YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ward Winning News al A pa
Vol. 9, No. 52
Including Surrounding Communities
www.thepress.net
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December 25, 2009
From the Press family to yours to all our Press Readers
THIS WEEK
Grief grips local schools
It was a grim week for the Oakley education community, as three teachers passed away in unrelated circumstances.
Pages 8-9A Photo by Jennifer Fink
s another year draws to a close, it’s time once again for our annual message of thanks and good wishes to the communities that we at the Press newspaper group have been proud and privileged to serve for 10 years now. A lot has changed for a lot of people and companies during 2009, and due to the economy, not all of the change has been pleasant. Nevertheless, we hope your difficulties this year have been offset just a bit by the stories of success, achievement and caring we’ve been able to share in these pages and on our Web site, thepress.net. As we all look forward to a more prosperous 2010, we hope you’ll continue to share your lives with us and your neighbors, and we wish you a world of health and happiness along the way.
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Friends deliver baskets of caring by Samie Hartley Staff Writer
Christmas came early to Oakley as volunteers serving as Santa’s helpers made sure families in need were able to enjoy the holidays. More than 200 “elves” pitched in to support the second annual Friends of Oakley Christmas Basket Program, sorting and boxing donated food
items for 200 Oakley families and wrapping toys for more than 600 children. After a year of planning and a month of collecting donations, the distribution day went off without a hitch. “It was an outstanding effort,” said Friends of Oakley Vice President Jim Frazier. “It was like clockwork. We gave food and toys to 185 families in two and a see Caring page 6A
Sign in!
A young volunteer, one of hundreds who showed up to help with the Friends of Oakley Christmas Basket Program, quickly carries out her assigned task at O’Hara Park Middle School Sunday. Photo by Samie Hartley
Pristine preseason
When league play tips off in January, the Falcons will be primed to hit the court running.
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INSIDE Calendar ..........................19B Classifieds ........................12B Cop Logs ..........................15A Entertainment .................. 8B Health & Beauty ............... 6B Milestones ......................... 5B Opinion ...........................14A Sports ................................. 1B WebExtras! ....................... 1B
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