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Vol. 8, No. 53 YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER December 31,
2010
FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A
Online Now!
www.thepress.netYour Hometown Website
The first step in helping the homeless is getting a grip on
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Counting on usgo to news/WebExtras!
The AAA is offering drinking drivers free New Years Eve tows and
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Towing the Tipsygo to news/press releases
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Plus: Calendar ............................ 15BClassifieds
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Discovery Bay Daisy Troop 30918 donned Santa smiles and holiday
hats during a recent Christmas caroling session at the Lone Tree
Convalescent Hospital in Antioch. The kindergarten and rst-grade
girls had so much fun performing for the residents, theyre planning
to make it a holiday troop tradition. Now thats the spirit of the
season!
Dazzling Daisies
Photo courtesy of Jacquelyne Ganem
Its the positive aspects of a community that often go
un-noticed. There are those who say thats especially true of
Discov-ery Bay.
Sometimes in this town you hear about only the negative stuff,
and I think its important that the community hear about all the
positive things that are taking place, said Discovery Bay General
Manager Rick Howard. And there are a lot.
Take, for example, this years upgrading of the communitys
landscaping department, the ar-rival of the towns revised web-site,
the approval by the Com-munity Services District (CSD) board to
create a new basketball court in Regatta Park, and the installation
of a new state-of-the-art water well.
Its been a good year, said
Howard. Weve touched in some capacity nearly every as-pect of
Discovery Bay, and it will continue that way into the future. We
have lots of things going on that will benefi t everyone.
From an accomplishment standpoint, some of the things we have
taken on this year have been fairly noticeable, such as the
landscaping projects and the removal of the equipment at Cornell
Park in anticipation of the new play structure. Those things are
easy to see.
But there have also been some changes and challenges not as easy
to spot.
The water meters is a hot-button topic, as is the commu-nity
center, and I think they will (both) get some attention this year,
said Howard. At least one board member has asked to turn up the
heat on the community
Town looks ahead to positive 2011
see 2011 page 18A
by Ruth RobertsStaff Writer
Timeless hours editing preverbal dominoes
Not so fast, A.D. 2010. Before you take your fi nal bow and
stride off stage, your pres-ence is required at the podium. One
more item remains on the awards ceremony agenda something to do
with Dubious Distinction.
Ive seen sparkling copy grace my desk this year, from fabulous
phraseology to hard-hitting headlines. But as a word junkie I crave
the bloopers. Those grammatical gaffes, syn-tactic slapstick and
logical lapses that stumble across my computer screen provide
welcome decompression from the stress of editorial deadlines.
Hey, Ive even caught one or two before they made their way into
print.
So brace yourself for the 2010 Blooper Reel Awards for the
weirdest wordcraft never to have reared its ugly head in the pages
of the Press:
MOST PICTURESQUE TYPO AwardSecond Runner-up: This years event
con-
cludes with the crowing of the new queens.First Runner-up: The
four-golfer scram-
ble format includes Closets to the Hole.And the award goes to:
Since opening its
doors in 2009, the restaurant has been wow-ing thongs of
customers.UNCLEAR ON THE CONCEPT Award
First Runner-up: Thank you for your timeless hours of help.
And the award goes to: Assisting him were scores of residents
recruited as volunteers.GOD BLOWS A GASKET Award
The Delta was further threatened by the damning of the
rivers.
WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THIS MEANS Award
First Runner-up: Citizens and non-citi-zens residing in cities
other than Antioch
And the award goes to: The driver lost control of his vehicle
and collided with the roadway.WE DONT WANT TO KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS
Award
The nursery donated a tree and soil for 10 families, which were
planted on Saturday, March 27.GIVE US A MINUTE TO WORK THIS OUT
Award
by Ger EricksonCopy Editor
see Timeless page 18A
While doing some of my spring cleaning, my doorbell rang. Winner
of MOST SOPHISTICATED HOUSEHOLD TECHNOLOGY EVER Award
Goodbye, 2010Like most of you, we at The Press enjoy easing our
way out of the old year before rushing pell-mell into the new. So
we invite you to join us in taking a brief glance back at what the
year 2010 has wrought.
The stories weve chosen for this retrospective
arent necessarily the most important, just the most interesting
or unusual
stories were proud of.
Were privileged to be a part of your life, and hope to continue
that
relationship for many more years. We also hope 2011 will bring
you the peace, happiness and prosperity that might have eluded you
or your loved ones
during the travails of 2010. Whatever the new year
brings, well go through it together. Thanks for sharing
with it us, and enjoy our nal issues meander down
memory lane.
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DECEMBER 31, 2010 LOOKING BACK THEPRESS.NET | 3A
Delta weeds create tangle of troubleThis article was originally
published
on July 23, 2010.
Its called egeria densa, a delicate-look-ing Brazilian waterweed
commonly found in pet stores and home aquariums. Known for its
fast-growing, robust properties, the attrac-tive green weed with
the exotic name has be-come an increasingly unpopular visitor to
the aquatic backyards of Discovery Bay, leaving some residents
fearing for their property val-ues and recreational lifestyles,
while prompt-ing local offi cials to look to state governance for
some help.
This is a volcano ready to erupt and we need to diffuse it, said
Jeff Conway, district manager of Reclamation District 800, the
organization that operates and maintains the areas levees. This is
the worst year Ive seen in 13 or 14 years, and I dont see it
getting any better next year. We need to get it managed and under
control.
Responding to the outpouring of com-munity concern over the
increasing preva-lence of the egeria densa this year, Discovery Bay
General Manager Rick Howard said the CSD plans to send a letter to
the Department of Boating and Waterways (DBW) on behalf of the
town.
The CSD became involved as a result of resident complaints about
the mass of aquatic weeds that seem to have plagued a great num-ber
of bays and waterways in Discovery Bay
this summer, said Howard. While the (CSD) board does not have
direct authority over the subject, they are in a position to advise
and provide input to other local agencies. Quality of life is an
important issue for this board and their proactive approach to this
issue is consis-tent with that principle.
Although the presence of the ergia densa is not new to Discovery
Bay, this years per-fect storm of temperature, water and sunlight
has caused the prolifi c underwater weed to expand its reach,
clogging area bays and wa-terways. And what was once a fairly
manage-able problem, handled by simply pulling the seaweed out by
the roots, has taken on a life of its own.
Its a huge problem thats only getting worse, said Discovery Bay
resident David
Koch, who works a few months a year remov-ing the ergia densa
for area residents. Once the seaweed gets within the range where it
grows across an area like, say, Cabrillo Bay, then everything in
there dies. We fi nd cats, birds and all kinds of things in there.
Every-one is frustrated; the weed has killed the en-gine in our
barge many times. Its worse this year than ever before.
Some residents stymied by the ongoing problem have begun to take
matters into their own hands, dumping chlorine and rock salt into
the bays in the hopes of stifl ing the ten-drils of weeds.
A lot people are doing it more and more, said Koch. Its a huge
nuisance. Ev-eryone wants to be safe and help the environ-ment, but
at the end of the day, if they have
to keep looking at crap in the bay, they dont always make the
wisest decisions. Its frustrat-ing for everyone.
There is, however, a treatment product call Sonar, which kills
the weeds but is en-vironmentally friendly to the water and its
inhabitants. The catch is that the pesticide is not only expensive
(approximately $1,000 to $1,500 per acre per application); it
requires a permit, making the product unavailable to residents.
Because Rec 800 is a government agency, it has obtained the
appropriate permits to obtain the sonar pellets but not the
dollars. In May, Rec 800 began treating the small, 90-acre lake
(which it owns) with sonar pellets. So far, the treatment appears
successful.
The challenge now, said Conway, is convincing the DBW that the
open water-ways throughout Discovery Bay warrant the agency
stepping in; something it does only on an urgent basis, such as
unblocking navi-gational routes or removing obvious safety
hazards.
Ive been talking with the Department of Boating and Waterways
and it looks like were going to have a meeting soon to discuss
options, said Conway. Im cautiously opti-mistic we can get
something done; they seem very willing to help.
I wish we had the money to go out there and do it ourselves.
This year is over, but next year is going to be just as bad, if not
worse. Its a huge, multi-faceted problem thats not going away.
To comment, visit www.thepress.net.
Egeria densa is a growing concern for residents in Discovery Bay
who are ght-ing the proli c weed for space in the Delta.
Photo courtesy of Rec 800
by Ruth RobertsStaff Writer
1300 Central Blvd. BrentwoodLori Abreu(925) 216-6317Owner/Broker
www.DeltaRanches.com
Cerelle Carstairs(925) 382-4307
Real Estate Agent
Two story 3 bdrm. 1.5 bath, 1200 sf condo with bright open fl
oor plan and updated kitchen. Has hardwood fl ooring and nice patio
for entertain-ing. Well maintained grounds with pool. $265,000
2539 Twin Creeks Drive, San Ramon2 bdrm 2 ba, 1245 sf condo on
second fl oor with balcony. Granite kitchen counters and ss
ap-pliances. Hardwood fl oor in living area with fi replace. Carpet
in bdrms.
408 Caliente Drive, San Leandro
Cute 2 bedroom. 1 1/2 bath, 1,036 sf condo with private
patio.Quiet neigh-borhood and great views. Park-like setting.
$175,500
1562 Ashwood Drive, MartinezCondo 1 bdrm 1 ba, 611 sf. Off ers
pool and security gate. Centrally located complex, close to schools
and shopping.
$79,900
2827 Monument Blvd, Unit #22, Concord
This is a 3 bdrm, 2 bath 1265 sf home and lot size 6500 sf. Cute
home located on a court with cathedral ceilings, fi replace in
family room, new garage door, and walking distance to shopping.
$160,000
3308 Streamwood Court, Antioch2 bdrm 1 bath 918 sf home with
lots of large trees seeks new owner. Nice curb appeal, large lot,
lots of op-portunity. Laminate fl ooring and carpet. $103,400
2514 W Monterey Ave., Stockton
Nice 2 bdrm 2 bath 1280 sf home. Lot size about 7651 sf. Needs a
little TLC. Backyard has golf course view.
$280,000
1671 Bluebell Drive, LivermorePriced 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. $157,000
1012 Maywood Lane, Unit 6, Martinez
COMING
SOON
22 000002 02010
S
IL
VER MEDAL
AWARD
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4A | THEPRESS.NET LOOKING BACK DECEMBER 31, 2010
Dogs4Diabetics is a girls best friend
This article was originally published on May 7, 2010.
These days Ashley Bogdan is known around Adams Middle School as
the girl with the dog.
Everyone wanted to come up and touch Bria and pet her,
especially at first, said Ashley, 13. But now theyre getting used
to her and its not such a big deal.
Bria is a medical alert assistance dog trained by the
Dogs4Diabetics foundation, and seven weeks ago the Labrador
retriever found a new home with Ashley and her family in
Brent-wood.
The transition has been really easy, said Ashleys mom Stacey.
Very smooth. Shes already like one of the family.
Ashley was recently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, and it was
during her initial stay in the hospital that the Bog-dans learned
about the Dogs4Diabetics organization. Trained to alert when a
diabetic goes low a term for a drop in blood sugar dogs like Ashley
are able to recognize through their sense of smell when their human
partners expe-rience a dip in their sugar levels; often before the
owners recognize the signs
themselves.In Ashleys case, where shes re-
quired to check her blood sugar several times a day and
administer insulin as needed, Brias arrival has been not only a
comfort to the young teen, but a re-lief to her parents as well. I
admit I was skeptical at first, said Jeff, Ash-leys dad. But it
really works. Dogs are about 400 percent more attuned to smell than
humans, and shes (Bria) been amazing.
When Bria senses that Ashleys levels are dropping, she picks up
the brightly colored material attached to her collar called a
bringsal which tells Ashley that she needs to check her blood
sugar. Shes (Bria) caught me (going low) a few times, said Ashley.
It really works.
Still in her training period, Bria will alert during the day,
but hasnt yet graduated to nighttime duty. The Bria is Ashley
Bogdans new constant companion. The Labrador was trained by
the Dogs4Diabetics organization, which teaches dogs to recognize
and alert owners when an insulin-dependent diabetics blood sugar
levels drop.
Photo by Ruth Roberts
by Ruth RobertsStaff Writer
see Friend page 16A
I just love her. I can hardly remember what it was like before
she was here. Shes made this all a lot easier.
Ashley Bogdan
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DECEMBER 31, 2010 LOOKING BACK THEPRESS.NET | 5A
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Riding Tri Delta Transit has lots of benefits:
For an additional chance to win the iPod Sweepstakes, visit
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CHECK OUT OUR MOBILE WEB SITE FOR ANOTHER CHANCE TO W I N
This article was originally published on Jan. 29, 2010.
Henny and Penny will need to wait two more weeks to fi nd out if
theyll be allowed to stay in a residential neighborhood in
Brent-wood, or if theyll need to start a search for a new home from
scratch.
The City Council Tuesday, absent Coun-cilman Erick Stonebarger,
deadlocked 2-2 on whether to relax zoning ordinances to allow
chickens but not roosters to be kept on lots of less than 20,000
square feet. Council-men Chris Becnel and Bob Brockman voted in
favor of reducing the lot size required for keeping three chickens
to 6,000 square feet, as long as the coop was at least 5 feet from
the property line and 15 feet from neighboring structures.
Councilman Brandon Richey and Mayor Bob Taylor voted to keep the
current standards, resulting in a tie and automatically moving the
issue to the next meeting for a tie-breaking vote by the full
council.
With their diaper-clad chickens pres-ent, Kimberly Kennedy and
her 12-year-old daughter Alexa watched as numerous speak-ers spoke
in favor of the change, which would make it possible to keep
chickens on more than half of Brentwoods residential proper-ties,
according to an estimate given by Becnel. Only about two percent of
the citys residential properties meet the current requirements.
Proponents of the change cried fowl
at assertions made in letters and e-mails op-posed to the
change. The benefi ts of backyard chickens, they said, included
educational op-portunities for children, a step toward more
healthful slow food nourishment, an eco-nomic benefi t similar to
the Victory Gardens of World War II and a link to Brentwoods
agricultural roots.
Backyard chickens seem like a perfect way to preserve the past
while allowing the community to reap the benefi ts, said Stacey Van
Hook.
Other speakers said chickens were no worse than other
domesticated birds, made little noise and slept at night, and did
not pose the problems of odor, fl ies and fecal pollution presented
by dogs. Claims that chicken-keep-ing would devalue properties
werent true, some said, pointing to the fact that the birds are
allowed in numerous other Bay Area cit-ies such as Pleasanton, San
Ramon and Oak-land, where property values are higher than in
Brentwood. Still others said worries that
chickens would attract predators were over-blown, as dogs, cats
and outdoor pet food dishes are worse in that regard.
No one spoke against the change dur-ing the meeting except
Richey, who cited per-sonal experience living next door to
chickens. He said neighbors concerns were absolutely verifi ed.
Chickens belong on farms and dont belong in our neighborhoods.
The meeting was punctuated with chicken jokes and laughter, and
included a tongue-in-cheek query from Becnel as to whether Taylor,
who donned a turkey suit in a fundraising pro-motion last year,
could be objective making a decision about poultry. He also said
that If the major problem we have is whether or not we allow
chickens, I think were doing pretty well. I dont think they are a
major threat to the health and safety of Brentwood.
Brockman said he didnt believe neigh-boring chickens would be
bothersome. Its the roosters that are the jerks, he said.
Following the meeting, Taylor explained his no vote by saying
that, as a former farmer, he had plenty of experience with
chickens.
I have raised them, and sometimes chickens have issues, he said.
They could pose a problem for code enforcement to keep tabs on how
many birds were on a property, and cause trouble should they get
out and run loose, getting into traffi c (he stopped short of
saying they might try to cross the road) and being chased or eaten
by dogs. I love chick-ens, but they belong in agricultural areas,
he said.
To comment, visit www.thepress.net.
Vote leaves chicken leftoversby Rick Lemyre
Staff Writer
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6A | THEPRESS.NET LOOKING BACK DECEMBER 31, 2010
Delta YMCA files for bankruptcyOakley donators out $1.8
million
This article was originally published on March 23, 2010.
The Mt. Diablo Region YMCA which includes Oakleys Delta Family
location has fi led for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, and Y
offi cials are saying there will be no res-titution for the $1.8
million raised in commu-nity donations for the now defunct
expansion at the OHara Avenue site.
There wont be any refunds, said Rick Callaway, YMCA board of
director chair-man. If accounting has sent out any (re-fund)
checks, they shouldnt have. If we had money, wed still be rocking
and rolling; thats what people dont understand.
YMCA offi cials announced last month that a continued downturn
in the economy and a drying up of donations had caused the
organization to close its Oakley and Clayton sites. On April 16,
the organization announced it would be transferring the op-erations
of its Pleasant Hill facility to the Berkeley-Albany YMCA, which
will also take over some of the Mt. Diablo regions childcare
facilities, but none of the Oakley programs. The last day for
childcare in the
Ys Oakley facility will be June 3.The Berkeley-Albany YMCA is
better
positioned to take this on, said Fran Gallati, president and CEO
of the Berkeley-Albany YMCA. Were optimistic; our goal is to impact
more kids and families and to do it in a more sustainable,
long-term way. Were a pretty disciplined Y (Berkeley-Albany) and
intent on achieving our goals.
In the wake of the site closures and re-cent bankruptcy
announcement, plans for Oakleys 25,000-square-foot expansion at the
OHara Avenue site were subsequently shelved, leaving city offi
cials to question Cal-laways claim that there will be no refunding
of the communitys donations.
Im not quite sure where we go at this point, said Oakley Mayor
Pat Anderson. But I will say that I fi nd this very diffi cult
to understand or accept. We will open com-munications, we will
do whatever we can, but we will not let this go. Im just incredibly
dis-heartened.
Oakley Union School Superintendent Rick Rogers, who pledged
$5,000 to the ex-pansion program, said he is not necessarily
surprised by the developments and doesnt expect to see his
contributions returned.
It was made in good faith at the time and its disappointing, but
I think it is more unfortunate for the community because the idea
was that it was a donation that was go-ing out to the community,
said Rogers. But will I trust the Y again? Of course not.
Callaway said that despite the commu-nity pledges of $1.8
million, only $788,000 was actually collected for the Oakley
expan-sion project, and because the Y had already spent $1.8
million on improvements such as utilities, paving and architectural
drawings, there is no money left over to return.
We spent more than we took in, said Callaway. I have talked with
Pat (Anderson) and everything I ever told her and the (city)
council was what I was told. It is what it is; there is nothing
illegal, immoral or unethical going on.
Perhaps, said Oakley City Manager Bry-an Montgomery: We dont
agree that there is $1.8 million worth of an investment there. All
those improvements were in the ground before any of those donations
were solicited and received and those donations were for the new
facility. The city will need to pursue our
interests through the bankruptcy trustee.Brentwood bankruptcy
attorney Jim
Price echoed Montgomerys sentiments, say-ing that that the City
of Oakley will most certainly be listed by the courts as creditors
owed, but added, They will likely have to just get in line with
everyone else.
Also in question for Oakley is the status of the three modules
at the OHara Avenue site that were used as temporary facilities for
the Y until the planned expansion was com-pleted. Anderson said
that Y offi cials had originally said that the YMCA owned the
portables, and that it was the organizations hope that they could
leave at least one of the buildings on site for the citys use. Now
Cal-laway is saying that the modules are encum-bered by fi nancing
and will mostly likely be-come a part of the bankruptcy
proceedings. In the meantime, the city is left in limbo, un-able to
utilize the property it owns possibly until the courts render a
judgment.
We are trying to fi gure out where we can go and what the
process is, said Ander-son. Its incredibly frustrating; we can see
it (the property) but we cant touch it.
Anderson added that she is fearful these recent develops are
just another chap-ter in what looks to be an ongoing saga: I
believe this is just going to get deeper and deeper as things
develop. The walls are diffi -cult to climb but we will scale every
one. To see that property just sitting there it aches. Its not
right.
To comment, visit www.thepress.net.
by Ruth RobertsStaff Writer
transforming the aging experience...
Eskaton Lodge Brentwood450 John Muir ParkwayBrentwood, CA
94513-5186925-516-8006 www.eskaton.org License #075601300
22 000002 02010
S
IL
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DECEMBER 31, 2010 LOOKING BACK THEPRESS.NET | 7A
Advertisement
2010 RECAPHome prices in East County are about the
same as they were at the start of the year. They bumped up a bit
around the time of all the tax credits, then softened right when
they expired, but since then theyve drifted back up to about where
they were in January. So home sellers hoping for big price
increases and home buyers hoping for another steep decline were
equally frustrated.
Inventory is climbing, while the number of homes closing escrow
is going down, but pendings are rising. So this is a bit of a mixed
message. I think its due to fewer bank-owned homes on the market,
and more short sales. Short sales tend to fall out of escrow more
frequently than bank-owned homes, so thats why the pendings are up
while the closings are down. It also has a lot to do with the tax
credits pulling home buying activity forward into the early part of
the year.
Nationally the big real estate stories are still shadow
inventory and the legal problems associated with foreclosures
(robo-signing, cant find the note, etc.). In a nutshell, we all
know there are a LOT of homes that really should be on the
market as bank-owned homes, but the banks either wont, or cant
foreclosure for one reason or another. The average time to
foreclose is still climbing, while people stay in their homes for
free. This cant continue forever, but so far, almost every
government magic bullet program has been a dud. Short sales
continue to get better and easier (relative to two years ago, when
they were a nightmare). Im guessing that next year the bank-owned
homes will continue to be released at a measured pace. I still
encourage anyone who is in trouble on their home to apply for a
loan mod (even if youve tried before) and if that isnt successful,
try a short sale. Most of the time a short sale is better than a
foreclosure, and right now the lenders seem to want to avoid
foreclosures, so the window of opportunity is still open.
If you have questions on this or any other real estate topic,
call me at (925) 240-MOVE (6683). To search the MLS for free and
view virtual tours of homes for sale, go to:
www.SharpHomesOnline.com. Sharp Realty
The City of Brentwoods Housing Division is accepting a limited
number of waitlist applications from income qualifi ed families who
are interested in purchasing an aff ordable single-family home
under the Citys First Time Homebuyer/Aff ordable Housing Program.
Applicants must be fi rst time homebuyers, qualify as low income
and have a good credit score (NO EXCEPTIONS). Waitlist may close at
any time. Applications are available at the Com-munity Development
Department, 118 Oak Street, Brentwood during normal business hours
or on line at www.ci.brentwood.ca.us. For more information please
contact Sylvia Elias, Housing Division (925) 516-5305.
City of BrentwoodAff ordable Housing Information July 1, 2010 to
June 30, 2011Maximum Aff ordable Sales Price (Rounded to nearest
$1,000)
------------------------------ Dwelling Unit Size
--------------------------- 3 BDRM 4 BDRM 5 BDRMLow Income Dwelling
Unit $160,000 $173,000 $186,000
10th Annual Brentwood P.A.L.BBQ King Cookoff
& New Chili Cook-OffSuperbowl Sunday, February 6, 2011
at
Harvest Park Bowling Center$100 First Place Prize
Dessert Contest at Half Time$50 First Place Prize
Entry deadline is January 7 (or the fi rst 18 entries)All
Proceeds go to:
Brentwood Police Activities League (PAL) & East Contra Costa
Historical Society
NamePhone
(You will be contacted regarding the rules for cookoff )BBQ
Contest Entrance fee $100 (inc. meat)
Chili Cook-Off Entrance Fee $30 FREE For Dessert Contest
Mail or drop off at the Brentwood Press248 Oak St., Brentwood,
CA 94513
For more information, call Greg - 487-6383 or Jeff -
890-8296MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO BRENTWOOD P.A.L.Sponsored by
Preserving The Past ~ Preparing For T
he F
utur
e
E a
st Co
ntra Costa
Historical S ociety
More than a half-dozen public agencies descended on Knightsen
earlier in the month to help corral a wayward sea lion that
ap-parently wandered into town more than a mile from the near-est
Delta waterway. It was later discovered that the sea lion had
suffered irreparable brain damage from eating sh contaminated by
toxic algae blooms in the waters, and was euthanized.
Wayward sea lion
Photo by John Gonzales
-
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DECEMBER 31, 2010 THEPRESS.NET | 9A
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This article was originally published on Jan. 29, 2010.
About 350 people came together on Sunday for a rare glimpse into
the sometimes opulent, sometimes shadowy past of the Byron Hot
Springs, also known as the top-secret World War II prisoner
interrogation center called Camp Tracy.
The occasion was a visit to the former resort by Army Maj. Alex
Corbin, author of the book The History of Camp Tracy: Japanese WWII
POWs and the Future of Interrogation. The guest of the East Contra
Costa Historical Society (ECCHS) and the Tracy Historical Society,
Corbin reveals how the former resort, whose natural sulfur springs
and mud baths attracted celebrities such as Clark Gable, Charlie
Chaplin and Mae West in the 1930s, was put to another use in the
1940s: gently wresting military secrets from Japanese soldiers and
sailors in an operation so secret that its existence was virtually
unknown until just a couple years ago.
Corbin, a military intelligence offi cer whose duties have
included helping to clean up Iraqs Abu Ghraib prison following the
2004 prisoner abuse scandal, discovered the existence of the Camp
Tracy operation while doing research for his masters thesis.
Painstaking research through declassifi ed
materials and a nationwide hunt for former soldiers stationed
there uncovered the fact that, unlike the harsh coercive tactics
used in Iraq, the work at Camp Tracy utilized kindness,
friendliness and cultural understanding to glean important
information about Japanese morale, ship armaments and military
installations.
Threats and physical coercion were not necessary, Corbin told
the crowd gathered in the rubble-strewn lobby and peering down from
the second-fl oor balcony. Courtesy and kindness overcame the most
reticent prisoner.
Also on hand was 94-year-old former Lt. Al Nipkow of Walnut
Creek, an interrogator at Camp Tracy. This is very traumatic for
me, he said. Its been 70 years since I served here, and to come
back to this shell is unbelievable.
Nipkow said he was never given specifi c orders to keep the
camps operation a secret; knowing it was top secret was enough to
make those who worked there clam up. Some of the eight living Camp
Tracy veterans, in fact, were still reluctant at
fi rst to talk about their experience, Corbin said.
When they did start talking, they spoke of their admiration for
the Nisei, American-born descendents of Japanese immigrants who
worked hand-in-hand with their Caucasian counterparts to
question
the POWs. Corbin said many of the Nisei
worked while their families
languished in i n t e r n m e n t camps, yet still did their
duty to their country.
T h e c a m p s i n n o v a t i v e t a c t i c s included the
preparat ion of home-cooked meals by Japanese chefs, allowing POWs
to use the resorts spas
and mud baths, and placing electronic eavesdropping devices
throughout the building while housing prisoners two to a room
(sometimes with a Nisei pretending to be a
by Rick LemyreStaff Writer
see Secret page 18A
A part of the crowd of 350 spills out of the former main
building
of Camp Tracy, the once-and-future Byron Hot Springs
resort.
Photo by Richard Wisdom
Secret world of Camp Tracy revealed
-
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DECEMBER 31, 2010 THEPRESS.NET | 11A
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12A | THEPRESS.NET LOOKING BACK DECEMBER 31, 2010
OOAKLEYOAKLEYPRESS
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Garin celebrates fabulous 40th birthdayThis article was
originally published
on May 7, 2010.
Brentwood is the place for me; Brent-wood has some history, sang
the members of the Garin Choir during the elementary schools spring
carnival, but whether they knew it or not, the students were making
some history of their own.
The student performance was just one of the many highlights
during Garins 40th Birthday Bash held last Friday. In honor of the
Brentwood Elementary School Districts third school, local
dignitaries and school of-fi cials past and present shared their
favorite Garin memories with an audience of more than 200, while
students of all ages mingled with their teachers and mentors,
talking about the good old days.
Forty years old, mused former Garin Principal Betty Dailey. Isnt
it fabulous 40? Isnt that the saying? Well, Garin School, youre
still in your prime. Happy birthday, Garin!
Well-wishers enjoyed carnival games and a barbecue dinner
provided by the Brentwood Rotary Club. Guests were also treated to
a plethora of photo collages of Garin memo-ries as well as photo
albums that included class photos from the past two decades.
When Garin opened its doors in 1970, it consisted of only four
classes, and Bill Bristow served as principal. Bristow passed away
last
year, but his daughter Judith Arata told the audience that he
would love to have seen the celebration.
This school was the fi rst school my father built in his
administration, and he was ever so proud of the innovative design
and thought that went into the actual building, Arata said. At the
time, it was quite something for Brent-wood, and I was fortunate
enough to be in the fi rst class that attended Garin. I celebrate
40 years with you. My brother attended Garin, and his daughter now
attends Garin, and we are so thankful that the tradition continues
with Stacy Joslin and her fi ne staff.
Joslin, who has been the principal at Ga-rin for three years,
said she was honored to be part of the Garin legacy and looks
forward to the future. But before they embraced the fu-ture,
birthday bashers took a moment to travel into the past, as the
Garin time capsule, cre-ated by Wanda Grosecloses 1984 fi fth-grade
class, was opened after being sealed for nearly 26 years.
Groseclose was joined on stage by a dozen of her 1984 students who
helped bury the time capsule on the outskirts of town on Payne
Avenue, where Groseclose used to live, which is coincidentally now
owned by the Bris-tow family.
All those years ago, who would think that the future held this
for us? Groseclose told the audience. This is one of the greatest
days of my life to see all of these former stu-dents of mine.
Theyre all my children as far as Im concerned. That was the kind of
teacher I was. I was the mother type more than any-thing else. So I
really do love all these people
who are up here with me today and I am so grateful for this
opportunity to see them all. Some of them came up from L.A. Some of
them came down from Oregon, and all places in between.
Grosecloses husband Clark and Brent-wood Mayor Bob Taylor, whose
son Paul was in Grosecloses 1984 class, peeled off the masking tape
that was meticulously wrapped around a metal garbage can to reveal
a trea-sure trove of memories that delighted and surprised
Grosecloses former students. A Mi-chael Jackson poster, a Tom Jones
eight-track, and a Care Bear were among the artifacts stowed away
in the capsule. Students also re-discovered a Cabbage Patch Doll, a
BeeGees backpack, a Burger King crown, an Avon
catalog and two Rubiks Cubes. Newspapers, magazines, tennis
shoes, hair barrettes and a class photo album were also found
inside.
More than 40 items had been carefully packed in the capsule, but
Groseclose con-fi ded that she was glad one item was not in-cluded:
My husband is so relieved because we lost a little dog about this
time (when we buried the capsule), and he is so glad it wasnt in
there!
Joslin announced that Garin students will be assembling a 2010
time capsule, but the date and location of its burial have yet to
be decided.
To view video highlights of the 40th Birthday Bash and a photo
slideshow, visit www.thepress.net.
Carlos Ortega covers his face in surprise as he and members of
his former fth-grade class look through a photo album they found in
the time capsule.
Photos by Samie Hartley
by Samie HartleyStaff Writer
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DECEMBER 31, 2010 LOOKING BACK THEPRESS.NET | 13A
Since we started publishing photos of people Seen with The Press
in various locales 10 years ago, weve received hun-dreds of
submissions from all over the world featuring our paper and the
great folks whove carried it with them on their travels. Weve been
Seen with readers on every continent in-cluding twice in Antarctica
but this year we got our very rst submission not featuring a human
when Oakleys Mark Hollister discovered a wolf spider apparently
horning in on the action. For those of you whose photos havent run
yet, hang in there. Well get to them all eventually.
Seen in the Animal Kingdom
-
14A | THEPRESS.NET LOOKING BACK DECEMBER 31, 2010
Maiocco finally takes down his shingle
This article was originally published on Feb. 19, 2010.
Dr. Hugh Maiocco sits in a comfort-able leather chair chatting
with a visitor in his Brentwood living room, his broad,
ever-present smile accessorized by his sparkling eyes. Outside the
picture window to his right, green grass and fl owerbeds are
bor-dered by a phalanx of tall trees ringing the property and
serving as a visual barrier be-tween his homes rural setting and
rapidly encroaching suburbia.
But the shift from neighboring farm fi elds to next-door
dwellings isnt the only change taking place in the Maiocco
house-hold. After more than a half-century of practicing medicine
in East County, helping health care make the transition from house
calls to hospitals, Maiocco has fi nally hung up his
stethoscope.
I didnt want to retire, but the com-puter shot my legs out from
under me, said the 83-year-old Maiocco. His unique meth-od of
keeping hand-written records had served him well, but he admits it
was simply no longer appropriate for the times.
But while bits and bytes might have been his downfall, they
stand as perhaps the only thing he failed to master. Described as a
Renaissance man by one of his dear-est friends, the late Bill
Bristow, Maiocco the athlete won Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in
track at the 1952 Pan American Olympics. As an artist, his
paintings earned him an exhibit at the San Francisco Art Fes-tival.
As a psychologist, he was schooled at New Yorks Bellevue School of
Medicine, and as a philosopher he spent a week at a Buddhist
monastery in Shasta. During World War II, he took a month off of
work to teach himself electronics and passed the Navys Radar
program entrance exam with fl ying colors. He even owns a patent
for a simplifi ed system of music that eliminates the half-step
progression represented by the black keys on a piano.
Maiocco says his lifelong yearning to learn stems from wandering
away from his New York home and getting thoroughly lost at the age
of 6. Rather than panic, he carefully reviewed his surroundings and
how he had gotten there, and eventually made his way back.
It turned out that fi nding my way home that day was a seminal
life-chang-ing experience because it taught me a fundamental lesson
about the nature of knowledge acquisition, Maiocco wrote in a
recent magazine article. Studying many disciplines would also prove
handy when he began practicing medicine in Brentwood in 1957.
Ensconced in a small offi ce with doctors Abe Kaplan and Charles
Duffy, Maiocco and his colleagues were forced by circumstances to
treat virtually every kind of malady, as there was no other medical
care for miles around. They needed to be versed in neurology,
pediatrics, trauma and internal medicine. They delivered ba-bies,
set fractures, had to understand that a neck injury might actually
be a stress-related condition, and even once treated
a case of leprosy. Calls could come at any time Maiocco and his
little black bag once made 27 house calls on Thanksgiv-ing or even
arrive on his doorstep.
One time the doorbell rang and there was a man whose throat had
been cut in a fi ght, he recalled. We had to in-tegrate our
families into what we did.
Maiocco speaks proudly of his fam-ily, especially Carol his
wife, whom he met in New York and for whom he took the long way
home from school just for her company and a cup of hot chocolate. I
could not have done any of this without Carol, he said. She is the
family glue.
Hes also proud of his daughter Ruth, a championship swimmer in
school and fearless sandlot football player who now lives in
Escalon; and his son Robert, a na-tional champion sprinter in
college and a Stanford grad, now living in Florida.
He also maintains strong relation-ships with his friends,
including Kaplan, with whom he has enjoyed breakfast ev-ery Tuesday
for more than 40 years and plays tennis every week.
Professionally, however, Maiocco is
proudest of having helped so many people for so long, and helped
to usher in an era of modern health care in East County.
We were pioneers; we were isolated, he said. There were no
specialists around here then. The isolation, however, also helped
them become better doctors.
We saw everything, he said. We had tremendous freedom because
there was no one else.
Maioccos contributions to area medicine go beyond his role as a
coun-try doctor. He was a founding father of Delta Memorial
Hospital, ran immuniza-tion clinics, served on the County Men-tal
Health Board and as chief of staff at Pittsburg Hospital. He worked
as the fi rst family practitioner in Brentwood for John Muir,
helping bring the John Muir Medi-cal Center to the city. A few
years ago he joined Muirs staff, and it was from Muir that he
retired last month.
When I was with Muir, I was in heaven, he said. They let me keep
work-ing on paper, gave me a wonderful nurse. I was able to
continue concentrating on being a doctor.
Kaplan said the community will miss Maiocco a great deal: I
think its a pity hes retiring. The kind of doctoring he did is
important. You talk to people, not a computer. People would wait
two hours to see him and they didnt mind, as long as they got to
see him. Its a real loss and it didnt have to be.
For his part, Maiocco said his only re-gret is that he hasnt
written a book about it all. Hed like to document his adventure
through life, and hed like to spread the word about the cure for
the one thing that causes him the most pain.
People have not found the fi re of love to weld together the
opposites of humankind, and therefore they continue to kill each
other physically, emotionally, spiritually, even culturally, he
said. The answer is always love. Find the friendly answer, and do
what love tells you to do.
To comment, visit www.thepress.net.
by Rick LemyreStaff Writer Hugh
Maiocco stands by one of the paintings once shown in a San
Francisco Art Festival show. The pioneer East County physician
retired last month after more than a half-century of practice.
Photo by Rick Lemyre
Brentwood captures Playful prize once again
This article was originally published on Aug. 27, 2010.
Brentwood has once again captured national attention by being
named a Playful City by the non-profi t group Ka-BOOM! The program
honors cities that prioritize play and ensure that children are
healthy by providing the time and space for play.
Of the 118 cities nationwide to earn the designation, San
Francisco and Red-wood City are the only others in Northern
California.
This is our joy, said Park and Rec-reation Department Director
Craig Bron-zan. Just thinking of all the facilities weve
built, and then seeing the community use them, and then having
an outside agency recognize what we do, it doesnt get any better
than that.
Mayor Bob Taylor said hes proud
that Brentwood is setting a good example for others.
Through the Playful City USA pro-gram, other communities across
the coun-try will now look to Brentwood as a role model, he said.
These cities and towns will examine our best practices and look to
replicate them in their communities. I take a tremendous amount of
pride in knowing that what were doing here in Brentwood will
improve the lives of not only our chil-dren, but children elsewhere
as well.
Each of the 2010 Playful City USA communities demonstrated
creative com-mitments to the cause of play, KaBOOM! CEO and
co-founder Darell Hammond said in a press release announce the
award. A primary goal of Playful City USA is to encourage cities
and towns to share creative ideas, concepts and programs in an
effort
to increase play opportunities for children. Brentwood offers
the community a unique opportunity with its Wellness Policy, a
community-wide aspirational goal which promotes physical activity
and education as the benefi ts of living a healthy lifestyle.
An extreme misconception exists in our country that play among
children is a luxury when, in fact, its an absolute neces-sity. For
decades this notion dominated our actions, and we continue to see
the dam-aging results: a monumental lack of play spaces for
children and skyrocketing child-hood obesity rates. Brentwood
refused to adhere to the status quo and realized all children
deserve a municipal commitment to the cause of play. Playful City
USA communities serve as beacons for the rest of our nation that an
investment in chil-dren is an investment in our future.
by Rick LemyreStaff Writer
-
DECEMBER 31, 2010 LOOKING BACK THEPRESS.NET | 15A
22 000002010
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22 000002010
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Senses set adrift in ocean of greyThis article was originally
published on Jan. 22, 2010.
Dont get me wrong. Anything this hazardous to a motorists health
shouldnt be treated in solely rhapsodic terms. But a confession is
in order: Ive got the foggiest notion.
East County folk are treated to microclimates of fog as varied
as Northern Californias microclimates of grape growing. When the
tsunami of marine layer batters Mt. Diablo and fl oods its
foothills, when tule reeds adorning the Delta shoreline are veiled
in vapor, when wizened sycamores drift wraithlike in and out of
tendrils of mist along Marsh Creek, some of us leave our ignition
keys on the kitchen counter, bundle up and take a stroll in the
neighborhood. Others
turn the key and head for the hills.Last Saturday I awoke to fi
nd my Brentwood
neighborhood sleeping snugly beneath a blanket of grey. Curious
about the blankets breadth and depth, I threw together my hiking
gear, brewed a thermos of weapons-grade coffee and struck out for
Round Valley Regional Preserve. My goal: the parks summit, 1,220
feet above sea level, where an archipelago of boulders protrudes
from a sea of grasses, and the skeletal limbs of a bent blue oak I
call Old One frames the high ridges of Morgan Territory and twin
peaks of Mt. Diablo.
From the look of the parks parking lot, I wasnt the only maven
of murk in town. A handful of hikers, cyclists and horseriders were
lacing, gearing and saddling up for East Countys Annual Unoffi cial
FogFest.
Long before I reached the summit it was clear that the brand of
grey gripping the region was no tule fog rising from the reeds; it
was an inversion fog a big ol cloud stooping to our level,
pancaking an enormous swath of real estate. When I got to the top,
that evocative panorama Id been banking on was choked in fog harder
to see through than lead lingerie on Lois Lane.
Inversion fog can hang around with the persistence of an
annoying party guest especially when above it hang sheets of
altostratus preventing the Sun from burning it off. That was the
state of the sky the morning of Saturday, Jan. 16.
Normally, the higher you rise into the atmosphere, the more the
temperature falls. But in an inversion, the higher you rise, the
more the temperature rises with you. Warm air overrides cool. And
absent that normally warm air rising from the surface and stirring
the lower atmosphere, the inversions cool surface air leaves the
lower atmosphere unmixed, stable, fogbound for a long time.
Sprinkle the surface with moisture from earlier rain and fog, and
voil! Youve got yourself all-day grey.
I had perched on Round Valleys peak many times and knew what to
expect: a view 15 miles north to the Solano hills; Mt. Diablo eight
miles west; the Ohlone Wilderness beyond Livermore, 25 miles south;
and the Sierra Nevada Range 100 miles across Central Valley. But
when I arrived at the summit on that misty morning, my fi rst
impression was disorientation, as if Id been teleported into
downtown San Francisco on a busy workday but could hear only
silence. The vista that morning was the visual equivalent of a
soundproof booth. I commandeered the boulders and from my grand
altitude saw nothing beyond 60 yards.
As the hours passed and the haze began to dissipate, the spidery
veins of oak branches spilling down the summits north slope came
into focus. Above, the Suns faint disc slipped in and out of view
like the searchlight of a ship inching its way into a fogbound
harbor. The wind freshened and the high ridges of Morgan Territory
three miles southwest materialized above the roof of rippling grey.
Northwest, Diablos deep blue peaks began breaking through the
gloom. Ah, fi nally.
And then, just as abruptly, the vision vanished. Fog fl owed
over the summit like a tide, drowning the horizon. I had caught
sight of an achingly sharp-edged shore beyond a formless ocean, and
just as swiftly it had been snatched from me. Was it real or had I
dreamed it?
I stayed a while in the silence and stillness, hoping the pale
wafer of Sun would reappear, hoping the northwest breeze would
scatter the fog from the summit, hoping to reaffi rm the existence
of that dark and distant shore. But another notion, perhaps a
wordless voice from Old One, told me the vision Id been given was
suffi cient for a day for a lifetime. It was more than enough to
have seen less
than enough. I tipped my hat and turned my back to the tree,
disappeared into the fog and began my descent toward the cool and
lucid air of earth.
To comment, visit www.thepress.net.
Viewed from the summit of Round Valley Regional Preserve,
inversion fog descends to reveal the ridges of Morgan Territory
Regional Preserve.
Photos by Ger Erickson
TAKE ITOUTSIDE
GERERICKSON
Fog condenses to form droplets on twig tips of the blue oak
known as Old One.
-
16A | THEPRESS.NET LOOKING BACK DECEMBER 31, 2010
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ability to wake up at night and alert is the final lesson for
Bria and will come within the next few weeks. For now, the Bogdans
continue to wake Ashley up themselves at night to check her
levels.
Nighttime monitoring is especially important, because a
hypoglycemic episode can lead to unconsciousness or even a coma if
not treated quickly. Nighttime alerts are the last thing to come,
said Carol Edwards, program director for Dogs4Diabetics. How to
teach a dog to wake up to a smell is like us waking up when we
smell something like a pot of coffee brewing.
What happens is that when some-one goes low, the brain jumps
into ac-tion and dumps a bunch of chemicals into the blood stream,
which emits odors. The first of those comes through the breath and
then it begins to seep through the pores and thats what alerts the
dog Its amazing. Every time I see it, its still miraculous to
me.
And to the Bogdans.I told Ashley that when she was
diagnosed (with diabetes) something good would come out of all
this, said Stacey. And in many ways the experi-ence has been
priceless. The camarade-rie with other families that we have met
through the program has been wonder-ful. I tell Ashley that now she
is an am-bassador for the organization, and she really is.
Founded in 2004, Dogs4Diabetics is a nonprofit organization that
pro-
vides trained dogs to families free of charge. The dogs are
received from Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael and retrained
for diabetic alert work as well as other organizations, including
Tony LaRussas Animal Rescue Foun-dation. The cost of training each
dog is approximately $25,000 and is paid for through private and
corporate dona-tions.
Dogs are matched with their own-ers through a series of training
sessions and general compatibility. Its about matching personality
and dog with lifestyle, said Edwards. Every person is different,
just as every dog is differ-ent. Generally speaking, Labs seem to
have the best temperament for this kind of work, although I suppose
any dog could do it. But as a rule, Labs have a good work ethic.
They like to be with humans and they like the job.
For the Bogdans, life has changed a great deal over the past few
months, and most of it has been for the good thanks to Bria. They
say that a dog is mans best friend, said Stacey. Well, in our house
we say that a dog is a girls best friend, and she (Bria) really
is.
I just love her, said Ashley. I can hardly remember what it was
like before she was here. Shes made this all a lot easier.
For more information on Dogs-4Diabetics or for volunteer or
donation information, call 925-246-5812 or visit
www.dogs4diabetics.com.
To comment, visit www.thepress.net.
Friend from page 4A
Brentwood re ghters with the help of countless passing
mo-torists once again led the charge to support Jerrys Kids in the
Fill the Boot campaign bene ting the Muscular Dystrophy
As-sociation. Requesting donations on local street corners last
week, the re ghters collected a whopping $21,787, outpacing the
second-high-est effort from Walnut Creek, which collected $12,617.
Altogether, the men and women of International Association of Fire
Fighters Local 1230 raised $61,800, beating last years total by
more than $14,000. Above, re ghter Tom LoCoco and a pair of
colleagues pass the boot at Empire Avenue and Lone Tree Way.
Congratulations to everyone involved in collecting and
donating.
Beneficent boots
Photo by Richard Wisdom
-
DECEMBER 31, 2010 THEPRESS.NET | 17A
Trevors Weekly Mortgage MattersBy Trevor Frey
Winter Tire Pressure
Advertisement
According to Motor Trend magazine you lose about 1 pound per
square inch, or 1psi, in tire pressure for every 10 degree drop in
outside air temperature: the colder the weather the fl atter the
tire. In our case it isnt the molecules found within our tires that
will be constricting, its the guidelines set forth by Fannie Mae
for any would-be home buyers. From December 13th forward new
guidelines will be in place that can positively, or negatively, aff
ect ones ability to purchase a home. First, the good news
Gift funds will now be allowed for all conventional purchases.
Previously gift funds were only allowed through an FHA loan, which
is why the FHA product has been so prevalent in east Contra Costa
County. Many fi rst time buyers could not save for their
down-payment, but could make their projected mortgage payment. Now,
those same buyers can look to conven-tional fi nancing as a very
viable option as the funds for their down payment can 100% be a
gift for conventional fi nancing as well. Great you say! Dont get
too excited, onto the bad news
Th e debt-to-income ratio, or DTI a percentage found by dividing
a would-be buyers monthly debts by their monthly gross income
threshold is being reduced from 55% to 45%. Th is 10% decrease is
coupled with the fact that the debts being counted against a
would-be buyers debt-to-income ratio is increasing. Before the
change any debt that had less than 10 pay-ments remaining a car
loan with a $2,000 balance and $500 payment would not be included
in that buyers debt-to-income ratio. No longer is this the case and
any car loan, deferred student loan, or credit has to be counted
against a buyer regardless of payments remaining. And the hits just
keep on coming
Th e waiting period for buyers who lost their home through
foreclosure and are looking to once again become homeown-ers has
increased: what was a four year waiting period has turned into a
seven year waiting period. Th is change will have many distressed
homeowners once again leaning towards a short-sale versus a letting
their house go into foreclosure. Th e Fannie Mae waiting period for
purchasing aft er a short-sale is being changed to two years versus
the seven year waiting period aft er a foreclosure.
Before attempting to steer through the real estate world this
winter make sure to check in with your trusted Realtor and lend-er.
As a change in tire pressure this winter will aff ect your ability
to safely navigate the road, a change in lending guidelines will
dramatically aff ect your ability to purchase a home.
If you have any real estate lending related questions or
concerns, dont hesitate to write me at [email protected] or
call me directly on my cell phone, (925) 726-1444.
22 000002010
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D MEDALAWARD
22 888882008
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18A | THEPRESS.NET COMMUNITY DECEMBER 31, 2010
The Press Newspapers are adjudicated in the the cities of
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of Contra Costa County.
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prisoner) to encourage conversation, which was then
recorded.
Corbin said he is sometimes asked if the Camp Tracy tactics
would have worked in Iraq.
My thoughts are that if you start off at (a severity of) one,
you can always ramp up, he said, noting that his thoughts were his
own, not necessarily those of the Army. But if you start at 10, you
cant expect to start getting nicer and expect to get information. I
think (the Camp Tracy methodology) would really help a lot in our
current endeavors.
The events hostess was historian Carol Jensen, an expert on
Byron Hot Springs, who conducted tours of the building and
grounds. The ECCHS garnered nearly 50 family memberships,
something Jensen said showed the keen interest that abounds in far
East County history. The Hot Springs, which are fenced off most of
the time, will most defi nitely be the scene of another such event
in the future.
As for that future, the current owner of the Hot Springs, Dave
Fowler, was on hand at a meet-and-greet event at Byrons Wild Idol
following the event. Hes developed plans to rebuild the original
hotel and return the site to its previous splendor. The project,
however, is currently stalled at the county level, seeking
permits.
To comment or view the slide show and video of the Camp Tracy
event, visit www.thepress.net.
Secret from page 10A
Above left, a photo taken secretly during World War II from a
guard tower at Camp Tracy shows two soldiers enjoying some outdoor
recreation. Above, Maj. Alex Corbin, right, shares a laugh with
94-year-old Al Nipkow during a presen-tation on the former POW
interrogation center Camp Tracy, where Nipkow worked and about
which Corbin has written a book.
Photo by Richard Wisdom
Photo courtesy of Carol Jensen
center project and push the subject mat-ter forward. I think
there will defi nitely be some movement on this soon.
The board will also be meeting in an informal setting on Jan.
22, which will provide an opportunity for them to estab-lish their
goals for the new year, which will help drive budgetary policy as
well. They will also discuss what they want to do in terms of
parks, upgrades at the treatment plants and the water meter
issue.
From all perspectives, 2010 was a year of transition for
Discovery Bay, including the arrival of a new general manager and
landscape manager, changes on the Com-munity Services District
(CSD) board and the development of a new 10-year master
water and wastewater plan. The plans, when complete, will give
the CSD board and staff a top-to-bottom overview of the towns
systems, including an opportu-nity to see how the towns
infrastructure is handling its current demands and what stress any
future development might put on the community in terms of necessary
upgrades.
The new wastewater master plan, said Howard, will also offer a
more com-prehensive look at whats happening with the 12-year-old
system, and where it will go in the future.
We should have both master plans completed by late winter or
early spring, and that will provide us with an extensive assessment
of the facilitys infrastructures,
what our level of comfort is currently, and where are going from
here, said Howard. Its a huge accomplishment.
And one of the towns biggest accom-plishments in 2010, according
to CSD President Kevin Graves, came in the form of a new addition
to the town staff.
I think one of the best decisions we made this year was the
choice of our new general manager, said Graves. He has good ideas,
works well with the staff and is helping to bring our growing and
changing town to a whole new level. I think weve accomplished some
important things this year and Im looking forward to the future
with optimism and hope. Its going to be a good year.
To comment, visit www.thepress.net.
2011 from page 1A
Second Runner-up: If you thought this last budget cycle was bad,
this next one has no promises of being any better, if not
worse.
First Runner-up: Dont miss out on your discount by registering
early.
And the award goes to: The treatment could be signifi -cant in
the battle against weight loss.YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN Award
Second Runner-up: Unique, one-of-a-kind pieces First Runner-up:
We have maintained a safe environ-
ment and plan to do so going forward in the future.And the award
goes to: Times have changed in the last
fi ve years.GETTING MIGHTY RESTRICTIVE Award
The facility presents a seminar for seniors on falls and how to
prevent them from 5:30-7 p.m.SURELY YOU DIDNT MEAN THAT Award
The nonprofi t organization helps disadvantage chil-dren ages 7
to 17.TYPOS THAT ACTUALLY WORK Award
Second Runner-up: The silence was almost defi ning.First
Runner-up: Keeping up with items that collect
into piles makes cleaning and moping a breeze.And the award goes
to: I decided to bring this rouge
organization under control.LIGHTNING-FAST POLICE WORK Award
A subject was contacted during a traffi c collision on Second
Street.MOST BLATANT RACIAL PROFILING Award
A black boys BMX bike was found on the sidewalk.NOT EASY TO
VISUALIZE Award
Second Runner-up: About 700 residences came out to the
concert.
First Runner-up: What has changed is todays reces-sion-minded
economy.
And the award goes to: Reascend the moneys we have already
paid.BEST MALAPROPISM Award
Second Runner-up: As most of my equity is in my home, its been a
disparaging month.
First Runner-up: Maybe youre fatigued, have a head-ache and
chock it up to too much sun or beer.
And the award goes to: To exasperate the situation ITS A SQUEEZE
Award
First Runner-up: Exhibit spaces (10x10) are avail-
able for $30.And the award goes to: The thief entered
multiple
backpacks in the locker room.MOST AMBITIOUS CLAIM Award
Learn all you need to know about being the best ten-nis player
ever.MOST DYNAMIC OPENING SENTENCE Award
Hello, not that all, or any of you, for that matter, want to
hear from me, but IN A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN Award
Second Runner-up: I am not going to allow people to tell stories
about what the truth is.
First Runner-up: These are criminals who want to hide behind the
race card, which is tumbling down one after the other like a row of
dominoes.
And the award goes to: But fear not. I did fi nd a solu-tion, a
fi x, a magic potent, the preverbal silver bullet.MOST
SOPHISTICATED HOUSEHOLD TECHNOLOGY EVER Award
While doing some of my spring cleaning, my doorbell rang.WORST
CARNIVAL ATTRACTION EVER Award
There will be a concussion stand at the event.
Timeless from page 1A
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DECEMBER 31, 2010 THEPRESS.NET | 19A
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2B | THEPRESS.NET LOOKING BACK DECEMBER 31, 2010
Freshman sports saved for this yearThis article was originally
published on Aug. 6, 2010. The goal of raising $48,000 to save
freshman sports in
the coming school year has been reached, according to Jeff
Kurtz, one of the leaders of the fundraising effort.
Liberty Union High School District (LUHSD) offi -cials might
make it offi cial at their next board meeting, ac-cording to Gene
Clare, LUHSD assistant superintendent.
The board and Superintendent Mr. (Jerry) Glenn have indicated
that because theres such a good effort by the parents and the
community that at this point, theyll take formal action later, but
all indicators are that freshman sports will be here this school
year, said Clare.
About two-thirds of the goal had been reached as of Sunday, said
Clare as he watched Liberty High School Principal Tim Halloran get
repeatedly dunked in a tank to raise money at a daylong event
sponsored by Tailgaters Sports Bar & Grill. But fundraising
proceeds from a variety of businesses that were tallied Monday at
the district offi ce put the effort over the top.
Bill Lohr, a co-owner of Tailgaters, donated the res-taurants
proceeds on Sunday along with money from the dunk tank, a silent
auction, raffl e and other activities. A variety of other East
County businesses have also donated some of their profi ts to the
cause.
Theres 600 kids in jeopardy of not being able to play sports,
said Lohr on Sunday. Thats 600 kids with nothing to do after
school. ... Sports are important; keep them out of trouble.
In addition to keeping kids out of trouble, sports help bond
them with their schools community, according to Clare. Freshman
sports is the lead-in for the young peo-ple; connects them up with
high school, he said. Its ex-
tremely important for young people to get connected and get
involved in activities such as sports their freshman year, so they
have a good four years of high school. It connects them to the high
school experience.
In between dunks, Halloran cited the motivation that sports
provide for kids to keep up their studies or risk losing
eligibility to participate. A lot of students, a lot of athletes,
do better in school with sports just because they have to maintain
grade point average, he said. So they generally get better grades.
If thats the reason they come to school,
thats what gets them to school.Scheduled to follow Halloran in
the dunk tank were
Heritage Principal Andy Parsons, Freedom Principal Eric Faulkner
and Assistant Superintendent Eric Volta. The fundraiser included
student athletes battling in a hot-wing eating contest.
Donations are still being accepted for this and other
educational programs in the district. To make a donation, go online
to www.educationwins.org, the Web site of the LUHSD Educational
Foundation.
by Dave RobertsStaff Writer
It took a small village of local businesses, sports boosters and
directors to save freshman sports. From left are John Ambrose,
Scott and Ryan Richardson, Jeff Baxter, Pat Cruickshank, Jill
Reynolds, Bill Lohr, Josh Aldrich, Linda Matteri, Jeff Kurtz, Keith
McKnight, Karen Rarey, Eric Metz, Christine McKnight, Aaron
Meadows, Diann and Jon Lei, and Janet Hannigan.
Photo by Richard Wisdom
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-
DECEMBER 31, 2010 LOOKING BACK THEPRESS.NET | 3B
Sponsored by Black Bear DinerTHE PRESS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Olajuwon GarnerOlajuwon Garner, a junior guard on the Deer
Valley varsity basketball team, scored 25 points and dished out a
season-high six assists in a 93-78 victory over Skyline last week.
Garner is averaging 19.8 points per game this season.
Black Bear Diner is happy to award a Gift Certifi cate worth up
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S
IL
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Splitting the uprights
This article was originally published on Nov. 12, 2010.
Gianna Lucido always wanted to fi nd a spot on Antioch Highs
varsity football team. A spot on Freedom Highs team ended up fi
nding Trisha La Fleur.
Lucido, daughter of Panthers head coach John Lucido, grew up in
a football-centric household. Not caring much for the powder-puff
version of the game, she earned a spot on the freshman football
team as a cornerback and kicker. The senior worked her way up to
Antiochs varsity team this season at the same time her father was
named head coach.
Lucido took over the kicking job from Dallas Butterfi eld, her
former teammate on
the girls soccer team.As soon as I got to high school, I saw
an
opportunity and I took it, Lucido said. Ive always been in the
stands, watching it and looking up to people, but now its a whole
new experience, actually being out here.
The Thursday before Freedoms season opener, the teams starting
kicker became in-eligible. Falcons head coach Kevin Hartwig was
scrambling for a reliable substitute. Junior receiver Jordan Willis
told Hartwig about his friend, a soccer player who had no gridiron
experience, but an incredible leg.
That Monday, Hartwig was introduced to La Fleur. After a short
but impressive try-out, the 4.0-GPA sports medicine student be-came
Freedoms kicker.
She didnt miss, Hartwig said, recalling that tryout.
For the full story, visit www.thepress.net.
Antiochs Gianna Lucido, left, and Freedoms Trisha La Fleur have
taken different routes to becoming their teams starting kicker.
Photo by Kyndl Buzas
by Justin LaffertyStaff Writer
-
4B | THEPRESS.NET LOOKING BACK DECEMBER 31, 2010
Deer Valley golf is a family affair
This article was originally published on Oct. 15, 2010.
Deer Valley Highs 2010 varsity girls golf season will mark the
end of an era. Senior and No. 1 player Haley Edwards graduation
will end a decade of dominance at Deer Valley, where she or a
member of her family has been the teams top player.
The situation is more unique than usual because of the head
coach, Andria Edwards. Coach Edwards is the mother of Alexis and
Ashley, who graduated in 2003 and 2008, respectively. Alexis went
on to play golf at Brigham Young University and Ashley is a junior
at Oregon. Andria is also the aunt of sisters Brittany and Haley
Edwards. Brittany graduated Deer Valley in 2009 and Haley is set to
graduate in 2011.
Its a great feeling, coach Edwards said. Ive watched my own
daughters and Ive watched my nieces grow and to handle things in a
mature way. Its been a joy. Its nice to see them develop. Its not
one clone right after the other. They all have different things
that they need to work on.
The coach identifi ed Alexis as the most athletic of the group,
due to her prowess in softball, as well. She said Ashleys strengths
are her patience and her touch on and around the greens, which
enables her to save good scores on bad holes. Brittany was the most
te-nacious of the four, picking the game up late compared to most
players at her skill level. Haley was described as the one with the
most natural ability, having played since seventh grade.
Theyve all contributed to someone that theyve worked with, said
the coach of her
daughters and nieces. Theyve been able to express themselves
with their teammates, and help them out. It hasnt just been the
Edwards dominance; theyve been part of the team.
Haley has been the leader of a Wolver-ines team that is 7-0 this
season and as of Monday possesses a 54 game winning streak, dating
back to 2007.
While Haleys graduation will bring an end to her familys
dominance of East County golf, her coach can already see her infl
uence, as well as that of her sister and cousins. The Edwards girls
knowledge of golf helped the coach tutor lesser experienced players
on how to manage games. As coaches are not allowed to actively
coach their players during matches, Haleys input has been valuable.
Haleys heir apparent is sophomore Taylor Coover, the teams No. 2
player. Her scores are already close or equal to the current No. 1,
and the coach detects Haleys infl uence on her.
The last in line, Haley has been a domi-nant golfer but her
athletic ability is not limited to golf. She had also been a
swimmer for most of her life but stopped after her sophomore season
to focus on golf. Additionally, after she played middle school
volleyball, varsity head coach Lou Panzella tried to persuade her
to play for his team. She decided to follow in the footsteps of her
family and play golf.
Speaking of her fascination for the game, Haley said, Its always
different; you never have the same lie or the same putt. You never
have the same anything. It just has a lot of ups and downs.
Haleys hope is to follow Brittany to Southern Utah University,
where she would major in advertising and minor in photogra-phy,
while also playing golf. Brittany is cur-rently a sophomore and one
of the Thunder-birds top players.
To comment, visit www.thepress.net.
by Michael DixonCorrespondent
Bell takes toll on Lions
This article was originally published on Nov. 19, 2010.
Freedom Highs varsity football team came into Fridays Bell Game
needing a vic-tory against Liberty to have a shot at making the
playoffs. When the dust settled at the Li-ons Ohmstede Field, the
Falcons got that win decisively, prevailing 49-10.
This was our season it was make or break. We had a good week; we
came out pre-pared and had a complete win, said Falcon coach Kevin
Hartwig. Beating your rivals fi ve years in a row, thats great,
thats hard to do. I feel happy for the seniors.
The Falcon offense struck on the fi rst play when senior running
back Timazray Shepherd took a screen pass from sophomore
quarterback Dante Mayes; 75-yards later, after weaving his way
through the Liberty defense, Shepherd was in the end zone and
Freedom led 7-0.
Liberty junior kicker Kyle Rainsford cut the Freedom lead to 7-3
with a fi eld goal. That was answered when senior running back
Damora Cooper fi nished the ensuing Falcon drive with an 11-yard
touchdown run.
Liberty senior running back Shawn Vasquez scored on a 42-yard
run sandwiched between two more Freedom touchdowns one when
sophomore fullback Tyler Saude
recovered his own fumble in the end zone, the other when Mayes
hit junior receiver Stephen Rodriguez on a 20-yard touchdown
strike.
Trailing 28-10 and driving at the end of the fi rst half, any
hope Liberty entertained for a comeback was demolished when senior
quarterback Devyn Parsons injured his ankle. Lions head coach Nate
Smith said it could be a broken bone, but he wasnt sure at the
time.
That was a big blow to us., said Smith. We knew all year that
that was the one guy that we couldnt afford to lose.
Mayes also completed his fi rst 11 passes and was 16 of 19 for
the game. Shepherd was lethal as a receiver out of the backfi eld,
catch-ing four passes for 107 yards. Cooper was steady as usual,
running for 98 yards.
It feels great just coming in here with my seniors. I did it for
them, said Mayes of his four-touchdown performance.
In his fi nal game, Parsons was seven of nine for 117 yards
before being knocked out. Libertys win-loss record (3-7, 1-4) was
nearly identical to last years, yet the improvement was obvious.
But Smith feels his team needs to take another step. We started to
learn how to compete in the BVAL this year, he said. Now weve got
to learn to really be a force. I dont think weve learned to fi nish
things in the BVAL yet.
The Falcons fi fth consecutive Bell Game victory gives them a
9-4 overall series lead.
For video highlights, visit www.thepress.net.
Freedom head coach Kevin Hartwig holds the Bell Trophy as Falcon
players celebrate their victory over the Lions.
Photo by Kyndl Buzas
by Michael DixonCorrespondent
22 000002010
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6B | THEPRESS.NET MILESTONES DECEMBER 31, 2010
Irene FurgursonIrene Cuba Furgur-
son, a resident of Antioch and lifelong resident of Contra Costa
County, passed away peacefully Sunday, Dec.12 surround-ed by her
loving family.
Born on Sept. 4, 1927, Irene is survived by her loving husband
of 63 years, Everard Corky Fur-gurson; fi ve children, Linda Pico,
Patricia Ricketts and Nancy Byrns of Antioch, Gary from Charlotte,
N.C. and Steve (Maureen), from Brentwood; and sister, Julie
McCullough of Pittsburg. She also leaves behind 10 grandchildren,
fi ve great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Her
parents, Ralph and Louise Cuba, and sisters Edith Tonso, Frances
Vetrano and Margaret Chase predecease her.
Irene lived her life through her children and grandchildren,
whom she loved and cherished with all her heart. A special
thank-you to niece Kathleen and nephew Dr. Randy Clarke for all
their support.
Dorothy M. BettencourtFeb. 10, 1934-Dec. 15, 2010
Brentwood resident Dorothy Bettencourt went home to be with the
Lord at the age of 76 surround-ed by her family. She spent 20 years
as a teachers aide at Brentwood Elementary School before her
retirement.
Dorothy is survived by her husband, Norman W. Bettencourt;
children, Julie (Tim) Jacobs and Jeff (Heather) Bettencourt; and
her four grandchildren, Haley, Nicole, Cole and Danielle.
A Rosary was held on Monday, Dec. 20 fol-lowed by a Visitation
at the Chapel of Callaghan Mortuary in Livermore. Mass of the
Christian Burial was held on Tuesday, Dec. 21 at St. Michael
Catholic Church in Livermore, followed by burial at St. Michael
Catholic Cemetery, also in Livermore.
In lieu of fl owers, the family respectfully re-quests memorial
donations in Dorothys name be made to a local charity of your
choice.
Merlin Jerry Ann JeffriesBrentwood resident
Merlin Jerry Ann Jeffries, 77, went to be with the Lord on Dec.
15 in the home of her grandson in Lakeport.
Merlin was born on March 30, 1933 to parents Charles J. Mangrum
and Donna Hamilton Mangrum, both of whom pre-ceded her in death.
Also preceding her in death were her daughter, Lynda Sue Krul; son,
Jack Williams, Jr.; brothers, Charles Mangrum and Damon Man-grum;
and sisters, Syliva Sharp, Reba Green and Ruth Casey.
She is survived by brothers, Lowell Mangrum
and Kenneth Mangrum; sisters, Julia Cowdrey, Carolyn Lewis and
Jan Morris; grandson, Steve Krul (Aimie); and great-grandsons,
Tyler and Colby Krul. She lived with and was loved and cared for by
Robert Jeff Jeffries.
She loved the Lord and was loved greatly by her church, family
and friends. She took care of others, loved with all she had and
will be incredibly missed.
A viewing was held on Dec. 23 at Brentwood Funeral Home. Merlin
was laid to rest at Memory Gardens, followed by a service at Bethel
Island Church.
Anthony (Tony) Joseph SilvaApril 22, 1934-Dec. 16, 2010
Discovery Bay resi-dent Tony Silva, 76, passed away on Dec. 16
with his family by his side at his home in Discovery Bay.
Tony was born on April 22, 1934 in Hayward to Antonio Silva and
Nora Perry Silva and resided in Hayward much of his life. Tony
attended Hayward High School before joining the U.S. Navy in 1953.
After four years of service, Tony started his career with the City
of Hayward, working in the water department and retiring as a
supervisor after 36 years of service.
Following retirement, Tony moved with wife
Carla to Discovery Bay. He was an avid boater, and even sailed a
small sailboat from Emeryville to Beth-el Island. He also took
periodic trips to Colorado, where he served as a river guide for
rafting trips down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. In
addition to his love of the water, Tony enjoyed golf-ing and was an
active member of Discovery Bay Seniors Men Golf Club. He was also a
member of the Discovery Bay Corvette Club, the Discovery Bay Yacht
Club and the Discovery Bay Country Club.
Tony is survived by his wife, Carla; stepchildren and children,
Kim Evans, Tom Geocaris, Jennifer Putnam, Chuck Geocaris, Vicky
Parra, Nancy Silva, Cathy Silva and Anthony Silva; brother, George
Silva of Castro Valley; and many grandchildren and great
grandchildren.
Tony was known for telling it like it is and had a great sense
of humor and wit. While his exte-rior was sometimes gruff, on the
inside he had a heart of gold and will be greatly missed by
everyone.
Friends and family are invited to celebrate Tonys life at the
Discovery Bay Yacht Club on Sun-day, Jan. 2 from 2 to 5 p.m. Mass
will be held at St. Anne Catholic Church in Byron on Monday, Jan. 3
at 11 a.m. Internment will follow at Union Cemetery in
Brentwood.
An online memorial is available at www.dig-nitymemorial.com, on
which friends and family are encouraged to share memories of
Tony.
OBITUARIES
Arrivals
Proud grandparents Richard and Lisa Tullis would like to welcome
the newest arrivals to the family: Lillyana Kay Vizcarra, daughter
of Cheyenne Tul-lis and Jay Vizcarra of Bethel Island, and Delilah
Nicole Barnes, daughter of Kenny and Dana Barnes of Brent-wood.
Lillyana was born on Sep