Contra Costa Herald

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

Man shot, killed by Oakley police during domestic violence incident

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By Oakley Police Department

On August 25th, 2022, at approximately 10:40pm, Oakley PD Officers responded to a report of a Domestic Dispute in the 1800 block of Teresa Lane. The caller stated her boyfriend had a gun and had been driving around with her in the car not letting her leave. The boyfriend told her he was going to kill her and himself. Once at the residence the victim fled on foot and called police.

Officers arrived and attempted to contact the 58-year-old male. The male did not respond to officers. Officers used a drone and were able to see the subject inside the residence armed with a handgun. Officers continued to try and establish communications with the suspect, but he did not respond. Several shots were fired by the suspect inside the home.

At approximately 1:18am, the suspect fired several rounds at Oakley Officers. One Officer returned fire striking the suspect. Medical aid was provided but the suspect died on scene. The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office responded along with Oakley Detectives.

According to Chief Beard “Our officers are trained to deescalate situations at every opportunity when that is a viable option. Our officers attempted to deescalate this tragic situation last night, but the suspect would not allow for our attempts to take hold. When officers are presented with such grave and dangerous situations, and when no other options work or are available, they must sometimes fall back on other critical training they receive on a regular basis. This is the training they fell back on last night to ensure there was no loss of lives of innocent victims or the officers themselves.”

This is an ongoing investigation, names and more details will be provided at a later date.

Update from Oakley Police Chief Paul Beard

I wish to address the Oakley community regarding last night’s fatal officer involved shooting on Teresa Lane. The events that transpired last night can only be described as very scary and dangerous for all involved.

To put it very mildly what happened last night was completely unnecessary.

The suspect chose to drive the direction of what played out when he could have taken several different avenues to deal with whatever angst he had going on in his life. He also could have given up upon our officers making contact with him.

Instead, the suspect elected to resort to gun violence to traumatize the initial domestic violence victim in this case and subject our officers to the difficult actions they eventually had to take, thus creating more victims. The officers involved in last night’s incident exhausted every readily available option they had in this type of scenario before taking the ultimate action they had to take.

The incident that we dealt with last night has become all too commonplace with a total of eight law enforcement officers being killed by gunfire across America in just the last month.

Every member of the Oakley Police Department is valued and appreciated. I am grateful beyond measure our department did not meet with a tragic result for us.

The Contra Costa County Officer Involved Fatal Incident Protocol guides the investigative steps we need to take with our officers, and we are following that prescribed protocol. We are also being proactive in taking care of all of our personnel who were involved in last night’s incident by making sure they have readily available access to a service provider who specializes in treating first responders who have been exposed to matters like the one we experienced last night.

It is my strong desire to provide the necessary and healthy resources our personnel need in order to continue having productive lives after experiencing life threatening, or very unsettling, situations. I also urge victims of domestic violence to realize they do need help and to reach out for it.

A domestic violence victim may reach out to their local police department for assistance. They may also reach out to the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Domestic Violence Unit at 925-957-2200.  If immediate assistance is sought and a victim does not want to interact with a police department, they may reach out to the STAND! Crisis line at 1-888-215-5555. It would be inappropriate for me to comment much further on this case at this time because it is literally still an ongoing investigation.

I will however identify the suspect as Frank Anthony Correa, a 58-year-old male and resident of Oakley.

The Oakley Police Department is requesting information from anybody who may know anything about this investigation to call us at 925-625-8060 or email us at opdtips@ci.oakley.ca.us.

 

Brentwood woman sentenced to maximum prison time in $300K Los Banos restaurant embezzlement case

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Robin Ruth Ann Recla, aka Robin Berard. Source: Merced County District Attorney

During Wednesday hearing at Los Banos Courthouse; Robin Ruth Recla swindled six local, prominent residents who invested

“Ms. Recla is a con artist, plain and simple who should be committed to state prison for her crimes,” Merced County Deputy D.A. Colby

Victims “relieved that it’s over”, praise prosecutor, police and judge; main victim knew her for 30 years

By Allen D. Payton

After entering no contest pleas to embezzlement and filing a false tax return on May 25, 2022, in the case of the Los Banos, CA restaurant scheme, a 46-year-old Brentwood woman, Robin Ruth Ann Recla, aka Robin Berard, appeared in front of Merced County Superior Court Judge David W. Moranda on Wednesday, August 17, 2022, for sentencing in the Los Banos Courthouse. Following requests by both the prosecution and her victims, Recla was sentenced to the maximum available to the District Attorney under current law of two years, eight months in state prison.

The Merced County District Attorney’s office announced on May 25, 2022, Ms. Recla admitted to swindling approximately $300,000 from six prominent Los Banos investors. She also failed to claim the profits on her income tax return.

In 2018, the group of investors pooled their funds and formed an L.L.C. with the intent of creating and opening a restaurant in the Los Banos area. Ms. Recla was selected to manage and direct the project, but investors learned there were problems when they were notified by their bank that the business accounts were overdrawn

An investigative team comprised of an investigator from the state Franchise Tax Board Criminal Investigation Bureau, Commander Justin Melden with the Los Banos Police Department, and Merced County D.A. Investigator Moses Nelson worked diligently to trace the financial transactions exposing Ms. Recla’s behavior. The coordinated, year-long investigation uncovered Ms. Recla’s personal use of nearly all of the funds, including $159,273 in checks written to herself and her withdrawal of $24,900 in cash from automated teller machines. The investigators determined Ms. Recla also used the investors’ funds for personal travel and the purchase of personal items like furniture.

In the past, embezzled amounts as high as the amount involved in this case would have resulted in a larger prison sentence. However, changes in the law now mean the longest possible sentence Ms. Recla faces is two years and eight months in prison. Also, with the passage of AB 109, known as realignment, Ms. Recla’s sentence in most cases would result in a Penal Code, Section 1170(h) local prison sentence.

Local prison sentences in Merced County are in nearly all cases served on the Sheriff’s Supervised Release Program, referred to commonly as ankle monitor. However, because investigators and the Merced County D.A.’s Office appropriately pursued and prosecuted the acts of tax evasion, any prison sentence issued in this case must be served in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Ms. Recla’s no contest plea was not the product of a negotiated plea, and she entered an open plea to the charges, meaning that the court has all options available up to the maximum allowable by law.

At the sentencing hearing, attorneys for both sides presented arguments to Judge Moranda advocating for a sentence they believe to be in the interest of justice. Deputy D.A. Travis Colby is handling this case for the Merced County District Attorney’s Office.

According to the prosecution brief by Colby, “Ms. Recla has a history of fraud and deceit dating back to 1998 when she was convicted of fraud to obtain aid. She was convicted of felony grand theft in Pocatello, Idaho District Court in 2010, and in 2011 she was convicted of felony grand theft for stealing $35,000 from a former employer, Advanced Professionals – an insurance agency in San Jose. She was also accused of embezzling $70,000 from a restaurant in Los Altos between 2015 and 2017 before taking charge in this scheme to defraud people in Los Banos,” who are prominent and local but chose to not be identified for this report.

“Ms. Recla is a con artist, plain and simple who should be committed to state prison for her crimes,” Colby continued. “She is presumptively ineligible for probation. But even if probation did apply, probation is not appropriate for her under any reasonable analysis.”

Recla asked for leniency from the court for medical reasons including her mental health and her husband’s physical health and expressed regret and sorrow without showing mercy for the Los Banos’ investors who lost up to $300,000 collectively and requested the court to reduce her charges of two felony counts to probation.

Judge Moranda agreed with the prosecution noting her crimes “started small and worked their way up.” The judge further stated, “I don’t see the remorse. I don’t see that she is sorry.”

He then sentenced Recla to two years for felony embezzlement and eight months for filing a false tax return to run concurrently in state prison, the maximum under law. Since there was no credit for time served, and showing no mercy for her victims, she was handcuffed and taken away to immediately begin serving her sentence.

Victims “Relieved That It’s Over”, Praise Prosecutor, Police and Judge

Asked how she was feeling, Sandie Silva, one of the victims said, “I’m feeling, I guess, relieved that it’s over. I feel that justice has been done and I feel that our district attorney and detectives, Melden from Los Banos and Moses from the District Attorney’s Office. And Travis Colby was amazing.”

Cheryl Silva, Sandie’s sister-in-law, and her husband Anthony were also victims in the restaurant investment embezzlement scheme.

“I’m elated that the judge listened to our victim’s impact statements,” Cheryl exclaimed. “I believe he responded to us through the sentencing. He listened to how we’re really feeling. This is not Robin Recla’s first felony offense and the judge responded to that saying, this is a pattern with Robin. For me that was very reassuring. We did not feel as though, in her statements she did apologize, but we did not feel it was sincere. She had many opportunities over the past four years to do what was right but chose not to. I’m elated that justice was served. It was not vindicative on our part. We were seeking justice.”

Asked how they met Recla, Cheryl responded, “she was very close to Sandie to the point she called her mom. She garnered our trust through that relationship and that’s how all of this came about.

Asked when they first met, Cheryl said, “Sandie met her 30 years ago.”

“I’m in real estate and I had a business with my ex-husband and Robin was actually our ad sales rep for the Los Banos Enterprise,” Sandie said. “I actually also owned a house-cleaning service and cleaned her parents’ house and helped her get the job at the Enterprise.”

“She befriended me, she could sell yellow snow to an Eskimo,” Sandie continued. “Robin babysat my kids, and I kept her son, too.”

“Then we lost touch for years and then she found me on Facebook in 2009. She was living in the San Jose area at the time and bought me flowers one year, and the card said, ‘Happy Birthday, Mom’. I thought, ‘awww. She just wants someone to love her.’ She catered my daughter’s best friend’s husband’s funeral reception and she told everyone that I was her mom and that my kids were her brother and sister.”

“That was around Easter time, I asked her what they were doing, she said they were going to be alone, so, I invited her to our house,” Sandie shared. “Because she was spending so much money on rent, I said she needed to come back Los Banos, save money and buy a house. She and her kids stayed with us less than a month, while a house was getting ready for them to move into.”

“Robin was working at a restaurant in the Bay Area – she was charged over there, too,” Sandie said. “I was paying their bills for her. I told her, ‘you can’t afford to quit your job, you stay there and save your money’.”

“About six months later she presented this plan to us. My husband, Danny Silva, was born, here and started sharing this with his friends. He thought it was a pretty good idea.”

“It was going to offer farm to table comfort food. It was called ‘Double R’. It was going to have a nice cocktail lounge. It was nice,” Sandie stated. “We leased a space by the Target on West Pacheco Blvd.”

“What happened was I was a signer on the account and the bank called me that the account was overdrawn, and I said, ‘we haven’t started construction, yet. How can it be overdrawn?’” Sandie continued. “That was the first time. Robin gave me some con story that she had a loan that hadn’t funded, yet and that she called and explained it to the bank, and everything was fine. Then I got a second phone call from the bank and the account was $50,000 overdrawn. So, I went down to the bank and got a printout and saw that the day after we deposited funds, she started writing checks to herself.”

“I went over to her house, my husband and I met with her and her husband, and told her you’re not my daughter, you just screwed over my family, and you better start talking,” Sandie stated. “Robin said, ‘I know. I thought I could fix it before anyone found out.’ Then she told me she was going to sue our attorney, who set up our LLC, for malpractice and give us our money back.”

“She did actually file a lawsuit against him, but it was dismissed. She didn’t get anything from it,” Sandie added.

“Robin had purchased a liquor license and it was in escrow, she didn’t pay the seller, she gave him back the license and she took the money out of escrow and kept it, she didn’t put it back in the escrow account,” Sandie explained. “But she’s a convicted felon so she put the liquor license in her son’s name. She was writing to the checks ABC, but they must have told her they couldn’t accept her checks, so, she forged my signature on a $10,000 check.”

That wasn’t one of the charges. “They said I would have to take her court,” Sandie stated.

“All these people, they only trusted her because I trusted her,” she continued. “That’s kind of a heavy weight to carry.”

“My heart really broke, today because I was sending someone I loved to prison,” Sandie shared. “But I didn’t believe anything coming out of her mouth, today. I’m a sucker but I wasn’t suckered, today.”

“I have to tell you, that judge and Travis, they did their jobs,” Sandie stated. “Even if we lost, today I’m proud of the job they did.”

“Everything went good, because she was found guilty,” Danny Silva said. “The problem I had was the people in Sacramento.”

“I’m all for giving people a second chance,” he continued. “So, a minimum sentence like this for a first offense. But it’s not here first offense. If you keep making the same mistakes and no consequences, you’re going to keep doing it. The thing is she can be out for six to eight months. I hope I’m wrong. But I’m willing to bet $20 she’s out in eight months or sooner. She has nothing to worry about. The judge knew she’s a habitual liar and con artist. It’s a shame our system doesn’t punish these people more.”

As with most white collar crime cases, the investigation required time intensive forensic accounting and a large collaboration among several agencies. White-collar crime is taken very seriously by the Merced County District Attorney’s Office, as the effects are often far reaching and can financially devastate individuals and businesses. The DA’s Office thanked the Franchise Tax Board, Criminal Investigation Bureau and the Los Banos Police Department for their collaboration and shared that it is greatly appreciated to see that the defendant was brought to justice in this case.

Andy English contributed to this report.

Governor Newsom announces Water Supply Strategy for a hotter, drier California in Antioch on Thursday

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With local and state officials joining him, Gov. Newsom speaks during a press conference at the site of the Antioch Brackish Water Desalination project to announce his Water Supply Strategy on Thursday, August 11, 2022. Photos by Allen D. Payton

Outlines actions needed now to invest in new sources, transform water management

Without action, state officials believe California’s water supply could diminish by up to 10% by 2040

Introduces former L.A. Mayor Villaraigosa as state’s new infrastructure czar

Antonio Villaraigosa was introduced by the governor as the state’s new infrastructure czar.

ANTIOCH – Hotter and drier weather conditions could reduce California’s water supply by up to 10% by the year 2040. To replace and replenish what we will lose to thirstier soils, vegetation, and the atmosphere, Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday announced in California’s latest actions to increase water supply and adapt to more extreme weather patterns caused by climate change. Click here to read California’s Water Supply Strategy.

Thursday’s announcement at Antioch’s $110 million Brackish Water Desalination project follows $8 billion in state investments over the last two years to help store, recycle, de-salt and conserve the water it will need, generating enough water in the future for more than 8.4 million households by 2040.

The actions, outlined in a strategy document published by the Administration called “California’s Water Supply Strategy, Adapting to a Hotter, Drier Future” calls for investing in new sources of water supply, accelerating projects and modernizing how the state manages water through new technology.

This approach to California’s water supply management recognizes the latest science that indicates the American West is experiencing extreme, sustained drought conditions caused by hotter, drier weather. The warming climate means that a greater share of the rain and snowfall California receives will be absorbed by dry soils, consumed by thirsty plants, and evaporated into the air. This leaves less water to meet the state’s needs.

“The best science tells us that we need to act now to adapt to California’s water future. Extreme weather is a permanent fixture here in the American West and California will adapt to this new reality,” Newsom said. “California is launching an aggressive plan to rebuild the way we source, store and deliver water so our kids and grandkids can continue to call California home in this hotter, drier climate.”

To help make up for the water supplies California could lose over the next two decades, the strategy prioritizes actions to capture, recycle, de-salt and conserve more water. These actions include:

  • Creating storage space for up to 4 million acre-feet of water, which will allow us to capitalize on big storms when they do occur and store water for dry periods
  • Recycling and reusing at least 800,000 acre-feet of water per year by 2030, enabling better and safer use of wastewater currently discharged to the ocean.
  • Freeing up 500,000 acre-feet of water through more efficient water use and conservation, helping make up for water lost due to climate change.
  • Making new water available for use by capturing stormwater and desalinating ocean water and salty water in groundwater basins, diversifying supplies and making the most of high flows during storm events.

These actions are identified broadly in the Newsom Administration’s Water Resilience Portfolio – the state’s master plan for water released in 2020 – but they will be expedited given the urgency of climate-driven changes. To advance the infrastructure and policies needed to adapt, the strategy enlists the help of the Legislature to streamline processes so projects can be planned, permitted and built more quickly, while protecting the environment.

Over the last three years, at the urging of the governor, state leaders have earmarked more than $8 billion to modernize water infrastructure and management. The historic three-year, $5.2 billion investment in California water systems enacted in 2021-22 has enabled emergency drought response, improved water conservation to stretch water supplies, and enabled scores of local drought resilience projects. The 2022-23 budget includes an additional $2.8 billion for drought relief to hard-hit communities, water conservation, environmental protection for fish and wildlife and long-term drought resilience projects.

Newsom also introduced former Los Angeles Mayor and Speaker of the Assembly Antonio Villaraigosa as the state’s new infrastructure czar.

“With this influx of federal dollars, we have an incredible opportunity to rebuild California while creating quality jobs, modernizing crucial infrastructure and accelerating our clean transportation progress, benefiting communities up and down the state,” Newsom said. “Antonio has the extensive experience and relationships to deliver on this promise and bring together the many partners who will be key to our success. I look forward to his collaboration with the administration as we build up communities across California.”

Antioch’s $110 million Brackish Water Desalination plant project is currently under construction.

Construction on Antioch’s desalination plant is expected to be completed next year, city Public Works Director John Samuelson shared following the governor’s press conference.

Antioch native opens Hawai’i’s first flagship location for line of all-electric two-wheel vehicles

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Nathan Bingham inside his NIU Honolulu store. Photos Poi Planet.

NIU Honolulu offers mopeds, kick scooters, motor scooters and e-bikes

2004 Antioch High grad Nathan Bingham inspiring others to “Make Life Electric”

NIU Honolulu owner Nathan Bingham.

Honolulu, HI — NIU (pronounced “NEW”) Technologies, the world’s leading provider of smart and eco-friendly two-wheelers, officially opened its first flagship store in Kaimuki in Honolulu on the island of Oʻahu in Hawai’i. With gas prices soaring at an average of $5.40 per gallon in the Hawaiʻi islands, Nathan Bingham, owner of Hawaiian Style Rentals & Sales (see related article), proudly partners with NIU Technologies to bring Hawaiʻi a more cost-effective, alternative mode of transportation. Featuring all-new electric mopeds, kick scooters, motor scooters, and e-bikes, NIU provides riders a stylish, more convenient, and economical way to travel in Hawaiʻi.

Initially founded in 2014, NIU currently has retail stores in over 38 countries. With their goal to create a modern mode of transportation that is environmentally friendly, NIU built two-wheeler vehicles designed to perform, backed with an innovative electric system. Bingham partnered with NIU in 2021, as he was fully aware of the need for a dependable, affordable, and eco-friendly alternative to Hawaiʻi’s traditional, gas-operated transportation.

He opened the NIU Honolulu store in February, this year.

“Providing Hawaiʻi customers a modern mode of transportation is our goal. NIU provides a safe, comfortable, efficient, and fun way to get around town,” Bingham said. “The all-electric mopeds, kick scooters, motor scooters, and e-bikes aren’t just beautiful in design, but are very easy to maneuver. They are better for the environment in so many ways, including a significant reduction in noise pollution as NIU products make no sound.”

“We think NIU may inspire many to ‘make life electric,’ leave their cars in the garage, and give the electric lifestyle a go,” he added.

About his Hawaiian Style Rentals business Bingham said, “we expanded into a second location right before the pandemic, but we had to shut it down two months later. Then we reopened in Dec. 2020. Then from the middle of March to the middle of August, because of a rental car shortage, business was unimaginable. We had lines out the door. We then opened our third location in May 2022. We’ve staffed up from nine employees before the pandemic to 25, today.”

“Our rental shops are all in Waikiki for tourism,” he explained. “The NIU store is a few miles away in Honolulu to serve the locals. It’s the flagship store for all the Hawiai’ian islands and the third in the U.S.”

Bingham graduated from Antioch High in 2004. His mom went to Pittsburg High, his wife, Martina (maiden name Cacciaroni) is also from Antioch. Her mother graduated from Antioch High, and her father graduated from Pittsburg High and owned Cacci’s Deli in Pittsburg. Nathan’s grandfather ran the train station in Pittsburg, he shared. They’ve been in East County and Northern California this past weekend and this week with their one-year-old baby boy celebrating his birthday with family.

Nathan’s love for mopeds started at age 18, when he and his family experienced scooter rides around O’ahu while on vacation.

After high school, Bingham went to BYU in Utah for a semester, then transferred to BYU Hawai’i on the North Shore. With the help of his brothers while visiting him during Spring Break, he rented scooters and decided to go into the business and didn’t return to school. Bingham ran the business out of the back of his truck for a few years, delivering and picking up scooters.

“It took me a while to get the business going,” Bingham shared.

About the NIU product line he said, “because it’s such a new product, the electric mopeds, there’s a lot of legislation being pushed. It’s just the way things are going. China went fully electric a few years ago. NIU is selling about a million units a year, internationally. They have a big presence in Asia and Europe.”

NIU products have state-of-the-art features that put them at the forefront of the electric mobility industry. The NIU Energy Lithium Battery is light and dependable, built with an aluminum casing to prevent overheating and a handle to carry on the go. Because they are removable, they make an intelligent security feature. All NIU vehicles are linked to the “NIU Cloud” app, allowing customers to be connected to their electric vehicle 24/7 through their smartphone devices. Customers can check their battery status, view riding history, locate their vehicle, and be alerted of any unauthorized movement of their scooter. Every NIU vehicle has movement sensors that alert the rider if there are unauthorized vibrations detected. This feature is proven to prevent theft, and the GPS tracking system can pinpoint where each vehicle is according to your location. There are “easy” settings on ECO mode for beginning riders, limiting the speed and automatically adjusting the brakes’ sensitivity. For quick journeys, sport mode can be activated while keeping the ride smooth and seamless. According to the user’s preferences, these two modes can be interchanged. All motorbikes, scooters, and mopeds also come with a digital LED display, with lights that output greater luminosity while reducing energy, and an intuitive dashboard.

With the 100% electric design, users of NIU products will be saving money on transportation. For less than two cents per mile, NIU riders pay as low as 47 cents per charge, giving them ranges from 28 miles up to 87 miles depending on the vehicle and battery size. Also, with any electric two-wheel rides, regular maintenance usually performed on gas-powered models is not needed, such as oil changes, air filters, or fuel filters.

Asked about future plans, in what he referred to as ‘the micro-mobility market’, Bingham said, “what’s great about NIU is they’re always coming out with new products, including an electric motorcycle. So, we will continue to build the brand. The goal is to get a presence in all the islands.”

So, the next time you’re in Honolulu, stop by the NIU Honolulu store or one of Bingham’s Hawaiian Style Rentals and say “hello” and be sure to rent one of their electric, two-wheel vehicles.

To learn more please visit niuhonolulu.com, or follow NIU Honolulu on Instagram (@niuhonolulu) and Facebook (NIU Honolulu).

About NIU Honolulu

NIU (pronounced “NEW”) Technologies, the world’s leading provider of smart and eco-friendly two-wheelers, officially opened its first flagship store in Kaimuki, Oʻahu. Begun in 2021 by owner, Nathan Bingham, NIU Honolulu is Hawaiʻi’s first store that sells electric mopeds, kick scooters, motor scooters, and e-bikes. The modern two-wheeler vehicles are 100% electric and have the option to remove the battery as needed, keeping the NIU scooters safe from theft. Interested guests can book a test ride at the shop, and servicing for all two-wheeled vehicles is completed within the store.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Freedom High honor student Presley Miller attends FutureDocs Abroad in Tanzania

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Freedom High Varsity cheerleader and honor student Presley Miller and with Dr. Andre in Tanzania. Photos courtesy of Presley Miller.

The senior connected to the program as a delegate of The Congress of Future Medical Leaders

By Allen D. Payton

Presley’s surprise Award of Excellence certificate and letter from the Congress of Future Medical Leaders inviting her to attend.

Brentwood resident Presley Miller, a senior at Freedom High School in Oakley, California recently returned from a two-week summer honors program in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania with FutureDocs Abroad for high school and undergraduate students who aspire to a career in the medical field.

She was selected for the opportunity through her participation as a delegate to The Congress of Future Medical Leaders, a nationally recognized high school honors program of the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists. Students must have a minimum 3.5 GPA to qualify. Miller’s GPA is 4.0. She attended the Congress which was held via Zoom in June 2021.

A separate group of students went to Vietnam during the same weeks. Miller chose Tanzania to apply for “because it was in Africa where I’ve never been.”

FutureDocs Abroad is an honors-only program, of the National Leadership Academies, that allows qualified high school students a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to gain real-life experience and access what only third and fourth-year medical students can in the United States. The purpose of this internship is to honor, inspire, motivate, and direct the top students in the country, to stay true to their dream and, after the program, to provide a path, plan, and resources to help them reach their goal.

It puts passionate and qualified students into an intense medical environment overseas, where every single day it allows them an opportunity to experience, now what they’ve only been able to imagine.

FutureDocs Abroad was founded on the belief that strong emotional intelligence is the cornerstone of student success and is committed to supporting students in their development. The National Leadership Academies also recognizes that prospective talent must be identified at the earliest possible age and help must be given to these students to acquire the necessary experience and skills to take them to the doorstep of vital careers as leaders and in the fields of medicine and the sciences.

“It was exciting to be able to personally experience international medicine and learn the culture of Tanzania, while creating lifelong friendships and memories!” said Miller. “It was an experience of a lifetime.”

Presley (back row, fourth from left next to guy in black scrubs) with her entire group in front of the hospital where they worked.

During the program, she joined students from across the U.S. and spent time observing surgeries taking place in the operating room, with the surgeon explaining the procedure as it was being performed. Miller also spent time in the gross anatomy lab with a professor, learning about the anatomy and proper dissection of human cadavers and practicing dissection techniques on animal parts. In addition, she shadowed physicians in the emergency room, clinics, and wards in over a dozen areas of specialty, including pediatrics, oncology, surgery, orthopedics, OB/GYN, and more.

“I got to observe a C-section, cesarean, and watch a baby take his first breath,” Miller shared as her favorite part of the trip. That gave her the desire to focus on “neurosurgery and work in pediatrics.”

One of about 50 students on the trip, she was the only one from Freedom High and encourages other students to participate, as well.

“If you have the opportunity to be a part of The Congress and be able to sign up and be selected to go on this trip, other students should do it. I would do it again, personally,” Miller stated. “If other kids in our area are able to experience this it will be amazing.”

“It took about 30 hours of travel each way,” she shared. “We had to first fly to New York to meet up with the group and fly together from there.”

They landed in Dubai after a 12 or 13-hour flight, followed by a five-hour flight to Tanzania, Miller explained.

“But coming home it was longer due to layovers,” she added.

Presley with fellow student Tora Solbach from Iowa on the hospital’s roof where they ate lunch, each day.

Asked how she learned about the program she explained, “I got a certificate in the mail from a doctor, Stephen Mitchell, the dean of Georgetown Medical School in May 2021.”

“I was like, ‘what is this?’” Miller said. “It was a selection for the Award of Excellence from the Congress of Future Medical Leaders and an invitation to attend it.”

There’s a fee to participate in the program. “But part of it was covered by a sponsor who paid for everyone,” she shared.

As part of the Congress, Miller did extra course work to earn one college credit. She has also been taking high school courses, more than required, for a degree in medicine.

“I took anatomy and physiology this last year and taking AP biology and chemistry, this year,” Miller shared.

Asked about her college plans, she said, “my goal is to go to UCLA, but I’m open to anything, anywhere for undergraduate school that would be a good connection to medical school, whatever God has planned for me.”

Miller is also a varsity cheerleader at Freedom High and the daughter of Antioch chiropractor, Dr. Lance and Treasure Miller.

Asked if she was inspired by her father being a chiropractor, Miller said, “Yes. Growing up around it and always being in that environment of the medical field.”

She works with her dad and mom in the office during the summer. Miller’s older sister Haley is starting chiropractic college in the fall.

“As a parent, we’re proud of our daughter’s dreams and inspired by her desire to enter the medical field in neurosurgery,” dad, Lance stated. “When she was younger, Presley wanted to find a cure for Alzheimer’s because my Aunt Pam died of it at an early age.”

“We were a little nervous about her going over there in another country for two weeks, but excited at the same time,” he shared. “Thank God for technology because we were able to speak with her every day on WhatsApp and Facetime.”

Presley’s mom, Treasure spoke about the trip and her interest in medicine from early childhood.

“I took her to New York, and we met with the program at JFK airport, then they took her from there to Tanzania. We had to participate in Zoom meetings before she went,” she shared. Presley said they got to New York City two days before and went shopping in Manhattan.

“I’m not sure how they got her information, but I’m sure it was during COVID when the students went online and she was showing her interests in college and they got her information,” Treasure explained.

“She’s always known since she was five that she wanted to be a neurosurgery,” her mom, continued. “I asked, ‘why neurosurgery?’”

“She said ‘you, know, Mom, everyone needs a brain and I’ll never be out of a job,’” Treasure stated.

Presley (front row third from left) with a group of her fellow students in the program.

“I’m extremely proud of her and I know God has a plan for her in her life and has definitely set her up for this,” Presley’s mom, said. “It was very hard for me to let her go to a third world country at 17-years-old. So, I had to really give it to God and pray about it and let her go and trust she would be fine.”

“She was 13 hours ahead,” Treasure stated. “So, when her day was ending my day was starting,” and vice versa,

“I’ve always known since she was very little that God gave her this gift to heal people, kind of like her dad, to heal people with his hands,” she continued. “But she’s going down a different road. They work together. You can’t live without your brain or your spine. She’s a different child, a very old soul, very mature for her age and always has been.”

“She does work hard at it. But she’s very dedicated,” Treasure added.

About The Congress of Future Medical Leaders

High-achieving and deserving high School students are selected to become Delegates of the Congress of Future Medical Leaders by parents, teachers, and other educational avenues. Student Delegates are screened through an application process that includes GPA verification. Academically superior high school students are honored for their dedication, talent, and leadership potential in medicine.

During the Congress, Delegates hear from the world’s leading medical pioneers, groundbreaking researchers, young prodigies who are carving the way for the future of medicine and medical technology, and from patients who have had their lives changed (or saved) by medicine.

The stage is graced by the greatest living minds from different areas of medicine, medical technology and engineering, research, and science—some that Delegates may not know exist! They share insights into who they are, what they do, their successes, failures, and practical advice for Delegates.

For more information, visit www.TheNationalLeadershipAcademies.com or call (888) 986-6563.

 

 

Grand opening of “wildly popular” Korean fried chicken restaurant in Brentwood August 11

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Bonchon is bringing even more crunch to California

Popular U.S.-based brand opens first delivery and carryout-only concept

First 50 guests eat free, plus lion dancers

With its wide-array of flavors and crunch-worthy Korean double-fried chicken, Bonchon – meaning “my hometown” – is a food experience unlike any other Eastern Contra Costa County has had before.

The wildly popular restaurant, known for crispy, hand-brushed Korean fried chicken, is opening its 27th California location in Brentwood, situated at 5611 Lone Tree Way (near FedEx Office and  Home Depot) with hours of operations from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The restaurant will be spearheaded by local entrepreneur Thomas Nyugen.

This Brentwood location also marks the very first one for Bonchon dedicated to delivery and carryout operations. With the new model, it will allow for seamless customer interaction and ease the ordering process for individuals looking to get their favorite Bonchon meal through delivery or on-site pickup.

“Not only am I able to grow with such a globally-loved brand but being able to offer the first delivery and carryout-only location is such an accomplishment,” said Nyugen. “I am eager to serve the Brentwood community Bonchon’s flavorful chicken with our specialty sauce offerings, I am certain that we will quickly become a regular spot for those looking to get a great meal for family, friends or themselves.”

To give residents an opportunity to try Bonchon’s delicious, crunch-worthy wings, a grand opening celebration will take place on Thursday, August 11. The first 50 guests in line will receive five of the brand’s double-fried chicken wings, hand-brushed with their choice of the soy garlic or spicy signature sauce, for free. To add to the grand opening excitement, the Brentwood location will also host lion dancers at 6:00 p.m. on August 11 for all guests to enjoy.

Their menu also has Starters which include pot stickers, shrimp shumai, Takoyaki (ball-shaped calamari), chicken sliders, pork buns, Korean tacos, popcorn shrimp and edamame; Main Dishes which include bulgogi (thinly sliced marinated ribeye, sautéed with mushrooms, scallions, sesame seeds, and onions), japchae (marinated ribeye stir-fry), chicken katsu over rice, tteokbokki (rice cakes with fish cakes), bull dak (spicy chicken and rice cakes), wraps, bibimbap and fried rice dishes, plus udon noodle soups and sesame ginger salads. Their sides include fries, onion rings, kimchi, cole slaw, pickled radish, kimchi coleslaw and, of course, rice; plus they offer a rice cake dessert called mochi. Bonchon | Menu

“Our team could not be more eager to open this new California location with Thomas. His passion for Bonchon and dedication to catering to communities’ needs are just two of the reasons he is a great operator within our franchise system,” said Greg Buchanan, chief administrative officer at Bonchon. “Customer convenience is a top priority for us, so developing our first delivery and carryout location is a huge step for the brand. We know that residents will love having an easy way to get their Bonchon fix!”

Since its inception in Busan, South Korea in 2002, Bonchon’s mission to share Korean comfort food around the world has been more than a success. With 385-plus locations worldwide and more than 115 locations in the U.S., the Korean chicken brand is a global sensation. On top of the cult-favorite fried chicken wings, drumsticks and strips, the brand also provides a variety of flavorful offerings and Pan Asian favorites including japchae, kimchi, Korean tacos and potstickers.

As strategic expansion continues and Bonchon locations sustain consistent sales growth, multi-unit operators have placed a high priority on adding the concept into their portfolios.

About BonchonBonchon is a global restaurant brand known for distinctive Korean double-fried chicken, Asian fusion cuisine, and Korean specialties. Born in Busan, South Korea in 2002, the concept was established in the United States in 2006. Bonchon sets out to have its fans “Crunch Out Loud” by sharing the joy of hand-battered, double-fried, crazy crispy Korean fried chicken with the world.

Bonchon currently currently has more than 386 restaurants across eight countries including Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, Cambodia, Myanmar, Australia, Vietnam and the United States. In the U.S. the chain has more than 114 restaurants with franchise outposts in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Washington D.C., Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.

The brand has earned several accolades – it was recognized by Business Insider as “the gold standard for fried chicken” as well as included in Nation’s Restaurant News 2021 “Top 500 Restaurants”, Fast Casual Magazine’s 2022 “Top 100 Movers & Shakers” and Entrepreneur’s 2022 “Franchise 500”, “Fastest Growing Franchises”, “Top Food Franchise” and “Top Global Franchise” lists.

For more information about Bonchon, visit bonchon.com. To learn more about its franchise opportunities, visit franchising.bonchon.com.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

John Muir Health’s Concord, Walnut Creek Medical Centers ranked among top in Bay Area, California

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For San Francisco Metro Area Hospitals and Top 17 in California in U.S. News & World Report’s annual America’s Best Hospitals list 

By Ben Drew, Communications Chief, John Muir Health

John Muir Health’s Concord and Walnut Creek Medical Centers 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 seven ratings of “high performing” across the procedures and conditions evaluated by U.S. News & World Report.

For the 2022-23 rankings and ratings, U.S. News evaluated more than 4,500 medical centers nationwide in 15 specialties and 20 procedures and conditions. In the 15 specialty areas, 164 hospitals were ranked in at least one specialty. In rankings by state and metro area, U.S. News recognized hospitals as high performing across multiple areas of care.

The Walnut Creek Medical Center is ranked second and the Concord Medical Center third out of 49 hospitals in the San Francisco Metro Area, which includes hospitals in San Francisco, San Mateo, Alameda, Contra Costa and Marin counties. The two medical centers are also ranked among the top 17 in the state out of more than 400 hospitals.

“Our physicians, nurses, clinical and support staff, and volunteers continue to deliver outstanding care and service at a time of great need in our community,” said Jane Willemsen, Executive Vice President and President, Hospital Operations at John Muir Health. “I’m grateful for the resiliency and efforts of our teams as we manage the COVID-19 pandemic and treat and care for patients with a range of injuries and illnesses.”

For the 16th consecutive year, the Walnut Creek Medical Center had at least one service nationally ranked — one of less than 4% of medical centers across the country that achieved a national ranking. The Walnut Creek Medical Center was nationally ranked in Diabetes & Endocrinology (#42), Obstetrics & Gynecology (#36), Orthopedics (#35) and Pulmonology & Lung Surgery (#36). The medical center also ranked as high-performing in Gastroenterology & GI Surgery, Geriatrics, Neurology & Neurosurgery, and Urology. In addition, Walnut Creek was rated as high performing in 14 adult procedures and conditions, including Back Surgery (Spinal Fusion), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD), Colon Cancer Surgery, Diabetes, Heart Attack, Heart Failure, Hip Fracture, Hip Replacement, Kidney Failure, Knee Replacement, Lung Cancer Surgery, Ovarian Cancer Surgery, Pneumonia, and Stroke.

The Concord Medical Center was ranked as high-performing in five specialties, including Gastroenterology & GI Surgery, Geriatrics, Orthopedics, Pulmonology & Lung Surgery, and Urology. In addition, the Concord Medical Center was rated as high performing in 13 adult procedures and conditions, including Aortic Valve Surgery, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD), Colon Cancer Surgery, Heart Attack, Heart Bypass Surgery, Heart Failure, Hip Replacement, Kidney Failure, Lung Cancer Surgery, Pneumonia, Prostate Cancer Surgery, Stroke, and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).

“We never take recognitions like the ones from U.S. News & World Report for granted and are incredibly proud of our teams and the care they provide,” said Russell Rodriguez, M.D, interim Chief Medical Officer at John Muir Health. “These ratings are a direct reflection of and a credit to the talent, skills, empathy and teamwork of our clinicians and staff.”

“For patients considering their options for where to get care, the Best Hospitals rankings are designed to help them and their medical professionals identify hospitals that excel in the kind of care they may need,” said Ben Harder, chief of health analysis and managing editor at U.S. News. “The new cancer ratings provide patients facing surgery for prostate cancer or gynecological cancer with previously unavailable information to assist them in making a critical health care decision.”

Between the two medical centers, John Muir Health has 798 licensed beds. The Walnut Creek Medical Center 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 Best Hospitals.

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

Board of Equalization holds first of three Tax Abatement Workgroup meetings to spur development of affordable housing in California

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Sacramento – On Wednesday, July 27, 2022, the California State Board of Equalization (BOE) held the first of at least three public Property Tax Abatement Workgroup meetings. The Board received presentations from policy experts and stakeholders on the development of new housing, focusing on how to best address the need to build 2.5 million new housing units to address California’s housing gap, including how to provide new housing opportunities for the “missing middle.” The workgroup consists of Board Chair Malia M. Cohen, who represents District 2 and District 3 Board Member Antonio Vazquez.

“As Chair of the Board of Equalization, which administers California’s $85 billion property tax system, I am deeply encouraged by today’s discussion with housing policy experts,” said Chair Malia M. Cohen. “The presentations of these experts both highlighted the reality of our housing crisis, associated equity issues, and the opportunity to address the development of new housing through creative and innovative solutions.”

“Today’s meeting focused on property tax abatements as a tool to incentivize new housing construction and increase the inventory of affordable housing. Property tax abatements have been used before, particularly in New York City, to build tens of thousands of new housing units to address the housing needs of the ‘missing middle’. It makes sense to consider whether similar property tax abatement strategies could work in California,” Cohen concluded.

In upcoming meetings of the Property Tax Abatement Workgroup, the BOE will examine strategies to ensure that revenue for schools and local governments are protected under any property tax abatement programs. The BOE will also explore how local government, labor, businesses, and developers can work collaboratively to build new housing under such abatement programs.

The BOE will hold additional meetings of the Property Tax Abatement Workgroup at the Board’s upcoming August 31st and September 28th board meetings. At the conclusion of the BOE’s Property Tax Abatement Workgroup, the Board will issue a report.

The agenda of the July 27, 2022 meeting of the Property Tax Abatement Workgroup can be found at this link: https://www.boe.ca.gov/meetings/pdf/2022/072622-PAN-Jul.pdf

As the BOE Board Member for District 2 Cohen represents nearly 10 million constituents residing in 23 counties in Northern and Central California, extending from Del Norte County in the north to Santa Barbara County in the south, including Contra Costa County. She is the youngest Constitutional Officer serving in California and is the first African American woman to be elected as chair of the Board of Equalization in its 141-year history.

The Board of Equalization is California’s statewide elected tax board. Its five members include four members elected in districts, and the State Controller. Under its constitutional mandate, the BOE oversees the assessment practices of the state’s 58 county assessors, who are charged with establishing values for approximately 13.6 million assessments each year. In addition, the BOE assesses the property of regulated railroads and specific public utilities and is responsible for the alcoholic beverage tax and tax on insurers.

Note: This news release may discuss complex tax laws and concepts. It may not address every situation and is not considered written advice. Changes in law or regulations may have occurred since the time this news release was written. If there is a conflict between the text of this news release and the law, decisions will be based upon the law and not this news release.

After Con Fire ends flooding Marsh peat fire in Pittsburg with 200 million gallons of water “no apparent…smoke remains”

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Con Fire ends flooding the Marsh peat fire in Pittsburg on Saturday, July 23, 2022. Photos: Con Fire

“Nearly 20,000 gallons per minute”

By Allen D. Payton

After burning and filling the air over Antioch and Pittsburg with smoke for almost two months the Marsh peat fire in Pittsburg appears to be extinguished. (See related article)

In a post on their Facebook page on Saturday, July 23, the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) reported that they have “ended flooding today that has, for 7 days, with help from CC Water Dist. & the property owner, put some 200 M gallons of water on the Marsh peat fire in Pittsburg. No apparent hotspots or smoke remain, though we continue to monitor for flareups.”

On Friday, they reported that the “Marsh peat fire flooding is proving extremely effective with only small areas continuing to put off some limited smoke today. Flooding continues at nearly 20,000 gallons per minute. Con Fire is hopeful of complete extinguishment in coming days.”

Antioch teen, two men charged with March murder near Pleasant Hill are Tre-4 gang members

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Also charged by DA for armed robbery, conspiracy

By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa County Office of the District Attorney

Members of the Tre-4 street gang are being prosecuted by the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office on murder, armed robbery, and conspiracy charges. Jalin Washington of San Francisco, Don Juan Defore Watson, Jr. of Antioch, and Amir Anderson-Roof (city unknown) all face charges for a series of crimes that include the killing of 20-year-old Basel Jilani of Lafayette on March 23, 2022. (See related articles here and here)

In that incident, the victim Jilani was chased by Washington and Watson after they spotted him driving a high-end Mercedes on the freeway in Concord. Jilani tried to elude his pursuers but crashed his vehicle on Taylor Boulevard near the border between Pleasant Hill and Lafayette. He was shot, killed, and robbed of his Rolex watch.

Washington, Watson, and Anderson-Roof are also at the center of several crimes in Bay Area in 2022 that include automobile thefts and armed robbery.

The People of the State of California v. Jalin Washington, Case Number: 01-22-01088

The People of the State of California v. Don Juan Defore Watson, Jr., Case Number: 01-22-01086

The People of the State of California v. Amir Anderson-Roof, Case Number: 01-22-01087