Contra Costa Herald

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

County Sheriff Training Center graduates 26 from 184th Basic Academy Class

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Photos courtesy of CCCSheriff.

 

Sheriff David Livingston congratulations one of the graduates.

From the CCC Sheriff Facebook page

The 184th Basic Academy Class of the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Law Enforcement Training Center graduated on Thursday, Nov. 9th at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek.

The 26 graduates represent the following law enforcement agencies: California Alcoholic Beverage Control, Berkeley, Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, Daly City, Marin County Sheriff’s Department, Pleasant Hill, Richmond, and San Pablo.

Contra Costa Sheriff David Livingston administered the oath to the Office of the Sheriff graduates following the ceremony.

Congratulations to all the graduates!

Following repairs from storm damage Morgan Territory Road reopens

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Morgan Territory Road residents celebrate its reopening with a barbeque on Sat., Nov. 18. Photo by Scott MacIntyre.

After being closed since February due to a large landslide during winter storms, Morgan Territory Road reopened on Saturday, November 18 at 5:00 p.m. The County’s contractor, Flatiron West, Inc. started the repair project in July. The project included installation of two structural retaining wall systems, excavation and backfill between the walls, reconstruction of pavement, drainage improvements, and pavement striping. The project also included the relocation of water, electric and telephone utilities to accommodate construction. This quality repair project represents the efforts and cooperation of many project partners as well as local, state and federal efforts to expedite this repair project.

Residents who live along the road celebrated with a neighborhood barbeque. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on Saturday, December 2 at 10:30 am. The ceremony will take place on Morgan Territory Road at a county owned property opposite Oak Hill Lane to celebrate project completion.

Labor union members to protest Monday at Martinez Walmart for being open on Thanksgiving

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Asking for “Freedom to Spend Time with our Families”

By Margaret Hanlon-Gradie

Forget Black Friday! The Contra Costa Central Labor Council with Making Change will stage a protest on Monday Nov. 20 to tell Walmart to observe the spirit of Thanksgiving and allow workers time to spend with their families.

Action will be held Monday, November 20th between 11:00 am and 12:00 pm at 1021 Arnold Drive in Martinez.

According to the Making Change website, their “vision for American workers – in grocery, retail, and in our communities – is respect and dignity at jobs that pay fairly and guarantee workers a voice.

Working together with Walmart Associates, local UFCW members, and leaders in communities across the country, the Making Change at Walmart campaign is challenging Walmart to share our vision for a new way forward—a way that lifts all of us up.”

According to their website, the Labor Council represents 80,000 working families standing together for good jobs, healthy communities, educational opportunity, and a brighter future for people in all industries and kinds of work.

Hanlon-Gradie is Executive Director of the Contra Costa Central Labor Council.

Community college board member Tim Farley receives national government relations award

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Tim Farley, from CCCCD

For work in his position at Saint Mary’s College

Contra Costa Community College District (CCCCD) Governing Board member Timothy J. Farley has received the national 2017 Edwin Crawford Award for Innovation.  Farley is being honored for his advocacy and leadership as director of Community and Government Relations at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga and elevating the college’s profile among California legislators and their staff.

“To be selected for this national honor is humbling,” said Farley.  “I have been fortunate to develop a network of elected official contacts during my career both as an elected official and staff member for several state legislators.  These relationships and understanding how to work within the legislative process have been the keys to my success.”

Farley’s recognition is one of two 2017 Service Awards in State Government Relations awarded by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, American Association of Community Colleges, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities.  They are the only national awards in higher education/state relations, and he will be honored at a December 7, 2017, luncheon at the 2017 Higher Education Government Relations Conference in San Diego.

“On behalf of the District, we congratulate trustee Farley for being recognized as a national government relations leader,” noted CCCCD chancellor Fred Wood.  “He is great asset to our District and proud alumni of one of our colleges, Diablo Valley College.  This honor continues our wonderful community college legacy of providing the foundation for tomorrow’s community leaders.”

Elected to the college board in 2014, Farley represents Ward III and currently serves as board vice president. According to his bio on the college’s website, Farley “is responsible for monitoring all federal and state legislation as it pertains to higher education. Additionally, Tim handles concerns with the Town of Moraga and surrounding communities. Tim was part of the team that brought the 2010 United States Senate debate to Saint Mary’s College.”

He is also graduate of U.C. Davis where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. Farley and his wife Eileen have two adult sons.

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education is a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit association of educational institutions whose mission includes fostering public support of education and marketing their member institutions to prospective students.  For more information visit www.case.org.

About CCCCD

The Contra Costa Community College District (CCCCD) is one of the largest multi-college community college districts in California. The CCCCD serves a population of 1,019,640 people, and its boundaries encompass all but 48 of the 734-square-mile land area of Contra Costa County. The District is home to Contra Costa College in San Pablo, Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, as well as educational centers in Brentwood and San Ramon.  The District headquarters is located in downtown Martinez. For more information visit www.4cd.edu.

Concord police identify two of five suspects arrested in Monday’s shooting death near high school

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Photos courtesy of Concord PD.

Four face murder, other charges

From Concord Police Department Facebook Page

Concord Police provided an update to their investigation into the Monday murder of a teen near Olympic High School. (See related article)

On Wednesday, Nov. 8, Concord Police Detectives presented this murder case to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office and the following charges were filed:

– Kristhiam Uceda, a 20-year old Concord resident, was charged with murder.

– Bryan Sermeno-Chachagua, an 18-year old Concord resident, was charged with hiding the gun after the shooting.

We are not identifying three suspects due to their ages:

– A 17-year old Concord male was charged with murder for driving the involved car.

– Another 17-year old Concord male was charged with hiding the gun after the shooting.

– No charges were filed at this time against a 5th male juvenile.

The Concord Police Department is not releasing further details at this time, due to the ongoing investigation. Inquiries can be referred to Lieutenant Mike Kindorf at (925) 671-3478.

27th annual Contra Costa County Model UN attracts high school students from throughout Bay Area

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Students from throughout the Bay Area gathered at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill to participate in the Contra Costa High School Model United Nations on Nov. 3 and 4, 2017. Photos by Jonathan Lance, CCCBOE

Three of four winning teams were from Contra Costa: California  High of San Ramon, Miramonte High of  Orinda and Campolindo High of Moraga

Instead of taking part in their schools’ football games, dances, and other fun weekend activities, 360 Bay Area high school students (representing 70 countries) buckled down this past Friday, Nov. 3, 2017 and Saturday to discuss and provide workable solutions to many of our world’s biggest challenges, at the 27th annual Contra Costa County Model United Nations (UN) Conference, held at Diablo Valley College.

This academic event is produced and directed by the Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE) and coordinated by Kevin Felix Chan, of Best Delegate, along with members of the Model United Nations Club at U.C. Davis. The two-day event enhances high school students’ understanding of the United Nations and its role in global issues. Participating students (delegates) each represent a nation and negotiate on that country’s behalf.

Students served as delegates representing different countries.

Bay Area high school teams participating in this year’s Contra Costa County Model UN were: Acalanes High (Lafayette), Athenian High (Danville), Berean Christian (Walnut Creek), California High (San Ramon), Campolindo High (Moraga), Carondelet High (Concord), De La Salle High (Concord), Deer Valley High (Antioch), Dougherty Valley High (San Ramon), Foothill High (Pleasanton), Liberty High (Brentwood), Lycée de Francais San Francisco (San Francisco), Miramonte High (Orinda), and Northgate High (Walnut Creek).

During the conference, delegates debated international issues in 10 committees, including Disarmament and International Security Committee (DISEC), Security Council (UNSC), United Nations Women (UN Women), World Health Organization (WHO), and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Topics discussed will include Biological and Chemical Weapons, The Question of North Korea, Access to Clean Water and Sanitation, Children in Armed Conflict, and many more. For a complete list of committees and detailed topics, please visit this Web page.

This year, California High earned the Outstanding Large Delegation Crystal Gavel Award, with Foothill High following with Exceptional Large Delegation Plaque. Miramonte High received the Outstanding Small Delegation Crystal Gavel Award, and Campolindo High brought home the Exceptional Small Delegation Plaque. Numerous individual awards were earned, and will be listed on the Model UN Web page in the very near future.

Cal High’s Model UN team was awarded the Outstanding Large Delegation Crystal Gavel Award.

“We are pleased to see so many high school students throughout our county and the Bay Area take advantage of our Model UN program,” says Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Karen Sakata. “Model UN is an excellent opportunity for students to display all the hard work and preparation they have put in, as they successfully discuss, persuade, and work with fellow committee members on real-world problems and complex international relations. The skills they are currently refining with this program will be the same ones they’ll use in college and/or in their future careers.”

The student delegates had fund taking photos in front of the flag of the U.N.

This academic event also offers students an opportunity to gain substantive knowledge about the cultures and policies of the countries they represent. They can learn the mechanisms for peaceful resolution of disputes, while at the same time honing their interpersonal skills. They must practice writing and speaking skills in order to persuade delegates from other attending schools.

Kevin Chan reported that the 35 U.C. Davis Model UN Club volunteers who presided over the Committee Meetings were extremely impressed with their younger brothers and sisters who share a tremendous interest in international affairs.

Model UN differs from other CCCOE academic-event programs, such as Mock Trial, in that it is not so much a competition as it is an event. Participants are commended for outstanding committee work and certificates are awarded to committee rapporteurs. Individual delegate winners are recognized for their debate skills, leadership skills, knowledge of the issues, and presentation of key resolutions. The event closes with a ceremony that recognizes the outstanding delegates.

Concord Police make multiple arrests in Monday shooting death of teen

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From the Concord Police Facebook Page

Concord Police Officers have made several arrests in the below described homicide that occurred yesterday near Olympic High School in our downtown. The individuals arrested have been charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Police are not seeking any additional suspects at this time. They are exploring all avenues to explain the motive in this case. There were multiple individuals in the suspect vehicle.

Further information was available at a press conference that was held today, Tuesday, November 7, 2017 at 5:30 PM in front of the Concord Police Department at 1350 Galindo St in Concord. It can be viewed on the CPD Facebook page, here.

Original Post: We are currently investigating a shooting that occurred at 1:32 PM, near Olympic High School, at the corner of Salvio Street and Beach Street. Our investigation reveals that after school let out for the day, a passenger in an unknown black sedan, exited the suspect vehicle and approached a group of individuals off campus. The suspect shot at one of the individuals, as the others ran for safety. The victim ran onto the campus of Olympic High School where he was medically treated by staff, paramedics and police. There are no other injured people. The victim was transported to a local hospital and his condition is unknown at this time.

If you were a witness to the shooting and have not been contacted by a CPD officer, please contact the Concord Police Department at 925-671-3333.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Contra Costa college district announces four finalists for Diablo Valley College President

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The Contra Costa Community College District has announced the selection of four finalists for the position of President of Diablo Valley College (DVC).  The finalists are: Susan Lamb, Kimberlee Messina, Ed.D., Christopher M. Reber, Ph.D. and Joanne Russell, Ph.D.

Four separate public forums have been scheduled for November 13-16, 2017.  The forums will begin at 2:00 p.m. and last 45 minutes.  At each forum, the finalist will make statements and answer questions.  The forums are open to the broad community, students, faculty and staff and will be held in DVC’s Diablo Room, 321 Golf Club Road, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523.

Please visit http://www.4cd.edu/ for further details regarding the upcoming forums.

Susan Lamb

Susan Lamb has worked in higher education for 30 years and in the California Community College system for more than 25 years.  Most recently, Ms. Lamb served as the Interim Chancellor of City College of San Francisco where she provided the leadership to move the college within a two-year period from Restoration Status to reaffirmation of accreditation for the full seven-year cycle.  In order to achieve this goal, she worked with the college leadership to implement services at all college locations and to clarify and codify decision-making and governance systems within the college to increase transparency and effectiveness.  She also collaborated with state legislators, the San Francisco Mayor’s Office, members of the Board of Supervisors, and the leadership of the faculty and classified unions to develop and implement a Promise Program called Free City for the fall 2017 semester, to extend and increase the college’s parcel tax, and to encourage the passage of five years of state restorative growth funding for the college.  Before City College of San Francisco, Ms. Lamb, worked within the Contra Costa Community College District (CCCCD) at both Diablo Valley College and Contra Costa College.  She served as the Vice President of Instruction at Diablo Valley College for six years.

Dr. Kimberlee Messina

Kimberlee Messina, Ed.D. is a passionate supporter of student success and equity and a committed educator who has served the California Community Colleges for more than 26 years.  Kimberlee’s career path includes service as a “freeway flyer” adjunct faculty, a tenured Spanish instructor, a two-term academic senate president, and an instructional dean of STEM at Santa Rosa Junior College.  She served as the Vice President of Instruction and Institutional Research and Interim President at Foothill College from 2011-2016 before joining San Mateo County Community College District where she is currently the Interim Vice Chancellor of Educational Services and Planning.  Kimberlee holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology, a master’s degree in Spanish from California State University, Sacramento and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from University of California, Davis.  An accomplished public speaker, she has presented to the Statewide Academic Senate and the Association of California Community College Administrators.  She has served on a number of accreditation site teams and currently serves as a member of the technical assistance committee for the statewide Institutional Effectiveness Partnership Initiative, a member of the Board of the Association for California Community College Administrators (ACCCA) and Co-Chair of the Management Development Committee.

Dr. Christopher Reber

Dr. Christopher M. Reber has devoted his entire 36-year career to postsecondary education.  He is currently President of Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) near Pittsburgh, PA, where he is leading new initiatives in support of a student-centered learning environment; strategic enrollment management; regional partnerships; and a culture of planning, assessment and improvement.  Dr. Reber has championed the development of nationally distinctive CCBC High School Academies; more than 600 articulation agreements with four-year colleges and universities nationwide; and new program development that addresses high priority workforce and economic development needs throughout western Pennsylvania.  Under his leadership CCBC has been chosen as an Aspen 150 Institution and has become known as the tristate workforce development leader in a rapidly emerging economic and industrial transformation.  Prior to joining CCBC, Dr. Reber served for 12 years as Executive Dean of Venango College of Clarion University.  He led the college to achieve enrollment growth and helped faculty develop new programs supported by a diverse network of partnerships.  The college offered stackable credentials including certificates, associate degrees, applied baccalaureates and graduate degrees.  Dr. Reber led the development and approval of Clarion University’s first doctoral degree in Nursing Practice.  Dr. Reber’s career also includes 18 years at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, where he served on the senior management team as the Chief Development, University Relations and Alumni Relations Officer during a successful $50 million capital campaign; and Chief Student Affairs Officer during a period of significant college growth.  Earlier in his career he led continuing and cooperative education programs at Lakeland Community College near Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Reber strives to be a servant leader in his work and community engagement.  He is passionate about the educational imperative to promote social justice and access to underserved communities.  Throughout his career he has provided leadership and support for diversity, including the creation of a Presidential Advisory Council on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at CCBC; participation on Clarion University’s Diversity Strategic Planning Committee; and creation and leadership of Penn State Erie’s Diversity and Educational Equity Committee.  He is currently a member of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Commission on Diversity, Inclusion and Equity.  Dr. Reber holds a bachelor’s degree from Dickinson College, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa; a master’s degree from Bowling Green State University, where he was named “Graduate Student of the Year;” and a Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh.  He also holds a post-graduate certificate from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education. Dr. Reber lives in Ellwood City, PA with his partner, Kerry Stetler.  He is the father of two children: Jonathan, age 21, and Katherine, age 19.

Dr. Joanne Russell

Dr. Joanne Russell is presently Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at Kingsborough Community College, an Achieving the Dream Leader College that is part of the City University of New York in Brooklyn, New York.  Previously, she was Provost Fellow for Community College Access Programs and Workforce Development at the State University of New York System Administration, responsible for working with SUNY’s community colleges to scale initiatives that increase access, success, completion and workforce development.  She has spent over 25 years working in higher education in various faculty and administrative roles, including Vice President for Academic Affairs at Westchester Community College in New York and Dean of Academic Affairs at Manchester Community College in Connecticut.  She has provided leadership for equity initiatives, college strategic planning, resource development, regional and programmatic accreditation, general education reform, developmental education redesign, high school partnership work, workforce development, program development and expansion, and extensive hiring of faculty and staff.  Dr. Russell has been the Principal Investigator and Project Director of many grant-funded initiatives to strengthen student access and success.  She received a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 1979 and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry in 1984 from the University of Connecticut.

About Diablo Valley College

Diablo Valley College (DVC) is one of three colleges in the Contra Costa Community College District.  For nearly 70 years, Diablo Valley College has provided quality education to the community it serves.  The larger of DVC’s two campuses is located in Pleasant Hill while the newer San Ramon Campus serves the south county in Dougherty Valley.  Between its two campuses, DVC serves more than 22,000 students each semester with a wide variety of program options. DVC is not only recognized as one of California’s best community colleges, but it also leads the state in transfer to four-year institutions.  For more about DVC, visit www.dvc.edu.

About the College District 

The Contra Costa Community College District (CCCCD) is one of the largest multi-college community college districts in California.  The CCCCD serves a population of 1,019,640 people, and its boundaries encompass all but 48 of the 734-square-mile land area of Contra Costa County.  The District is home to Contra Costa College in San Pablo, Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, as well as educational centers in Brentwood and San Ramon.  The District headquarters is located in downtown Martinez.

Walnut Creek middle school teacher, a Martinez resident charged with multiple sex and child porn offenses

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Michael Bartel from his Facebook page.

Michael Bartel in happier times. From his page on Facebook.

Includes sexual assault of a child under the age of 10 and arranging to meet a minor for sex

On Friday, Nov. 3, 2017, investigators from the Martinez Police Department, Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, and District Attorney’s Office arrested 33-year-old Martinez resident Michael Bartel for sexual assault of a child and arranging to meet a minor for sex. Bartel was booked Friday evening at the Martinez Detention Facility. His bail was set at $16 million. Bartel is a science teacher at Walnut Creek Intermediate in Walnut Creek. There is currently no indication Bartel victimized a student at the school.

Bartel’s arrest was a result of an investigation initiated by the Martinez Police Department. Martinez police detectives learned Bartel was talking online with others and had made statements about molesting children. Martinez police detectives, along with investigators from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force launched an investigation to determine if the statements were true. After a weeklong investigation, Bartel was arrested during a traffic stop at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon at the intersection of Danville Blvd. and Camille Lane in Alamo.

Michael Bartel upon being booked into county jail.

Friday afternoon, investigators from the Walnut Creek Police Department executed a search warrant at Bartel’s classroom at Walnut Creek Intermediate and notified the school administration of the arrest. Later that afternoon, investigators from the Martinez Police Department with substantial assistance from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, Contra Costa County Crime Lab and District Attorney’s Office searched Bartle’s home in Martinez.

On Monday, November 6, 2017, the District Attorney’s Office filed a 16-count criminal complaint against Bartel. The charges include multiple sex offenses against a child under the age of 10 including oral copulation, arranging to meet a minor for sex and possession and distribution of child pornography.

Bartel will make his first appearance in court on Tuesday November 7, 2017 at 8:45 a.m. in front of the Honorable John Laettner for arraignment. Bartel remains in custody of the Contra Costa County Sheriff.

Anyone with investigative information should contact Senior Inspector Darryl Holcombe, Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office at (925) 957-2263.