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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 11, No. 33
Cities ready for highway handover by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer
The cities of Brentwood and Oakley are one step closer to sealing the deal with CalTrans (California Department of Transportation) and finally taking control of their respective Highway 4 roadways. The Brentwood and Oakley city councils have approved the formal cooperative agreements with CalTrans for the transfer and handover of State Route 4 and the State Route 4 Bypass to their local jurisdictions. And because CalTrans has determined that each city is exempt from the usual 90-day CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) notifications – due to the agency’s ongoing familiarity with the decades-old projects – the process has been accelerated, and the official handovers are expected to take place by the end of the year. “The reason this is coming up now,” said Debra Galey, management analyst for the City of Brent-
Photo by Samie Hartley
A truck drives past Oakley Civic Center Plaza on Main Street this week. Also designated as State Route 4, Main Street will be turned over to the city later this year when the Highway 4 Bypass becomes the new Route 4. wood, “is because the Bypass was constructed as an extension of State Route 4 and now that sections one, two and three are nearly complete, CalTrans is ready to take it into the state highway system, which means that the state can now relinquish it
to the local cities.” For both Brentwood and Oakley – which have long anticipated the transfer – the handover will finally afford them the opportunities to build their own civic autonomy and maintain local control.
“To control the major thoroughfare is huge for any community,” said Oakley City Manager Bryan Montgomery. “And right now we don’t control the landscaping, traffic signs, encroachments, closures, etc. But once we do have control, we can commence improving the roadway and access and landscaping so that Main Street can become something we can be proud of.” The transfer also comes with money from the state to assist the cities in maintaining the roadways. Brentwood will receive $678,000; Oakley $1,471,000. Oakley’s dollars are earmarked to improve Main Street from Bridgehead Road to Big Break Road and install drainage upgrades in the downtown area. “Brentwood’s money will come as part of the transfer/handover to the city from the state and will be used for conditioning of the pavement, repairs and replacements to
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August 19, 2011
Brilliance in a bottle
An East County grape grower’s expertise is converting the region’s soil and climate into fistfuls of awards. Page 1B
Taking ’cue from history The East Contra Costa Historical Society’s annual barbecue promises more than memorable eats. Page 8A
‘The Storm’ flattens foes
see Highway page 17A
School aide saves choking student by Samie Hartley Staff Writer
Amna Camarra doesn’t usually escort Iron House Elementary kindergarteners to lunch, but since it was the first week of school, she figured it would be good for the students if she helped them learn the routine. The literacy support aide turned out to be at the right place at the right time when one of Iron House’s newest students began to choke on his lunch. “I was standing by a group of students eating lunch when I heard a strange noise behind me,” Camarra said. “I turned around and there was a little boy resting his head on the table. His face was red and he looked like he was in trouble.” Camarra, who has been at Iron House for a year, rushed to the boy’s side and asked if he was OK. The boy shook his head, so she asked him if he
could breathe. The boy shook his head again. To be sure, Camarra repeated the questions in Spanish to make sure he understood. The boy still shook his head, so Camarra jumped into action, applying the Heimlich maneuver. With a swift pump of her fist against the boy’s abdomen, a chunk of the burrito the boy was eating dislodged from his windpipe. For her lifesaving efforts, Camarra was recognized at the Oakley Union School District meeting with a certificate of appreciation on Wednesday, but she insists she doesn’t deserve the special attention. “It’s embarrassing,” Camarra said. “I did what anyone else would have done. I didn’t expect all this attention. When I cleared the boy’s windpipe, I looked up to see if someone could look Photo courtesy of Michele Gaudinier after the boy while I cleaned up the mess and I realized everyone was watching Iron House literacy support aide Amna Camarra was recently honored by the Oakley Union School see Aide page 17A District for saving a choking student.
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