Governor Jerry Brown signed into law Saturday AB 1719, a law that requires hands-on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) instruction, along with Automated External Defibrillator awareness in high school health classes, an American Heart Association spokeswoman said.

California is the 35th state to provide CPR training in schools, along with Washington, D.C., spokeswoman Robin Swanson said. State Assemblyman Freddie Rodriguez (D-Pomona) authored the bill.

“As an Emergency Medical Technician for over 30 years, I know that CPR is one of the most important life skills a person can have,” Rodriguez said in a statement.

“By teaching CPR in high school, we are sending students into the world with essential, life-saving skills,” Rodgriguez said.

High schools will begin to teach CPR in health classes in the 2018-2019 school year, Swanson said, in a lesson that takes 30 minutes.

“I am so glad I learned CPR at a young age because it helped save my friend’s life,” 13-year-old American Heart Association volunteer Skylar Berry said in a statement.

“We should all be prepared to act in the case of an emergency and I’m happy other students will now get the chance to learn CPR,” Skylar said.

Skylar used her CPR training to save a friend from drowning in a swimming pool when she was 11, Swanson said. Many others have died because no one near them could administer CPR.

“If someone had been near my daughter at the time of her collapse had known how to conduct CPR, her life could have been saved,” AB 1719 advocate Debbie Wilson said in a statement.

“I want all students to have a chance to learn this life-saving skill so other families don’t suffer the same heartbreak that ours did,” Wilson said.

Every year, more than 350,000 people suffer from sudden cardiac arrest outside of a hospital, and less than one-third receives CPR from a bystander, Swanson said. CPR and defibrillation can more than double the chance of survival.

“So many lives have been saved because of the heroic act of bystanders who performed CPR. On the other hand, there are just as many stories of people who did not make it because no one nearby took action,” cardiothoracic surgeon Kathy Magliato said in a statement.

“With CPR in schools, we have the opportunity to create a generation in which teens and young adults in California [are] trained in CPR as part of their health education and prepared to save lives. AB 1719 will add thousands of qualified lifesavers to our state,” Magliato said.

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A Claycordian who calls herself “Disgusted in Concord” is sick of seeing dogs in the mall, especially when they fight.

Here’s her story:

In addition to shopping, I also walk at Sun Valley Mall for exercise. During the recent past, I have noticed small dogs either being carried or in a baby stroller on Sundays.

This last Sunday, a couple was walking their Alaskan Husky on a long leash along with a smaller dog. This was on the lower level at the JC Penney’s end. As they were walking toward the center court, a customer was walking his black lab. As these two dogs passed, a small fight between the dog’s ensued.

Neither of these 3 animals had any markings that they were service dogs. Needless to say, there was NO security present to aid the other customers.

What is the policy of Sun Valley Mall in reference to dogs in the mall?

Pets/animals, with the exception of service animals such as Leader Dogs, are prohibited, according to the Sunvalley Mall.

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The “Water Cooler” is a feature on Claycord.com where we ask you a question or provide a topic, and you talk about it.

The “Water Cooler” will be up Monday-Friday at noon.

Today’s question:

Do you plan to watch tonight’s presidential debate?

Talk about it.

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A mountain lion was spotted near downtown Clayton, according to a concerned citizen.

Here’s the message we received this morning:

“Good Morning. I was just warned by a construction worker on Chardonnay Circle, Clayton that he just saw a mountain lion cross the Cardinet Trail and walk down into the creek headed towards the City of Clayton and Ed’s Mudville Grill. You may want to put a warning out to the locals. There are a lot of walkers/dogs out right now due to this expected heat wave.”

Thanks for the warning.

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Shauna with her principal from Valley View Middle, Lisa Sullivan, on her right side and MDUSD Superintendent Dr. Nellie Meyer on her left side.

Shauna Hawes, one of the Mt. Diablo Unified School District’s Teachers of the Year, has been named a Contra Costa County Teacher of the Year.

Hawes teaches computer applications/ technology to grades 6-8 at Valley View Middle School in Pleasant Hill. She has been with Mt. Diablo Unified her entire 18-year teaching career.

We asked her to answer a few questions about her career and about what makes magic in the classroom.

[CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE STORY....]

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Concord Police Officers can expect to one day be wearing body cameras, it just hasn’t been determined when that day will be, according to Concord Police Chief Guy Swanger.

“I have staff researching body cameras and we have a committee looking at all parts of this program, I believe it is inevitable that public employees, particularly police, will be using devices that record contacts.” Swanger said.

Swanger says capturing the public on recording, sometimes in their most private and revealing moments (crime victims, car crashes, etc), has to be handled delicately, and many questions still exist about when it’s okay to release the video to the public.

It has also not been determined by the legislature or courts whether the video is considered ‘public’, according to Chief Swanger.

The cost of the cameras hasn’t been determined at this time, but Swanger said the first purchase would obviously have to be large. There will also be costs that include replacement, storage, service, and resources necessary to retrieve video.

Swanger says he plans to get feedback on the issue from Officers, other employees and the public in the near future.

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A Spare the Air Alert is in effect Monday, September 26, for the San Francisco Bay Area.

Concentrations of ground-level ozone pollution are forecast to be unhealthy. High levels of ozone pollution are harmful to breathe, especially for young children, seniors and those with respiratory and heart conditions.

Exhaust from vehicles on Bay Area roads accounts for more than half of the air pollution in the region. Bay Area residents are asked to drive less to reduce smog and improve air quality in the region. Residents are also encouraged to consider an all-electric vehicle as their next vehicle purchase to help reduce the amount of gas powered vehicles that contribute to unhealthy smog.

Change your daily commute by carpooling, vanpooling, taking transit, biking or walking instead of driving alone. Doing this will help reduce pollution levels and health concerns when temperatures are high. To learn how to change your commute online, visit 511.org.

To find out how your company could help you save money on your commute by offering commuter benefits, visit commuterbenefits.511.org.

This AirAlert is provided by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Thank you for doing your part to Spare the Air!

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Critical shortages of fully-credentialed Special Education teachers are a well-documented national problem, with data showing that the number of Special Education credentials issued in California decreasing 21% from 2011 to 2013. As the demand for Special Education professionals increases, the consequence of this teacher shortage creates challenges for school districts across the country.

To respond to the need for qualified Special Education teachers, St. Mary’s College of California (SMC) Kalmanovitz School of Education has created an innovative, reciprocal partnership with the Mt. Diablo Unified School District (MDUSD).  Under the program, MDUSD employees currently serving as Special Education assistants in the classrooms or serving individual students as one-to-one assistants, are enrolled in a two-year program with extensive and intensive coaching and classroom support that helps them earn an intern credential  for Mild/Moderate Special Education that deems them to be highly qualified Special Education teachers.

“We are incredibly proud of this opportunity for staff who, on a daily basis, work with, care for, and have a profound and personal impact on the lives of students with physical, learning, or other disabilities,” said Dr. Nellie Meyer, Superintendent for MDUSD.  “This partnership will help us develop a tailored pipeline for teacher candidates who match our needs and have already shown a deep commitment to working in the best interest of our students.”

The program was co-designed by Drs. David Kraft and Peter Alter, co-directors of the Education Specialist program at SMC; Dr. Wendi Aghily, MDUSD Director of Special Education; and Leyla Benson, MDUSD Director of Personnel.

“This partnership will allow us to strengthen the preparation education specialists receive so they can enter the classroom with confidence that they can fully address both academic areas, and other domains, such as communication and social/behavioral issues,” said Dr. Alter.

The initiative includes three components that set it apart from traditional teacher preparation programs.

• All classes are being held at MDUSD facilities to decrease travel time and increase convenience for the candidates.
• By pooling resources, MDUSD and SMC are able to provide an increased amount of ‘in the classroom’ support and coaching.  In the first year of the program, a group of district-funded coaches provide ongoing feedback, demonstration lessons, classroom resources, and support with classroom management. In the second year, candidates are moved to an intern credential that deems them to be highly qualified Special Education teachers. During this intern phase, MDUSD and SMC have developed a formal plan of support provided by support personnel by both the District and the college. It is estimated that each candidate will be provided over 100 hours of support over the academic year.
• The program of study has been modified so that courses typically taught in multiple semesters have been condensed to allow multiple courses to be taught within each semester.  Additionally, the program has been extended from 18 months to two years.  Collectively, the modifications allow teacher candidates to attend classes for two evenings each week, allowing for a home/work/school balance.

In the inaugural year of the program, 12 individuals began the course of study.  By this time next year, all candidates will be eligible to become the teacher of record in their classroom.  In two years, they will have completed their coursework and will be able to fill the need for education specialists within the District, and begin a new journey on their career path.

“We see some tremendous talent among our Special Education assistants, and with a program such as this which provides reduced tuition and loan forgiveness, it’s an opportunity we hope they can’t turn down,” said MDUSD’s Leyla Benson.

“The role of a Special Education teacher isn’t easy, but it’s incredibly rewarding – for both the teacher and the student,” said Dr. Wendi Aghily.  “There is no shortage of phenomenal moments.  When you help a student achieve something beyond what he or she thought possible, it’s as meaningful personally as it is professionally.  We dream big on behalf of all students. And we want our Special Education assistants to dream big too and become a teacher.  There is no greater calling, and we will help them get there.”

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A possible red light runner rear-ended a County Connection bus on Clayton Rd. near Thronwood Dr. on Sunday morning, according to the Concord Police Department.

Police tell Claycord.com the woman allegedly ran the red light on westbound Clayton Rd. and apparently tried to swerve out of the way of a vehicle turning left on to Thornwood Dr. from eastbound Clayton Rd. After she swerved, she struck the back of the bus.

No major injuries were reported.

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Concord Police are investigating a reported shooting in the area near the Skate Park off Cowell Rd.

The suspect vehicle was last seen on Mesa, behind the Concord Police Department.

A vehicle was hit with gunfire. It’s unclear if anyone was injured.

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ACCIDENTS:

• None.

ARRESTS:

• Kirker Pass Rd./Allegro Ave. DUI; Probation Violation. A 27-year-old Concord male was arrested after being stopped for Vehicle Code violations. He was transported to Concord Police Department for booking. (09/18/16 – 0051 hrs.)
• Michigan Blvd/Pennsylvania Blvd. Possess Controlled Substance; Possess Controlled Substance Paraphernalia; Probation Violation. A 54-year-old Martinez male was arrested after being stopped for Vehicle Code violations. He was transported to Concord Police Department for booking. Warrant. His 21-year-old female passenger from Concord was arrested on a warrant. She was released on her signed promise to appear. (09/19/16 – 0507 hrs.)

BURGLARIES/THEFTS:

• Shell Ln. Petty Theft. (09/19/16 – 1031 hrs.)

VANDALISMS:

• Kelok Wy. (09/21/16 – 1349 hrs.)

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A Spare the Air Alert is in effect Sunday, September 25, for the San Francisco Bay Area.

Concentrations of ground-level ozone pollution are forecast to be unhealthy. High levels of ozone pollution are harmful to breathe, especially for young children, seniors and those with respiratory and heart conditions.

Exhaust from vehicles on Bay Area roads accounts for more than half of the air pollution in the region. Bay Area residents are asked to drive less to reduce smog and improve air quality in the region. Residents are also encouraged to consider an all-electric vehicle as their next vehicle purchase to help reduce the amount of gas powered vehicles that contribute to unhealthy smog.

Change your daily commute by carpooling, vanpooling, taking transit, biking or walking instead of driving alone. Doing this will help reduce pollution levels and health concerns when temperatures are high. To learn how to change your commute online, visit 511.org.

To find out how your company could help you save money on your commute by offering commuter benefits, visit commuterbenefits.511.org.

This AirAlert is provided by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.  Thank you for doing your part to Spare the Air!

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Click on the image above to view the City of Pleasant Hill’s Weekly Update.

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A heat advisory has been issued for Sunday and Monday in the San Francisco Bay Area as western winds keep cool ocean air out to sea, officials with the National Weather Service said Friday.

The advisory was issued at 10:21 a.m. Friday for the San Francisco Bay and Monterey Bay areas.

Temperatures will begin warm today and even warmer temperatures are expected on Sunday and Monday.

Highs on Sunday are expected to reach 86 degrees in San Francisco, 99 in Concord and 97 degrees in Santa Rosa.

In the South Bay, San Jose is expected to reach 92 degrees while Monterey is expected to reach 86 degrees, weather officials said.

Monday will be a little cooler with the high in San Francisco expected to reach only 83 degrees. Concord could reach 97 and Santa Rosa 93.

San Jose is an exception as the high temperature on Monday is expected to reach 93 degrees.

Weather officials said the high temperatures across a portion of the area pose a moderate risk for people who are sensitive to the heat. Residents and visitors should take frequent breaks and drink fluids regularly.

Weather officials remind people to avoid leaving a child or pet in a car where temperatures can rise rapidly.

The warm and dry conditions are expected to raise the risk of new wildfires. Also, a southerly swell of two to three feet poses a risk to beachgoers who may be caught off guard.

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Click on the photo above to check out what’s happening this week in beautiful Downtown Martinez!

We’ll post this every Saturday on Claycord.com.

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Happy Friday to all the wonderful citizens in the City of Claycord.

This is a post with no subject, you can talk about whatever you want. If breaking news happens (such a shooting, earthquake, etc.), or you hear about something newsworthy, feel free to post it here.

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This post is “Talk About Politics”.

Please use this post to talk about politics, and keep politics out of the “whatever” thread.

Thank you, and be kind to each other.

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