Oakley Press_8.21.09

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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ward Winning News al A pa

Vol. 9, No. 34

Including Surrounding Communities

www.thepress.net

Boaters protest Delta canal plan by Dave Roberts

Amelia Cook of Walnut Grove waves as the Million Boat Float flotilla heads upriver toward Sacramento Sunday. Participants were protesting plans for the Delta that they believe lacks input from locals.

Staff Writer The Million Boat Float through the Delta to Sacramento on Sunday to protest plans to construct a peripheral canal fell short by 999,977 boats, but the protestors felt they made a statement in defense of the Delta nevertheless. “Some people have made a joke of the Million Boat Float,” said Oakley City Councilman Bruce Connelley in a speech during a rally on the steps of the state Capitol Monday. “Obviously it wasn’t a million. But what we are doing is representing the million people who are being affected by the activities in this Capitol. My wife said maybe we should have called it the Delta Boat Float. We are here and got attention and brought a lot of light to the subject. We only had a few weeks to plan this thing.” Connelley criticized former state Assemblyman Phil Isenberg, who chaired the Delta Blue Ribbon Task Force, for being uninterested in the concerns that Delta users expressed at a meeting. “He sat there and said nothing,” said Connelley. “It’s a sham, it’s been a sham

Photo by Richard Wisdom

and it continues to be a sham. “I invited the governor to be here today. I got a response: ‘Sorry, he’s busy.’ I said I understand you may have some family issues with his mother-in-law, but I believe those issues are taken care of. I e-mailed back to his people and asked why (he won’t attend the

rally) if it’s not a family issue. Their response: ‘Sorry, he’s busy.’ He needs to answer to the people of the Delta, and he needs to do it soon.” Lauritzen Yacht Harbor owner Chris see Delta page 18A

Oakley teen receives lung transplant Oakley teen Ally Jenkins continues to recover following lung transplant surgery on Tuesday. Vickee Jenkins, the 14-yearold Freedom High student and cheerleader’s mother, reported via blog on Wednesday morning that Ally had a peaceful night after spending most of Tuesday in the operating room. Ally is expected to begin breathing exercises this week to work her new lungs. As soon as she’s ready, doctors hope to have her walking – something Ally hasn’t done in nearly month after being admitted to UCSF Medical Center on July 23. Ally was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension. The disease, which impacts blood flow from the heart to the lungs, has no cure and the only way for Ally to get well was to receive new lungs from a donor. Due to the severity of Ally’s condition,

ALLY JENKINS she was moved to the top of the transplant list, and when lungs became available on Monday, the organs were rushed to UCSF. Details about the donor have not been released, but Vickee said in a journal entry that the lungs came from a 12-year-old girl. In his post-surgery posting, Jeff Jen-

kins thanked the donor’s family. “Please join us in lifting the family of the donor up to God and ask our Lord to comfort them through this unbelievably difficult time,” he wrote. “I truly hope they will know that this incredibly selfless act has given an Angel new wings! Although we may never be able to express our humbled gratitude to this amazing family, I truly hope that they may receive comfort in the knowledge that they have given a gift that is truly a miracle!” While the successful transplant surgery was the miracle the family has been waiting for, Ally’s biggest fight is still ahead of her as doctors monitor how her body and immune system react to the new organs. The risk of organ rejection remains a concern. In the meantime, the community continues to do what it can to help the family. Last week,

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a fundraiser at Black Bear Diner raised more than $12,000 to go toward Ally’s medical expenses, and more fundraisers are on the way. This Sunday, a bake sale fundraiser will be held at 14 Susie Court in Oakley. The Friends of Ally bake sale will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and all proceeds will go to Ally’s trust fund, which has been established through Bank of the West. For information about how to support with the bake sale by donating a food item, call Laura Osborn at 925679-8051. The following day, Monday, Aug. 24, a fundraiser will be held at Lumpy’s Diner in Antioch, where all proceeds from food sales will go toward Ally’s trust fund. Lumpy’s, located at 5891 Lone Tree Way, is open from 6 see Teen page 18A

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August 21, 2009

THIS WEEK

Pulverized by the pros

It looked like chaos, but the demolition of a local building was an expression of cold, hard science.

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Area bids icon farewell The community is mourning the passing of and praising the contributions Roy Gursky.

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Tough act to follow

A bunch of new starters get to fill big shoes when the high-flying Falcons kick off the 2009 football season.

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INSIDE Business .............................6A Calendar ..........................23B Classifieds ........................15B Cop Logs ..........................16A Entertainment ................10B Food .................................12B Health & Beauty ............... 8B Milestones ......................... 7B Opinion ...........................15A Outdoors ...........................5A Sports ................................. 1B Talk About Town ..............5A WebExtras! ....................... 1B

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