Coroner’s Inquest rules Yolanda Ramirez death an accident
By Jake Menez Staff Writer
A Coroner’s Inquest jury ruled on July 15 that the death of Brentwood resident Yolanda Ramirez last year was an accident. Ramirez died in a local hospital on Oct. 3 after suffering a medical emergency while in police custody on Sept. 26.
A Coroner’s Inquest is a public hearing overseen by the Contra Costa County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office. Inquests are open to the public, are conducted by a private attorney hired by the Coroner’s Division and are held in front of a jury of citizens randomly select-
ed from the Contra Costa County Superior Court jury pool, according to the county’s Law Enforcement-Involved Fatal Incidents
Yolanda Ramirez’s family and supporters gathered on the courthouse steps following the verdict on July 15, vowing to continue to fight for police accountability.
Protocol. The jury is to decide whether the death was by natural causes, suicide, accident, or at the hands of another person other
What to know about cyclosporiasis outbreak
Since May 1, there have been eight confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis in Contra Costa County.
“We had 10 cases in 2025,” said Will Harper, a spokesman for Contra Costa Health. “We are monitoring the situation closely.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is notifying clinicians, public health practitioners, and laboratorians of cases of domestically acquired cyclosporiasis in multiple U.S. states, according to its website. Since May 1, the CDC has received reports of 1,645 confirmed domestic cases of cyclosporiasis and is aware of more than 5,100 cases that require further analysis to confirm the illness as domestically acquired cyclosporiasis.
This is substantially higher than the 249 cases reported na-
tionally by this same time last year. Of the 1,645 case-patients with available information, 141 (9%) were hospitalized, and none have died. CDC, the U S Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and state and local health departments are working together to investigate multistate outbreaks of Cyclospora infections and to
identify the sources of illness.
Because cyclosporiasis is often underdiagnosed and underreported, the true number of illnesses is likely higher than what has been reported to CDC.
Here is what you need to know about cyclosporiasis ac-
see Cyclo page 22
than by accident.
The verdict, which was not unanimous among the 15-person coroner’s jury, was reached following testimony from the two arresting officers in the Sept. 26 incident as well as testimony from Dr. James Caruso, the forensic pathologist hired by Contra Costa County to conduct an autopsy of Ramirez, the findings of which were released in February. In his report, Caruso had determined Ramirez to have died of “natural causes.” During the coroner’s inquest, the jury did not hear from Dr. Matthias Okoye, the Nebraska-based pathologist who conducted an independent autopsy at the request of Ramirez’s family in January. Okoye had determined the cause of death to be homicide
Oakley approves public art program
Housing design also discussed
By Connor Robles Correspondent
The Oakley City Council, minus an absent Councilmember George Fuller, voted 4-0 to allow City Manager Joshua McMurray to make a deal with Local Edition Creative, an art consultant firm, that would see new paintings, sculptures, and murals come to Oakley, especially downtown.
They also held a work session in which they gave advice to city staff on revising the city’s residential design standards to be more objective rather than subjective. Councilmember Anissa Williams voiced concern that a more objective set of design standards would cause devel-
opers to build minimalist, “bland” buildings to save money at the expense of house buyers.
Williams and Councilmember Shannon Shaw supported using more female trees in landscaping to prevent pollen allergies caused by male trees, as well as preserving design standards that would give neighborhoods their own distinct identities that residents could be proud of.
Public art agreement
A pilot program to promote public art in Oakley was first considered in summer of 2025, requested by Williams and Shaw at a prior meeting. At the time, however, the council concluded that there were simply too many other programs that needed city funding. So requested to bring the item back for discussion in a year. During that
Photo by Adobe Stock
Photo by Jake Menez
Neighborhood sign-ups begin for annual National Night Out
Applications due soon for Aug. 4 event
Local cities are preparing for National Night Out, an annual event where residents host block parties in an effort to enhance the relationship between residents and law enforcement on Aug. 4. Residents looking to be a part of the event are encouraged to sign up before their city’s deadline.
Brentwood
“During National Night Out, residents come together to organize neighborhood gatherings, block parties, and other social events. These gatherings provide an opportunity for neighbors to meet one another, strengthen bonds, and create a sense of unity within the community,” the city’s website says. “The Brentwood Police Department participates by attending these events, engaging with residents, and fostering positive relationships with the community we serve.”
Those who would like to host a gathering and would like members of the
During National Night Out, residents come together to organize neighborhood gatherings, block parties, and other social events to strengthen relationships with local police.
Brentwood Police Department to stop by are advised to contact Officer Bollinger via email at cbollinger@brentwoodca. gov or call 925-809-7729.
An interest form can also be filled out online at https://bit ly/44QYTK5
Antioch
“National Night Out is a great opportunity for neighbors to come togeth-
er, build relationships, and strengthen our community while partnering with the Antioch Police Department,” according to the city’s social media post encouraging participation. “Neighborhoods planning to host a BBQ with 15 or more attendees qualify for a $100 grocery store gift card to help support their event. Sponsorships are available on a
first-come, first-served basis.”
The application deadline for those looking to host a barbecue is July 28, with the gift cards available the following day. To apply for a sponsorship, email dfachner@antiochca gov
Oakley
The city explained the reasons that neighborhoods should consider hosting a National Night Out gathering. They include:
• A reason to have a social gathering with your neighbors
• A chance to get to know each other and your local police officers
• Time to build important relationships that keep your neighborhood safe
Each neighborhood plans its own event. Examples include:
• Block parties
• Festivals
• Parades
• Cookouts
• Youth activities
• Public information events
Registration for residents must be completed by July 27. The interest form can be filled out online at https :// bit ly /4 btMpvn
Press file photo
Brentwood Elementary’s Odyssey of the Mind team reflects on World Finals
By Sean Tongson Correspondent
Brentwood Elementary’s Odyssey of the Mind team recently competed for the first time at the World Finals at Iowa State University. Placing 13th out of 59 teams in their problem and division, the trip to the World Finals added to their 2026 resume of winning at the regional tournament in February along with second place at the state tournament in March.
The trip to the World Finals and resulting experience for the fifth graders Gavin Hoagland, Nora Driver, Monroe Marchal, Ava Higgins, Emilee Davis, and fourth grader Zyla Barker, was described by head coach Jodie Hoagland as “amazing” and placing 13th as a “huge accomplishment.” According to Hoagland, while they hoped to place, their goal was to do their best and “give the performance of a lifetime,” and they were happy with the results achieved attending the World Finals for the first time, while relishing the overall experience.
“For a group of fourth- and fifth-graders, I’d say this was an experience of a lifetime,” Hoagland said. “If we are referring to a number scale, our team would rate their experience at World Finals as a 10 out of 10. I am very proud of all their efforts and will miss our practice time together.”
According to Hoagland, the competition was tough, but all six team members gave it their all and put on their best performance, with the best
teams representing over 20 countries selected to participate at World Finals.
While Hoagland acknowledged that placing 13th may not have earned them a trophy or medal, the friendships and memories they made will be something they hold on to forever, with a particular highlight of their journey having the opportunity to hang
Protecting Public Healt h
out and getting to know their buddy team; a group of fifth graders from Korea. Hoagland described this as being special for them, since both teams were attending World Finals for the first time. Both teams exchanged gifts, showed support and cheered each
Odyssey page 5
Left to right: Ava Higgins, Gavin Hoagland (front), Nora Driver, Monroe Marchal, Emilee Davis, Zyla Barker.
Submitted photo
Brentwood Elementary School Odyssey of the Mind students pose with their buddy team from Korea.
Submitted photo
other on during the Long Term and Spontaneous competitions, and spent free time together.
“They presented their solution to the same problem that advanced them to World Finals at State; Problem 3 Classics: The Epic Quest. However, they made some improvements to their performance including plot twists, new props, and costume enhancements,” Hoagland said. “The team made changes that elevated their performance and it was exciting to watch. Our time together at World Finals was definitely an epic quest that we will never forget.”
Hoagland added that the team also got a taste of what college life will be like, with the team staying in dorms and dining at the college dining room. While there were some tears and disappointment, Hoagland said that is an invaluable life lesson as it teaches young students resiliency, as there will always be wins and losses, but how they handled those wins and losses is what is important.
“I hope the team learned valuable lessons from this experience,” Hoagland said. “l think the most important takeaway for them was to feel proud of themselves, even if the results of the competition weren’t what they hoped for. Having the support of our Korea buddy team was like icing on the cake. We are so grateful to have met them and the friendships that we formed.”
Looking ahead, Hoagland said that if the team decides to participate in Odyssey of the Mind next year, she says their experience will play a part in them having an advantage and a better understanding of the commitment it takes to be a successful Odyssey of the Mind team. But they may still face challenges due to the problems being different every year.
“Our team dynamics were strong and they worked well together, which will be helpful next season,” Hoagland said. “I hope each one of them will continue their Odyssey of the Mind journey as they all showed they have what it takes to be a winning team.”
MIKE’S ESTATE PLANNING MINUTE
By Michael J. Amthor, Esq.
PROTECTING A LOVED ONE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS STARTS WITH PROPER PLANNING
Planning for a loved one with special needs involves more than simply leaving an inheritance—it requires thoughtful legal planning to help protect their future while preserving important government benefits.
Many individuals with disabilities rely on programs such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medi-Cal, both of which have strict income and asset limits. Receiving money directly through an inheritance or financial gift can unintentionally cause them to lose these essential benefits.
One of the most effective planning tools is a Special Needs Trust. Rather than leaving assets directly to the beneficiary, the trust holds and manages those assets on their behalf. A trustee oversees the funds and uses them to pay for supplemental needs such as education, transportation, therapies, recreation, personal care, and other expenses that improve quality of life without affecting eligibility for public benefits.
Families often assume they can simply leave money to another child or relative with the understanding that they will care for their loved one. Unfortunately, this approach offers no legal protection and can be affected by divorce,
lawsuits, creditors, illness, or changing family circumstances. A properly drafted Special Needs Trust provides structure, accountability, and long-term security.
Special needs planning should also include selecting the right trustee and preparing supporting documents that communicate the beneficiary’s daily routines, medical needs, personal preferences, and long-term goals.
Because special needs planning involves complex federal and California laws, working with an experienced estate planning attorney is essential. Proper planning helps ensure your loved one continues receiving the care and financial support they need while protecting the legacy you’ve worked so hard to build.
At Golden Legacy Law Group, we help families create estate plans that protect their loved ones while avoiding unnecessary probate delays and expenses. Whether you need a new revocable living trust or want to update an existing plan, our team can help. Call Golden Legacy Law Group at 925516-4888 to schedule a consultation with an experienced Brentwood estate planning lawyer or visit our website www.goldenlegacylaw.com to learn–more.Advertorial
For print, email your events to calendar@brentwoodpress.com one week prior to publication. For online, post your events for free on The Press Community Calendar www.thepress.net/calendar.
This Week’s Events
Saturday, July 18
Friends of the Brentwood Library Curriculum Sale
The Friends of the Brentwood library is having a pop-up sale from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. for children’s books and educational materials! We have a variety curriculum covering different subjects and grades. Please stop by to see if we have what you need for the upcoming school year! The Second Story Book shop is located on the second floor of the Brentwood Library. For details, visit http://www Fobl org
On the Horizon
Saturday, July 25
Think Big, Act Bigger Backpack Giveaway in Brentwood
All students must be present to collect their school supplies at from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at 757 First St. in Brentwood. Take what you need and leave what you don’t, giving others the opportunities to take what they need. If students have one at home they would like to re-use instead, please bring it to fill. All college students will have to provide a current student ID or a current school schedule upon check-in. One backpack per student. Students must be present to collect backpacks. For details, visit http://tbactbigger.org.
Community Barbecue and Clothing/Food Drive
Rage for Democracy is hosting a free community barbecue at Veterans Park, 3841 Balfour Road in Brentwood from 5-7 p.m., to bring neighbors together for food, connection, and local support. The event will include free hot dogs and chips, kid-friendly activities, music, and a beginner gardening class led by local residents. Guests are welcome to stop by, meet neighbors, learn more about Rage for Democracy’s outreach programs, and help support local families by bringing food bankstyle donations or gently used clothing. For details, visit https :// www eventbrite com / e /1990822772504
Back-to-School Supply
Giveaway in Pittsburg
Mount Diablo Resource Recovery is hosting its seventh Annual Reuse Event with the Pittsburg Police Department to help local families prepare for the school year while promoting the power of reuse. The event is from 9-11 a.m. at 65 Civic Ave. Registered families will receive free backpacks filled with school supplies to help them kick off the school year. To register, go to https :// form jotform com /261536340731149
Saturday, Aug. 1
VFW and ALA Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament
Enjoy a night of cards and celebration with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10789 and the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 202 to support local veterans and active-duty service members with this fundraiser from 5-10 p.m. at the Brentwood Veterans Memorial Building, 757 First Street. Tickets are $80 per person and includes: Tournament play, buffet dinner, one drink ticket. Must be 21 and over to attend. For details, email Travis Martin at events @ vfwpost 10789. org. To register: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/ vfw-and-ala-texas-holdem-tournament
Saturday, August 8-Sunday, August 9
Delta Quilters Guild
2026 Quilt Show
The Delta Quilters Guild 2026 Quilt Show are hosting a quilt show from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (Aug. 8) and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (Aug. 9) at the Brentwood Community Center, 35 Oak St. Tickets are $12, good for both days (those younger than age 8 and over age 80 are admitted free) . For details, visit http :// deltaquilters org
Monday, August 17
Second Annual Catwalk of Courage Fashion Show
This fashion show at the Delta Theater, 641 First St. benefitting Dillon’s Dream and Adventure Therapy. This event celebrates healing, strength, resilience, and the power of community as local cancer warriors and their families take the runway in fashions provided by downtown Brentwood boutiques. Enjoy a reception, food and drinks, and a fashion show, all while supporting two local nonprofits making a difference in the lives of families impacted by cancer in our community.
Tickets are $50 and can be bought at https :// downtownbrentwood . com / event /2 nd - annual - catwalk - of - couragefashion - show /
Saturday, August 29
Community Barbecue and Clothing/Food Drive
Rage for Democracy is hosting a free community barbecue at Veterans Park, 3841 Balfour Road in Brentwood from 5-7 p.m., to bring neighbors together for food, connection, and local support. The event will include free hot dogs and chips, kid-friendly activities, music, and a beginner gardening class led by local residents. Guests are welcome to stop by, meet neighbors, learn more about Rage for Democracy’s community outreach programs, and help support local families by bringing food bank-style donations or gently used clothing. For details, visit https :// www eventbrite com / e /1990822772504
Ongoing Events
St. Anthony’s Church Food Distribution
Oakley Senior Center food distribution has moved out of their previous location. For the foreseeable future, they will be operating out of St. Anthony’s Church at 971 O’Hara Ave. in Oakley on Thursdays from 1-2 p.m. Residents are asked to bring their own bags/containers. For more information, call 925-783-0818.
Hope House Food Distribution
The distributions are on Monday and Wednesdays from 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. at 218 Pine St. in Brentwood.
IHMC Food Distribution
On the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month, the Contra Costa County Food Bank distributes fruits and vegetables from the parking lot at 500 Fairview Ave. from noon-1 p.m. St. Vincent de Paul also distributes food from the church hall every Friday from 9 a.m.-noon.
East County Rotary Club Meetings
Brentwood: The Brentwood Rotary Club meets weekly on Monday at noon at the Club Los Meganos Event Center at 1700 Trilogy Parkway in Brentwood. For more information, visit www.brentwoodrotaryclub.com.
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Oakley: The Oakley Rotary Club meets weekly on Thursday at 7:30 a.m. at Black Bear Diner, 3201 Main St. in Oakley. For more information, visit www.rotaryclubofoakley.com.
Antioch: The Antioch Rotary Club meets weekly on Thursday at noon at Lone Tree Golf Course & Event Center, 4800 Golf Course Road in Antioch. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/antiochrotaryclub.
The Rotary Club of the Delta: The Rotary Club of the Delta meets weekly on Wednesdays at 7 a.m. at Denny’s, 4823 Lone Tree Way in Antioch. For more information, visit www.rotaryclubofthedelta.org.
East County Lions Club Meetings
Brentwood: The Brentwood Lions Club meets the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the Brentwood Community Center, 35 Oak St. in Brentwood. For more information, visit: www.e-clubhouse.org/ sites/brentwoodca/.
Antioch: The Antioch Lions Club meets every second and fourth Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Denny’s on Delta Fair Blvd. Discovery Bay: The Discovery Bay Lions Club meets the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Discovery Bay Yacht Club. For more information, visit: https://discoverybaylions.com/who-we-are/meetings/.
Byron: The Byron Delta Lions Club meets every first Friday of each month at 10 a.m. at St. Anne’s Church for more information https://e-clubhouse.org/sites/byron_delta/. Soroptimists of the Delta Soroptimists is a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. They meet the first Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Brentwood Community Center, 35 Oak St. For more information, call Sonia at 415-717-0294 or visit siofthedelta.com.
Marine Corps League, Delta Diablo Detachment 1155, monthly meeting
The Marine Corps League, Delta Diablo Detachment 1155, hosts its monthly meeting on the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Brentwood Veterans Memorial Building, 757 First St., in Brentwood. The group is open to all active or retired U.S. Marines. Attendees are encouraged to bring a veteran friend, and spouses are always welcome. The meetings feature camaraderie, food, drink, conversation and updates on upcoming events. For more information, call 925-338-1775, email MCL1155@outlook.com or visit https://www mcl1155.org/ East Contra Costa Historical Museum
Visit the East Contra Costa Historical Museum where you can learn local history. Step back in time and discover the stories that shaped the local community. Kids can sit on the fire engine, sound the train whistle, or ring the school bell. Open Saturdays and third Sunday each month through October from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at 3890 Sellers Ave., Brentwood Free admission. For details, call (925) 634-8651 or visit https://eastcontracostahistory.org/.
Widow and Widower Grief Support Group
A widow and widower grief support group from Immaculate Heart of Mary Church meets every Thursday from 5 to 6:15 p.m. at the church library at 500 Fairview Ave. in Brentwood. The group focuses on finding a new normal as attendees walk the grief trail with others experiencing the same loss. A monthly pot luck and happy hour are also available. For more information, contact Mary Ann Smith at 925-240-1706 or Connie Cononen at 925-392-9037.
Coffee with Carolyn Kaleidoscope Cancer Connection’s Coffee with Carolyn is a cancer support group for women, hosted by Carolyn George and financially supported by The Kaleidoscope Cancer Connection of Byron. The group meets on the fourth Tuesday of every month from noon to 1 p.m. The location is at the Kaleidoscope Sacred Garden behind the Byron United Methodist Church (14671 Byron Highway in Byron). For more information, contact Carolyn George at 925-577-3325.
4-H
Clubs
Oakley: The Oakley 4-H Club has monthly meetings the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. The club is open to boys and girls ages 5-19. For location information, email Amanda at oakley@contracosta.org.
Knightsen: Knightsen 4H meets on the first Wednesday of each month from 5:30-7 p.m. at Knightsen Elementary School at 1923 Delta Road. Open to boys and girls ages 5-19 as well. For details, contact Rosa Sherwood or Maria Jehn at knightsen4h@gmail.com.
Brentwood: The club has monthly meetings the second Tuesday of each month with dinner at 6:30, and meeting at 7 p.m. The club is open to boys and girls ages 5-19. They meet at the Knightsen Farm Bureau Hall at 3020 2nd St. in Knightsen. For further details, email Angela at brentwood@contracosta4h.org.
Caring Haven Free Dementia Respite Program – Now Enrolling Beginning Aug. 11, Caring Haven is offering a free, grant-funded respite care program for individuals living with dementia. The program provides a safe, engaging space for participants while giving family caregivers a much-needed break.
Current locations and times: Antioch: Mondays, 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at The Lemon Tree, 514 W. 2nd Street
Concord: Tuesdays, noon-4 p.m. at Rainbow Community Center (LGBTQIA+ affirming), 2380 Salvio Street, Suite 301
Antioch: Saturdays, noon-4 p.m. at Bedford Center, 1811 C Street
Each session includes dementia-friendly activities, individually packaged meals, and trained staff on site. Additional limited 1:1 in-home respite is also available, and their nonprofit arm, Caregiver OneCall, offers 24/7 caregiver support. More sites to be added soon. Call 925-331-0590 to enroll or learn more. Website: www.caringhavenhomecare.com
Friday Night Al-Anon Meeting
Al-Anon meetings, which offer a supportive place for friends and families of alcoholics, are held every Friday from 8 to 9:15 p.m. at the Brentwood United Methodist Church at 809 Second St. in Brentwood. There is no need to register. For details, call Trisha at 510-910-1389.
Attention commercial venues! The Press is excited to announce we are now allowing commercial venues, bars and for-profit events to list your events in The Press’s weekly printed community calendar. For only $25 per week, it will include 55-60 words or a 380-390 character count with bigger font and will be hotlinked to your website on the e-Press. To place your event, let us know by Friday at noon for the following Fridays publication at ads@brentwoodpress.com or call 925-634-1441.
Getting their money’s worth from ‘Dollar’
In Memoriam: Abdullah Ibrahim…aka. Dollar Brand - 19342026
POTENTIALLY COSTLY ESTATE PLANNING MYTHS
By Todd W. Moeller, Moeller Estate Law
Explorations in Jazz
Welcome back. It is with my deepest regrets to report that on June 15, South African jazz pianist Abdullah Ibrahim died. He paved the way for South African jazz musicians such as Hugh Masakela, and Mariam Makeba to get their music exposed to the U. S. market.
Adolph Johannes Brand was born in 1934 in Cape Town, South Africa. He was called the “South African Mozart” by Nelson Mandela.
Ibrahim was an early jazz acolyte, studying the music by listening to 78 records he would buy from soldiers stationed in South Africa, who also gave him the nickname “Dollar.” He also played with various big bands around Soweto.
As his interest in jazz increased, he eventually fell in love with bebop, and started a small combo the Dollar Brand Trio, and led The Jazz Epistles, a hard-bop septet featuring a young Hugh Masekela and saxophonist Kippie Moeketsi. Moeketsi would go on to record the Jazz Epistle Verse 1, the first album by a South African jazz group in 1960.
As conditions got worse in South Africa, Ibrahim left the country and settled in Switzerland. It was in Switzerland where he met Duke Ellington, who became his mentor, and he brought Ibrahim and his band to Paris for a session that resulted in the album Duke Ellington Presents The Dollar Brand Trio.
Ibrahim came into his own in the late ‘60s. His compositions stuck to the core
foundation of gospel, but was driven by African street music, big-band jazz and more avant garde expressions due to his friendships with Pharoah Sanders and Don Cherry.
Over the years, Ibrahim became more involved in the anti-apartheid movement and would not return to South Africa until 1990 (after 28 years away) at Mandela’s request.
Ibrahim is the only South African jazz musician to become an NEA Jazz Master Recipient .
He will be greatly missed; he was such a great musician/composer. I would truly encourage you to seek out his music and experience the joy one can produce while having lived in such a race-driven country.
I would suggest the following albums: Dollar Brand Marketplace, Good News from Africa, Black Lighting, and African Sketchbook.
So until next time, remember:
“People say that slaves were taken from Africa. That is not true: People were taken from Africa, among them healers and priests, and were made into “slaves.”
Abdullah Ibrahim (Dollar Brand)
Estate planning may have an image issue. Ask people why they haven’t set up an estate plan and you will hear roughly the same reasons: estate planning is only for the wealthy, it can wait, a Will handles everything, etc. Virtually none of that is true and ultimately could end up costing families money, time, and peace of mind.
Here are just a few of the myths that potentially cause the most damage.
Myth 1: “I don’t have enough assets to require an estate plan” Estate planning isn’t just about distributing wealth - it’s about who makes decisions if you become incapacitated, who raises your kids if you can’t, and who avoids a courtroom fight over your estate. Ultimately, your estate will end up in someone’s hands. You should decide who will receive your assets rather than California intestacy laws.
Myth 2: “Estate planning is a one-time task” An estate plan drafted at the age of thirty-five may not necessarily fit at fifty. Marriages, divorces, new children, deaths of named successor trustees or executors, moves to a different state, and changes in tax law can all make a prior plan outdated or even counterproductive. A better alternative is to revisit
the plan every three to five years, and immediately after any major life event.
Myth 3: “My spouse automatically receives everything” This depends on a variety of considerations. In California, if there’s no Trust or Will, a surviving spouse shares the estate with the deceased’s children or other relatives under intestacy laws which is not the outcome most spouses expect. Also the value of the estate may trigger a court overseen probate proceeding. Separate property, prior marriages, and blended families also factor into the equation.
If you have questions concerning your existing estate plan or setting up an estate plan, please contact Todd W. Moeller at (925) 301-8840 or Todd@MoellerEstateLaw.com
Disclaimer: The information presented in this advertisement is provided for general information only. Todd W. Moeller is licensed to practice law in the State of California only, and any information contained in this advertisement is based on general principles of California law. The information presented should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship – Advertorial
Publication
tEd turnEr
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Editor:
EDITORIALS, LETTERS & COMMENTARY
Letter to the editor
What is truth –and what is untruth?
In George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984, the author depicts a nation led by an authoritarian figure and a government that wields the levers of power to indoctrinate and subjugate its people into unquestioned obedience. It dictates a vague notion of an enemy bent on destroying society, condemns any opposing thought, and punishes those who resist. A ubiquitous image of an imposing individual appears in every home and workplace, accompanied by a phrase that declares its control: Big Brother is watching you.
In this fictional country, there is a Ministry of Truth, a bureaucracy whose purpose is to root out and eliminate any history that is contrary to the government’s point of view, and substitute it with a compliant version for consumption by the populace. In short, facts are systematically replaced with lies, compelling the people to accept a revisionist account. Attempts at critical thinking and objective assessment of unadulterated propaganda are forbidden, and for those who choose not to believe the government’s version, there is the Thought Police, with full authority and force to crush the enemy within.
In recent days, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican national, husband, and father, living in Houston for decades, was mistakenly targeted by agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Driving his crew to a construction site, Salgado Araujo was intercepted by an unmarked vehicle blocking his progress, when an ICE agent drew his weapon and killed him. The agency announced the suspect had attempted to “weaponize his vehicle” and was shot in self-defense. The
Publisher Emeritus Jimmy Chamoures
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body, van, and personal effects were withheld from the family, impeding any investigation by local authorities. But three passengers, co-workers in the victim’s van, have since spoken to legal counsel and have given eye witness testimony contradicting the agency’s account of the event. Sadly, we have come to know this demonstration of brutality and callousness is not isolated. Just days after Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was murdered, ICE agents took the life of 26-year-old Joan Sebastian Guerrero, an asylum applicant, in Biddeford, Maine, another mistaken target.
In the last national election, a majority of voters wanted to believe in the greatness pledged by a man of many promises. These same voters are now told that the increased cost of living is an illusion; that an unprovoked war with a sovereign nation is necessary for our safety; that millions of people who live peacefully and contribute to their communities pose a threat to our security.
Americans want to believe that our country cannot be a part of such behavior, and refuse to draw comparisons between the current course of events and Orwell’s fictional nightmare. The facts tell a different story. It has become evident that our leaders are not tethered to truth, and that the president can and does rewrite history to suit his needs.
U.S. senator and statesman Daniel Patrick Moynihan once said, “Every man is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.” In a time when the Ministry of Truth and the Thought Police no longer seem a dark fiction, each and every American must determine what is truth and what is untruth.
Richard Kushnier Brentwood
The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors recently discussed the possibility of an ordinance that would limit federal immigration authorities’ access to county resources. Do you agree with this approach?
36.3% Yes, we should not cooperate with ICE at all
10.4% Yes, only lawful enforcement should be allowed
44.4% No, I am in favor of broad immigration enforcement
8.9% No, current laws provide enough protection already
County seeks to limit helping ICE in the July 10 edition of The Press
“Regulating immigration is an inherent power of the national government not the states. Uncooperative federalism is bipartisan in nature and is helpful in ensuring that our freedoms are not violated by big brother in Washington. Good job coco county for not doing someone else’s job.”
– Conan Moats via Facebook
“ICE exists to execute Congresspassed laws that protect citizens, legal immigrants, and the system’s integrity. Weak local cooperation makes enforcement harder and signals that rules are optional—often leading to more illegal entries and problems downstream.”
– Stacey Chance via Facebook
“An unregulated, over-surveilling, dangerously racially profiling, and organized kidnapping of our neighbors is NOT WELCOME anywhere. Fwys”
-@aadri.verse via Instagram
“Funny thing is the liberals were never heard from when Obama was deporting all the illegals, and
Social Talk About Town...
the supervisors did nothing. The supervisors take an oath to uphold both California and Federal law.”
- @k9cwby via Instagram
LUHSD announces fall free breakfast, lunch policy for parents, students in the July 10 edition of The Press
“1 million % rather this than to use our tax dollars to be used to bomb other countries overseas…”
- Drani Banani via Facebook
“Getting absolutely everyone to fill out the annoying free and reduced lunch form (even when you know you will be denied and the kids will get lunch regardless) helped the District get around $500,000 more in Local Control funds than the District got last year. That money goes to serving students. Look at filling out the form as the easiest fundraiser parents will ever participate in. Because not going after that money for our students is like leaving our tax dollars on the ground. The kids are supposed to get it, we just have to jump through some goofy hoops to make it happen.”
-Susan Wallace via Facebook
“No child should ever go hungry! Thank you for supporting all of Brentwood’s students ”
- Angelica Gonzalez Pérez via Facebook
Liberty flag football prepares for summer tournament on Saturday
By Mason Tovani Correspondent
The weather didn’t permit goosebumps – it was 90 degrees and humid on Monday evening for Liberty flag football’s summer workout. Still, in his first season taking over as head coach, Mike Gregory had them when he got to talking about the heights this program has reached and what he hopes to add to it.
“I get goosebumps because it’s about pride in the program,” Gregory said. “I want (the) girls to go college and have opportunities. Ultimately for me, it’s about driving them to want more. We can put (the girls) in positions where they can succeed but they have to execute.”
The Lions will be playing in Dublin on Saturday in a summer tournament for some early reps ahead of the upcoming season. The three-time league champions expect a win every time they step on the field, and Gregory is keeping that same expectation. However, he has a greater interest in seeing the group face adversity and learn to respond as to be complacent with what they’ve done in the past.
“We’re not going to downplay anybody, the most important thing is learning and
growing. If you’re consistent you’re at a plateau,” Gregory said. “If you’re at a plateau you aren’t learning. We have to push the envelope to always have them look at what they can do better.”
He didn’t hide his excitement for the upcoming season. Whether it’s his girls basket-
ball team or flag football team, both of which have about 10 girls playing both, Gregory is a self-proclaimed sports enthusiast. He has been around flag football for 25 years, and the sport has grown from the smallest measure to becoming an Olympic sport.
Contributing to that growth is the one
of the main reasons Gregory took over the position at Liberty. He is stepping into a program that has an overall league record of 30-2 since it became a Bay Valley Athletic League sport in the fall of 2023.
“Sports is in my blood,” Gregory said. “I love this sport, and it’s time for me to utilize what I’ve learned. The game has evolved and I want to make sure I’m evolving with it.”
He added: “The excitement is there. I want to have fun with it, that’s the biggest thing.”
Though the skill sets differ in the two sports, Gregory knows what kind of mentality he will get from the girls regardless of the setting. His philosophy remains the same and it’s that trust between them that makes him confident he will get the most out of the team in the 2026-27 season.
“It is seamless because it’s a mindset,” Gregory said of the transition from basketball to flag football. “The girls I have in both sports, there’s a trust factor there. But it’s the journey of it all, the growth of everybody learning, accommodating and having the ability to learn more.”
“If you come in with the right mindset and right way of competing then you’ll do really well,” Gregory said. “It’s the same mantra (from basketball), see the game, read the game and play the game.”
Liberty alum’s circuitous trip from the mound in Brentwood to the University of Houston
By Jeff Weisinger Staff Writer
Two years ago, David Roberts Jr. nearly walked away from baseball.
Last spring, he was pitching on national television with a 104-degree fever, closing out a conference championship with Moraga’s St. Mary’s College.
Now the former Liberty High School Class of 2024 pitching standout is headed to the University of Houston for the upcoming 2027 season — his third college in four years, and, he believes, his best fit yet.
Roberts, a left-handed relief pitcher, chose Houston after a breakout season at Saint Mary’s. He said the decision came down to one thing: the chance to pitch regularly.
“I just want to play and play against really good competition,” he said.
He earned that chance the hard way.
Last spring, Roberts helped Saint Mary’s win the West Coast Conference tournament and reach the NCAA baseball tournament, earning the save in the championship-clinching win against the University of San Francisco. Once there, the Gaels stunned top-seeded UCLA twice in the double elimination tournament, and Roberts got the win in the game that ended UCLA’s season.
The moment that stood out came earlier, in the conference title game, when Roberts pitched through a
Submitted photo
104-degree fever in 110-degree heat in Scottsdale, Arizona to close out a 7-6 victory.
“I hit the first guy in the knee. Then I went 2-0 on the next guy and gave up a home run,” he recalled. “But I struck the lefty out on three pitches and we closed it. Nobody seemed to care that I was sick anymore.”
The run, broadcast nationally on ESPN, put Roberts on the radar of professional scouts. He is eligible for the Major League Baseball draft in 2027 and hopes to be selected.
“I never understood how big of a deal it was until my dad said, ‘Your draft stock’s going to go up. People saw that, that’s on TV,’” Roberts said. “And one of the coaches I talked to while transferring was like, ‘I didn’t know who you were, but I watched you pitch.’”
That path once seemed unlikely. After graduating
from Liberty in 2024, Roberts began his college career at Arizona State but struggled, left the program and sat out the 2025 season at home in Brentwood before deciding to keep playing. A spring spent strengthening his body added several miles per hour to his fastball, which now touches the mid-90s, and added a splitter to his arsenal.
While he came away with a refreshed pitching mentality, and a new pitch, he also came away with perspective.
“After ASU, I started struggling with my identity as a baseball player,” he said. “I don’t want to walk around Brentwood and have people go, ‘Oh look, it’s a baseball player.’ It’s something I do, but it’s not what I am.”
At Houston, Roberts joins a program in transition. The Cougars, who play in the Big 12 Conference, finished 24-31 last season and recently hired head coach Will Davis away from Lamar University. But the school had five players drafted by Major League Baseball teams in 2026 — its most since 2019 — a track record of development that Roberts said mattered more to him than wins and losses.
“(A Houston coach) told me with the straightest face: ‘You have no idea how good you could be,’” Roberts said. “It’s a standard recruiting pitch, but the way he said it stuck.” Roberts is expected to report to Houston in the coming weeks.
To view a video, visit www.thepress.net/multimedia
Two players work on flag pulling drills during Liberty flag football’s summer open field session Monday in Brentwood.
Photo by Mason Tovani
David Roberts pitches for St. Mary’s College during the spring.
Sleep and breakfast vital to helping students focus
For many, breakfast represents the first meal of the day. For students, however, breakfast may represent the key to more success with their studies.
In addition to having better overall nutrition and health, kids who eat breakfast are shown to have better results with math problems, vocabulary tests, and undertaking challenging mental tasks, according to healthychildren.org.
Furthermore, kids who eat breakfast have better brain function, memory, and attention, and have had higher scores in math, spelling, and reading than those who did not, while also helping kids to deal with frustration. Linda Michaelis, a local registered dietitian with 25 years of experience specializing working with children, highlighted the importance of breakfast, but that it depends on their age group.
“When a person is hungry, it is so important to put the right food combinations of food together,” Michaelis said. “The most important thing is have protein, some fiber, and some fat, as it allows the foods to stay with you longer.”
Despite the benefits of breakfast, statistics from healthychildren.org show that 13 percent of school-aged kids skip breakfast, with the number increasing to more than 27 percent,
on average, for adolescents aged 12 to 19, with females skipping breakfast earlier and more regularly than males.
Reasons vary, including some kids being selective eaters, wanting to avoid weight gain, or many older teens being busy until late at night with homework, extracurricular activities and part-time jobs. As a result of going to bed late, kids wake up and rush off to school, leaving little to no time to eat. Michaelis suggested that heavy meals should be consumed no later than 7 p.m., as meals should be lighter past that time and could potentially affect one’s ability to study.
“They might not sleep as well and they may not be rested,” Michaelis said. “It is so important to not overload with carbohy drates and sugar. Poor manage ment of meals can lead to poor sleep, which can lead to irritability.”
Healthykids.org lists six tips for kids to make breakfast healthier and easier:
Sleep page 12
SEAN TONGSON
BACK TO SCHOOL MEANS MORE THAN BUYING DORM SUPPLIES
By Tess Meyokovich, LegalEase Document Service
As families get ready for another school year, most parents are thinking about backpacks, laptops, dorm room supplies, class schedules, and move-in dates. But there is one important thing many families forget to prepare for: legal documents.
When your child turns 18, even if they are still in high school, living at home, or heading off to college, they are legally considered an adult. That means parents no longer have automatic authority to access medical information, speak with doctors, handle certain school or financial matters, or step in during an emergency.
That can be a scary surprise for families.
If your college student gets sick, is injured, has a medical emergency, or needs help handling important paperwork while away from home, you may not be able to simply step in as a parent without the proper documents in place.
That is why many families choose to prepare a basic young adult legal document package before school starts.
Common documents include a health care directive, HIPAA authorization, financial power of attorney, and other forms that allow a trusted parent or family member to help if needed. These documents do not take away your child’s independence. They simply provide a safety net if something unexpected happens.
Back-to-school is also a good time for families to review other important documents. If your student is studying abroad, applying for international programs, dealing with school records, birth certificates, travel consent forms, or documents that need notarization, an apostille, or a certified translation, it is better to handle those items before a deadline.
At LegalEase Document Services, the goal is to make the process easier and less overwhelming. LegalEase assists with document preparation support, mobile notary services, apostille coordination, certified translation services, and related document needs for families, students, and busy parents.
Whether your child is leaving for college, turning 18, traveling, studying abroad, or simply stepping into adulthood, having the right documents in place can give your family peace of mind.
Taking a little time now can prevent unnecessary delays, confusion, and added stress later, allowing families to focus on academic success, new opportunities, and enjoying this exciting milestone with greater confidence and preparedness throughout the school year ahead.
To learn more about LegalEase Document Services and Mobile Notary, and available back-to-school document support, visit www.legalease-docs.com – Advertorial
A CHILD’S PLACE
Kids who eat breakfast have better brain function, memory, and attention, and have had higher scores in math, spelling, and reading than those who did not.
Sleep from page 11
♦ Set an earlier bedtime: This allows kids to wake up early enough to eat breakfast. Regardless of age, sleep is crucial in children’s overall health.
♦ Eat breakfast together as a family, if possible: By eating breakfast together as a family, they tend to eat healthier, with parents serving as role models in terms of nutrition and observing eating behaviors.
♦ Explore different food options: If time or lack of appeal doesn’t allow for traditional breakfast foods such as eggs, bacon, toast, or cereal, other options, such as fruits, smoothies, peanut butter, or even leftovers can be solid breakfast options.
♦ Prepare breakfast the night before: Planning ahead can help having food ready and on hand in the morning and save time. Ideas include preparing food the night before, including boiling eggs, cutting up fresh fruit, or dishing out cold cereal.
♦ Have “ready to go” options: If sitting down for a meal proves to be too time-consuming, “grab and go” options include hard-boiled eggs, yogurt, whole grain cereal, fresh or dried fruit, or bagels with a low-fat cream cheese. Avoid beverages such as coffee and energy drinks, as the caffeine can raise blood pressure and heart rate in teens. Instead, milk is an ideal beverage choice due to its protein content along with other nutrients, with the protein helping kids from feeling hungry later in the day.
♦ Look into childcare and school breakfasts: Studies showing that kids who eat breakfast at school also have improved attendance, behavior and academic performance, are tardy less often, and have higher math scores, which could be due to kids eating closer to test time.
Here are the school district’s start schedules for the 2026–2027 school year: Monday,
When a person is hungry, it is so important to put the right food combinations of food together. The most important thing is have protein, some fiber, and some fat, as it allows the foods to stay with you longer.
– Linda Michaelis, Registered Dietitian
♦ Prioritize whole grain cereals, which are higher in micronutrients than refined grains as opposed to sweetened cereal, which has a lot of added sugar. Look for cereals with less than 10 to 12 grams of sugar and at least 3 grams of fiber per serving. To sweeten up cereal, add sliced bananas, peaches, blueberries or strawberries.
Michaelis also discouraged the consumption of foods like pancakes, frozen waffles, doughnuts, or toast with butter. Referring to those as “sleepy foods”, Michaelis said that can result in kids feeling more tired and sluggish, while causing kids to crave sugar all day long.
“Sugar will give you a boost of energy, which can raise their blood sugar, but then it causes you to come crashing down,” Michaelis said. “That will take away your focus and your energy. Sugars and desserts should always come after lunch and after dinner.”
For details visit Healthykids.org or at https://www.linda-rd.com/
Tuesday, July 28
Photo by Adobe Stock
Area school districts announce fall meal plans
Brentwood, Byron and Knightsen Union School
Districts in East County have announced that they will be serving meals to students under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs for the 2026-2027 school year.
All students will have the opportunity to get one breakfast and one lunch each day at no charge they are attending school in person under the California Universal Meals Program at all elementary and middle schools in all three districts, they announced in a press release.
While the program will offer free Universal Meals for all students, households will continue to be able to complete Universal Benefits Applications for EBT Sun Bucks grocery card benefits and discounts on transportation to school.
In addition, household income forms that support the school district’s local education funding and could also qualify the family for additional benefits such as after school program services and home utility discounts. Regardless of your determined eligibility status, your child will continue to receive free meals for the 2026-2027 school year.
Households do not need to submit a Universal Benefits Application or Household Income Form when the household receives a notification letter saying that all children automatically qualify for free meals when any household member receives benefits from SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR.
Children who meet the definition of foster, homeless, migrant, or runaway, and children enrolled in their school’s Head Start program are eligible for free meals. Contact school officials if any child in the household is not on the notification letter.
Meal Applications will not be collected during the 2026-27 school year at Brentwood, Byron and Knightsen Union School Districts as the Districts are on a Provision 2 National School Lunch and Breakfast Program.
Universal Benefits Applications (Sun Bucks) and Household Income Forms will be available to determine your students eligibility for additional benefits.
Households that want to apply for SunBucks must fill out one application for all children in the household. Access your district’s webpage for further directions for online and paper application instructions. To complete a Household Income Form, access the form online on your corresponding Districts Parent Data Confirmation portal or webpage. The corresponding school will let you know if your Sun Bucks application is approved or denied additional meal supplements in the summer months.
Households may turn in a Sun Bucks or Household Income Form at any time during the school year. If you are not eligible now, but your household income goes down, household size goes up, or a household member starts receiving SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR, you may turn in an application at that time. Information given on the Sun Bucks application will be used to determine eligibility and may be verified at any time during the school year by school officials.
Households that receive Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits, may be eligible for Sun Bucks and other benefits by filling out an application.
Foster children are eligible for free meals and may be included as a household member if the foster family chooses to also
apply for the non-foster children on the same application.
Including foster children as a household member may help the non-foster children qualify for free or reduced-price meals. If the non-foster children are not eligible, this does not keep foster children from receiving free meals.
Your child’s eligibility status from last school year will continue into the new school year for up to 30 school days or until the school processes your new application, or your child is otherwise certified for free or reduced-price meals.
If you do not agree with the decision or results of verification, you may discuss it with school officials. You also have the right to a fair hearing, which may be requested by calling or writing the hearing official: Contact Information above for each district.
For additional information, contact:
♦ Brentwood USD: Kristin Nisen, Food Service Coordinator, knisen@ brentwood.k12.ca.us
♦ Byron USD: Lisa Luther, Food Service Supervisor, lluther@byron.k12.ca.us
♦ Knightsen USD: Lauren Buck, Nutrition Supervisor, lbuck@knightsen.k12.ca.us
What parents can do to avoid overscheduling students
odern parents may feel pressured to schedule kids in lots of extracurricular activities. But a lack of free time can prove harmful to young children.
The start of a new school year presents a fresh opportunity for students. Parents know it also means a return to the hustle and bustle that many households with school-aged children have grown accustomed to. When that hectic period begins, parents may wonder if their children are overscheduled and, if so, what effect that might be having on their performance in the classroom?
A 2024 study published in the journal Economics of Education Review found that modern students could be dealing with a host of adverse consequences due to what’s piled onto their plates during the school year. According to the study, the amount of homework students are assigned coupled with the abundance of extracurriculars students now participate in is not helping them to build their academic skills but is harming their mental health by increasing feelings of anxiety, anger and depression.
Choosing where to draw the line regarding students’ schedules is not an exact science. But parents can consider a
It can be difficult for parents to avoid overscheduling kids. But parents should remember the value of free time for youngsters. More information about striking a balance when it comes to kids’ schedules can be found at aacap.org.
number of strategies as they seek to avoid overscheduling their kids in the coming school year.
focus should be on fun and socialization more than building skills and improving performance. As kids advance through elementary school, parents can talk to them about organized extracurricular activities and which ones, if any, they want to participate in.
Keep a running dialogue about the schedule
Parents understandably don’t want kids to quit, but it’s also important that kids are encouraged to let Mom and Dad know if they feel they have too much on their plate. The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry recommends parents encourage kids to be open about their schedules, especially if they feel overwhelmed by their obligations, and let them know that it’s alright and healthy to take a break. The AACAP also urges parents to talk to kids about their thoughts and feelings when children repeatedly resist an activity.
Take an age-based approach
While parents may feel structured activities can benefit kids of all ages, some childhood development experts note that organized activities may not be as beneficial to younger children as they are to older kids. Andie Stallman, a clinical and developmental health and psychology specialist and the childhood and play expert at Imagination Playground, notes that childhood development professionals suggest that organized activities prior to age six and seven are not developmentally appropriate. Stallman notes at this age kids should be encouraged to discover their own interests through self-directed play and exploration. Kids can still engage in organized activities at this age, but the
Learn to spot the warning signs of an overscheduled child
Children do not want to disappoint their parents, so even those encouraged to share their thoughts about their activities and schedules may hesitate to speak up if they feel overwhelmed. With that in mind, parents can learn to spot the early warning signs that a child may be overwhelmed, which the AACAP notes include:
♦ Making excuses or refusing to go to the activity
♦ Feeling over-tired or not having enough time to sleep
♦ Exhibiting problems with organization or struggling to meet deadlines
♦ Declining school grades
♦ Unexplained physical symptoms, such as headaches or stomach aches
♦ Increased anxiety
– Metro Creative.
Photo by Metro Creative
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News iN Brief
Contra Costa County 2025 Report ready for public viewing
The County has wrapped up its fiscal year with a sleek, ad-free interactive flipbook designed to give residents a crystal-clear look at the County’s financial health, major milestones, and public resource stewardship.
The new report details how your taxpayer dollars are being put to work to improve the county in a digital-friendly summary, according to a press release from Supervisor Diane Burgis’s office.
It can be read at https://online fliphtml5. com/tbzvew/2025-Contra-Costa-CountyPAFR/#p=1
Water district offers customers two ways to reduce drips
The Diablo Water District is asking customers to help stop the drip from your faucet by completing two specific actions to reduce waste and prevent water leaks:
• Switch to electronic paperless billing (ebilling) through the customer portal.
• Enroll in automatic leak alerts.
The district is offering this incentive to do so: a possible $250 bill credit. Diablo Water District customers who complete both smart water habits will be entered into a raffle to win one of five $250 bill credits, according to a press release from Supervisor Diane Burgis’s office.
The contest deadline is Aug. 31. For details, visit Diablo Water District Summer Drip vs Drop Campaign
Newsom signs bill to expand access to mobile driver’s licenses
Gov. Newsom signed Senate Bill 169, a bill to modernize the Department of Motor Vehicles and cut costs and red tape while expanding access to mobile driver’s licenses for Californians statewide.
The bill raises the cap on the Mobile Driver License Pilot Program from 15% to 60% of the state’s licensed drivers, a fourfold increase that puts secure digital ID within reach for millions more Cali-
fornians, the governor’s office said in a press release.
The bill also authorizes a set of efficiency measures to modernize DMV operations and cut costs, including eliminating certain mailed notices, ending the requirement to print physical driver handbooks, and modernizing how the department communicates with customers about renewals.
County receives ZeroEmission Vehicle Readiness award
Contra Costa County Public Works Department’s Energy Management Team was awarded the Zero-Emission Vehicle Readiness Award by the New Motor Vehicle Board. This award recognizes the County’s leadership in advancing clean transportation, reducing emissions, and helping keep residents healthier.
The County was honored for its comprehensive planning to transition facilities, fleets, and communities to zero-emission transportation. This includes major investments supported by a California Energy Commission grant, which will expand Level 2 and DC fast-charging infrastructure across fleet locations, the county said in a press release.
The County also serves as a regional leader by bringing together cities and public agencies to coordinate transportation electrification efforts. Additional initiatives, such as the EV-4-All community charging concept, highlight the County’s commitment to expanding access to clean transportation.
Workforce development is another key achievement. Through partnerships with local school districts and the Contra Costa Community College District, the County supports training pathways for future EV technicians — including internships and pre-apprenticeship programs tied to charger installation and maintenance.
Candidate filing period for Nov. 3 general election begins
The candidate filing period for the Nov. 3 General Election has begun, and nomination papers will be available for candidates running for office. The nomination period runs through 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7.
To submit a news item for this page, send it to editor@brentwoodpress.com
A list of offices anticipated for the election can be found at www.contracostavote. gov/wp-content/uploads/26Nov03_PositionsUpForElection.pdf. Offices on this list are subject to change as resolutions are still being filed.
Papers for offices that are up for election will be available at the Contra Costa Elections Office, 555 Escobar St., Martinez. Papers for Municipal Offices will be available from the City Clerk’s office in the city the position represents, the elections office said in a press release.
For further information on the General Election and key dates, go to www. contracostavote.gov.
If an incumbent does not file to run for office by the August 7 deadline, the filing period for that office will extend until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 12. This rule does not apply to incumbents that have reached their term limit and are unable to run again.
Interested candidates can schedule an appointment by emailing candidate.services@vote.cccounty.us or by calling 925-3357800. Walk-ins are accepted, but service is subject to the availability of staff. Appointments are available on weekdays from 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Filing documents and information will be provided to interested constituents at their appointment. The process takes about 20 minutes.
DWR publishes draft revised Certification of Consistency for Delta water tunnels
The Department of Water Resources has published its draft revised Certification of Consistency with the Delta Plan for the Delta Conveyance Project (OCP). The revisions address issues called out (or remanded) by the Delta Stewardship Council in April, related to Sac Sewer’s Harvest Water project and golden mussels.
Publication started the clock on a 10day public review and comment period. Interested parties should send all comments to DCP_Consistency@water.ca.gov by July 23, the state said in a press release.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, finalized its Record
of Decision for the proposed tunnels, completing the agency’s programmatic environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act.
The decision concludes one phase of the federal review process and allows the Corps to begin evaluating future permit applications for parts of the project within its jurisdiction.
Part of Highway 4 to be closed this weekend
One more 55-hour full highway closure of Highway 4 from Roberts Road to the San Joaquin/Contra Costa County line is planned for 10 p.m. Friday, July 17 to 5 a.m. Monday, July 20, Caltrans said in a press release.
DeSaulnier announces virtual healthcare town hall meeting on July 20
A year after Republican passage of the Big Ugly Bill, which will kick 20 million Americans off their health insurance, U.S. Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, whose district includes East County, announced he will host a virtual healthcare town hall meeting on Monday, July 20 at 4:30 p.m. to highlight the crisis American families are facing.
As ranking member of the Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee, DeSaulnier will discuss the many factors leading to healthcare costs being unattainably high, like high rates of insurance denials and inefficiencies in the American healthcare system like kickbacks for Pharmacy Benefit Managers, and the bold action needed to reduce costs for Americans amidst Republican attacks on their care, his office said in a press release.
DeSaulnier will be joined by expert guests Vaishu Jawahar, Director of Policy at Protect Our Care, and Dr. Grant Colfax, Director of Contra Costa Health, and they will take questions live from the audience.
The Zoom meeting will be streamed to YouTube. To reserve a spot and receive a Zoom link or to request special accommodations, visit https://desaulnier.house. gov/town-hall-rsvp or call (925) 933-2660.
First responders highlighted at Hometown Heroes Expo
by Jeff Weisinger Staff Writer
The Brentwood Chamber of Commerce hosted its 2026 Hometown Heroes Safety Expo last Saturday at Los Medanos College’s Brentwood campus, drawing law enforcement, fire and emergency medical personnel together for a free event to honor them.
The expo featured live demonstrations, safety training and family-friendly educational activities aimed at connect-
ing residents with local agencies like the Brentwood, Antioch, and Oakley police departments, ConFire and representatives from Kaiser Permanente.
According to the Brentwood Chamber, the event was designed to strengthen bonds between first responders and residents, equip residents with practical safety skills such as life-saving, and honor first responders for their service to the area while fostering partnerships between public safety agencies, local officials, businesses, and the public.
THE ROB REPORT
By Rob O’Malley, Regional Vice-President/Sr. Mortgage Advisor
Current headlines are discussing inflation, interest rates, energy prices, and the economy. The news may make today’s housing market seem uncertain. The data shows us the market is relatively stable and full of opportunities for prepared buyers and strategic sellers.
• National housing appreciation: 1.2%
• California’s housing appreciation: 2.3%
• California’s long-term annual housing appreciation: 4% - 6%
Unemployment remains relatively low and the economy continues to show resilience. Financial markets are closely watching inflation and employment reports for signals about when the Federal Reserve may lower the fed funds rate.
Mortgage rates continue to fluctuate daily. The right time to buy depends more on your personal goals than on trying to time the market. We buy a home, and a payment. The rate is a “temporary” item that can be changed with a refinance.
Today’s home buyers have more negotiating power than we’ve seen in years. Many sellers are offering seller credits for closing costs, temporary 2-1 buydowns, and permanent rate buydowns that can significantly reduce monthly payments and/or increase purchase power.
The mortgage industry has evolved to provide fi-
nancing solutions for a wide variety of buyers. Whether you’re purchasing your first home, upgrading to accommodate a growing family, downsizing, investing, or exploring specialized loan programs, there are more options available today than many people realize.
Every buyer’s financial picture is unique, which is why personalized guidance has never been more valuable. A knowledgeable mortgage professional can help you understand your financing options, improve affordability, and develop a strategy that fits your long-term goals.
The housing market will continue to change, the data proves real estate is a sound investment, and waiting for the “perfect” moment will likely cost you much more than expected in the long run.
If you’re considering buying, selling, refinancing, or simply want to better understand your options, I’d love to have a conversation about navigating today’s market. Contact The O’Malley Team for free, no obligation, conversations. We are always at your service! 925-418-3956 or visit www.yourhomeloanexperts.net/omalleyteam.
Two principals join Knightsen school district
Rachel Fogelman (right) and Jessica Erickson (left) are the district’s newest school leaders for the 2026–27 school year, the Knightsen Elementary School District has announced.
Together, they bring a wide range of experience in public education spanning a combined 36 years of experience.
They bring a shared commitment to student success, family engagement, and community partnerships to the Knightsen Elementary School District, the district said in a press release.
Rachel Fogelman, incoming Principal of Old River Elementary School and Director of Special Education, has served in a variety of leadership roles across general education, special education, and early childhood programs. Most recently, she was a principal in Antioch Unified School District and previously worked as a Program Specialist with Contra Costa County SELPA, supporting special education services throughout the county. She also served The Oakley Union Elementary School District as both a teacher and State Preschool Director.
Fogelman holds master’s degrees in
Educational Leadership and Elementary Education, is involved in educational advocacy through ACSA Region 6 and as a district representative the ACSA Delta
Charter.
She is a longtime 4-H volunteer and project leader with Delta Diablo 4-H. She is passionate about supporting youth
Keeping the America 250 spirit alive
Last week, the City of Brentwood Human Resources Department hosted Spirit of America Day to keep the America 250 celebration going. City staff put on their best red, white, and blue to show their team spirit and bring a little extra fun to the workplace.
both inside and outside the classroom. As a local resident, she looks forward to partnering with students, staff, and families at Old River Elementary School and across the district.
Jessica Erickson has been appointed as the new Principal of Knightsen Elementary School and district-wide Director of Testing and Assessment. Like Fogelman, Erickson brings nearly two decades of experience in public education, beginning her career as a classroom teacher in Antioch Unified School District before moving into administration. For the past five years, she has served as Vice Principal at Sutter Elementary School, where she focused on making positive connections with students, student achievement, literacy growth, attendance, and fostering a positive school culture.
Erickson holds a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership, and an Administrative Services Credential from California State University, East Bay. As a lifelong East County resident and mother of three, she is involved in local youth programs, including East County Youth Football and Cheer.
Milestones Milestones
Have you or someone you know reached a “milestone”? If so, we’d like to know about it!
Submitted photo
“as a consequence of police restraint.”
Police had originally made contact with Ramirez when they were called to her sister’s house for a family dispute. While in police custody, Ramirez lost consciousness in the back of a police vehicle. According to her family, she did not regain consciousness between then and when she was removed from life support on Oct. 3. The Ramirez family filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the City of Brentwood on Jan. 1. In it, they alleged that police used excessive force while taking her into custody, which left her injured and unresponsive.
Body camera footage and 911 audio of the incident were released in February and shown as part of the July 15 hearing. Caruso called the footage “a tough video to watch,” but noted that there was nothing in the video that he said explained the brain bleed that Ramirez suffered, which he attributed to a stroke. During their brief testimony, arresting officers Aaron Peachman and Danielle Tjhia said they tried to arrest Ramirez with “as little force as possible” despite her resistance.
Caruso also questioned Okoye’s findings, particularly the conclusion that asphyxia had played a role in Ramirez’s death despite her death occurring a week after police made
Oakley
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time, city staff contacted Tari and Sage Loring, of Local Edition Creative, an art consulting firm that has worked for 10 years with cities such as Oakland, San Rafael, Fairfield, and Pittsburg to beautify them with sculptures, murals, and other art pieces. They also won the 2024 Helen Putnam Award for Excellence and Economic Development Through the Arts for their work in Concord.
Local Edition Creative’s Oakley program will consist of three parts: sculptures, murals, and City Hall art. The sculpture program will draw in artists potentially from across the country, the mural program will focus on Bay Area artists, and the City Hall program will focus on artists from Contra Costa County when putting out the call for artists.
The program will initially scout art locations this summer, then call for artists through fall, then select artists in winter, and install the first wave of sculptures next spring. The first murals will be put up in spring of 2028, alongside the second wave of sculptures. The total cost of the program over these two years will be around $100,000,
contact with her.
Outside the courthouse, Ramirez’s family balked at the verdict.
“There was no transparency – it was one-sided, skewed to them,” Ramirez’s widower, Rudy, said. “We were told before we came here not to have high expectations because it’s one of those things about ‘we investigated ourselves and we found that we did nothing wrong.’ And no, that’s not the
according to McMurray.
“The City of Oakley is very safe, it’s very clean, but it’s missing some identity and character building,” Sage Loring said. “Every vibrant city has that, in the form of public art. I’d like to mention that this is by no means a decoration, this is civic infrastructure.”
Sage Loring compared the importance of public art to that of parks and libraries, citing unspecified research. He pointed out how many artists are being priced out of large cities like San Francisco, so they are moving to suburban areas such as Oakley to ply their trade, which gives Oakley an opportunity to showcase local talent. Tari, his wife, promised that Local Edition Creative would collaborate with the city to curate the final pieces to be displayed through the program.
The council supported the pilot program, with Williams saying that she was “super excited about this project,” and Shaw saying that it was “exciting to see what comes” out of it.
Objective design standards work session
Objective design standards are design standards that are “clear, measurable, knowable in advance, and applied the same way to
cording to information from the CDC and the state Department of Public Health.
What is cyclosporiasis (Cyclospora infection)?
Cyclosporiasis (sigh-clo-spore-EYE-uh-sis) is a diarrheal disease caused by an intestinal infection with the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis.
How do people get cyclosporiasis?
Cyclospora parasites are passed in the feces of infected people. Other people become infected by eating food or drinking water contaminated with the feces from an infected person. Cyclospora passed in feces take days to weeks in the environment to become infectious to another person. Therefore, it is unlikely that the infection is passed directly from person to person.
Where does cyclosporiasis occur?
Cyclosporiasis occurs in many countries but it is most common in tropical and subtropical regions. In the United States, foodborne outbreaks of cyclosporiasis have been linked to various types of fresh produce imported from Latin America, including raspberries, cilantro, basil, snow peas, and mixed salad.
What are the symptoms of cyclosporiasis?
Symptoms of cyclosporiasis usually begin one to two weeks after being infected. The symptoms may include: Watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, bloating,
case. We will continue this fight for Yolanda.”
Melissa Nold, a civil rights attorney retained by the family, pointed out that the inquest’s verdict was that of an accident rather than the natural causes in Caruso’s report. Nold called the distinction “legally significant” and said there was the possibility of liability in Ramirez’s death.
By law, an inquest determines the manner of death only; it does not assign fault or civil or criminal liability.
“We’re thankful they were able to see that this wasn’t a natural cause,” she said. “If [Ramirez] hadn’t had contact with the police that day, she would have driven home and she wouldn’t have had a stroke.”
According to Nold, the “next step” in the process is to find out what District Attorney Diana Becton will do with the decision with regards to any potential charges brought against the officers. She underscored that the ruling of an accidental death tied into the idea that the officers were negligent in their treatment of Ramirez in the back of the police vehicle by not checking on her and denying her water.
A press release from the City of Brentwood following the verdict has stated that the city will also resume its own investigation following the conclusion of the District Attorney’s independent review.
all qualifying projects,” according to Associate Planner Evan Gorman. For example, instead of saying “Emphasize home entries to reinforce pedestrian orientation and country warmth of the community,” an objective design standard might say “primary building entries shall face the public street or a publicly accessible walkway.” Oakley’s residential design standards date to 2003, when objective design standards were less common, and so city staff was directed to look into updating them for the modern age of streamlined state housing laws.
According to Gorman, city staff wanted to focus on public safety, ensuring buildings do not dominate the nearby landscape and balancing design quality with building costs. At a public meeting, Oakley residents also gave two new priorities: ensuring that building design encourages interaction between neighbors, and allowing creative freedom for architects, which brings more diversity to neighborhood design.
The City Council advised that, while design standards do need to be updated, they should not be made “bland” or streamlined too severely, for fear of developers exploiting them.
“Are we concerned at all that develop-
stomach cramps, increased gas, nausea, fatigue, vomiting and low-grade fever may also occur. If not treated, the symptoms may last from several days to several weeks. Some symptoms, such as diarrhea, may seem to go away and then return (relapse). Some people who are infected with Cyclospora do not have any symptoms.
How is cyclosporiasis diagnosed?
Your healthcare provider may ask you to submit one or more samples of your feces to see if you are infected with Cyclospora. In addition, your healthcare provider may have your feces checked for other organisms that can cause similar symptoms.
How is cyclosporiasis treated?
Cyclosporiasis can be treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, an antibiotic that is effective against Cyclospora parasites. Diarrhea can cause dehydration so it is important to drink plenty of fluids.
What can a person do to prevent cyclosporiasis?
Avoid food or water that may be contaminated with human feces. When traveling, follow safe food and water habits. People who have previously been infected with Cyclospora can become infected again.
What is public health doing about cyclosporiasis?
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and local health departments monitor cases of cyclosporiasis in California. Health care providers and clinical laboratories are required to report cases of cyclosporiasis to their
ers are going to put down the bare minimum, and we’re still not going to have anything affordable, and they’re just making bigger margins?” Williams wondered. “If that’s the case, for me, we have a jobs-to-housing imbalance-do I want to make it so that they’re getting better percentages?”
Williams and Shaw also voiced concern about the use of invasive trees versus native ones. According to Williams, the list of approved native trees to use has been reduced to just one variety, and people (including herself) are having severe allergic reactions to pollen from male trees, which are often planted instead of female trees.
Shaw also spoke on preserving regulations that allow neighborhoods to have unique identities, such as designs on the ground that can be seen when entering a neighborhood. She also advocated against having streets dominated by garages.
Mayor Hugh Henderson and Vice Mayor Aaron Meadows advocated for more photos to be used as examples in the design standards to make them more user-friendly for non-developers who wished to look at them.
local health department.
If many cases occur at the same time, it may suggest an outbreak requiring a public health investigation. CDPH can assist local health departments to investigate outbreaks of illness, find and control the source(s) of contamination, and provide education.
Prevention tips:
• People can take the following food and vegetable handling recommendations to reduce the risk of foodborne illness related to fresh produce:
• Wash: Wash your hands with soap and water before and after handling or preparing raw fruits and vegetables.
• Prepare: Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting, or cooking. Thoroughly wash produce even if it is labeled as prewashed.
• Scrub firm fruits and vegetables, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush.
• Cut away any damaged or bruised areas on fruits and vegetables before preparing and eating.
Store: Refrigerate cut, peeled, or cooked fruits and vegetables as soon as possible (within two hours).
Where can I get more information on cyclosporiasis?
You can get more information on cyclosporiasis from your healthcare provider, your local health department, and the CPC website at https://www cdc gov/han/php/notices/ han00531.html
Cyclo from page 1
Civil rights attorney Melissa Nold said police negligence may have been a factor in Yolanda Ramirez’s accidental death.
Photo courtesy of City of Brentwood
LOCAL BUSINESS PROFILE
The law office of Todd W. Moeller has provided legal services for East County residents for 12 years, offering Will and Trust preparation, financial and medical powers of attorney, and Trust and Probate administration.
“I loved the idea of helping people steward their assets and avoid probate and other issues,” he says of his clients that include young families with children, homeowners and business owners. “Peace of mind for my Clients and peace of mind for their families.”
“We love the services we provide to our East Bay County communities. My family has resided in East Contra Costa County for 23 years and we consider it a privilege to provide a valuable service to our family, friends and neighbors.”
Open Weekdays 8am–5pm • email: Todd@MoellerEstateLaw.com 3380 Walnut Blvd., Suite 200J, Brentwood 925-301-8840 • www.MoellerEstateLaw.com
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