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Vol. 20, No. 4
YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
New library a possibility
Financially Fit In 2020
Marching for the vote
by Deanna Gordon
This week’s special edition offers advice for getting the most out of your money this year. Page 1B
Staff Writer
The City of Oakley and Contra Costa County have been collaborating on the possibility of developing a stand-alone library after the city council approved a $25,000 exploratory plan at its meeting Nov. 12, 2019. The plan is to look at the possibility of converting the old Delta Station of the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office — located at 200 O’Hara Ave. — since the station moved to Brentwood in August, leaving the former site vacant. Oakley Library now resides in 3,000 square feet of Freedom High School’s library, filling half of its total 6,000-square-foot space. After the library outgrew its previous 500-square-foot space at the Oakley Delta see Library page 26A
January 24, 2020
A Unique Performance Photo by Tony Kukulich
T
amara Mellor, Lynn Confetti-Ledbetter and Kristen Vistalli attended the East County Women’s March celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment granting women the right to vote. The event was held in Antioch, Saturday, Jan. 18, and was hosted by Antioch Councilmember Lori Ogorchock. To view more photos of the event, visit www.thepress.net/multimedia/slideshows
Performer Unique Derique brings his special brand of comedy, music and fun to the library. Page 9A
Bball New tunnel project is déjà vu all over again Patriots Stays Strong 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 Sacramento-San 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.
SAVE NOW
Instead, it’s more of the same divisive top-down approach pursued 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
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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 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 see Tunnel page 26A
USDA Guidelines www.thepress.net/news/webextras
Two proposals are in the works to make school lunches more appealing, healthy.
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
New Director
www.thepress.net/news/press_releases
First Five Contra Costa welcomes new director to organization.