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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 10, No. 53
ward Winning News al A pa
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December 31, 2010
Oakley takes on Rachel’s Challenge by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer
Roger Macdonald admits he probably sends out more automated voice messages to his middle school parents than they want or deserve. But the O’Hara Park principal says that the one he has planned for next week is a message they will definitely want to hear. “This is going to be a good one, a positive message, something I hope parents will listen to,” said Macdonald. “It will be about the Rachel’s Challenge event, and we want all of our families to know about it and attend if they can.” Rachel’s Challenge is a program based on the final school essay of Rachel Scott, the first person killed at Columbine in 1999. In that essay, the Colorado teen expressed the notion that one person’s act of kindness can make a difference. Since then, her message of kindness and compassion has reached millions of students and their families nationwide and abroad.
Prepared and presented by certified Rachel’s Challenge staff, the daytime portion of the program is highlighted by film of other Challenge events as well as interactive sessions that show how to maintain the positive momentum created by the school assembly. The evening portion is much the same, but invites parents and local leaders to participate in the spirit of the program and offers tips for continuing the feel-good message at home and in the community. The Rachel’s Challenge event – a joint venture of O’Hara Park and Delta Vista middle schools – is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 6 on the O’Hara Park campus, 1100 O’Hara Ave. in Oakley. The all-day program begins with student assemblies during school hours, followed by a 7 p.m. event for parents that includes members of the Oakley City Council – who earlier pledged city dollars toward the program – the Oakley Police Department and losee Challenge page 18A
Goodbye, 2010 Press file photo
Boy Scouts from Oakley Troop 152 recycle Christmas trees during last year’s fund raiser. They’re offering the same service this year, while Troop 514 will be taking care of Discovery Bay.
Don’t toss the tree Boy Scouts in Oakley and Discovery Bay are once again helping locals undecorate for the holidays. In Oakley, Scout Troop 152 will happily haul away your tree for a suggested donation of $8. Pickups are scheduled for Jan. 1, 2, 8, 9, 14, 15 and 16 in Oakley. Just put your tree on the curb in front of your house by 9 a.m., place your donation envelope
under your doormat (cash donation or a check made out to the Boy Scouts of America) and say a painless goodbye to the remnants of the season. For more information, call 925-625-5391. In Discovery Bay, it’s Troop 514 that will be doing the work. Sponsored by the Town of Discovery Bay, Troop 514’s effort is see Tree page 18A
Timeless hours editing preverbal dominoes by Ger Erickson Copy Editor
Not so fast, A.D. 2010. Before you take your final bow and stride off stage, your presence is required at the podium. One more item remains on the awards ceremony agenda – something to do with Dubious Distinction. I’ve seen sparkling copy grace my desk this year, from fabulous phraseology to hard-hitting headlines. But as a word junkie I crave the bloopers. Those grammatical gaffes, syntactic slapstick and logical lapses that stumble across my computer screen provide welcome decompression from the stress of editorial deadlines. Hey, I’ve even caught one or two before they made their way into print. So brace yourself for the 2010 Blooper Reel Awards for the weirdest wordcraft never to have reared its ugly head in the pages of the Press: MOST PICTURESQUE TYPO Award Second Runner-up: This year’s event con-
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cludes with the crowing of the new queens. First Runner-up: The four-golfer scramble format includes Closets to the Hole. And the award goes to: Since opening its doors in 2009, the restaurant has been wowing thongs of customers. UNCLEAR ON THE CONCEPT Award First Runner-up: Thank you for your timeless hours of help. And the award goes to: Assisting him were scores of residents recruited as volunteers. GOD BLOWS A GASKET Award The Delta was further threatened by the damning of the rivers. WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THIS MEANS Award First Runner-up: Citizens and non-citizens residing in cities other than Antioch … And the award goes to: The driver lost control of his vehicle and collided with the roadway. WE DON’T WANT TO KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS Award
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The nursery donated a tree and soil for 10 families, which were planted on Saturday, March 27. GIVE US A MINUTE TO WORK THIS OUT Award Second Runner-up: If you thought this last budget cycle was bad, this next one has no promises of being any better, if not worse. First Runner-up: Don’t miss out on your discount by registering early. And the award goes to: The treatment could be significant in the battle against weight loss. YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN Award Second Runner-up: Unique, one-of-a-kind pieces … First Runner-up: We have maintained a safe environment and plan to do so going forward in the future. And the award goes to: Times have changed in the last five years.
Counting on us go to news/WebExtras!
The first step in helping the homeless is getting a grip on their numbers.
Like most of you, we at The Press enjoy easing our way out of the old year before rushing pell-mell into the new. So we invite you to join us in taking a brief glance back at what the year 2010 has wrought. The stories we’ve chosen for this retrospective aren’t necessarily the most important, just the most interesting or unusual – stories we’re proud of. We’re privileged to be a part of your life, and hope to continue that relationship for many more years. We also hope 2011 will bring you the peace, happiness and prosperity that might have eluded you or your loved ones during the travails of 2010. Whatever the new year brings, we’ll go through it together. Thanks for sharing with it us, and enjoy our final issue’s meander down memory lane.
Plus: Calendar ............................ 15B Classifieds ......................... 10B Entertainment ................... 8B Milestones .......................... 6B Outdoors ...........................15A Sports ................................... 1B
see Timeless page 18A
FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A
Towing the Tipsy
Shadow puppets
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The AAA is offering drinking drivers free New Year’s Eve tows and rides home.
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There’s always room on our website for our readers’ favorite viral videos.