costa County schools are now closed for the protection of students. Despite this, White Pony Express (WPE), the food rescue nonprofit based in Pleasant Hill, will continue to deliver food to students and families being served by WPE’s “School Food Pantry Program.” Under this Program, WPE has been delivering fresh, surplus food to eleven free-lunch schools in the county. Since the schools are now closed, WPE will deliver the food to a nearby community center or church where families can still obtain it. Many of these families rely on this food to make ends meet.

Need for School Food Pantry Programs

Over 100,000 students in Contra Costa County, or 40%, qualify for the free lunch program. The goal of the School Pantry Program is to help eliminate hunger and increase students’ academic success so they can contribute more fully to the communities in which they live. Helen Jones, WPE’s Food Rescue Operations Manager says, “The families we serve through this program have

demanding challenges throughout the month. Many of the participants receive food stamps which only cover a portion of a month’s worth of food. The food that WPE provides to the schools we serve not only provides nutrition. It provides hope.”

Currently, WPE’s eleven school pantries are set up in schools located in Antioch, Bay Point, Martinez, Pittsburg, Richmond, and San Pablo. This year WPE’s school pantries will deliver in excess of 415,000 meals of quality, nutritious food. WPE plans to open new pantries in 2020, but

continuing the Program will depend on finding sustainable funding.

Institution of New Health Protocols

Based upon guidelines issued by the state and county, WPE will be incorporating new health guidelines to support state and local efforts to combat the COVID-19 outbreak. These protocols (hand washing, use of hand sanitizers, gloves, social distancing, etc.) will be made a part of all aspects of WPE’s food and clothing operations.

“It is important for the public and our volunteers to know that WPE will be implementing strict cleanliness standards so that our valuable programs can continue safely,” says Mary Brooks, WPE’s Executive Director. “And the families at the schools we are serving should know that WPE is preparing and delivering this surplus food in accordance with these high standards.”

ABOUT White Pony Express: WPE is a volunteer powered 501(c)3 organization headquartered in Pleasant Hill, CA, which helps people move from the margins to the mainstream by providing free food and clothing in a loving and respectful manner.

Dr. Carol Weyland Conner founded WPE in September 2013 when she was troubled that with such as an abundance of food, many thousands were going hungry, while at the same time food retailers were throwing out huge quantities of healthy, fresh food. Out of this insight, the Food Rescue program was born. In a little over 6 years, WPE has rescued and delivered more than 10.5 million pounds (equivalent to 8,750,000 meals) of fresh, nutritious food, free of charge, that would otherwise go to waste.

In 2014 the White Pony General Store was added to provide high quality clothing, toys, and books to the underserved in our communities – all free of charge. Since that time, the General Store has given away over 512,000 items to those in need.

If you’d like to contribute to WPE’s School Food Pantry Program or its other programs, you can do so by visiting WPE’s website at www.whiteponyexpress.org/donate-funds. Those who wish to volunteer can sign up at www.whiteponyexpress.org/volunteer.

For more on WPE, visit www.whiteponyexpress.org.

Martinez Main Street Arts to hold smaller show in April, students’ show postponed until August

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Due to the coronavirus concerns, instead of the children’s show during the month of April, Main Street Arts in Martinez will have a “Small Wall” show featuring small paintings by the Main Street Arts gallery artists. (See related article)

“Confluence” featuring the wonderful artwork created by Patsy Taylor’s students, past and present, will be postponed to August. Thank you all, stay safe!

Female jogger sexually assaulted on Iron Horse Trail in Walnut Creek Thursday

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Suspect sought by police – described as a white male adult, between 25 and 27 years of age, between 5’09” and 5’10” tall, with a skinny build, with dark hair, a beard, or a Goatee type facial hair

By East Bay Regional Park District Police

On Thursday, March 12, 2020, at about 7:16 PM, a female jogger was assaulted on the Iron Horse Trail, near the intersection of Jones Road and Treat Blvd., in Walnut Creek, CA. The jogger was traveling south on the trail, on the Robert I. Schroder overcrossing at Treat Blvd., when she was inappropriately grabbed from behind by a male assailant, a crime of Sexual Battery (243.4 PC). The suspect continued to run southbound on the trail and is still outstanding. The victim sustained no other injuries.

Location of assault on Iron Horse Trail 03-12-20.

East Bay Regional Park District Police officers, along with officers from BART PD, Walnut Creek PD, and deputies from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, responded to the area to assist with the investigation. The victim described the suspect as a white male adult, between 25 and 27 years of age, between 5’09” and 5’10” tall, with a skinny build, with dark hair, a beard, or a Goatee type facial hair and wearing all dark athletic type clothing.

The crime is the third incident of recent assaults on the Iron Horse Trail in the same area currently being investigated by the East Bay Regional Park District Police Department. The suspect’s description closely resembles the physical description of the suspect from two previous incidents.

The East Bay Regional Park District Police Department is carefully and diligently investigating all three of these incidents and believes they are related. Anyone who was on the Iron Horse Trail during this time or who may have cameras that may have captured the suspect’s photo is asked to contact our Dispatch Center at (510) 881-1833.

The Police Department is working with allied agencies to locate and arrest the suspect in these crimes. We ask the public to be aware of their surroundings while visiting the parks and to phone the East Bay Regional Park District Police Department any suspicious activity within the parks.

The East Bay Regional Park District Police Department is asking anyone who may have witnessed the assault, was in the immediate area during the time of 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM, or may have information regarding the identity of the suspect, to contact the East Bay Regional Park District Police Dispatch Center at (510) 881-1833 or the anonymous Tip Line at (510) 690-6521.

 

Newark man pleads guilty for two counts of attempted kidnapping for rape of Walnut Creek, other women

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Planned kidnap and rape of multiple victims

Matthew Caruso. Photo by WCPD.

By Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa County District Attorney

Yesterday, Wed., March 11, 2020 defendant Matthew Caruso of Newark (38-years-old) pleaded guilty to two felonies of attempted kidnapping for rape, one count for each victim in the case. Judge Laurel Brady of the Contra Costa County Superior Court accepted the guilty plea and sentenced Caruso to nine years in state prison.

Last year, Caruso was charged with four felonies by our Office after an extensive investigation by the Walnut Creek Police Department. Caruso tried to abduct Jane Doe outside of her apartment in the early morning of March 26, 2019. Fortunately, the attack and kidnapping failed, but Caruso tried to use a taser to subdue the victim. He then fled the scene wearing an elaborate disguise.

Not only was the primary victim able to fend off her attacker, but a witness noticed that the suspect dropped his phone in nearby bushes as the victim thwarted the attack. A few hours before this attack, Caruso drove by another victim’s residence but did not engage with this victim.

A particularly observant civilian in Fremont helped to catch this defendant with his quick thinking. The good Samaritan found disturbing notes from Mr. Caruso explaining his desire to kidnap and rape multiple victims, zip ties, and a mask in a dumpster and immediately called the Fremont police. The officers in Fremont did an amazing job of sifting through the garbage in that dumpster to locate a receipt that they traced back to the defendant.

Teamwork between attentive community members and diligent police officers brought this suspect to justice and made the community safer.

To protect their confidentiality, our Office does not release the name or age of the victim, or their relationship to a defendant for this type of case. A criminal protective order was also ordered by the judge to prevent the defendant from communicating with either victim.

The case was investigated by the Walnut Creek Police Department. Deputy District Attorney Bryan Tierney prosecuted the case on behalf of the People. DDA Tierney is assigned to our Sexual Assault Unit.

Case information: People v. Matthew Caruso, Docket Number 01-189376-7

Multiple COVID-19 (coronavirus) cases in county spark Supervisors to declare state of emergency

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The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors proclaimed March as American Red Cross Month in Contra Costa County at their meeting on Tuesday. Known as the world’s largest humanitarian organization, the Contra Costa American Red Cross volunteers last year helped 168 people affected by 110 home fires in 2019. American Red Cross volunteers in the county collected 15,491 units of lifesaving blood, taught skills that save lives to 10,747 community members and provided international humanitarian aid. Attending the presentation were from left District 5 Supervisor Federal Glover, Board Chair Candace Andersen, District 4 Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, American Red Cross Bay Area CEO Jennifer Adrio, American Red Cross Contra Costa Leadership Council Co-Chair Stan Massie, Board Vice Chair Diane Burgis, and American Red Cross Contra Costa County Vice Chair Briana Taylor. Photo by Daniel Borsuk.

Approve closure of Pleasant Hill Library for Oak Park Properties Development

By Daniel Borsuk

The rising COVID 19 or coronavirus outbreak with 10 reported cases in Contra Costa County hospitals as of Tuesday, compelled the Board of Supervisors to unanimously adopt a resolution proclaiming a state of emergency in the county with guidance on how to deal with the threatening respiratory flu.

On March 3 there were 43 COVID 19 cases in California with 26 of these cases in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The supervisors’ action will result in an undetermined amount of state aid, said Anna Roth, Contra Costa County Health Director.

The Supervisors’ declaration will help the county with the delivery of badly needed COVID 19 test kits, face masks, protective gear and other resources. The county had 1,000 kits on the day of the Supervisors’ meeting, Contra Costa Health Department Director of Public Health Dan Peddycord said, but more kits will be needed to meet demand as health officials expect more patients will come down with COVID 19 symptoms and will seek medical attention.

The supervisors’ declaration states:

“On March 10, 2020 this Board found that due to the introduction of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) conditions of disaster or extreme peril to the safety of persons and property did exist in the County of Contra Costa commencing on or about March 3, 2020, and therefore the Board proclaimed the existence of a local emergency throughout this county (Resolution No. 2020/92).

  • These conditions, by reason of their magnitude, are or are likely, to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of this county, and will require the combined forces of a mutual aid region or regions to combat.
  • These conditions fit the circumstances described in Government Code section 8558.
  • Now, Therefore IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED that this Board REQUESTS the GOVERNOR of the State of California to proclaim the County to be in a state of emergency.”

“The new coronavirus or COVID-19 presents our community with a challenge,” said Board Chair Candace Andersen. “While I urge you to be prepared, it is certainly not a time to panic. Following our health officials’ guidelines will help prevent the spread of disease.

The county and the Contra Costa Health Services will continue to offer guidance and resources. Meanwhile, there is much each and everyone one of us can do to keep our families and communities well. It will take all of working together.”

Dan Peddycord, Contra Costa Health Department Director of Public Health, told Supervisors the county now has 1,000 COVID test kits. “Our ability to test is meeting the demand,” he said.

There are increasing concerns that the county’s ability to test the most vulnerable including senior citizens, the homeless, and county jail prisoners might be hampered by the shortage of trained health personnel and test kits as the number of COVID 19 cases increases.

Dr. Ori Tzvieli, acting Contra Costa Health Services Health Officer, said that the county is taking other preemptive steps to stop the spread of COVID 19 including calling for the cancelation of all “mass gatherings of 50 or more.” This order means religious services drawing congregants of 50 or more for Saturday or Sunday services will be not be allowed to conduct these services  due to the epidemic. Sports, entertainment and other events will be impacted by the mass gathering edict. The regional economy will be impacted.

This topic of banning meetings or places that draw audiences of 50 or more will also apply to other entities ranging from seniors eating in the dining rooms of their senior living facilities to the Board of Supervisors conducting business in their chambers at 651 Pine St. in Martinez.

So far, the closure of schools has not yet been put on the table, said Dr. Tzieli.

District 1 Supervisor John Gioia of Richmond and Chair Andersen of Danville discussed the possibility of canceling or postponing the supervisors annual Cesar Chavez Birthday Celebration at its March 31 Board Meeting because of potential health concerns stemming from the COVD 19 epidemic. No decision was made at Tuesday’s meeting about the fate of the Cesar Chavez Birthday Celebration.

Approve Closure of Pleasant Hill Library for Oak Park Properties Development

Pleasant Hill branch of the Contra Costa County Library. Photo from Flipboard.

Over the protests of several Pleasant Hill residents wanting to keep the old Pleasant Hill Public Library with its 80,000 volumes open until the new state-of-the-art library is completed and ready for use in 2022, supervisors unanimously approved the sale of the county property at 1750 Oak Park Blvd. to the City of Pleasant Hill, thereby paving the way for the library’s demolition and commencement of construction of the mixed use development on the 15-acre site.

Supervisor Karen Mitchoff of Pleasant Hill has defended the proposal to demolish the old library because it needs $2.2 million of roof, electrical and ventilation and heating repairs and that expenditure is not worthwhile when the new modern library that will have a view of Grayson Creek and will house 72,000 volumes. The old library has about 80,000 volumes.

The new state-of-the-art library will be completed in 2022.

Developers of the Oak Park Properties project plan to construct 34 two-story homes, each 2,800 square feet to 3,400 square feet. There will be open space, bocce courts, and trails.

Jim Dexter urged supervisors to reject the project. “There is nothing about this project that’s been publicly vetted,” he claimed. “Why was this sale was not examined?”

When it came to the supervisors’ vote, Mitchoff beckoned fellow supervisors to approve closure of the old county library, Mitchoff telling her colleagues the new state-of-the-art library with a view of Grayson Creek will be “a county asset.”

In other business, supervisors:

  • Approved an agreement between the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the Contra Costa County Director of Airports Keith Freitas to execute a master administrative agreement to establish a partnership where Buchanan Field and Byron airports will be included in the Pan Pacific UAS Test Range Complex. The agreement makes the two airports available for use by third parties for UAS-related testing, research and educational purposes in coordination with the University of Alaska. The university is expected to use various electronic and printed media to promote the partnership.
  • Approved a $16.3 million contract with Hensel Phelps Construction Co. for the design and construction for mental health treatment facilities and associated Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades at Module M in the Martinez Detention Facility.
  • Approved to pay up to $163,585 to the consortium of eight northern California counties to study the feasibility of developing a regional mental health correctional facility. The total cost for the first phase of the study is $603,895 that will be shared by the eight counties including Contra Costa, Sacramento, Solano, El Dorado, Nevada, Sutter, Yolo, and Yuba counties.