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Vol. 10, No. 4 YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER January 27, 2012

FOR MOVIE TIMES

SEE PAGE 5A

Business ............................. 22BCalendar ............................ 23BClassifieds ......................... 17BCop Logs ............................13AEntertainment ................. 13BFood .................................... 12BHealth & Beauty ..............21AMilestones ........................20AOpinion ..............................12ASports .................................23AWedding Planner .............. 1B

Primed forthe big day

Let our Wedding Planner help you sweat the details right now so you can relax on your wedding day. Page 1B

Residents can learn about the tax measure being considered for the June ballot.

Fire tax talkgo to news/WebExtras!

Science, tech, engineering, arts and math education take center stage.

Get STEAMedgo to news/press releases

Niners fans filled local sports bars only to see their heroes go down in defeat.

Blooper Sundaygo to multimedia/videos

Connect with The Press!Scan QR code with your smart phone.

Online now!WebExtras!

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www. thepress.netYour Hometown Website

Indy rock star ready for ring

An East County athlete has his rendezvous with immortality on Super Bowl Sunday in Indianapolis. Page 23A

Islands Time has come Tropical breezes are wafting into town thanks to a unique apparel and accessories boutique. Page 6A

State hands off Highway 4

Caltrans offi cials on Wednesday transferred control of Highway 4 to Brentwood and Oakley, making the Highway 4 Bypass the offi cial East County thoroughfare.

The transfer removes the highway distinction from Main Street in Oakley and Brentwood Boulevard in Brentwood, giving those cities control over street maintenance and development. What is now known as the High-way 4 Bypass becomes simply Highway 4. Caltrans will be re-sponsible for its upkeep.

Its a great feeling to fi nally accomplish this, said Oakley City Councilman Jim Frazier.

Staff has worked hard, and Ive been pushing and pushing and pushing, and we fi nally accom-plished the goal.

The celebration might be

subdued, however, due to the states budget crisis. Earlier this year, the California Supreme Court allowed the state govern-ments attempt to balance its

budget by ending Redevelop-ment Agencies (RDAs) and reap-ing the property tax money that cities collected from residents.

Brentwood and Oakley planned to use RDA money to make improvements to their heavily used thoroughfares.

There are so many ques-tions, and every city right now is trying to fi gure out what each city is going to do, said Brent-wood Mayor Bob Taylor. One rule does not fi t all.

Oakley City Manager Brian Montgomery said earlier this month that his city plans to re-vitalize Main Street, much as Brentwood did with its down-town sector. Frazier is confi dent

by Justin LaffertyStaff Writer

see Highway 4 page 30A

Vehicles make their way down Highway 4 between Brentwood and Oakley. Caltrans turned over control of Highway 4 to Brentwood and Oakley and give the Bypass the of cial highway designation.

Photo by Richard Wisdom

Town celebrates its finestDiscovery Bay residents honored their

own last weekend at the annual State of the Town gala. Sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and held at the Discovery Bay Country Club, the event featured presenta-tions from state representatives and local of-fi cials.

The evening celebrated the towns Citi-zen, Business and Teacher of the Year. This years winners were Kevin Graves (Citizen of the Year), Sasville Realtors (Business of the Year) and Discovery Bay Elementary teacher Kristin Ortega (Teacher of the Year). The semi-formal party included a reception, din-ner and presentations, followed by a silent auction. The event raises money for local causes and provides an overview of town gov-ernment and changes taking place within the community.

For Citizen of the Year Graves a cur-rent CSD board member, community sup-porter of veterans affairs and founder of the Some Gave All foundation the evening was

see Finest page 30A

by Rick LemyreStaff Writer

Discovery Bay Citizen of the Year Kevin Graves chats with his wife Leann at the State of the Town Dinner, where he was honored last weekend.

Photo by Fosster Gandrup

2A | THEPRESS.NET JANUARY 27, 2012

JANUARY 27, 2012 COMMUNITY THEPRESS.NET | 3A

Brentwood tightens big box reviews

Large scale retailers will be required to pass another round of scrutiny if they want to build in Brentwood, the City Council decided this week.

By unanimous vote, the council Tues-day approved a change to the citys mu-nicipal code that will require conditional use permits (CUPs) for all proposed retail stores of 75,000 square feet or more. Pre-viously, zoning on the seven parcels where such stores are allowed required develop-ers to undergo a design review only.

I think its a win, at least for to-night, said Brentwood resident Kathy Griffi n, one of several speakers at the meeting who have strenuously objected to the prospect of a big-box store such as Walmart being built on the 65-acre Sci-ortino Ranch property at the corner of Brentwood Boulevard and Sand Creek Road. Its another layer of review for the community.

By adding the CUP requirement, the city will now be able to better mitigate impacts a project might make on traffi c, urban decay and public safety. CUPs, which include public hearings, can add thousands of dollars and several weeks or months to the approval process, accord-ing to city staff.

But the damage that could be done to Brentwood by a large-scale retailer in

the wrong place merits the additional re-view, said resident John Johnson, no mat-ter how much such a store might mean in tax revenue.

We have an image that we sell thats worth more than what any big-box store can bring to Brentwood, he said.

Not everyone was happy with the new law. Reed Oate of New Urban Community Partners (NUCP), owners of Sciortino Ranch, told the council that the restrictions put a damper on bringing an anchor tenant to the project, which also includes apartments and other retail and offi ce uses. In addition to tax revenues it would bring to the city, Oate said, an an-chor is needed to attract other stores, res-taurants and businesses to a part of town that has been long neglected.

Also, he said, the states elimination of redevelopment districts that helped en-able the citys downtown improvements means that, without fees from develop-ment, there is no way to fund the Brent-wood Boulevard Master Plan, which is aimed at improving the blighted northern entrance to the city.

The possibility that a Walmart super-store might be part of the plan for Scior-tino Ranch came to light last year, trigger-ing public outcry. Concern for the impact such a store might make on the newly overhauled downtown core less than a mile away, as well as the neighborhoods in the Sciortino Ranch area, resulted in a special council meeting held late last year.

At that meeting, council members learned that not only was no CUP re-quired on the Sciortino property, none were required on any of the other six similarly zoned properties in the city. The council directed the citys Planning Com-mission to review the policy on large-scale retailers, but with two commissioners stepping down due to possible confl icts of interest, that body was unable to reach a consensus on how to proceed. The mat-ter was sent back to the council without a recommendation.

The city staffs review divided large-scale retailers into fi ve groups, including club stores, memberships stores and com-bination grocery/retail stores. The rec-ommendation from staff was to require

CUPs on combination stores of 90,000 square feet or larger. Currently, only three stores in the city are that large: The Home Depot (140,000 square feet), WinCo (100,000) and Kohls (96,000). The next largest is the Balfour Road Safeway at 66,000 square feet.

In the scenario suggested by staff, large retailers not selling both groceries and other products could still locate in the city after undergoing a design review only.

The council, however, chose to cut the square footage needed to trigger a CUP to 75,000 square feet, and to apply the new regulation to all large retailers, regardless of type.

Prior to the council vote, Brentwood businessman and developer John Casey voiced his opposition to the new regula-tion, saying that businesses are already leaving California because of onerous reg-ulations and high taxes. Adding the CUP step could result in less interest in Brent-wood, he said, which was like playing chicken with the citys economic future.

NUCP attorney Ed Schaefer said the reviews the property had already under-gone, including a detailed environmen-tal impact report, should be enough. He added that changing the rules after NUCP had spent thousands of dollars and sev-eral years complying with the existing

We have an image that we sell thats worth more than what any big-box store can bring to Brentwood.

John Johnson, resident

by Rick LemyreStaff Writer

see Big box page 30A

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Sassy, classy senior turns 111 in style

When you fi rst meet Opal Thompson, you cant avoid becoming entranced by the sassy seniors personality. She never leaves her room without her makeup on and her hair set, and shes happy to talk about current events or challenge you to a game of cards. With a warm smile and a twinkle to her eyes, Thomp-son wins over everyone she meets. And at 111, shes a person youll never forget.

When Mary Kay representative and Oakley resident Kimberly Victor heard about Thompson and her impressive life, she knew she wanted to do something to honor Thompsons birthday in style.

I fi rst met Opal when she was 109, said Victor. Shes such a amazing person, and Id always wanted to do something spe-cial for her, but I wasnt sure how to go about it. Then she showed me her collection of ear-rings this past Christmas, and I knew what I had to do.

During Victors last visit, Thompson dumped her collection of clip-on earrings on to her bed and showed Victor how many of them were damaged or missing their mate. Victor told her shed be back with a surprise. On Monday, after contacting her Mary Kay friends across the nation, Victor arrived at Thompsons home at the Diamond Ridge Health Care Center in Pittsburg with a basket of 111 pairs of earrings.

Opal, I brought you something really

special for your birthday, Victor announced when she walked into the recreation room.

A car? guessed Thompson, who cel-ebrated her birthday on Jan. 13.

No, silly, Victor replied.Oh, is it a plane? Thompson guessed

again, showing off her wit and spunky atti-tude.

As Victor placed the basket fi lled with earrings in front of her, Thompsons face lit up and she immediately began to pick through her new collection.

Ive never seen this many earrings all together in my life, Thompson said as she looked at the sparkly accessories. And Ive been around for quite a while.

Thompson never imagined shed make it to the age of 100, let alone 111, but she cred-its her longevity to a healthy diet and lifestyle. According to Thompsons great niece Glenda Coccimiglio, Thompson is indeed in good health. Aside from some hearing loss and oc-casional trouble remembering faces, shes spry and maintains a good temperament. She even has all of her own teeth.

Thompson, who never had her ears pierced, has loved clip-ons all her life. I just never grew out of them, Thompson said. Coccimiglio said shes always known her great aunt to be stylish, never leaving the house without a set or earrings that matched her wardrobe.

While the gift of 111 pairs of earrings was more than Thompson expected, noth-ing has topped her 105th birthday. That year she told her family she wanted to meet Dr. Phil McGraw, whose show she watched ev-ery weekday, so the family took a trip to the show, and since that fi rst meeting, McGraw has invited Thompson back each year for her birthday.

The family is currently planning this years trip, but to let Thompson know hes thinking about her, McGraw sent her two dozen long-stemmed red roses. Hes such a nice man, full of fun and joy, Thompson said. I didnt expect him to send me fl ow-ers.

Of course he sent her fl owers. A gal like Thompson is impossible to forget.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net.

Opal Thompson shows off one of 111 pairs of clip-on earrings she received this week in celebration of her 111th birthday. Oakley Mary Kay representative Kimberly Victor collected the earrings, donated to Opal by Mary Kay reps from across the country.

Photo by Samie Hartley

by Samie HartleyStaff Writer


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Oakleyopposes bass regulation

The Oakley City Council recently sent a letter to the California Fish and Game Com-mission opposing a piece of legislation that could threaten the striped bass population in the Delta.

The Fish and Game Commission has proposed to amend Section 1.74 of the Fish and Game Code to relax regulations regard-ing striped bass. The legislation would allow fi shers to collect up to six bass per day. The current allowance is two. The amendment would also reduce the size of a keeper from 18 inches to 12 inches. And for those fi shing in the south Delta past Discovery Bay, there would be no striped bass size restrictions and a fi sher could collect as many as 20 per day. The commission believes that striped bass are harmful to the Delta as they are non-native to the area, but local Delta advocates disagree.

Chris Lauritzen, owner of Lauritzen Yacht Harbor, stressed the need to protect striped bass due to the popularity of fi shing as a form of tourism in Oakley. Anglers come to East County from all over the Bay Area to fi sh in the Deltas waters. These anglers also buy supplies and bait locally and they pur-chase gas in Oakley as well.

When we no longer have fi sh and tour-ism, we no longer have business in Oakley, Lauritzen testifi ed before the council at the Jan. 10 meeting.

He also said local statistics show that there are approximately 39,000 registered boats in

the county and about 850,000 throughout the state, and if the new regulations were put in place, the striped bass population would be signifi cantly reduced.

Former councilman and avid Delta ad-vocate Bruce Connelley said if the striped bass population is reduced, the organizations that host bass tournaments in the Delta would relocate away from East County.

Ask anyone going out fi shing, what are you fi shing for? and odds are they are go-ing to say bass, or if I get lucky, a sturgeon, Connelley said. Well, when theyre gone, so

are the people.Delta advocate Roger Mammon also

expressed concern about the proposed regula-tion changes and asked that Oakley take the lead in providing a municipal voice against the proposal. He hopes that Delta neighbors such as Brentwood, Pittsburg and Martinez will follow suit.

The California Fish and Game Com-mission is expected to discuss the proposed changes at its Feb. 2 meeting in Sacramento. For more information, visit www.fgc.ca.gov.


Andrew Kobayashi, 17, holds up a prize-winning striped bass caught during a shing tournament last year. Delta advocates are concerned about possible changes to the law that could threaten the local shing industry.

File photo courtesy of Andy Kobayashi


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6A | THEPRESS.NET BUSINESS JANUARY 27, 2012

Leisure time means Island Time

Our East County Delta boasts its share of islands, but when you breeze through the doors of Island Time Ap-parel and Accessories Boutique in Dis-covery Bay, its clear that the Island in question has a distinctively tropical fl avor.

Decorated with palm trees and par-rots, Island Time sells clothing and gifts for island living, all in a comfortable, fun atmosphere for shopping. We sell clothes that are island-themed, said Heather Travers, who owns the store with her parents, Dave and Judy Travers.

The store offers clothing made with high-quality, breathable fabrics such as linen, which feels light on the body, or a bamboo-based fabric mixed with silk for a comfortably soft touch. The stores offerings include attire for both everyday wear and for dressing up.

Olukai fl ip-fl ops ($65) are one of the most popular items in the store. Theyre designed to have memory foam over an arch support, said Heather. They feel like a shoe, but theyre a fl ip-fl op. She also mentioned the Christine Alexander line as one of her favorites. Encompass-ing everything from jeans to jackets, the items sell for between $40 and $120 and are decorated with the brands signature sparkles. All their crystals are Swarovs-

ki crystals and theyre guaranteed for life.

Tommy Bahama shirts ($130) are another popular seller. We have one of the largest selections of panel-back Tommy Bahama shirts, Heather said. The shirts are made of high-quality silk and embroidered in the back with beau-tiful, elaborate designs. Island Time tries to have a supply of every design avail-able to stores. Of course, no trip to the islands is complete without sunglasses, and Island Time carries a wide range of Oakley, Ray-Ban and Maui Jim shades.

Open since October of 2007 under the name Discovery on the Boardwalk, the store is in the process of moving to a new location on the boardwalk and changing its name to Island Time.

The new locations spacious deck area overlooking the Discovery Bay ma-rina was especially attractive to Heather and her parents. Heather intends to set up chairs and tables so that customers can sit, eat, read the paper and enjoy themselves while other family members shop. The stores grand re-opening will be held Sunday, Feb. 12 from noon to 5 p.m. Refreshments will be provided.

Heather grew up in an environment of business ownership and entrepre-neurship. Her family owns several com-panies and bought the store as a way of

Island Time co-owner Heather Travers displays some popular items in front of the stores beautifully-painted door.

Photo by Amy Claire

by Amy ClaireCorrespondent

see Island Time page 7A


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As Brentwood Relay For Life en-ters its eighth incarnation, organizers are planning for 2012 to be a milestone year.

Last year, 64 registered teams raised $209,650 in donations for the American Cancer Society (ACS). If participants raise $182, 201 this year, Brentwood will reach the $2 million mark.

Were so close, and we can do it, said Relay organizer Wanda Zimmerman at last Tuesdays Relay kickoff event. Brentwood has put on a phenomenal effort, but we need to keep going. We need to raise more. Cancer doesnt take a break and neither do we.

Relay For Life is the American Cancer Societys national effort to raise money for cancer research. According to the organizations website, 44 ACS-spon-sored researchers have gone on to win the Nobel Prize for scientifi c achievement.

Relay participants form teams that over a 24-hour period keep one member on the track a symbol that cancer never sleeps. Brentwoods event is scheduled for

the weekend of June 16 and 17 at Liberty High School.

Brentwood Relay Event Chair Lynn Gursky said the planning committee has set some lofty goals for this year. She hopes to register 75 teams (43 teams are currently registered), 250 survivors and raise $250,000.It really takes a village, Gursky said. Hope is a gift and together we can give that gift.

Brentwood Relays next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. at Liberty High School, 850 Second St. Organizers are planning a mini Relay to give new and potential participants a taste of the Relay experience.

Relay events will also be held in Oakley and Antioch this year. Oakleys is scheduled for April 28 and 29 at Free-dom High School. At press time, 96 participants on 32 teams had registered for the event. Antiochs is scheduled for June 23 and 24 at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg. Antioch, which co-hosts its Relay with Pittsburg, holds its kick-off event Feb. 7 at the Pittsburg Elks Lodge, 200 Marina Blvd.

For more information about Relay For Life, visit www.relayforlife.org.

Getting ready to Relayby Samie Hartley

Staff Writer

diversifying their businesses. I like the freedom to be creative and to be able to help the customers fi nd exactly what theyre looking for, said Heather, who handles most of the day-to-day business operations, and decorated the store with its tropical theme.

I want shoppers to come in here and feel relaxed, she said. It puts peo-ple in a good mood. The stores focus on high-quality products and service has earned substantial community support. Once we get people in the door, theyre usually very happy to come back. We have a lot of loyal customers.

Island Time Apparel and Accessories Boutique, located at 5901 Marina Blvd., Suite 14 in Discovery Bay, is open Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. Call 925-240-8607 or visit www.islandtimestore.com. Island Time is open during moving.


Island Time from page 6A

Photo by Amy Claire

A palm tree stands in the window overlooking the new locations spa-cious deck area.

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Congratulations to the following Liberty High School students of the month for November of 2011:Agriculture: Ashlynn Abbett; AHA: Monique Andrade, Arben Cortes, Kassidy Gustafson, John Klezner, Brooke Kobold, Jessica Motta, Mai Pham, Samantha Scott, Kevin Standridge, DJ Trammel and Erica Veitch; AP Psychology: Audrey Aanonson, Sam Figueroa, Ashley Griffi n, Brett Harrison, Morgan Hernandez, Ashley Ramos, Haley Rollins and Joshua Shannon; AP World History: Rachel Filippelli, Olivia Rothrauff and Bright Test; Business: Eduardo Rangel; Economics: Daniel Arnott, Brock Bonte, Brianna Bryne, Sierra Cerny, Samuel Figueroa, Zach Heninger, Trent Hullen, Megan Marples, Cassandra Osequera, James Sarmento, Coltin Solari, Brock Strenfel, Jordan Tickner, Logan Trudell, Anthony Westlake and Joelle Williams; Government: Ashley Martin, Delaney Gilfoy, Remy Nichols, Joshua Shannon, Erica Veitch and Tyler Wanden; Home Economics: Gabriela Montiel; Math: Lawson McAdam Bell, Gianna Giambruno, Grant Joseph Mathias and Vy Phuong Nguyen; Physical Education: Edgar Ordaz and Zachary Peterson; Psychology in Society: Natalie DeFrates, Zach Heninger, Wrylee Higbee and Taylor Miller; U.S. History: Stephanie Calverly, Michelle Fancey, Chelsea Freeman, Jessie Freitas, Kevin Koenig, Deilyn Nelson and Bryan Reid; World History: Zach Peterson, Caleb Silver and Heather Towns.

Liberty Students of the Month

Former Brentwood Idol Jordyn Fol-ey is wowing audiences again with her vo-cal talent, this time starring in the Bank-head Theater production of Annie in Livermore. Performances run weekends through Feb. 5. Performance dates are Friday and Saturday, Jan. 27 and 28 at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, Jan. 29 at 2 p.m. Clos-ing weekend shows are scheduled for Fri-day and Saturday, Feb. 3 and 4 at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, Feb. 5 at 2 p.m.

For ticket information, visit www.livermoreperformingarts.org.

Local Idol in Annie

Hospice of the East Bay will be of-fering a series of support and grief classes for adults, held at 350 John Muir Parkway, Suite 129. The class for Adults Who Have Lost a Parent is scheduled for Tuesdays, March 6 through April 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. The Widow and Widowers Support class meets Mondays, March 5 through April 23 from 5 to 7 p.m. The classes are free, but pre-registration is required. For information, call 925-887-5681.

Coping classesoffered


Your lender for

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Everyone who lives, works, or attends school in Contra Costa or Alameda, part of our 12-county area, is eligible to join. Certain membership requirements may apply. NMLS registered. Equal Housing Lender

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Historically low rates on auto and home loansTake advantage of these low rates and re nance your auto or home loan. Its a smart choice that could save you money every month. Or, if youre in the market for a new home or auto purchase, its also a great time to talk with a lending expert at TCU. Youll get real advice from a real banking expert who will focus on your individual needs.

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Stop by local TCU branches: 2721 Lone Tree Way, or 5819 Lone Tree Way

DB Lions put fun in fundraiserThe Discovery Bay Lions Club

hosts its annual Crab Feed on Saturday, Feb. 25 at the beautiful event center at St. Anne Church in Byron.

Every year we sell out, and Im sure this year will be no exception, said Jim Mattison of the Lions Club. In the past, we have had to turn people away, but this year we will be able to accommodate many more at St. Anne.

In addition to crab, pasta and

salad, the evening will feature a DJ and a raffl e.

We are blessed to have such a

strong community that supports our Lions Club so in turn we can support the many who need our help, added Mattison, from the kids in all our schools to our elderly.

Tickets are available online at www.discoverybaylions.com, at Boardwalk Grill at the Discovery Bay Marina, or Elements Salon in the Safeway shopping center. Those interested in donating raffl e prizes or in need of more information should call 925-513-9032.

Meditation expert Dr. Marshall Zaslove visits the Brentwood Senior Center, 193 Griffi th Lane, on Thursday, Feb. 2 at 6:30 p.m. A certifi ed psychiatrist with 39 years of daily meditation experience, Zaslove has conducted more than 1,000 workshops on meditation.

The sessions explore how to leave the stressful and frantic outer world behind to access the joy, calm and peace that lies within. How to still the mind can be learned, and everyone can quickly learn this vital technique during this free, two-hour program sponsored by the Brentwood Library.

For more information, call 925-516-5290 or visit www.ccclib.org.

Meditation workshop

The Brentwood Library hosts a fi ve-part beginners hand-quilting class for kids 10-16 starting Feb. 1. Classes are held on consecutive Wednesdays through Feb. 29 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Sponsored in partnership with the Friends of the Brentwood Library, the series will be taught by Discovery Bay resident and long-time quilter Julia Rivera, who recently initiated a childrens project area at the Guild of Con-tra Costa County Quilt Show. Rivera learned to quilt at the age of 12, completing the same project shell teach to class attendees. Most of her fi nished quilts are donated to those in need, including military patients, cancer patients and residents of convalescent homes.

Classes are free but space is limited. Reg-ister by calling the library at 925-516-5290 or stopping by the library at 104 Oak St.

Participants should plan to bring the following materials: white 100-percent cot-ton thread (avoid polyester or cotton-coat-ed), white hand-quilting thread, a sharp pair of scissors and a variety pack of quilting needles. For a list of optional supplies, view the class listing at www.ccclib.org/programs.

Quilting classes

Award-winning magician Ray An-drews performs at the new Brentwood Community Center, 35 Oak St., on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 4 p.m.

Be prepared for dazzling sleight-of-hand and lots of laughs for the whole family at this free, 45-minute event spon-sored by the Friends of the Brentwood Library. All ages are welcome. No tickets or registration are required.

The new Brentwood Community Center, located across from the Brent-wood Library, is under construction but open for business. To get to Ray Andrews magic show, park in the garage at City Park Way and Second Street and enter on the ground fl oor next to the elevators.

For more information, call 925-516-529 or visit www.ccclib.org.

Magic in Brentwood

10A | THEPRESS.NET ARTS JANUARY 27, 2012

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The Brentwood Concert Band and the Liberty Symphonic Band and Flute Choir perform Saturday, Jan. 28 at 2 p.m. at Liberty High School, 850 Second St. Brentwood. A reception follows. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged.

Proceeds benefi t the Stuart Music Fund, created to promote instrumental music by subsidizing the cost of music education for young musicians. This year, the fund is awarding two $500 scholarships to deserving Liberty High School musicians.

Strike up the band

The Brentwood Teen Theater presents Bye Bye Birdie next weekend at Resur-rection Ministries Church, 1275 Fairview Ave. in Brentwood. The legendary 50s musical chronicles the misadventures of Albert J. Petersen, who represents rock star and impending Army draftee Conrad Birdie. Performances are scheduled for Friday, Feb. 3 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 4 at 3 and 7 p.m. General admission is $12; $10 for students and seniors. For ticket reservations, log onto www.brent-woodteentheater.com or call 925-516-9009. Tickets may also be purchased at the door the day of the performance.

Say hello toBye Bye

Poetry Out LoudSeven students impressed their

audience as they participated in the recent Poetry Out Loud competition at Independence High School. Each student successfully memorized and recited two poems in front of judges, family, friends, faculty, staff and Lib-erty Union High School District Board Member Darrin Spears.

Independence teacher Susan Laird expressed pride in each stu-dent and congratulated them for their composure and courage. Justine Price, 7, was a hit with the crowd, and all students received participa-tion awards. Debra Steidle earned

$100 for her winning recitation of Light Shining out of Darkness by William Cowper and The Childrens Hour by Henry Wadsworth Long-fellow. Debra will represent LUHSD at the Contra Costa County compe-tition next month.

Poetry Out Loud is an annual reci-tation contest conducted by the Na-tional Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. The Contra Costa winner will represent the county in the California State competition, and that winner will go on to compete at the na-tional level.

Contributed by Susan Laird

Independence High School Poetry Out Loud competitors, from left, are Chris Sparks, Chantelle Powelson, Taylor Lynn Stubbert (third place), Miranda Parcasio, Debra Steidle ( rst place), Lindsay Galbraith (second place) and Jennifer Jimenez. In front is Justine Price.

Photo courtesy of Independence High School


OPINIONEDITORIALS, LETTERS & COMMENTARY National

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The Press Newspapers are adjudicated in the the cities of Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley, and the Delta Judicial District

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Schools brace for budget impacts

School districts throughout California will not know their budgets until the voters of California speak next November. This will be almost halfway through a school districts fi scal year and assumes that the governor will have garnered enough signatures on his petition to even get the initiative on the ballot.

Without the funds generated by this temporary tax initiative, schools will lose $370 per student. For the Oakley Union School District, this would equate to a

$1.67 million loss of revenue. This is on top of the 20-percent cut in our revenues since the recession began four years ago.

In short, his initiative would do the following: Millionaires and high-income earners will pay up to 2-per-cent higher income taxes for fi ve years. No family making less than $500,000 a year will see their income taxes rise. There will be a temporary half-cent increase in sales tax, still lower than it was six months ago. The funds will be dedicated for only education and public safety.

If the tax initiative fails to pass, we will be faced with many tough decisions as we look ahead. However, the governors proposed budget has made one decision very easy.

Should Almond Grove Elementary be opened in 2012-13? Let me answer that question with another question: If you thought you might lose your job next November, would you buy a new house today? Of course you wouldnt!

As you may be aware, two of our neighboring districts have new schools that are also currently not open. The Knightsen School District actually opened its new school for a few years but has since had to close it. And the Brentwood Union School District has a new school ready to open but it too has postponed the opening.

On a positive note, we are the only district out of the three that has received and continues to receive revenue from its new school site. Currently, the Lynn Center a center serv-ing special-needs students is essentially paying the district about $180,000 per year for the use of nine classrooms. In the past, these very special children had to be bused all the way into Pittsburg to an extremely sub-par facility; a facility that has since been demolished.

Opening a new school is a very costly proposition. In our case we estimate the cost to be well over $400,000 per year. It would be fi scally irresponsible to open Almond Grove at this time, particularly with our fortunes (or lack thereof) resting on a hoped-for ballot initiative next November.

If you are interested in more information on Almond Grove or the district, visit our website at www.ouesd.k12.ca.us.

Other key provisions of the governors proposed budget are the elimination of funds for transportation and the

never-enacted Transitional Kindergarten Program. He is also proposing a change in the way K-3 class size reduction funds are allocated. In short, this will offi cially abolish the program as we once knew it.

While the state is eliminating transportation funding, the Oakley school district will not. Unfortunately, we will lose $28,000 annually in funding from the state. This loss will have to be absorbed by our general fund.

While the funding for the never-implemented Transition-al Kindergarten Program has been cut, the age for enrollment has not been withdrawn. Therefore, to enroll in kindergarten for the next school year, students must be age 5 by Nov. 1. The following year by Oct. 1 and fi nally in 2014-15, they must be age 5 by Sept. 1. We estimated that this will impact our enrollment and therefore revenue by approximately 30 less students each of the next three years. This will be a loss of about $135,000 per year.

In the broader picture thus far we have managed the budget crisis well. This is in large part due to the understand-ing and cooperation we have enjoyed with our community and employees. Next November has the potential to test our patience one more time.

I continue to be disheartened by the lack of support for public education by some in Sacramento. Among the 50 states, we currently rank near the bottom in funding, yet we have the highest standards, the greatest expectations and the most diverse population of any state in the union.


by Dr. Richard RogersSuperintendent, Oakley Union School District

GUEST COMMENT

LETTERS TO THE EDITORBenevolent bus stop

Editor:I would like to take this opportunity

to publicly thank Rick at the LUSHD bus barn.

My 3-year-old grandson, T.J. Halford, loves school buses along with fi retrucks and ambulances. He had been asking to see a bus, and whenever we went by the bus barn the buses were out. Just before Christ-mas, we stopped by and all the buses were there. Rick was kind to stop what he was doing and gave T.J a tour of a bus, letting him sit in the drivers seat, walk through the bus and even talk on the radio!

He was one happy little boy, and bus number 61 has become his bus. Thank you, Rick, for making the day for a little boy.

Karon HalfordBrentwood

Employer doesnt have all the factsEditor:

This is in response to Jonathan Silvers letter of Jan. 20 regarding the recent Grand Jury report on ECCFPD.

He is absolutely correct the fi re department and its employees work for the taxpayers. However, Mr. Silver seems to be misinformed when raising his questions, particularly when it comes to alternative funding and other possible solutions for the district.

First, privatization of the fi re district is not a realistic option. Just ask the folks in San Carlos, another cash-strapped city which considered privatizing its fi re service with Wackenhut. If Wackenhut and other private providers are so great, then why did they lose their recent bid to take over fi re services at Lawrence Livermore National Lab?

If LLNL isnt willing to allow one of these private companies to provide fi re services, then why should the residents of ECCFPD allow one of these companies to protect their lives and property with their often undertrained and low-paid workers who arent held to the same professional standards as their municipal counterparts?

The companys interest in properly training and paying its workers is infl u-enced entirely by how that affects the bot-tom line rather than by how that provides the best possible service.

The statement regarding reducing staffi ng from three to two per apparatus as they have done in Pacifi ca is false. The only department on the Peninsula that operates a two-person fi re apparatus is South San Francisco, and that is only at minimum staffi ng levels.

I encourage everyone to read the Na-tional Institute of Standards and Technol-ogys (NIST) recent residential fi re study on fi re crew sizes, arrival times, and their infl uence on saving lives and property. It is the fi rst study to quantify these effects.

According to the study, four-person crews were able to complete 22 essential fi refi ghting and rescue tasks 2 percent fast-er than a three-person crew and 30 percent faster than a two-person crew. Many Bay Area departments already run three-person crews, and Mr. Silvers recommendation is to cut this further?

NIST is a non-regulatory agency of the U.S. Commerce Department. The re-port can be found at www.nist.gov/el/fi re_research/residential-fi re-report_042810.cfm.

Rather than going with Wackenhut, San Carlos has all of its fi re administration handled by Redwood City. It is projected to net San Carlos the same savings it would have gained by going with Wackenhut, but

allows San Carlos to continue to have its own municipal department. Daly City has taken a similar approach with Pacifi ca and Brisbane (North County Fire Authority).

However, ECCFPD is not a direct comparison to what is done on the Penin-sula. The Peninsula has numerous small departments that operate in close proxim-ity to each other and have had boundary-dropping mutual-aid agreements in place for years. Consolidating and merging isnt a fi x-all approach for every department.

Why should companies like American Medical Response (AMR) and Paramedics Plus be making money hand-over-fi st by providing ambulance service on a contract basis when cities and districts could pro-vide their own ambulance service and be billing patients/insurance directly?

Such an arrangement provides great service for the citizens and puts money right back into the departments/cities. A municipal ambulance service at the very least will pay for itself, so the fi nancial risk is low.

Some people scream bloody murder that fi refi ghters and emergency medical personnel are overpaid and over-funded for what they do, but thats only until it is their house that is on fi re or their family member or even themselves who is injured or dying.

Casey KeefeBrentwood

see Letters page 19A

JANUARY 27, 2012 THEPRESS.NET | 13A

A sampling of recent law enforcement activity reported by East County police de-partments.BRENTWOODJan. 11, 5:39 a.m. An unidentifi ed person pried open the drivers side door of a vehicle parked on Orchid Drive and stole a stereo, loose change and jackets. Estimated loss: $1,200; property damage: $500.Jan. 11, 8:36 a.m. An unidentifi ed person forced entry into a vehicle parked on Ranch-wood Drive and stole a stereo and GPS unit.Jan. 11, 1:46 p.m. On Brentwood Boulevard at Spruce Street, a subject stopped for mul-tiple vehicle code violations was found to be driving on a suspended license. He was cited and his vehicle was stored.Jan. 11, 8:16 p.m. An unidentifi ed person en-tered a business on Sand Creek Road, bran-dished a weapon and demanded money. After being given cash, he fl ed on foot.Jan. 11, 9:30 p.m. A subject contacted on Pas-co Drive at Westpoint Way was observed dis-carding a loaded handgun. He was arrested and taken to the Martinez Detention Facility.Jan. 11, 10:53 p.m. On Heritage Drive, a sub-ject who punched another subject in the face was arrested and released on a Promise To Appear.Jan. 12, 3:50 a.m. On Brentwood Boulevard, a subject contacted during a disturbance call was found to have two outstanding warrants for his arrest. He was arrested and taken to the Martinez Detention Facility.Jan. 12, 1:01 p.m. An unidentifi ed person used the personal information of a resident of Sycamore Avenue to obtain prescription drugs in another jurisdiction. Jan. 12, 1:36-2:45 p.m. An unidentifi ed per-son cut and removed copper wire from elec-trical boxes and light poles on Malbec Lane at Pomerol Circle, and Vineyards Parkway at Miwok Avenue.Jan. 12, 3:12 p.m. Two unidentifi ed subjects entered the garage of a residence on Tamal-pais Avenue by using a stolen garage door opener. They attempted to gain further entry into the residence but the resident was home and scared them away.Jan. 12, 4:16 p.m. On Pine Street at Brent-wood Boulevard, a subject who slipped on the sidewalk, causing an injury to her ankle, was transported to a local hospital.

Jan. 12, 6:12 p.m. Two subjects identifi ed as unwanted guests at a business on Balfour Road were found to be under the infl uence of a controlled substance. They were arrested and taken to the Martinez Detention Facility.Jan. 12, 7:06 p.m. On the Highway 4 Bypass at Balfour Road, a subject caught driving a stolen vehicle was arrested and taken to the Martinez Detention Facility.Jan. 12, 8:56 p.m. A subject contacted on Lone Tree Way was found to be under the in-fl uence of a central nervous system stimulant. He was arrested and taken to the Martinez Detention Facility.Jan. 13, 9:42 a.m. On Brentwood Boulevard, a subject found a rusted rifl e while helping a friend clean out the storage compartment of a deceased relative. The rifl e was brought to police headquarters for destruction.Jan. 13, 11:45 a.m. An unidentifi ed person damaged the awning of a business on First Street.Jan. 13, 3:57 p.m. A resident of Altessa Drive reported that she believes she signed a fraudu-lent lease agreement for the residence. The case is under investigation.Jan. 13, 4:30 p.m. An unidentifi ed person stole a cell phone left unattended on Ameri-can Avenue.Jan. 13, 7:32 p.m. On Brentwood Boulevard, a subject violated a court order by failing to appear for a child exchange.Jan. 14, 12:38 p.m. An unidentifi ed person stole a vehicle parked on Redhaven Street.Jan. 14, 3:26 p.m. An unidentifi ed person put sugar in the gas tank of a vehicle parked on Heritage Way. The owner of the vehicle expressed suspicion that a certain party was responsible due to ongoing disputes between them, and the statement of a witness. The case is under investigation.Jan. 14, 5 p.m. An unidentifi ed person stole an unattended purse from a salon on Sand Creek Road.Jan. 14, 5:44 p.m. On the Highway 4 Bypass at Sand Creek Road, a driver who struck an-other vehicle was found to be driving on a sus-pended license.Jan. 14, 6 p.m. A two-vehicle rear-end col-lision occurred on the Highway 4 Bypass at Sand Creek Road.Jan. 14, 8 p.m. On Virginia Lane at Lone Tree Way, a subject stopped for a vehicle code vio-

lation was found to be under the infl uence of a central nervous system stimulant and in pos-session of a controlled substance. A passenger in the vehicle was found to have an outstand-ing warrant for his arrest. Both were arrested and taken to the Martinez Detention Facility.Jan. 14, 10:28 p.m. A subject contacted on Or-chard Drive at Walnut Boulevard was found to be under the infl uence of a controlled sub-stance. He was arrested and taken to the Mar-tinez Detention Facility.Jan. 14, 11:53 p.m. On Brentwood Boulevard, a subject stopped for a vehicle code violation was found to have an outstanding warrant for his arrest and be under the infl uence of a con-trolled substance and in possession of several controlled substances. He was arrested and taken to the Martinez Detention Facility.Jan. 15, 12:01 a.m. On Second Street, a sub-ject stopped for vehicle code violations was found to be driving on a license suspended for DUI. He was arrested and released on a No-tice To Appear.Jan. 15, 7:44 a.m. On Sand Creek Road at Fairview Avenue, a driver who crashed his ve-hicle was found be driving under the infl uence of alcohol. He was arrested and transported to a local hospital for treatment.Jan. 15, 11:50 a.m. An unidentifi ed person vandalized a residence on Christenson Street.Jan. 15, 12:32 p.m. A subject caught stealing clothes at a business on Lone Tree Way was ar-rested and released on a Promise To Appear.Jan. 15, 1:51 p.m. On Minnesota Avenue at Carmel Parkway, a driver made a left turn, lost control of his vehicle and struck a sound wall. He was transported to a local hospital and treated for a broken nose.Jan. 15, 3:50 p.m. Two subjects were involved in a verbal dispute on Mojave Drive.Jan. 15, 6:40 p.m. An unidentifi ed person damaged property in the restroom of a busi-ness on Balfour Road and fl ed in a vehicle.Jan. 15, 9:38 p.m. On Stonehaven Drive at Central Boulevard, a subject stopped for ve-hicle code violations was found to be driving under the infl uence of alcohol. He was ar-rested and taken to the Martinez Detention Facility.Jan. 16, 9:04 a.m. On Lone Tree Way at Fair-view Avenue, a subject stopped for a vehicle code violation was found to be driving on a suspended license and was unable to provide

satisfactory identifi cation. He was arrested and released on a Promise To Appear.Jan. 16, 5:32 p.m. An unidentifi ed person stole a video surveillance camera on Carey Lane.Jan. 16, 5:57 p.m. An unidentifi ed subject was observed sitting outside a residence on Windy Springs Lane at Lemon Street in violation of a restraining order. The subject fl ed when seen by the victim.Jan. 16, 6:15 p.m. On Bay Laurel Court at Trinity Drive, a subject observed throwing knives at a fence was contacted and found to be throwing the knives in a safe manner at a suitable target.Jan. 16, 8:13 p.m. On Balfour Road at Sum-merset Drive, a driver who struck a curb and a tree sustained major injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.Jan. 16, 11:58 p.m. On Mill Creek Way, four witnesses reported being harassed by two subjects over the past six years. The witnesses were given information on obtaining restrain-ing orders.Jan. 17, 9:15 a.m. A resident of Panorama Way reported that following a knock on her front door she saw an unidentifi ed person in her backyard. A search of the area was made but the subject was not located.Jan. 17, 12:38 p.m. On Pecan Place, a dog was fatally attacked by other dogs.Jan. 17, 7:16 p.m. Unidentifi ed subjects tried to steal merchandise from a business on Lone Tree Way and threatened store employees.Jan. 17, 8:35 p.m. A subject rang the door-bell of a residence on Picadilly Lane for 15 minutes and refused to leave. The subject and the resident were involved in a dating re-lationship involving reports of domestic vio-lence. No injuries were observed or reported by either party.Jan. 18, 7:49 a.m. An unidentifi ed person forced entry into three homes under construc-tion on Big Basin Drive.Jan. 18, 11:35 a.m. A vehicle stolen in Brent-wood was recovered by the San Pablo Police Department.Jan. 18, 7:23 p.m. A resident of Montrose Court walked into his backyard and observed an unidentifi ed male jumping over his fence.

To view the Brentwood Police Depart-ments public logs on the citys Web site, visit www.ci.brentwood.ca.us/department/pd/reports/index.cfm.

COP LOGSFROM EMERGENCY SERVICES DISPATCH LOGS An unidentifi ed person stole a video surveillance camera on Carey Lane in Brentwood. Jan. 16, 5:32 p.m.

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By Ken McIntoshSTAFF WRITER

The American Coin Buyers Guild will be placing ads in newspapers and on the radio next week, asking people to bring in any old silver and gold coins made before 1970. Those that do bring in their coins will be able to speak with specialists one-on-one and have their coins looked at by a specialist. Offers will be made based on silver or gold content, the rarity of the coins, and key dates. All coins made before 1970 will be examined, including gold coins, silver coins, nickels, pennies, proof sets and uncirculated mint sets. Those that decide to sell their coins will be paid on the spot.

If you are like a lot of people, you might have a few old coins or even a coffee can full of them lying around. If you have ever wondered what they are worth, now might be your chance to find out and even sell them if you choose. They could be worth a lot according to the American Coin Buyers Guild, also known as ACBG. Collectors will pay a fortune for some coins and currency for their collections. According to Mark Cooper, coin collector and ACBG specialist, if they are rare enough, one coin could be worth over $100,000. One ultra rare coin, an 1894 S Barber dime, sold for a record $1.9 million to a collector in July of 2007. While that is an extreme example, many rare and valuable coins are stashed away in dresser drawers or lock boxes around the country. The ACBG has organized a traveling event in search of all types of coins and currency. Even common coins can be worth a significant amount due to the high price of silver and gold. Cooper explains that, even Washington quarters and Roosevelt dimes are worth many times their face value. Recent silver markets have driven the price up on even common coins made of silver. All half dollars, quarters and dimes made before 1965 contain 90% silver and are sought after any time silver prices rise. Right now its a sellers market.

The rarest coins these collectors are looking for include $20, $10, $5 and $2.5 gold coins and any coin made before 1850. These coins always bring big premiums, according to the ACBG. Silver dollars are also very sought after nowadays.

Other types of items the American Coin Buyers Guild will be purchasing during this event include U.S. paper currency, gold bullion, investment gold, silver bars, silver rounds, etc. Even foreign coins are collectible and will be purchased.

Also at this event, anyone can sell their gold jewelry, dental gold or anything made of gold on the spot. Gold is currently trading at near record highs and can bring in a good amount of money. Bring anything you think might be gold and the ACBG specialists will examine, test and price it for free. If you decide to sell, you will be paid

on the spotit has been an unknown fact that coin dealers have always paid more for jewelry and scrap gold than other jewelers and pawn brokers.

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16A | THEPRESS.NET COMMUNITY JANUARY 27, 2012

A local developer has agreed to work with neighbors of the affordable housing complex on Carol Lane to meet their desires for privacy protection and increased security.

When the City of Oakley announced earlier this month that its council would be considering granting a density bonus to Cor-poration for Better Housing, giving the de-veloper permission to add an additional 105 units of affordable housing, neighbors took to the Web to voice their opposition to the plan.

There are currently 360 units at the Commons at Oak Grove Apartments, and 44 more are under construction. As Carol Lane residents have been know to vandalize prop-erty when creating short cuts to get across town, the density bonus would increase the complexs units to 509, a number that worries neighbors.

The density bonus is guaranteed to the developer by state law, so the city hosted an informational workshop last week to explain the situation to residents. Charlie Brumbaugh, representative for Corporation for Better Housing, was on hand for that meeting, and after hearing the publics concerns, he vowed to make the effort to be a good neighbor.

We had a number of very productive meetings with staff, your city manager and others, and hopefully most, if not all, of your

concerns have been worked out, Brumbaugh said at Tuesdays council meeting.

Brumbaugh went on record with a com-mitment to work with residents and erect a wall along the south end of the property to serve as a buffer between the apartments and residents of the Oak Meadow neighborhood. He is leaving the height of the wall up to the neighbors, who have preliminarily suggested a solid wall between six to eight feet tall.

Brumbaugh also said hell plant trees to help block sound and provide Oak Meadow residents with an increased sense of privacy. The trees will help obscure residents back-yards from apartment residents in the pro-posed four-story unit.

To deter crime within the apartment complex, Brumbaugh plans to install a mini-mum of two security cameras per fl oor of each apartment building and install a camera in the main lobby of each building.

Councilman Randy Pope commended Brumbaugh for his cooperation and effort to strike a compromise with the neighbors. As the area has a history of break-ins, Pope requested that Brumbaugh install additional cameras in the parking lots. He also recom-mended that the developer use software with identifi cation capabilities to provide greater protection to residents.

With no opposing deliberation, the coun-cil accepted the density bonus application 5-0.


Oakley approves housing density bonus

Summerset residents and fabulous foursome Michael and Linda Fuller and George and June Henebury recently cleared the water hazard known as the eastern Paci c in the company of their Home-town Weekly Newspaper. The group got to read lush greens and their Brentwood Press at the Kaanapali Golf Courses in Lahaina, Maui in the balmy state of Hawaii.

Seen in Maui


Congratulations,Kathy Grif n!

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Thank youDelta ValleyAthletic Clubfor sponsoring The Fitness Revolution Sweepstakes.

Kathy Grif n has won a 3 month membership to Delta Valley Athletic Club and a 1 hour consultation with their health and wellness consultant.


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Parenting not a spectator sportI often get asked by concerned com-

munity members as to what single attention can best advance education. Its a complex challenge that, truth be told, defi es single remedy. Actually, education can be likened to a three-legged stool. Any one unstable leg

student, teacher or parent can cause the stool to wobble.

The student needs to exercise discipline and motiva-tion; the teacher, effective communication, passion, rigor, relevancy and classroom management; the parent, guidance and strict vigilance.

Needless to say, volumes have been written extolling the crucial role of good teachers. Substantial data, in fact, indicates that a child having three consecutive years with high-performing teachers has a virtual lock on succeeding. Given three years with mediocre or poor teachers, the adverse is also more likely true.

Hence, we place great premium on recruiting, and then peer training, the best teachers available. The fact remains, though, that like police offi cers, dentists or landscap-ers, for that matter, there will always be the

good, the bad and the ugly in the mix. One thing, though, that rests fi rmly in our per-sonal control is effective parenting.

Every three years the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development examines 15-year-olds in the worlds leading industrialized nations through the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA). Reading comprehension and the ability to use what has been learned in math and science to solve real problems is tested.

The United States, once among educa-tional world leaders, sadly now scores in the middle of the pack, right above Cyprus, and far trailing Finland, Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Compelled to fi nd some success de-nominators, in 2009 the PISA team went beyond the classroom and interviewed 5,000 parents to fi nd out what they were doing. The conclusion shows that students whose parents often read to them during their fi rst years of primary school, performed, regard-less of socio-economic status, signifi cantly better. The average difference was 25 points or the equivalent of half a year of schooling.

Little surprise, as competent parent-ing was never, wed agree, a spectator sport. Spending time with your children by talking, playing, or sharing a family meal is the most priceless treasure youth can inherit.

Reading to your child, though now there is true quality time. Stress, then, the written word by having books and magazines around the house. Lead by example and read to yourself as well. If you cant get involved in helping with homework, at least show an interest and ask what your child is doing.

Check into School Loop, which allows you to computer monitor your childs at-tendance, homework and grades. Let them know you are involved and consider educa-tion paramount. Praise and reward their efforts, for fi lling their bucket of self-esteem ensures it can never run short.

Know your childs associations and keep them busy. Hanging out and bore-dom germinate mischief. Contrarily, youth involved in clubs and organized activi-ties channel their energy with a positively reinforcing circle of friends. Though I think tiger parenting can be taken, like anything, to excess, and that some free time is needed to keep childhood from uber-seriousness, it is OK to keep expectations high.

Truth be, I am a zealot on parental involvement because I have been hit by lightning twice on family matters. I grew up in Great Neck, Long Island in a predomi-nantly Jewish town. The prevailing ques-tion wasnt if college, but what college. Little wonder, neighbors routinely entered

professions like accounting, dentistry or law or started profi table businesses like furrier or jewelry.

I owe gratitude, then, to my blue-collar dad, a chef, for sacrifi cing so we could move from working-class Queens into a commu-nity where expectations were unlimited.

I then married a Filippina and, double bingo, again saw the effects of a parental culture dead set on education. Though the Academic Performance Index (API) for Antioch is 727 out of a possible 1,000, with 800 the California goal, the Filippino sub-set scores 835. Certainly, its not Asian Wheaties the kids are eating for breakfast that makes such a profound difference. Credit family values.

Of course, there is no substitute for an inspired teacher. We cant, though, put all our marbles there. We also need better par-ents. They will inexorably make our teachers better. As Shakespeare said, The voice of parents is the voice of god, for to their chil-dren they are heavens lieutenants.

Teach your children well. After all, isnt it a funny thing how fortunate parents who have conscientious children usually have fortunate children who have conscientious parents?

Walter Ruehlig is a trustee for the An-tioch Unifi ed School District Board.

by Walter Ruehlig

GUEST COMMENT

Behavior not representativeEditor:

As a proponent of the Recall Brian Dawson effort I want to thank all of the hundreds of community members who have taken time to participate and offer their encouragement. In a couple of weeks we will be putting the fi nal petition together to provide to the elections offi ce for validation.

Some people have suggested that

even though Mr. Dawson has been formally charged with criminal child endangerment and spousal battery, this should not be the basis for a recall. That is something of a straw man argument because his criminal domestic violence issues are only part of the basis for his recall.

Actually, Mr. Dawson has demon-strated a pattern of violent and threat-ening behavior as described in this and other media outlets that cannot be toler-

ated. No matter how much he disagreed with something that was said at a CSD meeting, there is no excuse for following a member of the public into the parking lot and challenging him to a fi ght. Nor is there any excuse for threatening to kick another board members a#* when he wasnt chosen to be on a committee. And then, yes, fi nally he was indeed ar-rested and charged with acts of domestic violence.

He deserves his day in court, and he

will get it. However, serving as a repre-sentative of our community is a privilege, and because of his actions, both in and outside of the board meetings, it is one that we no longer feel should be his.

If you have already signed the peti-tion, thank you. If not, please come by Safeway on Saturday and join your neigh-bors in making it clear that this behavior does not represent our community.

Don FlintDiscovery Bay

Letters from page 12A

20A | THEPRESS.NET MILESTONES JANUARY 27, 2012

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Chuck Turner, the workshop leader, taught motivation and social psychology at UCLA, and leads classes in how to make your life work. He offers this series without charge to introduce practical application of some of the insights in his new book, God Unchained.

For more information call Chuck Turner at 925.684.4604, or

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Tuesdays from 6:30 PM to 9 PM, beginning February 7, 2012 Unity Center, 50 Sand Creek Rd. # 140, Brentwood

Enter Noah

The Ramirez fam-ily is proud to announce their newest arrival. Noah Michael was born on Dec. 10, 2011 at 8:25 a.m., weighing in at 7 pounds, 12 ounces and measuring 20 inches. Mommy, Daddy, big brother Zach and big sister So a are so glad Noah is here!

Patricia Lee LucidoDec. 11, 1942-Jan. 26, 2010

In Loving Memory

Kenneth, Renee, Billy, Stacy, Jose, Tobbie, Courtney, six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, sister Caroline and mother Lena.

Thomas, Brittanie and big sister Sophia Baker are proud to announce that Stella Rose was born Jan. 6, 2012 at 1:33 a.m. She weighed 8 pounds and 10 ounces and measured 21 inches.

Stella Rose joins the family

At Liberty Adult Educations Career Technical and GED graduation last December, students were presented with certi cations for commitment and achievement. The Christmas-themed celebra-tion featured guest speaker and former student April Gonzalez. Seated, from left, are Traci Campiotti and Sylvia Novero. Standing are Debbie Norgaard, Coordinator; Ed Riley, GED instructor; Tristen Hendrickson, Terry Holtzinger, Willie M. Curry Jr., Joachim Fayani; Gene Clare, assistant superintendent of administrative services; Tara Torres, GED instructor; and Elizabeth Sanchez. Certi cate recipients include Guadalupe Garcia and Darlene Ratto.

Proudly proficient

IN MEMORIAM

JANUARY 27, 2012 HEALTH & BEAUTY THEPRESS.NET | 21A

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Kaiser Permanente Delta Fair is host-ing classes and workshops on anger and depression management, plus childbirth preparation. The sessions are available to members and the general public.

Managing Anger SeriesThis eight-week series helps you

identify your anger triggers, develop com-munication skills and practice ways to respond instead of letting your emotions overcome you. The series begins Monday, Jan. 30 at 6 p.m. To register, call 925-779-5147. The fee is $120 for Kaiser members; $200 for non-members. (The series does not satisfy court-ordered treatment re-quired for domestic violence.)

Managing Depression SeriesThis six-week series explores the

causes and effects of depression. Youll learn how to challenge negative think-ing, reduce stress and manage moods. The series begins Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. To register, call 925-779-5147. No fee is charged for Kaiser members; $108 for non-members.

Childbirth Preparation ExpressThis three-day class teaches you

breathing and relaxation techniques to use during labor. The class also explores pain management options, a birthing coachs role, hospital procedures and what to expect before, during and after delivery. Classes begin Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 5:45 p.m. To register, call 925-779-5147. The fee is $100 for Kaiser members; $140 for non-members.

New Kaiser classes

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Visit Your Hometown Website www.thepress.net THEPRESS.NET | 23A JANUARY 27, 2012

Follow sports on Twitter! Scan QR code with your smart phone.

The San Francisco 49ers were unable to advance past the NFC Championship game, but the Super Bowl rosters should still hold an attraction for East County resi-dents. Sterling Moore, a 2007 Deer Valley graduate, helped the New England Pa-triots beat the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, knocking away a potential game-winning touchdown pass. Patriots Senior Football Advisor Floyd Reese is also a Brentwood native and Liberty alumnus. Defensive end Dave Tollefson, who graduated from Los Medanos College in 2000, is playing for his second Super Bowl ring with the New York Giants.

East County natives to square off in Super Bowl

Photo courtesy of Evan Pinkus

Wolverines primed for NCS seniority

Deer Valley Highs girls soccer team has a new vibe. Despite their talented lineup in years past, the Wolverines havent posted a sterling record. But the current senior-rich team is hungry to make a jump to the North Coast Section playoffs.

While they did suffer through a rough preseason, the Wolverines are off to a successful start in Bay Valley Athlet-ic League play due largely to the lead-ership of eight seniors eager to reverse the trend of previous seasons.

Most of the seniors have been play-ing together since their sophomore year, said senior center/forward Hayley Wig-gins. Were more motivated than we have been in the past years. Weve beaten

some of the teams that we never thought we would.

One of those teams was Liberty, which hosted the Wolverines in the BVAL opener. Coming off of a 3-7-1 preseason, there was little reason for Deer Valley to be optimistic, as their seniors had never beaten the Lions. But Wiggins buried a goal in each half, propelling the Wolver-ines to a 2-0 victory.

That game was followed up by wins against Antioch and Pittsburg by a com-bined score of 9-1. The fi rst league loss came at Freedom, which is also where the seasons scariest moment occurred.

Senior goalkeeper Kara Leffl e was inadvertently kicked in the head by one of the Falcons players while trying to grab a loose ball. She suffered a concus-

Deer Valley senior Jamie Bonwell tries to get around Freedoms Gianna DiMercurio during Bay Valley Athletic League play last week.

Photo by Richard Wisdom

by Michael DixonCorrespondent

see Seniority page 24A

Photo courtesy of the New England Patriots

24A | THEPRESS.NET SPORTS JANUARY 27, 2012

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sion and was airlifted off the fi eld. Head coach Jesse Zuniga reported that Leffl e is now OK.

In addition to being a year older, the team is benefi ting from the addition of assistant coach and trainer Matt Oliveri. Prior to joining the girls, Oliveri played the same role on the Wolverines varsity boys team. Hes done a great job with

these girls, Zuniga said.Leading Deer Valley is a quartet

of senior captains: Wiggins, center/mid Samantha Marin, right defender Jamie Bonwell and left/inside defender Briana Pickens, who has been on the varsity team since her freshman year.

We pretty much grew up together, Pickens said. I feel like our chemistrys better than in previous years. We have

the drive to win and get to NCS.Its a goal yet to be fulfi lled by this

group of Wolverines. Since the teams nucleus was formed two seasons ago, Deer Valley is 14-23-5 overall; 5-15-4 in league play. But if the Wolverines are haunted by past frustrations, they dont let it show in their attitude or play. A full 14 of the teams 21 players are seniors or juniors, so their window for success

is closing. Its a small window, but the players are confi dent they have the right formula to bust through it.

We have a really good sense of each other, Martin said. We work really well as a team this year more as a unit than in the past. We all get along well this year. Not that we didnt in the past but this year; we just have a really nice fl ow.


Seniority from page 23A

Liberty wrestler realizes potential on mat

As a freshman, Liberty Highs Xavier Johnson pictured the wrestling mat as a steppingstone to the mixed-martial arts octagon.

It will probably get him to college.A 134-pound senior on the Lions

wrestling team, Johnson once dreamt of becoming a mixed-martial arts fi ghter and fi gured that wrestling was a logical start. But unlike many of his teammates who came through Libertys youth pro-gram, Johnson had never grappled before he stepped on campus.

That fi rst year on the freshman team was rough, but Johnson stuck with it. By the end of the season, he made his way to Greg Chappels varsity squad.

It was nothing that I expected, Johnson said. I had never even watched a real wrestling match before. I actually used to think it was not a cool sport.

Johnson credited two Liberty alumni David Klingsheim and Anthony Thur-good, both family friends with motivat-ing him to gut it out. Both wrestlers went on to compete in college Klingsheim at Nebraska, Thurgood at Sierra College. This is a goal that Johnson now shares, and has set schools such as Arizona State and Hofstra in his sights.

Johnson no longer desires the gory

glory of MMA fi ghting, but rather a de-gree in manufacturing engineering.

Chappel feels that Johnsons acu-men both in the ring and the classroom will get him wherever he wants to go after Liberty. Hes come so far, Chappel said. I still think hes got a big growth curve if he goes to college, and he wants to.

After learning wrestling techniques in his freshman year, Johnson excelled in his sophomore season. He placed an impres-sive seventh in the 125-pound bracket at

the North Coast Section tournament that year, an experience that made him yearn for more success. It was then that John-son knew hed be a wrestler throughout his time at Liberty.

Johnson continued to excel in his ju-nior season, turning in a third-place fi n-ish at NCS. He defeated Dougherty Val-ley senior Ken Geraldi in the consolation bracket to qualify for the state tourna-ment.

This year, Johnson doesnt want to

make just an appearance at the Califor-nia Interscholastic Federation meet he wants to win. So far, hes been battling opponents in a weight class higher than usual, but Chappel has been impressed with his effort as he takes on some of the states most talented wrestlers. Hes a good enough athlete and a good enough wrestler, Chappel said, that if he can get the right draw, maybe catch someone whos a little fl at anything like that hap-pens, you sneak your way in as a medal-ist.

While he has taken some lumps against tough competition, Johnson has found success this season. Starting the year as a 157-pounder, he went 5-0 in a meet at Natomas, near Sacramento. He slimmed down to 145 for Libertys Lou Bronzan Tournament, where he was named the Most Valuable Wrestler.

Johnson is currently ranked 19th in the state and second in the section in the 138-pound category, according to The California Wrestler, a comprehensive high school wrestling website.

I think that Ive put a lot of things together, from my takedowns to my pin-ning combinations, Johnson said. I defi -nitely want to win league again, but then I really want to become a North Coast Sec-tion champion and help our team win a North Coast Section title.


Liberty wrestler Xavier Johnson tries to take down a Freedom Falcon during BVAL action last season. Johnson has become a talented athlete for the Lions.

Photo by Jolly Hanson

by Justin LaffertyStaff Writer

JANUARY 27, 2012 SPORTS THEPRESS.NET | 25A

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