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Natio
nalAwardWinning Newspapers
Your Hometown Web Site www.thepress.net
Vol. 10, No. 44 YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER October 29,
2010
This Week
FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A
Spine-chilling schedule
Youll find our Halloween lineup of creepy occurrences a real
scream. Page 10B
Deflating development
A penalty and an errant kick prevented the Falcons from pulling
off a remarkable comeback. Page 1B
Plus: Calendar ............................ 19BClassifieds
......................... 13BEntertainment .................
10BFood ...................................... 9BHealth &
Beauty ................ 8BOpinion
..............................16ASports
................................... 1B
Endorsedby the Press Weve covered the issues and hawked the
campaigns. Now its time to pick the prime contenders. Page 16A
Harvesting funCloudy skies didnt keep Oak-
ley residents away from pre-Hallow-een fun at the second annual
Har-vest Festival.
The city-sponsored event, held last Saturday, offered activities
rang-ing from a pie-eating competition to the costume parade and
pump-kin carving contest. Raindrops did force the festival to close
down ear-lier than anticipated, but more than 600 people passed
through the event during the fi rst three precipitation-free
hours.
Im really pleased with the turnout, said event organizer and
Recreation Supervisor Cindy Coel-ho. We werent sure if people would
come out because the weather was so gloomy, but I thought the chill
in the air was perfect. It feels more like Halloween with a little
autumn chill in the air.
This years event featured more activities and games all of which
were free. Coelho said thats why festival attendees are turning the
Harvest Festival into an Oakley tradition. The Harvest Festival
was
initially planned as part of the citys decennial celebration
series last year, but after the city received such positive
feedback from the public, offi cials decided to do it again, and
Coelho said the festival is on its way to being a permanent fi
xture on Oakleys calendar.
Witches, butterfl ies, nin-jas, superheroes and many other
creatures took a lap around Civic Center Park, waving to cars as
they walked along Main Street, and 18 hungry contestants took part
in a pie-eating contest while other guests watched a search-dog
demonstration, navigated the hay maze or got their faces painted.
Some kids were even bold enough to sport spooky temporary tattoos,
while others took a break from all the action to make a harvest
wreath at the craft station.
I think the Harvest Festival has been so popular because it is
completely free for anyone who stops by, Coelho said. Theres no
admission or fees to enter any of the contests or to take part in
any of the activities. We have a lot of kid activi-
Freedom High School Homecoming King Mar-queise Williams and
Queen Emma Molenhauer celebrate their victory while posing for a
bevy of camera-wielding family and friends at the Homecoming game.
Despite the immense pride showcased by the Fal-cons, they lost
their Homecoming game to Deer Valley 28-25. For more details about
Freedoms Homecoming festivities, turn to page 10A.
Falcon royalty
Photo by Kyndl Buzas
by Samie HartleyStaff Writer
see Fun page 15A
Community mourns passing of icon
Generations of Brentwood residents lost a beloved matriarch and
icon last week with the passing of Jeanne Adams. Adams died on Oct.
18 at the age of 89.
Jeanne was a fabulous and amazing wom-an, said Gail Crockett,
who worked for Adams son, former Brentwood school district
superin-tendent Doug Adams. She brought sunshine into the room and
was involved in everything. Its a great loss to her family and to
the community.
Born Ruth Jeanne Weitze in Nora Springs, Iowa on Feb. 7, 1921,
Adams was raised on a farm in Corning, Calif. along with her six
sib-lings. She met her husband, Jack, while a student at UC Davis,
but World War II interrupted their college educations when the
campus closed for
the remainder of the war. During that time she worked in area
hospitals, serving meals to state-side soldiers while Jack served
in the Army Air Corps. Adams later completed her science degree at
UC Berkeley, but when she and Jack married in 1944 and moved to
Brentwood, she was forced to switch careers.
When she came here (Brentwood) there were no hospitals in the
area, so she turned to teaching and had no regrets, said her son,
Doug. Mom was very good at balancing her career with family, not to
mention her community ser-vice, and that was unusual in her
generation. She believed that no matter what you do, no matter what
challenges you face, you have a responsibil-ity to take them on,
and she did with relish.
Adams taught in the Brentwood Union
by Ruth RobertsStaff Writer
see Icon page 15ARUTH JEANNE ADAMS
Feb. 7, 1921-Oct. 18, 2010
Online Now!
www.thepress.netYour Hometown Web Site
Preschoolers moseyed through a maze, hoofed a hoedown and
secured squash.
Fall farm fungo to news/WebExtras!
Civilians get to show their appreciation for veterans at an
upcoming bash.
Salute our vetsgo to news/press releases
Hometown Halloween trick-or-treaters found downtown a sweet
spot.
Town treatsgo to multimedia/videos
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4A | THEPRESS.NET COMMUNITY OCTOBER 29, 2010
Churches work together to feed hungry
Oh, what a difference a year makes. When Deanna Masterman, Karen
Randle and KC Cook came up with the idea for a faith-based
community food pantry last fall, the women had no idea how far
their vision would take them.
Well, we certainly realized there was a great need, and we knew
that the exist-ing food banks just couldnt handle every-thing, said
Randle. Were in the farming belt of the communities, and people
need help and will continue to need help. I know that St. Vincent
De Paul distributes food in Brentwood three times a week, but
people eat more often than that. We were just try-ing to come up
with a way to fi ll in the gaps.
The three women met as part of an outreach program among St.
Anne Catho-lic, Delta Community Presbyterian and By-ron United
Methodist churches created to fi nd ways to avoid overlapping their
charity work within the neighboring communi-ties. Figuring that
their coordinated efforts would be more effective, the churches
de-cided to pool their resources, and the result was the Delta
Christian Community Food Pantry.
Offi cially blessed by ministers from the each of the three
churches on Oct. 19 at the Methodist church, where onsite dis-
tribution will take place, the pantry is now into its second
week of the food giveaway, and Masterman said shes thrilled with
the response.
Its going fantastic, said Masterman, a mission elder at Delta
Community Pres-byterian Church. Each week weve had a few more
families come and now its just a matter of getting the word out.
Were so
grateful for all the help from volunteers and the community. Its
just been amazing.
Those who arrive at the food pantry each Tuesday morning will
receive a bag fi lled with perishable and non-perishable food items
such as dried beans, pasta, tuna and peanut butter.
This week we had the usual canned, dry items but we also had
milk, eggs and
cottage cheese, said Randle. It changes each time, but were just
grateful to have the help. Anything we can avoid buying from the
grocery store is good.
Although food sources and other de-tails are still being worked
out, the food pantry is currently operating under the aus-pices of
St. Vincent De Paul and is staffed by local volunteers from the
churches and nearby communities. Included in the bags of groceries,
recipients will also fi nd spiri-tual information in Spanish and
Eng-lish along with housing information for homeless and low-income
families, plus other informational literature.
We want to fi nd out what their situ-ation is and help them any
way we can, said Masterman. Wed eventually like to see 100 families
a week. I would also like to fi nd a way to bring food to people
who cant get out and pick it up themselves. Theres a lot we want to
do, but for now, were just concentrating on getting the word out
and helping the most people we can.
The Delta Community Food Pantry will be giving away food Tuesday
morn-ings from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Byron United Methodist Church,
14671 Byron Highway. Donation barrels are also being distributed
throughout the communities for food drop-off. For additional
information, volunteer opportunities or barrel locations, call
925-634-0184.
To comment, visit www.thepress.net.
by Ruth RobertsStaff Writer
Kathleen Cook and her daughter Andie, 3, sort food at the newly
established Delta Christian Community Food Pantry. The effort is an
alliance between a trio of far East County churches aimed at
providing food for 100 families per week.
Photo by Richard Wisdom
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OCTOBER 29, 2010 COMMUNITY THEPRESS.NET | 5A
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Antioch: The Orchard at Slatten Ranch (925) 779-1844
At Freedom High Schools recent Every 15 Minutes program,
motivational speaker Austin Whitney dis-cussed his near-fatal
decision to drink and drive when he was 18. Behind him is Freedom
senior Matt McKeen, who portrayed a driver convicted of driving
under the in uence following a mock-crash scene, and an image of
Whitneys car after the accident.
Urged to make the right choice
Photo by Justin Lafferty
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6A | THEPRESS.NET COMMUNITY OCTOBER 29, 2010
The Summerset Veterans Club will welcome Lt. Commander Ted
Robinson, U.S.N.R. retired, at Summerset I for a special Veterans
Day pre-sentation on Thursday, Nov. 4 at 2 p.m.
Robinson will deliver a personal account de-tailing the rescue
of John F. Kennedy after PT 109 was sunk in the Pacifi c in August
of 1943 during World War II. Robinson and Kennedy were friends
during the war, and he helped save Kennedy from the Solomon
Islands, where Ken-nedy and the rest of the crew had been stranded
for a week.
A well-known writer and lecturer, Robinson will discuss the
rescue effort and the events of the era, including the involvement
of PT boats that brought supplies to the Marines at Guadal-canal.
His book JFK and PT 109: An Eyewit-ness Account will be available
for purchase, and a book signing will follow the presentation.
Light refreshments will be served at the event, which is open to
the public.
Remembering a WWII hero
In honor of Veterans Day, Vietnam veteran Phil Ehrhorn will
share his war experiences dur-ing a special presentation sponsored
by the Brent-wood Library on Tuesday, Nov. 9.
Ehrhorn conducted electronic surveillance for the Air Force, and
the stories and pictures of his experiences include his survival of
a crash in a spy plane. Program participants will see photo-graphs
of the crash site and other visuals, includ-ing Ehrhorns Purple
Heart.
The 45-minute presentation will take place at 4 p.m. in the
Brentwood Senior Center, 193 Griffi th Lane. The event is
appropriate for ages 8 and older. No registration is required.
For more information about library pro-grams, visit
www.ccclib.org or call 925-516-5290.
Tales of a spy in the sky
Help for local war widowVeterans, residents and business
people are coming together to help a lo-cal Gold Star wife and
mother left in the lurch by a landscape contractor.
Sean Langevin, a member of the Armys 503rd Airborne Infantry
Regi-ment, was killed in a roadside ambush in Afghanistan in 2007
as his wife, Jessica, was seven months pregnant with their
daughter, Zoe.
Jessica used her husbands death benefi t to purchase a home in
Pittsburg, where she planned to open a day care. A landscaper hired
to stabilize a hill in the back yard left the job unfi nished,
however, preventing Jessica from obtaining a day care license for
her business, Little Bless-ings Childcare, and posing a landslide
threat to the house as wet winter weather approached.
When Oakleys Spike Schau, state coordinator for the Warrior
Watch Rid-ers, learned of Jessicas problem, he swung into action.
The WWR usually provides motorcycle escorts for military funerals
and to welcome military members home. The groups membership
includes a wide range of crafts and professions, and they answered
Schaus call for help in over-whelming fashion.
Pacifi c Coast Landscaping, Califor-nia Retaining Walls and a
company that prefers to remain anonymous pitched in to move tons of
dirt and build a retaining wall to hold back the hill. Others
stepped forward to cover the cost of playground matting, but the
effort still needs about 40 yards of concrete for the back and side
yards.
Concrete thats our biggest deal right now, said Schau. Pass the
word around. A donation of the concrete or a total of about $5,000
in cash is needed.
The only thing she should have to worry about is whats for lunch
and when to change a diaper, said Schau. We need to take care of
that Gold Star.
A fundraising pancake breakfast has been set for this Saturday,
Oct. 30, from 8 to 10 a.m. at Community Presbyterian Church, 200 E.
Leland Road in Pittsburg. The breakfast, which will cost $7 for
adults and $3 for children, is being sponsored by East County
Military Family and Friends and the Contra Costa Blue Star
Moms.
To donate concrete, call Schau at 925-628-2201 or Ed McClelland
at 925-260-5423. Cash donations may be made to a special account
set up for the effort.Checks should be made out to Jessica
Langevin, Project Labor of Love, Ac-count No. 6479252253 at Wells
Fargo, 902 Main St., Martinez, CA 94553. Be sure to include the
account number on your check.
To comment, visit www.thepress.net.
Discovery Bay contractor Ed McClelland prepares for wet weather
in the backyard of Jessica Langevin. McClelland is helping to
spearhead the ef-fort to stabilize the hill and enable Langevin,
whose husband Sean was killed in Afghanistan in 2007, to open a day
care.
Photo by Spike Schau
by Rick LemyreStaff Writer
CPL. SEAN LANGEVINAUG. 17, 1984-NOV. 9, 2007
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OCTOBER 29, 2010 COMMUNITY THEPRESS.NET | 7A
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FREE HOMES FOR ALL!....If you read some of the nonsense news
floating around by supposed experts, we are all about to get
free and clear homes! Dont believe it. Here is what is true: Most
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find the original note, not reviewing the documents thoroughly,
etc.) Bank of America quickly called a moratorium on ALL
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Here is what I DONT believe is true: That any of the above will
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What this DOES give us is TIME. Time to work out a loan mod or
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A recent article in the Press should have stated that the rates
for dent-removal services of Dent King, a Brentwood business owned
by Tim Helms, are approximately 25 percent of conventional body
shop prices.
Correction
Time to think about thinking things through
One of my biggest faults, Ive fi -nally admitted, is that I dont
think things through. Take for instance the fact that Im now offi
cially a cat lady because I allowed a wayward cat into my already
pet-popu-lated home and she turned up pregnant.
Let me just say that I did have an appointment scheduled to get
her spayed, but then I noticed these pecu-liar bumps popping up on
her stomach. They turned out to be nipples. I postponed the
appointment. We all watched as her stomach grew and
grew. My kids were ecstatic. We had never watched kittens born
before. I imagined cozy fall nights with these furry little felines
snuggling up in our laps.
On the same night my dog got skunked for the fi fth yes fi fth
time, Mu-shu decided to have her kittens behind our living room
couch. It was a busy night. She had three tiny kittens, and sadly
the fourth one did not make it. Mu-shu must have realized that
something just wasnt right. She placed him in the corner, away from
her three remaining offspring. I removed the poor little guy before
my kids could see him, and tried to fi nd a delicate way to explain
what had happened.
For the fi rst few weeks they really were no trouble, but then
came the daily scavenger hunts for their little gifts they began
depositing all over the house and in my plants. I began spending
more and more of my grocery money on kitten chow and cat treats. Of
course, we were the envy of all the neighborhood kids, who asked us
repeatedly when we were going to give them away. My husband also
listened intently for that answer, but it never came because we I
mean I decided to keep them.
Our house is now a kitten circus. They run crazily all over the
place, swing from the curtains with wild looks in their eyes, and
attack our feet. They eat all day and they never snuggle with us. I
defi nitely did not think this through.
How about my decision to have a fi fth baby at the tender age of
42? I defi nitely did not think that one through. All I could think
about was baby booties, rubber duckies and lullabies. My entire
family groaned when I told them, but I didnt care. Having a fi fth
baby also meant that
our current house was too small. I hadnt thought about that,
either. We immedi-ately started looking for a larger residence,
which of course came with a larger mort-gage.
Now, eight years later, I fi nd myself somewhat isolated. My
friends with whom Id had so much in common, because we had kids the
same ages, are now enjoying their newfound freedom. Their kids are
all in college or almost there. Meanwhile, Im still playing Barbies
with my 8-year-old!
I suppose I could try hanging out with moms that have young
children, but I wouldnt like being the oldest Mom in the group. We
probably wouldnt have that much in common besides the kids, anyway.
Im sure they dont want to hear about my failing eyesight and
arthritic knees, and they probably still like their husbands which
brings up another example of the importance of thinking things
through.
I certainly dont regret having my fi fth child. Haley is a human
fi recracker and she keeps me young. There is an upside to hav-ing
a baby after 40, by the way. My doctor told me that research has
proven that you have a greater chance of living to 100 if you do!
Wait a minute. That sounds good, but do I really want to live to
100? Maybe I should think that through.
To comment, visit www.thepress.net.
HANGIN INTHERE
VICKI MCKENNA
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8A | THEPRESS.NET COMMUNITY OCTOBER 29, 2010
Antiochs Delta Youth Soccer League got a boost recently when it
received a $500 donation from Winter Chevrolet. Its good for the
community as a whole, said league President Roy Immekus, who
praised Winter Chevrolet for supplying the kind of support that
keeps the organization running. It tells you that the Winter Family
is interested in youth sports, and it doesnt get better than that.
Seen here with a bevy of the youthful bene ciaries are, from left,
Winter Chevrolet owner Rose Winter, Immekus and Winter Sales
Manager Ed Small.
Super soccer support
Photo by Rick Lemyre
Songs of the seasonThe Liberty High School
Choral Department wants to help enhance holiday festivities this
year with a visit from its popular Rent-A-Carolers.
For a donation of $100, select members of the LHS choir will
sing some of the most treasured Christmas carols at any holiday
gathering. Dressed in Victorian costumes, the Rent-A-Carolers
joyfully spread the spirit of the holiday season through their
sen-sational sound and traditional carols.
The Rent-A-Carol calendar fi lls up fast, so to make sure your
holiday party is fi lled with the sounds of the season. Arrange a
date by calling Liberty Choral Director Sue Stuart at
925-634-3411.
Citizen, business awardsIs there a resident in town you feel
should be honored for community service and commitment to
Discovery Bay? How about a local business with a reputation for
providing outstanding products and/or services to its customers? If
so, nows the time to fi ll out your ballot and cast your vote for
the Discovery Bay Cham-
ber of Commerces Citizen and Business of the Year awards. The fi
ve nominees in each category will be announced Dec. 1 and the
winners will be honored at the State of the Town gala in
January.
The nomination deadline is Nov. 30. To vote, visit
www.discoverybaychamber.com or call 925-240-6608.
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OCTOBER 29, 2010 COMMUNITY THEPRESS.NET | 9A
During the month of November, Shea Homes will pay to reduce your
interest on a Fixed Rate 30 Year Mortgage. No gimmicks. The rst
year is at 1 7/8 %, the second 27/8 % and from years three to
thirty, only 3 7/8 % interest. There may never be a
betteropportunity to own the home of your dreams. For more
information, contact one of our sales offices below.
*Rate and APR are based on a FHA 30 year xed rate mortgage for a
home with a purchase price of $450,000 and a 3.5% down payment from
the buyer. Offer only valid to well qualied borrowers and nanced
through Shea Mortgage. APR includes a 1% origination fee. Not all
buyers will qualify, and buyer may be responsible for some closing
cost.
Program only applies to select homes in each community. To nd
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speak with a Shea Homes Sales Representative. Interest rates as of
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based on buyer having a minimum co score of 620. Program only
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Mortgage Inc. is licensed by the California Department of Real
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Input on Marsh park plan soughtA preliminary General Plan and
draft
Environmental Impact Report for the John Marsh State Historic
Park will be reviewed during a workshop on Thursday, Nov. 4.
The workshop will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the
Brentwood Senior Center, 193 Griffi th Lane. The draft EIR is being
circulated for public review and comment for a 45-day period which
concludes on Dec. 9. Comments and concerns are welcome during the
workshop, which will cover the projects preferred alternative,
General Plan elements and environmental analysis.
Representatives of California State Parks and the City of
Brentwood will be present at this meeting and will be available to
discuss the project proposal, its potential environmental effects
and proposed mitiga-tion.
For more information, e-mail Steve Bachman, acting district
superintendent of the California Department of Parks and
Rec-reation, at [email protected]. The plan may be viewed
online at www.parks.ca.gov.
Muslims, Jews work together
Congregation Bnai Torah of the East Bay is hosting and
co-sponsoring a commemoration of the third annual Global Weekend of
Twinning of Mosques and Synagogues. The event engages the community
in an open dialogue regarding understanding and reconciliation
through face-to-face sharing of values, beliefs and cultures.
A brief service will be held Friday, Nov. 5 at 7:30 p.m. at
Congregation Bnai Torah, 301 E. 13th St. in Antioch (Congregation
Bnai Torah shares facilities with St. Georges Episcopal Church).
Following the service, representatives from the Jewish, Islamic,
Episcopalian and other faiths will participate in a panel
discussion.
Panelists will include Rabbi Ira Book Congregation Bnai Torah;
Abdur Rahman Islamic Center of the East Bay; and the Rev. Amber
Sturgess St. Georges Episcopal Church.
The annual Weekend of Twinning, an event aimed at strengthening
Muslim-Jewish relations in the United States and Canada, originated
in 2008. More than 40 mosques and 40 synagogues across the
continent participated, coordinated by the Foundation for Ethnic
Understanding. In 2009, the event grew to include more than 110
mosques and 110 synagogues, and this years event is expected to
extend its reach to many more.
The free event is open to the public; all members of the
community who support the goals of the Global Weekend of Twinning
are encouraged to attend. For more information, visit
www.bnaitoraheastbay.org.
The centerpiece of the John Marsh State Historical Park will be
Marshs stone house, which is undergoing stabilization prior to its
eventual restoration.
Photo by Richard Wisdom
-
10A | THEPRESS.NET EDUCATION OCTOBER 29, 2010
Falcons get into Homecoming spirit
Freedom High Schools Falcons were fl ying high on Homecoming
pride last week as they prepared to face off against the Deer
Valley Wolverines. While most schools spend their rallies inventing
clever chants to intimidate their Homecoming opponents, Freedoms
Homecoming was a celebration of school spirit not an animosity
generator.
Even the Homecoming Parade fl oats were about showcasing student
creativ-ity rather than cooking up Wolverine stew or other Deer
Valley drivel. This years theme was vacation destinations, and
during the rally each class tried to woo the judges with their
travelers guide to locations such as Ha-waii and New York.
The freshmen partnered with King and Queen nominees Jake Burton
and Emma Molenhauer to welcome the judges to the jun-gle with a
visit to Kenya. Burton and Molen-hauer danced to The Lion Sleeps
Tonight while the freshmen served as backup dancers in a wacky and
wild showcase.
Marqueise Williams and Aubrey Ocam-po were supported by the
sophomores in their Hollywood skit, in which Williams and Ocampo
went scouting for celebrities, culmi-nating their adventure with a
dance-off.
C.T. McGhee and Jessica Jones hula danced with the juniors to
suggest the judges take a trip to tropical Hawaii, while the
seniors teamed up with Mathew McKeen and Tariah
Cheney to perform their own rendition of Glee, singing and
dancing all over New York City.
With the support of the faculty, Travis Belton and Kirsten
Hulsey rounded out the skits as they toured San Francisco in a
sketch that included an escape from Alcatraz, a mob of Pier 39
seals, a tie-dyed group of hippies and a gaggle of unique
characters fi shing near the Golden Gate Bridge.
Once the fun was over and the music stopped, the tension in the
Falcon gym was magnifi ed by the silence as students and
families waited for the announcement of Homecoming King and
Queen. Williams, a basketball player who is also involved in school
leadership and drama club, was named King, and Molenhauer, a
varsity tennis player and vice president of the class of 2011, was
crowned Queen.
When Principal Faulkner called my name, I was in complete shock,
Molenhauer said. I thought, No way! Im really grateful for the
freshmens help. I absolutely adore them for all the effort they put
into the Kenya skit.
I still cant believe it happened. Being in
the parade was so much fun. I felt just like a princess, just
like the ones you see in the Dis-neyland parades. It was an amazing
feeling.
Although the Falcons were pumped up and ready to boost their Bay
Valley Athletic League standings to 2-0, the Deer Valley
Wol-verines bested Freedom 28-25.
Oakley Mayor Pat Anderson applaud-ed the students Homecoming
celebration at Tuesdays council meeting as a wonder-ful Oakley
tradition: Good evening, tough game, great kids I love that
school.
To comment, visit www.thepress.net.
The Class of 2011 won the best oat award for its New York-themed
creation, which traveled through the streets of Oakley during the
Homecoming parade. The varsity football team enjoys the skits and
festivities at the Freedom High School Homecoming rally.
Photo by Samie Hartley
by Samie HartleyStaff Writer
Photo by Justin Lafferty
-
OCTOBER 29, 2010 THEPRESS.NET | 11A
-
12A | THEPRESS.NET COMMUNITY OCTOBER 29, 2010
Ironhouse Sanitary District Has Problems Residents dont know how
their money is spent
Local small businesses worry that theyre being overcharged
No senior discount
No break for families that conserve water
Residents and businesses are kept in the dark about how rates
are set
Rates up 39% in just six years without a vote of the people
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
$600
$550
$500
$450
$400
$350
Paid for by Gagliardi for Sanitary District 2010 #1330323 and
David Huerta for Sanitary District 2010 #1331479
Vital info in Vial of Life
When a stroke, heart attack, fall or other home emergency
occurs, where can the correct response be found? In your
re-frigerator, of course.
A national program called Vial of Life provides instructions on
how to com-municate with medical response person-nel when worst
comes to worst. Vial of Life participants prepare a form
describ-ing their medical condition, medications and other
information medical response personnel need to know, insert the
form in a medication vial (or plastic bag) and place it inside
their refrigerator. A sticker indicating the location of the vial
is af-
fi xed to the outside of the fridge, alerting medical personnel
to its location.
The Vial of Life program was the focus of a recent meeting
attended by representatives of American Medical Re-sponse, the East
Contra Costa Fire Pro-tection District and Brentwood Police
Department. The meeting was sponsored by Summerset Vista Kare
Bears, an orga-nization of volunteers dedicated to help-ing
neighbors deal with illness, surgery and other crises.
American Medical Response Com-munity Outreach Coordinator Joanne
Leide told attendees how to complete the Vial of Life form and
emphasized the im-
A recent Vial of Life meeting was attended,
from left, by Summerset Kare Bears President Donna Bokman;
re-
ghters Ryan Pesonen, Dave Sosine and Bob
May; Brentwood Police Of cer Michele Keady;
American Medical Response Outreach
Coordinator Joanne Leide; and Kare Bears
Treasurer Barbara Crandell.
Photo by Ray Carter
by Ray CarterCorrespondent
see Vial page 13A
-
411 on Bankruptcyby Joan Grimes, Esq.
Advertisement
When people come in for an initial consultation, they want to
know three things. First, is bankruptcy appropriate for their fi
nancial problems? Second, what options are available under
Bankruptcy Code? And third, how will bankruptcy aff ect their lives
aft er the bankruptcy is done.
Bankruptcy may be the appropriate remedy if a person is having
diffi culty paying their bills as they come due and owing, have
credit card debt they have been unable to pay off or have long term
debt such as home loans which they are having diffi culty
paying.
Th e most common form of bankruptcy is a Chapter 7. A Chapter 7
is a straight bankruptcy also known as a liquidation case. In a
Chapter 7 case, all assets and liabilities are included and the
Chapter 7 Trustee will have the right to liquidate non-exempt
assets for the benefi t of creditors. In exchange for including all
assets and liabilities, an individuals promise to pay on most debts
are forgiven through a discharge.
In most cases, there are no assets available to creditors
because all of the assets are exempt or encumbered by liens to the
full extent of their value. Exempt assets include IRA or retirement
plans, equity in a car up to $3,525, most household goods and
furnishing, life insurance and then $23,250 in other assets such as
balances in bank accounts or additional equity in cars or other
items.
A Chapter 13 is a Consumer Reorganization which is usually used
when a borrower needs one of the special bells and whistles
provided by the Code. Th e most common bells and whistles are that
the Debtor has non-exempt assets that they want to keep or they
have a junior lien on a primary residence that does not attach to
any equity which could be avoided in a Chapter 13 or maybe they
have a car loan which is older than 910 days which they can reduce
to the current fair market value.
Th e Chapter 7 process usually takes approximately 4 months from
the date of fi ling to closing of the case.
While a bankruptcy can stay on a persons credit for a maximum of
10 years, Fannie Maes guidelines provide that a person will be
eligible to purchase with a FHA loan product in as little as 2
years aft er the closing of the bankruptcy. New credit is usually
granted within 1 year, but at lower limits and higher interest
rates. Th e Chapter 13 process takes between 3-5 years, but
provides greater relief in many situations.
Most people who are having problems paying their bills qualify
for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy either because their income is low or
because their mortgage payments and other secured loans such as car
loans are too high in relation to their income. However, a person
should not delay in seeking legal advice. Th e loss of a home prior
to a bankruptcy fi ling either through a short sale or foreclosure
may make an individuals income too high for a Chapter 7 and the
only option will be Chapter 13 repayment plan which will last
between 3-5 years. In addition, there may be personal liability and
tax consequences which could have been eliminated in a
bankruptcy.
In conclusion, if you are having fi nancial problems, seek legal
counsel. You did not make this real estate and credit card
meltdown. Do not lose sleep and your sanity worrying about fi
nancial problems.
WE ARE A DEBT RELIEF AGENCY. WE HELP PEOPLE FILE BANKRUPTCY
RELIEF UNDER THE BANKRUPTCY CODE. THIS INFORMATION IS NOT PROVIDED
AS LEGAL ADVICE AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON IN MAKING A DECISION
REGARDING A VOLUNTARY DEFAULT, SHORT SALE, FORECLOSURE OR
BANKRUPTCY. THIS INFORMATION IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR OBTAINING TAX
& LEGAL ADVICE REGARDING AN INDIVIDUAL SITUATION. 2010
Law Offi ce of Joan M. Grimes. 8660 Brentwood Blvd., Suite B,
Brentwood, California 94513 (925) 323-7772
-
16A | THEPRESS.NET ENDORSEMENTS OCTOBER 29, 2010
Becnel plus Cushing or Barr in BrentwoodIn the midst of a
lingering recession, residents
of Brentwood will go to the polls with an advantage. The city
has a balanced budget, 30-percent reserves, a fully funded police
force and decreasing crime statistics, all of which allow voters to
cast their ballots with an eye toward building for the future
instead
of digging out of the fi scal hole others fi nd themselves in.
To make the most of the situation, The Press
recommends voting for Chris Becnel and either Jim Cushing or
Steve Barr for City Council.
Becnel, an attorney and accountant, has served four years on the
council. He has played an important role in maintaining the citys
viability and in enabling it to build a new civic center in a
favorable construc-tion climate, saving 36 percent $18 million of
the
expected cost. His service on the citys Neighborhood Improvement
Committee helped overhaul arcane code-enforcement rules and begin a
program to put pressure on banks to maintain foreclosed homes or
face increasingly steep fi nes.
In June he backed Measure F, which would have expanded the citys
borders and allowed more hous-ing. He took some heat when the
measure lost, but its important to note that 43 percent of the
voters not a majority, but still a signifi cant number agreed with
his position and voted in favor of Measure F. Whether or not hes in
agreement with everyone on any particular issue, his solid record
on the council has earned him a second term.
Jim Cushing is a commercial real estate broker who has worked
with investors to build new busi-nesses. He believes Brentwood is
an ideal place for alternative-energy jobs and would like to see
the city
assist small businesses by helping expose them to new markets
over the Internet. He would capitalize on the citys heritage and
surroundings by encouraging sustainable agriculture, and glean
ideas from other American cities located on the fi ne line between
farmland and suburbia about how to nurture the success of both.
Cushing is also a former planning commissioner in Brentwood, and
as such has a strong foundation in how things get done here. For
ideas about economic development and the experience to help bring
those ideas to fruition, we believe Cushing is the best choice.
Steve Barr, however, brings a lot to the table as well. He has
devoted decades of community service for various nonprofi ts,
including a year as chairman of the CornFest. His willingness to
serve the com-munity was further demonstrated when he was elected
to the Liberty Union High School Board of Trustees,
where he helped maintain a balanced budget while improving
student performance. When his construc-tion business was caught in
the real estate collapse, Barr showed fl exibility and foresight by
launching a new small business aimed at energy conservation.
Many people came to Brentwood for its com-munity spirit. If you
want to maintain the small-town heart and soul of Brentwood while
at the same time acquiring the fl exibility, skills and hard work
required to face the future, we recommend a vote for Steve
Barr.
The other candidates in the race, Joel Bryant, Kim McIntosh and
Scott Davis, should be com-mended for bringing their unique
perspectives to the race. But we believe Becnel, along with either
Cushing or Barr, are the best choices for Brentwood this
November.
To comment, visit www.thepress.net.
EDITORIAL
Dawson, Graves and MacVittie in DBThe town of Discovery Bay is a
maturing
community, transitioning into the next decade with plans for a
community center, more family-oriented recreation and other
amenities to increase the quality
of life for the towns 10,000 residents.
During this transitional period, we believe that the Com-
munity Services District Board of Directors needs strong leaders
who share a vision for Discovery Bays future. We endorse incumbents
Brian Dawson and Kevin Graves, both of whom have displayed
leader-ship in their fi rst 10 months on the board. Dawson and
Graves have only just gotten their feet wet in Discovery Bays
political waters, but wed like to see what fresh ideas theyll bring
in the future.
Discovery Bay also needs a connection to its history, so were
endorsing Walter MacVittie, a former member of the Discovery Bay
Municipal Advisory Council, whose knowledge about the community
spans decades. We believe MacVittie will help move the town
forward.
Dawson is a proven community advocate, serv-ing an infl uential
role in the expansion of local parks, and if elected would
encourage the development of a series of youth programs. While
Dawson wants to bring more positive change to Discovery Bay, hes
also
aware of the weary economic climate and believes that fi scally
responsible measures must be taken to eliminate government waste
and create a budget that supports the water, sewer and landscaping
needs of the town.
Graves, who also advocates smart growth and a fi scally
responsible CSD, has shown courage by taking over the role of board
president, uniting a formerly divisive group and keeping the board
on task, running meetings with effi ciency. He marries local and
bigger-scale issues when he says the CSD should fi nish install-ing
water meters as soon as possible, if only because water
conservation and the Delta preservation are criti-cal, and
Discovery Bay should consume less water.
Having lived in Discovery Bay for 22 years, MacVitties knowledge
of the community will be valuable in guiding the town into the
future. He has attended CSD meetings regularly to stay on top of
the issues, and his community service record, which includes 10
years on the East County Regional Plan-ning Commission, allows him
to better understand the regional agencies that interact with
Discovery Bay.
We commend candidates Jonathan Silver and Chris Steele for their
interest in serving their com-munity and expressing passion for
their hometown, and we hope theyll continue to stay involved in
local politics.
To comment, visit www.thepress.net.
EDITORIAL
Simonsen, Agopian for Antioch CouncilOn the leading edge when
real estate and the
overall economy boomed, Antioch has suffered just as prominently
when it all came tumbling down. Blighted, foreclosed homes dot
every neighborhood;
empty storefronts haunt every shopping center. The number of
police is down; crime is up. The city
is nearly broke, and faces harsher, deeper cuts to the
already-skeletal staff if solutions arent found now.
Digging out of the hole wont be easy, and it will take all the
energy and experience the City Coun-cil can muster to do it. There
are two open seats, and we believe Gary Agopian and Arne Simonsen
should fi ll them.
Agopians ideas are well integrated and forward looking. His
desire to partner more with schools and focus on youth would not
only reduce crime; it would help prepare the civic leaders,
business owners and skilled labor that will ultimately be Antiochs
solution
for the future.Agopian also offers fresh energy, enthusiasm
and a positive outlook critical to morale inside and outside
City Hall. He is also willing to stand tough when bargaining with
unions or making further service cuts, if needed.
Simonsen is also willing to be tough when it comes to fi scal
matters. During his previous council term, he led the way in
addressing employee retire-ment benefi ts, a subject that must come
up again soon. He has also proven his ability to work on a regional
level by helping secure money to widen Highway 4 and working with
Contra Costa Housing Authority to improve the Section 8 housing
program in Antioch.
Like all the candidates in this race, Agopian and Simonsen
understand the importance of eco-nomic development, and both bring
practical experi-ence that will be useful. Simonsen previously
helped bring Macys, Lowes and many other businesses along the Lone
Tree corridor to town; Agopian
has nearly three decades experience as a business manager, and
has worked on the citys Economic Development Commission. And both
say Antioch must work closely with Brentwood, Oakley and Pitts-burg
to take advantage of regional populations and resources in working
out its own plan for the future.
Its much easier to be a leader during the boom times. The fact
that fi ve people were willing to stand up and ask for the job of
helping Antioch recover is most commendable. Martha Parsons, Wade
Harper and Reggie Moore have brought their own voices to the
conversation, and should be thanked for their contribution. Parsons
should also be thanked for jumping into a full-blown crisis and fi
lling a two-year seat, a tough job under any circumstances.
All the candidates have points to recommend them, but we believe
the mix of skills and outlook best suited for Antioch today are
found in Gary Ago-pian and Arne Simonsen.
To comment, visit www.thepress.net.
EDITORIALThe Press Newspapers are adjudicated in the the cities
of Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley, and the Delta Judicial District
of Contra Costa County.
No part of this publication may be reproduced for commerce or
trade without written permission from the publisher.
BRENTWOOD PRESS & PUBLISHING CORPORATIONNational Award
Winning Newspapers
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Manager Greg Robinson
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Lonnie de Lambert
Business Manager Heather ReidAdvertising Manager Ed Feldman
Main Office / Brentwood248 Oak St. Brentwood, CA 94513
Phone 925-634-1441 Fax 925-634-1975Web site:
www.thepress.net
Advertising 925-634-1441, ext. 115Classifieds 925-634-1441, ext.
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Editorial e-mail [email protected]
Connelley and Pope best for OakleyOakley turned 11 this year,
and the city with the
small-town aura will be facing some big decisions in the coming
years decisions that hinge largely on Oakleys growth and
infrastructure and how the city amends its
general plan. Oakley will need leaders with the vision, heart
and determination to guide it toward the future,
and The Press believes Bruce Connelley and Randy Pope are the
best candidates to do that.
Connelley, a member of the City Council since 2005, is a
tireless advocate and supporter of the commu-
nity. He served as the chairman of the Almond Festival for 10
years, is a former Citizen of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and
past president of the Delta Lions Club.
A man of his convictions, Connelley doesnt hesitate to disagree
with the majority when necessary, as evidenced in his recent
objection to the Contra Costa Fire Protection Districts move to
close two fi re stations in East County. He has a keen
understanding of and affection for the Delta and how current issues
such as 2-Gates and water conservation affect our lives locally and
regionally.
A new but welcome face on the Oakley political scene is Randy
Pope, a candidate with strong ties to
public safety and a clear vision for Oakleys future. A police
sergeant with the Oakland Police Department and the married father
of two young boys with a daughter on the way Pope embraces the
citys agricul-tural history and small-town feel, but is also
committed to creating local jobs and attracting quality businesses
to town to help pay for Oakleys roads, parks and other
infrastructure.
He also supports the expansion and development of the 55-acre
park on the old Emerson property as an attractive destination not
only for Oakley, but all of East County.
Oakley is a community with a big heart, located
in the heart of the Delta, and as such needs leaders who will
guide with a heartfelt sense of Oakleys past and a modern approach
to its future. We believe Connelley and Pope offer both.
Oakley Councilwoman Carol Rios should be commended for her long
and diligent service to the community and her ongoing support of
Oakley and its residents. Candidates Joseph Klinge, Rodger McKeon
and Paul Seger should also be thanked for their interest in serving
the community, but we believe Bruce Connel-ley and Randy Pope are
the best choices for the Oakley City Council.
To comment, visit www.thepress.net.
EDITORIAL
-
OCTOBER 29, 2010 THEPRESS.NET | 17A
Parsons good for AntiochEditor:
As a resident of Antioch for 13 years and of Rivertown, Antioch
for nearly half that time (yes, we have a river) I have learned to
care for my town like a wayward teenager she has so much potential,
but has not had the right kind of infl uences and not enough
care.
In an era of do-little city councils and underwhelming
leadership, one of our council members and current City Council
candidates stands out Martha Parsons. In addition to her being an
exemplar of respon-sive city government (thats how it is supposed
to be), she understands that she, and the city she helps direct,
works for U.S., the citizens.
When our neighborhood has an issue, she will not only look into
the problem, but she will also help solve the problem, even if it
means she does it herself. Martha Parsons gets her hands dirty. Of
the many formal and informal city cleanups, Martha is there. Martha
Parsons is good for Antioch.
Martha has done what no one else on the council has done, which
is to get and keep the interest of the Water Emergency
Trans-portation Authority, and to secure state funds in hopes of
obtaining a ferry boat station for Antioch, a project that could
help revive downtown (Rivertown) Antioch.
If you want someone who will actu-ally get things done for our
city and who genuinely cares for our city and will work for us,
vote for Martha Parsons, Antioch council. She has already worked
hard to earn my vote.
John DodsonRivertown, Antioch
No on PEditor:
Times are not easy in East County and nothing is more valuable
than a job.
But wait, now, Antioch has the chance to make things even worse.
Just when we hope that things might get better, Measure P will
allow us to strike another blow against businesses in Antioch.
Measure P will only raise sales tax in An-tioch; it will remain
the same elsewhere in East County. Other cities will be more than
happy to welcome our businesses. Why would a busi-ness in its right
mind even consider locating in Antioch? The future jobs and tax
base will grow more outside of Antioch due to our own foolishness
unless we Vote no on P.
Antioch is the only city in our region
that refuses to deal with the crisis in a responsible way. I
urge you to vote No on P. Then, vote for grownup leadership with
Arne Simonsen and Gary Agopian. This will give our city the best
chance to get back on a posi-tive track toward a realistic future.
We have done this in our own homes. Now we expect the City of
Antioch to deal with it.
Dont fall for the scare tactics. Yes, the public sector also
needs to make adjustments to the new reality, just as each of our
families adjusts.
Agopian and Simonsen are committed to a safe Antioch. No on P
will allow us to improve our jobs and tax base to support public
safety.
Terry RamusAntioch
P is a slick trickEditor:
Antiochs Measure P is a slick trick on voters. Vote No on the
unnecessary Trans-actions and Use Tax.
Elected offi cials, city staff and other select employees have
much to personally gain by its passage. Measure P is nothing more
than more taxes paid that only go into the General Fund, with no
required funding for anything (Section 3-5.415). The council-picked
Citizens Oversight Committee cannot enforce where the money goes,
nor is able to punish anyone who spends the money elsewhere.
Antioch public safety and manpower is-sues can also be pointed
out as contributed to by certain greedy employee groups primarily
looking out for themselves and their pocket-books. The publics
safety hasnt been at the forefront. Ive complained for many years
that our citys public safety was being jeopardized by certain
self-serving employee groups. They preferred increases in their own
existing members wages and overall benefi ts, not the money instead
paying for more manpower.
The Antioch Police Offi cers Association in particular, when
given the choice of more manpower or increases in wages and benefi
ts, chose only for themselves. The APOAs recent postcard mailed to
you is therefore very hypocritical. I almost had to laugh at their
obvious twisting of the facts, if it werent so underhanded what
they were claiming. Its the same old self-serving use of public
safety as a shield against really telling the public the reasons
involved.
The APOA had a very good previous retirement plan, for which
they paid none
of their traditional 9-percent share (the city paid it for them,
at great expense). Then their retirement plan was enhanced to the
even costlier 3 percent at 50 retirement plan, with the city once
again fully paying for the additional greater costs. Still the APOA
chose for themselves, not for more manpower.
And, lets not even debate into their six-year contract,
guaranteed being second highest paid, other additional costly
increased benefi ts, etc. Their support for passage of Measure P
also is so that they will receive their deferred raise(s), as
agreed, as other top-level employees also expect to receive soon.
If they each paid their share of their retirement costs alone,
thered be more than enough money for more manpower and programs,
and no tax increases.
Ask them about the above. Check out their contracts. Dont be
fooled. Vote No on Antiochs Measure P tax increases.
Ralph A. HernandezAntioch
No on Prop 19Editor:
As the director of a community coalition committed to reducing
drugs and alcohol with our teens, I am asking the voters to oppose
Proposition 19: the legalization of marijuana.
Legalizing marijuana will give our kids the impression that
using drugs and mari-juana in particular is OK. Under federal law,
using marijuana is an illicit drug. In addition, I do not believe
that the street dealers will diminish, due to the simple fact that
their business will increase since people under the age of 21
cannot buy it legally.
If Prop 19 passes, it would allow licensed marijuana dealers to
advertise and sell without any restrictions, including moving in
wherever they want. How do you feel about this business moving into
your neighborhood or next to your childs school?
Medicinal marijuana use has already created havoc in our
communities, as I have seen it used in an illegal manner. Allowing
it to be legalized for personal use will just create more problems
for everyone.
Please vote No on Proposition 19!Traci Cross
Antioch
Yes on Bethel Islands Measure XEditor:
A yes vote on the Bethel Island Measure X will ensure that our
levee and homes will
be protected. A no vote could result in losing local control and
having either the county or the state take charge.
Based on how neglected this island has been in the past, God
help us if that were to occur. In these tough times, no one wants
to see cost increases. However, the cost to individual parcel
owners is very reasonable when considering the alternatives.
$252.29 per year per parcel is cheap insurance to secure the
protection we so desperately need.
Until recently, there has been no formal opposition to the
measure and the measure has won the endorsement of the Contra Costa
Times. However, in the last few days, billboard-size bright yellow
banners have been placed throughout the community op-posing Measure
X.
This opposition is coming from one of the islands largest land
and business owners, whose tax burden will obviously increase
dis-proportionately compared to the individual parcel owner. Even
though this individual would stand to lose much more that anyone
else on the island, he has decided, obvious for economic reasons,
to spend a considerable sum on signs to oppose this measure.
If you received and read the most recent newsletter from
B.I.M.I.D. explaining all the issues surrounding this measure, you
understand the importance to the island that it pass. If you for
some reason did not receive the newsletter, extra copies are
available at the B.I.M.I.D. offi ce. Please Vote Yes on X.
Joe StokleyBethel Island
Backing BarrEditor:
We have been in Brentwood since 2002 but have been around long
enough to know our city needs the expertise and enthusiasm of a
longtime citizen with a history of com-munity service and
leadership.
Mr. Steve Barr has been exemplary of the kind of elected offi
cial we can depend upon to bring sage advice and hard work to the
offi ce of Brentwood city councilman. He is very smart, hard
working, an untiring volunteer and he knows how to work with others
to bring a consensus among his peers. He is known for his long-term
contributions of skill and labor to make Brentwood a better place
to live.
Recently he was instrumental in the resounding success of the
summer musical
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
see Letters page 18A
-
18A | THEPRESS.NET OCTOBER 29, 2010
theater Broadway Under the Stars, and the Brentwood Art, Wine
& Jazz Festival. These are just two examples of his giving
contribu-tions to our citys art and cultural life. He believes in
raising the standard through bet-terment of the community.
As a business owner, he knows how to help develop a vibrant
business community and will devote himself wholeheartedly in
getting good business expansion and employ-ment to Brentwood. His
record as a trustee and as president of the Liberty Union High
School District demonstrates the kind of leader we need on the City
Council.
It is no wonder that so many leaders and outstanding citizens of
Brentwood support Steve for City Council. Please join me and vote
for Steve Barr at the election for Brent-wood City Council.
Jack GaughanBrentwood
McNerney takes actionEditor:
Hes not the stereotypical politician. Hes one of us.
Jerry McNerney is not a career politi-cian. He has faced the
same challenges we face, and knows what its like to run a small
business and have to make ends meet.
Congressman McNerney is visible, ap-proachable, willing to
listen and wants to hear from his constituents. Within weeks of his
election, Congressman McNerney began holding Congress at Your
Corner events here in Brentwood, allowing those interested to meet
with him one-on-one to express con-
cerns or ask for assistance.When he asked members of the
Brent-
wood Chamber of Commerce what local businesses needed from their
congressman, he was told more information on resources available to
small businesses. He responded by organizing an Economic Task Force
meet-ing in Brentwood, bringing together local, state and federal
offi cials who were able to answer questions and offer guidance to
help small businesses address the impact of the declining
economy.
On a personal note, Congressman McNerneys staff helped my
daughter navi-gate the mortgage crisis maze to successfully modify
her existing loan and avoid foreclo-sure, allowing her to keep her
home here in Brentwood.
Jerry McNerney has a track record of delivering for the
communities he repre-sents. He brought a new veterans medical
center to the area, creating 900 new jobs. He helped pass laws to
provide tax relief to small businesses and wrote a bill to close
tax loopholes that big corporations use to send jobs overseas.
Jerry McNerney is also standing up to Washington, D.C.
politicians who want to increase their own salaries. Hes fought to
stop automatic pay raises for members of Congress.
His track record regarding veterans issues is outstanding. There
is no stronger advocate in Congress for our veterans. In addition
to the new veterans medical center in our area, Congressman
McNerney drafted legislation that has since been signed into law to
improve care for veterans with traumatic brain injuries. Thanks to
Jerry McNerney,
veterans will now receive the medical care theyve earned.
Hes visible, approachable, willing to listen and takes action.
Im voting for Jerry McNerney on Nov. 2. I encourage you to join me
in allowing Congressman McNerney to continue to support our
community.
Kathi ReedBrentwood
Barr is best for BrentwoodEditor:
If Brentwood residents only knew Steve Barr like I do, they
would have no doubt in their mind who will best serve us on the
Brentwood City Council.
I have known Steve since the fi fth grade, and there is no one I
know who works as hard as he does, and it doesnt make a differ-ence
if he is working in his own business or volunteering in the
community. He is always the fi rst to arrive and the last to go
home. If you have ever worked side by side with Steve, you know
what I mean.
I cannot start to list all the projects Steve has been asked to
help with here in Brent-wood, everything from pouring the concrete
for Soroptomist Square and the gazebo to using his Bobcat to pick
up garbage in the middle of the night after the 96 and 97 CornFest,
or driving a carload of Liberty wrestlers to San Diego for a
tournament to making sure we had a snack bar at Liberty after the
old one burned down. Thats right: after the old snack bar was lost,
Liberty Athletic Boosters President Steve Barr raised the funds for
the purchase of the trailer now being used at the LHS football fi
eld.
Your vote for Steve will ensure that we
have someone on the council who has a sense of history and is
not afraid of a little hard work. You may have talked with Steve in
the last few weeks as he walked your neighbor-hood, talking to
voters. Lets put somebody on the City Council who knows the issues
we face in Brentwood, who at the same time has already worked to
make it better.
A vote for Steve Barr guarantees educa-tion will remain a top
priority for Brentwood residents, while also making sure the local
business community has a seat at the table over the next four
years.
Mike TagueBrentwood
Bryant and Davis for councilEditor:
In our city of Brentwood, our local elec-tion for two City
Council seats is key.
The apparent 80-percent disconnect between our current council
and the residents of Brentwood was evident in the outcome of the
June elections Measure F. If you look at online campaign-fi nance
reports, we see incumbent Becnel and challenger Cushing have
received dubious campaign contribu-tions from local homebuilders
and their affi liates, developers and architects that could create
a confl ict of interest in what should be their independent
decision-making role as a councilmember.
Conversely, we see Scott Davis, who at fi rst fi ling didnt have
contributions to report, has received backing from residents and
even returned a $1,000 contribution from an entity in which he
could not support their activities;
Letters from page 17A
see Letters page 19A
-
OCTOBER 29, 2010 THEPRESS.NET | 19A
and Joel Bryant, pre-school owner and police chaplain, whose
contributions are from individuals in the community and endorsed by
police and fi re.
In the Oct. 13 Candidates Forum, both Davis and Bryant displayed
forceful convic-tions to listening to the residents of Brent-wood
and to work to market our bountiful resources to future
job-producing businesses. This is who we need to govern as we move
forward in Brentwood: representatives who are smart, honest, have
common sense, produce novel ideas and who are non-biased and
objective in their analysis of the items brought forth to council
for their consider-ation.
We look forward to residents ideas and concerns being sought and
weighed in shap-ing Brentwoods future as we continue our monitored
growth in a prolonged uncertain economic climate. Lets cut the
puppet strings, shall we? Vote Davis and Bryant onto Brentwoods
City Council on Nov. 2.
Kathy Griffi nBrentwood
Elect Kim McIntoshEditor:
Despite many of our weary pleas for change, its looking a lot
like politics as usual. The airwaves are clogged with mud; our
mailboxes are stuffed with shiny mislead-ing propaganda. Even at
the local level, the landscape is literally littered with obnoxious
campaign signs touting empty slogans.
In the race for Brentwood City Council there is one candidate
who stands out as refreshingly different. That candidate is Kim
McIntosh.
You might be quick to dismiss me as biased simply because I was
smart enough to marry her a decade and a half ago. Whatever. I say:
who better to attest to her character and capabilities? Kim has a
quiet strength. She is wise, dedicated, loyal, talented, creative.
In every endeavor, she rises to leadership with the respect and
admiration of those around her. Since we moved to Brentwood, her
pri-mary endeavor has been the formative years of our three sons.
She is at least 51 percent responsible for how amazing they
are!
Kim gets the job done without a lot of fanfare. Thats how shes
run her campaign, and thats how she will serve on the Brent-wood
City Council. Its that simple. You can vote for the guy with the
most cardboard on the vacant lots, or you can vote for the one
candidate whos been quietly building mo-mentum among the
extraordinary everyday people of Brentwood.
As we keep commuting on Vasco and Highway 4 because we love our
families and want to keep our homes, Kim will represent us. At the
store, school and sports fi eld, she will continue to know the real
pulse of Brentwood and speak up on behalf of our frustrations,
hopes and ideas.
In this election, dont miss the oppor-tunity to vote for the one
candidate who will bring common sense and collaboration with the
community back to the Brentwood City Council. Elect Kim
McIntosh.
Jeff McIntoshBrentwood
Moral hazard and voter apathyEditor:
Earlier this year we were notifi ed of a
discrepancy in our water service level and the associated fees
charged by the City of Brentwood. We, like 630 other Brentwood
households, were overcharged due to a mis-take made by a city
employee. For us it was nearly 11 years and approximately
$1,100.
In response to my public-records request for documents related
to this matter, I was notifi ed that no records exist and that
California Civil Procedure Code Section 338 let the city set a time
limit of three years in which a customer may seek relief from a
billing error. Due to the fact that it was a billing error, the
matter was handled admin-istratively and a staff report, resolution
or minutes were never prepared. It took multiple departments,
several city employees time and 10 days to notify me that no
records exist on the matter.
We received a small credit and poof without a trace, upwards of
$300,000 disap-pears within the citys coffers. There is no
recourse; there is no paper trail. It was a simple administrative
error, an annoyance. There is no record of anyone thinking of
refunding the money to the citizens. The money was already in the
bank. It is not an issue of whether or not the city has the money;
it does. At all levels of government the public sectors feelings of
entitlement is out of control.
Where is the government of the people, by the people and for the
people? Moral hazard arises because an individual or institu-tion
does not take the full consequences and responsibilities of its
actions, and therefore has a tendency to act less carefully than it
otherwise would, leaving another party
to hold some responsibility for the conse-quences of those
actions. It is rewarding bad behavior. We see it from Wall Street
and corporate boardrooms to city halls and state capitals to the
Washington, D.C.
Regardless of where you stand on the is-sues, a democracy needs
participation. Please take time to vote. Study the voter guide,
check out the candidates and vote to the best of your knowledge. It
is a privilege and an honor to vote. Exercising your right to vote
is one of the best ways I know to honor our veterans and past
generations of Americans. All gave some; some gave all. Please give
of yourself this week and vote.
Jeff SchultsBrentwood
Letters from page 18A
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see Letters page 20A
-
20A | THEPRESS.NET OCTOBER 29, 2010
OOAKLEYOAKLEYPRESS
2 02010
Priorities at the polling placeEditor:
Like all voters, I have a list of priorities when I consider
candidates for offi ce. Those priorities include: a sense of
integrity, a con-cern for those struggling fi nancially, a concern
for the environment, a determination to im-prove public schools and
a pledge to maintain a risk-free social security system.
Congressional candidate Jerry McNer-ney meets all of my priority
expectations. He has served us well in the past four years and will
undoubtedly serve us well the next four years.
Carole A. MainBrentwood
Becnel fiscal responsibility,foresight
Editor:In this very pivotal election, it is crucial
for voters to cut through the rhetoric and noise and get to the
issues and facts.
Four years ago, one of the important is-sues that Chris Becnel
ran on was cutting the crime associated with Section 8 housing and
the quality of life issues that come along with it. Becnel met
frequently with concerned and frustrated homeowners and led the
council to adopt measures to make Brentwood less desirable to
out-of-town landlords.
In the worst economy this country has seen in 70 years,
Brentwood has been able to avoid the crippling layoffs impacting
other cit-ies and, in fact, has a surplus thanks in part to Becnels
fi scal responsibility and foresight.
Chris Becnel has earned another term.David Roche
Brentwood
Barr will make Brentwood the bestEditor:
Next week, Brentwood voters are going to have an opportunity to
bring a fresh voice to the City Council. I view this as an
impor-tant opportunity for Brentwood to take a step forward, by
electing a representative who has proven his care and devotion to
our town by coaching Little League, volunteering his time and money
to beautify our downtown and most important, helping support and
manage our local schools by serving as a school board member.
Steve Barr is one of us: a small busi-ness owner, a longtime
taxpayer and a real advocate for Brentwood s small-business
community. This is nothing new; Steve has been helping Brentwood
since the early 80s.
We share the same vision for Brentwood: making our city the best
place to do business in East County. We need a councilmember who
shares the same values as us, who will fi ght for our interests for
the long term. Steve is that guy.
Donna SpencerDirector, Brentwood Chamber of
CommerceExecutive Director, Cortona Park
Senior Living at Brentwood
Oppose developer influenceEditor:
As reported recently, developer advocate Tom Kochs group has
bestowed cash or inde-pendent expenditures on Brian Dawson and
Kevin Graves in our little CSD election.Koch has advocated on
behalf of his
developer friends for years in our county, and we have more
homes than the market will support, foreclosures, and dangerously
poor infrastructure to show for it. He and his friends (Mary and
David Piepho, developers like Hofmann, and some local area
politi-cians who supported the failed Measure F in Brentwood) have
led us down a path that has closed two of our local fi re
stations.
This should be no surprise, since the Piephos led the way for
Dawson and Graves to be appointed to the DB CSD last year. Both are
now clearly in the developers corner.
We have already seen Graves hold private meetings with the
developer Hofmann over the community center this year. I am afraid
that Graves will do whatever he can to please the Hofmann Company
and that will not bode well for Discovery Bay.
We have a looming confl ict over whether or not there is
water/sewer capacity to serve Hofmanns 600 vacant lots in the lakes
de-velopment. Hofmann will argue they already paid for this
capacity but there is a real issue regarding the Hofmann-supplied
assump-tions and variables used back when the capac-ity was
increased.
This will not begin to play out until next year but it is clear
to me that this sort of po-litical special-interest money only
comes into obscure elections such as this one when there is
something specifi c to be gained by those paying. I believe
electing Graves and Dawson will end up costing every resident of
this community by refusing to stand up against developer
issues.
Developer special interests are not good
for the residents of this community. This kind of issue also
emerged in the last DB CSD election, and the Piepho-supported
candidate who was the direct recipient of special-inter-est
(developer) support was defeated. If the voters of DB know who is
supporting the candidates I am confi dent they will act in the best
interest of the community and look to-ward the candidates who are
not beholding to those seeking to profi t from further exploiting
the town of DB.
A vote for Graves and Dawson is a vote for developer advocates
(Koch, Hofmann, Piepho) and against the people of Discovery Bay. We
need to elect leaders who will protect our homes and community
against these infl uences.
Don FlintDiscovery Bay
Vote for less babysittingEditor:
My name is John Craig and I am run-ning for one of the open
positions on the Byron Union School Board. I have lived in the area
for over eight years, and have had two children go through the
Byron district and one currently attending Discovery Bay
Elementary. I am married and manage a tire facility in
Stockton.
I believe school uniforms would benefi t the district and
students, noting that the An-tioch school district will switch to
uniforms in January 2011. I would like to see the schools return
more to teaching and spend less time babysitting. The goal is to
have parents become more involved in their childrens
Letters from page 19A
see Letters page 21A
-
OCTOBER 29, 2010 THEPRESS.NET | 21A
Trevors Weekly Mortgage MattersBy Trevor Frey
Asepsis for Assessments
Advertisement
To have an aseptic operating room is, according to
Dictionary.com, to have an operating room that is free or freed
from having pathogenic microorganisms. In other words sterile, or
clean. And although the operating room and the real estate market
are two very diff erent places, parallels can still be drawn
between the two: A patient needs to know what to expect both before
and aft er surgery just as a home buyer needs to know what to
expect both before and aft er purchasing a home. In both cases it
is the professionals job to handle both the prep work and the
follow-ups.
A Realtor, or lenders, prep work should begin with pulling
property tax records for any potential home their buyer is eying to
purchase. Th is will ensure there are no mi-croorganisms, or
special assessments, hiding in plain sight and the buyer is fully
aware of their projected property tax bill. As an unsterile
operating table would wreak havoc on a patients attempt to recover,
an undis-closed special assessment would wreak havoc on a new
homeowners budget. Undisclosed property taxes are a buyers worst
nightmare and can easily be avoided from the start with the right
conversation between buyer and trusted professional.
You would never sit-down with your surgeon (or doctor), with
plans of going under the knife, and only review half of the
procedure that lay ahead of you. Before
allowing someone to operate youd make sure you reviewed chart,
tracked every step of the procedure, and more than likely youd then
go home and do your own research online. Why should it be any diff
erent when attempting to purchase a home, every possible rock
should be uncovered. Ask your Realtor or lender about the projected
property taxes, make sure they break down the amount that will be
due and when this amount will be due, and then go home and click on
https://taxcolp.co.contra-costa.ca.us/taxpaymentrev3/summary/account_lookup.jsp.
By simply entering the address in question youll be able to
instantly view the last three years worth of property taxes for
that specifi c address. From there you can diagnose whether or not
that property carries any special assessments that are not part of
the properties upfront price tag.
Although you pay your doctor, Realtor, and lender, to protect
your best interests at the end of the day everyone is human.
Oper-ating rooms arent always aseptic just as spe-cial assessments
are sometimes overlooked. Do your own prep work to ensure a smooth
operation, check for each property for special assessments.
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.
school work and activities. We can continue to improve our
schools together, even with looming budget constraints.
Having met all of the candidates, everyone of them are good,
capable people who would do their best for what is right for the
district. However, I would appreciate your support and vote for one
of the open positions, and vow to do my best for your children.
John CraigDiscovery Bay
Connelley most qualifiedEditor:
Im a little bit confused. We have six people running for the
Oakley City Council, and four of them Roger McKeon, Randy Pope,
Paul Seger and Joseph Klinge accord-ing to their candidates
statement, have never been involved in Oakley.
They havent volunteered for anything. They dont belong to any
community groups in Oakley nor have they in any way given of
themselves to the betterment of Oakley. I have to ask why they
think theyre qualifi ed to run for City Council. Its like applying
for a job when you dont have any experience and asking for the
managers position. It doesnt make sense.
Then you have Carol Rios, who has been on the council since the
city incorporated and has been involved in the community in the
past. Maybe it is time for her to retire after 10 years, but at
least she is qualifi ed. The other incumbent, Bruce Connelley, has
been con-tributing to the community for over 20 years.
Hes been on the council for fi ve years
and has brought new light to the old regime. Hes has been
president of the Oakley Lions Club three times, a show of
leadership. He has also participated on the Board of the Chamber of
Commerce and chaired the Oakley Almond Festival for many years. Hes
been proactive in protecting our shoreline and the Delta as a
whole. He has also had the experience of putting his kids through
the Oakley School system.
If you ask me, Bruce is the most quali-fi ed of all. As for the
four newbies, maybe they ought to get more engaged in Oakley before
they make uneducated, empty prom-ises for who-knows-what reason
just to get elected. I recommend Bruce Connelley for Oakley City
Council.
Mark MedinaOakley
Apology owedEditor:
I havent written about my wifes Area 5 County Board of Education
campaign pre-cisely because Cynthia Ruehlig is a resolutely
independent personality standing on her own merits.
I am compelled, though, to answer a denigrating misfact. Cynthia
was accused in an Oct. 20 (Contra Costa) Times editorial of
misrepresenting herself as a Nonprofi t Administrator. Cynthias
designation is transparent. She completed a two-year study in
Nonprofi t Management at the California State University East Bay
and fi led her cre-dential with the County Elections Offi ce.
My wife proudly acknowledged herself
Letters from page 20A
see Letters page 22A
-
22A | THEPRESS.NET OCTOBER 29, 2010
as a due diligence clerk (County Child Protective Services) in a
June, 2010 letter to the editor; as working class employee on her
website, www.cynthiaruehlig.com; and as a clerk in her Times
recorded interview. Why tabloid journalism?
The editorial conveniently ignores the election manual, which
states a candidate may elect occupation or vocation. Webster defi
nes vocation as a calling, pursuit, passion. Cynthia pointedly defi
nes her vocation.
Former computer teacher, business-woman, church webmaster, fi
ve-time foster parent and co-founder of the Antioch Music
Foundation, Cynthia writes grants resulting in thousands of dollars
for school instru-ments, fi eld trips and community concerts.
Unfazed by neither fear nor favor, Cyn-thia is owed an
apology.
Walter RuehligAntioch
City shouldget down to business
Editor:To irresponsible pet owners: I have lived
in Brentwood for fi ve years. I used to reside in San Ramon.
Currently, I am having issues with my neighbors pets, specifi cally
his two very large dogs. The dogs seem to be people friendly;
however, they defecate on my lawn and my surrounding neighbors
properties as well.
This activity has gone on for four years now and it is an
ongoing problem. These pets continue to do their business because
their owner is irresponsible and obviously does not have any
respect for his neighbors and their properties. I have made several
inquiries to the city and they inform me that there is no current
code to enforce pet owners to pick up after their pets. This is
absolutely ridiculous. There should be a code drawn up by the City
Council and written into Brentwoods code enforcement
violations.
I am quite tired of waking up every morning and noticing a giant
pile of fresh dog business on my lawn. The city needs to step up to
the plate and take action on irre-sponsible pet owners. People like
my arrogant neighbor should be fi ned for their inactions, just as
people are fi ned for not keeping up their properties or leaving an
inoperable car in their driveways.
I am sure that I am not the only indi-vidual who has this
problem in the city of Brentwood. At the same time, I have left
sev-eral notices on my neighbors door, informing him of his dogs
business on my lawn. The notices either get ignored or thrown away
because his animals continue to defecate on my lawn.
Every morning like clockwork, these animals do their business
and the problem is ongoing. Until enough people call the city of
Brentwood and complain like I do every month, this problem will
continue to exist.
Mike DeFazioBrentwood
Champions of chili charityEditor:
On Oct. 9, the Byron Community Li-brary Club held its third
annual Chili Cook-Off. The Bluegrass music was great and the 12
different chilis were interesting and tasty, as was the tri-tip
dinner.
We wish to thank the community and our sponsors for their
support! They are as follows: Wild Idol, Drill Tech, Unimin,
Houstan Orchard, Janessa White, Suzi at Bon Guustos,
Scrumdillyumptious, MJs Caf, Byron Caf, Valeros, Border Junction,
Leighton Construction, Subway, Discovery Bay Chiropractic, Kinders,
Crme de l