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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 11, No. 42
City to clean polluted pond by Samie Hartley Staff Writer
Oakley officials say the pond across from Cypress Park will be cleaned up, after a concerned resident informed the city of trash accumulating near the water’s edge. Elsa Gutierrez, a 17-year Oakley resident who recently moved near the pond located on Frank Hengel Way, said easy access to the pond and the park was a factor that led her to relocate across town, but the trash cluttering the pond has become an eyesore. “This garbage can’t sit here like this,” Gutierrez said. “The city needs to do something. Is it really too much to ask? I walk around the pond several times a week. I can’t just sit back and let this happen. If the city doesn’t do something, I’m going to have to put on some rub-
Photo courtesy of Elsa Gutierrez
Trash such as this beer bottle has been accumulating along the banks of the pond located across from Cypress Park in Oakley. In response to a concerned neighbor’s calls, city officials say they’ll boost the cleanup effort to maintain the pond. ber boots and go down there necessary. Gutierrez has been and do it myself.” contacting the city regarding Rubber boots won’t be the trash – which includes pa-
pers, plastic wrappers, glass and plastic bottles, toys and tissues – for several months, but once City Manager Bryan Montgomery was informed of the trash earlier this week, he went down to the pond to see it for himself and said something will be done immediately. “We have had a contractor getting on the trash, and I’m surprised that isn’t complete,” Montgomery said. City Engineer Jason Vogan said East Bay Construction and Terracare maintain the pond. East Bay Construction maintains the landscaping surrounding the pond, but Vogan suspects that the East Bay Construction crew that cleans up the pond weekly worked under the assumption that Terracare, hired this month to conduct pond weed removal, was resee Pond page 22A
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October 21, 2011
Mavens of marketing
An online marketing summit will prevent you from opening a business but not telling anyone about it. Page 5B
Getting a jump on jobs Need to add pizzazz to your resumé or cope with rejection? Check out strategies that help you join the workforce. Page 1B
Knockin’ down the pin
Firefighters of the Year honored by Rick Lemyre Staff Writer
Fire engines rolling down First Street with sirens blaring and lights flashing are nothing new for downtown Brentwood, but they’re usually headed out, not in. Last weekend, however, it went the other way, as Engine 54 arrived accompanied by a caravan of flag-flying motorcycles. The occasion was the annual Firefighter of the Year ceremonies presented by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10789 at Veterans Hall, right next to Station 54. Aboard, wearing a dress uniform instead of his usual turnouts, was Firefighter of the Year Capt. Craig Auzenne, getting a code-three escort to the event. “It feels great,” Auzenne said. “Everything was already way good,
but when we pulled up here, it was overwhelming. It’s quite an honor.” Also honored at the event was Battalion Chief Jake Gonzalez, the VFW’s ECCFPD Manager of the Year. Gonzalez was unable to attend the event, so Fire Chief Hugh Henderson stood in for him. “Jake would definitely be honored” at getting the award, Henderson said. “It’s well-deserved. He’s got 20-plus years serving the community. He knows this business and he knows the community.” Henderson added that both men would be on hand to be honored again at the ECCFPD board meeting on Nov. 7. VFW Commander Steve Todd organized the event for the second straight year after several years with no honors. “I want to make it see Firefighters page 3A
The owner of a sweet swing is now the owner of the league’s individual championship trophy. Page 17A
Photo by Rick Lemyre
Arts ....................................... 8A Business ............................. 17B Calendar ............................ 19B Classifieds ......................... 13B Cop Logs ............................15A East County Life ................ 1B Entertainment ................... 9B Food .................................... 10B Health & Beauty ................ 6B Milestones .......................... 8B Opinion ..............................14A Sports .................................17A
Firefighter of the Year Capt. Craig Auzenne along with wife Sharon and son Jack, 7, stand by ECCFPD Engine 54 during a dinner in Auzenne’s honor last weekend. Battalion Chief Jake Gonzalez was also honored, but unable to attend.
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