Oakley Press_09.02.11

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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER

Vol. 11, No. 35

District celebrates new station by Samie Hartley

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September 2, 2011

Enriching pilgrimage

Staff Writer Despite the stress imposed on the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD) in recent months, the community finally got a reason to smile about the state of local firefighting: Fire Station 93 in Oakley was treated to a grandopening celebration. The district is still in fiscal crisis, but anxiety over the future was temporarily suspended last Saturday as more than 150 residents and dignitaries gathered at the new station on O’Hara Avenue. The new 9,000-square-foot facility, which includes an apparatus bay for three engines, living quarters and an emergency operations and training center, cost $3.15 million, but the district didn’t pay a penny for the construction. Footing the bill was the City of Oakley’s Fire Facilities Impact Fee Fund, which developers have been paying into for years as part of development fees.

A local adventurer decided to tour Europe in a decidedly adventurous mode – 500 miles on foot. Page 1B

City set to go nuts Photo by Samie Hartley

Joining in the celebration of the grand opening of Fire Station 93 are East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD) Board Director Joel Bryant, Oakley City Councilmember Randy Pope, ECCFPD Board President and Oakley Vice Mayor Kevin Romick, Oakley Councilmember and ECCFPD Board Director Pat Anderson, Oakley Mayor and ECCFPD Board Director Jim Frazier and ECCFPD Chief Hugh Henderson. “The city of Oakley is proud to provide this new fire station to the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District,” said Oakley

Mayor Jim Frazier, who also sits on the district’s board of directors. “Please know that the City of Oakley trusts, values and respects the

work you do for us and we thank you.”

Oakley’s annual Almond Festival will set O’Hara Park hopping to the beat of frugal family fun. Page 5A

Court’s in session

see Station page 12A

City encourages Neighborhood Watch by Samie Hartley Staff Writer More than 100 Oakley residents gathered at City Hall this week to learn more about Neighborhood Watch programs and ways to assist local law enforcement in keeping Oakley safe. Oakley Police Chief Bani Kollo said when he joined the police department last year, members of the City Council asked him to put on his agenda the beefing up of the city’s Neighborhood Watch program. After two shootings occurred in Oakley within a month’s span earlier this summer, Kollo decided now would be the opportune time to review the program and look for new ways to engage the public. “You can put whatever name

you want on it (Neighborhood Watch), but at the end of the day it’s about looking out for your neighbors,” Kollo said, adding that in his 20 years in law enforcement, he’d never worked with a community as vigilant as Oakley. “The community in Oakley calls the police more than anywhere that I’ve worked, and I mean that in a positive way.” While the comment drew some snickers from the crowd, Kollo praised the residents of Oakley for contacting the police department when something doesn’t feel right, and reporting acts of crime in progress. According to Kollo, if you need to debate whether to call the police or not, it’s probably best to call anyway. When a law-enforcement emergency occurs, most Ameri-

Our BVAL tennis preview explores the prospects of your hometown team recording a net gain. Page 19A

Photo by Justin Lafferty

At a community meeting Tuesday night, Oakley Police Chief Bani Kollo speaks about the benefits of setting up Neighborhood Watch groups. cans have been programmed to dial 911 for aid, but in Kollo’s mind, that might not be the best option. If you call 911 from your

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Eskaton Lodge has launched an online social networking platform.

cell phone, the call is routed first to the California Highway Patrol see Watch page 12A

Top treatment

go to news/press releases A recent study gave Sutter Delta Medical Center high marks for emergency care.

Business ............................. 18B Calendar ............................ 19B Classifieds ......................... 13B Cop Logs ............................17A Entertainment ................... 6B East County Life ................ 1B Food .................................... 10B Health & Beauty ................ 8B Milestones ..................9A, 18B Opinion ..............................16A Sports .................................19A FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A

All jazzed up

go to multimedia/videos Delights for the eye, palate and ear were on display at a popular festival.


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