Oakley Press_5.29.09

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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ward Winning News al A pa

Vol. 9, No. 22

Including Surrounding Communities

www.thepress.net

Oakley fire staffing increased by Dave Roberts Staff Writer

Oakley’s fire station, the busiest in far East County, is now getting some much-needed staffing help, and the firefighters might be moving to a new station in the city. Those were two pieces of good news in a presentation at Tuesday’s City Council meeting by Hugh Henderson, acting chief of the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD). The firefighters working out of Oakley’s fire station responded to 1,520 calls in 2008, edging out Brentwood’s two fire stations, which received 1,492 and 1,277 calls, respectively. Despite having the busiest station, Oakley also has been the most undermanned area because it has only one station, while Brentwood and Discovery Bay each have two. As a result, with two people working per shift at a station, each Oakley firefighter must protect more than 16,000 people and cover more than six square miles in the city. That’s twice as much coverage area and a third more people than each Brentwood

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May 29, 2009

THIS WEEK

Beat the heat on the cheap

Want to have a blast this summer without breaking the bank? Check out our story on frugal fun.

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Photo by Dave Roberts

Oakley Mayor Carol Rios reads a proclamation at Tuesday’s council meeting honoring Dr. Carol Boyd, Oakley Union Elementary School District assistant superintendent for education services, upon her retirement after more than 37 years in education, 29 of which were with OUESD. firefighter is responsible for – and three times as much area and four times as many people as in Discovery Bay. Beginning in April, however, a third firefighter has been added to each shift in Oakley. Brentwood has also benefited with an additional firefighter per shift being shared between that city’s two stations. This will bring the

number of calls per firefighter in Oakley, 760, the highest in far East County, down to 507 calls/ firefighter, less than the 554 calls/ firefighter in Brentwood. Henderson has been able to increase staffing at the same time his district is being hit with the same budget crunch facing all other governmental entities. Revenues from property taxes, which

were around $12 million a year ago, are projected to decrease to a little more than $10 million in the coming year. At the same time, spending has increased from about $11 million a year ago to more than $12 million in the coming year and $13 million the year after

School stalwarts

The school district celebrated the contributions of teachers, principals and staff that make our kids’ education happen.

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Can’t cramp his style

see Fire page 13A

Far East County memorializes the fallen by Stacey Chance

Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10789 Ladies Auxiliary place a wreath on the grave of Sgt. Charles R. McCurtain, who died in Vietnam, during Memorial Day ceremonies on Monday. For more pictures, see Page 21A.

Correspondent The morning sun shone brightly at Union Cemetery as Brentwood’s Memorial Day ceremony, led by Veterans of Foreign Wars & Ladies Auxiliary of Sgt. Charles R. McCurtain VFW Post 10789, paid tribute to the men and women who have died serving in our nation’s armed forces. Formerly known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day was established to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War, and expanded after World War I to include American casualties of any war or military action. Speakers at the Brentwood event included Post Commander Nick Papadakos, Master of Ceremonies David Cooper, Reverend Leslie Harrold, Sgt. Vincent Sylva, Voice of

Photo by Stacey Chance/ DiscoveryBayStudios.com

Democracy essay scholarship winner La Tia Winfrey from Freedom High School, and Brentwood mayor Bob Taylor. Also on hand were Boy Scout Troop 90/93, the Liberty High School Band, Select Men’s JAG, Women’s DIVA, and Pink Ladies. The ceremony included the pledge of allegiance, presentation of roses to those who

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have lost a veteran family member, placing of the wreath, rifle salute, and closing benediction. The observance ended with the song “Wind Beneath My Wings” augmented by the flyover of a U.S. Air Force Lockheed C-5 Galaxy out of Travis Air Force Base. For more on the day’s activities, turn to page 21A.

In Freedom’s playoff opener, a Falcon pitcher who fought off pain became a huge pain to opposing batters.

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INSIDE Calendar ..........................19B Classifieds ........................12B Entertainment .................. 8B Food .................................10B Health & Beauty ............... 6B Opinion ...........................14A Recreation .......................10A Sports ................................. 1B WebExtras! ....................... 1B

New Coupons online today at thepress.net. Look for your coupon book in next week’s paper!

FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A


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