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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 9, No. 1
Deputy killed on Vasco
Splish-splash for charity
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January 7, 2011
This Week Canine calamity
by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer Services were pending Tuesday for Marco Ortiz of Brentwood, an Alameda County Sheriff deputy killed when his car overturned on Vasco Road Dec. 30. Ortiz, 33, died when his vehicle rolled over near Los Vaqueros Road at about 1:15 a.m. “This is a real tragedy and has hit the agency hard,” said Sgt. James Nelson of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department. “He was a wonderful employee, a wonderful deputy sheriff and an even better person. Being who he was and how beloved he was, this is a very difficult time for everyone.” According to reports, the 10-year veteran who worked at the patrol station in San Leandro was returning home to Brentwood at the time of the crash. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Traffic on the roadway was shut down in the northbound direction for three
For one Brentwood man, what began as a pleasant stroll ended in the violent death of his beloved dog. Page 3A Photo courtesy of Pat Anderson
embers of the Splashers – the charitable branch of the Discovery Bay Yacht Club – proved there’s more to their club than boating and socializing. This year, the Splashers raised nearly $7,000 for local charities, including Saint Vincent de Paul, Kaleidoscope and Meals on Wheels, shown above with Splasher organizers and Meals representatives.
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hours while the scene was cleared. The cause of the accident is still under investigation. “All we know right now is that he hit an embankment and that caused the car to flip,” said Nelson. “We don’t know if he was ill, if he fell asleep – we just don’t know. The car is
being examined to see if there was a malfunction, but as to the cause of the accident, that’s something we may never know.” Ortiz is the first fatality on Vasco Road in
Goodwill soldiering Beanie babies are being recruited for distribution to Afghani kids by U.S. troops. Page 4A
Tickled by the pickle
see Vasco page 22A
Looking for dreams to make happen Elderly Wish program has gifts to give by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer
Photo courtesy of Mary Chapman
Brentwood residents Donald Smith and his wife Maryann visited Donald’s sister in Florida this week. The trip was financed through the Elderly Wish Foundation.
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If wishes were horses, goes the 16th-century nursery rhyme, then beggars would ride. But if you ask Mary Chapman, executive director of the Elderly Wish Foundation, wishes are exactly what one should hope – and ask – for. “We have plenty of wishes available, and when I tell people that, they are just flabber-
Answer the call go to news/WebExtras!
A casting call has been issued for a production of “The Secret Garden.”
gasted,” said Chapman of the organization that grants wishes to seniors with life-threatening or terminal illness. “But we’re here. Call us.” Since 2000, Contra Costa County residents have called the foundation requesting wishes in the form of visits with loved ones, outings to professional baseball or football games, afternoons fishing on the Delta and even the gift of free longdistance phone calling. “What’s interesting about the wishes,” said Chapman, “is that they are small in nature but so large in the hearts of the people we give them to. We’ve see Wish page 22A
Chow champ
go to news/press releases Calpine recently made a deposit in a regional food bank to the tune of $10,000.
A new sport is attracting throngs of enthusiasts, and seniors are championing the cause. Page 1B
Plus: Business .............................14A Calendar ............................ 19B Classifieds ......................... 13B Cop Logs ............................17A Entertainment ................. 11B Food .................................... 10B Health & Beauty ................ 8B Milestones ........................18A Opinion ..............................16A Sports ................................... 1B
FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A
Viral vocals
go to multimedia/videos A homeless man’s dulcet tones have enchanted 4.5 million YouTube viewers.