Oakley Press_5.15.09

Page 1

YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ward Winning News al A pa

Vol. 9, No. 20

Including Surrounding Communities

www.thepress.net

Oakley Chamber honors Frazier by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer It was a night of tributes, triumphs and tears as residents and supporters came out last weekend to honor their own at the Oakley Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year awards dinner held at City Hall. Oakley Councilman Jim Frazier was honored as Citizen of the Year for his efforts on the council and his work on the nonprofit organization Friends of Oakley, which he co-founded with council members Pat Anderson and Kevin Romick. The former planning commissioner was also recognized for his dedication to the Special Kids Foundation as well as his involvement in other community organizations, including implementing a trust fund for the Nunn/Wilson children. Frazier and his wife Janet are also the founders of the Network of Care, a service that provides meals to families with a sick or injured child in the hospital.

Photo by Ruth Roberts

City Councilman Jim Frazier, right, was chosen Oakley Citizen of the Year for 2009. Oakley Chamber President Steve Nosanchuck, left, presented Frazier with a plaque at an awards dinner last weekend. An emotional Janet Frazier spoke of her husband’s accomplishments and virtues: “I’ve got five pages of notes, which makes me nervous because everyone else had just one.” She

ended her tribute by saying, “I’m very proud to be his wife.” A visibly touched Frazier thanked his family, the chamber and his coworkers for the evening’s honor. “Pat (Anderson) and Kevin

(Romick), we’re the three musketeers, the three amigos,” said Frazier referring to the councilmembers’ work on community projects. “One of the reasons I became a councilman was to make a difference, and after getting on the planning commission, I went to every council meeting and I was enthralled. I wanted to be a part of that so that I could make a difference, too. “If anything comes of this (award), what I would like to promote is volunteerism for our community. Our time is more valuable than money and if we can give ourselves to an event or service club or just a cause, then I would encourage it.” The Volunteer Service Award went to Joe Ballard, a popular spokesperson for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and chairman of its newly formed Oakley chapter. Ballard is also the president of the Oakley Delta Lions Club and a member of the Oakley see Chamber page 21A

rs

Na t

pe

ion

May 15, 2009

THIS WEEK

Iconic crossing

When choosing a venue for their bridging ceremony, these impending Cadettes decided to think big.

Page 7A

Hook, line and bigger A legendary fishing and hunting equipment shop is celebrating its expansion this weekend with a gala event.

Page 6A

Doubly dominant

School districts to receive stimulus dollars by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer During the next few weeks, more than $11 million in State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (SFSF) checks will be making their way into East County school district coffers. And while local officials agree that the stimulus dollars are welcome in a year marred by budget cuts and pink slips, how those funds will be spent depends upon a number of factors. “It’s nice to have that positive news, absolutely, especially with all the negative news this year,” said Brentwood Union School District Superintendent Merrill Grant, whose district is slated to receive $2,077,897. “But it’s something that everyone is being cautious with. We’re going to have to analyze and examine some items before we make any decisions.” Under the guidelines of the SFSF, which are part of President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), local education agencies are required to spend the

Falcon batters stung, Falcon pitchers stifled, and the final scores earned Freedom two league titles.

Page 2B

Photo by Richard Wisdom

The Brentwood Union School District will be receiving more than $2 million in state stimulus relief funds. The one-time dollars are to be used to improve education programs and save jobs at district schools such as Garin Elementary, above. one-time dollars on promoting and enhancing school programs and saving jobs. Taken in that vein, it would seem logical that the dollars would be used to reinstate teachers recently laid off as the result of state education cuts. However, with a state budget to be final-

ized in June, and a series of May special election measures on the ballot (designed to narrow a reported $42 million funding gap), the obvious choices are not so clear. Should the ballot measures fail – and current indicators see Stimulus page 13A

LOOK here first!

INSIDE Business .............................6A Calendar ..........................23B Classifieds ........................16B Cop Logs ..........................17A Entertainment ................14B Food .................................12B Health & Beauty ............... 8B Milestones .......................11B Opinion ...........................16A Sports ................................. 1B WebExtras! ....................... 1B

Find an event.

Check the local online community calendar! Having an event? Post it for free!

FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
Oakley Press_5.15.09 by Brentwood Press & Publishing - Issuu