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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 12, No. 13
Construction relocates festivals by Samie Hartley
Construction worker Marcello Soto makes a measurement this week as work continues on the underground utilities for Brentwood’s new city hall. The construction has closed City Park downtown, forcing the annual CornFest and the Art, Wine and Jazz Festival to find alternate venues for 2010.
Staff Writer The 2010 Art, Wine and Jazz Festival will jump across town to the Streets of Brentwood to escape ongoing Civic Center construction, while this year’s CornFest will sidestep the worksite by shifting one block west. Brentwood Chamber of Commerce CEO Harry York Tuesday presented the City Council with the nearly-fleshed-out plan to shift the city’s biggest annual event from Second to First Street, where it will stretch from Chestnut to Pine streets. Booths will run down the middle of the street, and scaledback entertainment will be staged in three places: A city-owned vacant parcel at First and Chestnut, the Bank of America parking lot near Oak Street, and a vacant parcel next to the Brentwood Funeral Home. Fireworks will be launched from the customary place, behind Liberty High School. York said much of the planning had centered on fencing, which will run down Diablo Way and Midway Alley behind businesses
Photo by Richard Wisdom
fronting First Street. Several meetings and responses to notices had indicated most merchants preferred their entrances to be inside the festival boundary and not faced by the festival’s perimeter fence. A spokeswoman for the Delta Cinemas, however, told the council that times were tough for the downtown fixture, which has already
made commitments to run major summertime films that weekend. She was concerned that movie patrons would be required to pay their way into the CornFest first. Talks are continuing about possible solutions to the theater problem, York said, and details concerning access for a couple of residences who would be fenced in
are also still being worked out. Other considerations in the complicated plan include shifting fences after hours so diners can still reach restaurants after the CornFest closes, and staging the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District’s Engine 54 so that it can exit via Diablo Way instead of First Street. This
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March 26, 2010
This Week Auto lovers get it in gear
Looking for a reliable mechanic or some deals on wheels? Our Spring Auto Care guide puts you in the fast lane. Page 1B
Bash for the past The East Contra Costa Historical Society heralds the new season with a flourish of fun and fascinating activities. Page 6A
Dial in the drama
see Festivals page 15A
East County officials hear high-tech transit proposal by Dave Roberts Staff Writer When eBART was initially proposed in 2000, transportation officials envisioned that by 2010 there would be light-rail, diesel-powered trains traveling 23 miles from the Bay Point BART Station to Byron, stopping at stations along the way in Pittsburg, Antioch, Oakley and Brentwood. Unfortunately, the most that will be happening this year is construction of an Source: eTranzUSA eBART transfer platform at the Bay Point A private company is proposing to provide BART Station. mass transit, possibly to Discovery Bay, for half The $500 million project was delayed the cost of eBART. and scaled back a couple years ago when
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Union Pacific Railroad refused to allow eBART trains to travel on its Mococo Line through far East County. Without access to an existing track, officials agreed that there was only enough funding to extend eBART 10 miles down the Highway 4 median from Bay Point BART to Antioch, with stations at Railroad and Hillcrest avenues. It could take many years for eBART to reach Oakley, let alone Brentwood or Byron, unless hundreds of millions more transportation dollars are found – a tall order for a federal government mired $12.6 trillion in debt and California struggling
Frugal unions
go to news/WebExtras! A financial pro says banks aren’t the only lending institutions in town.
see Transit page 15A
Tuition tuneup
go to news/press releases A vehicle maintenance service is helping high school seniors pay for college.
Our Sports Links hook you up with a colorful collection of athletic adventures. Page 20A
Plus: Auto Care Guide.................1B Calendar .............................19B Classifieds ..........................13B Entertainment ....................9B Food .....................................10B Health & Beauty .................8B Milestones ........................ 11A Opinion .............................. 16A Sports ................................. 19A
FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A
Diabetes defied go to multimedia/videos
Active 4 Diabetes held an event that raised awareness – and a little sweat.