YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 21, No. 33
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Amphitheater Beating the heat project back under review
August 16, 2019
Breaking The Glass Ceiling
by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
The Brentwood City Council has pulled back the curtain on a long-proposed amphitheater project near the intersection of Vineyard Parkway and Marsh Creek Road. But city leaders are waiting to act until more important details can be researched and finalized. The city has about $7.7 million in contributed funds and collected development impact fees thus far, all of which must go toward the project, as dictated in the city’s Vineyards at Marsh Creek development agreement. Little else about the endeavor is concrete, however. City leaders heard the results of an outside consultant’s feasibility and market study this week, in advance of further planned discussions on the project during a city council strategic planning session in October.
East County entrepreneurs share their stories in this week’s coverage of Women In Business. Page 1B
Growth At John Muir Photo by Tony Kukulich
P
axton Johnston, 13 months, had a lot of fun while also finding relief from the heat in the City Park fountain in Brentwood, Wednesday, Aug. 14. Triple-digit temperatures hit East County this week, prompting residents to find creative ways to keep cool.
see Amphitheater page 22A
Disaster planning key to survival by Tony Kukulich Staff Writer
In just the last few weeks, East County residents have experienced a pair of earthquakes along with a fire that burned more than 700 acres before it was extinguished — and incidents like these serve as reminders of the potential for a widespread, critical emergency occurring in the area. “You’re never going to avoid (emergencies) 100%,” said Gus Vina, Brentwood city manager. “Sometimes we get very focused on earthquakes, but then the event is a truck that overturns with chlorine or a shooting. We’re in this environment where a lot of bad stuff can potentially happen. Nobody should ever think they’re immune. It can happen anywhere at any time, for many reasons.” People in the business of responding to emergencies of every
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“ You’re never going to avoid (emergencies) 100% … Nobody should ever think they’re immune. It can happen anywhere at any time, for many reasons.
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Gus Vina, Brentwood city manager kind stress the importance of preparation and planning to mitigate risks, improve the odds of survival and reduce the strain on emergency response systems in the event of a city- or county-wide incident. Every household should prepare and maintain a fully-stocked emergency kit that contains items like flashlights, medical supplies and a battery-powered radio. Food and water for each member of the household for three days should also be stored, and the needs of pets should be included in any preparations. The kit should be
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stored in a location that’s easily accessible in the event a quick evacuation is necessary. PG&E has a useful guide for creating an emergency kit at www.bit.ly/thepress_emergencykit. The Red Cross is also a good source of information on disaster preparation, and emergency kits and supplies may also be purchased at www.redcross.org/ store/preparedness. “(Disasters) can strike without warning, at any time of year, day or night,” says Jennifer Lucas, disaster preparedness manager for
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the Red Cross in Contra Costa County. “Be prepared by making an emergency kit, and keep it updated, working with all of your family members to create a plan in case of emergency, and staying informed through local channels, including Red Cross apps and the website.” While each city has plans for emergency response, Vina said the county is primarily responsible for developing a response template and managing incidents. The role of each city is to integrate with the county’s plan. “Like other cities, we have a comprehensive emergency response plan and will coordinate with other agencies and entities to respond to the needs of the community during an earthquake or other emergency,” said Bryan Montgomery, Oakley city man-
Brentwood’s health care facility is undergoing an expansion to better serve residents. Page 5A
Playing For The Pros
Former Antioch High basketball star Eric Donaldson has signed with a professional team in Italy. Page 15A
see Disaster page 22A
Calendar............................... 2A Classifieds..........................17A Cop Logs.............................21A Health & Beauty ..............10A Milestones.........................11A Opinion...............................14A Pet of the Week................10A Sports..................................15A
New Gun Laws
7-Eleven Suit
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Bill would impose a statewide excise tax on handgun and semiautomatic rifle sales.
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$1.525 million civil settlement with Texas-based 7-Eleven over state violations.