Contra Costa Herald

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

Extras needed for new movie by Sharknado director filming in Antioch, this week

By Leave a Comment

By Allen Payton

If you’ve ever wanted to be in a movie, this may be your chance. Antioch’s own Anthony Ferrante, the director of the Sharknado films, is back in town with his crew filming a new movie entitled Forgotten Evil. And they need extras, starting tonight, Monday, August 22nd.

More about Ferrante and the movie, later. But, for now, according to Kris Wynne, Line Producer for the movie, following is the schedule for extras needed for the film:

 (Please don’t wear black, white or stripes and NO logos)

MONDAY 8/22 – El Campanil Theatre  6PM-10PM

TUESDAY 8/23 – Riverview Lodge  6PM

WEDNESDAY 8/24 – Southern Cafe 8PM

THURSDAY 8/25 – Los Medanos College (Time to be announced)

FRIDAY 8/26 – Antioch Convalescent Home 3PM

If interested, please email casfilm2016@gmail.com

Supervisor Piepho seeks residents to serve on county commissions

By Leave a Comment

Contra Costa County Supervisor Mary Nejedly Piepho is seeking qualified, motivated candidates to serve on the following county advisory committees:

County Library Commission

2 seats

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

The Commission serves in an advisory capacity to the Board of Supervisors and the County Librarian. They provide a community linkage to the County Library and establish a forum for the community to express its views regarding goals and operations of the County Library. The Commission assists the Board of Supervisors and the County Librarian to provide library services based on assessed public needs and develops and recommends proposals to the Board of Supervisors and the County Librarian for the betterment of the County Library including, but not limited to, such efforts as insuring a stable and adequate funding level for the libraries in the County.

The Commission meets on the 4th Thursday of every other month at 7:00 p.m. located at 75 Santa Barbara in Pleasant Hill.

Alcohol and Other Drugs Advisory Board

1 seat

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

The board assesses family and community needs regarding treatment and prevention of alcohol and drug abuse problems and provides input and recommendations on prevention, intervention, and treatment services to the Contra Costa Health Services Department, the Board of Supervisors, and the communities they serve.

The Board meets on the 4th Wednesday of the month at 3:45 p.m. located at the Alcohol and Other Drugs Services Division, 1220 Morello Avenue, Suite 200 in Martinez.

Emergency Medical Care Committee

2 seats

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

The Emergency Medical Care Committee (EMCC) function is to review the operations of each of the following at least annually:

  1. Ambulance services operating within the county.
  2. Emergency medical care offered within the county,
  3. First aid practices in the county.

Regular meetings of the EMCC shall be held at least four (4) times per year or more often as deemed necessary. Meetings will convene at 4:00 p.m. on the Second Wednesday of March, June, September, and December unless otherwise directed by the EMCC or its Executive Committee. Location: Contra Costa County Schools Insurance Group, 550 Ellinwood Way, Pleasant Hill, CA.

Family & Children’s Trust Commission

1 seat

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

The Commission conducts a bi-annual needs assessment on family and children’s services in the County.

The Commission meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 8:30 a.m. located at the Employment and Human Services Dept., 40 Douglas Drive, in Martinez

Discovery Bay P-6 Citizen Advisory Committee

1 seat – Ravenswood Development

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

To make reports and recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on extended police protection services which shall include, but not limited to, enforcement of the State Vehicle Code where authorized by law, crime prevention, and litter control.

The Committee meets on the 2nd Monday of every month at 7:30 p.m. located at 1800 Willow Lake Road in Discovery Bay.

Contra Costa County Fire Protection District’s Fire Advisory Commission

1 Alternate seat

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

The Commission shall review and advise on annual operations and capital budgets; to review district expenditures; to review and advise on long-range capital improvement plans; pursuant to district ordinance to serve as the Appeals Board on weed abatement matters; to advise the Fire Chief on district service matters; to meet jointly with the Board of Supervisors and provide advice to the board as needed; to communicate with the other fire district advisory commissions on services and functional integration; to assist in the Fire Chief’s selection process as required; to serve as liaison between the Board of Supervisors and the community served by each district; to perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned and as directed by the Board of Supervisors.

The Commission meets on the 2nd Monday of February, April, June, August, October and December located at the Administration Building, 2010 Geary Road in Pleasant Hill.
Bethel Island Municipal Advisory Committee

1 seat

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

The Council shall advise the Board of Supervisors on land use and planning matters affecting the community of Bethel Island and may represent the Bethel Island community before the Board of Supervisors, the East County Regional Planning Commission and the Zoning Administrator on such issues as land use, planning and zoning. The Council may also represent the Bethel Island Community before the Local Agency Formation Commission no proposed boundary changes affecting the community. The Council may advise the Board on services which may be provided to the Bethel Island Community by Contra Costa County or other local governmental agencies.
The Council meets on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 6:00 p.m. located at Scout Hall, 3190 Ranch Lane in Bethel Island.

Background

The Board of Supervisors receives valuable input and community participation from numerous citizen advisory boards on a range of issues. Boards usually meet monthly on a regular basis.
Candidates for these positions must live in District III or any specified boundary area for special districts.  District III is comprised of the cities of Antioch, Brentwood, and Oakley, and the unincorporated communities of Bethel Island, Blackhawk, Byron, Diablo, Discovery Bay, and Knightsen.

For more information visit http://www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/753/Resident-Advisory-Councils.

Click here to download an application from the County’s website.  Applications should be submitted to the Clerk of the Board’s office, 925.335.1900, located at 651 Pine Street, Martinez, CA 94553.

For more information, including on how to apply, you may contact Supervisor Piepho’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Lea Castleberry at 925.820.8683.

Author and producer of Obama, Hillary books and documentaries Dinesh D’Souza in East County, September 11

By Leave a Comment

HA Poster Final 72dpiJoin the Bay Area Republican Women Clubs in a lovely winery in East Contra Costa for an afternoon with noted documentary journalist and best-selling author Dinesh D’Souza as he details the impact of the Progressive movement in the USA. His new book Stealing America, was released in November, 2015 and has a rating of almost 90% on Amazon. D’Souza’s new documentary, Hillary’s America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party, is based on the book and was released in theaters, nationwide in July, 2016.

In 2010, D’Souza wrote The Roots of Obama’s Rage, described as the most influential political book of the year, set off a firestorm that ultimately led to D’Souza’s first film, 2016: Obama’s America which rose to the second highest grossing political documentary of all time.

In 2012, his second analysis of Obama, Obama’s America: Unmaking the American Dream, climbed to #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.

In D’Souza’s 2014 book, America: Imagine The World Without Her, became the #1 New York Times bestselling book and the movie by the same title was the sixth most successful political documentary of all time. Later that year, D’Souza found himself hauled into federal court for improperly donating money to a friend running for the Senate. He pleaded guilty, apologized, and was sentenced to eight months in a state-run confinement center near his home in San Diego.

Tickets

VIP $175 per person – 1:30 pm entry

Includes a personalized signed book, professional photo with Dinesh, wine from the venue, and preferred seating for the keynote.

General Admission $100 per person – 2:00 pm entry

Appetizers Served, No Host Bar

For Tickets contact: Liz Ritchie, President, East Contra Costa Republican Women Federated lizritchie@me.com or (925) 684-4995. For more information visit www.eastcontracostarepublicanwomen.org.

Dinesh D'Souza

Dinesh D’Souza

About Dinesh D’Souza

Born in Mumbai, India, Dinesh D’Souza came to the U.S. as an exchange student and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Dartmouth College in 1983.

A former policy analyst in the Reagan White House, D’Souza also served as John M. Olin Fellow at the American Enterprise Instituteand the Robert and Karen Rishwain Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. He served as the president of The King’s College in New York City from 2010 to 2012.

His first book ,Illiberal Education (1991), publicized the phenomenon of political correctness in America’s colleges and universities and became a New York Times bestseller for 15 weeks.

In 1995, D’Souza published The End of Racism, which became one of the most controversial books of the time and another national bestseller. His 1997 book, Ronald Reagan: How an Ordinary Man Became an Extraordinary Leader, was the first book to make the case for Reagan’s intellectual and political importance. D’Souza’s The Virtue of Prosperity (2000) explored the social and moral implications of wealth.

In 2002, D’Souza published his New York Times bestseller What’s So Great About America, which anticipated the case that would need to be made for American exceptionalism and was critically acclaimed for its thoughtful patriotism. His 2003 book, Letters to a Young Conservative, has become a handbook for a new generation of young conservatives inspired by D’Souza’s style and ideas.

In 2010, D’Souza wrote The Roots of Obama’s Rage, which was described as the most influential political book of the year, and set off a firestorm which ultimately led to D’Souza’s first film, 2016: Obama’s America. The film quickly rose to the second highest grossing political documentary of all time.

D’Souza’s second analysis of Obama came in his 2012 book, Obama’s America: Unmaking the American Dream, which climbed to #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.

His 2014 book, America: Imagine The World Without Her, became the #1 New York Times bestselling book and the movie by the same title was the sixth most successful political documentary of all time.

In the fall of 2014, D’Souza found himself hauled into federal court for improperly donating money to a friend who was running for the Senate. D’Souza pleaded guilty, apologized for his offense, and was sentenced to eight months in a state-run confinement center near his home in San Diego.

D’Souza’s latest book Stealing America, rose to #16 on Publisher’s Weekly.

Burgis endorsed by DA Peterson, Sheriff Livingston, firefighters and deputy sheriffs in campaign for Supervisor

By Leave a Comment

Today, East Bay Regional Park District Director Diane Burgis, candidate for Contra Costa County Supervisor in District Three, earned the enthusiastic endorsement of the Contra Costa County Deputy Sheriffs Association, Antioch Police Officers Association, Sheriff-Coroner David Livingston and District Attorney Mark Peterson, as well as the endorsement recommendation of the Executive Board of the United Professional Firefighters of Contra Costa County, Local 1230.

“We need tough, principled leadership to tackle the long-standing problem of inadequate fire protection coverage in the county,” said Vince Wells, President of the United Professional Firefighters of Contra Costa County, Local 1230. “Diane Burgis is the only candidate for District Three we can trust to get the job done. She’s not just another politician – she has the proven competence and know-how necessary to improve fire protection services for every East County resident.”

Fire and emergency resources in East County are inadequate, leading to longer response times and lower quality fire and emergency services. Multiple district firehouses have closed due to a lack of proper funding.

“Diane Burgis is uniquely qualified to tackle the challenges our county faces,” said Shawn Welch, President of the Contra Costa County Deputy Sheriffs Association. “Under her watch, Oakley was recognized as one of the safest cities in the state. As a city councilmember, she supported police so that they could do their jobs fighting crime. As a park director, she partnered with law enforcement to make sure every tax dollar was spent wisely.  I and my fellow deputies are proud to stand with her this November.”

The Contra Costa Deputy Sheriffs Association is dedicated to the security and well-being of Contra Costa’s citizens and the protection of its 830+ employees. The United Professional Firefighters of Contra Costa County, Local 1230 includes over 450 firefighters from the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, East Contra Costa County Fire District and various city fire departments. The Antioch Police Officers Association represents 120 police officers serving in the Antioch Police Department.

“Diane Burgis asks the right questions, listens closely to her constituents and then fights on their behalf,” said David Livingston, Contra Costa County Sheriff-Coroner. “I know I can count on her. She’s not one to pick political expediency over doing the right thing. She’s mastered the issues and demonstrated true skill as a leader, building coalitions and solving problems while putting a high priority on public safety.”

Diane Burgis currently serves as an East Bay Regional Parks District director and is the executive director of the Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed. Previously, she served as an Oakley city councilmember and spent over ten years as a small business owner. She highlights four priorities for her candidacy: improving public safety, attracting economic development, ensuring fiscal accountability and preserving the delta for future generations.

“Diane will work hard to develop the resources our police, firefighters and prosecutors need to keep us safe,” said Contra Costa County District Attorney Mark Peterson. “As a small business owner, nonprofit manager and public official, she has proven that she can balance a budget and defend taxpayers. I endorse her with no reservations – our county needs a real leader on the board.”

Diane Burgis is also endorsed by County Supervisor Mary Piepho, Assemblymember Joan Buchanan and a broad coalition of elected officials and leaders from every city and community in the district.

“I am honored by this extraordinary vote of confidence from our county’s bravest public servants,” said Diane Burgis, Candidate for Contra Costa County Supervisor in District Three. “I pledge to work collaboratively with our firefighters, sheriffs and every district resident to find effective solutions as we work together to improve public safety for all.”

Voters can learn more about her and her platform at www.dianeburgis.com.

Police make arrest, DA files charges in July murder of Antioch man in North Richmond

By Leave a Comment

Kendrick Barfield

Kendrick Barfield

On Tuesday, July 19th, 2016 at 9:45 PM, Richmond police officers responded to calls of multiple shots fired in the city’s Central District – North Richmond, with a possible victim of a shooting.  Officers arrived and found 32 yr. old Paul King of Richmond suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his upper torso.  Mr. King was lying in the middle of the roadway in the 200 block of Gertrude Ave. where he succumbed to his injuries.

Homicide Detective M. Castillo along with other detectives responded to the scene and began their investigation.  Detectives learned that the incident was about an argument between Paul King and the suspect.  The disagreement escalated and the suspect shot Mr. King multiple times before he fled from the scene.  Detective Castillo identified the suspect as 39 yr. old Kendrick Barfield of Richmond.

On Friday, July 29th, 2016, Detective Castillo, along with RPD’s Special Investigations Section (SIS) detectives located and arrested Barfield in an apartment in the city’s Southern District.

On Tuesday, August 2nd, 2016, Kendrick Barfield was charged for the murder of Paul King and multiple enhancements.  His bail is set at $5.8 million.

Contra Costa County Teachers of the Year featured at education summit

By Leave a Comment

On Friday, July 29, Contra Costa County educators were well represented as presenters at CSU East Bay, for the second annual Better Together: California Teachers Summit. Opening the program was Contra Costa County Office of Education’s Deputy Superintendent Pamela Comfort, Ed.D. and the county’s current Teachers of the Year Kate Perry (Liberty Union High School District) and Maria McClain (Antioch Unified School District).

The California Teachers Summit is a free statewide day of learning and networking that is open to all California PreK-12 teachers, teacher candidates, school administrators, and other educators. One of 38 locations across the state, CSU East Bay welcomed hundreds of Bay Area teachers to share ideas, join a teacher network, and learn effective strategies for implementing the new California Standards in their classrooms. The Summit featured keynote addresses by education leaders, TED-style EdTalks presented by local teachers, and Edcamp discussions on timely topics such as the California Standards in English/Language Arts and Math, and the Next Generation Science Standards.

In the early afternoon, Perry and McClain, together, presented a stimulating EdTalk session to all the attending educators. The audience was in full attention as the two gave real-life stories on how they learned to reach some of their most challenging students through the years.

“As we celebrate this day of learning, we want to emphasize the essential lessons that our students can teach us, if we take the time to listen and learn,” McClain said. “Lisa and Lisbeth [student examples] made Kate and I better teachers. They taught us that we must meet students where they are, not where we expect them to be, and then work to support and guide them. We must broaden our focus beyond content acquisition and understand that achievement for all students can only occur once their primary needs are met. California’s new standards represent significant changes in educational content and practice. Successful implementation requires both students and teachers to stretch outside their comfort zones, take risks, and embrace new ideas. As we work to adjust our course content and teaching practices, we must also focus on building classroom environments that are safe, welcoming, and truly value all students.”

Perry also offered her comments.

“Now we know how complicated teaching is, and the many daily pressures that face us all,” she said. “And in the face of these we have both learned that the key to staying in the profession is our connection to our students and colleagues. So, if you take nothing else away from us, today, please remember, listen to your students, listen to your fellow teachers, and find mentors like Maria – people who will listen, support, and challenge you. We all – teachers, students, parents, and administrators – have so much to learn and share with one another and that only happens when we open ourselves to the people around us and really hear what they have to say.”

In addition to, CSU East Bay, Summit locations in the Bay Area include:

  • Brandman University, Walnut Creek
  • Mary’s College of California
  • CSU Monterey Bay
  • San Francisco State University
  • Sonoma State University

More information, a list of event locations, and online registration is available at CATeachersSummit.com. Follow #CATeachersSummit for up-to-date information.

 

Sheriff to hold inquest into death of woman during Antioch Police pursuit, last year

By Leave a Comment

In accordance with the Contra Costa County Chiefs’ of Police Association Officer Involved Fatal Incident Protocol, Sheriff Coroner David O. Livingston will hold an inquest into the death of Leona Rachael Moreno.

On October 22, 2015, Moreno was a passenger in a vehicle that was being pursued by Antioch police officers. The vehicle left the roadway and hit a PG&E pole before coming to rest, overturned on the roadway. Moreno was ejected from the vehicle. She was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The proceedings will convene on Thursday, August 4, 2016 at 9:00 AM at the Wakefield Taylor Courthouse, 725 Court Street, Department 34, Room 312, in Martinez, California.

The purpose of the inquest, which Sheriff-Coroner Livingston convenes in fatal incidents involving peace officers, is to present the facts of the incident to a jury for their deliberation and finding on the manner of death.

The inquest is open to the public and members of the media are invited to attend. However, no photographs or video may be taken during the proceedings.

Highway 4 cameras possible among $1.5 million in community benefits from Keller Canyon Landfill fund

By Leave a Comment

After a rigorous review of 117 applications, Supervisor Federal Glover announced the recipients of the $1.5 million in grants from the Keller Canyon Landfill Mitigation Fund. The Board of Supervisors approved the expenditures on Tuesday morning, July 19, 2016 at their meeting in Martinez.

Among the Keller grants this year was $100,000 for electronic surveillance of Highway 4 from Bay Point to Antioch where gang-related shootings have occurred the past year. It will be shared with the law enforcement agencies that line that roadway segment.

In all, the grants for the fiscal year 2016-2017 were awarded to 82 recipients providing a wide range of activities from a Christmas party for Bay Point’s children to a full-time resident deputy to crossing guards for Bay Point schools.

“The allocation set aside for to monitor Highway 4 – possibly including cameras and license plate readers – will be used by law enforcement to keep our residents safe,” says Glover.

The amount of available funding varies from year to year because the Keller fund is based on the tonnage delivered to the Keller Canyon Landfill located in the hills off of Bailey Road south of Pittsburg and Bay Point.

The county supervisors created the mitigation fund when voters in the early1990s approved the location of a landfill site in the hills south of Bay Point and Pittsburg. Since the landfill was located in District 5, the district 5 supervisor was given the responsibility of administering the fund. The fund helps alleviate some of the landfill’s impacts to the neighboring community.

In 2011, at the recommendation of the Auditor, Supervisor Glover reformed the distribution of the funds by limiting its use to the impacted area and instituting a fully transparent system for determining who is granted the awards and to ensure that the money is used for what it is intended.

The grants will be awarded August 18 after the recipients sign their contracts with the county. The programs or events that will benefit from the grants include:

  • Bay Point holiday celebrations
  • Field trips from Bay Point teenagers
  • Antioch Rivertown Jamboree and Delta Thunder Boat Race
  • A full-time deputy as a school resource officer in Bay Point schools.
  • Bay Point Spring Derby Memorial Day Parade and Festival
  • World Music and Arts Festival for Bay Point and Pittsburg elementary school students
  • RotaCare Pittsburg Free Medical Clinic
  • Ambrose Park Aquatic Center Project.

This year’s fund of $1,507,000 is based on the anticipated tonnage that will be delivered to the landfill for the fiscal year 2016-2017.

This is the second year in a row that the Keller fund has shown an increase, which might be an indication of an improving economy, said Glover.

“The grant awards are always difficult decisions because there are so many good services being provided by local agencies,” he added.

Contra Costa DA determines over half of 2015 Pittsburg Police reports of “suspicious circumstances” incorrectly labeled

By Leave a Comment

Minimal impact on crime rate

By Allen Payton

In a letter to Pittsburg Police Chief Brian Addington, on Friday, July 15, 2016, Contra Costa District Attorney Mark Peterson informed him that of the 204 reports in 2015 listed by the Pittsburg Police Department as “suspicious circumstances” 103 should have been listed as crimes.

Following a request by Addington seeking an opinion by the District Attorney’s office, one deputy district attorney and one deputy sheriff performed an audit, reviewing each of the reports. They determined that 40 of those 103 reports should have been listed as Part I crimes and 63 as Part II crimes. Part I crimes include murder, non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson.

Peterson’s letter states “Although the police reports listed the applicable crime, apparently your department did not the 103 incidents as crimes to the FBI.”

The reclassification of those crimes, will increase the total Part I crimes the Pittsburg Police Department will have to report to the FBI for 2015, changing the statistics to better reflect the true crime rate in the city.

The letter, however also states, “It should be noted that during the 2015 calendar year, the Pittsburg Police Department wrote 9,975 reports. Thus, the 103 police reports we have discussed are only 1% of all the police reports written that year.”

The result is an increase of 0.5% in reportable Part I crimes and 1% in Part II crimes.

Peterson concluded that “had the 103 Suspicious Circumstances cases been correctly classified as crimes reported to the FBI, there would have been minimal impact on city’s crime rate.”

To read the entire letter and audit, click here: Pittsburg PD 2015 Audit