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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 13, No. 37
Fire tax heads for the ballot by Rick Lemyre Staff Writer The East Contra Costa Fire Protection District will ask residents to approve a $197-per-year parcel tax next June to improve service and avoid potentially devastating cuts next year. The tax, which will generate about $8.6 million, was approved Monday on an 8-0 vote (Director Robert Kenny was absent). It will require a two-thirds majority to pass. The ECCFPD encompasses 250 square miles of East County, including Brentwood, Oakley, Discovery Bay, Byron, Knightsen, Bethel Island and the area near Morgan Territory Road. Because tax-sharing rates were set in 1978 when the area was primarily served by volunteer and part-time firefighters, the ECCFPD receives only 6 cents of each property tax dol-
Cuteness forecast
lar – half of what most full-time districts receive. Plummeting property values have further eroded what the district gets. The additional tax will erase the $2.6 million operating deficit now made up with dwindling reserves, which will run out next year. It will also enable the district to expand the lessthan-bare-bones service it can now provide. It will place three firefighters on each engine, one of whom will be a paramedic (two of the six district stations are now staffed with two firefighters). The district now provides only basic lifesaving medical service. The increase will also enable the district to staff a seventh fire station. Last year, the district closed a station in Byron and one in Discovery Bay to cut costs, but it’s unclear at this point
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September 16, 2011
United in remembrance
Communities gathered to honor the victims of 9/11 and renew their commitment to freedom. Page 1B
Recreation rewarded Photo by Delaura Pigati
storm the likes of which is usually found in the tropics surprised much of East County last week, but Dominee Pigati, 5, and her sister Dallas, 2, knew just what to do. “My girls were so excited, they ran in and grabbed their umbrellas and ran outside to enjoy the warm rain,” said their mom, Delaura. “They were so awed by the lightning and thunder, I had to snap a photo.” Thanks for sharing, Delaura!
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The city’s commitment to providing kids an optimal environment for play earned it another national award. Page 3A
Showing off at the Shores
see Fire page 30A
Frazier to run for Assembly seat by Rick Lemyre Staff Writer
Photo by Rick Lemyre
Oakley Mayor Jim Frazier, right, is congratulated by longtime Oakley businessman and community leader Enrico Cinquini after Frazier announced last Thursday that he would seek election for the new 11th District of the state Assembly.
Oakley Mayor Jim Frazier is the first to announce he will run for a seat in the newly formed District 11 of the State Assembly. Created by the census-driven realignment of government districts, the 11th Assembly District encompasses Oakley, Antioch, Brentwood, Byron, Discovery Bay, Bethel Island and Knightsen in Contra Costa County, and Vacaville, Fairfield and Rio Vista in Solano County. Because the district is new, there is no incumbent against which to run, although the
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Hospice of the East Bay has expanded its Bereavement Services Program.
seat is expected to draw several more candidates. “This is an opportunity to work with some great people who are legislators already,” said Frazier, 52. Many expected him to challenge Mary Piepho for District III of the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors, but Frazier thinks he can make a bigger impact in Sacramento. “I think I can have a better footprint at the state level and get more done,” he said. Frazier, a general contractor, said he would take a “business approach” to the Assembly’s most challenging task: see Frazier page 30A
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The California State Assembly has passed a bill to help keep state parks open.
The shores of Diablo Shores got soaked with the spray of world-class skiers at a pro-am extravaganza. Page 24A Calendar ............................ 15B Classifieds ......................... 10B Cop Logs ............................13A East County Life ................ 1B Entertainment ................... 5B Food ...................................... 6B Health & Beauty ................ 4B Milestones ........................ 14B Opinion ..............................12A Sports .................................21A FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A
A decade later go to multimedia/videos Sorrow and solidarity marked East County’s 9/11 observances.