Discovery Bay Press 01.24.2020

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Vol. 18, No. 4

Boardwalk Grill changes hands

January 24, 2020

Financially Fit In 2020

by Dawnmarie Fehr Correspondent

Many Discovery Bay residents are already aware of the recent change in ownership at the popular Boardwalk Grill on the marina. But for those who haven’t yet heard the news, local residents Ron and Sandy McCaslin officially took over the business last month from longtime owners Chris and Erica Cookson.

“We very much admire the business and everything that (the Cooksons) built, and from a customer standpoint, we’ve very much enjoyed coming here with our family,” said Sandy. “There will be nothing new right away. Nothing changed.”

Sandy is also chief operating officer at Delta Valley Health Club, which has locations in Brentwood and Discovery Bay. She will continue in that role, and hopes to incorporate her love of healthy eating into the see Grill page 26A

This week’s special edition offers advice for getting the most out of your money this year. Page 1B

A Unique Performance Photo by Tony Kukulich

Sandy and Ron McCaslin, seen here with sons Baily, left, and Riley, are the new owners of the Boardwalk Grill. The Discovery Bay couple took over from longtime owners Chris and Erica Cookson last month.

New tunnel project is déjà vu all over again

by Tony Kukulich Staff Writer

Citing a need to protect the state’s water supply from climate change and seismic threats, the California Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) plan to construct a single tunnel through the heart of the SacramentoSan Joaquin Delta took a major step forward with the Jan. 15 publication of the project’s notice of preparation (NOP), and its release drew swift reactions from both sides of the metaphorical aisle.

“The health of the Delta — both its communities and the environment — depends on freshwater flows through the Delta from the Sacramento River,” wrote representatives of the Delta Counties Coalition in a press release. “The tunnel proposal would remove a significant

“ A single tunnel could still divert up to nearly half of the average flow of the Sacramento River and make conditions in the Delta worse, not better.

”

Delta Counties Coalition amount of those freshwater flows from their natural course through the Delta. A single tunnel could still divert up to nearly half of the average flow of the Sacramento River and make conditions in the Delta worse, not better. Today’s announcement is a missed opportunity to get past the old conflict-ridden rivalries and pursue different and more fruitful approaches that would actually increase statewide water supplies. Instead, it’s more of the same divisive top-down approach pur-

SAVE NOW

sued by past administrations.”

The Delta Conveyance Project (DCP), as the initiative is now known, is DWR’s latest version of a plan to draw water from the northern reaches of the Delta and move it to pumps approximately 40 miles south.

From there the water will enter the network of State Water Project (SWP) canals, and begin its journey to farms, homes and businesses of the Central Valley and Southern California.

DCP supplants the twin-tunnel design called WaterFix that was

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canceled by Gov. Gavin Newsom last April, after 13 years of planning, legal wrangling and hard-fought opposition.

“Governor Newsom directed state agencies to pursue a single-tunnel solution to modernize our water infrastructure, and when combined with the broader, statewide portfolio approach, this project would help safeguard a vital source of affordable water for millions of Californians,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “This water supply is critical to the health of local communities, the future of the Delta ecosystem and the success of our state’s economy.”

The NOP initiates an environmental impact report for the proposed project, which is the first step to ensure its compliance with the California Ensee Tunnel page 26A

USDA Guidelines www.thepress.net/news/webextras

Two proposals are in the works to make school lunches more appealing, healthy.

Performer Unique Derique brings his special brand of comedy, music and fun to the library. Page 9A

Patriots Bball Stays Strong

Heritage boys’, girls’ basketball down Freedom and remain undefeated in league play. Page 16A Calendar.............................27A Classifieds..........................22A Cop Logs.............................25A Entertainment.................... 9A Food....................................... 8A Health & Beauty...............15A Milestones.........................12A Opinion...............................11A Adopt a Pet........................14A Sports..................................16A

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JANUARY 24, 2020

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Community NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS & EVENTS

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Byron district recognizes employees of the year Byron Union School District’s Teacher of the Year and three Classified Employees of the Year will be recognized at the Discovery Bay Chamber of Commerce’s annual State of the Town Gala, Saturday, Jan. 25.

Teacher of the Year • Alicia Woodson, Discovery Bay Elementary Woodson, a 23-year instructor, teaches first grade. She has been at Discovery Bay Elementary since 2006, where she has also taught kindergarten and fourth grade.

“Throughout my elementary school years, I picked up on material very quickly and was advanced for my age group,” said former student Cailin Farage. “Mrs. Woodson refused to let my learning stall, as I quickly completed my fourth-grade-level coursework and thought outside of the box to further my learning and development. She found extra lessons, assignments and projects that demanded more from me … Her dedication and commitment to not only me, but every single student, has created such impact and inspired many students to maximize their potential.”

AUER

CRAIG

Classified Employees of the Year • Debbie Auer, special education aide, Timber Point Elementary Auer has worked for the district since 2001. She started at Excelsior Middle School as a special education aide, and in 2006, she also began working as an aide at Timber Point Elementary’s after-school program. In 2007, she became a special education aide for Timber Point Elementary.

She and her husband, Kevin, have been married almost 20 years and have two children, Latisha and Joshua. When not working with kids at the school, she loves spending time with her family and friends.

DELGADILLO

Auer says there’s nothing more fulfilling than to watch a child grow confidently, academically and socially, and knowing she has a part in that.

• Janelle Craig, special education aide, Excelsior Middle School Craig started with the district in 2001 as a campus supervisor, a position she held until she began substituting as an aide. About four years ago, Craig became a full-time aide.

She has been married to her husband, John, for 23 years and they have three children: Tayt, Karleigh and Kenady.

Her coworkers say she has a positive attitude and makes those around her feel impor-

tant and valued — both students and adults alike.

• Angelina Delgadillo, custodian, Discovery Bay Elementary Delgadillo has been a custodian with BUSD for 19 years and has worked at all three schools throughout the years.

She has been married since 2009 and lives in Oakley, but is originally from Jalisco, Mexico. When not at work, she enjoys shopping and loves to spend time with her family.

She always goes above and beyond and takes her job seriously — she always just seems to know what is needed and does it, no matter how hard or messy the job is.

Citizen of the Year, Business of the Year and Nonprofit of the Year will also be recognized. The State of the Town Gala — themed “Havana Nights” — will take place at the Discovery Bay Country Club, 1475 Clubhouse Drive, in Discovery Bay, starting at 6 p.m. The event is “black tie” so formal attire is requested. Tickets are $90 and available at www.bit.ly/dbsotgala. For more information, visit www.discoverybaychamber.org or call 925-240-4144.

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THINKING ABOUT CHANGING YOUR TRUST? DECIDING BETWEEN AN AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT by Joan M.Grimes. and Jennifer L.Wallis Are you thinking about changing your Revocable Living Trust (“Trust”)? When considering a change, many clients ask whether they can simply amend the Trust or whether the entire Trust should be restated.

Simply amending sounds easier, right? But, here are a couple of things you should know.

In general, if you wish to make a minor change (i.e. changing Successor Trustees or adding a Co-Trustee), an amendment is fine. Go for it!

However, a restatement is recommended for major changes. For example, if you decide that you want to remove a beneficiary or change your distribution scheme, a restatement is a better option. You might ask why this is necessary when an amendment sounds easier. This is because the law requires that after you die, a copy of your trust plus all amendments must be provided to any named beneficiaries and your heirs at law. For example, let’s say after careful consideration you decide you want to remove your friend, Sally, from your Trust. If you only remove Sally from your Trust by amending your trust, when you die Sally will receive a copy of you original Trust (which includes her as a beneficiary) plus the amendment in which you removed her from your Trust. (Awkward!) However, if the Trust is restated rather than amended, the restated Trust supersedes the prior Trust and any amendments. Therefore,

under this restated Trust, Sally will not be entitled to receive a copy of your Trust since she is not included anywhere in your new restated Trust.

The good news is that restating your Trust is simple and does not require your new restated Trust be funded again (i.e. you don’t need to record new deeds for real property, change any bank accounts or other assets that are already in the Trust). This is because the restated Trust will have the same name and date as your original Trust. Since the name and date of the restated Trust will be the same as the original Trust, you won’t need to fund your Trust again.

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A clock, similar to the one seen on the far left, will soon be popping up in City Park.

Press file photo

Clock to start ticking soon in City Park

by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer

As folks visit Brentwood’s City Park, they’ll soon be sure to know the time.

A Mayor Bob Taylor-inspired 12-foottall, four-sided clock is expected to arrive by the end of the month, Taylor said this week, noting an official unveiling will be held at a yet-to-be determined time.

“I have a costume I am trying to line up,” Taylor said of the unveiling. “It will be cool.”

The Brentwood City Council unanimously approved the timepiece in July last year, months after Taylor suggested it — noting he’d seen similar timepieces at prominent parks around the nation and felt it would complement City Park’s resurrected gazebo, also his idea.

“People are interested in time,” Taylor joked this week. “You know one thing about this world, right? We all want to know what time it is.”

The fixture is slated to cost between $18,000 and $22,000 initially, in addition to an annual $750 charge for maintenance needs, including cleaning, lubricating and mechanical adjustments.

While Taylor might have thought of the

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idea, his fellow councilmembers helped narrow down the structure’s features, including its 12-foot height, four-sided face, Roman numerals and its location between two light poles near the park’s children’s area, to enhance its visibility.

The height is expected to cut down on possible damage, versus a shorter, 10-foot option, city leaders decided. The four-faced design will enhance its readability from a wider area, and Roman numerals were chosen over Arabic numerals to add visual appeal.

It will be tied to existing electricity from the nearby poles. Its power draw won’t affect current park light poles, and it will employ LED lighting, making its operating cost no more than that of a standard street light. City crews will complete the installation once it arrives.

Taylor also inspired the inclusion of a gigantic red chair in City Park in late 2017 and then led an all-volunteer resurrection of the park’s gazebo that debuted in May last year.

But city leaders have noted the clock will likely be Taylor’s final City Park addition.

“After the clock, we might want to consider that would be one of the final components to City Park, or we might not have any more room,” said Vice Mayor Joel Bryant.

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COMMUNITY

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Trolleys to debut during wine event in Brentwood

by Kyle Szymanski

“ The goal of this pilot

In an attempt to increase local tourism and business promotion, the City of Brentwood and the Contra Costa Wine Growers Association have agreed to hail trollies as part of a May wine-tasting event.

The three vehicles will run on 30-minute loops, carrying eventgoers from downtown to a number of Brentwood wineries.

The city council recently unanimously approved reimbursing the association $15,500 in specialized funds for the trolleys and associated marketing and promotional efforts. That money will come out of the city’s agricultural enterprise land fund, composed of agricultural mitigation fees that can be used only for agricultural projects and programs.

“The goal of this pilot program is to encourage repeat and new visitors and residents to explore and patronize local wineries, while sitting back and enjoying themselves with free transportation from downtown Brentwood to participating wineries — providing an experience while promoting agritourism,” said Brentwood Senior Analyst Peggy Berglund.

The trollies are expected to run on the event’s second day (May 17), which is scheduled to occur in Brentwood.

Day one, on May 16, will be held in Martinez, although a single $25 ticket grants access to both days.

Local wineries slated to appear at the Brentwood gathering include: Bloomfield Vineyards, Tamayo Family Vineyards, Campos Family Vineyards, CoCo County Wine Company, McCauley Estate Vineyards, Petersen Vineyards, Hannah Nicole Vineyards as well as Nunn Family Vineyards, and Favalora.

Brentwood leaders are hopeful that the second day’s free trolley component will add an enticing element, while affording the city cross-promotional opportunities for shopping, dining, the season’s U-Pick season and much else.

“This is a no-brainer,” Mayor Bob Taylor said of the council’s reimbursement approval. “A trolley gathers attention, and it’s fun to ride a trolley.”

The expected $15,500 reimbursement from the city to the wine association is expected to be divided into $7,100 for the three trolleys; $5,000 for advertising; $2,400 for tote bags and or promotional swag; and $1,000 for banners.

John Viano, chairman of the Contra Costa Winegrowers Association,

program is to encourage repeat and new visitors and residents to explore and patronize local wineries, while sitting back and enjoying themselves with free transportation from downtown Brentwood to participating wineries.

Staff Writer

”

Brentwood Senior Analyst Peggy Berglund said he’s excited to implement the trolley idea.

“We are hoping the trolleys will add another attraction to the event itself,” he said.

The trolley endeavor is part of the city’s larger effort to ramp up local agriculture projects and programs to spur agritourism.

The council approved $300,000 in agricultural enterprise land fund money as part of an Agricultural Business Program Strategic Initiative when adopting its 2018-19 and 2019-20 citywide Strategic Plan.

Leading up to the trolley idea, the city had already doled out about $61,000 of those funds to the Harvest Time organization and for another Contra Costa Winegrowers Association endeavor, which includes $20,000 for directional and wayfinding signs for Harvest Time–associated farmstands and vineyards; $17,000 for an appellation feasibility study; $8,200 for Harvest Time’s Fall Harvest Program; and a combined $15,700 toward Harvest Time’s website reconstruction and social media optimization.

“Many of these projects have already been completed or are being implemented,” said Berglund.

The Contra Costa Winegrowers Passport Weekend will be held from noon to 5 p.m. on May 16 in Martinez, and from noon to 5 p.m. in Brentwood on May 17. Tickets are $25.

For more information on the event or the Contra Costa Winegrowers Association, visit www.cccwines. com/events.

For more information on the trolley plan and the city’s reimbursement of funds to the association, visit www. bit.ly/38zKK4L.

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JANUARY 24, 2020

Cyber attack checks out library

by Dawnmarie Fehr Correspondent

THANK YOU

for voting us Best Senior Living in Brentwood!

A ransomware attack forced the Contra Costa County Library to take nearly all of its servers offline on Friday, Jan. 3.

All 26 library locations and the Martinez Library Administration office were affected, and things still aren’t back to normal.

Susan Shiu, public information officer for the county, said many details are still considered sensitive information as the investigation into the attack is ongoing.

“I can tell you that we are working with state and federal resources, cyber security experts have been on site working with us and we continue to investigate and to restore our services and systems,” Shiu said.

Brooke Converse is the public information officer for the library. She noted most systems are back up and running, except for three.

“We can say that our Wi-Fi and our public printing are not back up at every

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single branch yet, and we have a list of which branches have it back on our website, and we are just adding to that as each one is brought back online,” Converse said. “Other services that are still impacted are your ability to log on to your library account online and put books on hold.”

Public Wi-Fi and printing have been restored at the Brentwood library branch, but not the Oakley branch. All locations are open during regular scheduled hours, and material can be checked out and returned as normal.

The press release issued by the library immediately following the attack ensured customers there was no evidence of personal patron data being compromised.

Ransomware works in many ways.

Generally, it is a type of malware from cryptovirology that threatens to publish its victim’s data or block access to it unless a ransom is paid.

For more information on what services were affected and where public printing and Wi-Fi are available, visit ccclib.org.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net

Your photo could be selected for our 2020 WELCOME! magazine.

ELIGIBILITY: The contest is open to all amateur and professional photographers who reside in East Contra Costa County. Entrants may submit up to three photographs in the contest.

PRIZES: 1st Place: $100 cash prize, 2nd Place: $50 gift certificate, 3rd Place: $25 gift certificate DETAILS: High resolution digital or 8x10 high quality photos will be accepted. Subject of the image, location, and approximate date image was taken must accompany all submissions. Find complete contest rules on our website at https://www.thepress.net/living/ contest_games SUBMIT: Submit photos no later than February 8, 2020. Email to editor@brentwoodpress.com, drop off at 248 Oak Street, Brentwood from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or complete the online form at https://www.thepress.net/site/ forms/contest_forms/cover-photo-contest/ cover_photo_contest/

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JANUARY 24, 2020

Luke Cannon (left) and Isaiah Mateas are among many who will perform at Ghostlight Theatre Ensemble’s 2020 Showcase, Saturday, Feb. 1.

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SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND LOANS

Enjoy the talents of local singers, dancers and actors at Ghostlight Theatre Ensemble’s 2020 Showcase, a fundraising show featuring top local talent, accompanied by Susan Stuart.

Highlights of the event include performances by local dance groups East County Performing Arts Center and Freedom High School dance line, REPLAY Quartet and a special performance

by Liberty High School’s choir director, Laura Carreon, as well as numerous performances by actors, singers and dancers associated with Ghostlight Theatre Ensemble. Ghostlight will also share details of upcoming shows and activities, including its second annual play festival, Festival 10, as well as its performing arts youth academy. Ghostlight’s Board of Directors will also reveal its 2020-21 season of shows.

“We are so excited for this year’s event,” said Nancy Torres, showcase coor-

dinator. “We will be featuring over 55 performers, including more than 26 who have never performed at a Ghostlight showcase before. Our raffle will be amazing, as the winners will receive gift cards from local businesses who value and support live theatre in our community.”

Performers will sing songs from numerous Broadway favorites, including “Newsies,” “The Sound of Music,” “Aladdin,” “Mary Poppins,” “Hamilton,” “Wicked,” “Waitress,” “The Pajama Game,” “Les Miserables” and “Dear Evan Hansen,” among others.

Two back-to-back performances will be held Saturday, Feb. 1 at The Theatre at Edna Hill, 140 Birch St. in Brentwood, starting with a 2 p.m. matinee followed by an evening show at 6:30 p.m. Adult tickets are $15; students and seniors 60+ are $12; and tickets for children 10 and under are $10. Advanced ticket purchase is highly recommended, as tickets may sell out.

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Ghostlight presents Broadway showcase

Obviously the more steady the income, the better. They will also ask their appraiser to do an analysis of what the likely rent is for the unit, and they may allow them to consider short-term rental rates in the calculations.

In the past, if you have never had a rental before, and you were thinking of buying a new rental just to run short-term rentals through it and/or converting your primary residence into a short-term rental, that was almost a guaranteed “no.” But now, it may actually be possible, as long as you can make a solid case to the lender that there is a market for short-term rentals, and that you can handle the intermittent vacancy by having other sources of income and/or reserves set aside.

If you have questions about real estate, call me at (925) 240-MOVE (6683).

Voted “Best of Brentwood” multiple times.

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In the past, a lender usually would only count the income on a rental you owned as part of your total income if it was verifiable and established. This means they wanted to see a copy of the lease and proof that rent payments are coming in.

Sometimes they wanted to see at least a year or two track record. Lenders were also a little concerned if you didn’t have much experience handling rentals in the past and required larger down payments and bigger reserves (liquid funds in your accounts).

Things are different now, especially with the increase in short-term rentals like VRBO and Airbnb. Some landlords are finding better cash flow through these vehicles than through having long-term tenants. But that creates a challenge in that you don’t have signed leases to show the lender and the property may very well be vacant when you are applying for the loan.

Some lenders are willing to consider short-term rental now. They will look at your rental history and tax returns.

Custom Framing & Matting

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Local Food&

Pub sports new look, expanded menu

by Deanna Gordon Staff Writer

311 Oak St. Pub has cooked up a new way to bring customers to its downtown Brentwood spot.

It started with removing a brick pizza oven owner Stephanie Nazzisi says was there before the building — which dates back to the early 1900s — in order to expand the kitchen and have a proper dinner menu.

“We had to take the whole (oven) out,” Nazzisi said. “That thing was solid brick. When we got it all out, there was no foundation. It was a big ordeal, but it came out awesome. Everything is brand new.”

311 served only drinks during the renovations, but its customers kept coming in — a testament to its regulars, Nazzisi and bar manager Niki Venoble said.

“Our customers waited it out,” Venoble said. “They were fantastic.”

After reopening with its new look after Thanksgiving, staff at 311 has seen a surge in new customers and support from regulars.

311 Oak St. Pub’s bar manager Niki Venoble, left, and owner Stephanie Nazzisi, are offering customers an expanded array of food options along with a revitalized menu at the popular downtown establishment.

Photo by Tony Kukulich

“We have all our regulars, for sure,” Venoble said. “They’re very excited the menu expanded and there’s more options.

I’ve seen quite a few new people that just

TEPPANYAKI • SUSHI • BAR

walk by, and they see the ‘Kitchen Now Open’ sign on the door, because we haven’t really advertised. They come in, and they come back.”

The new menu includes dinner options the pub didn’t have before, including customer favorites like chicken marsala and chicken piccata.

“Everybody’s very happy that we have French fries now,” Venoble said with a laugh. “The paninis — the Raging Bull is probably one of our most popular items, and it’s extremely delicious. We have three different types of sliders, and they’re probably ordered equally between all three, or people will order all three of them and just share. Our shrimp cocktail gets ordered a lot, and it is fresh to order.”

All of this is great news, but some accommodations are needed to meet the demands of increased customers. The pub will be selling its beloved shuffleboard.

Nazzisi is sad to see it go, but the demand for seating is high.

“We’re going to have pub tables,” Nazzisi said. “You can rearrange them different, and they can be moved aside for at nighttime when it gets more crowded.”

Thankfully, she says, the pub’s pool table, darts and jukebox are there to stay.

As one of the only places open for the late-night bar crowd, the staff at 311 believes the spot has found its place in the downtown area.

“The downtown has so much to offer for everybody right now,” Nazzisi said.

“Competition is healthy. Let them open up everything … I mean, we’re all different.

There isn’t one place that’s exactly like the other one.”

311 Oak St. Pub is open every day from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. and serves food daily until 10:30 p.m. Children are allowed in as long as food is being served. For more information, visit www.311oakstreetpub. net or call 925-626-5547.

To view a video, visit www.thepress.net/ multimedia

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CRAB & PASTA FEED To Help Support the 2020 Kids Free Fishing Derby

Saturday, Feb. 22 at 6:00 p.m.

Brentwood Veterans Memorial Building 757 First St., Brentwood

Tickets $50 ea. Limited tickets!

Call Mike today! (925) 634-6356 www.csbawestdeltachapter.org

California Striped Bass Association West Delta Chapter

JANUARY 24, 2020

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O

akland’s Lance McGee, better known as Unique Derique, brought his blend of comedy, juggling and hambone body percussion to the Brentwood Library, Thursday, Jan. 16. The event was sponsored by the Friends of the Brentwood Library.

To view a video and a slideshow of the event, visit www.thepress.net/ multimedia

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Looking for more things to do?

Look at the many local events on

Photo by Tony Kukulich

Art, wine event to benefit chorus The Brentwood Community Chorus, under the direction of Susan Stuart, presents the second annual H’Arts & Wine at the Delta Gallery on Thursday, Feb. 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. The Delta Gallery is located in The Streets of Brentwood at 2485 Sand Creek Road,

Suite 128.

Tickets are limited, so advanced purchase at www.bit.ly/hartsandwine is encouraged. The $25 ticket includes wine tasting from Bloomfield Vineyards, a souvenir glass and appetizers. Tickets may be available at the door if space

permits. Invite your friends to join you for a fun evening of wine tasting and appetizers while enjoying displays by local artists. Tickets for raffle baskets will also be available for purchase.

All proceeds benefit Brentwood Community Chorus.

www.thepress.net/calendar Please recycle this paper

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Opinion EDITORIALS, LETTERS & COMMENTARY

Have something to say? Post a comment or submit a letter to the editor at www.thepress.net/site/forms

Letters

to the

Talking points

Editor: The Delta Democrats have passed a resolution chastising the Diablo Water District for its plan to increase rates to residential water customers.

The points covered in this resolution are as follows: the failure of the district to adequately apprehend and prosecute water theft from large-scale users; gifting of lower rates to the largest consumers and those who waste water, i.e. developers and large scale commercial users; the fact that it has used less than 6% of designated funds for assisting low income, senior and disabled persons

for very little “GREEN”!

Editor

with their water bills, despite a high proportion of late fees being collected, thereby indicating a much greater need.

The Delta Dems urge the district to not raise its rates on households; to support a restructuring of its rate tiers, to encourage conservation by rewarding it with lower bills; to institute a fair and equitable discount program for low income, seniors and the disabled; to increase vigilance and prosecution of water theft; and to cease the subsidizing of large-scale water users and wasters by residential customers.

This is the essence of the resolution.

Liz Elias Vice Chair, Delta Democrats

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GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS City of Brentwood City Manager and City Council City Hall 150 City Park Way Brentwood, CA 94513 Phone: 925-516-5440 www.brentwoodca.gov City of Antioch City Manager and City Council City Hall 3rd and H streets Antioch, CA 94509 Phone: 925-779-7000 www.ci.antioch.ca.us City of Oakley City Manager and City Council City Hall 3231 Main St. Oakley, CA 94561 Phone: 925-625-7000 www.ci.oakley.ca.us Town of Discovery Bay Town Manager and Community Services District 1800 Willow Lake Road Discovery Bay, CA

94505 Phone: 925-634-1131 www.todb.ca.gov County Supervisor, Dist. III Diane Burgis 3361 Walnut Blvd., Suite 140 Brentwood, CA 94513 Phone: 925-252-4500 Fax: 925-240-7261 dist3@bos.cccounty.us County Supervisor, Dist. V Federal D. Glover 190 E 4th Street Pittsburg, CA 94565 Phone: 925-608-4200 Fax: 925-427-8142 district5@bos.cccounty. us State Sen. Steve Glazer Seventh Senate District Capitol Office: State Capitol, Room 4082 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: 916-651-4007 District Office:

420 West Third Street Antioch, CA 94509 District Office Phone: 925-258-1176 | Fax: 925-258-9982 | Cell: 925-963-1611 http:// sd07.senate.ca.gov

Assemblymember Jim Frazier 11th Assembly District Capitol Office: P.O. Box 942849 Sacramento, CA 94249 Phone: 916-319-2011

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JANUARY 24, 2020

Milestones BIRTHS, ACHIEVEMENTS AND OBITUARIES

Have you or someone you know reached a “milestone”?

If so, we’d like to know about it! Email your information to editor@brentwoodpress.com.

Seen in Israel

Steve Navarro, holding a copy of The Press, and his wife Janis, recently enjoyed a trip to Capernaum, Israel, with a group from Golden Hills Church in Brentwood. Steve described the journey as enlightening and spiritual. Thank you for taking a copy of The Brentwood Press along on your historic vacation!

Photo courtesy Steve Navarro

DEATH NOTICE

Seen in New Zealand

Marlys Diane Carlisle

May 23, 1932 – Jan. 14, 2020 Marlys Diane Carlisle, Brentwood resident. Arrangements entrusted to the Brentwood Funeral Home.

J

ohn McGrath and Danny Pacheco enjoyed a recent trip to New Plymouth, Taranaki, in New Zealand and brought along a copy of their hometown newspaper. The duo also took in the sights in Wellington, which they said reminded them of Tiburon and Sausalito.

Thanks for taking The Press on your amazing vacation!

www.thepress.net

your town your website

Photo courtesy of John McGrath

Worship Services Camino Diablo Rd. & McCabe Rd. Byron • 634-6625

MASSES

Sat. Evening 5:00 pm Mass Sunday Community Life Center 8:30 & 10:30 am 12:30 pm/Español Weekday: Mon-Thurs: 9:00 am – Chapel P.O. Box 476, Byron 94514

www.stannechurchbyron.com

Immaculate Heart of Mary

www.IHMBrentwood.com

MASSES / MISAS SATURDAY/SÁBADO: 5pm English; 6:30pm Español SUNDAY/DOMINGO 7:30am • 9:00am • 12:30pm English 10:45am • 2:00pm Español; 5:00pm Latin 500 Fairview • Brentwood • 634-4154

REZ!

Resurrection

OPEN HEAVENS

Ministries

COMMUNITY CHURCH

Come experience Open Heavens in your life at our

“Connecting People to Christ”

Pastor Dave Prill

Sunday Worship

• 8:30 - Classic • 9:30 - Sunday School - all ages • 10:45 - Family Praise 1275 Fairview Ave. • Brentwood

634-5180

www.rezministry.org an outreach of the Lutheran Church Missouri – Synod

The Dwelling Place Church Sunday Worship 10am

Bible Study – Wednesdays 7pm 90 Village Drive • Brentwood

625-2022

www.thedwelling-place.org

“Healing The Heart, One Soul At A Time”

Delta Community Presbyterian Church

• Sunday Worship 10am • Daily Fellowship 7pm to 8pm • Friday Miracle Prayers 10pm to 1am

SUNDAY 10:00AM WORSHIP SERVICE 1900 Willow Lake Rd. Discovery Bay (925) 634-0184

3933A Walnut Blvd.

Brentwood • 481-4936

www.openheavenscommunitychurch.org

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Brentwood rentwood C Community ommunity B United nited M Methodist ethodist C Church hurch U Reconciling Congregation Love God... Love People...

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Sunday Worship Service

SundayAM Worship Service 10:30 10:30 AM Sunday School Sunday School & Youth&Ministry Youth Ministry 809 Second Street 809 Second Street Downtown Brentwood Downtown Brentwood (925) 634-3093 (925) 634-3093

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SUNDAYS @ Knightsen School 1923 Delta Road, Knightsen

10:00 AM - Worship See Website for Details Pastor: Frank Griffith

Mariner’s DISCOVERY Church Sunday 10:00 am Family Friendly Worship Service Excelsior Middle School 14301 Byron Hwy., Byron www.marinersdiscoverychurch.com

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JANUARY 24, 2020

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“When it was time to find help for Mom

I made the best decision for all the right reasons.”

“I wanted a caring and friendly environment for Mom, with personal attention and a great quality of life. I found it all right here, where Assisted Living is designed individually for those who need some help with the activities of daily living. People like my Mom. Each day Mom gets three fresh, home-cooked meals, opportunities to socialize — even group trips. Since she moved in, she’s discovered a renewed sense of energy. I couldn’t ask for anything more — and neither could Mom.”

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COMMUNITY

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JANUARY 24, 2020

Community pool plans still floating

by Dawnmarie Fehr Correspondent

The Town of Discovery Bay continues to explore he idea of building a new community pool.

Following a presentation to the Community Services District (CSD) Board at its regular meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 15, plans for a new six-lane, L-shaped pool have still not been finalized.

Jim McClelland, a group manager at the Aquatic Design and Swimming Pool Engineering branch of Terracon Consultants, informed the board that the county required additional design work before plans could be submitted for approval.

“In addition to the scope of the contract for the pool, the county is requiring all of the plumbing fixtures that support the pool — primarily toilets and sinks — be of a quantity to meet code,” McClelland said.

“As the facility is right now, that code is not met.”

After some discussion, McClelland, town staff and the board agreed to carve out the additional toilets and sinks from the locker room and shower areas in the existing bathroom. McClelland suggested the indoor showers could be economically replaced with outdoor showers in the new design.

General Manager Mike Davies asked if the plumbing and electrical plans for this design were included in the town’s existing contract. He explained that if they weren’t, and would incur an additional cost, the item

must be placed on a future meeting agenda and voted on by the board.

McClelland told the board not to worry over the cost.

“Under normal circumstances, yes, it’s an additional scope, but given the overall circumstances and Terracon’s performance to this point, no,” he told the board.

This was an olive branch extended by Terracon after several months of unresponsiveness that led the board in December to withhold payment from the company’s latest invoice until an update had been provided.

Board President Bill Pease stated during this month’s meeting that the town intended to pay its portion of the contract, but would like to see more open lines of communication in the future.

“At this point, I think the board is so frustrated that we need to be assured that you are now finished with your designs, they have now been submitted to the county and, if the board approves, once we receive acknowledgement that our construction designs — including the bathrooms, etcetera — are in the county for their review, we will pay everything that is due at that point,” he told McClelland, who agreed nothing more needed to be paid until completed plans had been submitted to the county.

The town began exploring the possibility of upgrading its current pool in 2018 when a settlement from the Hofmann Land Development company awarded Discovery Bay $1.4 million. The town is currently in phase two of a three-phase, $42,500 design

contract with Terracon to get a firm idea of what a new pool would cost. The CSD has asked for the county’s design approval before deciding whether or not to move ahead with the project. If the design’s bid comes in at the expected $1.4 million, and the board votes to approve the expenditure, the town plans to pay $820,400 with monies earned from the Hofmann settlement, and $570,740 with a 10-year loan from the town’s wastewater funds.

New president for CSD

C

ommunity Services District (CSD) Director and 2019 Board President Bill Mayer (left) accepts a congratulatory plaque from incoming 2020 Board President Bill Pease. The two performed a ceremonial switching of seats at the regular CSD meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

Pease will serve as board president until the end of the year, with Director Bryon Gutow (not pictured) serving as vice president.

Photo by Dina Breitstein

Pet of the Week THE PRESS

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Approximately one year ago, the town paid Terracon $32,650 to conduct a geotechnical study to see whether a new pool could be built in place of the existing one. With favorable results obtained from the study, the board chose to move forward in the process of obtaining a construction design.

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

JANUARY 24, 2020

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A healthy diet can help inflammatory issues Many seniors suffer from various chronic aches and pains — I do.

Most doctors will say it is part of the aging process and brush it off, but my doctor, not so much. She will try to pinpoint the issue and search for a possible solution or Senior treatment. Sometimes, orner the answer is not medicinal, but as simple as changing habits, eating differently and, yes, the dreaded exercise regimen.

We have all heard of antiMarla inflammatories, Luckhardt but what is a “flammatory,” anyway? Obviously, there is no such word, but with a little research, I found out plenty about inflammation and how it works to alert us to an injury or illness and cause pain.

When you get a cold or flu, your body temperature rises to fight the virus.

That’s a form of “good” inflammation.

The redness and swelling that occur when you sprain your ankle is another example of how your body uses this process to provide healing chemicals and nutrients needed to help repair the damage. This temporary response goes away when the issue goes away.

“Chronic inflammation, on the other hand, is a slow, creeping condition caused

C

by a misfiring of the immune system that keeps your body in a constant, longterm state of high alert,” says Robert H. Shmerling, clinic chief in the department of rheumatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.

Studies at The National Institute of Health claim that over time, inflammation damages healthy cells. This can be hereditary and, in some cases, certain diseases can be triggered by inflammation.

Diabetes and cancer are two genetically related examples that can be affected while the gene itself causes a hindrance to the immune system. This can sometimes be a factor in producing the inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus and other diseases.

Other factors promoting inflammation include the environment (where pollution, air and water quality are factors), lifestyle choices, obesity, unregulated stress, tobacco use, drinking too much, lack of physical activity, too little or interrupted sleep and, of course, poor diet. These are all linked to chronic inflammation, and as we get older, we are exposed to more and more of these concerns.

Aging makes it more difficult for our bodies to properly manage our immune systems, to extract nutrients from food and lose extra pounds. When something sparks our immune system and puts our bodies into a state of stress, we respond.

The body goes into attack mode with its

inflammatory response, which includes blood vessel expansion to increase blood flow to the problem. Inflammation that causes cellular damage can trigger diseases like diabetes, cancer, dementia, heart disease, arthritis and depression.

Nasty!

Getting enough sleep (seven to eight hours a night) and eating foods that heighten your immune system can defer the pain or minimize it by quite a bit.

Foods high in sugar or unhealthy fats are at the top of the list of what not to eat.

Not fair, but true.

Whatever disease or illness you contract, the immune system will respond.

The shorter the issue, the shorter the reaction. There is a fine line between good and bad inflammation. Short term is good to fight off and alert you to a problem.

Long term is a whole another story.

So, how can we get a good balance?

The answer is easy and extremely hard at the same time.

Giving up sweets is major for me, but cutting back is possible. The thought that foods that are tasty and good for you may be an oxymoron. but for inflammation, dark berries, apples (which are rich in fiber) and vegetables are excellent. The antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables help slow down cellular damage created by inflammation. Avoiding or minimizing inflammatory foods like processed flour, sugar and anything high in fat will also help. Most vegetarians or vegans will claim

to have lowered their inflammatory issues.

High-fiber foods are essential for your gut during digestion. Plantbased foods pack the strongest antiinflammatory punch. It’s also true that red and processed meats can cause inflammation, but you don’t have to totally banish meats from your diet. This is particularly important for older adults, because protein consumption may help prevent age-related muscle loss, and one can eat just so many eggs or bowls of cottage cheese.

A well-balanced diet can include a healthier choice of organic, grass-fed meats and wild-caught fish, which have a lower inflammation factor because they feed on plants and animals that are high in phytonutrients. Salmon and avocado are great sources of protein and good fat.

By a certain age, we all have some degree of inflammation in our bodies.

Instead of pharmaceuticals, try the natural way and keep yourself in check by drinking lots of water, avoiding toxins, eating well and keeping active, any way you can. Ask your doctor, as always, for input, but I think there is one thing we can all agree on, and that is for the stress part.

I say turn off the news and crank up some good Sinatra, Beatles or Moody Blues music and dance!

Marla Luckhardt is a Brentwood resident who works with several local senior care and advocacy groups. Reach her at marla2054@aol.com.

Wishing everyone a

Happy & Healthy New Year

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Hometown Sports

JANUARY 24, 2020

HIGH SCHOOLS, RECREATION & SIGN-UPS

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Freedom wrestling off to a strong start

by Patrick Gordon Correspondent

Last year, Freedom High School’s wrestling team was led by Dalia Garibay, the school’s first state champion. After her departure, the team is maintaining its success under third-year coach Aaron Perez, with a 6-1 team record and a host of impressive individual performances.

“As individuals, we’ve always had a real strong program,” Perez noted. “The difference this year is that the team is coming together a lot more.”

Perez credits his wrestlers and coaching staff with the growth they’ve seen this year.

The Falcons’ lineup features only one senior, so the majority of the team will return next year. Perez says the team is primarily freshmen and sophomores, many of whom didn’t wrestle before joining the team.

“They put the work in, make sure they’re wrestling in the offseason and they’re starting to make some pretty big gains,” he said. “We’re really just seeing a lot of positive growth from a lot of our young wrestlers, and they’re really starting to come together as a program now.”

The team’s inexperience is both a challenge and a blessing for Perez, who can work from a clean slate with most of his wrestlers.

“The hard part is that I have to remember to be patient with them,” said Perez. “They’re all relatively new to the sport, and there’s a lot of nuance to it,

Photo by Nicole Coccimiglio

Freedom sophomore Logan Corrion has his hand raised after winning a match at a dual meet with Pittsburg High on Wednesday, Jan. 8. whether it’s being responsible about your weight, managing a lead in a match or even just making sure you’re going to class, being attentive and getting good

grades.”

Perez, 26, coached for two years at Antioch High before coming to Freedom. He’s optimistic for this year’s team,

Falcons boys’ soccer team downs Liberty Lions

by Jesus Cano Correspondent

It hasn’t been pretty the past couple of games for the Freedom boys’ soccer team, but if it can perform every game like last week, it’ll be in good shape to take home a Bay Valley Athletic League title.

After knotting up ties against Heritage (2-10-2) and De Anza — where head coach Sal Acevedo described the team to have its worst performance of the season — the Falcons’ 5-2 victory over Liberty is a good reminder why this returning group took home the league crown last year.

“It’s the best way to bounce back,” said Acevedo. “Today, we came in and showed what this team is made of. We’re not a perfect team. We have our flaws, but we’re working on it. We wanted to make sure we overcame the last couple games.”

It didn’t take long for Freedom to get on the board, with Alberto Padilla scoring 10 minutes in,

but Liberty’s Israel Ortiz wasted no time getting past Freedom’s defense to tie up the game.

Padilla’s presence was still felt in Freedom next goal after laying off a ball to senior Eduardo Navarro, who rifled the one-time ball to the upper 90.

“He saw me wide open. I knew it was a one touch finish ahead.” said Navarro.

Padilla connected with Navarro again to give Freedom the 3-1 edge heading into halftime.

Centerback Roberto Martinez made it 4-1 for Freedom, but it was again Ortiz responding back with his second goal of the game to cut the lead to 4-2. Liberty presented itself with a handful of offensive threats, but nothing much could come out of it.

“We had a lot of good moments,” said first-year Liberty head coach Jesus Gomez. “It’s been a change of mentality in the group. Things aren’t going to happen overnight, but we have eight matches to play.”

Padilla scored again late in the game to end it 5-2.

but doesn’t want them to lose focus.

“Knowing how young our team is, we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves,” he said. “We want to take things one match at a time, make sure we’re getting better every day. The postseason is always one of the biggest goals during wrestling season. We want to peak at the correct time, bring home some medals at NCS and also get some state qualifiers out of our group.”

Junior Heavyweight Caleb Hunter has been one of the brightest stars for the Falcons. Perez said he’s one of the top 25 in the state in the heavyweight class, and recent rankings from www.

CalGrappler.com have him at second in the North Coast Section rankings.

“The last two tournaments we went to, he had to have wrestled eight of the guys in the top 30,” Perez pointed out.

“He’s been hanging with each and every one of them. It’s just a matter of closing the distance when it counts.”

Between the wrestlers and the coaching staff, Perez says Freedom is positioned for success.

“These kids are in there working hard each day and trying to get better,” he said. “We’ve got a great staff here at Freedom. They do a great job of managing them and taking care of them, making sure all those bases are covered.”

For more information and photos, visit the Freedom High Wrestling Facebook page at www.facebook. com/FalconsFHS, or find them on Instagram at www.instagram.com/ freedomhighwrestling.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net

Heritage to host benefit basketball showcase Heritage High School will host the second annual Rep Your School girls’ basketball showcase all day, Saturday, Jan. 25.

The seven-game series will serve as a fundraiser for the Unified Sports Special Olympics program at the school.

The action will feature Modesto Christian vs. San Joaquin Memorial at 11:30 a.m.; Montgomery vs. EdisonStockton at 1 p.m.; Freedom vs. Sacramento at 2:30 p.m.; St. Mary’s (Stockton) vs. Carondelet at 4 p.m.; Cardinal Newman vs. Antelope at 5:30 p.m. and Heritage vs. Bear Creek (Stockton) at 7 p.m.

A special unified game featuring Heritage and Freedom is also tentatively scheduled for 10 a.m.

Last year’s inaugural event raised $1,800, which was used to buy uniforms and backpacks for the Unified Sports basketball team.

SPORTS

JANUARY 24, 2020

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Heritage boys’ basketball knocks off Freedom

by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer

The Heritage boys’ basketball team rolled over Freedom, defeating the Falcons 72-47 last week.

Heritage junior guard Lamar Murphy buoyed the Patriots (9-10, 3-0 in league play) with 17 points, including 15 in the first half, and fellow junior guard Isaiah Hinds added 12 to go along with 10 from senior forward Mitch Herode.

Heritage led by seven after the first quarter, and went on a 9-0 run over the final three minutes of the second quarter to build what turned out to be an insurmountable 13-point halftime advantage.

“That might have been the most impressive game of the year that we have played all year,” said Heritage head coach Carly Perales.

“We are starting tor really understand what we are trying to do, and it’s happening at the right time of year right when we start league.”

The Patriots used a balanced offensive attack and quality defense to keep Freedom off balance all evening.

Ten Patriots scored in the contest, and Heritage held Freedom to around 10 points a quarter, a point of emphasis, Perales said.

“For us, we have been preaching defense the whole year,” Perales said. “We had them on about a 10-point-per-quarter base, and that is always kind of our goal to hold teams in the 40s. If we do that, we know we’ll have a good chance to win.”

Heritage outscored Freedom 15-11 in

the third quarter and 28-20 in the fourth to run away with the easy victory, which pushed the Patriots’ winning streak to two to start league play after losing its six previous games.

“We just came off that really bad losing streak, but we were prepared for league,” Murphy said.

Heritage also picked up a 55-31 win over Antioch on Tuesday night.

Freedom was also victorious on Tuesday, rallying to defeat rival Liberty 66-62.

Heritage returns to the court on Jan. 24 at Pittsburg at 7 p.m. Freedom travels to Deer Valley. The tip off time for that contest was not available as of press time.

For coverage of the Heritage vs. Freedom girls contest, visit thepress.net.

To view a video and a slideshow, visit www.thepress.net/multimedia

Photo by Tony Kukulich

Heritage guard Lamar Murphy glides through the air during the Patriots’ 72-47 win over Freedom last week. Murphy led all scorers with 17.

Winning Lions

The Liberty High School junior varsity and varsity dance teams starred at the United Spirit Association regional competition at Deer Valley High School. Both squads earned first-place honors. The varsity team also secured its spot in the USA Spirit Nationals competition in Anaheim in February.

Photo courtesy of Liberty High School

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SPORTS

JANUARY 24, 2020

Athlete of the Week Sponsored by

by Dawnmarie Fehr Correspondent

Name: Andrea Dean School: Freedom High School Year: Senior Sport: Stunt Coach: Sandra Torres About: Andrea Dean is part of the stunt team at Freedom High School. Stunt is a new and growing sport, similar in athletic skill to cheerleading. A devoted cheerleader and tumbler since she was young, Andrea is proud to have been part of her school’s team since its inaugural year in 2017.

“We actually had a pretty successful year on that team,” she recalled.

Andrea is a flyer, which means she is one of the girls who gets tossed in the air during her team’s stunts. For her, trust in her teammates is both necessary and her favorite part of the sport.

“I really like the family aspect of the team,” she said. “Everyone has to be there for practice. If people are missing, you can’t really do much, so everyone always depends on each other, and I have the biggest trust

with the people underneath me.”

When Andrea isn’t practicing for her next competition, she works hard to maintain her 4.7 GPA. She lives in Oakley with Photo by Dawnmarie Fehr her family.

Future Plans: Andrea will be attending Oklahoma State University this fall, where she hopes to continue her stunt career while earning a degree in childhood education. After college, she plans to follow in her mother’s footsteps as an elementary school teacher.

Coach’s Quote: “Andrea has been an exceptional athlete all four years of high school,” said Torres. “She stands out for her outstanding technique as a flyer, her leadership qualities and her positive attitude. She has been a joy to coach, and I’m excited to see her advance to college cheer.”

Knightsen Elementary School District NOW ACCEPTING

Kindergarten & TK Registration for 2020/2021 Kindergarten: Children must be five years of age on or before September 1, 2020 to attend kindergarten for the 2020-2021 school year.

Transitional Kindergarten: A child whose fifth birthday falls between September 2, 2020 and December 2, 2020 will be placed in a transitional kindergarten class. ★ ALSO ACCEPTING INTERDISTRICT TRANSFERS FOR ALL GRADE LEVELS (TK-8)

February 5, 2020 from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Knightsen Elementary 1923 Delta Road, Knightsen

Enrollment Packets will be available at the school office

February 12, 2020 from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Old River Elementary 30 Learning Lane, Brentwood

Enrollment Packets will be available at the school office Please provide original birth certificate, current immunization record, residency verification and parent or guardian picture ID.

SPORTS

JANUARY 24, 2020

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Liberty to host memorial Hitting for Harding service for Lions legend The community will gather to memorialize Liberty High School legend Jack Ferrill Saturday, Feb. 29, at 1 p.m. inside the Liberty High School gym.

The longtime Lions teacher, coach, athletic director, physical education chairperson, assistant principal and principal died Dec. 10, 2019, at the age of 93.

In lieu of flowers, Ferrill’s family suggests donating in his name to the Liberty Union High School District Athletic Hall of Fame, 850 2nd St., Brentwood, CA 94513, or to the Coach Jack Ferrill Scholarship c/o Liberty Union High School District College and Career Center, 850 2nd St., Brentwood, CA 94513.

Press file photo

Longtime Liberty Union High School District figure Jack Ferrill, seen here recalling past memories in front of the sports hall of fame he launched, died Dec. 10, 2019. The community will memorialize him during a Feb. 29 service at Liberty High School.

Moving toward the goal

Photo courtesy of Heritage High School

H

eritage outfielder Lyndsey Burrow recently signed her letter of intent to attend Harding University in Arkansas. She was named to the all-league honorable mention team in 2019 and has hit a combined .455 with 25 hits, four RBI and 19 runs scored in 42 games played over the last two seasons.

Heritage’s Kendall Overgaard moves the ball upfield during the Patriots’ 1-1 tie with Liberty on Tuesday night. Liberty’s Madison Del Prado and Heriage’s Sabrina Rogers took care of the scoring for their respective squads.

Heritage is 5-4-2 and 2-0-1 in league play this season, while Liberty is 6-5-1 and 2-0-1.

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JANUARY 24, 2020

Youth Expression Project

Young People Speaking Their Minds She is strong powerful gorgeous

by Grecia Cristal Amaral Strong, powerful, gorgeous – strong, powerful gorgeous is what she is, not what she’s become. Coming from a hard background, being scared to even just say a word to being a leader, the leader, my leader.

Let me tell you about her.

Number one, her eyes are as big as the world, to where if you look in them, you might just find what you’ve lost.

Number two, passion and devotion is in her heart like no other. You see, her heart is the most powerful thing and she will care for you like there’s no tomorrow. She will yell at you like there’s no tomorrow, beyond you, like there’s no tomorrow.

Number three, her voice. Listen to it. Listen to her calm-yet-loud, but powerful voice. Receive and accept her trem-

bling voice. Her happy voice, her mad voice, listen to it. Listen to her heart pouring out looking good, smoke going to glass, but you could still hear water running from the head of the shower to the bottom of your hurting feet. Listen.

Listen to what she has for you.

She believes me, she believes in me.

I have trust in her, like how a little girl relies on her mother, how I rely on her as my big sister, my protector, my love, her love, you’ll enjoy.

But don’t take her for granted. Oh no you won’t. Oh no, you shouldn’t, because of her past. Yeah, that makes you strong, because it’s your voice.

Yeah, that makes her gorgeous.

Her mind, soul, spirit-keeper like no other. Her heart and devotion, her eyes and color, her lips and her voice.

Remember that strong, powerful, gorgeous – strong, powerful gorgeous is what she is, not what she’s become..

A blessing in disguise

by Arcellia Aliza Budiman A name can either be a gift or a burden to someone. When I was born, I was given a name called Arcellia Aliza Budiman. In the very beginning, I did not really like my name because I felt like it had no meaning to it. For me, a name was just a forced entitlement which people have to stick with forever.

Once I asked my mom, “Mom, what’s the meaning of my name?”

She responded with a grin on her lips, “This might be unexpected. Arcellia comes from an antagonist Telenovela character who owns a pretty face. Aliza stands for my name, Lisa, and your dad, Ali. Then, Budiman is a requested name from your grandfather.”

Honestly, I was not accepting my name as it is. It was not a gift to be happy and proud of. Without disrespecting any belief, the misconception of a ‘Muslim’ from my name tied me to who is born Catholic. Questions such as who and what are you, or where are you from, were enough to make me sick of my given name.

I could do nothing more than accept my name. Through the help of family and friends, I gradually began to embrace and value my names.

They made my name alive and turned it into a blessing.

One time, I was collecting church brochures after the mass with my brother. Somehow this uncommon habit ran in our family as it was passed down to the last generation, me. When my hands grabbed the brochure, a working woman in her 50s approached me with her warm smile and patted me. “You are blessed and indeed a blessing,” a simple sentence that broke my perspective towards my name.

As I do good to the community, I gradually find the meaning of my name even though I disliked my name at first. I began to appreciate what was given to me as soon as I have realized that a name is gifted, not without a purpose. And our job as humans is to live up those names according to our own desires. To say my name is a fallacy is absolutely incorrect, because my name is a blessing in disguise.

Ella es fuerte, poderosa y Hermosa Por Grecia Cristal Amaral Fuerte, poderosa hermosa, fuerte, poderosa y hermosa es lo que es, no en lo que se ha convertido. Viene de un pasado difícil, le da miedo incluso decir una palabra y hoy es una líder, es la líder, mi líder.

Déjenme contarles sobre ella.

Número uno, sus ojos son tan grandes como el mundo, donde si los miras, podrías encontrar lo que has perdido.

Número dos, la pasión y la devoción están en su corazón como ninguna otra.

Veras, su corazón es lo más poderoso y te cuidara como si no hubiera un mañana.

Ella te gritara como si no hubiera un mañana, mas allá de ti, como si no hubiera un mañana.

Número tres su voz. Escúchala.

Escucha su voz tranquila pero fuerte, poderosa. Recibe y acepta su voz temblorosa. Su voz alegre, su voz enojada,

escúchala. Escucha como su corazón se derrama, el humo se va al vidrio, pero aún puedes escuchar el agua corriendo desde la ducha hasta la parte inferior de tus pies a doloridos. Escucha, escucha lo que ella tiene para ti.

Ella me cree, ella cree en mí. Confió en ella, como una niña pequeña cede en su madre, como confió en ella como mi hermana mayor, mi protectora, mi amor, su amor, disfrutaras.

Pero no la des por desapercibida.

Oh no, no lo haras. Oh no, no deberías debido a su pasado. Sí, eso te hace fuerte, porque es tu voz.

Sí, eso la hace hermosa. Su mente, alma, espíritu guardián como ningún otro. Su corazón y devoción, sus ojos y color, sus labios y su voz. Recuerda que fuerte, poderosa, hermosa: fuerte poderosa hermosa es lo que es, no en lo que se ha convertido.

Una Bendición en Disfraz Por Arcellia Aliza Bundiman Un nombre puede ser un regalo o una carga para alguien. Cuando naci, me dieron un nombre llamado Arcellia Aliza Budiman. Al principio, realmente no me gustaba mi nombre porque sentía que no tenía ningún significado. Para mí, un nombre era solo un derecho forzado con el que las personas tenían que quedarse para siempre.

Una vez que le pregunté a mi mamá: “Mamá, ¿cuál es el significado de mi nombre?” Ella respondió con una sonrisa: “Esto puede ser inesperado. Arcellia proviene de un personaje antagonista de una Telenovela que era muy bonita. Aliza representa mi nombre Lisa y el de tu padre, Ali. Y, Budiman es un nombre que tu abuelo escogió.

Honestamente, no aceptaba mi nombre tal como es. No era un regalo por el cual me podría sentir feliz y orgullosa.

Sin faltarle el respeto a ninguna creencia, la idea equivocada de un “musulmán” de mi nombre me ato a quien nació católico.

Preguntas como quien, y que eres o de dónde vienes, fueron suficientes para hartarme de mi nombre.

No podía hacer nada más que aceptar mi nombre. Con la ayuda de mi familia y amigos, gradualmente comencé a abrazar y valora mi nombre. Hicieron que mi nombre tuviera vida y se convirtiera en una bendición.

Una vez, estaba recogiendo los boletines de la iglesia al terminar la misa con mi hermano. De alguna manera este habito poco común corría en nuestra familia y se pasó hasta la última generación, yo.

Cuando mis manos agarraron el boletín, una mujer trabajadora de unos 50 años de edad se me acerco con su cálida sonrisa y me dio unas palmaditas. “Eres bendecida y eres una bendición”, una oración simple que rompió mi perspectiva hacia mi nombre.

A medida que hago el bien con la comunidad, gradualmente encuentro el significado de mi nombre a pesar de que al principio no me gustaba. Comencé a apreciar lo que me dieron cuando comprendí que un nombre es dado sin propósito. Y nuestro trabajo como humanos es darles vida a esos nombres de acuerdo con nuestros propios deseos. Decir que mi nombre es una falacia es absolutamente incorrecto, porque mi nombre es una bendición disfrazada.

The Youth Expression Project is a Youth empowerment program provided free of charge to youth 14 to 24 by One Day At a Time, a fiscally sponsored project of Community Initiatives. To learn more, visit www.odatec.org.

Thank you to our sponsors, Zellerbach Family Foundation, The Brentwood Press, and Delta Art Gallery.

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LEGALS FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. F-0000336 The name of the business: War Ready Apparel Located at: 2561 Talaria Dr. In: Oakley, CA 94561, is hereby registered by the following owner: Anthony Batt. This business is conducted by: An Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 1/16/2020. Signature of registrant: Anthony Batt. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: January 16, 2020

by Deputy C Garcia Expires 1/16/2025 Oakley Press No. 03-0477 81635 Publish dates: January 24, 31, February 7, 14, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. F-0007454 The name of the business: Beechnut Bookkeeping Located at: 4317 Beechnut Lane In: Oakley, CA 94561, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Michiele Rebecca Roderick. This business is conducted by: An Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. Signature of registrant: Michiele Rebecca Roderick. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: December 10, 2019 by L Spence Expires 12/10/2024 Oakley Press No. 03-0477 81499 Publish dates: January 3, 10, 17, 24, 2020.

NOTICE OF LIEN SALE Live Oak Storage,1315 Main Street Oakley, CA 94561, has possessory lien on all of the goods stored in the prospective units below. #228 Rick Gonzalez, #113 Michael Shaw and #951 Lowell Gresham. The goods are described as furniture, tools and miscellaneous personal property items being sold pursuant to the assertion of the lien on February 6th at 10:30am. In order to collect the amounts due from you.

The sale will take place at 1315 Main Street, Oakley, CA 94561 County of Contra Costa state of California. This

lien sale is pursuant to Chapter 10 Section 21700-21716 of the California Self Service Storage Facility Act. Auction is to be held by Jason Whitt ms#199016.

Owner reserves the right to bid at the sale. Purchase must be in cash only paid at the time of the sale. Sale is subject to prior cancellation, in the event of settlement between owner and obligated party. Oakley Press No. 03-0477 81636 Publish Dates: January 24, 31, 2020.

NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE Trustee Sale No. : 00000008606154 Title Order No.: DS7300-19005391 FHA/ VA/PMI No.: 17699158 ATTENTION RECORDER: THE FOLLOWING REFERENCE TO AN ATTACHED SUMMARY APPLIES ONLY TO COPIES PROVIDED TO THE TRUSTOR, NOT TO THIS RECORDED ORIGINAL NOTICE. NOTE: THERE IS A SUMMARY OF THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT ATTACHED. YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST, DATED 03/29/2004. UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER. BARRETT DAFFIN FRAPPIER TREDER and WEISS, LLP, as duly appointed Trustee under and pursuant to Deed of Trust Recorded on 04/13/2004 as Instrument No. 2004-0128735-00 of official records in the office of the County Recorder of CONTRA COSTA County, State of CALIFORNIA. EXECUTED BY: NICKI CANNON , AN UNMARRIED WOMAN, WILL SELL AT PUBLIC AUCTION TO HIGHEST BIDDER FOR CASH, CASHIER’S CHECK/ CASH EQUIVALENT or other form of payment authorized by California Civil Code 2924h(b), (payable at time of sale in lawful money of the United States). DATE OF SALE: 02/12/2020 TIME OF SALE: 9:00 AM PLACE OF SALE: AT THE NORTH SIDE OF THE PITTSBURG CIVIC CENTER NEAR THE GRASS LOCATED AT 65 CIVIC AVENUE, PITTSBURG, CA 94565. STREET ADDRESS and other common designation, if any, of the real property described above is purported to be: 1608 WILDCAT WAY, OAKLEY, CALIFORNIA 94561 APN#: 035-453-028-9 Lot 70 of Subdivision 6055, filed September

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16, 1981, in Book 257 of Maps, at Page 38, Official Records of Contra Costa County.

Excepting from Lot 70 an undivided 1/2 interest in all oil, gas, casinghead gasoline and other hydrocarbon and mineral substances below a point 500 feet below the surface of said land, together with the right to take, remove, mine, pass through and dispose of all said oil, gas, casinghead gasoline and other hydrocarbon and mineral substances, but without any right whatsoever to enter upon the surface of said land or any part of said land within 500 feet thereof, as reserved in the deed from Edward Joseph Duarte and Mary Magdalen Duarte, recorded August 12, 1968, in Book 5686, Page 511, Official Records, Instrument No. 58861. APN: 035-453-028-9 The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address and other common designation, if any, shown herein. Said sale will be made, but without covenant or warranty, expressed or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to pay the remaining principal sum of the note(s) secured by said Deed of Trust, with interest thereon, as provided in said note(s), advances, under the terms of said Deed of Trust, fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee and of the trusts created by said Deed of Trust. The total amount of the unpaid balance of the obligation secured by the property to be sold and reasonable estimated costs, expenses and advances at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale is $208,369.32.

The beneficiary under said Deed of Trust heretofore executed and delivered to the undersigned a written Declaration of Default and Demand for Sale, and a written Notice of Default and Election to Sell. The undersigned caused said Notice of Default and Election to Sell to be recorded in the county where the real property is located.

NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction.

You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of

the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property.

You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property. NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call 800-758-8052 for information regarding the trustee’s sale or visit this Internet Web site www. homesearch.com for information regarding the sale of this property, using the file number assigned to this case 00000008606154. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the Internet Web site. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. FOR TRUSTEE SALE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL: XOME 800-758-8052 www.homesearch.com BARRETT DAFFIN FRAPPIER TREDER and WEISS, LLP as Trustee 3990 E. Concours Street, Suite 350 Ontario, CA 91764 (866) 795-1852 Dated: 01/09/2020 BARRETT DAFFIN FRAPPIER TREDER and WEISS, LLP IS ACTING AS A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. A-4715097 01/17/2020, 01/24/2020, 01/31/2020 Oakley Press No. 03-0477 81572 Publish Dates: January 17, 24, 31, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. F-0000323 The name of the business: Ardent Realty & Associates Located at: 235 Hearthstone Circle In: Oakley, CA 94561, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Ardent Realty & Associates. This business is conducted by: A Corporation. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 2/18/2015. Signature of registrant: Stacy Lahn, President. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: January 15, 2020 by Deputy l Fallas Expires January 15, 2025 Oakley Press No. 030477 81633 Publish dates: January 24, 31, February 7, 14, 2020.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF BULK SALE (UCC Sec. 6105) Escrow No. 13307A NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a bulk sale is about to be made. The name(s), business address(es) to the seller(s) are: RAJNESH SINGH, 6235 BETHEL ISLAND ROAD, BETHEL ISLAND, CA 94511 Whose chief executive office is: N/A Doing Business as: BETHEL MARKET (Type – MARKET)

All other business name(s) and address(es) used by the seller(s) within the past three years, as stated by the seller(s), is/are: N/A The name(s) and address of the buyer(s) is/are: ARTH CORP., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION, 4 BOLINAS AVE SAN ANSELMO, CA 95825 The assets to be sold are described in general as: ALL STOCK IN TRADE, FURNITURE, FIXTURES, EQUIPMENT AND GOODWILL and are located at: 6235 BETHEL ISLAND ROAD, BETHEL ISLAND, CA 94511 The bulk sale is intended to be consummated at the office of: CAPITOL CITY ESCROW, INC., 3838 WATT AVENUE, SUITE F-610 SACRAMENTO, CA 95821-2665 and the anticipated sale date is FEBRUARY 11, 2020 The bulk sale is subject to California Uniform Commercial Code Section 6106.2.

[If the sale is subject to Sec. 6106.2, the following information must be provided] The name and address of the person with whom claims may be filed is: CAPITOL CITY ESCROW, INC., 3838 WATT AVENUE, SUITE F-610 SACRAMENTO, CA 95821-2665 THIS BULK TRANSFER INCLUDES A LIQUOR LICENSE TRANSFER. ALL CLAIMS MUST BE RECEIVED PRIOR TO THE DATE ON WHICH THE NOTICE OF TRANSFER OF THE LIQUOR LICENSE IS RECEIVED BY ESCROW AGENT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL. Dated: JANUARY 2, 2020 ARTH CORP., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION, Buyer(s) LA2454032 OAKLEY PRESS 1/24/2020 Oakley Press No. 03-0477 81650 Publish Dates: January 24, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. F-0007740-00 The name of the business: Xclusive Beauty Bar Located at: 1280 Central Blvd., Suite J-2 In: Brentwood, CA 94513, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Jereena Stanley. This business is conducted by: An Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. Signature of registrant: Jereena Stanley. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: December 26, 2019 by Deputy C Preston Expires 12/26/2024 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 81651 Publish dates: January 24, 31, February 7, 14, 2020.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Notice is hereby given that the Planning Commission of the City of Brentwood will, at 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the normal course of business permits on February 4, 2020, hold a public hearing to consider the following application: An application for a tentative subdivision map (TSM 9519) to subdivide a 5.0-acre parcel into 14 parcels for future single-family development, including an exception to General Plan Action LU 2a (density transition) and an application for a variance (V 20-001) to allow for an increase in the maximum lot depth from 150 feet to up to 176 feet on three lots for the project known as the Madrid property located at 3405 O’Hara Avenue (APN 018-090-012). The project qualifies for a Class 32 Categorical Exemption under CEQA (CEQA Guidelines Section 15332), as it consists of an in-fill development project.

The Planning Commission will

make a recommendation on the application to the City Council, which will take final action.

Applicant: Thomas Madrid Said hearing will be held at the City Council Chambers, 150 City Park Way, Brentwood, California.

Further information may be obtained from Senior Planner Debbie Hill [(925) 516-5135 or dhill@brentwoodca.gov] in the Community Development Department of the City of Brentwood, 150 City Park Way, Brentwood, California 94513. Before any court challenge of Planning Commission decisions, you are required to appeal the decision to the City Council no later than the time period provided under the City’s Municipal Code. In addition, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the Brentwood Planning Commission at, or prior to, the public hearing. Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 81652 Publish Dates: January 24, 2020.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Notice is hereby given that the Planning Commission of the City of Brentwood will, at 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the normal course of business provides on February 4, 2020, hold a public hearing to consider the following: An application to rezone (RZ 20-001) to amend Title 17 (Zoning) of the Brentwood Municipal Code to streamline certain commercial development projects; including but not limited to the following: 1) Amend Ch. 17.030 to add new definitions of ‘hotel’ and ‘motel’ 2) Amend Ch. 17.456 (Planned Development [PD] 6) to: a) allow auto fueling stations accessory to a retail anchor as a principally permitted use in the Regional Commercial subareas b) amend the maximum building height for hotels to 60’/4 stories in the Regional Commercial subareas c) allow retail and service businesses, as well as supermarkets, to exceed 75,000 sq. ft. without requiring a use permit in designated subareas 3) Amend Ch. 17.488 (PD-38) to allow, as a principally permitted use, general and regional retail uses with no limit on square footage in subareas B, E, and F 4) Amend Ch. 17.499 (PD-49) to allow hotels in subareas A and B as a principally permitted use.

5) Amend Ch. 17.505 (PD-55) to allow hotels and general retail sales with no limit on square footage in the Commercial subareas 6) Repeal Ch. 17.750 (‘Large Retail Uses’) 7) Adopt a new Ch. 17.750 (‘Motels’) to prohibit motels in all zoning districts throughout the city The Planning Commission will consider whether to recommend adoption of RZ 20-001 to the City Council.

Rezone 20-001 (the ‘Project’) has been reviewed under the California Environmental Quality Act. It is consistent with the development density established by the City of Brentwood General Plan 2014 Update, for which an EIR was previously certified (SCH #2014022058). The Project would not result in any other environmental effects (1) peculiar to the Project or the parcels on which the Project would be located, (2) that were not analyzed as significant effects in the General Plan EIR, (3) that include potentially significant offsite impacts or cumulative impacts

which were not discussed in the General Plan EIR, or (4) include previously identified significant effects which, as a result of substantial new information not known at the time the General Plan EIR was certified, are determined to have a more severe adverse impact than discussed in the General Plan EIR. As a result, no further environmental review is necessary per 14 CCR 15183.

Applicant: City of Brentwood Said hearing will be held at the City Council Chambers, 150 City Park Way, Brentwood, California. Further information may be obtained from Senior Analyst Joshua Ewen (925) 516-5440 or jewen@brentwoodca.gov in the City Manager’s Office of the City of Brentwood, 150 City Park Way, Brentwood, California 94513.

Before any court challenge of Planning Commission decisions, you are required to appeal the decision to the City Council no later than the time period provided under the City’s Municipal Code. In addition you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the Brentwood Planning Commission at, or prior to, the public hearing. Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 81653 Publish Dates: January 24, 2020.

NOTICE OF VACANCY ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF DIABLO WATER DISTRICT Notice is hereby given that a vacancy exists on the Board of Directors of Diablo Water District by reason of the resignation from said Board of Edward Garcia on December 31, 2019. In accordance with section 1780 of the California Government Code, the Board of Directors will consider the appointment of a voter of the District to fill the vacancy. This matter will be on the agenda of a meeting of the Board of Directors to be held at 7:30 p.m. on February 26, 2020, at the office of the District, 87 Carol Lane, Oakley.

Any resident of the District who is a registered voter wishing to express an interest in being considered for filling the vacancy may submit an application available at www.diablowater.org/ directorvacancy to the District Secretary, Dan Muelrath, by noon, February 19, 2020, so that the material may be included in the Board agenda packet.

Please contact the District Secretary at 925-625-3798 for further information.

Posted in the Oakley Press - January 24, 2020 Oakley Press No. 03-0477 81641 Publish Dates: January 24, 2020.

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FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. F-0000111 The name of the business: C&T Financial Located at: 1001 Fitzuren Rd In: Antioch, CA 94509, is hereby registered by the following owner: 1.

Andrea Collins 2. Raushanah Turner. This business is conducted by: Co-Partners. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. Signature of registrant: Raushanah Turner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: January 7, 2020 by Deputy A Vasquez Expires January 7, 2025 Antioch Press No. 06-1617 81574 Publish dates: January 17, 24, 31, February 7, 2020.

transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. Signature of registrant: Sol Levy. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: December 6, 2019

by Deputy L Spence Expires 12/6/2024 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 81504 Publish dates: January 3, 10, 17, 24, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. F-0007784 The name of the business: Seven Hills Limousine Service Located at: 1204 Club Drive In: Richmond, CA 94803, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Verna Clark. This business is conducted by: An Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 12/15/19. Signature of registrant: Verna Clark. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: December 30, 2019 by Deputy C Dias Expires 12/30/2024 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 81595 Publish dates: January 17, 24, 31, February 7, 2020.

Brentwood, CA 94513.

2. Project Information.

2.1 Location and Description. The Project is located at 2251 Elkins Way, Brentwood, CA 94513, and is described as follows: all the work necessary to provide and install an expanded, renovated, and fully functional wastewater treatment plant. It includes modifications of existing wastewater treatment facilities and construction of new wastewater facilities, including process structure and buildings, roads, civil/site work, and landscaping. The work is within an operational wastewater treatment plant which is required to remain in reliable and safe operation throughout the entire contract period.

2.2 Time for Completion. The Project must be completed within 900 calendar days from the start date set forth in the Notice to Proceed. City anticipates that the Work will begin on or about May 18, 2020, but the anticipated start date is provided solely for convenience and is neither certain nor binding.

2.3 Estimated Cost. The estimated construction cost of the base bid is $43 million.

3. License and Registration Requirements.

3.1 License. This Project requires a valid California contractor’s license for the following classification(s): Class “A” or combination of Class “C” Specialty Contractor’s License(s).

3.2 DIR Registration. City may not accept a Bid Proposal from or enter into the Contract with a bidder, without proof that the bidder is registered with the California Department of Industrial Relations (“DIR”) to perform public work pursuant to Labor Code § 1725.5, subject to limited legal exceptions.

4. Contract Documents. Bidders must request and obtain an electronic copy of the Contract Documents directly from the City of Brentwood (at no charge) by completing and submitting the “Document Request Form” located on the City’s website at https://www.brentwoodca.gov/gov/pw/ cip/pw_projects_out_to_bid.asp. The City may reject a bid submitted by a bidder that did not obtain the Contract Documents from the City as required.

5. Bid Security. The Bid Proposal must be accompanied by bid security of ten percent of the maximum bid amount, in the form of a cashier’s or certified check made payable to the City of Brentwood, or a bid bond executed by a surety licensed to do business in the State of California on the Bid Bond form included with the Contract Documents. The bid security must guarantee that within ten days after City issues the Notice of Award, the successful bidder will execute the Contract and submit the payment and performance bonds, insurance certificates and endorsements, and any other submittals required by the Contract Documents and as specified in the Notice of Award.

6. Prevailing Wage Requirements.

6.1 General. Pursuant to California Labor Code § 1720 et seq., this Project is subject to the prevailing wage requirements applicable to the locality in which the Work is to be performed for each craft, classification or type of worker needed to perform the Work, including employer payments for health and welfare, pension, vacation, apprenticeship and similar purposes.

6.2 Rates. These prevailing rates are on file with the City and are available online at http://www.dir.ca.gov/DLSR. Each Contractor and Subcontractor must pay no less than the specified rates to all workers employed to work on the Project. The schedule of per diem wages is based upon a working day of eight hours. The rate for holiday and overtime work must be at least time and one-half.

6.3 Compliance. The Contract will be subject to compliance monitoring and enforcement by the DIR, under Labor Code § 1771.4.

7. Performance and Payment Bonds.

The successful bidder will be required to provide performance and payment bonds, each for 100% of the Contract Price, as further specified in the Contract Documents.

8. Substitution of Securities. Substitution of appropriate securities in lieu of retention amounts from progress payments is permitted under Public Contract Code § 22300.

9. Subcontractor List. Each Subcontractor must be registered with the DIR to perform work on public projects. Each bidder must submit a completed Subcontractor List form with its Bid Proposal, including the name, location of the place of business, California contractor license number, DIR registration number, and percentage of the Work to be performed (based on the base bid price) for each Subcontractor that will perform Work or service or fabricate or install Work for the prime contractor in excess of one-half of 1% of the bid price, using the Subcontractor List form included with the Contract Documents.

10. Instructions to Bidders. All bidders should carefully review the Instructions to Bidders for more detailed information before submitting a Bid Proposal.

11. Bidders’ Conference. A bidders’ conference will be held on Tuesday, February 4, 2020 at 10:00 a.m., at the following location:

Municipal Service Center Lone Tree Room, 2201 Elkins Way, Brentwood, CA 94513 to acquaint all prospective bidders with the Contract Documents and the Worksite. The bidders’ conference is mandatory. A bidder who fails to attend a mandatory bidders’conference may be disqualified from bidding.

12. Specific Brands. Pursuant to referenced provision(s) of Public Contract Code § 3400(c), City has found that the following specific brands are required for the following particular material(s), product(s), thing(s), or service(s), and no substitutions will be considered or accepted: Item: Required brand: Progressing Cavity Pumps (11145)Netzsch Submersible Non-Clog (11148) Flygt Circular, Center-Feed Clarifier (11231)Ovivo 13. Disadvantaged Business Enterprise. This project is funded through the State Revolving Fund. As such, all bids must comply with the State Water Board’s 30-day good faith effort for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (“DBE”). Additional information on the DBE requirements can be found in Appendix A and the State Water Board’s website at https://www.waterboards. ca.gov/drinking_water/services/funding/ DBE-Requirements.html.

City of Brentwood /s/ Margaret Wimberly MMC, City Clerk; Dated: January 16, 2020 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 81621 Publish Dates: January 24, 31, 2020.

this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted.

Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING a. Date: 3/2/2020 Time: 9:00 a.m. Dept.: 30 Room: 212 b. The address of the court is same as noted above. 3. a. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Brentwood Press Date: 1/6/2020 Judge of the Superior Court Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 81546 Publish Dates: January 10, 17, 24, 31, 2020.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME PETITIONER OR ATTORNEY: Martha Perez SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA, 725 Court Street Martinez, CA 94553 PETITION OF: Martha Perez CASE NUMBER: N192343 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1.

Petitioner Martha Perez filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present Name: a. Gabriel Eliseo Gutierrez Perez to Proposed Name: Gabriel Eliseo Mendez Perez.

2. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING a. Date: 03/06/2020 Time: 9:00 a.m. Dept.: 30 b. The address of the court is same as noted above. 3. a. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Brentwood Press Date: 1/14/2020 Judge of the Superior Court Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 81611 Publish Dates: January 24, 31, February 7, 14, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. F-0000016 The name of the business(es): The Optimal Health Coaching System Located at: 2313 Newport Dr In: Discovery Bay, CA 94505, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): The OHC System Inc. This business is conducted by: A Corporation. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. Signature of registrant: Kathleen A. Rosen, CFO/Secretary. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: January 2, 2020 by Deputy J Graff Expires 1/2/2025 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 81551 Publish dates: January 17, 24, 31, February 7, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. F-0000081 The name of the business: Carrasco Flooring Located at: 636 Southwood Dr In: Brentwood, CA 94513, is hereby registered by the following owner: Jose Luis Carrasco Martinez. This business is conducted by: An Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 1/6/2020. Signature of registrant: Jose Luis Carrasco Martinez. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: January 6, 2020 by Deputy H Franklin Expires 1/6/2025 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 81594 Publish dates: January 17, 24, 31, February 7, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. F-0000153 The name of the business: NED W. BOGIE CLU Located at: 771 Black Diamond St. # 134 In: Pittsburg, CA, 94565, is hereby registered by the following owner: Ned Bogie. This business is conducted by: An Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 1/9/2020. Signature of registrant: Ned Bogie.

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: January 9, 2020 by Deputy L Spence Expires 1/9/2025 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 81597 Publish dates: January 17, 24, 31, February 7, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. F-0000221 The name of the business: Mountain Mike’s Pizza Located at: 1555 Riverlake Rd. Ste G. In: Discovery Bay, CA 94505, is hereby registered by the following owner: Discovery Bay Pizza 1, LLC. This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Co. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 1/1/2020. Signature of registrant: Luis Seita, Managing Member. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: January 13, 2020 by Deputy A Aguda Expires 1/13/2025 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 81638 Publish dates: January 24, 31, February 7, 14, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. F-0000222 The name of the business: Mountain Mike’s Pizza Located at: 380 W. Country Club Dr. Ste A In: Brentwood, CA 94513, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Brentwood Pizza 2, LLC. This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Co. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 1/1/2020. Signature of registrant: Luis Seita, Managing Member. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: January 13, 2020 by Deputy A Aguda Expires 1/13/2025 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 81637 Publish dates: January 24, 31, February 7, 14, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. F-0007396-00 The name of the business: Exquisite Creations Located at: 1313 Horne Ct. In: Brentwood, CA 94513, is hereby registered by the following owner: Sol Levy. This business is conducted by: An Individual. The registrant commenced to

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. F-0007569-00 The name of the business: Taqueria El Tarasco Located at: 41 Sand Creek Rd. Ste C In: Brentwood, CA 94513, is hereby registered by the following owner: Joel Vega Martinez. This business is conducted by: An Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. Signature of registrant: Joel Vega. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: December 16, 2019 by Deputy A Gnecco Expires 12/16/2024 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 81498 Publish dates: January 3, 10, 17, 24, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. F-0007619 The name of the business: Peggy L. Berumen, Certified Shorthand Reporter Located at: 1257 Sea Breeze Court In: Brentwood, CA 94513, is hereby registered by the following owner: Peggy Lucy Berumen. This business is conducted by: An Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 12/17/19. Signature of registrant: Peggy L. Berumen. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: December 17, 2019 by Deputy L Spence Expires 12/17/2024 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 81534 Publish dates: January 10, 17, 24, 31, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. F-0007695 The name of the business: Discovery Bay Marina Located at: 5901 Marina Rd In: Discovery Bay, CA 94505, is hereby registered by the following owner: Polar Express Marine LLC. This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Co. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. Signature of registrant: Joseph Eldam, Manager / Managing Member. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: December 23, 2019 by Deputy P Cornelius Expires 12/23/2024 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 81542 Publish dates: January 10, 17, 24, 31, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. F-0007714 The name of the business: STRENGTH AND DIGNITY BODYWORK Located at: 215 G. St. In: Antioch, CA 94509, is hereby registered by the following owner: Amy Spangler. This business is conducted by: An Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on November 19, 2018. Signature of registrant: Amy E. Spangler. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: December 23, 2019 by Deputy J Graff Expires 12/23/2024, Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 81541 Publish dates: January 10, 17, 24, 31, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. F-0007748 The name of the business: Wordplay Located at: 8660 Brentwood Blvd Suite C In: Brentwood, CA 94513, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Speech Jungle LLC. This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Co. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on NA. Signature of registrant: Jason Reedy - Managing Member. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: December 27, 2019 by Deputy J Graff Expires 12/27/2024 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 81500 Publish dates: January 3, 10, 17, 24, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. F-0007758-00 The name of the business: Pacific Landscape Service Located at: 180 Sycamore Ave Apt 142 In: Brentwood, CA 94513, is hereby registered by the following owner: Getzemani ZavalaGarcia. This business is conducted by: An Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 10/4/19. Signature of registrant: Getzemani Zavala-Garcia. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: December 27, 2019 by Deputy C Preston Expires 12/27/2024 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 81496 Publish dates: January 3, 10, 17, 24, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. F-0007785 The name of the business: Rosa House Cleaning Located at: 1895 Cesar Chavez Dr. In: Brentwood, CA, 94513, is hereby registered by the following owner: Alma Rosa Huerta Figueroa. This business is conducted by: An Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on June 11, 2019. Signature of registrant: Alma Rosa Huerta Figueroa. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: December 30, 2019 by Deputy S Smith Expires 12/30/2024 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 81630 Publish dates: January 24, 31, February 7, 14, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. F-0007793 The name of the business: Chalk Cattle Company Located at: 1060 Amanda Circle In: Brentwood, CA 94513, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Benjamin C. Chalk. This business is conducted by: An Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. Signature of registrant: Benjamin C. Chalk. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: December 30, 2019

by Deputy L Spence Expires 12/30/2024 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 81543 Publish dates: January 10, 17, 24, 31, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. F-0007824 The name of the business: V. DEVELOPMENT, INC. dba: CAPITAL BUILDERS Located at: 550 Harvest Park Drive Ste. A In: Brentwood, CA 94513, is hereby registered by the following owner: V DEVELOPMENT, INC. This business is conducted by: A Corporation. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 7/8/1991. Signature of registrant: Manuel S. Vierra - President. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: December 31, 2019 by Deputy A Manipon Expires 12/31/2024 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 81596 Publish dates: January 17, 24, 31, February 7, 2020.

Notice for Nominees The Bethel Island Municipal Improvement District Board of Directors is accepting applications for one (1) vacant seat on the Board.

Applications will be accepted from January 10, 2020 through noon on February 24, 2020. The Board will interview applicants on Thursday, February 27, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. (at a special meeting) at the BIMID office.

The qualifications of a nominee for the Bethel Island Municipal Improvement District are as follows: The Board will consider any person who is 18 years or older, a citizen, a resident of the District, a registered voter, and who is not disqualified by the Constitution or laws of the state from holding a civil office. The appointee will hold the office until the District elections in November 2020.

If you are interested in being considered for appointment, please send an application to the District with your name, address, phone number, email address and a short description regarding what you consider important for the Board to know about you and your interest in being appointed. Applications may be emailed (bimid@bimid.comt), faxed (925.684.0724), mailed (PO Box 244, Bethel Island, CA 94511) or dropped off at the District office (3085 Stone Road, Bethel Island).

For further information, please contact the District office at 925-684-2210 or view www. bimid.com. Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 81619 Publish Dates: January 24, 31, 2020.

NOTICE INVITING BIDS 1. Bid Submission. The City of Brentwood (“City”) will accept sealed bids for its Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion - Phase II, CIP Project No. 592-59140 (“Project”), by or before Tuesday, March 3, 2020, at 2:00 p.m., at its City Clerk’s office, located at Brentwood City Hall, Third Floor, 150 City Park Way, Brentwood, California, 94513. The bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at Brentwood City Hall, 150 City Park Way,

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: TINA THUY DUONG HA, deceased CASE NUMBER 20PRO00031 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of: TINA THUY DUONG HA, deceased. A Petition for Probate has been filed by: QUYNH GIAO MAI and HUYNH DUC MAI in the Superior Court of California, County of: SAN MATEO. The Petition for Probate requests that: QUYNH GIAO MAI and HUYNH DUC MAI be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval.

Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: a. Date: FEBRUARY 10, 2020 Time: 9:00 a.m. Dept: 28. b. Address of court: 400 COUNTY CENTER, REDWOOD CITY, CA 94063. If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters a general personal representative as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. You may examine the file kept by the court.

If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for Petitioner: VICTORIA LI, ESQ - 2845 Moorpark Ave., Suite 110, San Jose, CA 95128 Phone: 408-260-8288 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 81592 Publish Dates: January 17, 24, 31, 2020.\cs2 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME PETITIONER OR ATTORNEY: Aaron Blackston Lamb Jr. SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA, 725 Court Street Martinez, CA 94553 PETITION OF: Aaron Blackston Lamb Jr. CASE NUMBER: N20-0014 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner Aaron Blackston Lamb Jr. filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present Name: a. Aaron Blackston Lamb Jr. to Proposed Name: Aaron Blackstone Carpoff. 2. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME PETITIONER OR ATTORNEY: FNU KHATOL SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA, 725 Court Street Martinez, CA 94553 PETITION OF: FNU KHATOL CASE NUMBER: N20-0085 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner FNU KHATOL filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present Name: a. FNU KHATOL b. ABDUL BASIT c.

SHOIB AHMAD d. SHABIR AHMAD e. FNU MEENA to Proposed Name: a. KHATOL KAMAWI b. ABDULBASIT KAMAWI c.

SHOIBAHMAD KAMAWI d. SHABIRAHMAD KAMAWI e. MEENA KAMAWI. 2. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING a. Date: 3/12/2020 Time: 9:00 a.m. Dept.: 14 b. The address of the court is same as noted above. 3. a. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Brentwood Press b. Must be served on minors 12 years of age & older or file their consents.

Date: 1/15/2020 Judge of the Superior Court Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 81612 Publish Dates: January 24, 31, February 7, 14, 2020.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME PETITIONER OR ATTORNEY: Hallie N. Zimmerman, Esq. 247407 - Alvis Quashnock And Associates A PC SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA, 725 Court Street Martinez, CA 94553 PETITION OF: Guardianship of Jayden Griggs, Kailey Betherum, Maleah Betherum CASE NUMBER: N19-2469 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner TERI MORAN AND MARK MORAN filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present Name: a. Jayden Nathaniel Griggs b. Kailey Renae Bethurum aka Betherum c. Maleah Nicole Bethurum aka Betherum to Proposed Name: a. JAYDEN ANTHONY MORAN b. KAILEY MICHELLE MORAN c. MIA ROSE MORAN. 2. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING a. Date: 2/24/2020 Time: 9:00 a.m. Dept.: 14 b. The address of the court is same as noted above. 3. a. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Brentwood Press Date:12/20/19 Judge of the Superior Court Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 81599 Publish Dates: January 17, 24, 31, February 7, 2020.

NOTICE OF HEARING TO CONSIDER ESTABLISHING A SCHEDULE OF FEES HEARING: To establish an amended schedule of fees related to the provision of fire prevention services.

DATE: February 12, 2020 LOCATION: City of Brentwood - City Hall, 150 City Park Way, Brentwood, CA 94513 TIME: 6:30 PM GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (“District”) will consider an ordinance to amend its current fee schedule, set forth in Ordinance No. 2010-01, for the recovery of costs related to providing fire prevention services. The District has reviewed its existing fee schedule for fire prevention services and will consider updating the schedule to reflect the District’s current costs. Data indicating the estimated cost required to provide the fire prevention services, and other revenue sources anticipated to be used in providing the services, will be available in the District’s offices, located at 150 City Park Way, Brentwood, CA, 94513, as of January 31st, 2020. Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 81624 Publish Dates: January 24, 31, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. F-0000002 The name of the business: 1. Equilytics 2. Morgan Legal Services Located at: 3775 Main Street, Suite D In: Oakley, CA 94561, is hereby registered by the following owner: Susan A. Morgan. This business is conducted by: An Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 12/26/2019. Signature of registrant: Susan A. Morgan. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: January 2, 2020 by Deputy R Rantals Expires 1/2/2025 Oakley Press No. 030477 81598 Publish dates: January 17, 24, 31, February 7, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. F-0000210 The name of the business: Wendy’s Sewing Service Located at: 4253 Machado Ln In: Oakley, CA 94561, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Wendelin Geltz. This business is conducted by: An Individual.

The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 12/15/19.

Signature of registrant: Wendelin Jacobs Geltz. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: January 13, 2020 by Deputy S. Smith Expires 1/13/2025 Oakley Press No. 03-0477 81632 Publish dates: January 24, 31, February 7, 14, 2020.

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JANUARY 24, 2020

JANUARY 24, 2020

Cop logs

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EMER GENC Y SER VICES DISPATCH LOGS

OAKLEY Dec. 27, 6:43 a.m. A patrol request was made at Summer Lake Commons.

Dec. 27, 7:27 a.m. A service to a citizen was performed near the intersection of Duarte Avenue and Mills Place.

Dec. 27, 8:46 a.m. A patrol request was made near Main Street and Teakwood Drive.

Dec. 27, 9:26 a.m. A vehicle theft was reported on the 600 block of Mockingbird Lane.

Dec. 27, 10:20 a.m. A moving violation was reported at the Arco gas station on Main Street and Bridgehead Place.

Dec. 27, 10:22 a.m. Suspicious circumstances were reported at the Starbucks on Main Street.

Dec. 27, 10:47 a.m. A suspicious person was stopped at the intersection of Crismore Drive and Delta Road.

Dec. 27, 11:06 a.m. Indecent exposure was reported at Taco Bell.

Dec. 27, 11:50 a.m. A vehicle theft was reported from an unknown location.

Dec. 27, 11:54 a.m. A service to a citizen was performed on the 5000 block of Miguel Drive.

Dec. 27, 12:53 p.m. A service to a citizen was performed near the intersection of East Cypress Road and Main Street.

Dec. 27, 1:09 p.m. A hit-and-run misdemeanor was reported on the 300 block of East Home Street.

Dec. 27, 1:39 p.m. A service to a citizen was performed on the 3800 block of Pato Lane.

Dec. 27, 9:49 p.m. A patrol request was made at Work Wear.

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A person called authorities to report they were assaulted and choked by their roommate’s girlfriend on Sand Creek Road.

Brentwood – Jan. 9, 7:35 p.m.

The following is a selection of recent law enforcement activity.

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Dec. 27, 10:14 p.m. A disturbance of the peace was reported on the 200 block of Brazil Court.

Dec. 27, 10:24 p.m. Loud music was reported on the 200 block of Douglas Road.

Dec. 27, 10:26 p.m. Battery was reported on the 20 block of Diane Court.

Dec. 27, 10:51 p.m. A verbal dispute was reported at Big Break Marina.

Dec. 27, 10:55 p.m. A warrant arrest was made near Main Street and Big Break Road.

Dec. 27, 11:20 p.m. A moving violation was reported near Laurel Road and Hampton Way. Dec. 27, 11:31 p.m. A disturbance of the peace was reported on the 200 block of Brazil Court.

Dec. 28, 1:22 a.m. Lost property was reported on the 700 block of Frazier Drive.

Dec. 28, 4:03 a.m. A suspicious vehicle was reported on the 3500 block of Frank Hengel Way. Dec. 28, 4:48 a.m. A parking violation was reported on the 4600 block of Bayside Way. Dec. 28, 9:19 a.m. An accident with injuries was reported near Orchard Park and Almond drives.

Dec. 28, 11:31 a.m. A moving violation was reported near Laurel Road and Mercedes Lane.

Dec. 28, 12:56 p.m. A DUI misdemeanor was reported near Delta Road and Main Street.

Dec. 28, 1:12 p.m. A service to a citizen was performed on the 20 block of Diane Court.

Dec. 28, 2:40 p.m. A motorist was assisted near the intersection of Main Street and Big Break Road.

Dec. 28, 7:18 p.m. A patrol request was made at Pump It Up.

Dec. 28, 8:22 p.m. Suspicious circumstances were reported on the 70 block of Gull View Court.

Dec. 28, 10:22 p.m. A loud party was reported on the 30 block of Kings Court.

Dec. 28, 10:25 p.m. Reckless driving was reported near Main Street and Bridgehead Road.

Dec. 28, 11:55 p.m. A suspicious subject was reported on the 4500 block of Main Street.

BRENTWOOD Jan. 9, 9:32 a.m. A building on Empire Avenue was broken into. Items from the building and a government vehicle were stolen.

Jan. 9, 9:46 a.m. A commercial burglary from a business on Balfour Road occurred overnight. The reporting person had no suspect information and said an iPad and other items were taken. Point of entry was likely through the back door.

Jan. 9, 11:16 a.m. A commercial burglary was reported after officer-initiated activity on Empire Avenue.

Jan. 9, 12:55 p.m. Petty theft was reported on Brentwood Boulevard. The reporting person said the theft occurred on Jan. 7, and they had video of the incident.

Jan. 9, 1:40 p.m. Authorities received a report of property found on Balfour Road in a planter box in a parking lot.

Jan. 9, 4:27 p.m. Assault was reported on Craig Court. A woman called to say that an unknown female came to her door and took a phone from her daughter’s backpack, then pushed her. The female left in a black Honda.

Jan. 9, 4:37 p.m. A broken window was reported on Central Boulevard.

Jan. 9, 4:40 p.m. A hit-and-run with no injuries was reported near the intersection of Oak and First streets. The reporting person said a delivery truck backed into her vehicle and then left.

Jan. 9, 5:53 p.m. A vehicle window was broken on Sand Creek Road.

Jan. 9, 7:04 p.m. An accident with unknown injuries involving one vehicle occurred near Empire Avenue and Salice Way. Jan. 9, 7:35 p.m. A person called authorities to report they were assaulted and choked by their roommate’s girlfriend on Sand Creek Road.

Jan. 9, 9:22 p.m. A verbal dispute was reported near Business Center Drive and Technology Way. Jan. 9, 10:04 p.m. A physical fight between a man and a woman occurred on Salice Way. Jan. 9, 10:38 p.m. A person called to report hearing an accident near Empire Avenue and Apricot Way. Jan. 10, 3:45 a.m. A vehicle theft in progress was reported near Baird Circle.

Jan. 10, 5:37 a.m. A person called authorities to report theft from their vehicle parked on Central Boulevard, and said it occurred sometime last night.

Jan. 10, 7:21 a.m. Petty theft was reported on Lone Tree Way. The reporting person said that a subject took their jacket with their keys in it, and they had pictures of the subject.

Jan. 10, 8:45 a.m. A person called to report their father’s black Chevy Tahoe was hit by an unknown vehicle.

Jan. 10, 11:00 a.m. Authorities received a report of parts taken from a vehicle parked on Lone Tree Way.

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COMMUNITY

JANUARY 24, 2020

Brentwood Citizen, Business of Year named

by Deanna Gordon Staff Writer

The Brentwood Chamber of Commerce has announced its annual list of award winners who will be recognized for their commitment, dedication and contributions to the community at a gala event Friday, March 6.

Citizen of the Year: Michael Rucker “I was so surprised and blown away,” said Rucker, an 11-year veteran of the Brentwood Police Department who works as a youth liaison officer and executive director of Brentwood Police Activities League. “I did not expect it at all; it’s completely surreal.”

According to Lynn Gursky, organizer of the gala, Rucker was the top vote getter in nominations submitted to the chamber this year and is being honored for his work with the youth of Brentwood and his commitment to the Brentwood Police Activities League.

Business of the Year: Del Sol Energy “We are extremely grateful for the community and businesses for recognizing us,” said CEO Josh Alrich. “The community is full of great businesses, and we are thankful the hard work

Grill

from page 1A

Boardwalk Grill menu sometime in the future.

“We are friends with some of the local farmers, so I’d like to bring in the farm-to-table in the future,” Sandy said.

“Eventually, down the road, offering meal prep and healthy eating classes is something I would be interested in doing, but I don’t have that laid out yet.”

Ron has been a real estate broker for three decades. He plans on being the face of the restaurant — acting as manager, interacting with customers and

Tunnel

from page 1A

vironmental Quality Act (CEQA) that is necessary to get the project off the ground.

“We applaud the Newsom Administration for moving the ball forward on a single-tunnel Delta Conveyance Project,” wrote Jennifer Pierre, general manager at State Water Contractors, an organization comprised of water agencies that stand to receive water from the DCP, as well as pay for its construction. “There’s no question that a Delta tunnel is one of the critical and necessary solutions for ensuring that Californians have a reliable water supply for their homes and businesses amidst the growing threats and impacts of climate change.”

Stating that the underlying purpose of the DCP is to protect SWP water deliveries, the NOP identifies sea-level rise due to climate change and the vulnerability of SWP infrastructure, like levees and canals, to seismic activity as primary threats. The NOP also states that the same threats apply to the Central Val-

from our employees has paid off.”

Gursky added that all of the nominations received for Del Sol mentioned the company’s contributions to the community as a whole.

Nonprofit of the Year: Ghostlight Theatre Ensemble “Everyone involved with Ghostlight Theatre Ensemble has worked so hard over the last couple of years to promote and elevate the work we are doing,” said Artistic Director Helen Dixon. “We are proud to be recognized as an organization that enhances the quality of life for the citizens of Brentwood and other Far East Bay communities. We can’t thank the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce enough.”

Chamber Director: Gerald Johnson Ambassador of the Year: Lucky Chan The gala will take place Friday, March 6, from 6 to 9:30 p.m., at McCauley Estate Vineyards, 2525 Sunset Road, in Brentwood. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased at www. bit.ly/brentwoodchambergala.

For more information, call 925-634-3344 or email admin@brentwoodchamber. com.

Police officer Mike Rucker is this year’s Brentwood Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year.

overseeing operations. A self-described people person, Ron plans to balance his real estate commitments with his new restaurant duties by depending upon the strong teams present at both locations.

“The real estate I’ve done for 30 years, so that team is amazing,” he said.

“They can focus and do their thing, but I’m still involved. Here at the Boardwalk Grill, they’ve been in business for 12 years, so really, they should be able to do it if I have to go meet someone else. It’s very much a balancing act, it just means there are no days off in my future.”

Despite the numerous claims on their time, the couple is committed to all their ventures, including giving back to the community through their roles as Rotary and Chamber of Commerce members. With 24 years of marriage behind them, the McCaslins are a seasoned team, capable of handling whatever demands their careers throw their way.

Ron and Sandy both grew up in East County, and love being part of the Delta lifestyle in Discovery Bay. They enjoy spending time on the water with their two sons, Baily and Riley, and look

forward to deepening their personal investment in the community.

“We are just excited to give back to the community,” said Sandy. “This is a great opportunity for families to come and continue to have a great experience with their loved ones. And for people who come from out of the area, because the location is great. And I would say yes, we do plan on keeping it all the same.”

Boardwalk Grill is located at 5879 Marina Road. For additional information, call 925-513-2499.

ley Project (CVP), but to this point, the Bureau of Reclamation — the federal agency that manages the CVP — has yet to sign on to the project. The Bureau was a participant in Waterfix.

“The attempt last time was to sort of package it as ‘it’s going to help the Delta,’” said Michael Brodsky, legal council for Discovery Bay-based Save the California Delta Alliance. “They referred to the tunnels as a conservation measure.

There was this attempt to sell (WaterFix) to the public as environmentally helping the Delta. They have finally come to realize that they’re going to lose on that.

They try to go against common sense and say that diverting all this water before it flows through the Delta is somehow going to help the Delta. A 12-year-old can see that that can’t be true. They’ve finally given up on that, but it’s a water supply project. The main rationale is sea-level rise. That’s the main justification for the project now.”

Brodsky argues that reducing the flow of freshwater through the Delta will actually exacerbate saltwater intrusion,

rather than protect against it.

DCP appears to draw heavily upon the work that was completed as part of WaterFix. Two tunnel routes are suggested in the document. One route follows the same proposed path as the twin tunnels, while a second possible path takes a more easterly route, running roughly parallel to Interstate 5. WaterFix proposed three tunnel intakes located near the towns of Clarksburg, Hood and Courtland. The NOP identifies those same three locations for DCP, but states that only two locations will be chosen. Each intake is expected to have a capacity of 3,000 cubic feet per second and occupy up to 150 acres.

“They’ve said the problems are sealevel rise and earthquakes,” said Brodsky.

“Those are a threat to our water supply, and the answer is a tunnel. What the NOP does is define the range of alternatives they need to study. What they’re trying to do is set this up so the only thing they’re going to look at is a tunnel. That’s just wrong. With everything we know from dealing with this thing since 2006, a

tunnel doesn’t work. It doesn’t solve any problems, and they’re not willing to look at any alternative to a tunnel.”

The full text of the NOP can be found here: www.bit.ly/thepress_tunnel.

DWR is conducting a series of public meetings throughout the Delta region to discuss the DCP and give residents an opportunity to ask questions about the project. A meeting in Brentwood is scheduled for Feb. 20, from 6-8 p.m., in the Brentwood Community Center.

Public comments on the NOP are due March 20, by 5 p.m., and may be submitted by email at DeltaConveyanceScoping@water.ca.gov, or by mail at Delta Conveyance Scoping Comments, Attn: Renee Rodriguez, Department of Water Resources, P.O. Box 942836, Sacramento, CA 94236.

For more information on the Delta Conveyance Project and other waterrelated issues, visit: www.water.ca.gov/ deltaconveyance, www.waterresilience. ca.gov, www.restorethedelta.org, www. stcda.org, www.delta.ca.gov and www. cah2oresearch.com.

Photo by Tony Kukulich

JANUARY 24, 2020

Calendar

WWW.THEPRESS.NET

Events Friday, Jan. 24 Youth Expressed Art Show

The Delta Art Gallery will host Youth Expressed from 4-7 p.m. at 2485 Sand Creek Road, Suite 128, in Brentwood. The evening will include a panel discussion, art show and reception, featuring artists from One Day at a Time’s youth expression project. Admission is free. For more information, call 925-240-1359.

Saturday, Jan. 25 State of the Town Gala

The Discovery Bay Chamber of Commerce will host its State of the Town Gala from 6-11 p.m. at the Discovery Bay Country Club, 1475 Clubhouse Drive, in Discovery Bay. For tickets or more information, visit www.bit.ly/dbsotgala or call 925-240-4144.

Marine Corps League Crab Feed

The Marine Corps League Delta Diab1150 lo detachment will host its 2020 crab feed from 5-10 p.m. at the Brentwood Veterans Memorial Hall, 757 First St., in Brentwood. Tickets cost $55 and include appetizers, dinner and dessert. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call 925-3381775 or visit www.bit.ly/mclcrabfeed.

Oakley Delta Lions Spaghetti Feed

The Oakley Lions will host a fundraiser spaghetti feed from 5-7 p.m. at the Oakley Senior Center, 215 Second Street in Oakley. Adults cost $8; children ages 6-12 cost $4; 5 and under are free. Price includes spaghetti, sauce, bread and salad. Water and soda are available for $1. For more information, email fritoroy@yahoo.com or call 925-813-9071.

Youth Job Fair

East Bay Regional Park District is hosting a job fair for youth ages 15-24 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Hayward Area Senior Center, 22325 N. 3rd St. in Hayward. Learn about a wide variety of opportunities for youth and students. For more information, call 510-544-2154, email jobs@ebparks.org or visit www.ebparks.org.

Sunday, Jan. 26 Marsh Creek Dems Host Fire Chief

The Marsh Creek Democratic Club will host Fire Chief Brian Helmick of the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District from 2-4 p.m. at Mountain Mike’s Pizza, 1185 Second St., in downtown Brentwood.

Helmick will give an update on local fire resources and answer questions. For more information, visit www.marshcreekdems.org.

Tuesday, Jan. 28 Heritage Foundation Dinner Fundraiser

The Contra Costa County Fair Heritage Foundation Annual Dinner will take place from 6-10 p.m. at 1201 W. 10th St. in Antioch. Tickets cost $50 and include dinner, appetizers, beer and wine. For more information, email info@ccheritage.net or visit www.ccheritage.net.

Genealogy Class

The Liberty Adult Education Center will offer a class on beginning genealogy Tuesdays from Jan. 28 to Feb. 25 in Brentwood. This class will help you learn how to preserve your family tree and discover more about your heritage. For registration or more information, contact Liberty Adult Education at 925-634-2565.

Discovery Bay Chamber Mixer

The Discovery Bay Chamber of Commerce will host an after-hours business mixer from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at The Press office, 248 Oak St., in Brentwood.

For more information, email chamber@discoverybaychamber.org, call 925-240-4144 or visit www.bit. ly/dbpressmixer.

Employment Law Seminar

The Brentwood Chamber of Commerce will host an employment law seminar from noon to 1:30 p.m. at 35 Oak St. in Brentwood. The seminar is free and open to all. Please RSVP to this brown bag lunch event by emailing admin@brentwoodchamber. com, calling 925-634-3344 or visiting www.bit.ly/ chamberlawseminar.

Thursday, Jan. 30 GAL-entine’s Bunco

Come have a fun night of bunco and raise money for Relay for Life from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Starry Nite Studios, 2545 Sand Creek Road, Suite 136, Brentwood. The evening will include prizes for best group costume. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit www.bit.ly/galentinesbunco, call 707548-3819 or email RelayPiratesTina@gmail.com.

Saturday, Feb. 1 Friends of the Library Book Sale

The Friends of the Library will hold their winter book sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Brentwood Library Community Room, 104 Oak St., in Brentwood. Come pick up great deals on books and other items, including special deals for Presidents’ Day. For more information, call 925-516-5290.

Youth Job Fair

East Bay Regional Park District is hosting a job fair for youth ages 15-24 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Pleasant Hill Senior Center, 233 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill. Learn about a wide variety of opportunities for youth and students. For more information, call 510-544-2154, email jobs@ebparks.org or visit www.ebparks.org.

Thursday, Feb. 6 H’Arts and Wine at the Gallery

Come support the Brentwood Community Chorus at its annual wine-tasting event at the Delta Gallery of the Arts, 2485 Sand Creek Road, Suite 128, in Brentwood, from 6-8 p.m. Tickets cost $25 and are available at www.bit.ly/hartsandwine.

Friday, Feb. 7 Roaring 20s Kickoff

Relay for Life of the Delta will hold its Roaring 20s Kick Off from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Smith’s Landing Seafood Grill, 1 Marina Plaza, in Antioch. Dress to impress and enjoy an evening of prizes, awards and raffles. Appetizers and desserts will be served, and a cash bar will be available. For more information, email RelayPiratesTina@gmail.com, call 707-5483819 or visit www.bit.ly/roaring20skickoff.

Saturday, Feb. 8 Summerset Singers Crab Feed

The Summerset Singers will host their annual Crab Feed with two seatings at 4 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $45 each and include all-you-can-eat pasta, salad, crab and dessert. Beer and wine will be for sale, or you can bring your own wine for a $10 corkage fee.

For tickets or more information, call 925-864-0410.

Tickets must be purchased by Monday, Feb. 3.

Boots and Bling

The second annual “Boots and Bling, it’s a Cowboy Thing!” dinner and auction will take place from 4-9 p.m. at Cedar Creek Stables, 1095 Eden Plains Road, Brentwood. This fundraiser supports Hold Your Horses, a nonprofit that cares for livestock affected by recent California wildfires. Tickets cost $35. For more information, contact nkoster2016@ gmail.com or 925-334-8672, or visit www.bit.ly/ boots-and-bling.

Monday, Feb. 10 Walnut Creek Garden Club

The Walnut Creek Garden Club will host its monthly meeting at 10 a.m. at the Gardens at Heather Farm, 1450 Marchbanks Drive, in Walnut Creek.

This month’s meeting will include a presentation by the Walnut Creek Historical Society. For more information, email caacat@comcast.net, or call 925-934-9015.

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LOCAL EVENTS & SERVICE CLUBS

For print, email your events to calendar@brentwoodpress.com one week prior to publication. For online, post your events for free on The Press Community Calendar www.thepress.net/calendar.

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www.thepress.net/ calendar Wednesday, Feb. 12 “Share the Love” Bunco

The Soroptimist International of the Delta club invites one and all to its “Share the Love” bunco game night from 6-9 p.m. at the Delta Gallery of the Arts, 2485 Sand Creek Road, Suite 128. Proceeds will go into community education programs, as well as a cash donation to the nonprofit that sells the most tickets to the event. Tickets cost $25 and include food. There will be a no-host bar, raffle baskets and plenty of fun. For more information, contact siofthedelta@yahoo.com or 925-234-8318.

Thursday, Feb. 13 Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support

This group will meet from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Neighborhood Church at 50 Birch St. in Brentwood.

Any member of the community who is caring for or knows someone caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia is welcome. This evening will include open discussion on relevant topics. For more information, call 925-2847942 or visit www.alznorcal.org.

Friday, Feb. 14 The Love Games 2020

The California Theatre presents a fun, engaging way to celebrate Valentine’s Day through games and music. To participate in on-stage games, email LoveGames2020Pittsburg@gmail.com. Show runs from 8-9:30 p.m. at 351 Railroad Ave. in Pittsburg, and tickets cost $25 to $40. For more information, call 925-427-1611 or visit www.pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com/upcoming-events.

Saturday, Feb. 15 Knights of Columbus Crab Feed

The Knights of Columbus invite one and all to their second annual crab feed from 6-11 p.m. at the Brentwood Veterans Memorial Hall, 757 First St., in Brentwood. The evening will include music, a no-host bar, raffle prizes, a silent auction and door prizes. Tickets cost $55 and all proceeds will go back into the community through local organizations.

For more information, contact Chris Romero at cdromero16869@gmail.com or 925-642-8782.

Wednesday, Feb. 19 Cache Creek Casino Resort Bus Trip

The Oakley Senior Center will host a bust trip to Cache Creek Casino and Resort. The bus will leave at 8 a.m. from the senior center at 215 2nd St. in Oakley and return at 5:30 p.m. Tickets cost $40 and include round trip transportation and $20 casino cash. For more information, email OakleySeniorCitizens@gmail.com or call 925-679-8636.

Friday, Feb. 21 L4 Reds Crab Feed

The L4 Reds 12U baseball team is hosting a crab feed at 5 p.m. at Brentwood Veterans Memorial Hall, 757 First St., in Brentwood, to raise money for their trip to the Cooperstown Baseball Tournament in New York. Tickets cost $60 and include crab, pasta, salad and bread. There will be music, a cash-bar, raffles and an auction. For more information, email L4redscrabfeed@gmail.com.

The Little Mermaid

Heritage High School’s Rising Stars present Disney’s The Little Mermaid, at Heritage High School, 101 American Ave., Brentwood. Shows run Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from Feb 21 to March 7. For tickets and more information, visit www.hhsrisingstars.com.

Saturday, Feb. 22 CSBA Crab Feed

The California Striped Bass Association (CSBA) will host its annual crab feed at 6 p.m. at the Brentwood Veterans Memorial Hall, 757 First St. in Brentwood.

Tickets cost $50 and are limited, so purchase soon.

Proceeds go toward funding the 2020 Kids Free Fishing Derby. For more information, call 925-6346356 or visit www.csbawestdeltachapter.org.

El Campanil Theatre 602 W. Second Street Antioch ORDER TICKETS PHONE: (925) 757-9500 OR ONLINE: www.ElCampanilTheatre.com

Top Shelf Classics Motown and More

Sunday January 26 3:00 pm

"You've Got A Friend"

The Carole King Songbook Performed by the

Rhythm Method 4

Sunday February 2 3:00 pm

A Winter Beach Party with Surf's Up: The Songs of The Beach Boys...and More!

Saturday February 8 8:00 pm

“The Princess Bride” (1987)

Classic Film Series

Sunday February 9 2:00 pm

El Campanil Children's Theatre City Mouse and Country Mouse Friday February 14 7:30 pm Sunday February 16 2:00 pm

Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra Epic Tales Saturday February 15 2:00 pm “Pain

& Glory”

(Spain/France)

International Film Showcase Sunday February 23 2:00 pm

Delta Blues Festival 10th Annual Benefit Concert

Saturday February 29 7:00 pm

Folk Legacy Trio

The Great American Folksong Book™ Concert Sunday March 1 3:00 pm

The Sun Kings

Premier Beatles Tribute Abbey Road and Let It Be Saturday March 7 8:00 pm

“Citizen

Kane” (1941)

Classic Film Series

Sunday March 8 2:00 pm

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JANUARY 24, 2020

Home ownership.

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Is the American Dream in your future? You’ll never know until you take a serious look at the numbers. Come sit down with one of our Make-It-Happen ambassadors. Together, we’ll see if it pencils out for you. Or not. Either way, you’ll know.

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BH026416_BrookfieldNorCal_MIH_AD_BP_FNL | 9.75" x 12.71" | Run Date: 1/25

JANUARY 24, 2020

Money Matter$ THE PRESS

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MONEY MATTERS

JANUARY 24, 2020

Credit scores and their effect on finances

M

onthly budgets help people make the

most of their money. While a person’s income will affect how much they can

spend on housing, food and clothing each month, another, more abstract factor can have a big impact on monthly budgets.

Nearly every adult has a credit score, which can fluctuate daily. Various factors, including a person’s age and track record in regard to paying bills, combine to produce a credit score.

According to the credit-reporting agency Experian, credit scores range from 300 to 850, though most consumers’ scores fall somewhere between 600 and 750.

The Fair Isaac Corporation created what’s known as a FICO Score, which is used by many lenders to determine prospective borrowers’ creditworthiness. FICO scores are often characterized using five terms: ♦♦ Very poor: Scores between 300 and 579 ♦♦ Fair: Scores between 580 and 669 ♦♦ Good: Scores between 670 and 739 ♦♦ Very good: Scores between 740 and 799 ♦♦ Exceptional: Scores between 800 and 850 Some consumers may feel these are just numbers on a page, but in certain instances, such as when consumers attempt to buy a home, a credit score can have a dramatic effect on a person’s monthly budget. When borrowing to buy a home, borrowers with desirable credit scores may be eligible for considerably lower interest rates than borrowers whose scores fall into the “very poor” or “fair” range. Over the length of a standard, 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage, a low interest rate can save borrowers tens of

Photo courtesy of Metro Creative

Various factors, including a person’s age and track record in regard to paying bills, combine to produce a credit score. thousands of dollars in interest fees.

In addition to paying more in interest fees, Experian notes borrowers with subpar credit scores may have to do even more to earn the trust of lenders. Borrowers whose scores fall into the “very poor” range may be required to pay a fee or make a deposit when opening a new credit account, and some might not be approved at all.

Borrowers whose scores fall into the “fair” range may

be classified by lenders as subprime borrowers, making it hard for them to open new credit accounts or secure loans without a cosigner.

Consumers can benefit from knowing their credit scores and how to improve them. Taking measures to improve low or subpar credit scores can put more money in consumers’ pockets, both in the immediate and distant future.

– Courtesy Metro Creative

Jason Peterson | NMLS #200686 | 925.818.1376 Abram Frenes | NMLS #241149 | 925.628.0960 Ben Teran | NMLS #1402723 | 925.209.6839 Chris Dyer | NMLS #257153 | 510.691.2252 Delmy Steward | NMLS #231410 | 925.864.7717 Joey Couch | NMLS #1462486 | 650.218.9583 Kathy Mertens Pickett | NMLS #325906 | 925.584.4368 Michael Bernamonti | NMLS #487207 | 925.383.4446 Michelle Paxton | NMLS #831343 | 408.891.0090 Rita Caruso | NMLS #278812 | 925.640.5746 Sandra Ybarrolaza | NMLS #255601 | 925.550.5406 Susannah Harte | NMLS #473612 | 510.409.1061

MONEY MATTERS

JANUARY 24, 2020

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Legislation changes to consider this tax season A LY B R O W N

T

ax season is naturally a busy time of year for payroll professionals, and those in

California may notice this year’s tax

The team of professionals at California Payroll specializes in payroll, taxes, timekeeping and human capital management.

form has undergone some significant changes.

On the heels of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), a new W-4 form — the form all employers issue to new employees — was released Dec. 5 last year, effective for use Jan. 1.

“The new draft Form W-4 reflects important feedback from the payroll community and others in the tax community,” said the IRS in a statement.

“The primary goals of the new design are to provide simplicity, accuracy and privacy for employees while minimizing burden for employers and payroll processors.”

While the form was created with the intent to simplify the process, it hasn’t changed since the late ‘80s, leaving many ON THE COVER: The team at California Payroll in Brentwood works to ensure each client’s individual needs are met through their expert guidance and experience. Photo by Tony Kukulich.

Photo by Tony Kukulich

business owners with questions on how to properly fill them out. That’s where the Brentwood-based team of California Payroll comes in.

“We don’t do personal tax returns, but people make their choice of how much federal income tax to be withheld, and it’s different this year,” according to

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California Payroll. “But it obviously creates questions because it’s different.”

Filling out this new form correctly is important, as significant changes stemming from the TJCA might result in taxpayers owing taxes, the General Accounting Office (GAO) has warned.

“Overwithholding fosters tax

compliance: If an employee’s withholding is less than tax liability, the employee may owe additional taxes.” wrote the GAO in a report to congressional requesters.

“However, Treasury officials noted that while overwithholding fosters tax see Tax page 7B

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Photo courtesy of Metro Creative

When it comes to paying for college, there are a variety of ways families can plan and prepare for the expense.

The best ways to build a college fund

C

ollege is the next logical step for many newly minted high school graduates.

The National Center for Education Statistics indicated in fall 2019, roughly 19.9 million students were slated to attend colleges and universities in the U.S. Statistics Canada stated that, for the 201516 school year, the most recent for school statistics, just over two million students were enrolled in Canadian universities and colleges.

Families need to begin thinking about how to pay for college as early as possible.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the average college graduate’s student loan debt is $37,172. The most recent data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York indicates the overall student loan debt in America alone is roughly $1.3 trillion.

The average expense of sending a child to college has been rising at double the rate of inflation for more than a decade.

A robust college savings account can help future students avoid considerable debt. The following are some ways to save for college. ♦♦ Open a tax-advantaged 529 college savings plan. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission says a 529 is a savings plan designed to encourage saving for future education costs. The person funding the account pays taxes on the money before it’s contributed to the 529 plan. Funds can be used for education expenses. There are two types of 529 plans: prepaid tuition plans and education savings plans. The prepaid plans allow account holders to purchase units or credits at participating colleges and universities. With education savings plans, account holders

According to the Wall Street Journal, the average college graduate’s student loan debt is $37,172. open investment accounts to save for qualified future higher education expenses, including room and board. ♦♦ Invest in a Coverdell Education Savings Account. A Coverdell account is a taxadvantaged method to contribute up to $2,000 per year to a child’s account.

Individuals need to be under a certain income level to contribute. The funds will grow free of federal taxes. ♦♦ Consider a Uniform Transfer or Gift to Minors account. This is a custodial account that holds and protects assets for beneficiaries, who are typically donors’ children. The custodian controls the assets until the minor reaches legal age.

The money will not grow tax-free, and it can be used for purposes other than school expenses. The account also may count against the student and parent when applying for financial aid, which is something to keep in mind. ♦♦ Open an IRA. IRAs are often associated strictly with retirement savings, but they also can be used for qualified college payments, as long as the contributions have been made for at least five years, advises Nationwide Insurance. ♦♦ Use a standard savings account. Even though it may not grow as quickly as investment accounts, routinely saving money in a savings account can be another means to save for college.

– Courtesy of Metro Creative

JANUARY 24, 2020

MONEY MATTERS

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Dream homes happen at Brookfield Residential

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s a new address in your future?

You’ll never know until you take a serious look at the numbers.

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Brookfield Residential in Oakley is offering spacious new single-family homes at Emerson Ranch and Delaney Park.

Boulevard in Dublin, featuring five new neighborhoods where discoveries are made daily. Inspired townhome designs, single-family homes, flats and penthouses introduce a dynamic approach to open-concept living, with innovative appointments and flexible floor plans ranging from 1,574 to 3,480 square feet.

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member of the family to do life in a style all their own. Additionally, each home includes energy-efficient features throughout.

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Merrill Lynch Wealth Management 1331 N. California Blvd.

Merrill Lynch Wealth Suite 400 Merrill Lynch WalnutManagement Creek, California 94596

Wealth Kimi Pangelinan 925.945.4895 Management Financial925.945.4895 Advisor Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (also ref Merrill Lynch Wealth kimi.pangelinan@ml.com 1331products N. California Blvd. sponsored, managed, distributed or pro kimi.pangelinan@ml.cominvestment 1331 N. California Blvd.

925.945.4895 Suite (“BofAManagement Corp.”).400 MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, Member Suite 400 94596 kimi.pangelinan@ml.com 1331 N. Creek, California Blvd.

Walnut California Investment products: Walnut California 945 AreCreek, Not FDIC Insured Suite 400 The Bull Symbol and Merrill Lynch trademarks of Bank Walnut Creek, Californiaare 94596

© 2019 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved. | 05/2019 Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (also referred to as “MLPF&S” or “Merrill”) makes available certain investment products sponsored, managed, distributed or provided by companies that are affiliates of Bank of America Corporation (“BofA Corp.”). MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, Member SIPC and a wholly owned subsidiary of BofA Corp.

Investment products:

Are Not FDIC Insured

Are Not Bank Guaranteed May Lose Value

The Bull Symbol and Merrill Lynch are trademarks of Bank of America Corporation. © 2019 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved. | ARQ54MR7 Vault-BA13OQ | MLWM-242-AD | 470944PM-0519 | 05/2019

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (also referred to as “MLPF&S” or “Merrill”) makes available certain investment products sponsored, managed, distributed or provided by companies that are affiliates of Bank of America Corporation (“BofAMerrill Lynch, Corp.”).Pierce, MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, Member SIPC(also andasareferred wholly owned subsidiary of or BofA Corp. certain Merrill Lynch, Fenner & Fenner Smith Incorporated (also referred to “MLPF&S” makes available Pierce, & Smith Incorporated tooras“Merrill”) “MLPF&S” “Merrill”) makes available cer investment products sponsored, managed, distributed or provided by companies that are affiliates of Bank of America investment products sponsored, managed, distributed or provided by companies that are affiliates ofCorporation Bank of Amer Investment products: Are Not FDIC Insured Are Not Bank Guaranteed May Lose Value (“BofA Corp.”). is a registered broker-dealer, Member SIPCMember and a wholly of BofAsubsidiary Corp. (“BofAMLPF&S Corp.”). MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, SIPCowned and asubsidiary wholly owned of BofA Corp.

The Bull Symbol and Merrill Lynch are trademarks of Bank of America Corporation.

Investment products: Are NotAre FDIC Insured Are NotVault-BA13OQ Bank May Lose Value © 2019 Bank of America Corporation.

All rights reserved.

ARQ54MR7 | 470944PM-0519 | Lo Investment products: Not FDIC |Insured Are Guaranteed Not| MLWM-242-AD Bank Guaranteed May 05/2019 The Bull Symbol and Merrill Lynch are trademarks of Bank of America Corporation.

The Bull Symbol and Merrill Lynch are trademarks of Bank of America Corporation. © 2019 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved. | ARQ54MR7 Vault-BA13OQ | MLWM-242-AD | 470944PM-0519 | © 2019 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved. | ARQ54MR7 Vault-BA13OQ | MLWM-242-AD | 47094 05/2019

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The spacious new single-family homes at Emerson Ranch and Delaney Park in Oakley invite a simpler way of life with genuine communities and family-friendly atmospheres. Striking one- and two-story open floor plans range in size from 2,100 to 3,564 square feet, featuring up to six bedrooms and four-and-a-half baths, as well as stunning interiors, desirable appointments and two- to three-car garages. Beautifully designed with warmth and style, these Oakley residences have everything families need for the perfect home.

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What donors should know about deductions

G

iving to charity is a selfless act that’s worthy of recognition. That recognition can come in many forms, and donors

should know even the “tax man” likes to reward those who donate to charity.

Both the U.S. and Canada reward donors with tax credits. The financial services firm H&R Block notes, in the U.S., taxpayers can deduct donations made to qualified charities. Such deductions must be itemized, but they can greatly reduce a person’s taxable income.

According to TurboTax, Canada also has a generous tax credit system, rewarding taxpayers who donate to charity by giving them a credit that’s up to 29% of the amount donated at the federal level. In addition, taxpayers also may be entitled to an additional amount up to 24%, depending on which province they call home.

Laws regarding donations and tax deductions can be difficult to understand, so donors should always discuss their donations with their financial planners or tax preparers before filing their returns. The following

Photo courtesy of Metro Creative

Donating to charity is a selfless endeavor that may lead to rewards when donors file their tax returns. is some general information regarding donations and deductions that can be useful to prospective donors.

Who needs life insurance?

L

ife insurance is one of many

components of estate planning.

Statistics from the insurance

industry groups Life Happens and LIMRA indicate 70% of Americans consider life insurance a necessity.

However, 41% of respondents in 2017 did not have any life insurance.

Even though most people deem life insurance important, it is not necessary for everyone. Determining if you are a good

r u o Y t e e M cal Lo Marlen Christina Rosales, CPA

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You have children If you have children who depend on you, life insurance is a must-have. If your spouse and children could not continue their standard of living on one income, life insurance can fill in the gap or pay for future plans, such as college educations.

Even if you are a stay-at-home parent, your contribution to the household still holds weight. Should you pass away, your spouse will have to pay for tasks you normally perform, such as child care, cleaning services, cooking and transportation.

You’re a business owner Entrepreneurs benefit from life

insurance, since it can help pay off business debts, advises online financial resource Nerd Wallet. When business owners die, their heirs might be able to use life insurance payouts to pay off estate taxes or fund a buy-sell agreement.

You want to leave an inheritance If you do not have a vast accumulation of assets, investing in permanent life insurance can provide a small sum of money to heirs upon your death.

A life insurance policy is a wise investment for people whose survivors could benefit from some financial assistance in the wake of their deaths.

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candidate for life insurance involves doing a little research. These qualities often make life insurance a smart move.

You’re married or in a committed relationship If you are married or in a relationship in which your partner depends on you financially — even if just partially — it is smart to have a life insurance policy. This way, your significant other does not have to rely entirely on their income to pay off debts or maintain the quality of life you currently enjoy. Many households cannot function without two incomes. Life insurance can ensure financial burdens do not rest entirely on the shoulders of surviving loved ones.

Are all donations deductible?

H&R Block notes, in the U.S., donations must go to one of three types of groups in order to qualify for deductions. Donations made to nonprofit religious groups, nonprofit educational groups and nonprofit charitable groups, which are often referred to as 501(c)(3) organizations, may qualify for deductions.

The Government of Canada notes the Charities Directorate can be contacted directly at 800-267-2384 to confirm if a charity qualifies for a tax deduction.

Does a donation have to be money in order for it to be deducted?

Non-cash donations are eligible for deductions in both the U.S. and Canada.

Do I need to get anything from the organization I donate to?

In most instances in the U.S., H&R Block notes charitable organizations must provide donors with certain information for donations to be deducted: a receipt that indicates the organization’s name, address and the date and location of the donation must be submitted.

In addition, the amount of the donation when donating cash or, in the case of non-cash donations, a reasonably detailed description of the items donated.

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The staff at Hester Taxes and Bookkeeping is knowledgeable and always ready to help with dependable and accurate service. Judy and Carmen Hester understand how important it is to consider your family and your future first. They value your input and respect your privacy while offering affordable solutions.

Each agent at Hester Taxes and Bookkeeping is registered either as a CTEC or an enrolled agent with the IRS. A benefit to being an enrolled agent is that they are able to represent you before the IRS, supporting you from start to finish and allowing for the most sizable return possible.

Contact Hester Taxes and Bookkeeping today and let your fear of filing fall away.

Located at 4700 Main St., Suite A in Oakley, their office is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 925-679-8256 or visit www. hestertaxes.com.

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MONEY MATTERS

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MIKE’S ESTATE PLANNING MINUTE

By Michael J. Amthor, Esq.

HAVE YOU TALKED WITH YOUR FAMILY ABOUT MONEY? YOU SHOULD. HERE’S WHY.

Photo courtesy of Metro Creative

Investing requires risk, but novice investors should not allow that to keep them on the sidelines.

Investing tips for beginners

I

nvesting is a key component of long-term financial planning. By choosing the right investments,

investors can ensure their money outgrows inflation, making it possible for them to realize their retirement goals and live comfortably long after they have stopped working.

Risk is a part of investing, and many veteran investors recognize that. However, the fear of losing hard-earned money might compel would-be beginners to avoid the markets altogether. That can be a costly mistake, and it’s one research suggests millennials are making, choosing to keep their money in savings accounts — which provide very little return in terms of interest — rather than invest in the markets.

According to a recent analysis from the online financial resource NerdWallet, a 25-year-old millennial who is not investing today and does not invest until they retire at 65 could lose out on more than $3.3 million in retirement savings.

It can be nerve-wracking for novices to begin investing their money, but these three investment strategies can help calm those nerves and pave the way for a bright financial future.

Tax from page 3B compliance, it also has costs for taxpayers, particularly for low-income workers who may be liquidity constrained and could benefit more from larger regular paychecks than from larger annual tax refunds.”

For the team at California Payroll, the changes mean making sure clients are well equipped with knowledge and their expert guidance. The company handles human capital management, which

Identify your risk tolerance Young investors may be told that they’re in prime position to choose risky investments because they have fewer responsibilities than older investors, and more time in the workforce to make up for losses. While that’s true, young investors should only be as risky as they’re comfortable being. The financial experts at Principal advise beginners to identify their risk tolerance before investing.

Investments with a high potential for return, which might include emerging markets and limited partnerships, also generally have a higher potential risk for loss, and vice versa.

Investors should only accept a level of risk they’re comfortable with.

Diversify your investments Principal notes one way to manage risk is choose a mix of investments from various asset classes. For example, stocks and bonds traditionally move in different directions. So when stocks are up, bonds may be down, and vice versa. Investing in different types of assets is known as diversification, which can help investors protect themselves against risk.

Make changes as you age As investors age, their aversion to risk should grow. The closer you get to retirement, the closer you are to needing all the money you have invested and earned over the years. Speak with a financial planner about how to reallocate your investments as retirement draws near.

– Courtesy Metro Creative

includes providing payroll, timekeeping, attendance and human-resource software and services.

California Payroll is located at 1240 Central Blvd., Suite B, in Brentwood.

For more information, visit www. californiapayroll.com.

For more information on the tax forms, visit: www.bit.ly/2017tcja; www.bit.ly/2020-w-4; and www.bit.ly/ usgaowithholding.

I have discussed the importance of estate planning many times in these articles.

Saving money, peace of mind and making things easier for those you leave behind are just a few of the benefits. However, with estate planning typically comes difficult conversations with family members that does not come natural. Subjects such as who you want to be in charge of your estate after death, who should receive your assets and end of life issues are just the beginning. Nine out of 10 Americans consider it important to have a financial plan but almost half have difficulty discussing finances with loved ones. There are three reasons for this: It can be overwhelming, it can be awkward and talking about a future plan is difficult when you don’t have one in place. The statistics tell an interesting story.

38% of people do not even talk to their spouse or partner about the other’s financial situation before getting married. 55% of those without a financial plan say they are not confident in their retirement and a full 86% of us do not feel they have saved enough for retirement. It starts with a conversation and

sometimes we just need a little help to take that first step. When I talk to clients about estate planning, I do so without making them feel guilty or being ashamed. The most important step you take is talking with someone. I reassure my clients that it is never too late nor too early to start talking about finances after death. Most of my clients have a very real sense of accomplishment and relief because many have been putting it off for years. I cannot emphasize enough the peace of mind my clients walk away with when we complete their estate plan and they know this important issue has been handled. Make a commitment to yourself and talk to your family today about these issues. Keep it light and do not take it too seriously. Your next call should be to my office and we will put your plans into action.

If you have questions on this or any other estate planning topic, call me at (925) 5164888. East County Family Law Group, 1120 Second Street, Brentwood – Advertisement www.eastcountyfamilylaw.com

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JANUARY 24, 2020

A New Decade… What will you do differently?

appy New Year and Cheers to 2020! A new decade ripe for new adventures, new challenges, and new successes!

As we enter a new decade, it is always good to look back on the past decade and learn from the good, the bad, and the ugly. The early years of the “teens” were about as ugly as anyone could have imagined. We were working our ways through the total financial collapse that began in 2008.

I do not know a single person who came through that time period unscathed. We all know people who lost their homes, lost their businesses, lost their jobs, and lost their savings. I personally lost my job 3 times during a 2-year period. I was working for a smaller company and we came into work one day and the boss said “sorry, I can’t meet payroll. Yes, the last two weeks you worked for free”. There were 500 people standing there wondering how they were going to make their mortgage payment.

I learned from that experience and decided to go to work for one of the largest corporations in the world, who will remain unnamed. I thought they will never be affected by this ‘recession’. Well, one morning they called for a mandatory conference call and laid off 4000 people in one 10-minute phone call, me being one of them.

I was talking to my oldest a few weeks ago about “2008” as we often refer to it. I said, “you might be a little too young to really remember how bad it was”. They looked at me and said “Mom, I remember when I asked for $20.00 so Charlie and I could go bowling, and I got a 30-minute lecture on the value of $20.00. I remember!”

LOL. We can laugh now, but, boy howdy, back then, it was no laughing matter. $20.00 could have meant gas in the car, or even dinner that night. Things were so baaad!

So, what do we learn from all this? One lesson that I continually repeat to my kids, and anyone else who will listen, is that we will survive. Being a single mom there were certainly times when I wondered how we were going to survive, but by golly, we did! Growing up, I remember a poster my mom had plastered to the front of the fridge.

It was a mouse pulling an elephant up a hill by its tail and it said, “Where there is a will, there is a way!” My mom lived by that motto and instilled it in us kids. There was a will, and there was a way, and we are all proof of that!

So, as the rest of the “teens” played out we all began to, not only survive, but we began to thrive. Real estate values began to recover, there were jobs to be had, 401Ks began to grow, the stock markets began to rally. We turned the corner and here we are today, beginning a new decade.

Each of us comes into this new era with different needs, wants, and dreams. Some of that is due to socioeconomic backgrounds, different levels of education, different goals, and values. Some of it dictated by our ‘generation’, some dictated by how we were raised, and some of it dictated by what came our way over the years of our lives.

As we make decisions about the next decade, one question may be how to better fund your retirement years.

You may consider getting a roommate, selling your home

Beth Miller-Rowe has been in the mortgage industry for 36 years specializing in reverse mortgages for the past 10 years. Beth has degrees in economics and business administration. and downsizing, or maybe sharing your home with another generation. Or perhaps cashing in stocks or getting a home equity line of credit (HELOC) or a reverse mortgage.

There are a lot of options to research.

The key is to do just that, do your own research.

I hear from my clients all the time about the friend who says ‘don’t get a reverse mortgage. It is BAD’. I ask why she said it was bad, and I hear that she heard from her sister’s husband’s cousin’s nephew that a reverse mortgage is BAD but really wasn’t quite sure why.

I recently had a client say “I heard that to take out a reverse mortgage is to steal from your children”.

He went on to quote some of the most notable MYTHS about the reverse mortgage program. ♦♦ The bank owns your home when you take out a reverse mortgage. Absolutely Not True! ♦♦ When you die, the bank takes the house. Absolutely not true! ♦♦ The kids will end up with nothing because a reverse mortgage will always use up all the equity. That is clearly not true, especially with the ‘new math’ reverse mortgage that went into effect in October 2017 with the goal of equity preservation. ♦♦ You could outlive a reverse mortgage. Not true! As long as you pay your property taxes, homeowners’ insurance, HOA dues, live in the home, and maintain the home, you can stay there forever, until the day you die, literally.

When we consider the fact that 60% of seniors are still helping their adult children financially, we realize that there is a lot more ‘need’ than there is ‘want’ when it comes to seniors’ finances.

A recent AARP article shows that 79% of grandparents do not see themselves financially supporting their grandkids, and yet 94% of them do, in fact, provide support of some kind. In some cases, it is helping with

college, in other cases, it may be helping with a first car.

Parents are so strapped these days, especially trying to survive in California, that kids turn to their grandparents for even the very basics, like food and shelter.

I cannot count how many homes I walk into where there are multiple generations living under the same roof.

Some by design, some by desire, most by default - the kids and grandkids have nowhere else to go, they cannot afford to live independently in the bay area.

As we look to the future, we don’t necessarily need the luxuries of a movie star, but we do want to enjoy our retirement.

That might mean more travel, it might mean a larger safety net for a greater sense of security, or a new kitchen, or a new car, or it might mean taking our family on a vacation and building memories.

We are retiring healthier than ever before, with more years ahead of us that we are looking forward to enjoying.

And that is okay. We have earned it!

The most important piece, as you think through your options is to do your own research.

This is your home, your retirement, your money.

Work with a specialist and meet face to face. Fed Ex, email, and phone calls do not give you the time, and respect you deserve when dealing with your future.

If you would like a no pressure, no obligation presentation in your home, Let’s sit down, at your kitchen table, and look at whether a reverse mortgage might be a good idea for you.

Let me show you the truth about how you can enjoy a Fun-tirement AND potentially leave a legacy. Win-Win. – Advertorial

Let’s take a look and see if we can Make Your Retirement Dreams Come True.

Beth Miller-Rowe NMLS: 294774

Branch Manager and Reverse Mortgage Specialist

The Reverse Mortgage Group • A Division of American Pacific Mortgage Corp.

Office: 925-969-0380 Cell: 925-381-8264 Beth@YourReverse.com

3478 Buskirk Ave., Ste. 1000 Pleasant Hill, CA 94523

Your Retirement Dreams Can Come True!

A Division of American Pacific Mortgage Corporation NMLS 1850

DRE: 00950759/01215943 • NMLS: 294774/831612/1850 Licensed by the Dept of Business Oversight under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act

*Reverse mortgages are loans offered to homeowners who are 62 or older who have equity in their homes. The loan programs allow borrowers to defer payment on the loans until they pass away, sell the home, or move out.

Homeowners, however, remain responsible for the payment of taxes, insurance, maintenance, and other items. Nonpayment of these items can lead to a default under the loan terms and ultimate loss of the home. FHA insured reverse mortgages have an up front and ongoing cost; ask your loan officer for details. These materials are not from, nor approved by HUD, FHA, or any governing agency. **American Pacific Mortgage Corporation is not financial service company or licensed tax advisors; the material provided is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment, tax and/or mortgage advice. Although the material is deemed to be accurate and reliable, there is no guarantee it is without errors. We are not financial or tax advisors, please contact your financial professional for your personal financial situation.