MARCH 20, 2009
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Scout aids alma mater Taking writing for a ride by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer It’s no secret that Eagle Scouts are all about honor, responsibility and building character, and Oakley resident Mike Lumsden is no exception. But this weekend as the Eagle Scout candidate puts the finishing touches on some items he constructed for Laurel Elementary School, he’ll be building something else as well; a permanent place in the hearts of a grateful staff. “The value of what Mike is doing for us is huge,” said Anne Allen, principal at Laurel Elementary. “And the funny part is that the project he chose, he felt wasn’t big enough. But for us, especially at this time with the budget and everything, it’s really big for us. He’s done a beautiful job.” Mike’s take on the project is a little
less verbose. “It’s been a pretty cool thing,” said the Freedom High School senior. “When I chose my project, I wanted to do something to give back to Oakley, to my community, to make it more local. So I went to Laurel, since I went to school there. It was fun to go back and I’m glad I was able to help.” The job that Mike took on for his Eagle Scout project was constructing two new equipment boxes for the kindergarten playground. Complete with screens in the bottom to weed out sand and dirt, the current boxes are 15 years old and beginning to show their age. The new boxes will provide plenty of room for balls and other outdoor toys. Mike also built four bookshelves for the school library, which little by little has see Scout page 20A
Delta meeting Monday A plan to upgrade the Delta, which some local officials and residents fear will lead to a peripheral canal that will hurt local water quality, will be unveiled from 6 to 10 p.m. on Monday, March 23 in the Brentwood Community Center, 730 Third St. The focus of the meeting, one of 12
held throughout California, is to get public input on the environmental impact of the proposed Bay Delta Conservation Plan. The open-house format features issue-focused information booths and recorder stations for submitting comments. For more information, go online to www.water.ca.gov/deltainit/bdcp.cfm.
by Samie Hartley Staff Writer Marion Merrill had always toyed with the idea of writing a book, but it wasn’t until a dog bit her in the face that she realized there was no better time than the present to make her dream a reality. As a groomer and lifelong pet lover, Merrill was accustomed to working with animals, but for whatever reason, a rottweiler snapped at her during a grooming session, leaving bite marks on her left cheek and a gash near her left eye. While the incident was terrifying, the Knightsen resident decided to use the experience as an opportunity for a story. “I’ve always been curious about animals and why they behave the way they do. I’m not sure what that dog was thinking that day, but I used my curiosity to fuel my imagination and use that experience to enhance my writing.” Merrill has dabbled in creative writing for many years. When she was young, she dreamed of writing a book, only to be discouraged by a teacher in high school who said her writing wasn’t worth publishing. While she was temporarily discouraged, Merrill took a creative writing course in college, which reignited her passion for the written word. She put her college career on hold to raise a family, but she never gave up on her love of writing. As she explored avenues to improve her skill, she came across a Web site for aspiring writers, blogit.com. Within the cyber community, Merrill be-
Photo by Samie Hartley
First-time author Marion Merrill of Knightsen will host a book signing for her book “Notes of an Everyday Cowgirl” on March 28 at Horsetown Tack in Brentwood. gan posting some of her works. She took the feedback from her Web friends and continued to hone her craft. While some colleagues had suggested she compile her work into a book, she never gave it serious thought until she was attacked by the dog at work. “It was a scary moment for me,” she said. “I took some time away from work and writing, but it made me realize that you don’t know what will happen tomorrow. I was lucky. I had a bite mark right near my eye. It could have been much worse. It made me want to write the book while I knew I had the chance. I wanted to have something for my daughter.” At the suggestions of her supporters in see Ride page 22A