The Press 03.15.2024

Groups address apartment problems

By Hemananthani Sivanandam Staff Writer

The affordable housing ad hoc committee set up by the city of Oakley to address complaints and issues with the lack of maintenance and repairs faced by residents at The Oaks apartment complex hopes to wrap up its meetings soon to allow city staff to work with the ownership and management on a plan to ensure accountability.

Residents at The Oaks, the city’s largest affordable housing apartment complex, have been facing maintenance and repair issues, such as broken front gate, plumb-

ing, roach infestation, and broken garbage chute, among others, for years.

Last October, the Oakley City Council agreed to set up an ad hoc committee to address the issues for a limited time. The committee has been extended as it needed more time to resolve the issues with the ownership and WinnResidential, which provides prop-

erty management company and maintenance services for The Oaks.

Vice Mayor Shannon Shaw, who is part of the ad hoc committee, said the initial meetings last year made headway, but the meeting in January this year felt like all progress discussed in previous meetings seemed halted.

Byron teachers declare pay negotiations impasse, but district disagrees

By Dawnmarie Fehr Correspondent

Byron Teachers Association (BTA) declared an impasse in its contract negotiations with the Byron Union School District (BUSD) last week. But the district did not agree to an impasse, saying it is willing to continue bargaining.

Negotiations for the current school year have been ongoing since January 2023 without a compromise being reached. BTA rejected the district’s most recent offer of a 4.57% pay increase –up from its initial 4% offer last year – saying it was less than what employees could receive.

Instead, it is holding out for 5% across the board, plus additional adjustments to the existing salary schedule that would give some veteran teachers as much as 9% increases..

The district remains hopeful negotiations can continue.

“Byron USD values its

teachers and remains optimistic that an agreement will be reached that ensures fair compensation while maintaining fiscal solvency,” said BUSD superintendent Crystal Castaneda. The district says the pay increase

see Teachers page 18

Pests are just one of several complaints residents of The Oaks apartment complex have brought to the attention of city staff.

“That’s why we asked the City Council to extend the committee,” Shaw said. “My goal is after the meeting (on March 21), the City will step back to let the residents and management continue the meetings … because as a City, we are limited in terms of

see Apartment page 18

Juneteenth budget increased to $45,000

By Jake Menez Staff Writer

Brentwood’s upcoming Juneteenth celebration may get even bigger following a 5-0 decision by the City Council during their March 12 meeting to increase the event’s budget from $30,000 to $45,000.

The larger budget would enable the city to offer more activities as part of the free celebration planned for June 19, including mobile food vendors, craft vendors and a Freedom Walk through downtown, according to city staff. Live music would also be a part of the festivities, with the city trying to court an act that would have a certain amount of “draw”, Councilmember Pa’tanisha Pierson said during the meeting. She made it

clear that a contract had not yet been signed but said that the city was in talks with Lenny Williams, a former lead vocalist of Oaklandbased soul/funk band Tower of Power.

“He would come with horns if we were to enter into contract and do a set that was approximately, I believe, 90 minutes,” Pierson said. “There are just some phenomenal things that he would do.”

According to the agenda packet for the meeting, $30,000 of the funding for the event would come from the existing General Fund budget for the 2023/24 fiscal year. The remaining cost of $15,000 would be expended from the Parks and Recreation Concert in the Park budget. As discussed

see Budget page 18

Photo courtesy of Michael Dupray

Superintendent

Emergency behavioral health services now available at any time

Previous A3 program had limited hours

By Dawnmarie Fehr Correspondent

People experiencing a mental or behavioral health crisis can now receive appropriate help 24 hours a day, seven days a week through Contra Costa County’s A3 program.

A3 – Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime – aims to offer a timely and clinically appropriate response to prevent unnecessary suffering, loss of life, criminalization and incarceration. In operation with limited hours for two years, the team now has enough members on board to offer its services around the clock, officials said in a press release.

Funded by Measure X money, A3 integrates behavioral health services into the county’s emergency response system. County Supervisor Diane Burgis said one in five adults struggles with behavioral health issues, but the stigma around mental health and addiction can make it hard to seek help.

“Too often, people suffer in silence,

so we acted as a county to make sure people in crisis always had someone they could call,” Burgis said. “By having a trained team of responders 24/7 who can help someone having a mental health emergency, we’re going to save lives.”

Most calls to A3 are handled by trained professionals, with about 25% receiving a visit from the mobile response team, officials said.

A3 was developed by a multidisciplinary team in 2020 because local leaders said they felt there was a need for an immediate response to people suffering

from mental and behavioral health issues. The county designed A3 as an approach to providing timely and appropriate behavioral health crisis services to anyone, anywhere, at any time in the county. Currently, A3 responds to about 200 calls each week, officials said.

Measure X is a 20-year, half-cent sales tax approved by Contra Costa County voters in November 2020. Collection began in April 2021 and funds go toward community health centers and emergency response programs, as well as other essential county programs.

Supervisor Candace Andersen is one of the county leaders who helped develop A3. She said residents were having trouble dealing with the death of Miles Hall. Hall’s mother and grandmother called the police after he threatened them. Despite his family and law enforcement trying to calm the situation, Hall was killed by police after he rushed them with a weapon.

“So we were training police to deal with a mental health crisis, but we asked what else we could do, who else could respond, in a mental health crisis,” Andersen said.

Law enforcement agencies, City Councilmembers, Contra Costa Mayors Conference members, various mental health support groups and county leaders came together to answer those questions and developed A3.

“It was a perfect storm for all of us to come together and do something,” Andersen said. “A collaborative process of different groups meeting together and tracking what are we seeing, how are calls handled at dispatch, how are police responding, how are fire responding, because you don’t always have to have police respond and drag someone

see Health page 13

ANDERSEN

BURGIS

Local teen raising money for new chicken cages ahead of County Fair

By Sean Tongson Correspondent

A local teen is conducting a fundraiser in anticipation of the upcoming County Fair this spring, while also raising awareness for improved treatment of livestock animals.

Lily Quiles, 16, a senior member of Brentwood 4-H and Brentwood FFA, has started a fundraiser to buy new chicken cages for the upcoming Contra Costa County Fair. Expressing a desire to improve conditions of market animals during the fair, Lily said that her goal is to buy six new cages, which total $10,800. A single unit holds 16 cages and costs $1,800. Raising $6,700 to date, Lily is asking for monetary donations while also teaming up with the Contra Costa County Fair Heritage Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose objective is to fundraise for fair improvements, education, and scholarships.

“I have been going around town asking businesses for donations,” Lily said. “I have attended a few organizations’ board meetings to request funds, and I am working on some fundraising events for the spring. My goal is to have all the money raised by mid-April so the cages arrive in time for this year’s fair on May 16-19, 2024.”

Lily – who raises meat chickens, meat rabbits, and a pig – is in her second year of raising animals for the fair. Last year, while raising meat chickens to sell, she observed that the provided cages were old, rusty, and needed to be replaced. After looking into what needed to be done to get new cages, Lily found that the fairgrounds gets little funding in spite of needing many improvements.

“One of my 4-H sparks is animal husbandry, which is a branch of agriculture concerned with the production and care of

livestock animals,” Lily said. “So, I decided that I would help and raise the money to buy new cages for the fair. Every year, 4-H and FFA members from the whole county bring their animals to the fair. So I wanted to make a difference for my ag community this year and many years to come.”

Acknowledging that people knowing how to grow their own food and raise their own animals is uncommon these days, Lily said she is thankful to have the opportunity to learn from 4-H leaders and fellow 4-H members, along with FFA teachers to get firsthand experience on what it takes to raise an animal for food, understanding that it takes time, energy, compassion, knowledge, muscles, and money.

“Most people just go to the grocery store and never think about where their meat came from,” Lily said. “Every animal has its own personality, and they are fun to work with. And these animals are being raised on small farms and backyards and

are well taken care of. And I wanted that to be reflected at the fair by having the chickens in new clean cages.”

Lily, who is studying Veterinary Science in FFA, plans to become a zoologist. Seeing zoos as a great resource to breed and care for many species who need help, Lily also wants to work with exotic animals in the future and contribute to their survival.

Lily also noted being 3 1/2 feet tall has further influenced her desire to be an advocate for the “little” animals.

“I know what it’s like to be looked

down on and treated less important, but I’m here to say all animals big and small deserve to be treated humanely from the lowly chicken to the mighty steer,” Lily said. “My dream is to help as many animals as I can and provide them with love, safety, and good quality medical care for many generations to come.”

Lily says a donation of $500 or more will result in the person’s name and/or logo going on the donor banner that will hang in the Fur & Feathers building during the fair. A donation of $1,800, the price of a whole cage unit, will result in the permanent placement of a plaque on a cage unit. All donations are a tax write-off.

“The livestock auction is Sunday May 19 at 9 a.m.,” Lily said. “Please come out to the fair and support your local 4-H and FFA kids. You can cheer them on during showmanship during the fair or support them by buying an animal during the live auction. Fresh home-grown meat that was raised with love.”

Those interested in donating or for more information may email fundraising4Hanimals@gmail.com. More information is at https://4hcontracosta.ucanr.edu/4-H_ Clubs/Brentwood_4-H/ and https://www. brentwoodffa.org/.

To view a video, visit www.thepress.net/ multimedia

Photo courtesy of Lily Quiles

News iN Brief

State offers grants for programs to prevent quagga and zebra mussel infestation

California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) has announced the availability of grant funding to prevent the further spread of quagga and zebra mussels into California’s waterways. Funded by the California Mussel Fee Sticker (also known as the Quagga Sticker), the Quagga and Zebra Mussel (QZ) Infestation Prevention Grant Program expects to award up to $2 million across eligible applicants. Applications will be accepted from Monday, April 1 through Friday, May 10 and are due by 5 p.m. on May 10, the state said in a press release.

The QZ grants are available to entities that own or manage any aspect of water in a reservoir that is open for public recreation, is mussel-free, and do not have an existing two-year QZ Grant awarded in 2023. Funding is intended to augment local resources and must be used for prevention projects such as planning, watercraft inspection stations and inspectors, launch monitors, watercraft decontamination units, educational signage, and outreach.

To aid applicants through the requirements and application process, DBW will host a webinar on Thursday, April 4, where potential applicants can learn more about the application process and program. Application review and scoring will be conducted by DBW in partnership with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. DBW expects to notify applicants by August 2024 with these grants starting in September 2024.

Quagga and Zebra (Dreissenid) mussels pose a serious threat to California’s waters and fisheries. The spread of these freshwater mussels threatens recreational boating and fishing, aquatic ecosystems and fisheries, water delivery systems, hydroelectric facilities, agriculture, and the environment in general. To help stop the spread of these harmful invasive mussels, local, state, and federal entities have:

• increased watercraft inspections at California Department of Food and Agriculture Border Protection stations;

• developed and implemented monitoring plans for high-risk waterbodies in the state;

• trained staff to conduct watercraft inspections and monitoring;

• done public outreach campaigns to inform watercraft owners on the need for them to clean, drain and dry their boats when transporting between freshwater bodies;

• provided these types of grants.

County waste service certified for excellence in sustainability

Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery (MDRR), a major waste service in Contra Costa County whose service area includes Bethel Island, Discovery Bay and Oakley, has achieved SWEEP (Solid Waste Environmental Excellence Performance) gold certification for excellence in sustainable materials management.

This marks a milestone in efforts towards sustainability and environmental stewardship, officials said in a press release. SWEEP certification recognizes the commitment of organizations such

To submit a news item for this page, send it to editor@brentwoodpress.com

Rotarians install 7 more Little Free Libraries in Oakley

Oakley Rotarians fanned out across town last Saturday, March 9, to install seven more Little Free Libraries at the homes of Oakley residents. The project, a partnership between Oakley Rotary, City of Oakley, Oakley Union Elementary School District and Contra Costa County Office of Education, supports each organization’s interest in children’s literacy. Exact locations of these and many other libraries can be found at https:// littlefreelibrary.org/map/. To view a video and a slideshow of the event, visit www.thepress.net/multimedia

as MDRR to sustainable waste management practices, including reducing waste, increasing recycling rates, and minimizing environmental harm. MDRR is one of the first few municipal waste programs to receive certification in the county.

To achieve certification, MDRR analyzed its business in five different categories: policy, data, collection, recovery and disposal, officials said.

MDRR’s achievement in obtaining SWEEP certification reflects not only a dedication to environmental responsibility

but also the collaborative efforts of local authorities, waste management agencies, and county residents, officials said in the press release.

Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery serves part of the East Bay with about 300,000 residents, according to CEO Kish Rajan. The company’s 125 vehicles provide residential and commercial collection with a transfer station in Pittsburg that has a recycling process operation and accepts organics. The facility processes up to 1,500 tons per day of those materials combined, officials said.

can frame just about anything!

Photo courtesy of Dave Wahl

Oakley approves The Village housing project

Committee addresses drainage, price problems

By Hemananthani Sivanandam Correspondent

The Oakley City Council approved a housing development project for 83 single-family homes on Oakley Road after concerns on drainage and housing prices raised by some council members and residents were addressed.

At its meeting on Tuesday, March 12, the council passed the motion for The Village at 2092 Oakley Road 3-2 with Mayor Anissa Williams and Councilmember Aaron Meadows voting against it.

The motion was to approve a General Plan Amendment, to rezone 9.99 acres from a general commercial district to a planned unit development one, approve a final development plan, tentative map, and design review for the 9.99 acres, 83unit single-family residential subdivision project.

The project was approved previously by the Oakley Planning Commission at its Feb. 6 meeting.

Ken Strelo, Oakley’s Planning Manager said the City Council received two letters about the project, which were from representatives at the Eagle City mobile home park.

In the first letter from David Koch, he had requested to uphold the project approval to allow them two weeks to review the drainage plan on the project and request that the plan be made available to the public, as well as request final approval of the drainage plans in writing before the project approval.

Strelo said the city staff went through all the conditions of approvals but final drainage plans are not designed until after entitlements are received.

“The project is also conditioned to ensure final hydrology and hydraulic reports comply with the City’s ordinance and

can handle 10- and 100-year storm events,” Strelo said. “Also all of the residential paths will be created to at least one foot above the 100-year storm event elevation and the project will include a flood wall along the northern property line that kind of wraps around a little bit to the south of the detention basins on each side to protect Eagle City in the event of a 100 year storm.”

The second letter, which was from Richard Manning, expressed concern about allowing a homeownership association (HOA) to maintain onsite damage facilities. The project includes private streets and private storm drain facilities to be maintained by the HOA.

Strelo said the HOA would be required to maintain the facilities. However, they are also required to enter into a standard agreement with the City, which includes a right of entry and stormwater facility inspection by Oakley, other agencies such as the fire district, Ironhouse Sanitary district, County Environmental Health Department, among others.

“Also, if the HOA or maintenance is inadequate, the city would have the right per the agreement to step in, make things

right, and recover the costs,” Strelo said.

Williams questioned whether Oakley residents could affordab the project because the median income for residents is about $120,000 as of 2024, according to world population review.

Owen Poole, the co-applicant for the project, said it is hard to answer the question, adding that the company is in the midst of a financial analysis.

“We’re actually in the process of vetting the improvement costs,” Poole said. Improvements on Oakley Road and Main Street cost a little over $1 million, “I think the answer to that question really lies in where all the costs come down. We’re trying to target the project to be as affordable as possible. It’s the best answer I can give you today,” Poole said.

The project involves residential lot sizes ranging between 2,920 and 3,790 square feet, with an average residential lot size of 2,986 square feet. Most lots have a 40-foot-wide frontage.

There are three different floor plans for the homes, with livable areas ranging from 1,848 to 2,236 square feet. All plans are two-story homes with two-car garages.

It also has three architectural styles – Spanish, Farmhouse, and Bungalow – with three color and material themes respectively to each style.

There is no specific timeline on a start date for construction of the project..

In other council actions, earlier the City Council also proclaimed March as the American Red Cross month as a way to recognize the organization’s contributions to local residents.

There are 1,032 Red Cross volunteers in Contra Costa County, and the American Red Cross has helped or responded to 115 disasters, installed 583 smoke alarms, made 205 homes safer, and trained 577 individuals and families about fire prevention, the proclamation reads.

The proclamation was issued to Brian Oftedal, who is part of the American Red Cross Bay Area County leadership. To view a slideshow, visit www.thepress.net/multimedia/slideshows

Shear Canine

Dog

Shear

Meet Rascal and Teddy

Who is ready for a couple of playful, loving and energetic kittens? Rascal (left) and Teddy are the perfect match! They are ready for their forever home with kids who are a little bit older or adults. For more information, contact Marsha at waxwmn1@gmail.com.

Calendar

For print, email your events to calendar@brentwoodpress.com one week prior to publication. For online, post your events for free on The Press Community Calendar www.thepress.net/calendar.

Events

Friday, March 15

Heritage High Improv Show

Heritage High School presents from 7-9 p.m. at 105 American Ave. in Brentwood. The Improv Team will make up the whole evening up on the spot—characters, song lyrics, situations, and whole scenes. Tickets are $5 and available at https://hhsrisingstars.seatyourself.biz

Lenten Fish Frys each Friday during Lent

This fish fry is presented every Friday through March 22 from 4–7 p.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church Hall, at 500 Fairview Ave. in Brentwood. Presented by the Knights of Columbus Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, each dinner comes with coleslaw, French Fries and either water or soda. Drive-through pickup and dine-in (beer and wine available for dine-in) are available. Tickets are Shrimp dinner $16, Adult fish $15, senior/youth (less fish) $12. For details, call Chris at 925-642-8782.

St. Anne Council Knights of Columbus Fish Fry is on the same nights at the community center at 2800 Camino Diablo Road in Byron. Diners can eat in or take out three pieces of fish, fries, coleslaw, dessert and the fixins’ each Friday from 5-7:30 p.m. through March 22. Tickets priced at $17 for adults and $13 for children are at the door.

Saturday, March 16

Volunteer Day in Byron for injured Marine

Volunteers are sought to help landscape the home of Marine Sgt. Kyle Garcia’s new, specifically adapted, custom home. Check-in is at 9:30 a.m. with landscaping from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at 3995 Camino Diablo. Lunch is provided. Bring garden gloves; this event is held rain or shine. For more information, call Jocelyn Phipps at 508-789-3501 or email JPhipps@hfotusa.org.

Sunday, March 17

Heer’s Socials Sip n’ Shop

St. Patrick’s Day Family Fun Day

From 12:30-4:30 p.m. at Garden Brownstone at 91 Brownstone Road in Oakley, festivities include live music by Dustin Heer, children’s activities, shamrock bingo, green beer, wine, and mimosas, local artisans and makers, and taste the rainbow with corned beef and cabbage, paired with red potatoes and rye bread (tickets are $17 or two for $30 (price increases to $20 and $35 at the door). Admission is free. For details, call 925-4184532 or visit https://heerssocials.com/event/ sip-n-shop-st-patricks-day-family-fun-day/.

On the Horizon

Saturday, March 23

2nd Annual Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt at Oakley Self Storage

The hunt is at Oakley Self Storage at 4700 Main St. is for ages 2-12 and will start at 11:30 a.m. The Easter Bunny will make an appearance from noon-1 p.m.. There will be golden egg prizes and lots of eggs filled with goodies. This is a free event. Bottled water, candy, and snacks will be available. For details, visit https://www. EasterEggHuntsAndEasterEvents.org/

Sunday, March 24

Safari Purim

From 4-6 p.m. at Chabad of the Delta, 400 Guthrie Lane, in Brentwood. It features at Wild Things Animal Show, Jungle Crafts, Masquerade (come dressed in your favorite safari attire or wearing any costume to win a prize), Go Wild Megillah, a Jungle Buffet Dinner, and Hamentashen. The event is free. For details, visit http://JewishDelta.com/Purim

Saturday, March 30

5th Annual Egg Hunt and Pet Event

Knightsen School at 1923 Delta Road in Knightsen hosts the Easter Egg hunt 10 a.m. –noon. This is a free event to all attendees, but only egg hunters need to register. The event will feature local rescues, local talent, the Easter bunny and live music, Brentwood and Knightsen 4H groups and prizes. For details, visit https:// www.facebook.com/TheKnightsenBunny

Antioch Rotary 5K Bunny Hop

After a 3/4 mile warm-up hop (allow 20-30 minutes) from the Antioch Marina Parking Lot to the start line within the Corteva Agrisciences Wetlands, is followed by the 5K (3.1 miles) on flat packed dirt/ gravel track rain or shine. There will be water and snacks at the finish line along with a Fun Festival at the Antioch Marina. Sponsors will have booths and will be giving out goodies for the runners. Race starts at 9 a.m. Registration is $40 + $4.46 SignUp fee. The price increases to $45 after March 27. There is also Bunny Hop Kids Kwick Dash. It’s free for kids younger than 5 years of age. If you register your kid before March 27, he/she will have a custom-made race bib. This fun and fast race will be held at the Antioch Marina parking lot at 10:30 a.m. immediately before the Awards Ceremonies for the Antioch Bunny Hop 5K runners. To register, visit https://www.bikesignup.com/Race/Events/CA/ Antioch/AntiochBunnyHop5K

Saturday, March 30 and Sunday, March 31

Kiwanis Club of the Delta-Antioch Annual Romano Marchetti Memorial Tri Tip/Chicken Dinner

This event will take place at the Veterans of Foreign Wars at 815 Fulton Shipyard Road in Antioch from 5-9 p.m. Social hour starts at 5 with dinner at 6. Tri-Tip, chicken, beans, cole slaw will be served. Tickets are $25 for adult and $15 for children. All profits, opportunity drawing, and auction support of the Kiwanis community, youth charities, and music scholarships. For details and to get tickets, visit https://www.eventbrite. com/e/753751279367?aff=oddtdtcreator.

Friday, April 5

No Limit Texas Hold ‘Em poker tournament

The Rotary Club of Brentwood presents its 14th annual No Limit Texas Hold ‘Em poker tournament at the Brentwood Community Center, 35 Oak St.. Doors open at 6 p.m. for dinner, then the tournament starts at 7. Cost is $75 per player, which includes buffet dinner, drink ticket and tournament play. Proceeds benefit the Brentwood Rotary Charitable Fund. First-place prize is $500, second place is $300, third place is $200 and fourth place is $100. For more information, call Steve Gursky at 925-584-8708 or email sgursky@sbcglobal.net.

Saturday, April 6

Child wellness Fair and marketplace

The fair and marketplace at 3901 Walnut Blvd., suite C, in Brentwood from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. focuses on child wellness with tools, resources, and guest speakers. Admission is free. For details, visit brentwooddance.com.

Friday, April 12-April 14

Ghostlight Theatre Presents Festival 10

A festival of 10-minute plays is presented at 7 p.m. Shows on April 12 and 14 are at 7 p.m. each day, and shows on April 13-14 at 2 p.m. each day at Brentwood Community Center, 150 City Park Way. There’s something for everyone in these 20 shows -- drama, comedy, romance, sci-fi. Performances will be at the Brentwood Community Center on April 12th-14th. You can purchase a single show ticket to see 10 plays, or a double header option for just $10 more to see all 20 plays.Tickets are $22 -$ 32. For details and to order tickets, visit https://ghostlightte.org.

Saturday, April 13

Looking for something to do?

DBYC Opening Day of Boating Season Parade

The Discovery Bay Yacht Club at 5871 Marina Road hosts its free annual boating season parade from noon-4 p.m. It starts just off Newport Lane at Kellogg Creek. To register your boat or for details, visit http://DBYC.com or call 925-634-1210.

Wednesday, April 17

Free Job Fair

A free community job fair is scheduled for 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Shadow Lakes Golf & Event Center, 401 W. Country Club Drive, Brentwood. The fair is focused on connecting local job seekers with local employers in Contra Costa County. Register to attend at www.ImagineJobFairs.com. For more information, send an email to Info@ ImagineJobFair.com.

Saturday, April 27

Volunteers sought for Brentwood Community Day of Service

This inaugural event is scheduled for 8 a.m.-5 p.m. starting with a pancake breakfast at Veterans Park at 3841 Balfour Road, then the projects begin at 9:30 a.m. Volunteers are sought to help with projects such as a clothing and food drive, blood drive, farmworker outreach, East County Historical Society projects, writing letters to seniors and U.S. troops, planting and landscaping projects, family counseling services, cleanup and beautification, and meal delivery. For details, visit https://www. brentwoodca.gov/government/city-manager/ community-day-of-service or contact Amy Tilley and Julie Deck at BrentwoodCDOS@gmail. com. To sign up to volunteer, visit https://www. brentwoodca.gov/government/city-manager/ community-day-of-service

Ongoing Events

Liberty Adult Education Winter Course Catalog

Class registration is open for English Second Language, GED, Computer Technology and Community Interest Classes. Register online at www.libertyadulted.org, call the Adult Education office at 925-634-2565 or in person at the Adult Education office.

East County Rotary Club Meetings

Brentwood: The Brentwood Rotary Club meets weekly on Monday at noon at the Wedgewood Banquet Center at 100 Summerset Drive in Brentwood. For more information, visit https:// brentwoodrotaryclub.com/. Oakley: The Oakley Rotary Club meets weekly on Thursday at 7:30 a.m. at Black Bear Diner, 3201 Main St. in Oakley. For more information, visit http:// rotaryclubofoakley.com. Antioch: The Antioch Rotary Club meets weekly on Thursday at noon at Lone Tree Golf Course & Event Center, 4800 Golf Course Road in Antioch. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/ antiochrotaryclub/. The Rotary Club of the Delta meets weekly on Wednesday at 7 a.m. at Denny’s, 4823 Lone Tree Way in Antioch. For more information, visit https://www.rotaryclubofthedelta.org/.

East County Lions Club Meetings

Brentwood: The Brentwood Lions Club meets the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Westmont of Brentwood, 450 John Muir Parkway. For more information, visit: https://eclubhouse.org/sites/brentwoodca/. Antioch: The Antioch Lions Club meets every second and fourth Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Denny’s on Delta Fair Blvd. Discovery Bay: The Discovery Bay Lions Club meets the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Discovery Bay Yacht Club. For more information, visit: https://

discoverybaylions.com/who-we-are/meetings/.

Byron: The Byron Delta Lions Club meets every first Friday of each month at 10 a.m. at St. Anne’s Church for more information https://eclubhouse.org/sites/byron_delta/.

Oakley Senior Center Food Distribution

The Oakley Senior Center gives out free food every Thursday from 1-2:30 p.m. Residents are asked to bring their own grocery bags.

Hope House Food Distribution

The distributions are on Monday and Wednesdays from 9 a.m.-noon at 218 Pine St. in Brentwood.

IHMC Food Distribution

On the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month, the Contra Costa County Food Bank distributes fruits and vegetables from the parking lot at 500 Fairview Ave. from noon-1 p.m. St. Vincent de Paul also distributes food from the church hall every Friday from 9 a.m.-noon.

ACA Women’s Group

The ACA Women’s Group meets every Wednesday at 5 p.m. at 809 Second St. in Brentwood. For more information, contact Cici at 530-306-7034.

Discovery Bay Corvette Club Meetings

The nonprofit Discovery Bay Corvette Club meets on the first Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Discovery Bay Yacht Club, 5871 Marina Road, Bilge Room. The club is dedicated to the enjoyment of owning and driving America’s sports car. For more information, drop by a meeting or contact the membership vice president at 925-341-9433. For more information on the club, visit www.discoverybaycorvetteclub.com.

California Striped Bass Association

West Delta Chapter Meeting

The California Striped Bass Association meets on the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at Sportsmen Yacht Club, 3301 Wilbur Ave., Antioch. For more information, call Moe Adams five days before meeting at 916-5291192. For more information, visit http://www. striper-csba.org/.

Marine Corps League, Delta Diablo Detachment 1155, monthly meeting

The Marine Corps League, Delta Diablo Detachment 1155, hosts its monthly meeting on the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Brentwood Veterans Memorial Building, 757 First St., in Brentwood. The group is open to all active or retired U.S. Marines. Attendees are encouraged to bring a veteran friend, and spouses are always welcome. The meetings feature camaraderie, food, drink, conversation and updates on upcoming events. For more information, call 925-338-1775, email MCL1155@outlook.com or visit https://www. mcl1155.org/.

Widow and Widower Grief Support Group

A widow and widower grief support group from Immaculate Heart of Mary Church meets every Thursday from 5 to 6:15 p.m. at the church library at 500 Fairview Ave. in Brentwood. The group focuses on finding a new normal as attendees walk the grief trail with others experiencing the same loss. For more information, contact Mary Ann Smith at 925-240-1706 or Sandy Heinisch at925-513-3412.

Friday Night Al-Anon Meeting

Al-Anon meetings, which offer a supportive place for friends and families of alcoholics, are held every Friday from 8 to 9:15 p.m. at the Brentwood United Methodist Church at 809 Second St. in Brentwood. There is no need to register. For details, call Trisha at 510-910-1389.

Have something to say? Submit a letter to the editor up to 325 words online at www.thepress.net/site/forms. A political endorsement letter to the editor requires a fee.

Letters to the editor

Make these changes to help senior citizens

Editor: Many of our seniors on fixed incomes are paying up to 90% of their income to rent. They have to rely on charities for daily meals. Some cannot afford to go to the doctor. Here are the necessary changes needed to keep our senior citizens and those on fixed low incomes alive and healthy:

• Change Housing and Urban Development Median Area Income calculations to better reflect the differences in incomes. West Contra Costa County has a much higher income than East Contra Costa County. Those in East Contra Costa County should be separate.

• Change Internal Revenue code 42, the low-income housing credit, to increase the credit period for developers from 10 years to 20 years. That will give those with low incomes and who are seniors a better security against rent increases.

LETTERS POLICY

The Press invites your comments. Letters must be no longer than 325 words and include name, address and phone number for confirmation.

The Press reserves the right to edit submissions for length, clarity, potential libel and taste, or to not print letters we feel violate our standards of acceptance.

Opinions expressed in letters are not necessarily the opinions of The Press, whose opinions are contained in clearly marked editorials.

Send correspondence to The Press, 248 Oak St., Brentwood, California, 94513; or email editor@ brentwoodpress.com.

• End the taxation of Social Security. Social Security was never meant to be taxed. It was meant to provide retirees with an income to avoid homelessness and cover the cost of food.

• Revert the low- and very lowincome limit from 50% of median incomes back to 30% across the board.

• Eliminate the Social Security wage base limit.

• Update the California Tax Credit Allocation and LIHTC (LowIncome Housing Tax Credit) system accordingly.

Michael Dupray Oakley

Explanation of voting process and its integrity helpful

Editor: Thank you for your explanation of the vote-tallying efforts for our

elections in your March 8, 2024, issue, a process that I am sure is followed more or less as closely, cautiously, carefully and honestly in all the states and their voting precincts throughout our great democracy.

Several years ago, I saw a picture of a citizen protesting the outcome of the election by carrying a sign reading, “Prove it!”, as in ‘prove the election wasn’t stolen.’ I took up the challenge and did quite a bit of research boiling all the protests that took place through 60 lawsuits down into a readable discussion that would make sense.

But at the end of all that, I came to realize it wasn’t the courts throwing out the 60 lawsuits that was the proof. The proof is built into our American System.

Folks forget — or as likely never knew — the careful construction of the system we have, created over the decades, that relies on the

Reaganesque concept of “Trust but verify.”

We have bipartisan panels and workforces and ballot counters throughout the process so that each side participates (and verifies) that the process is being done fairly, from elected supervisors to oversight boards, to bi-partisan manning of polling places and counting rooms.

Those, plus statistical methods, and procedure verifications as your article describes to check the process here and there to ensure that the vote is fairly and accurately counted.

Our elections truly are what makes America great … we don’t need to add the word, “again” to that phrase because our democracy and elections — although flawed as all human endeavors can be, but accepted by all because of its integrity – are truly what has made America great.

Douglas McClelland Brentwood

Milestones

Brentwood school district workers honored

Brentwood Union School District Director of Student Services Kirsten Jobb and Far East Contra Costa County Induction Coordinator Emily Richards were honored at an awards dinner on March 7 at the Lone Tree Golf and Event Center in Antioch.

Jobb and Richards were selected by the Association of California School Administrators Delta Charter as Employees of the Year for the 2023-24 school year. They were chosen for the outstanding support they provide students, families and staff throughout the district.

Kirsten Jobb

Jobb started her career with Brentwood Union School District in 1995 as a School Counselor at Ron Nunn Elementary before transitioning to the role of Vice Principal at Ron Nunn Elementary from 2004-2006 and Edna Hill Middle School from 2006-2008. Jobb became the Principal of Edna Hill Middle School where she remained from 2008-2022.

In 2011 and 2021, she was named ACSA Delta Region Middle School Principal of the Year. In 2022, she became the Di-

rector of Student Services with Brentwood Union School District where she supports the success and safety of the more than 10,000 students in the district.

She is a long-time Brentwood resident and enjoys spending time with her two children, AJ and Taylor.

Emily Richards

Richards started her career in education in 2007 at George Washington

High School in San Francisco where she served as a teacher in the Practical Arts Department, Health Education and ELL Career Education.

Richards then transitioned to Glenbrook Middle School in Concord where she served as a history teacher in the humanities department through 2011. She began working as an Academic Coordinator at UC Berkeley History Social Science Project

where she led professional development opportunities for K-12 educators and facilitated literacy acquisition strategies in content areas focused on social studies.

Richards began her career at Brentwood Union School district as a teacher on Special Assignment with a standards and intervention focus in 2016 before transitioning into her current role as Induction Coordinator for Far East Contra Costa County Teacher Induction.

In her current role, Richards oversees the system of support for newly credentialed teachers. She is a resident of Concord where she resides with her husband Jordan and daughter Madeline.

“Kirsten and Emily have both had an amazing impact on our school district,” Brentwood Union School District Superintendent Dana Eaton said. “They often operate behind the scenes, supporting our staff members in helping to provide resources and support to our students and families. It is an honor to work with these two professionals who care and do so much for our school district community.”

Brentwood School District names workers of the year

They will be honored at the annual District Service Awards Dinner on Thursday, May 2 at the Wedgewood Banquet Club in Brentwood.

Patty Barbosa

Barbosa is a school counselor at Mary Casey Black Elementary School. She has been a classroom teacher, teaching 1st, 4th, 5th, and 6th grade. She has led support for English language learners in the district, been a district representative for English language Arts adoptions, and most recently, a school counselor. She lives by the philosophy of helping your neighbor in any way you can. She provides a calm space for students by holding lunch bunch groups for students. She supports the band boosters at the middle school and is involved in supporting youth programs at her church. She has been in education for 27 years. She will be honored at the Contra Costa Teacher of the Year celebration Sept. 19.

Yoli Alvarez

Alvarez is the secretary at Edna Hill Middle School. She has 34 years in the Brentwood School district with 17 of those years as a secretary with Edna Hill. She supports students, their families and

staff. Alvarez is known for reaching out to Spanishspeaking families for parents nights, home visits, book clubs, and more. Families and students know

see Employees page 13

JOBB

RICHARDS

ALVAREZ

MELENDEZ

BARBOSA

How positivity and renewed sisterhood revived Liberty softball

By Jeff Weisinger Staff Writer

Brandi Macias starts her day around 11 a.m., preparing the softball field for the day’s work ahead. On this day, with her white Liberty visor and gray hoodie on, she runs a fairly relaxed, yet focused, practice as the team prepares for their upcoming game against an undefeated Central Catholic squad coming in from Modesto.

She works with the lineup on situational hitting, four things specifically: bunting, leading off, and hitting with runners on base, all situations of which are written on a clipboard big enough for the group of girls she is working with to see.

Macias never coached high school softball before coming to Liberty a year ago after working in law enforcement for nearly two decades.

But her arrival and positive attitude made such an impact on a program that was desperate for change.

“My goal coming in was just to inspire these kids and empower these young ladies to make them believe in what they’re capable of,” she said.

She did just that in her first year. Macias led a previously underachieving Lions softball program to a 12-14 record season in 2023, doubled the team’s six-win total from 2022 and recorded only the team’s second double-digit win season since 2017. Liberty returned to the North Coast Section playoffs last year also for the first time in six years, losing in the first round to Clayton Valley Charter. Macias was then named a Softball Coach of the Year finalist by West Coast Preps last season.

“I’ve been blessed with an incredible group of girls that have desires to be the best and put it all out there,” Macias said. “They’re champing at the bit of just wanting to run through fences for somebody and I’ve gotten that and all I had to do is lay a foundation of expectations and they have succeeded every single one of them.”

Macias knows something about successful programs, considering that she came from one of the more successful

college softball programs in the country at the University of Iowa where she was an All-American in the mid-1990s, then under Hall of Famer Gayle Blevins, one of the sport’s all-time winningest coaches.

“I was fortunate to be coached by an incredible woman in college that taught us the meaning of sports and to honor it,” Macias explained. “So I try to give that to my girls every day.”

“I went to the Women’s College World Series through my four years in college and had such incredible experiences, but what I remember the most is the relationships, and that’s what’s so important.”

However, all of that work overshadows deeper issues that were within the program before Macias’s arrival, all during the losing seasons before last year’s playoff return.

“I didn’t see a lot of smiles initially,” Macias said. “The feeling was that there was some negativity. When I came in,

there was a lot of finger pointing and there were players who weren’t accountable for themselves. You could tell the culture was very negative.”

Current upperclassmen like senior Paige Breitstein and junior Isabel Mercado say that toxicity amongst the team and a sense of hierarchy plagued the program under the previous coaching staff.

Breitstein remembers her first two years in the program as disappointing.

“When I first came here, I was very scared,” she said. “A lot of the girls were cliquey and it wasn’t very welcoming. It was very cliquey between the grades. If you were a freshman or sophomore, you weren’t thought of as anything, and all of the respect went to the juniors and seniors, even with the coaches – they just respected the upperclassmen compared

see Softball page 11

Liberty softball edges Central Catholic in instant classic

By Jeff Weisinger Staff Writer

Liberty softball freshman Jewel Cooper never hit a walk-off home run in her young softball career entering Tuesday’s game against the 5-0 Central Catholic Raiders from Modesto.

That changed in the bottom of the ninth inning. With sophomore Isabella Rice on second as the automatic runner in extra innings, Cooper launched a gamewinning two-run home run off of Raiders reliever Amaya Gustavis to give the Lions a 12-11 win, capping off a game that saw Liberty come back time and time again for the win.

“I was just thinking of hitting a ball out there,” Cooper explained of the walkoff hit. “Left side or right side and just score (Rice) because we were down one.”

“I don’t ever remember being a part of a game where we went into the ninth like that,” Liberty head coach Brandi Macias said. “But what I have been a part of is a team of fighters,” and they have continued to fight every game we played. These girls just never stop. There’s never a moment that I don’t feel like these girls are gonna get it done. They’re a special group and they fight for each other.”

Following an 0-2 start, Tuesday’s win marks the third straight for Liberty, which ends Central Catholic’s undefeated start to the season.

The Lions came back four times throughout the game – from a two-run deficit in the fourth inning, down by three in the seventh and eighth innings, and then down a run in the ninth before Cooper’s two-run homer.

“This team has so much fight,” Coo-

per said. “Being able to play on this team is such a grateful experience to have.”

Cooper’s game-winning homer was her second of the game. She hit a solo home run to center with one out in the bottom of the fourth to cut the Raiders’ then-two run lead to one, 4-3. Liberty tied the game at 4-4 an inning later off of a solo homer by freshman Taylor Jennings.

Liberty junior Savannah Page also hit a two-run home run to center that went just over the glove of Raiders centerfielder Emry Couch to help Liberty tie the game in the eighth at 10-10.

Overall, three Lions accounted for the team’s four home runs on the day, three homers of which coming from the freshmen Cooper and Jennings.

“We can hit up and down the lineup,” Macias said. “Our philosophy is if there’s an out there’s an opportunity, and there’s

not one person that I have within this roster that can’t get it done in that moment. Confidence is very high right now.”

“We all have the ability and everything,” Cooper said. “We all have the fight to do it and we build off of it.”

The lineup made up for a relatively shaky outing in the circle by Lions starter Kate Skinner and Kaitlyn Macias.

Skinner went a combined 5 2/3 innings on the day, and while she only allowed one hit, she also gave up eight walks with seven strikeouts. In the top of the third inning with the Lions up 2-0, Skinner walked the bases loaded with two outs, then hit Brooklyn Nicholls to put Central Catholic on the board 2-1. She then threw a wild pitch low that allowed Jazmarie Roberts to score the tying run, 2-2.

see Liberty page 11

Liberty softball head coach Brandi Macias watches over the team’s practice with some of her players behind her.

Photo by Jeff Weisinger

Softball from page 10

to all the lowerclassmen.”

“When I was a freshman, a lot of the girls were yelling at each other on and off the field. It was very hostile and I think that’s why we didn’t do as well collectively.”

Mercado echoed Breitstein’s experience.

“It was very negative,” Mercado said. “There were girls that welcomed me like Paige and a couple of others, but it was just hard. I felt like everybody was playing as individuals, and I think that’s why we didn’t have success my freshman year. Then when coach (Macias) came in, I felt like they kind of just swept everything and started clean, creating a more positive vibe.”

If the Lions believe in karma, then Liberty’s 2024 roster defines it. Where upperclassmen were once the nobility at the top of the bat in the previous regime, so to speak, this Lions team is dominated by lowerclassmen.

In Tuesday’s win over Central Catholic, two lowerclassmen, freshman Jewel Cooper and sophomore Isabella Rice, combined for three of the team’s four home runs in the comeback victory. In last Thursday’s game against Monte Vista, sophomore pitcher Kaitlyn Macias bounced back from allowing a home-run in the circle to crushing one out herself in their 7-4 win at home.

The lowerclassmen are highly respected, relied on, and are, so far, good players.

Cooper and fellow freshman Taylor Jennings are two of the team’s top-three hitters, and both currently lead the team in home runs with two each. Sophomore Kate

Skinner has a 1.42 ERA with 38 strikeouts in five appearances to start the year, both statistic of which lead the Bay Valley Athletic League with league play looming.

“The freshmen and sophomores are extremely talented,” Macias said. “But they’re also great people. The seniors have laid the foundation and really educated them to how it used to be and what they don’t want in the program any longer.”

Liberty softball only features six upperclassmen – four seniors and two juniors. The other 10 players of the 16-girl roster are either sophomores or freshmen, giving Macias a foundation to build with for the near future.

Since last year, the story of Liberty’s softball program has several things in common with the award-winning Apple TV show Ted Lasso – a new coach who came to an underachieving team who turned things around not by changing tactics or training strategy, but by simply using optimism and positivity. Macias not only brought a renewed, and needed, sense of positive leadership to a program desperate for it, but also taught her girls how to be leaders.

While her efforts have turned the program around in such a short time, the program itself has also affected her.

“They inspire me to be better every day,” Macias said. “Coaching and helping people is my passion, and knowing they believe in me and are doing what I have laid as a foundation is the reason I do this every day.”

To view a video and a slideshow, visit www.thepress.net/multimedia

Liberty from page 10

Kaitlyn Macias took over for Skinner to start the fourth inning, but struggled, allowing two runs on two hits with a strikeout and a walk. The first hit she allowed was a solo home run by Ceriah Fitzhugh who lined a home run just inside the right field foul pole with one out. Then after walking the next batter, she allowed an RBI double down the third base line to Roberts to put the Raiders up 4-2 in the fourth.

Raquel Hare relieved Macias with two outs in the fourth and pitched 2 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on three hits

with a strikeout and a walk.

Skinner returned to the game with one out in the seventh inning to finish off the day.

“We all have good and bad days,” Brandi Macias said. “Sometimes our pitching struggles a little bit so our hitters step up, and sometimes our hitters struggle a bit and our pitching takes care of it.”

Liberty (3-2) takes on North Coast Section finalist San Ramon Valley (3-2) at Liberty next Tuesday, March 19 at 4 p.m. To view a slideshow, visit www.thepress.net/ multimedia/slideshows

By Michael J. Amthor, Esq.

PROFESSIONAL FIDUCIARY:  IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU?

I have written many articles about the importance of having an estate plan.  When creating an estate plan, choosing a trustee is one of the more important decisions you will have to make.  While most people choose a family member, some of us do not have the luxury of having a family member they trust with their money.

If that is you, you may want to consider a private professional fiduciary as your trustee or agent in your power of attorney.   Professional fiduciaries are licensed by the state and trained to help manage financial affairs and legal matters on behalf of an individual.

Many choose a professional fiduciary for the level of trust and expertise they can provide, especially in the context of a trustee of your living trust.  Professional fiduciaries have certifications and experience that are important when acting as a trustee.

Their job is to administer the trust, handle all financial trust affairs and distribute assets, to name a few.  A professional fiduciary understands the duty of loyalty and standard of care owed to a trust and the beneficiaries of that trust.

They are not swayed by family dynamics

and are not subject to family pressure.  More importantly, their sole function is to carry out the terms of the trust and do so in an ethical manner.  They understand their job and the trust that is placed in them to do that job.

Finding the right fiduciary, however, can be challenging. Some resources include friends and family, asking me (your estate planning attorney) or researching online, such as the Professional Fiduciaries Bureau of California and the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors.  When you find a potential candidate, call references, and run a background check.

Interview the fiduciary and discuss not only the trust but also their qualifications and experience.  While choosing a fiduciary may seem complex, it does not have to be.  We work with many fiduciaries and can confidently recommend a fiduciary that is right for you.  Feel free to contact us and have a discussion on this important decision.

If you have questions on this or any other estate planning topic, call me at (925) 516-4888. East County Family Law Group, 1181 Central Blvd., Suite A, Brentwood. www.eastcountyfamilylaw.com – Advertisement

Bill would require AV makers to report accident, malfunction data to state

Assemblymember Matt Haney (DSan Francisco) has introduced Assembly Bill 3061, the Autonomous Vehicle Safety and Transparency Bill, in response to increased concern from local governments that deployed self-driving cars — also called autonomous vehicles — are currently not required to report data on collisions, accidents, and vehicle malfunctions to the state. Most of the autonomous vehicle companies that are in competition to be first-to-market with a viable car service, are in Haney’s district in eastern San Francisco.

“This is all about safety,” Haney said. “(Autonomous vehicle) companies are preparing to roll out in nearly every city in California, but data on which companies are safe and law-abiding and which aren’t is being kept from the public and the state. As families may choose to rely on AVs for daily activities like getting to school, work, and the grocery store, we have a responsibility to make sure they are safe.”

The bill, sponsored by the Consumer Federation of California, Consumer Attorneys of California, and the California Teamsters Public Affairs Council, will mandate the disclosure of essential safety data concerning autonomous vehicle collisions and other traffic violations to the DMV — the state agency that regulates autonomous vehicles. The DMV will then be required to make this data available to the public.

“I’m supportive of the technology and want it done right,” said Haney. “But as they grow from testing to full deployment, there’s a lot that’s not being shared

and that hurts trust, it hurts transparency, and it hurts safety. It’s common sense for the DMV and local governments to have the data they need to keep people safe.”

Since 2013, the DMV has been charged with issuing permits to autonomous vehicles, and regulates vehicle safety and testing of autonomous vehicles on all California roads. The agency has not updated their regulations since 2018 to account for new data or developments in autonomous vehicle technology — but has still continued to authorize permits for more than 40 companies to test their cars in San Francisco.

Data reporting in this bill would mirror what is already required on the federal level by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for autonomous vehicle data reporting:

1. Collision report details, including any relevant pre-collision and postcollision information;

2. Incident reports that cite the traffic violations or citation related to the collision;

3. ‘Vehicle disengagements’ (e.g. autonomous vehicle stopping in the middle of the street);

4. Road and traffic conditions at the time of the collision;

5. Any passenger interactions;

6. Any interactions with road users (pedestrians, cyclists) or obstacles on the road;

7. Vehicle performance data;

8. Injury and property damage details; AB 3061 will be heard in the Assembly Transportation Committee in the upcoming weeks.

Press

off to a psychiatric hold.”

Andersen said A3 assists many people who need help from those who are trained in mental health support.

Chad Pierce, co-chief of the A3 crisis response program, oversees the operations of the program, and said he was

Employees from page 9

they

in with families

happy to augment his staff so the call center could operate 24/7. He is now helping to oversee the center’s move from Martinez to Concord, where it will be more centrally located in the county.

“People need to know that we exist and that we are 24/7, and when in doubt, call,” Pierce said. “Sometimes

May 2.

Cecily Melendez

a

that support students. Alvarez seems to know everyone as she has grown up in the Brentwood School District. She is part of what makes Edna Hill school an amazing place for students. Alvarez will be honored at the District Employee of the Year dinner on

people don’t know if a crisis is a crisis, or if it’s appropriate to call. But if you’re not sure, call anyway. We can get you connected to the appropriate support you need.”

The phone number at A3 is 844-8445544. In an emergency, call 911. For more information, visit www.cchealth.org/a3.

Melendez is a food service lead at Bristow Middle School, the largest middle school with about 1,200 students. Melendez has been the cafeteria lead for 8 years. She has changed the culture of her team, and the environment in the cafeteria. She is caring and direct with students. She has high expectations

of her staff and recognizes she is setting the day for many students and ensuring they are prepared for a day of learning. Melendez leads her team in serving 400 breakfasts a day and 800 lunches. She serves more than meals; she serves kindness and love. Melendez will be honored at the District Employee of the Year dinner on May 2.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net

Jeffery McThorn, Party of Marriage. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 02/15/2024 by Deputy Clerk Expires 02/14/2029

Brentwood Press No. 02-1273

Publish Dates: March 8, 15, 22, 29, 2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

File No. F-2024-0000206 The name of the business(es): WORDS TO VIBE TO Located at: 14 Vella Circle In: Oakley, CA 94561, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Megan Siobhan Lawer. This business is conducted by: An Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. Signature of registrant: Megan Lawer, Individual. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 01/16/2024 by Deputy Clerk Expires 01/15/2029 Oakley Press No. 03-0477

Brentwood Press No. 02-1273

Publish Dates: February 23, March 1, 8, 15, 2024

NOTICE OF PETITION

REQUESTING CHANGES IN WATER RIGHTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES FOR THE DELTA CONVEYANCE PROJECT

Notice is hereby given that on February 22, 2024, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board or Board) received a Petition for Change from the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to add two new points of diversion (POD) and rediversion (PORD) to the water right permits associated with the State Water Project (SWP). Specifically, the petition seeks to change Water Right Permits 16478, 16479, 16481, and 16482 (Applications 5630, 14443, 14445A, and 17512, respectively). The proposed new PODs/PORDs would consist of screened intakes 2.3 miles apart located on the lower Sacramento River between Freeport and Sutter Slough. The proposed new intakes are part of the Delta Conveyance Project, which would allow DWR to divert water from the northern Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary (Delta) and convey the water through a tunnel to existing water distribution facilities in the southern Delta. The stream systems that could be affected by the petition are streams within the Sacramento/San Joaquin River Delta Watershed, including the Feather River downstream of Oroville Dam, the Sacramento River at and downstream of the new PODs, the legal Delta, and other streams that may convey water using the new facilities. The petition is available on the DWR website at: https://water.ca.gov/-/media/ D WR-Website/Web-Pages /Programs/ Delta-Conveyance/Public-Information/ Revised_DCP_CP OD_Petition_Package_2024.pdf

Protests against the change petition must be filed by April 29, 2024 , with a copy provided to the petitioner. Details regarding how to submit a protest can be found in the full-length version of this notice available on the State Water Board’s Delta Conveyance Project website at: https://ww w.waterboards.

ca.gov /waterrights/water_i ssues/ programs/bay_delta/docs/2024/dcp-n otice-of-change-petition.pdf

Questions concerning this notice and non-controversial procedural questions regarding the Board’s proceeding related to this petition may be directed to the Board’s project team at DCP-WR-Pet ition@waterboards.ca.gov Please see the notice for additional information regarding the prohibition against ex parte (off-the-record) communications.

Date of Notice : February 29, 2024

Brentwood Press No. 02-1273

Publish Dates: March 8, 15, 22, 2024

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

As required by Assembly Bill 481, Brentwood Police Department will hold one well publicized and conveniently located community engagement meeting within 30 days of submitting and publicly releasing the Annual Military Equipment Report. Brentwood Police Department will hold the community meeting on March 18, 2024 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Brentwood Community Center located at 35 Oak Street, Brentwood CA 94513.

Brentwood Press No. 02-1273

Publish Dates: March 8, 15, 2024

PUBLIC NOTICE

I, Malik-Abdul, of the family Jamerson Bey, a living-breathing man, Declare I am alive, and over the age of 18 years old, fully competent to handle my own Trust Estate without the United States. This is the collateral by Trustee/Secured Party on behalf of the Trust/Estate; MALIK ABDUL JAMERSON BEY TRUST in the Commercial Chamber under the necessity to secure the rights, title (S), interest and value therefrom, in and of the Root of Title from inception, as well as property held in trust including but limiting to DNA, cDNA, cell lines, retna scans, fingerprints and all Debentures, Indentures, Accounts, Writ of Possessions, Warrants, Complaints, Citations, Bonds, Applications, Notes, Chattel Paper, and all the pledges represented by the same included but not limited to the pignus, hypotheca, hereditaments, res, the energy and all products derived therefrom nunc pro tunc, contracts, agreements, and signatures and/or endorsements, facsimiles, printed, typed or photocopied, of the owners name predicated on the ‘Straw-man’, Ens Legis/Trust Estate described as the debtor and all property is accepted for value and is Exempt from levy. Lien placed on debtor entities is for all outstanding property still owed but not yet returned to trust from entities such as municipalities, governments, and the like, not on trust entity itself. Trustee is not surety to any account by elicit reservation/indemnification. The following property is hereby registered and liened in the same: All certificates of

($1,200,000.00), all collateral described in State of Texas Secretary of State UCC-1 filing #22-00218818, #23-00268324, #23-0024419530, #23-0020731169, #23-00268542, #210026804629, Common Law Traveler’s Judicial Notice-Constitutional Traveler’s Identification, Allodial American National Identification Card#50245150 issue date 04-17-2023 expiration date 04-15-2033, The following described real estate, situated in City of Pahrump, in the County of Nye, State of Nevada. Legal Address: 1041 S. Hart St., Pahrump, Nevada 89048, Parcel: 038-322-15, Legal Description: T20S R53E S14&23 U.6 B.8 L.16 CALVADA VALLEY, Subdivision: CALVADA VALLEY U.6, SECTION:14, TOWNSHIP:20S, +0.13 Acres. The following property situated in Sweetwater County, State of Wyoming, said property being described as: (SW1/4 SE1/4) of Section 13, Township 22 North, Range 93 West, of Principal Meridian 40+ Acres. The following property situated in La Flore County, State of Oklahoma, said property being described as follows: Tyler Stone Ranch, Tract 77, +17.76 Acres. The following property situated in County of El Paso, State of Colorado, legally described as following: APN: 600000112, NW4NW4, SEC 28-16-60, +46.29 Acres. The following property described as following: Wagon Wheel Ranch, Tract 43 & 44, +15.13 Acres, Situated in Dent County, State of Missouri. Security Agreement No. MAJ-04151976-SA, Hold Harmless & Indemnity Agreement No. MAJ04151976-HHIA, Copyright under item no: MAJ-04151976-CLC Adjustment of the filing is in accord with both public policy and the national Uniform Commercial Code. Trustee/Secured Party, Malik-Abdul: Jamerson Bey, is living flesh and blood sojourning upon the soil of the land known as California, and not within Fictional boundaries, territories nor jurisdiction of any fictional entity including fictional Federal geometric plane(s). Trespass by any agent(s) foreign or domestic, by such in any scheme or artifice to defraud. Full reverence by ALL AGENTS and CORPORATIONS is ambiguously demanded and required. Culpa est immiscere se rel ad se non pertienti. All property currently held or outstanding belongs to the Trust administered by Trust/Secured Party, Title 46 USC 31343 and Article 1 and 5 of the International Convention on Maritime Liens and Mortgages 1993, Held at the Palis Des Nations, Geneva, From April 19 to May 5, 1992, United Nations UN. This Maritime Lien is under safe harbor and sinking funds provisions through the prescription of Law necessity with Applicable Law, Cardinal Orders, Ordinal Orders, and Commercial Standards. All Consumer Credit Transactions will be done on the private side with satisfaction of payment in the form of my Signature, Private Registered Promis-

Apartment from page 1

what we can do.”

She hopes the ownership and management company will provide detailed plans and goals so the residents can hold them accountable.

Councilmember Aaron Meadows, another member of the ad hoc committee, said there wasn’t much progress in their February meeting.

“They (WinnResidential) didn’t have an explanation,” he said. “They said they had staffing and budget issues, but my response to them was I am a property manager and an owner, and I don’t care if you have budget issues, you need to maintain and take care of the property.”

“If the management is violating laws, then the residents need to take it up with the appropriate authorities as that’s not part of the City’s jurisdiction,” he added. “But if there are habitability issues, that’s not acceptable.”

As a council member and a property manager, Meadows said he is frustrated about the ongoing problems faced by residents. “It makes the (whole) industry look bad,” he added.

Oakley City Manager Joshua McMurray said the city has limited regulatory authority over the complex.

“We will continue to address issues as they are brought up to us through the Building and Code Enforcement Divisions,” McMurray said. “As for what the City has done is (to) establish this limited term affordable housing ad-hoc committee to ensure there is accountability by both the ownership and management company.”

Bonnie McCord, 83, who lives at The Oaks on Carol Lane, said she can no longer bear the brunt of the maintenance and repair problems she’s been facing over the years, especially after her husband died two years ago. McCord had water in her apartment twice, from an overflowing toilet and kitchen sink, which led to a bigger problem, roach infestation.

McCord was moved to a different unit during repair work, but she had to move her furniture by herself.

“Maintenance said they couldn’t do it,” she said. “Luckily, my church members helped me move. Once I

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would bring it closer to insolvency, but the BTA says there is room in the budget for it.

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when the item was brought before the Council on Feb. 13, the Concert in the Park that was originally scheduled for June 21 would be canceled to free up those funds.

The Council acknowledged that they had seen concerns on social media regarding the Concert in the Park and other comments about the event that Vice Mayor Susannah Meyer called “disgusting.”

Councilmember Tony Oerlemans justified the cancellation of the concert.

“I was the one that brought up canceling the Concert in the Park the Friday afterwards,” he said. “One, we could take that money and use it for Juneteenth. But, two, we have staff. Everybody in this room – our police department, our public works people – are gonna be at Juneteenth, and they’re going to be working on a federal holiday. And then we’re going to ask them to come back and work more overtime on the Friday following. Our job is to be concerned for the people that work for the city of Brentwood.”

One sticking point in the discussion was the potential involvement of the 4 Ever Me Foundation, an Antioch-based group that has held local Juneteenth events in the past. While the February meeting had indicated that the organization would be involved in some capacity, Pierson had since moved

came back into my apartment, the roaches came, probably due to the water and heat (to dry everything out).”

“They (roaches) were everywhere. For a year and a half, I had thousands of roaches. I had to wash everything down daily because it kept getting into everything, my microwave, coffee pot, and dishwasher,” she said.

McCord said the management sent a professional exterminator to deal with the problem.

“I made friends with him (the exterminator), and he helped me out,” she said. “Finally, after a year and a half, I got rid of the roaches.”

On Feb. 16, more troubles followed McCord’s way as she fell face-first after slipping on a puddle of water as she stepped outside her apartment. She broke her nose, had her lips slit wide open, broke her leg and some ribs.

“I’ve reached my breaking point,” McCord said. “I’m hiring a lawyer because I can’t go through this with them (management) anymore. They have ignored me completely. I’ve lived here eight years, I’ve been through enough.” McCord added that no one has followed up with her after the fall despite failing an incident report.

Her heater has also broken down, and she’s been depending on her oven for heating.

“It’s just unbelievable how bad it has become,” she said. “The floors are so filthy, you won’t want to walk on them. Homeless people are living in empty apartments, it’s just gotten so bad.”

Her friend, Jackie Rider, who has been living in the apartment complex for six years, also suffers from the lack of maintenance and repairs. Rider said the garbage chutes in her building have been locked, forcing seniors to take their trash out to another designated area.

“We complained about the garbage room and how bad they were, infested with roaches,” Rider said. “It was just gross. Instead of cleaning them up, they closed the garbage chute.” Rider’s air-conditioner has also been leaking for about a year. Although the maintenance crew fixed it, the problem persists.

“It’s still leaking,” she said. “I have plastic bins underneath it as I don’t want my cats to drink the water.”

According to a statement released by BTA, the district’s offer is not equitable for all members, with some teachers receiving different levels of raises. The district said

away from that idea due to the foundation’s organizers wanting decision-making power in the planning of the city event. Claryssa Wilson, the founder of 4 Ever Me, said during public comment that she felt “blindsided” by Pierson because she had been under the impression that the city was offering financial support for her organization to host their Juneteenth event rather than creating their own city-led Juneteenth event.

“It was always my impression that at the last council meeting, 4 Ever Me Foundation was willing to collaborate in some way with the city since we had already been putting in

Rider said there is also no security as the building doors and front gate do not work.

“We are supposed to have a gated community, but the gates have not worked in these six years I’ve been here,” she said.

Michael Dupray, a senior housing advocate, said the situation is awful.

“They are punishing the seniors living there,” Dupray said.

Oke Johnson, executive vice president of WinnResidential said the company has outlined specific steps and initiatives aimed at improving the living conditions and addressing the needs of residents.

One major focus has been on revamping the process of reporting and addressing service requests. Management has implemented changes to ensure that each request is thoroughly addressed and resolved, Johnson said.

Johnson said all completion of repairs or other maintenance depends on the severity of the issue, with a target of 24 to 48 hours for normal service requests to be resolved by onsite staff.

“Emergency situations have a different, more accelerated timeline,” Johnson said in an email to The Press.

Johnson said some progress has been made on pest control, but challenges persist due to the size of the property, which consists of nine individual buildings with 509 units.

“One key step that’s been taken this year is the hiring of a third-party company to collect and manage trash collection throughout the complex every day during the week,” Johnson said.

He said clear communication with residents is a priority for WinnResidential, adding that efforts have been made to improve residents’ enrollment in an online portal that helps them to log work orders and communicate with staff more efficiently.

“The key success factor to address issues is consistent delivery from the on-site staff with strong support from senior and executive level personnel to help shoulder the responsibilities, projects, and needs. We are committed to providing this direction and leadership,” Johnson said.

this was to incentivize new teachers, while allowing more rapid movement on the salary schedule for veteran teachers, creating a more competitive salary schedule overall.

the work,” Wilson said.

For her part, Pierson said that she had several meetings with the foundation following that council meeting in an attempt to clarify the group’s involvement in the event. She said that she explained the difference between a partnership, a sponsorship and consulting while also underlining that she had discussed a city-sponsored Juneteenth event with the council before ever speaking to the 4 Ever Me Foundation in the first place. Pierson said that she expressed to 4 Ever Me that they would have “a seat at the table” to see what they could bring to the planning process from a creative perspective. Wilson wished the city luck with their celebration but the 4 Ever Me Foundation will not be involved.

“I’m just disturbed,” she said of the breakdown in communication. “I was concerned that it was going to be an issue of pitting Black women against Black women and so I’m really saddened.”

Other topics discussed at the meeting included:

The postponement of the discussion regarding changing ordinances around sidewalk and mobile vending. The council had discussed the item as part of their last meeting but Councilmember Jovita Mendoza expressed concern that the mobile vending por-

If both parties agree to an impasse, the state will provide a third-party negotiator to help find a solution. No more meetings are scheduled.

tion of the ordinance could be “detrimental” to local businesses.

• A 5-0 vote approving the layout, amenities and design of the former Davis Camp Site Historical Display project. The camp is an important part of Brentwood’s history dating to the late 1920s when O.R. Davis came to California from Oklahoma to escape starvation and the Great Depression with his wife Ruth to find work in the fruit fields. The site will feature trees, benches and historical markers, among other amenities.

• The 5-0 approval of the priority grant funding previously discussed by the Land Use Development committee (LUD) as part of their Feb. 26 meeting. The funding will pay for local events. For more information on the priority projects, including a complete list, see the story on page 1A of The Press’s March 8 issue.

• Setting the application deadlines for the city’s economic grants. The LUD committee had previously discussed the grant process as part of their Feb. 26 meeting but had not announced a deadline for applications. The application period began on March 13 and will run until 5 p.m. on March 29, after which applications will be reviewed.

The full meeting can be watched at https://bit ly/3VftoWa

PIERSON