Spreading Hope, Saving Lives Page 7
Pouring Wine The Virtual Way Page 13
YOUR HOMETOWN NEWS | SERVING EAST COUNTY
Vol. 22, No. 23
June 5, 2020
Protests peaceful across East County by Aly Brown Staff Writer
BRENTWOOD As protests swept the nation — and world — this week in response to George Floyd’s death, East County had its share of peaceful protests and civil discourse. Gathering with signs and chanting “No justice, no peace — prosecute the police,” protesters lined Main Street in Oakley on Sunday, May 31. “I think what happened to George Floyd was wrong, and it’s happened too much and to too many African Americans,” said one Oakley protester, Yesenia Edwards. “My husband is African American, my children are biracial, and so it affects us all.”
Edwards went on to say she believed all of the officers who were on scene when George Floyd was killed should be prosecuted alongside Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin, who pressed his knee to Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes, resulting in his death. CNN later reported Wednesday, June 3, that all four officers involved now face charges. “The police need to police each other,” she said. “I have three sons. My oldest is 15, and I have a 10-year-old and a 7-yearold, so yeah, I worry about them; we’ve told them what to do, comply and be respectful but (attacks against African American men) still happen.”
Brentwood Police Chief Tom Hansen takes a knee with protestors on Sunday, May 31. The demonstration was one of many nationwide gatherings protesting police brutality following the death of George Floyd on May 25.
see Protests page 26
Photo by Tony Kukulich
Police chief set to retire State cautions OAKLEY After nearly 30 years in law enforcement, Oakley Police Chief Eric Christensen has announced he is retiring from the Oakley position he has held since 2018. His last day will be June 30. According to the City of Oakley, Christensen’s replacement will be announced in August. Christensen’s enthusiasm, energy, passion for public service and community approach to law enforcement will be greatly missed. Christensen said he dreamed of being a police officer since he was in fifth grade when his teacher, Sam Swafford, was a reserve officer with the Fremont Police. Christensen said Swafford became his idol, and he knew he wanted a future in law enforcement. After graduating from high school, Christensen joined the Army and became a military police officer. He later earned a degree in Criminal Justice and was Adopt-A-Pet............................6 Classifieds.............................24
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residents about early algae season by Dawnmarie Fehr Correspondent
first hired as a police officer with the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office in 1991. Before coming to Oakley Police Department (OPD),
Christensen worked as part of the Sheriff’s Office when police services were contracted. Chrissee Chief page 26
DISCOVERY BAY Prompted by a complaint from a Discovery Bay resident, the State Water Board issued a press release on May 22 warning residents about harmful algal blooms (HAB). The press release comes early in the season, when HAB are not normally seen. The algal blooms, a build-up of blue-green algae toxin called cyanobacteria, float on top of the water or in the water and look like green, white or brown scum. They usually appear later in the summer. Joe Doser, supervising environmental health specialist for
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Oakley Police Chief Eric Christensen will retire from the force June 30. His replacement will be announced in August.
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Contra Costa County, said residents should be cautious. “Under the circumstances, Environmental Health recommends people and pets avoid contact with slow-moving or stagnant water during warm weather, particularly if there are visible algal blooms,” he said. While the algae have always been present in the Delta waters, the drought earlier in the decade increased it dramatically by decreasing water flow. The algae thrive in shallow, warm, still water and feed on the nitrates found in fertilizers that wash into the Delta. see Algae page 26
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Countywide Curfew
Ag Board Openings
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Contra Costa has issued a countywide curfew in the wake of civil unrest.
Department of Food and Agriculture has openings on volunteer board.