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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 11, No. 31
Smooth start to school year
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August 5, 2011
History takes the helm
by Samie Hartley Staff Writer Back-to-school went off without a hitch in far East County this week as thousands of students returned to the classroom. Students, teachers and school officials in the Brentwood Union, Byron Union, Liberty Union High and Oakley Union Elementary school districts started the month of August back on campus for the 2011-12 school year, and superintendents throughout the districts couldn’t be happier with the turnout. “Back-to-school is always an exciting time for our district,” said Ken Jacopetti, superintendent of the Byron district. “The children are excited to be back in the classrooms. It’s especially fun to watch our incoming kindergarteners as they step onto campus for the first time. They hit the ground running, ready to learn.” Jacopetti said the district was
Iron House Elementary School in Oakley was filled with families this week as students arrived for the start of the new school year.
Photo by Richard Wisdom
fortunate enough to have funds to re-hire several teachers who were pinkslipped earlier this year, and with the return of Resource Officer Deputy David Allain, morale at the district’s three schools is soaring. Liberty Superintendent Eric
Volta spent the first day of school touring the district’s five campuses, including the new La Paloma campus, and was content with what he saw. One of the most exciting things for Volta was the addition of a new signal and crosswalk in front
of Liberty High School, which provides students safe passage across Second Street. “It’s so nice over there,” Volta said. “It’s so much safer for the stu-
One special stop on the Delta Discovery Cruise itinerary provides a brush with some venerable vessels. Page 1B
Map ratified The county’s redistricting process reveals where the geographic – and political – lines are drawn. Page 4A
Promotion to the pros
see School page 15A
Fire district to propose new tax by Rick Lemyre Staff Writer The East Contra Costa Fire Protection District is gearing up to go to the voters in June for a parcel tax of about $187-per-year designed to save and improve fire service in far East County. The plan, worked up by the board’s Ad Hoc Committee, would eliminate the district’s $3-plus million annual operating deficit, increase staffing to three firefighters in all district stations (two stations are currently staffed by only two people), increase the number of stations back to the eight that existed prior to last year’s closure of two, and place a paramedic on each of the engines. Paramedic services in the district are currently provided by American Medical Response as part of the company’s contract with Contra Costa County. The total price tag for the plan would be $16.7 million, twice the $8.2 million the district currently brings in. The district’s share of
“ My goal for the Sept. 12 meeting is for them to say yes, we are putting it on the ballot, and here’s the date.
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Fire Chief Hugh Henderson property taxes was established when fire service in the area was provided largely by volunteers. Plummeting property values have also severely impacted revenue. The district currently spends about $12 million per year. The difference is now made up by reserves, but those will run out by the middle of next year. Fire Chief Hugh Henderson hopes to finalize the precise numbers before the board meets again. “My goal for the Sept. 12 meeting is for
them to say yes, we are putting it on the ballot, and here’s the date,” Henderson said. “I’m hoping we can keep the (tax amount) under $200, and then work hard to inform the community and get those services in place as soon as possible.” The board also received a report from its Executive Committee (EC) showing just how bad things could be if the new tax, which will require a two-thirds majority, doesn’t pass. That committee found that, based only on the money the district now receives, fire service would be drastically impacted. Staffing would drop from 48 personnel to 23, only four stations with two firefighters each would remain open to serve the 250-square mile district, and response times could increase to 10 to 12 minutes from the current eight. That scenario, decried as unworkable by virtually everyone, would probably result in
Red-tape trial
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Read part one of columnist Slim Randles’ saga of bothersome bureaucracy.
see Fire page 15A
Plucky petition
go to news/press releases The city v. state battle over redevelopment bucks is about to hit the streets.
Two local athletes are thrilled to be enduring the rigors of NFL training camp. Page 19A Business ............................. 10B Calendar ............................ 23B Classifieds ......................... 18B Cop Logs ............................17A East County Life ................ 1B Entertainment ................... 7A Food .................................... 12B Health & Beauty .............. 11B Milestones ........................ 15B Opinion ..............................16A Outdoors ............................. 4B Sports .................................19A FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A
Flash dance
go to multimedia/videos Shoppers were treated to a Zumba flash mob that came out of nowhere.