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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 11, No. 40
Oakley Plaza Happy Homecoming to get facelift
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October 7, 2011
Muir arouses arboreal awe
by Samie Hartley Staff Writer
Since the city’s Downtown Specific Plan was approved last year, representatives from Kahn Design Associates and Stirling Architects, Inc. have met regularly with the Oakley City Council to provide updates and seek direction for the downtown redesign. The vision is even clearer now following a discussion last week. While the council members approved plans this summer for the buildings lining Main Street, directly across from city hall, they discussed at last Tuesday’s meeting what would become of the remaining buildings in Oakley Plaza, which is home to Yogurt Island and Hook, Line & Sinker. “What we have out there is a building that is really flat and old and about as long as a football field,” said Stirling Architects, Inc. representative Don Stirling. “It’s a hard job to try to break that up to bring the heights up and down to hopefully create some interest.” Stirling, who designed the Balfour Plaza (home to InShape) in Brentwood, offered several renderings suggesting
Within striking distance of East County is a place that’s home to the tallest living things on the planet. Page 1B
Keeping it clean Photo by Angelo Garcia, Jr.
reedom High seniors Nikki Legaspi and Ramon Garcia were crowned Homecoming Queen and King last week during the halftime show. Legaspi and Garcia had something extra to smile about, as the Falcons defeated College Park 35-0. For coverage of the game, see page 19A. For more Homecoming photos, see page 10A.
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see Facelift page 15A
Train-truck crash under investigation by Rick Lemyre Staff Writer
Railroad officials and the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office are investigating the collision between a passenger train and a big rig that injured 39 people near Orwood Resort in Byron last Friday night. There were 204 passengers aboard the Amtrak San Joaquin train headed east toward Stockton on its way to Bakersfield when the accident occurred at 7:27 p.m., according to East Contra Costa Fire Protection District Chief Hugh Henderson. The injured included two of the train’s crew. None of the injuries were serious, and two life-flight helicopters brought in departed without passengers. “There was a ‘bang’ and I knew we’d hit something,” said Kay Beyett, who commutes on
Photo by Richard Wisdom
Officials inspect the damage to an Amtrak train that struck a big rig Friday night, sending 39 people to local hospitals with minor to moderate injuries. the train between Stockton and Martinez and was in the fourth car from the front. “The train
shook back and forth. At first I was afraid it was going to derail.”
Independent truck driver Fidel Pinon said he was at the wheel of a tandem-trailer hopper truck carrying feed corn over the private railroad crossing. A row of roadside trees obstructed his view of the tracks until it was too late to avoid the collision, he said. The intersection has no lights or cross arms, and is marked only with stop signs. The train ripped the second trailer off the truck, blasting kernels of corn more than 100 feet but leaving the rest of the truck upright and intact. Pinon was uninjured. “The best part of this whole thing is that no one was seriously hurt on the train, and I get to go home to my family,” he said. Halima Gentry was in the last car of the train commuting home from work to Stockton when the see Crash page 15A
The public is invited to the unveiling of a high-tech Water Recycling Facility right here in Oakley. Page 4A
Seizing the moment
The Falcons capitalized on a timely turnover to ice a game and head into league play undefeated. Page 19A Calendar ............................ 15B Classifieds ........................... 9B Cop Logs ............................17A East County Life ................ 1B Entertainment ................... 5B Food ...................................... 6B Health & Beauty ................ 4B Milestones ........................ 13B Opinion ..............................16A Sports .................................19A FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A
Los Vaqueros marina building and boat docks will be closed for reservoir expansion construction activities starting Monday, Oct. 10 Shoreline fishing will continue to be available along the reservoir’s south shore, and bait and tackle sales will continue from the south side entrance kiosk. For information, call us at 925-371-2628 or visit www.ccwater.com.