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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 9, No. 42
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October 21, 2011
of Firefighters of the Year honored Mavens marketing by Rick Lemyre Staff Writer
Fire engines rolling down First Street with sirens blaring and lights flashing are nothing new for downtown Brentwood, but they’re usually headed out, not in. Last weekend, however, it went the other way, as Engine 54 arrived accompanied by a caravan of flag-flying motorcycles. The occasion was the annual Firefighter of the Year ceremonies presented by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10789 at Veterans Hall, right next to Station 54. Aboard, wearing a dress uniform instead of his usual turnouts, was Firefighter of the Year Capt. Craig Auzenne, getting a code-three escort to the event. “It feels great,” Auzenne said. “Everything was already way good, but when we pulled up here, it was overwhelming. It’s quite an honor.” Also honored at the event was Battalion Chief Jake Gonzalez, the VFW’s ECCFPD
Photo by Rick Lemyre
Firefighter of the Year Capt. Craig Auzenne along with wife Sharon and son Jack, 7, stand by ECCFPD Engine 54 during a dinner in Auzenne’s honor last weekend. Battalion Chief Jake Gonzalez was also honored, but unable to attend. Manager of the Year. Gonzalez was unable to attend the event, so Fire Chief Hugh Henderson stood in for him. “Jake would definitely be honored”
at getting the award, Henderson said. “It’s well-deserved. He’s got 20-plus years serving the community. He knows this business and he knows the
community.” Henderson added that both men would be on hand to be honored again at the ECCFPD board meeting on Nov. 7. VFW Commander Steve Todd organized the event for the second straight year after several years with no honors. “I want to make it special for these guys, as it should be,” Todd said. “These guys do what people are afraid to do, but we don’t ever hear about it unless they get hurt. But they’re still doing their jobs, and we have to give credit where credit is due. They run toward danger when everyone else is running away.” The event included honors for Auzenne and Gonzalez presented by representatives of State Assemblyman Mark DeSaulnier and the County Board of Supervisors. While he greatly appreciated the gather and the honors, Auzenne admitted that
Staff Writer
It’s beginning to look a lot like the holidays in Discovery Bay – or at least it will soon. The CSD has voted to add wreaths and swags to the community’s white lights display located at the town entrance on Discovery Bay Boulevard. “Last year we added some lighting to the entrance and we got a very good response from the public and the board,” said Landscape Manager Fairin Perez during the Oct. 5 regular CSD meeting. “And if we are going to
The holiday display will go up on Nov. 14 and remain through the middle of January. add to our decorating this year, now is the time to discuss it.” Perez presented 10 decorating options to the board and public during a PowerPoint presentation. Options included simple bows and garlands to lighted trees, banners and pole decorations. Another option featured a jet-skiing Santa riding the waves in an over-the-top movable holiday display. The decorations will be subsidized by a special fund set aside
from Zone 8 landscaping coffers. But the additional dollars were still a hard sell for some board members who felt that given the current economic climate, extra spending of any kind was imprudent. “I hate to be the Scrooge in the group,” said Director Mark Simon. “But I’m hard pressed to vote for anything that costs thousands of dollars for a three-week period. I’m in favor of just the original lights we use every year.”
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Getting a jump on jobs Need to add pizzazz to your resumé or cope with rejection? Check out strategies that help you join the workforce. Page 1B
Knockin’ down the pin
see Firefighters page 3A
Town ready to ring in the holidays by Ruth Roberts
An online marketing summit will prevent you from opening a business but not telling anyone about it. Page 5B
In a 3-2 vote – directors Simon and Ray Tetreault voted against the motion – the board eventually agreed to the purchase of four double wreath swags to bracket the town’s logo at the entrance to Discovery Bay. The $3,400 price tag includes purchase, installation, take-down and storage. And after the initial year’s purchase, the annual cost will be $185 per season for set-up, take-down and storage. The cost to install the white rope lights from last year is $1,300. The holiday display will go up on Nov. 14 and remain through the middle of January.
Adventure in Ag go to news/press releases
An upcoming forum will discuss sustainable food production in the Bay Area.
The owner of a sweet swing is now the owner of the league’s individual championship trophy. Page 17A Arts ....................................... 8A Business ............................. 17B Calendar ............................ 19B Classifieds ......................... 13B Cop Logs ............................15A East County Life ................ 1B Entertainment ................... 9B Food .................................... 10B Health & Beauty ................ 6B Milestones .......................... 8B Opinion ..............................14A Sports .................................17A FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A
Burger binge
go to multimedia/videos An eating contest identified the most spacious digestive system in town.