YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ward Winning News al A pa
Vol. 11, No. 33
Including Surrounding Communities
www.thepress.net
Vets come together in classroom by Rick Lemyre Staff Writer
The two men couldn’t be much different. One is a robust fellow of 39 who soars well above 6 feet tall, tips the scales at 325 pounds, and whose face exudes confidence and strength. The other is a diminutive 91-year-old whose fragile frame is bent by the years, and whose knowing eyes gaze out from a weathered face lined with age. The study in contrast came together last week in Fran Curtis’ classroom at the Joseph A. Ovick School in Brentwood. Sponsored by the Contra Costa County Office of Education, the two men were there not because of their differences, but for something they had in common: war. The elder man was Retired U.S. Army Sgt. Vincent Silva, a survivor of World War II’s infamous Bataan Death March of 1942 and prisoner of the Japanese for three and a half years. Students sat transfixed as they heard stories of torture and abuse at the hands of his captors. Delivered in detail that surprised the students,
rs
Na t
pe
ion
August 14, 2009
THIS WEEK
You say Tahoe – I say Tahoo
How a famous California lake got its name is a long, labyrinthine – and fascinating – journey.
Page 6A
Photo by Richard Wisdom
Students at the Contra Costa County Office of Education’s Joseph A. Ovick School are awed by the story of Bataan Death March survivor Sgt. Vincent Silva, Ret. Silva, along with four-tour Iraq veteran Maj. Eric Boettcher, visited their Brentwood classroom last week. Silva’s message was also more upbeat than they expected. “He remembered everything, even though he’s 91,” said Lavonce Juarez. “And he kept giving us a positive message, telling us to stay in school.”
Local rancher Gursky passes We l l - k n o w n Brentwood resident Roy Gursky, surrounded by family, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 11, following a long battle with cancer. He was 65. Gursky was the owner of Gursky Ranch, a third-generation family business. He was also a real estate broker and active member of the Brentwood community. The family welcomes friends to attend a Celebration of Life on Aug. 23. For information on service time and location, call 925-634-4913.
Chris Maldonado said he was surprised that Silva wasn’t bitter toward all Japanese, considering the torture he had endured. “He said that not all Japanese were bad,” he said. “It was just the people they were fighting at the time.”
The younger of the two men was Army Reservist Maj. Eric Boettcher, who recently returned from Iraq with his second Bronze Star. As the chief of operations of see Veterans page 22A
State historical society honors two of its own by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer
When local history buffs attend the East Contra Costa Historical Society (ECCHS) barbecue at the Byer/Nail House Museum on Sept. 13, they’ll not only get a chance to rub elbows with the past; they’ll get to meet Dave and Joyce DeCato, winners of the Conference of California Historical Societies Individual Award. The state award, presented to the DeCatos at the conference’s annual convention on June 27 in Martinez, recognizes the historical assistance and accomplishments of East County residents. For the DeCatos, who live in Oakley, being recognized for something they love to do was a huge honor.
Weigh in!
“We were quite surprised, of course,” said Dave. “But to have the support of our peers, many of whom came out to watch us get the award, is really special. We feel very honored to have been picked.” According to Byron historian and author Kathy Leighton, the award couldn’t have been given to a more deserving couple. “They (DeCatos) are the five-star volunteers of volunteers,” said Leighton, who attended the awards ceremony. “Joyce (DeCato) treats the museum as if it were her own home. They have both been such key players in every aspect of the museum. I don’t know how we managed without them before. It’s a much-deserved honor.” see Society page 22A
Full-circle journey A student began her quest with the odds stacked against her – and returned to campus as a teacher.
Page 11A
Room for improvement
The Heritage gridiron warriors aren’t satified with last season’s merely respectable results.
Page 1B
INSIDE Calendar ..........................23B Classifieds ........................14B Cop Logs ..........................16A Entertainment ................10B Food .................................12B Health & Beauty ............... 8B History ...............................6A Milestones ......................... 6B Opinion ...........................15A Sports ................................. 1B Talk About Town ..............5A WebExtras! ....................... 1B
Add your two cents.
Comment on news stories, letters to the editor and blogs at www.thepress.net. See page 20A.
FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A