OakleyPress_07.10.09

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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ward Winning News al A pa

Vol. 9, No. 28

Including Surrounding Communities

www.thepress.net

Oakley turns 10 with a bang by Rick Lemyre Staff Writer

With fireworks, parades and barbecues going on all over Contra Costa County, folks celebrating the Fourth of July had plenty of choices of events they could attend. Those who stayed in Oakley were glad they did. “We thought about going to Antioch, or maybe to the (USS) Hornet (in Oakland), but we didn’t want to fight traffic, so we didn’t,” said Oakley resident Terri Sandoval. “I’m glad we did that. Sitting in the grass was a lot more comfortable than sitting in the car.” Thousands of others attending the combination July 4 celebration/10th birthday party for Oakley apparently agreed. They enjoyed rock climbing, face painting, bounce houses and barbecue. There was music, too, and plenty of room for everyone. “We’re not all crammed in here elbow to elbow like at the CornFest,” said Deliah Swanson. “There’s lots of stuff for the kids to do, and plenty of people we know to talk to, and when it’s all over we can walk home. It doesn’t get better than that.” That’s music to the ears of Mayor Carol Rios, who said that’s just what the City Council had in mind for the event. “It feels like family here, it really does,” she said as excitement built for the grand finale see Bang page 18A

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July 10, 2009

THIS WEEK

New principal no princess

Taking the helm of Gehringer Elementary is a woman who started at the bottom and made her own breaks.

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Infrastructure gap bridged After 61 years of service, the Bethel Island Bridge is being replaced with a wider and sturdier overpass.

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Thousands gathered at Freedom High School to watch the fireworks spectacle celebrating the Fourth of July and Oakley’s 10 years of cityhood. For more photos from this event, visit thepress.net.

Exchange rates high

A Historical Fourth by Rick Lemyre Staff Writer

Photo by Rick Lemyre

World War II veterans Carl Garcia, left, and Nash Gamino identify classmates in a photo of Knightsen School’s Class of 1936 in the research room of the ECCHS Museum on Saturday. In addition to bolstering the record of far East County’s past, the two were honored for their service in the war at the museum’s July 4 celebration.

Even if you hadn’t checked your calendar, it was easy to tell it was the Fourth of July at the East Contra Costa Historical Society’s Byer-Nail Museum last weekend. In addition to the flags and bunting, there were hot rods galore, salutes to the military, root beer floats and people keen on celebrating, and learning, their heritage. “This is really something,” said Penny Lange, who stopped by to check out the goings on with her husband Terry. The couple had recently moved to Byron from Texas, and were delighted at what they found. “You don’t see this kind of detail in a lot of small-town mu-

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seums,” she said, taking in the recently restored kitchen of the house built in 1877. “You can really get a feel for the area, and you can see the people are proud of their roots.” Front and center inside the museum was its newest attraction, a tribute to local veterans. Newspaper accounts of various conflicts stood alongside uniforms and mementos donated by locals who had lived through them, while outside sat a World War II motorcycle looking ready for battle. The guests of honor at the event were a couple of Knightsen School graduates: Carl Garcia, Class of 1936, and Nash Gamino, Class of ’37. The two men were see Fourth page 18A

Local soccer players have invited a delegation from Japan onto the field – and into their homes.

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INSIDE Calendar ..........................23B Classifieds ........................16B Cop Logs ..........................16A Entertainment ................14B Food .................................12B Health & Beauty .............10B Milestones ......................... 8B Opinion ...........................15A Sports ................................. 1B Talk About Town ..............5A WebExtras! ....................... 1B

Everything local.

Shopping, dining ... anything you need to find. Search the business directory at www.thepress.net.

FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A


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