Oakley Press_06.17.11

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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER

Vol. 11, No. 24

Staff Writer

What could have been simple housekeeping turned into an hourlong discussion as the Oakley City Council debated the verbiage and restrictions laid out in a proposed firearms sales ordinance. Oakley has been operating under the assumption that the city had a firearm sales ordinance in its municipal code, which was adopted in 2004, but it recently came to staff’s attention that the ordinance was inadvertently omitted from the code. Community Development Director Rebecca Willis said since the discovery of the omission, staff has been working feverishly to draft an urgency ordinance to present to

the council to right the wrong made several years ago. Unlike traditional ordinances that pass by majority vote, an urgency ordinance must pass by four-fifths. The ordinance eventually passed 4-1, but it took a while for the council to come to an agreement. The strict ordinance demands that potential firearm sellers meet all federal and state requirements prior to seeking approval from the city. Firearm retailers must also acquire a conditional-use permit from the city and take rigorous precautions to ensure safety. Under the ordinance, the Oakley police chief will also be heavily involved in the permit process to make sure implesee Firearms page 30A

Feelin’ the love It was one year ago we at The Press launched our first “I Love the Press” campaign, aimed at building a base of volunteer subscribers. The goal was to compile a list of readers who, by requesting the otherwise free Hometown Weekly Newspaper, helped us maintain out status as a paper of legal record. We were astonished and pleased at the number of residents who cheerfully jumped onto the bandwagon. In addition to continuing to run legal notices, the response has helped us show outof-town advertisers just how loyal our readers are. Because of you, The Press will continue to come to your home every week for free. It’s been a year, so once again we’re asking for your support. The same $10 voluntary subscription will also get you entered in a drawing for a flat-screen TV to be given way after the CornFest. This year’s effort also in-

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June 17, 2011

Fit and fabulous

Council approves Slimy success firearm ordinance by Samie Hartley

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Let our Health, Beauty & Fitness Guide dial you in to ways to get healed up, decked out and trimmed down. Page 1B

Bravas for the maestra Photo courtesy of Dawn Byrd

riel Flores and Ryan Sitton will always remember the last day of school as the day they slimed Gehringer Elementary third-grade teacher Taryn Martinez. As a way to celebrate earning more than $8,200 during the spring book fair, several teachers volunteered to be slimed in a vanilla pudding and green Jell-O concoction. For more photos from the event, visit www.thepress.net.

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A beloved music director about to relinquish her baton was celebrated after 35 years of harmonious service. Page 6A

Little League, big heart

New eBART plan appeases Antioch by Justin Lafferty Staff Writer

cludes a coloring contest, which kids can enter by stopping by The Press booth at the CornFest or the Brentwood Farmers’ Market. On the right is the work of Jason Tastard, 8, who did his thing at the Blues, Brews & BBQs event on Memorial Day weekend. Justin – and all coloring contest winners – will receive four tickets to see a movie at the Rave Theater in The Streets of Brentwood. Look for the voluntary subscriber envelope in today’s paper.

www.thepress.net Your Hometown Website

Months after Antioch’s City Council called the designs of a proposed eBART station at Hillcrest Avenue unacceptable, transit representatives returned Tuesday with an improved proposal city officials could go along with. In December, BART officials presented an updated design of a potential $462 million eBART station at Highway 4 and Hillcrest Avenue. City Council members rejected the design, noting the lack of a station agent, public restrooms and escalators. BART Director Joel Keller said at the time that there

Rock repair

go to news/WebExtras! Bethel Islanders can now buy rip rap to buttress their portion of the island’s levee.

wasn’t enough funding for a station agent or escalators and public restrooms would attract criminal activity. However, Tuesday night’s proposal from project manager Ric Rattray addressed Antioch’s safety concerns. If the station comes to fruition, there will be a dedicated station agent at the Hillcrest stop during peak hours – 6 to 8 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. The station will also employ a community service officer for the morning, afternoon and evening hours the station agent is absent. The police chiefs of Antioch see eBART page 30A

Campus recruit

go to news/press releases A student has been named to the Northern California Red Cross board.

Oakley’s Astros rallied for five runs to beat a top-seeded team and bring home the championship trophy. Page 26A Calendar ............................ 23B Classifieds ......................... 17B Cop Logs ............................21A Entertainment ................. 12B Food .................................... 13B Health, Beauty & Fitness....1B Milestones ........................ 15B Opinion ..............................20A Sports .................................23A ravemotionpictures Brentwood 14 +

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FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A

Rousing Relay

go to multimedia/videos View the pageantry and solemnity of Brentwood’s Relay For Life.


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