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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 20, No. 2
City loan to help open new tavern
Chilly waters for Bun Run
January 10, 2020
Healthy And Fit In 2020
by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
This week’s special edition offers tips, tricks for looking great, feeling fit in new year. Page 13
The Oakley City Council is serving up a $50,000 loan to local restaurateurs to heat up plans for a previously stalled downtown tavern project. The funds, distributed as part of the city’s Downtown Revitalization Loan Program, are expected to streamline the development of Main Street Tavern at 3685 Main Street — a refreshed version of a similar idea that ran short of funds. “I think this is the type of facility the city really needs to have downtown,” said City Councilmember Michael Krieg. Local residents Naim Zalmaiyar and Gail and Christian Knight have now joined forces for the business, which is planned to
Raising Up The Flag Barn Photo by Tony Kukulich
D
awn Klarich of Tallahassee, Florida, participated for the first time during the 40th annual Frozen Bun Run on Bethel Island, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. Pleasant weather drew a large crowd and more than 30 water skiers to the docks of the Rusty Porthole. To view more photos of the event, visit www.thepress.net/multimedia/slideshows
see Tavern page 26
Preparing for the 2020 U.S. Census by Deanna Gordon Staff Writer
Efforts have been ramping up across East Contra Costa County to make sure residents will know what to expect with the coming 2020 U.S. Census. The census count, which takes place every 10 years in the United States, determines the number of seats a state has in the U.S. House of Representatives, and is used to draw district lines and determine federal and state funding. According to a George Washington University study, California and local governments lose $2,000 for each person not counted. While the census count is the responsibility of the U.S. Census Bureau and the federal government, Contra Costa County promotes it. It is vital to get an accu-
“ The challenge is to locate them ... to make sure they can trust the process. We’re relying on trusted partners to get the word out.
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District 3 Supervisor and Contra Costa County Census Committee Chair, Diane Burgis rate count of how many people live in the county, District 3 Supervisor and Contra Costa County Census Committee Chair Diane Burgis says, not only to maintain funding and representation, but also to know the composition of the people who live here. “It’s a way of acknowledging and celebrating diversity,” Burgis said. While the county has grown throughout the past decade, some reports estimate California’s popu-
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lation as a whole has decreased, meaning the state could lose a seat in the House of Representatives. “I want to make sure we don’t lose any representation we don’t need to lose in Contra Costa County,” Burgis said. Contra Costa County faces certain challenges in its census count, chief of which are its hardto-count community members, many of whom fall into one or more demographics: children 5 and under, students, people for whom
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English is not their first language, seniors, veterans, people who live in areas not zoned as residential, college students, those mistrustful of government, the homeless and more. Burgis says census officials are taking extra efforts to ensure these individuals are counted, including issuing grants to schools, public agencies and tax-exempt organizations that can help. “The challenge is to locate them ... to make sure they can trust the process,” she said. “We’re relying on trusted partners to get the word out.” Some partners Contra Costa County is entrusting to help include local organizations that have experience working with these hard-to-count community memsee Census page 26
Pet Services
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Contra Costa Animal Services has revised fee structure for 2020.
Community outreach program in connection with park district is revitalizing Vasco Road icon. Page 5
Mastering The Hoops
Liberty girls’ basketball defeats Dixon and finishes strong in Stonebarger Tournament. Page 18 Calendar................................27 Classifieds.............................21 Cop Logs................................25 Food........................................10 Milestones..............................8 Adopt a Pet.............................7 Sports.....................................18
Living Large
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A new exhibit, “Living Large,” opens at the Bankhead Gallery in Livermore.