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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 14, No. 31
Delta outrage spills into Sacramento by Co rey Hunt Correspondent
Delta enthusiasts and concerned East County residents put aside their daily routines on Tuesday to rally outside of the state capitol in Sacramento, delivering a clear message to Gov. Jerry Brown that they will not back down from opposing his Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) tunnel project. A charter bus carrying East County residents to the p rotest brimmed with excitement and high emotions as it meandered through the heart of Delta country and up into Sacramento. While the majority of the protesters were middle-aged and senior citizens, the crowd diversified when the crowds converged on the Capitol Mall, where a number of local college students and young people joined in, including an aspiring band that played Delta-themed protest songs before the speeches began.
East Cou nty residents traveled to Sacramento this week to protest the Bay Delta Conservatio n Plan twin tunnels project.
Braving the hot sun, dozens of East County protesters linked up with other Northern California activists to chant slogans and listen to speeches by prominent ctitics of the plan, including Assemblyman
Happy first day!
Jim Frazier, an Oakley resident. The rally was timed to mark the conclusion of the public comment period for the BDCP, a proposal opponents would like to see replaced with a ballot initiative.
Staff Writer
aylani Dalida, 6, poses w ith her mother A lexa ndra, on her f irst day of school at A lmond Grove Elementary Schoo l on Monday. Back to school also marked the officia l opening of the Oakley Union Elementary Schoo l site, w hich was built in 2006 but remained unopened due to low growth numbers.
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see Delta page 22A
Popular Antioch councilman dies by Kyle Szymansk i
Photo by Richard Wisdom
"A plan that proposes to build two 35-mile long tunnels, 40feet wide, under some of the most critical and sensitive habitat in the state, is absolutely not a conservation plan," Frazier said to a cheering audience. "The outreach for this project has not been transpa rent, and the informatio n has not been made easily accessible to the public. . .. A plan of this magnitude requires the thoughtful input of all Californians so we can solve our water challenges as a collective whole." Frazier also a lleged that the BDCP fa ils to comply with the Federal Endangered Species Act and offers a skewed environmental impact report. Away from the podium, the hundreds of demonstrators were feeling emboldened by their opportunity to voice their objections to what they see as a government that has robbed them of representation - sentiments that were conveyed in
Ga ry Agopian, a high-energy civil servant with a passion for bettering a nd unifying the conununity, died this week after a I0-month battle with brain cancer. He was 57. The 19-year Antioch resident, who was elected to the city council in 20 10, was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor last September, but never stopped serving his city. He fiercely advocated for the passage of Measure C, a halfcent sales tax toward p ublic safety, leading up to its approval last November, and attended council meetings until the end of June,
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the last two escorted in a wheelchair. News of his death on Monday led to an outpouring of fond memories by many friends a nd fellow city leaders. " Ga ry was a likable fellow, a real extrovert and a natural for governance," said Walter Ruehlig ,who was elected to the school board with Agopian in 2004. " He liked vigorous d ialogue a nd wore the mantle of public service with distinction. When he made a decision, agree or disagree with him, you knew he was coming from a platform o f integrity and considered forethought." see Leader page 22A
Global education go to news/WebExtras! The American Scandinavian St udent Exchange is looking f or host families.
August 1, 2014
Bountiful harvest
From East County f arms to your t able, let our Healthy Harvest sect ion be your guide to f inding the best local produce. Page 18
Falcon under investigation
A local f ootball star is in hot water over an altercation that occured in Oklahoma. Page 4A
Kicking it in Carolina
The AJAX East Bay 98 Girls recently compet ed for a nat ional soccer title. Page 17A
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Best for bab~ go to news/press releases Contra Costa Health Services celebrat es World Breastfeeding Week.