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Natio
nalAwardWinning Newspapers
Your Hometown Web Site www.thepress.net
Vol. 10, No. 43 YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER October 22,
2010
This Week
FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A
Election 2010
Come Nov. 2, take a stroll to the poll as an informed voter. Our
election coverage begins on Page 14A.
Plus: Auto Care Guide ................ 1BCalendar
............................ 23BClassifieds
......................... 17BCop Logs
............................21AElection 2010
....................14AEntertainment ................. 13BFood
.................................... 14BHealth & Beauty
..............26AMilestones ........................29AOpinion
..............................20AOutdoors
.............................6ASports
................................... 9B
Wolverines dig deep
The Dig for a Cure match brought out the best in competitive and
charitable energy. Page 11B
Regional parks garner $10.2M grant
For his Eagle Scout Project, Antioch resident Greg Hoggan, 15,
collected more than 550 stuffed ani-mals and 440 blankets for the
Antioch Child Abuse Prevention Council. Another portion of the
collection was donated to the Concord extension of the council.
Greg, seen here with Maggie Velasco of the Concord Child Abuse
Prevention Council, is a freshman at Deer Valley High School. Im
glad that Ive been able to help someone in need, Hoggan said.
Children are special people and sometimes need a helping hand
through a really tough time. I hope my project will bring a little
peace, comfort and a smile to their face. I hope they know that
there are people in the world who care about them.
Loads of love
Photo courtesy of Karleen Hoggan
The United States Depart-ment of Transportation (DOT) recently
awarded $10.2 million to the Green Transportation Ini-tiative of
the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) as part of the
departments Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery
(TIGER II) grant pro-gram.
More than 1,000 applicants nationwide competed for $600 mil-lion
in TIGER II grant funding. The EBRPD was the only park district in
Northern California to receive TIGER II funds. Its ap-plication
focused on completing critical gaps in its expansive nearly
200-mile paved regional trail sys-tem that connects
communities,
schools, employment centers and transportation nodes.
Were very pleased with this important award, said EBRPD General
Manager Pat OBrien. The park district began devel-oping this
integrated network of paved trails in the 1970s, and weve
seen the use of these trails just ex-plode with the population
growth over the past several decades for both commuting and
recreational purposes. With this grant, we will be able to expedite
closing critical gaps in the Green Transportation network,
providing a real boon to
those who live and work in the East Bay.
OBrien applauded the lo-cal congressional delegations
en-thusiastic support and regional stakeholders and other
organiza-tions. We had signifi cant support because our elected
offi cials and regional organizations understand the value of the
Green Trans-portation Initiative. Work on the trail system will
create hundreds of jobs and, once fi nished, the re-gional trail
network will enhance East Bay communities by relieving traffi c
congestion and creating op-portunities for a healthier lifestyle.
DOT received more than 80 letters
With this grant, we will be able to expedite closing critical
gaps in the Green Transportation network, providing a real boon to
those who live and work in the East Bay.
EBRPD General Manager Pat OBrien
see Grant page 30A
Treasure boxes for the holidays
When Deb Melander fi rst learned about Treasure Boxes near-ly
two years ago, the Brentwood resident was sure the discounted
brand-name food cartons would fi ll a need for not only low-income
families and seniors, but for anyone feeling the current economic
pinch.
I saw a recent statistic that said one in seven Americans is
liv-ing in poverty, said Melander, whose Brentwood church,
Creek-side Christian, is a host site for the Treasure Box program.
I had no idea the numbers were so high, and that doesnt even really
address all of the folks still working and struggling to put food
on the table many here in our own commu-nity. So is there a need
for Treasure Boxes? Id say so.
Treasure Boxes is a division of Good Source Solutions a food
packaging company based in
Carlsbad and was developed as a means to provide families and
individuals with fresh, affordable, healthy food at a fraction of
gro-cery store prices.
With Thanksgiving around the corner, Melander is focusing her
attention on Holiday Treasure Boxes as an inexpensive, viable way
to make a difference.
For $35, purchasers will receive a 14 to 16 pound Butterball
Turkey, macaroni and cheese entre, frozen peas, carrots and corn as
well as frozen sweet potatoes, stuffi ng mix and a pie.
And while the Treasure Boxes are popular with residents of all
income levels, Melander hopes the community will consider the gift
of Treasure Boxes when giving this season.
Many people I talk with supplement what they already buy,
especially meat, with the Treasure
by Ruth RobertsStaff Writer
see Treasure page 30A
Get it in gear Looking to get a door ding or engine ping
repaired? Our Fall Auto Care Guide will put you in the fast lane.
Page 1B
Online Now!
www.thepress.netYour Hometown Web Site
The Bay Area Crisis Nursery got a big boost from the Antioch
MOMS Club.
Crisis carego to news/WebExtras!
Baskets and blankets will be auctioned to help those in need
over the holidays.
Make your bidgo to news/press releases
A pumpkin festival at Smith Family Farm promises seasonal
fun.
Get squashedgo to multimedia/videos
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OCTOBER 22, 2010 COMMUNITY THEPRESS.NET | 3A
1300 Central Blvd. BrentwoodLori Abreu(925) 216-6317Owner/Broker
www.DeltaRanches.com
Cerelle Carstairs(925) 382-4307
Real Estate Agent
One bedroom, one bath, 937 sf, plus den in a desirable area.
Centrally located, open living room to kitchen and patio.
$70,500
Condo 1 bdrm 1 ba, 611 sf. Offers pool and security gate.
Centrally located complex, close to schools and shopping.
$93,400
2 bdrm 2 ba condo, 833 sf priced to sell. Nice sized rooms with
covered patio. Laminate flooring and carpet. White appliances in
the kitchen. $143,000
Two story 3 bdrm. 1.5 bath, 1200 sf condo with bright open floor
plan and updated kitchen. Has hardwood flooring and nice patio for
entertaining. Well maintained grounds with pool. $320,000
2 bdrm 1 ba condo, 925sf. with garage below unit. White
appliances in kitchen and tub/shower combo. $33,660
This 5 bdrm 3 ba home is in Garin Ranch close to schools. Has
open floor plan and inground pool with automatic cover. Backyard
set up for entertaining. $297,000
2827 Monument Blvd, Unit #22, Concord
2304 L Street, #4, Antioch 748 Craig Court, Brentwood.
Nice 2bdrm 2 bath, 1026 sf bottom unit with oak cabinets,
neutral colors, ready for new owner. Family room has lots of
natural light and cozy fireplace. $324,500
Nice 2 bdrm 2 bath 1280 sf home. Lot size about 7651 sf. Needs a
little TLC. Backyard has golf course view. $340,000
226 Canyon Woods Way, Unit E, San Ramon
1671 Bluebell Drive, Livermore
2 bdrm 1 bath 918 sf home with lots of large trees seeks new
owner. Nice curb appeal, large lot, lots of opportunity. Laminate
flooring and carpet. $103,400
Cute 2 bedroom. 1 1/2 bath, 1,036 sf condo with private
patio.Quiet neighborhood and great views. Park-like setting.
$198,550
1505 Kirker Pass Rd. #158, Concord 2514 W Monterey Ave.
Stockton
2401 Eilers Lane, #1003, Lodi
1562 Ashwood Drive, Martinez
2539 Twin Creeks Drive, San Ramon
Two story 3 bdrm. 2.5 bath, 1501 sf condo. Open floor plan.
Granite counters, black appliances. Close to water feature. Great
commute location. $312,500
6156 Forget Me Not, Livermore
Priced to sell condo with 3 bdrms 1.5 baths and 1217 sf has lots
of potential. Partial upgrades have been started, granite counters,
and larger patio space for entertaining. $176,000
1012 Maywood Lane, Unit 6, Martinez
Firefi ghter Jaymes Laughlin was all set: Engine 93 in Oakley
was ready to whisk him away to a dinner in his honor at Brentwoods
Veterans Hall, where he was to be honored as the Veterans of
Foreign Wars Firefi ghter of the Year. More than a dozen members of
the War-rior Watch Riders motorcycle group were there, too, ready
to provide one of their signature escorts.
Suddenly, everything changed. An emergency medical call came in,
and Laughlin and his comrades, decked out in jackets and ties,
hurriedly left the cara-van parked quietly in front of the station
and headed out to help.
It was crazy, Laughlin said. I was in the back of the engine,
tearing off my tie and jacket and trying to put on my gear. When we
were done, we headed back (to the station) and I was tearing off my
gear, trying to put on my tie
In the end, Laughlin and his es-cort made it to Brentwood, where
VFW Commander Steve Todd emphasized importance of honoring fi refi
ghters. These guys put their lives on the line every single day,
saving people, he said. They need to be recognized and hon-ored by
the community for what they do.
In the station, his energy and en-thusiasm are absolutely
contagious,
said ECCFPD Chief Hugh Henderson of Laughlin. He is the kind of
person that can motivate by his actions, from the newest fi refi
ghter to a salty old chief of-fi cer. Jaymes raises the bar to be
the best and provide the best service to the dis-trict and the
citizens we service.
Its humbling just to be nominated,
and to win it is even all the better, said Laughlin. But its the
kind of thing you want to hurry up and grab and get out of the
limelight.
In addition to his fi refi ghting duties, Laughlin has
represented the district in Western States Police and Fire Games,
the California Firemens Athletic Asso-
ciation Firefi ghter Olympics, the Crossfi t Games, as well as
on a national level at the Scott Firefi ghter Combat Challenge. He
has also helped raise thousands of dollars for charitable causes,
such as the Ally Jenkins Fund and the St. Baldricks Foundation.
To comment, visit www.thepress.net.
Firefighter of the Year honoredby Rick Lemyre
Staff Writer
Fire ghter Jaymes Laughlin was named Fire ghter of the Year by
Veterans of Foriegn Wars Post 10789 in Brentwood, but he needed to
be a quick-change artist on the night he was honored. Above, Fire
ghter of the Year Laughlin gets a thumbs-up from the Warrior Watch
Riders, who escorted him from Station 93 in Oakley to a dinner in
his honor in Brentwood.
Photos by Spike Schau
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4A | THEPRESS.NET COMMUNITY OCTOBER 22, 2010
HOMETOWN HALLOWEENFirst and Oak Streets
GOOD MORNING BRENTWOODChamber OfficeFirst Responders in East
CountyLeslie Mueller, G.M. American Medical Response
CHAMBER MIXERShepherds Gate605 Sycamore Ave., Brentwood
HOLIDAY PARADE & CRAFT FAIRStreets of Brentwood
TASTE OF BRENTWOODStreets of Brentwood
SaturdayOctober 235:00 to 8:00pm
ThursdayNovember 117:30 to 9:00am
ThursdayNovember 185:30 to 7:30pm
SaturdayNovember 2011:00 to 6:00pm
SaturdayDecember 41:00 to 5:00pm
Supes may get help with cemetery post
The Contra Costa Board of Supervi-sors will consider recruiting
a panel of board members from out-of-county cemetery dis-tricts to
decide the controversial impend-ing appointment to the
Byron-Brentwood-Knightsen Cemetery Board.
The surprise announcement came dur-ing the Oct. 18 meeting of
the Public Pro-tection Committee comprising Board of Supervisors
Chairman John Gioia and Dis-trict V Supervisor Federal Glover who
met to discuss the cemetery board appointment process. The process
has become a hot-but-ton issue due to the possible appointment of
Supervisor Mary Piephos husband David to the small three-member
board.
The intent (of the recommendation) was to avoid the appearance
of favoring one candidate over another, said Gioia. And I think in
this case it was the right decision.
According to Gioia, the board would ask several cemetery
districts outside the county to appoint a representative to
inter-view applicants for the Byron-Brentwood-Knightsen Cemetery
Board and make a rec-ommendation to the Board of Supervisors.
The creation of such a commission, said Gioia, is not unusual.
We already have other commissions that do their outreach in this
way, including our Mental Health Com-mission and our Alcohol and
Drug Advisory
Commission. The only difference here is that were looking at a
cemetery district.
The Board of Supervisors delayed the appointment of David Piepho
last month amid public complaints and charges of nepotism by a
local newspaper. Supervisor Mary Piepho usually appoints directors
to the independent special district, but recused herself from the
process when her husband applied. Gioia took over the review of the
two applicants Piepho and Brentwood resident John Quinn and was set
to rec-ommend Piepho for the post. But Gioia pulled the agenda item
on Sept. 14, saying he wanted to ensure that the proper procedural
protocols had been followed during the ap-pointment process.
Piepho serves on the Discovery Bay Community Services District
(CSD) Board and sits on the countys Local Agency For-mation
Commission (LAFCO), which over-sees land boundaries and annexation
issues. Piephos term on the CSD expires this year and he is not
seeking re-election. Appoint-ment to another special district board
such as the cemetery district would allow him to retain his seat on
LAFCO.
Once the agenda item was pulled, it was discovered that the offi
ce of the clerk of the Board of Supervisors had not given proper
notice of the available seat on the cemetery board, and the
application process was reo-pened.
The second round of applications gar-
nered seven applicants in addition to Pie-pho and Quinn. They
include Gail Martin, Patrick McHenry, D. Bailey Neff, Robin Pastor,
Vickey Rinehart, Johnny Staton and Martin Ed Young. Brentwood Mayor
Bob Taylor applied for the seat but withdrew after discovering his
appointment would constitute a confl ict of interest between the
cemetery board and his city seat, and Quinn has since rescinded his
application.
McHenry, one of the applicants for the seat and a former
Brentwood funeral home director, believes the supervisors made the
right call. I think its a good idea, said McHenry of the decision.
I was hoping they would make a decision on the appointment (at the
Public Protection meeting) but obvi-ously the Piepho situation was
the reason for the decision. It was pretty much just decided
between Gioia and Glover; there wasnt a lot of discussion.
But more discussion will be heard at the Oct. 26 Board of
Supervisor meeting when Gioia and Glover make their recommenda-tion
to proceed with the special cemetery board appointment panel. Gioia
believes that days discussion will also include the is-sue of the
appointment of family members by the Board of Supervisors.
Our goal is to get to this as quickly as possible, said Gioia. I
cant say how long it will take (to put a panel in place and make a
decision) but we sure would like to make a decision by
November.
To comment, visit www.thepress.net.
The County Board of Supervisors is expected to appoint an ad hoc
committee from outside the county to ll a vacancy on the board of
the Union Cemetery District. Above is a scene from Memorial Day
ceremonies at the cemetery last May.
Press file photo
by Ruth RobertsStaff Writer
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OCTOBER 22, 2010 COMMUNITY THEPRESS.NET | 5A
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Antioch: The Orchard at Slatten Ranch (925) 779-1844
Nonprofit offers Sight for Seniors
During a routine eye exam in 1989, Oakley resident Lawrence
Williams was diagnosed with an advanced form of glau-coma. While
grateful that the disease was discovered, Williams also became
acutely aware that without health coverage, the story might have
ended differently.
I would be blind today if it werent for that eye exam, said
Williams. Im grateful that I can still see. But for those who dont
have the money or insurance to have their eyes checked, they could
easily lose their sight.
And so last June, Williams founded Sight for Seniors, a program
organized under his nonprofi t corporation Christian Mandate, Inc.
and dedicated to helping seniors who cant afford an eye exam and
corrective lenses.
Working with local optometrists, Sight for Seniors is offered to
East County seniors 65 and over with an annual income of less than
$28,000 who dont belong to an HMO or receive veterans benefi
ts.
A typical routine eye exam can cost around $170, said Williams,
not includ-ing a new prescription and glasses. But through the
Sight for Seniors program, those who qualify can receive all those
services for free.
There are a lot of seniors out there who just dont have the
money to pay for eye care, and theyre living with poor vi-
sion as a result, said Williams, CEO of the program. Eye exams
are a health is-sue; theyre a good way to check for other
health-related problems such as diabetes and macular degeneration.
I know fi rst-hand the importance of proper eye care.
The Sight for Seniors program is funded by local, private and
corporate donations, and in November, Williams will be
participating in the groups fi rst fundraising event with a booth
at the Healthy Families Expo on Nov. 13 from
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 3101 Balfour Road (corner of Fairview Avenue
and Balfour Road) in Brentwood. Williams plans to provide an
optometrist to give free eye ex-ams and answer questions about the
pro-gram. Visitors are also welcome to donate to the program.
But the primary purpose for partici-pating in the event, said
Williams, is to let people know about the program and what it
offers: Were just looking for folks who cant afford their eye care,
or who have outdated prescriptions and broken frames. Its really a
safety issue, and we want people to know that we are here and that
we can help.
For more information on the Sight for Seniors program, the
Healthy Fami-lies Expo or to make a donation, call Williams at
925-250-1940 or visit www.thechristianmandate.org.
To comment, visit www.thepress.net.
Lawrence Williams, CEO of Sight for Seniors, launched the nonpro
t organization in June to offer free eye care exams, prescriptions
and lenses to seniors who cant afford them.
Photo courtesy of Lawrence Williams
by Ruth RobertsStaff Writer There are a lot of
seniors out there who just dont have the money to pay for eye
care, and theyre living with poor vision as a result.
Lawrence Williams,
Sight for Seniors CEO
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6A | THEPRESS.NET OUTDOORS OCTOBER 22, 2010
The middle of nowhere is an unpromising place for a mugger to
set up shop, but there he was, demanding my camera. To be fair, Id
offended him: Id taken his picture not an unpardonable sin against
most folks, but this guy was
decidedly not most folks. He was Ohltteh, (oh-let-tay),
Coyote-man creator and trickster of Native American Miwok
mythology. My black box had stolen a piece of his spirit, and he
wanted it back. I was obviously stuck in a weird dream, so what
could I lose? Id
trick the Trickster by removing the memory stick, surrendering
the camera and going on my merry way.
THIRD AND FINAL PARTImprovisation might be called for
in a jazz riff or linebacker blitz, but my improvisation had
painted me into a corner. Aware that the gods were notorious
suckers for stories, Id struck a bargain with Ohltteh: I would
weave an entertaining tale, and he would let me keep my camera.
To his credit as a negotiator, he hadnt actually agreed to the
bargain; hed simply given me the green light to start telling
the
story. A really really good story or else. And thus the painted
corner: what story would I tell?
Ohltteh strode over to a hollow log and sat down, grasped a knee
with each hand and bent slightly forward as if to say,
Youre on.My camera was resting against my
chest. I slipped my left arm through the loop of the strap,
shifted the camera to where it hung a few inches below my left
armpit, and crossed my arms, grasping
the camera with my right hand, shielding it from view. Ohlttehs
narrow grey eyes followed the whole operation.
I softened the defi ant display of my folded arms by widening my
stance and clearing my throat as prelude to what would surely be a
pronouncement weighty and wise. Many are the tales of the worlds
beginning; few of its ending. Hearken, Ohltteh, and I will tell you
how the world ends, I declaimed while opening the memory stick
hatch with my right thumb and feeling for the stick with my index
fi nger.
Now for the tale. My problem: Ohltteh had heard it all. I needed
to maneuver him into unfamiliar territory. I needed a story so
stupid, he wouldnt know whether to devour me or deify me.
With a nod of my head, I gestured to a nearby hill. You see the
large oak on that hill? I said, ever so gently pressing the memory
stick against its spring-lock release, feeling it come loose and
pinching it out while Ohlttehs gaze was diverted to the hill. When
evening falls, a star will rise above that oak. We call the star
Bingle-Dworp 677. Around it circles a world called Whygo. On it
dwell the Whygons.
Ohltteh was looking at me now with an expression not overly
favorable. I tiptoed farther out on the precipice: Whygons have
been monitoring humanity
Trickster imposter risks icky outcome
see Trickster page 7A
TAKE ITOUTSIDE
GERERICKSON
Photo by Ger Erickson
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OCTOBER 22, 2010 OUTDOORS THEPRESS.NET | 7A
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Tutors sought for A Place of Learning
A Place of Learning, the Brentwood nonprofi t program that
offers after-school tutoring to students of all ages, is seeking
new tutors. There are currently 35 stu-dents on the programs
waitlist.
The program, which runs solely on volunteers, connects students
in need with community members who want to make a difference by
offering one-on-one tutoring. Tutors do not need to be
pro-fessional teachers or have an educational background to
participate. Tutors are re-quired to work one hour per week but are
welcome to volunteer as many hours as they have time to give.
A Place of Learning, located at 315 Orchard Drive in Brentwood,
is open Monday through Friday from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. For more
information, call Coordi-nator Laura Ceja at 925-240-5146.
pocket. I let go of the stick and it obeyed the law of gravity.
Id done it.
What else Id done came as a shock. I have not granted the
Whygons permission to destroy Earth! Ohltteh howled. I will journey
to Bingle-Dworp 677 with Klok the North Giant and we will slay the
Whygons utterly. Molluk the Condor will feast on their rotting fl
esh.
Incredible. Hed taken my story for fact, not fi ction. And so,
standing on the hangmans drop, I said gratuitously, Better not
tangle with the Whygons; theyre pretty nasty hombres. Let Whygons
be Whygons.
Under normal circumstances Id be miffed to see a perfectly
serviceable quip go zinging right over the head of its intended
victim. In this case, I was counting on Ohlttehs unfamiliarity with
modern English despite his earlier use of humdinger to prevent
something really icky from happening to me.
Your tale was satisfactory; your life is spared, he said to my
surprise. But I still require your black box. No surprise there. I
surrendered the camera and he turned to leave.
I couldnt believe my stupid luck. I was home free. Three primo
jpegs of the Miwok god Ohltteh were etched on my memory stick, safe
in my pant pocket. Life was good. Then the god stopped in mid
stride and made a half turn.
One more thing, he said, and for the fi rst time I saw a gleam
in his grey eyes. As your medicine men are accustomed to saying:
Take off your pants.
from Earth orbit for 3,500 years, waiting for something signifi
cant to report, I said with a scientifi c solemnity. To a Whygon,
3,500 years is practically a lifetime. (Uh-oh. Where do I go from
here? And how do I get this memory stick from my hand to my pocket?
Its too small to palm.)
Now, the Whygons are divided, I said as my palm perspired onto
the stick. Factions A and B want to destroy Earth right now;
Faction C wants to spare us for another century or two.
Ohltteh cocked his head and lifted an eyebrow. I could almost
hear him forming the thought: Dont screw with me.
And how, you must be wondering, would the Whygons destroy Earth?
Well, Ill tell you, I said, padding the narrative for all it was
worth. Faction A wants to blow us up in a spectacular smoky foof
but Faction B claims that would leave a messy debris cloud in solar
orbit in clear contravention of the Space Littering Act of
200913.545. Faction B would rather inject a gravitational virus
into Earths core and watch the planet suck itself right out of the
space-time continuum. (Need I mention I had no idea what I meant by
the space-time continuum?) Faction B calls Faction A juvenile while
Faction A calls Faction B a bunch of neat freaks.
I felt my tether running out fast. Time to drive this train
wreck home. After all, I was dreaming. Whats the worst that could
happen?
Faction C, comprising an overwhelming minority of Whygons, wants
to watch humanity continue to self-destruct before pulling the
plug. Factions A and B call Faction C disgusting voyeurs. Oh, and
then theres Faction D, which
Enough! cried Ohltteh. He leaped from the log, I uncrossed my
arms refl exively and found that the memory stick was poised smack
above my pant
Trickster from page 6A
-
8A | THEPRESS.NET EDUCATION OCTOBER 22, 2010
Trick or treating for the needy
By the time they reach high school, most teenagers have lost
interest in trick-or-treating, but for a group of Heritage High
School students, going to strangers doors dressed in costume has
never been more fun or rewarding.
Last Saturday, dressed in complete trick-or-treat attire, nearly
30 members of the Heritage drama club, Rising Stars, and the S Club
traveled throughout Brentwood, knocking on doors asking for
donations for Trick or Treat So Kids Can Eat, an annual charity
event sponsored by the Internation-al Thespian Society. The event
collects non-perishable food items to be donated to local
charities. This year the students collected 1,168 pounds of food,
which they will do-nate to Shepherds Gate, a shelter for bat-tered
and homeless women and children.
Rising Stars President Gio Gajudo was proud of his fellow
students for collect-ing so much food. Trick or treating when its
not Halloween is surprisingly fun, said Gajudo. Having done
theater, you learn to stick your neck out, especially when you are
doing it for a good cause. Going out with friends helps make it
easier because youre not the only person whose dressed up go-ing
door-to-door asking for non-perishable food items.
The reactions of the people varied greatly People would say
things along
the lines of You know, its not Halloween prior to hearing about
our mission and then kindly listened to what we were doing and why
we were doing it. After hearing of our cause, they would go check
their pantries for any canned foods they could spare. Overall,
everyone was very generous and responsive to our mission.
Of course, some residents were caught off guard and thought the
early trick-or-treat was part of a practical joke stunt or an
attempt to sell something. But Gajudo, who dressed as a jester,
said the students werent discouraged. Last year, they collected 530
pounds of food. This year theyd hoped to collect a ton (2,000
pounds), but doubling last years collection is still a commendable
victory.
Heritage Theater Director Chris Fal-lows was impressed with the
students pas-sion and enthusiasm for the project and looks forward
to keeping it a Heritage tra-dition. All the kids were really
terrifi c, get-ting out there and competing to bring in the most,
Fallows said. The response from the community was wonderful. Nearly
ev-eryone who answered the door was positive and glad to offer
multiple things for the families of Shepherds Gate. We are grateful
to everyone who donated for helping and for reminding us why
Brentwood is such a great place to live. The students are already
talking about ways to make an even bigger impact next year.
To comment, visit www.thepress.net.
Heritage High School students Gio Gajudo, left, and Brooke Bell
partici-pated in last weekends Trick or Treat So Kids Can Eat, a
nationwide charity event in which students collect non-perishable
food items to be donated to local shelters.
Photo courtesy of Gio Gajudo
by Samie HartleyStaff Writer
Liberty Union High School District hosts its inaugural Bell Game
Fun Run on Saturday, Nov. 6, starting at Freedom High School and fi
nishing at Liberty High School. The event is sponsored by the
districts Tobacco Use Preven-tion Education Program and Tar-get
Corporation.
Participants will circle Free-doms track and follow a four-mile
route south on OHara Avenue, fi nishing with a celebration at the
Liberty fi eld. The event is open to the public, and all are
invited to celebrate school spirit and healthy lifestyles with
district administra-tors, bands, choirs and cheerlead-ers.
The $20 registration fee, which includes a T-shirt and snacks,
pro-vides vital support for school track and fi eld programs in the
commu-nity. Registration forms are avail-able at the school sites.
For more information, call Jennifer Wilson at 925-625-5900, ext.
3810.
The Bell Game is the annual football game between interdistrict
rivals Liberty and Freedom. This years game will take place at
Lib-erty on Nov. 12.
Bell Game Fun Run
-
OCTOBER 22, 2010 EDUCATION THEPRESS.NET | 9A
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history and other underwriting factors. This rate re ects the 0.25%
discount for automatic payment and 0.75% for being a valued TCU
member for more than six months or a new member with TCU checking
and monthly direct deposit(s) that total at least $500. For
example, at 4.49% APR for 60 months, payments are $18.65 per month
per $1,000 nanced, based on $0 down on a vehicle that is 10 years
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Three seats are open for the five-member Brentwood Union School
District Board of Educators. Incum-bents Emil Geddes, Tobi Benz and
Lawrence Hilburn are being challenged by first-time candidates
Allan Frank and Heather Partida. The winners of the November
election will join Car-los Sanabria and Lori Strauss on the board,
which manages the 10-school district of seven elementary and three
middle schools.
Geddes has been on the board for 14 years, serving 3 terms. The
busi-nessman and former BUSD educator said hes seeking re-election
because he wants to aid the district through the continuing budget
crisis: The district is facing new challenges, but even in this
tough economic climate, the dis-tricts priority is the children.
The kids come first and we need to make the de-cisions that are
best for them. Our dis-trict has always provided the communi-tys
children with a quality education, and despite the budget cuts, we
need to continue to offer that quality education to our current and
future students.
Geddes said despite changes within the district due to budget
cuts, Aca-demic Performance Index (API) scores for all BUSD schools
improved this year, which suggests that the board is meeting
students needs, although there is always room for improvement. By
re-maining on the board, Geddes hopes to see the district rebound
from recent setbacks and move toward a bright fu-ture, which
includes the opening of an eighth elementary school.
Benz, a board veteran of 17 years, wants to see the district
face its chal-lenges head-on while improving the educational
experience for students in grades K through 8. She is a first-grade
teacher at Laurel Elementary in Oak-ley, but her three children
have passed through BUSD schools and she has a vested interest in
seeing the district continue to succeed.
We need to work to evaluate re-sources to support our classroom
needs, modernize existing schools and allocate the materials
necessary so that teachers can prepare our students for future
academic challenges, Benz said in her official candidate statement.
As a parent, teacher and member of the community, these issues are
important to me.
Newcomer Frank, a Brentwood physician and father of two, said
its time for some new faces and opinions on the board. He believes
that since his children are currently enrolled in BUSD schools, he
offers a unique per-spective that the board needs, and is willing
to make suggestions that will shake things up.
There is no parent voice on the board, Frank said. There is very
little parent involvement at the meetings, but parents need to know
about whats go-
Brentwood board candidates sound offby Samie Hartley
Staff Writering on. There are some controversial matters that
are being handled in closed sessions, and I want to bring these
is-sues to the public. There are some dif-ficult decisions being
made involving the budget, and its time for some new ideas and
people who are able to make the tough decisions.
Frank said although current board members applaud their schools
perfor-mances on the California-based STAR exams, Californias
public education system still ranks as one of the worst in the
nation. More should be expected of administrators, teachers, staff
and
students. Frank suggests that if the dis-trict is to hold its
schools to a higher standard, the board needs some new blood to
make that happen.
Partida, also a parent of two stu-dents in the BUSD, also
desires to give the parents a voice on the board. She first became
interested in the inner workings of the district early last year
when the BUSD considered merging with the failing Knightsen
Elementary School District.
The potential merger was a big issue and I wanted to know whats
go-ing on. Since then Ive been focused on
the districts issues, Partida said. Im a parent of two students
at Brentwood Elementary and I am an active volun-teer at the
school, but now I want to take my passion for supporting local
education to a larger scale. When you have kids in the schools as
they are now with reduced programs and crowded classrooms you see
the state of edu-cation a little differently, and I think that view
needs to be represented on the board. As a member of the board, I
wouldnt be making a decision that
see Candidates page 11A
-
Voters will have a variety of choices for the Antioch Unifi ed
School District Board of Trustees, as eight candidates are vying
for two open seats.
Incumbent Teri Lynn Shaw, a board member since 2006, is running
to retain her seat. The other seat was vacated by Wade Harper, who
is running for Antioch City Council.
Jack Yeager, who teaches technology at the Pittsburg Adult
Education Center, said he and current board member Walter Ruehlig
often talk about education and issues facing students in the area.
Ruehlig encouraged him to run for a seat.
As a former small business owner, Yeager said he wants to help
give kids a better sense of managing money, so they dont run into
common problems as adults. If elected, he intends to aim for
greater transparency from the board and take a closer look at what
programs should be kept or cut. If there are pro-grams that are
being funded that arent working, we should put a moratorium on
those until theres more interest, he said.
Debra Vinson, a mental health pro-fessional, wants to focus on
making sure Antioch students have a safe learning en-vironment. A
mediator with the Youth In-tervention Network, Vinson plans to get
parents and teachers more involved with their students learning
through meetings. She said a greater focus on students emo-tional
issues would help them gain more self-respect, boosting grades: I
think the parents want to be involved, the question is to fi nd out
how come theyre not and whats preventing them.
Vinson also said shell take a close look at the budget to see if
anything is unnecessarily taking money away from education. She
hopes to hire back some teachers who have been laid off and get
class size reduction going again.
Substitute teacher Angel Luevano, who is bilingual, wants to
focus on revers-ing the districts dropout rate and getting parents
more involved. Luevano said hed examine the schools that arent
doing well academically and see what needs to be fi xed: Its got to
be done on a school-by-school basis. If it hasnt worked, why? Think
of some ways to make it work.
Luevano acknowledged that the cost cutting would probably need
to continue for now, eliminating ineffective programs. If elected,
he would strive to keep those cuts as far from the classroom as
possible.
Luevano said his background in law (he completed four years at
Hastings Law School, but is not a member of the bar) will bring a
different view to the board.
Shaw is proud of helping to get uni-forms in place at district
elementary and middle schools, as well as creating the stu-dent-run
TV show Highway 4 Peace. If re-elected, she wants to understand how
todays tech-savvy students are learning, and tailor their education
to better fi t how they absorb information.
According to Shaw, the district should try to change the way it
looks at
the budget and fi nd sources of revenue other than solely money
from the state. I think that what we need to do is form our own
partnerships, Shaw said. Whatever we get from the states, thats
considered pie. Weve got to get our own.
Shaw wants to call town hall meet-ings at schools so parents can
talk with educators and school offi cials and fi gure out how
problems can be overcome.
Though David Pfeiffer has no formal education experience, he
feels his back-ground of leadership and work with gov-ernment
agencies will be an advantage. Pfeiffer is the Contra Costa County
Avia-tion Advisory Committee commissioner
and former chairman of the Antioch Eco-nomic Development
Commission.
He said the district hasnt formulated a legitimate plan for the
future, something he hopes to bring. If elected, he would strive
for transparency throughout the district, more interaction with
teachers, union members and students, as well as a realistic view
of the budget. He said he has experience operating in tough fi
nan-cial times, working with San Francisco International Airport
following the dis-ruptions of 9/11 and the sharp decrease in air
traffi c.
Ive heard a lot about how its all the State of Californias
fault, Pfeiffer said.
Somewhere along the line, youve got to stand up and take charge,
and I dont see that happening.
Vincent Manuel, a Redevelopment Project Manager with the county,
has been an Antioch resident since 1990 and served on the Police
Crime Prevention Commission, the Board of Administra-tive Appeals
and is currently a member of the citys Planning Commission.
According to his ballot statement, Manuel wants to prepare all
students to be responsible citizens and afford them the opportunity
to acquire the skills,
Antioch school board race draws crowdby Justin Lafferty
Staff Writer
10A | THEPRESS.NET EDUCATION OCTOBER 22, 2010
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