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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 14, No. 10
New LMC campus Spring is sprung passes milestone by Rick Lemyre Staff Writer
The construction of a new Los Medanos College campus in Brentwood moved another step closer to reality this week when the California Community College Board of Governors approved “center status” for LMC’s Brentwood Center. “This is great news,” wrote LMC Interim President Richard Livingston in a letter to district employees Monday. “It means additional financial resources for the college/center and is a crucial milestone on the way to development of a permanent center on our recently purchased property south of Brentwood.” Since 2001, Pittsburg-based LMC has occupied about 20,000 square feet of a former grocery store on Sand Creek Road in Brentwood. With more than 2,500 students now being served
out of the Brentwood location, the district is feeling the squeeze and has been working on building a new, bigger facility for several years. In 2010, the district paid $4.8 million for 17 acres of undeveloped land near the intersection of Marsh Creek Road and Highway 4. Officials hope to break ground in 2015 on the 42,000-square-foot first phase, and ultimately expand the center to 84,000 square feet. Monday’s announcement means LMC will be eligible for about $1 million more each year in state funding. As community college enrollment soars and four-year college costs skyrocket, the additional funding will be helpful. Added Livingston, “It is heartwarming to know that during tough financial times the future of community college education in far East County is looking up!”
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March 9, 2012
Guide to green living
From water purity to auto care to hazmat disposal, our Think Green section helps you limit your carbon footprint. Page 1B
Patriot pasto Photo by Richard Wisdom
pring is sprung, the grass is riz, we wonder where the raindrops is. Mother Nature has begun her annual show in East County orchards despite the fact that, according to annual averages, we’re not done with the winter wetness. Far East County has seen a mere .18 inches of rain so far in 2012, whereas we usually get 2.31 inches in January and February. Things are expected to stay dry through next weekend, so get out and enjoy the flowers.
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Grazie! Grille is hosting a fundraising event for members of our armed forces. Page 5A
Fervent farewell
Workshop aims to prevent exploitation Students, parents and local officials gathered at La Paloma High School Saturday to take part in Innocence of a Child, a workshop focused on sexual exploitation awareness and prevention for girls 11-18. The event was sponsored by the Contra Costa Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. “The Innocence of a Child workshop addresses one of the greatest issues facing our community,” said Darrylyn Swift, president of the Contra Costa Alumnae Chapter. “It was important for us to bring the youth, teens, caregivers and community leaders together to open up lines of communication and talk about the prevalence of sexual exploitation in our community, and identify risk factors
The girls engage in a group activity before breaking into their Innocence of a Child workshop sessions. and warning signs. The workshop also provided the youth and teens an opportunity to be self-reflective and focus not only on victimization and their vulnerability, but on their strength.
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“It is also important for us as a chapter to send a clear message that our children are our most precious resources and we are committed to protecting and guiding them.” According to marriage and
Spring forward Sunday, March 11
Fine tuning your timepieces this weekend will save you an hour of precious daylight.
family therapist Nadirah Stills, Social Action chair of the Contra Costa Alumnae Chapter and Far West Regional chair of Physical and Mental Health, “A lot of times we think (the sexual predator) looks a certain way, but not always do they look like the person we see on TV. It might be a neighbor, coach, or anyone.” Stills urged the girls to have open disclosure about this sensitive matter and be able to talk about it. Learn creative ways to be safe as you move through your teen life. Be able to identify warning signs, and have tools to (deal with) the warning signs and be able to identify predators. see Workshop page 17A
A local soccer star lost his fight against cancer, and his teammates lost a friend and inspiring presence. Page 19A Business .............................15A Calendar ............................ 19B Classifieds ......................... 13B Entertainment ................... 9B Food .................................... 10B Milestones ........................ 18B Opinion ..............................18A Outdoors ............................. 6A Sports .................................19A Think Green ........................ 1B
FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A
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Antioch’s Neighborhood Cleanup crew gave community pride a boost.