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Vol. 17, No. 49
YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
New parks and rec manager comes to town by Dawnmarie Fehr Correspondent
The Town of Discovery Bay has a new face on its management team as Bill Engelman steps into the role of parks and landscape manager. Engelman hails from Wisconsin, where he owned a landscape and design company. An avid recreationalist who enjoys outdoor activities like hiking, mountain biking and skiing, he was looking for a milder climate for his family to live and play in. “I saw the position in
Putting Brakes On Gas Station
Discovery Bay on a search engine,” Engelman said. “I did a little research on the community and its proximity to all the things we enjoy, and that’s how I applied.” Engelman has a master’s degree in landscape architecture and planning, and 17 years experience on the job. But his career didn’t begin with the land; he started working in corporate finance after graduating from college. He feels this varied background will aid him in keeping the see Manager page 22
Brentwood City Council conducting noise study on proposed car wash/gas station. Page 5
Fire Aides To The Rescue Photo by Dawnmarie Fehr
Bill Engelman is the Town of Discovery Bay’s new parks and recreation manager.
Recycling regs present challenges by Deanna Gordon Staff Writer
Local consumers who want to be refunded the California Redemption Value (CRV) paid for plastic, aluminum and glass recyclables have had to look elsewhere since mega-recycler RePlanet closed in August. RePlanet, which had local operations in Brentwood and Antioch, was one of the largest recycling centers in California. It closed all 284 of its locations in the state after the business determined its operation was no longer profitable. These closures have left those in East County — and elsewhere — wondering where to redeem their recyclables. Few standalone redemption centers remain. According to the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), 40% of state-certified recycling centers
“ One challenge faced by grocery stores is that we
are a food retailer and required to take recycling material back in the store, which our stores are not built for the takeback, both for space and logistics.
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Chelsea Minor, Raley’s corporate director, consumer and public affairs have closed in the last five years. The California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act dictates that retailers selling beverages under the CRV program have two options: Return the value of empty containers if the “convenience zone” in which they are located is not served by a standalone redemption center, or pay a $100 per day fee to the state. According to CalRecycle, a convenience zone is typically a half-mile radius circle (in urban
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and suburban areas) with the center point originating at a supermarket with gross annual sales of $2 million or more, and is considered a full-line store, selling dry groceries, canned goods, or nonfood items and perishable items. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 54 (AB 54) on Oct. 12, which provides $5 million in subsidies to retailers affected by closures to help their business in the interim, but he said this is only a temporary fix for both consum-
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ers and businesses. Newsom wrote in a statement about the legislation that the bill is “an important but stopgap measure to address the recent closure of recycling centers throughout the state.” “The California Beverage Container Recycling Program has long faced structural challenges and is in need of reform,” Newsom wrote. “I look forward to working with the Legislature in the coming year on a comprehensive solution for this program as part of the ongoing discussion about the future of how we manufacture, reduce, reuse, recycle and compost materials in California.” Due to expense, most retailers in East County are opting to redeem recyclables in store rather than pay the daily fee. Raley’s — in Brentwood at 2400 Sand Creek Road, and in see Recycling page 22
Letters To Santa www.thepress.net/news/webextras
A special mailbox has been set up at the Antioch Community Center for letters to Santa.
East Contra Costa Fire Protection District hires fire aides to help support staff. Page 4
One For The Record Books
Cornerstone Christian School wins first NCS football title. Page 14 Calendar................................23 Classifieds.............................19 Food..........................................8 Entertainment.......................9 Holiday Happenings ...........8 Legals ...................................20 Adopt A Pet............................5 Sports.....................................14
The Red Kettle
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BART is teaming up with The Salvation Army during its Red Kettle Campaign.