YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ward Winning News al A pa
Vol. 9, No. 36
Including Surrounding Communities
www.thepress.net
Oakley woman got ‘advice’ from kidnapper by Rick Lemyre Staff Writer
Prior to being arrested on charges of kidnapping Jaycee Dugard and keeping her captive for 18 years, suspect Phillip Garrido offered a local child-safety advocate some advice on how to keep children safe from kidnappers. Oakley’s Janice Gomes has been teaching local kids about avoiding “stranger danger” for more than two decades through her National Community Empowerment Program. For the last 15 years, she has been a printing customer of Garrido, whose delivery of one particular job about five years ago is now a chilling memory. “He did some flyers for us, a fact list on how to keep kids safe from kidnappers,” Gomes said
Tuesday. “He said, ‘You know, you’re missing something here. One thing parents do wrong is they let their kids walk to the bus stop alone. They shouldn’t.’” Garrido allegedly snatched Dugard from a South Lake Tahoe street in 1991 while she was waiting for the school bus. Getting ideas from people she encounters isn’t unusual, Gomes said, adding that Garrido’s suggestion for the tip sheet was “a good idea. I didn’t know he was talking from first-hand experience.” Gomes said she had visited Garrido’s house on business several times over the years, but she “never saw anyone” other than Garrido: “Nothing was ever out of place inside the home.” The furniture was old fashioned, she said, consistent with the fact that it was actually
‘Feels like forever’ Life is still hard for double lung transplant recipient Ally Jenkins – but the community has also made her life sweet.
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A Sheriff’s deputy locks a gate surrounding the East County home of Phillip Garrido, the alleged kidnapper of Jaycee Dugard, who once offered a local child-safety advocate advice on keeping kids safe from people like him. Garrido’s mother’s house. Still, said Gomes, some things were notably absent: “I did noticed that there were no family pictures, no TV. Everything looked like a set.” Gomes also witnessed strange behavior similar to what
by Samie Hartley Staff Writer
Photo by Samie Hartley
Antioch magician Gerald Joseph, revealing Stephanna “Columbia” Barrett’s card during one of his tricks, entertains a crowd of more than 70 during the Oakley Library’s celebration of 10 years at Freedom High School. Bryan Montgomery. However, it’s shows like Joseph’s that have made the Oakley Library such a popular place for families to gather. Libraries are more than shelters for books; they are houses of knowledge where people can gather for book discus-
September 4, 2009
THIS WEEK
sions or sit in on a scrapbooking workshop. Most of all, libraries are safe havens for community youth, and according to Rogers, the Oakley Library is no exception. Freedom High School Principal Erik Faulkner told the crowd about how much the library has
A whoosh on the water
others have reported since the case broke last week. Sometimes in the middle of a conversation, she said, Garrido would “burst into song.” Once, a couple of years ago, he also boasted of see Advice page 22A
Celebrating a decade of Dewey Decimals On any other day, eating in the library would be considered as serious an offense as speaking above a whisper, but when the Oakley Library celebrated its 10th year at its Freedom High School location, cake-smeared smiles on children’s faces were a welcome addition to the festivities. More than 100 people passed through the library last Saturday to take part in the celebration, although as Oakley Union Elementary School District Superintendent Rick Rogers pointed out, most of the crowd came to see the magic show performed by Antioch-based magician Gerald Joseph, who wowed the crowd with card tricks and mind reading. “It’s not a huge surprise that public officials don’t draw the same crowd as a magician,” Rogers said during the parade of speeches from a collection of Oakley’s top officials, which included Vice Mayor Pat Anderson and City Manager
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meant to his students and how the library has held a special place in his own family’s heart as well, noting that his kids participate in the summer reading program and come in to participate in programs and events on a regular basis. Over the years, the Oakley Library has hosted a variety of programs and activities for people of all ages. From story times with Clifford the Big Red Dog to dance classes, the library has been a place for children young and old to explore their imaginations and have fun while learning at the same time. The East Bay Regional Park District hosts programs at the Oakley Library, and Docent Coordinator Mike Moran said it has been a pleasure coming to the library over the years and watching the community grow along with the library. “Kids that were here that first year have gone on to graduate from college and come back to share how they remember these programs and see Decade page 22A
A local water ski racer wouldn’t let a little thing like a broken leg get in the way of a world championship.
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Creek to get spiffed
Hundreds of volunteers will descend on Marsh Creek as part of a nationwide event.
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INSIDE Calendar ..........................23B Classifieds ........................15B Cop Logs ..........................18A Entertainment ................10B Food .................................12B Health & Beauty ............... 6B Milestones ......................... 9B Opinion ...........................17A Sports ................................. 1B Talk About Town ..............5A WebExtras! ....................... 1B
FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A