www.thepress.net Your Hometown Website
ward Winning News al A pa
YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 13, No. 25
Disaster relief in the Ring of Fire by Amy Claire Correspondent
All eyes were on New Zealand after the devastating February earthquake in the city of Christchurch. However, in the ensuing onslaught of natural disasters around the world, including the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, New Zealand and its people were pushed off the front page and largely forgotten. Their needs, however, are still great, and Brentwood is making an effort to help. Local nonprofit Love 4 Our Neighbors has started AID4ROF, a Ring of Fire Earthquake Relief Fund for areas such as Christchurch. The Ring of Fire describes the quake-prone areas of land surrounding the Pacific Ocean, including New Zealand, Japan, Chile – and California. Love 4 Our Neighbors Director Deb Melander said Ring of
Fire nations have traditionally offered mutual support. “Japan was one of the first responders to New Zealand,” she said. “When their emergency came, they obviously had to go home. Despite what they’re going through, New Zealand sent a team (to Japan) with them.” While New Zealanders have been cleaning up the rubble from collapsed buildings, more than 3,100 aftershocks have continued to shake the area. Structures that were formerly salvageable, including the 130-year-old Christchurch Cathedral, are now condemned due to the additional damage. Sidewalks, streets and lawns have erupted in muddy geysers as silt is pushed through the soft ground, burying cars and further destabilizing building foundations. see Ring of Fire page 17A
Photo by Rick Lemyre
Brentwood Mayor Bob Taylor, left, and former New Zealand resident Rob Gwynne chat on the phone with Mayor Bob Parker of Christchurch, New Zealand. Taylor is helping publicize relief efforts for the earthquake-stricken city.
Staff Writer
Online Now!
www.thepress.net Your Hometown Website
Primed for the big day
Braced for amaizement
by Ruth Roberts
Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial illness spread through coughs and sneezes and characterized by severe, lingering coughs. In 2010, 10 infants died from the malady – the highest number since 1950 – and thousands more became ill, prompting state health officials to declare a pertussis epidemic in California. The pertussis – or DTaP vac-
June 24, 2011
Let our Wedding Planner help you sweat the details right now so you can relax on your wedding day. Page 1B
‘No shot, no school’ deadline looms Of all the items parents need to put on their child’s back-to-school checklist this year, the pertussis vaccine should be at the top. As of July 1, California law requires all students entering seventh through 12th grades to be immunized with the whooping cough booster vaccine. And local school districts and health affiliates throughout East County are continuing to reach out to the school community, emphasizing the now well-known slogan: No Shot, No School. “We’ve been sending out weekly reminders to our families,” said John Saylor, director of special services with the Liberty Union High School District. “And for us, that is 7,200 students. I would have to say that in general our families have been very good at getting it done. We still have a way to go, but things are beginning to trickle in.”
rs
Na t
pe
ion
cine – consists of four inoculations. The first three doses are given at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 18 months and again at 4 to 6 years of age. However, immunity wears off over time and the danger lies in adults and older children spreading the illness to infants too young to receive the vaccine. East County’s local school districts have been working for
Celeb central
go to news/WebExtras! An upcoming golf tourney in Tahoe promises the ultimate in VIP sightings.
months to inform the public about the new law, emphasizing that without proof of inoculation, students will not be allowed to attend school. But as thousands of students have yet to be inoculated, and most schools open their doors on Aug. 1, the looming deadline is daunting. “Approximately 80 percent of our children have yet to provide proof of their pertussis vaccine, so we have a bit to go,” said Jan Steed, director of student services for the Brentwood Union School District. “But we have it (information) plastered everywhere, and Kaiser has been sending home letters notifying families, so we’re doing everything we can.” At the Oakley Union Elementary School District, where roughly 800 middle school students still need to file their proofs of vacci-
The Press is inviting readers to give us an earful of their favorite corn recipes. Page 3A
Talent to spare
The recent PBA Senior Northern California Classic brought pocketcrashing class to Brentwood. Page 21A Business ............................... 4A Calendar ............................ 23B Classifieds ......................... 17B Cop Logs ............................11A Entertainment ................. 13B Food .................................... 12B Health & Beauty ..............18A Milestones ........................ 22B Sports .................................21A Wedding Planner .............. 1B ravemotionpictures Brentwood 14 +
see Deadline page 17A
Vets get boost
go to news/press releases A new bill before Congress would help veterans get access to good jobs.
®
FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A
Green thumbs
go to multimedia/videos Brentwood was beautified as part of Mormon Helping Hands Day.