Contra Costa Herald

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

Walnut Creek man arrested in Alamo lewd conduct case

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Nicholas DaigleDetectives from the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff have arrested 22-year-old Nicholas Daigle of Walnut Creek in connection with an alleged lewd conduct incident that occurred at the Alamo Safeway last month.

After the incident, the Office of the Sheriff posted surveillance photos and a video on social media. Several tips came in by phone and email identifying Daigle as the person in the images.

Detectives arrested Daigle at his home Wednesday morning without incident. After being interviewed, he was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on several charges: battery, indecent exposure, sexual battery, and engaging in lewd conduct.

Daigle is currently being held in lieu of $5,000 bail.

Anyone who has any information on this incident or Daigle is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

Statues, other items stolen in residential burglary in Martinez recovered, arrest made

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stolen items truckDetectives from the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff have recovered most items that were taken during two burglaries that occurred at a home on Alhambra Valley Road in unincorporated Martinez, last month.

Following the burglaries, the Investigation Division received several anonymous email tips and voice messages on the tip line indicating the location of the stolen property. Detectives went to the location finding numerous bronze statues, whiskey decanters, and other items that were stolen from the residence. Several photos of the recovered items are attached.

Detectives subsequently executed three search warrants at locations in the El Sobrante area finding more stolen items.

statues 2Detectives arrested 49-year-old Charles Somers of San Pablo for possession of stolen property in connection with the burglaries. In addition, Somers, a parolee, is being held on a parole violation. Somers is currently in custody at the county jail without bail.

The investigation into the burglaries is continuing. Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2661.

For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

U.S. News & World Report ranks John Muir Health’s medical centers among best in nation, region, state and Bay Area

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John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek Ranks in Top 50 nationally for Gynecology, its tenth consecutive year with a nationally ranked service. John Muir Health’s Concord and Walnut Creek medical centers ranked in Top 4 overall in San Francisco/Oakland area and Top 15 in the state

john-muir-healthJohn Muir Health’s Concord and Walnut Creek medical centers were 2 of just 504 hospitals or about 10% nationally that earned the designation of Best Regional Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report in its annual list of America’s Best Hospitals.

To earn this distinction, each medical center had to earn at least one national ranking in a specialty or at least four ratings of “high performing” across 16 specialties and nine procedures and conditions. Combined, the two medical centers had seven specialties nationally ranked or rated as high performing and eight procedures and conditions rated as high performing. This places both medical centers among the top ranked on the West Coast.

For the tenth consecutive year, John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek had a service nationally ranked. The Walnut Creek medical center has been nationally ranked in Gynecology for the past five years. It was one of just 153 medical centers – less than 3 percent of the nearly 5,000 analyzed – to be nationally ranked in even one of 16 specialties surveyed for the report.

John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek was also ranked as high-performing in Gastroenterology & GI Surgery, Geriatrics, Orthopedics, Pulmonology, Urology and Diabetes & Endocrinology. In addition, the medical center was rated as high performing in several adult procedures and conditions, including Heart Failure, Colon Cancer Surgery, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Hip Replacement, Knee Replacement and Lung Cancer Surgery.

John Muir Medical Center, Concord was ranked as high-performing in four specialties, including Diabetes & Endocrinology, Gastroenterology & GI Surgery, Geriatrics and Orthopedics. In addition, the medical center was rated as high performing in several adult procedures and conditions, including Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair, Heart Bypass Surgery, Heart Failure, Colon Cancer Surgery, COPD, Hip Replacement, Knee Replacement and Lung Cancer Surgery.

Along with its national rankings, U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals published state and metropolitan hospital rankings.  John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek is listed at #2 out of 44 hospitals in the San Francisco-Oakland area and #11 out of 415 acute care hospitals in California. John Muir Medical Center, Concord is listed at #4 locally and #15 in the state.

“We’re proud to be ranked among the region, state and nation’s best by U.S. News again this year,” said Jane Willemsen, president and chief administrative officer of John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek.  “Our highly-skilled team of doctors, nurses, staff and volunteers is the reason for this recognition. They are dedicated to delivering on our mission to improve the health of the communities we serve with quality and compassion.”

“Every day, we focus on the needs of our patients and that is reflected in the exceptional care and experience we provide,” said Mike Thomas, president and chief administrative officer at John Muir Medical Center, Concord. “We have a range of services not usually associated with community hospitals that allows patients to stay close to home for their care, which is a tremendous benefit in the healing process.”

“Our rankings should give patients confidence that exceptional care is available to them throughout John Muir Health,” said Irving Pike, M.D., chief medical officer at John Muir Health. “We are here to serve the community and our goal is to treat every patient like a member of our own family.”

Between the two medical centers in Concord and Walnut Creek, John Muir Health has 799 licensed beds. John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek also serves as the designated trauma center for Contra Costa County. In addition, the health system offers a network of more than 1,000 primary care and specialty physicians to care for patients.

The complete rankings and methodology are available at http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals and will appear in print in the U.S. News Best Hospitals 2016 guidebook, available in bookstores and on newsstands in September.

To learn more about John Muir Health’s award-winning programs and services, visit: www.johnmuirhealth.com.

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, more than 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 UCSF Health, Tenet Healthcare/San Ramon Regional Medical Center and Stanford Children’s Health. 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.

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Debora Allen announces strong bi-partisan support in campaign for BART Director

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Debora Allen

Debora Allen

Challenging three-term incumbent Gail Murray

County pension board trustee Debora Allen announced, Wednesday morning, that she is running for District 1 BART Director, in the 2016 general election. The chief financial officer of East County Glass is challenging incumbent Gail Murray who is seeking her fourth term on the BART board. District 1 includes the Concord, Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Centre, Walnut Creek and Lafayette BART stations, and the cities of Martinez, Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Concord, Danville, San Ramon and Clayton, as well as Alamo and Blackhawk.

“Over the last decade, the BART experience has deteriorated with increased crime, system delays, labor strikes, equipment malfunctions, fake security cameras, high fares, budget shortfalls and overall public dissatisfaction,” Allen said. “BART is so antiquated, their control system is from 1972 and they buy replacement parts on eBay.”

Allen’s campaign platform is focused on five primary objectives:

  • DEMAND accountability from management for the financial stability, affordability, and cost effectiveness of BART.
  • REBUILD the old infrastructure to provide a renewed, sustainable, and durable transportation system for future generations.
  • REPLACE obsolete, broken equipment with clean, innovative, modern replacements, and maintain them.
  • INTEGRATE the current system with our numerous other Bay Area transit systems to create greater accessibility and efficiency in our lives.
  • PROVIDE a better BART experience to the customer, the rider, and the workers.

In an email, last week, Allen stated “BART needs strong leadership that is willing to stand up for change and hold management accountable for its revitalization.”

Numerous, prominent East Bay leaders have joined in supporting Allen’s campaign, including California State Senator Steve Glazer, a Democrat who has been an outspoken critic of strikes by BART employees, as well as BART operations and finances.

“Debora Allen will bring an important voice and fiscally responsible vote into the BART boardroom.  She’s smart, she’s tough, and she’s a problem solver,” Glazer said. “She will stand up to special interests and management incompetence and fight to improve BART while protecting the interest of taxpayers.”

“Debora Allen brings a refreshing new energy and approach to getting BART’s fiscal house in order,” said Assemblywoman Catharine Baker, a Republican. “She will be a champion for the transit rider and taxpayer.”

President of the Association of Bay Area Governments (known as ABAG) and Vice Mayor of Clayton Julie Pierce also endorsed Allen, stating “Our BART system is incredibly important to the residents of Contra Costa County. I am confident that Debora Allen will be strong leadership on the Board of Directors and a loud voice for transparency and financial accountability to the stakeholders as we rebuild BART into a world class transportation system of which we can all be proud.”

Contra Costa County Supervisor Candace Andersen also offered her support.

“Debora Allen brings the business experience and financial acumen we need to lead BART in the right direction,” she stated.

Contra Costa County District Attorney Mark Peterson also endorsed Allen, stating “I trust Debora Allen to protect the taxpayers’ investment in BART, for the riders, the workers, and for the future of Bay Area living.”

Former California State Assemblywoman (1996-2002) Lynne Leach added her support.

“Debora Allen is a talented, trusted and experienced businesswoman,” Leach said. “Her background of working to stem the ever increasing growth of public pension costs prepares her well to serve on the BART Board.”

Also endorsing Allen are Mayor of Pittsburg Ben Johnson, Mayor of Clayton Howard Geller, Pittsburg City Council Member Sal Evola, Contra Costa Community College District Board President Vicki Gordon, Central Contra Costa Sanitary District Board Member and Past President Contra Costa Taxpayers Association Michael McGill, attorney and Contra Costa County Employees Retirement System Board Trustee Scott Gordon, Alamo Municipal Advisory Council Member Steve Mick, Former Mayor of Clayton Pete Laurence, former Walnut Creek School Board Member Dan Walden, and retired BART employee Robert Leach.

“I am an independent, thoughtful, outsider, willing to take on the challenges of the troubled BART system,” Allen said. “I have spent over 25 years in a career in various financial management and board level positions. I now want to use that experience and knowledge to help the BART stakeholders, the riders, the taxpayers, and the BART employees.”

This is Allen’s second run for public office. She ran for State Assembly in the 14th District in the June primary, but did not make the run-off, placing a close third in the race behind the top-two candidates. She has a college degree from Sac State in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting, is married to Tim Allen and they have two adult sons. They live just outside of Clayton, next to Mt. Diablo State Park.

For more information visit www.deboraallen.com or www.facebook.com/deboraallenforbart, or email her at debora@fixourbart.com.

The election will be on Tuesday, November 8.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Concord woman identified as victim in Contra Costa Coroner’s Jane Doe case, Sunday morning

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A woman whose body was found on Highway 242 on Sunday morning, July 24, was identified after someone saw the media reports on this Jane Doe case. She is identified as 62-year old Marie Chellino of Concord.

Following is the original report:

On Sunday, July 24, 2016, at about 2:09 AM, the California Highway Patrol responded to a report of a person on the roadway on southbound Highway 242 near Olivera Road. The person was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The Coroner’s Division, which took custody of the body, has not been able to identify the person, who did not have any identification.

She is described as:

Adult female, 50-60 years old, dark hair with some greying, 5’,5”, about 143 pounds. She was wearing a gray/blue buttoned  down pinstripe shirt.

She did have a knitted red/grey pouch necklace that contained what appears to be a clear crystal. Please see the attached photograph.

Anyone with any information on the identity of the person is asked to contact the Coroner’s Division at (925) 313-2850.

Bronze statues, truck, more stolen in home burglaries at home near Martinez, July 15 and 16

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stolen art truckstolen art 1Detectives from the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff are continuing to investigate two burglaries that occurred at a home in unincorporated Martinez.

On Friday, July 15, 2016, at about 9:10 PM, Deputy Sheriffs responded to the 5000 block of Alhambra Valley Road regarding a residence that was burglarized. The next day at about 1 PM, Deputies went to the same location for a second burglary report. That same evening at about 8 PM, a truck parked in the driveway of the home was stolen.

Items taken in the burglaries include a number of bronze statues, including:

Marc Anthony, 8 feet tall

Cleopatra, 8-1/2 feet tall

stolen art 5Lady Justice, 4 feet tall

Also stolen were two bronze tigers statues, three bronze drinking pitchers, whiskey decanters, an MK tile saw and a mink-like coat.

The truck that was stolen is a white 1995 Dodge 3500, extended cab with California license plate—5Y33805.

stolen art 4Many of the items stolen are distinctive. Please see the attached photographs.

Anyone with any information on these burglaries or the whereabouts of the stolen items is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2661. For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

Interim Executive Dean Ted Wieden selected as Interim President for Diablo Valley College

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Ted Wieden

Ted Wieden

Contra Costa Community College District (CCCCD) Chancellor Helen Benjamin announced the appointment of Ted Wieden, Diablo Valley College (DVC) interim executive dean, to serve a one-year term as the interim president effective Friday, July 1, 2016.  Formal approval of the appointment will take place at the Governing Board’s June 22, 2016, meeting.  The opportunity became available following current DVC president Peter Garcia’s June 30, 2016, retirement announcement.

“We are fortunate to have Ted Wieden accept this one-year assignment”, said Governing Board President Vicki Gordon.  “Ted knows the college very well, is a respected faculty member and manager, and will ensure there is leadership stability at DVC while we search for a permanent president.”

“Ted has been with our District for over 24 years, taking on a number of leadership roles both at the college and the District Office”, said Chancellor Benjamin.  “DVC will be in good hands.”

Wieden is a first generation college student and graduated from Reedley College.  After receiving his B.A. and M.A. from California State University at Fresno, he began teaching as an adjunct faculty and later joined DVC as a full-time instructor of Geography/Meteorology.  At DVC, he served in many leadership roles including chair of the Physical Science and Engineering Division, interim Senior Dean of Curriculum and Instruction, and interim Executive Dean of Effectiveness/Accreditation Liaison Officer.  Wieden also served in management positions at the District Office as interim Special Assistant to the Chancellor, and interim Senior Dean.

DVC has distinguished itself as one of the nation’s most successful community colleges by offering incomparable transfer opportunities and exceptional career-technical programs and degrees to a diverse student body, while responding to an evolving need for robust adult basic skills and English as a Second Language programs.  At both the Pleasant Hill and San Ramon locations, local and international students engage with high-quality instruction and support services designed for student learning and success. Faculty from DVC’s various career-technical programs are in continuous dialog with the surrounding community to keep pace with emerging technologies and skill requirements students need to be successful in any job market. The college’s unparalleled transfer programs prepare students in large numbers to be successful in four-year colleges and universities all over the state and the country. DVC continuously ranks among the top transfer pathways to UC Berkeley.

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.

I-680 Walnut Creek to San Ramon – Nighttime Ramp Closures, June 13 – July 1

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Summary 

Upcoming construction activity for the Express Lanes on I-680 between Walnut Creek and San Ramon requires temporary, nighttime ramp closures. The construction activity will include the excavation and paving of maintenance vehicle pullouts on the ramp shoulders. Once complete, the vehicle pullouts will create a safer environment for highway maintenance crews.

Due to the dynamic nature of this work, the ramp closures are scheduled to occur intermittently Monday, June 13 through Friday, July 1 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. The ramp closures will be intermittent and will alternate as work is completed.

The following ramp closures are scheduled:

  • The southbound Rudgear Road on-ramp
  • The northbound Stone Valley Road off-ramp
  • The northbound El Cerro Boulevard on-ramp
  • The southbound Bollinger Canyon Road on-ramp

What to Expect

  • In addition to the ramp closures, intermittent and alternating nightly closures will occur in the northbound and southbound directions in the lanes closest to the median, and in the lane closest to the shoulder from Martinez to Dublin. Approved construction work hours are: Monday through Thursday from 8 p.m. – 5 a.m., Friday from 8 p.m. – 7 a.m., Saturday from 7 p.m. to 10 a.m.
  • Construction crews will be present on some city streets during the day near I-680 from Martinez to Dublin with temporary and minor pedestrian detours to maintain public safety.
  • Construction lighting will be present and directed away from residential areas.
  • When traveling near construction activity
    • Always use caution
    • Be prepared to reduce speeds
    • Follow posted signs

Ramp Closure Detour Routes

  • Southbound Rudgear Road on-ramp:  Enter northbound I-680 from Rudgear Rd, continue on northbound I-680, exit at Olympic Blvd., head west on Olympic Blvd., and enter southbound I-680.
  • Northbound Stone Valley Road off-ramp: Continue on northbound I-680, exit at the Livorna Rd. off-ramp, head west on Livorna Rd., enter southbound I-680, and exit at the Stone Valley Rd. off-ramp.
  • Northbound El Cerro Boulevard on-ramp: Enter southbound I-680, continue on southbound I-680, exit at Diablo Rd., head east on Diablo Rd, and enter northbound I-680.
  • Southbound Bollinger Canyon Road on-ramp: Enter northbound I-680, continue on northbound I-680, exit at Crow Canyon Rd., head west on Crow Canyon Rd., and enter southbound I-680.

Construction is a dynamic process and information is subject to change without notice. Please use caution while traveling through the construction zone.

 

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

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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

Firefighters contribute $35,000 more to support Avila Farias for Supervisor in District 5 race

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Firefighters, Deputy Sheriffs contribute $80,000 to help her beat Glover

By Allen Payton

The latest campaign finance reports were due on Thursday, May 26th and they show a $35,000 contribution from the International Association of Fire Fighters to the special committee formed to support Martinez Vice Mayor AnaMarie Avila Farias in her campaign for District 5 County Supervisor. She’s running to unseat four-term incumbent Federal Glover. The report covers the time period of May 4-21, 2016.

The firefighters’ contribution brings their total amount of support for Avila Farias’ campaign to $40,000. It is in addition to the $5,000 they previously contributed directly to her campaign committee. It also matches the $35,000 contribution to the Contra Costa County Families for Responsible Leadership Supporting AnaMarie Avila Farias for Supervisor 2016 committee from the Contra Costa DSA (Deputy Sheriff’s Association) Independent Expenditure PAC and their $5,000 contribution directly to her campaign.

As previously reported, the funds paid for $15,000 on research, as well as $12,908.60 for design, printing and postage for a mailer. An additional $25,674.44 reported was spent on two more mailers. All the costs for the mailers were paid to a company in Washington, D.C.

Please see a complete copy of the special committee’s report, below.

Committee supporting Avila Farias 460 0504-052116