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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 9, No. 49
Holiday parade rolls into town
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December 9, 2011
Gifting tips from A to Z
by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer
The spirit of the season was alive and well in Discovery Bay last weekend as thousands of spectators lined the streets for the annual Parade of Lights and tree lighting ceremony. More than 90 floats and 600 participants turned out for the ninth annual holiday party, sponsored this year by the Delta Sun Times. The tree lighting event, which followed the parade at the Discovery Bay Shopping Center, was hosted by the Discovery Bay Lions Club. “Looking around the audience this year, all I saw were smiles,” said Parade Director Amanda Dove. “There were people cheering, and some had tears of joy at the beautiful demonstration before us. The parade grows and grows, and floats get more and more elaborate, but the event still keeps its small-town charm.” This year’s parade theme was
Our Holiday Gift Guide dials you in to ideas for perfect presents – and local shops that sell them. Page 1B
Strange standoff Photo by Kelly Chance
The Polar Express rolled into town last weekend and took home the Best Spirit award for the Discovery Bay Parade of Lights annual event. Holiday Movies, and some of the more popular floats featured imagery from “The Polar Express” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Parade emcees Glenn Sparks and Erin Pellaton announced parade entries
throughout the evening, and float judges Chris Steele, Rita Caruso, Marla Luckhardt and Penny Dove made the tough final decisions. According to Dove, the evening was about more than floats
and parades – it was about community. “The parade is wonderful,” she said, “because it involves everyone in Discovery Bay, including children
A rooftop in Brentwood was the setting for a bizarre drama on a cold night. Page 3A
Stronger than dirt
see Parade page 26A
Garbage changes in the works by Ruth Roberts
“ We think it will eventually help everyone
Staff Writer
If ever there were a time to get excited about trash and recycling, that time is now. Beginning in January, county residents in Brentwood, Discovery Bay, Knightsen and Bethel Island will begin receiving not one but three brand-new wheeled garbage containers for all their trash, recycling and green waste needs – courtesy of Discovery Bay Disposal Service. “This is going to be a great program for everyone,” said Dave Adler, regional manager of Discovery Bay Disposal. “We think it will eventually help everyone recycle more and lower their garbage bills. We’re excited about the move.”
recycle more and lower their garbage bills. We’re excited about the move.
”
Dave Adler, Discovery Bay Disposal For most residents, the wheeled containers are nothing new, but out in the unincorporated areas of the county, where homeowners have been dealing with one large trash can, two small recycling crates and the responsibility of providing their own green waste cans for years, the new curbside program – recently approved by the board of supervisors – is exciting. “I think it’s going to be a win-win for the community and
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should help keep everyone’s overall costs down,” said Discovery Bay General Manager Rick Howard. Here’s how it works. Beginning with the rollout in January, all residents will receive a 96-gallon blue container for recycling and a 96-gallon green container for green waste. In addition, residents can choose a brown container for garbage. The brown containers are available in 20-, 32-, 64- or 96-gallon variet-
Key caregiver
go to news/WebExtras! Antioch’s Kaiser Permanente has been named one of the nation’s top hospitals.
ies. Those who already have the 96-gallon green containers, which are supplied from Discovery Bay Disposal, will keep them and use them for green waste. Those who don’t have them will receive them with their other containers. Although the initial program will cost customers about $10 more per billing cycle (due to the rising cost of labor, said Adler), if they stick with their current 96-gallon cans, many will find they’re no longer filling up the larger cans once they begin recycling. The result: they might be able to use a smaller trash can at a lower cost. Garbage cans will be available in the following sizes, and the monthly price includes all three see Garbage page 26A
A Discovery Bay dirt biker has a firm grip on the handlebars – and his ambitious dreams. Page 22A Calendar ............................ 19B Classifieds ......................... 13B Cop Logs ............................ 18B Entertainment .................11A Food .................................... 10B Holiday Gift Guide............ 1B Milestones ........................ 17B Opinion ..............................18A Outdoors ............................. 8A Sports .................................19A FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A
Wizards of wealth Brilliant boughs go to news/press releases
A conference held in Atlanta attracted the nation’s premier financial advisors.
go to multimedia/videos
Oakley’s festive Christmas tree blazed with light at the annual celebration.