The Press 05.31.2024

‘This was not an easy decision to make’

By Jake Menez Staff Writer

Eric Volta, the superintendent of the Liberty Union High School District for the past 13 years, has announced that he will become the superintendent of the Mountain View Los Altos Union High School District starting in July. He is expected to be formally hired by the district on June 3, according to the Mountain View Voice.

“Volta stood out during the interview process because of his experience as the superintendent of a high school district, as well as prior roles as an assistant superintendent, principal and assistant principal,” MVLA board Vice President Esmeralda Ortiz told the Voice. Volta’s appointment was an-

nounced during the May 20 meeting of the school board. He will replace the district’s outgoing superintendent, Nellie Meyer.

“For a number of years, I have encouraged others to step out of their comfort zones and take on new challenges,” Volta said in a May 21 statement to the Liberty Union High School District. “After 13 years as LUHSD superintendent, I took my own advice. To make a long story short, last night the Mountain View Los Altos Union High

School District announced that I will be their next superintendent beginning in July. This was not an easy decision to make. LUHSD is a very special place filled with outstanding educators and staff working to make this the best learning environment for our students.”

Volta has served the Liberty Union High School District for over 20 years, joining in 2000 as an assistant principal at Freedom High School before becoming principal two years later and an assistant superintendent in 2009 before ultimately being appointed superintendent in 2011. Prior to joining the Liberty Union High School District, Volta had been a Social Studies teacher in Santa Clara.

According to Volta’s statement, the LUHSD school board was aware of his decision to depart prior to his announcement on May 21.

Board President Tamela Hawley said the board will be “finalizing their process” at a special meeting that will be announced soon. At a previous special meeting on May 22, Associate Superintendent Denise Rugani was appointed as Interim Superintendent until a new superintendent is in place, according to Hawley.

Brentwood okays city-wide improvements

Oakley clarifies outdoor, indoor pot grow laws

By Hemananthani Sivanandam Correspondent

Anyone found to have more than six marijuana plants outdoors or indoors for cultivation will be fined for each and every plant under a new ordinance in Oakley.

Under state laws, outdoor cultivation of marijuana is prohibited, while indoor cultivation is permitted for no more than six plants when cultivation strictly follows the specific State rules and regulations.

By Jake Menez Staff Writer

The Brentwood City Council voted 5-0 on May 28 to adopt a Capital Improvement Plan that will outlines improvements to the city over the next five years. Some projects proposed as part of the program, such as basketball courts being added to local parks, will be revisited after staff has had more time to look into them.

The Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) was first discussed by the Planning Commission on May 7 as part of their meeting.

At that meeting, the Commissioners voted 5-0 that they found

the CIP to be consistent with the city’s General Plan. A CIP document is prepared by the city and updated every year that covers a five-year span, and is designed to address infrastructure needs

as the city continues to grow, according to the document.

This year’s version of the plan includes 89 projects, consisting of 52 city projects, 18 future improvement projects and 20 development improvement projects.

The total projected cost for all 52 city projects is $388,997,520, according to the CIP document. Funding for the projects is expected to come from a variety of sources, such as federal and state money, the city’s General Fund and development impact fees.

• Of that $388,997,520:

• $107,115,000 is for wastewater improvement projects

see Brentwood page 18

The proposed ordinance passed by the Oakley City Council on Tuesday night, May 28, would allow each and every marijuana plant cultivated outdoors or indoors in excess of six plants allowed by state law to be treated as a separate offense and subject to an administrative fine of $1,000 per plant or $10,000 per day.

City Clerk Libby Vreonis said the new provisions would “make it crystal clear” that it applies to each and every plant and cause no room for interpretation.

The City also recommended waiving the first reading and introducing an ordinance to add Oakley.

Municipal Code Section 4.41.120 is to include administrative hearing requirements related to unlawful commercial cannabis

see Oakley page 18

Nonprofit for seniors seeks volunteers

Byron group’s ‘Railtown’ festival on June 22 to help community thrive

By Sarah Capperauld Correspondent

A Byron nonprofit for East County senior citizens is hosting an educational event on June 22 to inform residents about the problems seniors face, what the organization does about that and why it seeks more volunteers to help with the cause.

Resources for Older Americans and Retirees (ROAR) is a Byron specific nonprofit gearing towards senior living, and its latest project is the Railtown event on Main Street in Byron on Saturday, June 22, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will feature a barbecue cook-off, carriages, antiques, and different food vendors featuring local restaurants.

For more information about the cause and the event, visit, https://www.eventbrite.com/o/ roar-community-development501c3-88-3232389-81769859143

ROAR is a 501 charitable community development nonprofit. Roger

Boaz, head of the organization, said their vision is “to create livable, age friendly communities for the older adults everyone of us will (hopefully) one day become, and so we see our work as an investment for every future generation of older adults to enjoy.”

According to the California Department of Aging Services 2023 report: “By 2035, almost one-third of all Californians will be aged 65-plus, and 67% of these adults state they cannot afford to remain living in the home or community they live in now. Contra Costa County’s aging population is expected to grow by almost 200% in the next 20 years, becoming the third highest in the state. In Far East Contra, that figure is almost 400%.”

are deeply in need of trained caregivers, mobility solutions, food delivery infrastructure, qualified contractors to modify homes, affordable housing, and volunteers.”

The city of Byron is also trying to apply to the World Health Organization Global (WHO Global) specifically for age-friendly cities and communities established in 2010. It’s a way to help the city have a place to grow for senior housing, officials said.

“In short, we provide a variety of aging services to individuals, families, communities, and municipalities, each intended to promote the global, national, and statewide shared initiative for AgeFriendly Communities,” Boaz said.

Established in Byron in 2021, ROAR officials said the group will be necessary to the area because “our communities are unprepared for the enormous and far-reaching impacts that will result from 200% increase in the Senior population by 2035, Boaz said, adding, “California is racing to be ready. We

“While we are continually expanding our offerings, our primary and most indemand functions include: Older Adult Advocacy, Referrals, Financial and Estate Planning Resources, Community and Caregiver Education, Workforce Development, Community Infrastructure & Preparedness Audits, Disaster Resilience, Mobility Resources (ROAREV Rural Ridesharing program), and finally — access to safe and affordable housing — from assistance permitting.”

“For the past four decades, most of America’s volunteers have been Boomers. Who will volunteer to help them?,” Boaz said. ROAR is looking for younger volunteers who can take care of the generations that within the next 20 years will become 65 and older and are in need of their services to take care of themselves. “We have not raised future generations of volunteers, and ROAR believes this is an initiative we believe must be promoted above any other social and cultural initiative in America, “ Boaz said.

For more information visit, https://roarca.blog/.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net

BOAZ

‘We were up against everyone’

Local distillery awarded in global competition

By Daniel Gruen Correspondent

Sabbatical Distillery co-founders

Danny Leonard and Jack Zech are the first to admit their approach to the industry is unconventional. While Zech is a fourthgeneration farmer, neither Zech nor Leonard has a distillery background.

“The fact we don’t come from this industry could be a positive,” Leonard said. “We’re probably going to try some things someone else might not.”

However, this did not stop the friends from college from taking home a pair of awards in this year’s San Francisco World Spirits Competition: a Double Gold Medal for their “flagship” Blended Whiskey and a Gold Medal for their Port Cask Finished Straight Bourbon.

“We were up against everyone,” Leonard said of the competition last month.

The SFWSC receives thousands of entrants every year from distillery hopefuls from around the globe and is the largest such competition in the world, according to Forbes. Winners of the Double Gold or Gold Medal are the best of the best, according to the SFWSC website. The website explains that a Gold Medal is awarded

Sabbatical Distillery co-founders (right photo) Jack Zech (left) and Danny Leonard (right) do not come from a distillery background. Their unique approach to the industry resulted in the distillery winning two awards in a global competition, including a Gold Medal for their Port Cask Finished Straight Bourbon (above).

to spirits near the pinnacle of achievement whereas the Double Gold Medal is reserved only for spirits that received a gold from every member of the judging panel.

“Whoever wins the SFWSC essentially becomes a forefront in the industry,” said Amanda Blue, President of Tasting Alliance, the parent company of the SFWSC.

one else doing something quite like that?”

The individualistic approach has paid off, with three-year-old distillery now holding many awards from the SFWSC, including a Double Gold Medal in 2022 for their Sabado Gin, a Gold Medal in 2022 for their Blended American Whiskey, and another Gold Medal in 2023 for their Straight Bourbon Barrel Reserve.

An ample flow of water from the wetlands surrounding Victoria Island gives the distillery an advantage, “We got the peat soil here on the island so we can pretty much grow anything,” Leonard said.

Sabbatical Distillery, at 16021 Highway 4 in Holt a few miles past Discovery Bay, is celebrating its three-year anniversary in May. The distillery is located on the 7,000-acre Victoria Island Farms, which has been in Zech’s family since 1964.

Leonard said they founded Sabbatical Distillery with a simple premise: “What can we do that we like to drink where there’s no

Sabbatical Distillery is open for blueberry U-Pick every Friday-Sunday of the season. The distillery’s farm stand is open year round every Wednesday - Sunday along with complimentary tastings of their award winning spirits.

For more information or to schedule a tour visit https://www.drinksabbatical.com or call 209-452-9295.

(Left) Photo by Daniel Gruen; (Right) Press file photo

Oakley names projects to improve city

By Hemananthani Sivanandam Correspondent

The city of Oakley has identified several big-ticket Capital Improvement Program items to improve the city’s infrastructure and facilities further.

Under the five-year Capital Improvement Program for fiscal years 2024/2025 to 2028/2029, 25 projects were identified for fiscal year 2024/2025. The fiscal year for 2024/2025 starts in July.

During the special joint meeting of the Oakley City Council and Planning Commission on May 21, Councilmembers and Commissioners were briefed about the projects by the Public Works Director Kevin Rohani.

Mayor Anissa Williams and Commissioner Leonard Price were absent from the meeting.

The final approval of projects and funding listed in the Capital Improvement Program will be brought before the Oakley City Council on June 11, as part of the budget adoption.

East Cypress Road widening from Knightsen Avenue to the Contra Costa Canal Crossing

Rohani said the East Cypress Road widening project from Knightsen Avenue to the Contra Costa Canal Crossing near Jersey Island Road is anticipated to start in about two weeks.

“Construction for this project phase

one of the East Cypress Road project will be (completed) next summer,” Rohani said.

Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) Canal Crossing project

Phase 2 will be at the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) Canal Crossing project.

Rohani said the City has been working closely with the Water District but Oakley will take the lead on undergrounding the canal and constructing the new and widened roadway. The Water District will also reimburse the City $2.2 million towards putting their canal underground at

East Cypress Road after its construction.

“The only piece of canal left to be under ground is about 600 feet under East Cypress Road. The design is done, but it’s a complex project,” said Rohani, adding that the design of this project is currently underway, and construction is anticipated to start in 2025.

Widen and fully reconstruct East Cypress Road from Jersey Island Road to Bethel Island Road

The third phase involves the widening and fully reconstruct East Cypress Road from Jersey Island Road to Bethel Island Road, is expected to begin in 2025.

“We are working on funding now,” he said. “Initially, we anticipated starting in 2026, but it is possible that it will start in 2025.

“Everyone is anxious when we talk about the East Cypress Road and when it will be completed … These are complex projects. Even if everything is in order but, there are practical aspects of construction.”

Oakley Library, Community Center

Kevin Rohani Public Works Director

president Donna Baker said she was disappointed to note that there was no space dedicated specifically for the senior center in the library construction plan.

“We were told the common area, which is 980 square feet, and an additional 1,420 square feet of two rooms would be allocated when space is available,” she said. “Our senior center needs to expand, not contract.” Mike Castro from the Oakley Senior Center opined that they were “being pushed to the curb.

“We were told we would have to park across the street at the train station … accidents are bound to happen. There are people with canes and walkers; we need someplace where there is enough parking and space so we can have our functions and not bother the library or community center,” Castro said.

Councilmember Dr. George Fuller said it was “embarrassing’ that the library does not have ample space for a senior center.

City Manager Joshua McMurray said Oakley has allocated $7.5 million towards the library project.

“We have done a lot of leg work to get to where we are and have had many discussions with the seniors,” McMurray said, adding that the City will be able to define and design the exact space once there is clarity regarding funding. “The comments tonight don’t characterize the discussions we have had.”

Other Capital Improvement Program projects include:

The other capital improvement project is the Oakley Library and Community Center Project.

Rohani said the City is working with stakeholders to get the money to pay for

• the Laurel Road Widening Project (O’Hara Avenue to Cloverbrook Avenue)

• the Main Street / Brownstone Road Intersection Signalization Project the Fiscal Year 2024/25 Americans with Disabilities Act Implementation

Press file photo

May allergies worsen after spring showers?

Editor’s note: Sheri Griffiths is a local registered nurse with 25 years of experience in her field. Her columns are meant to explore medical topics from an educational perspective.

Do your seasonal allergies seem worse this year?

Many people would answer a resounding YES. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25.7% of adults have seasonal allergies. The CDC also blames climate change for playing a major role because of higher pollen counts and longer pollen seasons. Unfortunately, this will not stop until the climate stops warming.

First, what are seasonal allergies?

Seasonal allergies are your body’s response to a foreign protein (allergens)

that it is exposed to, especially when seasons change. Seasonal allergies are typically harmless, but if your body’s defense system (immune system) is particularly sensitive to an allergen like pollen, that’s when you get those annoying physical symptoms like, sneezing, stuffy, runny nose with thin mucus, and watery, itchy eyes.to name a few.

Pollen is a common allergen that is in

Climate change may play a role in worsening season allergies.

the worst seasons because of climate change, but we should be getting some relief in late June with reduced levels of certain allergens in the air. On the bright side, think of the beautiful trees, flowers and grass that we enjoy because of this process.

Here are four tips to alleviate annoying symptoms:

1. Check pollen counts to prepare yourself for how bad symptoms may be.

the air because of tiny pollen seeds that come from plants, trees and grass. The concentration of these allergens in the air determines how severe your reaction will be. Although spring starts at the end of March, across the U.S., May is typically the worst month for allergy sufferers, according to AllergyAsthmaNetwork.org.

What does that mean for us in Contra Costa County? This may be one of

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2. Stay hydrated – hot fluids like tea broth help to thin out mucus in your nasal passages easing congestion. Drink plenty of water.

3. A hot shower after being outside washes away any allergens that may be trapped on your body or hair.

4. Take antihistamines for temporary relief of symptoms

For more information on pollen counts, check out American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI.org)., CDC.gov, or Weather.com.

Photo courtesy of Metro Creative

Nurse’s CorNer

sheri Griffiths

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, June 1

Brentwood Community ChorusSpringtime Melodies

The chorus performs its spring concert, Springtime Melodies, with the Liberty High Chamber singers and the ladies quartet, Replay, from 2–4 p.m. at the Allan E. Jones Performing Arts Center at 850 Second St. It’s the final performance for conductor Susan Stuart. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for high school students with ID, and kids 12 and younger are admitted free. Tickets may be purchased in advance at https:// www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6253090/ ref/4016041 or at the door. Donations of used athletic shoes will be accepted in the lobby. For details, visit http://www.brentwoodcommunitychorus.com.

Kaleidoscope support group presents Arts and Crafts show

Kaleidoscope, nonprofit cancer support group, is having an arts and craft show from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. featuring arts and crafts from local artists, plants, face painting and raffles at 14671 Byron Highway in Byron. For more informatio, call Mary Ann Smith at 209-639-6164.

Sunday, June 2

Oakley Redmen Pancake Breakfast from 7:30–11 a.m. at Oakley RedmenPocahontas Hall at 1403 Main St. The cost is $7 for adults, $4 for children for all you can eat pancakes with sausage and eggs.

Friday, June 7

Inaugural Meals on Wheels

golf tournament

This Meals on Wheels of Contra Costa tournament is open to anyone regardless of skill. This inaugural tournamanent Starts at 7:30 a.m. with registration at Shadow Lakes Golf Club, 401 W. Country Club Blvd. Play starts at 9. Registration is $150. For details, visit https://mowofcontracosta. org/meals-on-wheels-contra-costa-news-events/ inaugural-golf-tournament/.

Saturday, June 8

Golden Hills Community Church

Food distribution

The church at 2401 Shady Lane in Brentwood is offering food distribution to anyone on specific Saturdays from 12:30-2:30 p.m. while supplies last. There are no income requirements or qualifications. Also offered on these Saturdays: Aug. 10, Oct. 12 and Dec. 14. For details, call 925-234-8739.

Movie in the Plaza featuring Tarzan ‘Tarzan’ will be shown at Civic Center Plaza, 3231 Main St.. Activities begin at 7 and the movie starts at sunset. Oakley Recreation will be selling popcorn, candy and soda in the snack shack located behind the stage. For details, visit http:// www.OakleyInfo.com.

Parish Festival in honor of Feast Day

The Immaculate Heart of Mary is hosting a festival in honor of the Feast Day at 8 a.m. at 500 Fairview Ave. in Brentwood. Booths open at 11:30 a.m. with program and games from 1-3:30 p.m. Proceeds go to the church youth group and World Youth Day. For details, call 925-634-4154 or email ihmchurch@ihmbrentwood.com.

On the Horizon

Sunday, June 9

Annual Festa Italiana in Lodi

Get into the spirit of Italy at Festa Italiana is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Lodi Grape Festival Grounds to taste fine food, activities and entertainment of the Italian culture. The festival offers Italian food

from local Italian ‘chefs’, a Mercato Marketplace, cooking demonstrations, Italian art and history, bocce ball, salami toss, the automobili show, wine tasting, olive oil and local product tastings. Renowned Italian Tenor Pasquale Esposito, presented by John and Maxine Ferraiolo, headlines the festival on the Morada Produce Main Stage. Nino, d’Italiano, local opera singer Bianca Orsi, and the Trucco Band, The Balliamo Italian Dancers also will headline in the Pavilion. Local entertainment, including Stockton Garage Combo, Opera Singer Kerri Scott, Louis Lodi, and the Nicolini Brothers on accordions, will be on the Benevenuti Stage. Tickets are $20 at the door. Children 12 and under are admitted free with an adult. Get tickets in advance at Gian’s Deli - 2112 Pacific Avenue, Stockton; SASS! Public Relations - 628 Lincoln Center, Stockton; Lodi Grape Festival Ground - 413 E. Lockeford St., Lodi; Rinaldi’s Market - 4625 Duncan Road, Linden; the Fruit Bowl - 8767 E. Waterloo Road, Stockton. For details, visit festa-italiana.com.

Saturday, June 15

Brentwood veterans host Luau 2024

Wear your favorite Hawai’ian shirt and enjoy live Hawai’ian music and cuisine provided by Landeza’s Island, from 6-10 p.m. at the Brentwood Veterans Memorial Building, 757 First. St. Hosted by the Marine Corps League, Detachment 155, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10789 and American Legion Post 202. Tickets are $80 and are available until June 10. Wear your favorite Hawai’ian shirt and enjoy live Hawai’ian music, hula dancers, and raffle, silent auction prizes. Proceeds benefit the veterans buiding and veterans organizations affected by the wildfires in Maui last year. Win raffle and silent aution prizes. For tickets, visit https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/ a97eba5d-7b78-44b9-bb3b-e6dfa00759e8.

Sunday, June 16

Father’s Day Car Show

Enjoy music, street vendors, food, beer and wine for sale from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at 2nd and G streets in downtown Antioch. Prizes awarded for Best in Show, Hot Rod, Classic, Low Rider, Sport, Truck and People’s Choice. Registration is 9-10 a.m. Applications can be handed in, or mailed in to Willow Park Mercantile, 205 G St., Antioch, 94509. Applicans cost $25 and are payable to the Celebrate Antioch Foundation. Also apply at https://form.jotform.com/240678550555160.

Wednesday, June 19

Juneteenth Celebration in the Park Commemorate this significant milestone in American history. Juneteenth is significant as it marks the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. It’s a day to reflect, honor, and celebrate the rich culture and heritage of the African American community. There will be food trucks, craft vendors, educational booths and kids activities from 4-8 p.m. in City Park in Brentwood. Musical guest is Lenny Williams.

Saturday, June 22

Soroptimists’ event celebrates 40 years of service

Soroptimist International of the Delta is celebrating 40 years of service to the Brentwood community and is celebrating by continuing its sixth annual Uncorked Event on Saturday June 22 from 5-9 p.m. at De Luna Ranch at 7540 Balfour Road in Brentwood. Sip fine wines not found in your local grocery and indulge in delicious bites while mingling with fellow wine enthusiasts. Dinner is being catered by The Holy Smoker, and Joey T and Friends will entertain. Tickets are $75 and include, dinner, six-ounce wine-tasting glass, raffles, appetizer bar, dessert and a silent and live auction. Proceeds support

Looking for more things to do?

Look at the many local events on

Soroptimist’s our mission to empower local girls and women. This year, we awarded scholarships and recognition to 22 recipients. Tickets available at Eventbrite – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ soroptimist-uncorked-tickets908428503107?aff=ebdssbdestsearch - Gursky Ranch at 1921 Apricot Way or by leaving your contact information at 925-219-2670. For details about soroptimists, visit www.siofthedelta.com. Railtown Classics and Antiques Festival in Byron

Ride the trains, and visit antiques and vintage dealers, classic motorcycles and cars plus music and entertainment on two stages from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at Main Street to Borden Junction. Take a ride on a train, trolley or carriage, taste local food and spirits, barbecue rib cook-off, games, costume contest and scavenger hunt. The festival is part of the community’s five-year celebratoin of its sesquicentennial (1878-2028). All money raised fill the needs of the community (sidewalks, a main street, mobility and affordable housing) and its ability to thrive. For details, contact Roger Boaz at Roger@ROARca.org.

Thursday, July 4

Liberty Bell 5K presented by the Liberty Lions Band Boosters

The first Liberty High School Band 5K (3.1 mile) fun run is from 7:30-10 a.m. at Veterans Park, 3841 Balfour Road in Brentwood. Registration starts at $35. Proceeds directly benefit the marching band, jazz band, concert programs, winter percussion and winter guard programs. For the virtual run, you can run whenever and where ever you want from Thursday, July 4-Sunday July 14. All participants will receive a 2024 first annual commemorative T-shirt and medal participating. Packet pick-up is scheduled for Wednesday, July 3, from 3-7 p.m. at Fleet Feet, 6061 Lone Tree Way, in Brentwood. For details, visit https://libertybell5kfunrun.itsyourrace.com/ event.aspx?id=16236.

Friday, August 2

Antioch Chamber Cares

Golf Tournament

The Antioch Chamber Cares Golf Tournament at Lone Tree Golf & Event Center, 4800 Golf Course Road is a fundraiser for the Chamber Cares Program “501 (c) (3), which helps all businesses in Antioch that have been victimized by vandalism or theft. This is a shotgun tournament from 1-5 p.m. The cost per golfer of $150 includes: range ball, green fee, cart, tee prize and Italian dinner. Register and details at lonetreegolfcourse.com.

Ongoing Events

Liberty Adult Education Winter Course Catalog

Class registration is open for English Second Language, GED, Computer Technology and Community Interest Classes. Register online at www.libertyadulted.org, call the Adult Education office at 925-634-2565 or in person at the Adult Education office.

East County Rotary Club Meetings

Brentwood: The Brentwood Rotary Club meets weekly on Monday at noon at the Wedgewood Banquet Center at 100 Summerset Drive in Brentwood. For more information, visit https:// brentwoodrotaryclub.com/. 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 http://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 https://www.facebook.com/antiochrotaryclub/. The Rotary Club of the Delta meets weekly on

Wednesday at 7 a.m. at Denny’s, 4823 Lone Tree Way in Antioch. For more information, visit https://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 Westmont of Brentwood, 450 John Muir Parkway. For more information, visit: https://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/.

Oakley Senior Center

Food Distribution

The Oakley Senior Center at 215 Second St. gives out free food every Thursday from 1-2:30 p.m. Residents are asked to bring their own grocery bags. It also hosts a flea market, vendor fair, which includes trinkets, arts and crafts, collectibles and antiques, happens the first Saturday of every month from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Table space is $10 or 3 for $25. For details, call Jim Fridas at 925813-1007 or the senior center at 925-626-7223. The center also offers bingo the every second Tuesday of the month.Doors open at noon and you must be 18 to play.

Hope House Food Distribution

The distributions are on Monday and Wednesdays from 9 a.m.-noon 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.

Golden Hills Community Church

Food Distribution

The SENT (Serving and Engaging Neighbors Together) Ministry, in partnership with Team Jesus Outreach Ministries will be distributing food to anyone in need on these Saturdays — June 8, Aug. 10, Oct. 12 and Dec. 14 — from 12:30 -2:30 p.m. while supplies last. Everyone is welcome. The church is at 2401 Shady Willow Lane in Brentwood. For details, call (925)516-0653 or visit https://goldenhills.org.

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. We meet the first Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Brentwood Community Center, 35 Oak St. For details, contact president Sue Pretzer at spretzer303@yahoo. com at 760-583-3058.

ACA Women’s Group

The ACA Women’s Group meets every Wednesday at 5 p.m. at 809 Second St. in Brentwood. For more information, contact Cici at 530-306-7034.

Discovery Bay Corvette Club Meetings

The nonprofit Discovery Bay Corvette Club meets on the first Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Discovery Bay Yacht Club, 5871 Marina Road, Bilge Room. The club is dedicated to the enjoyment of owning and driving America’s sports car. For more information, drop by a meeting or contact the membership vice president at 925-341-9433. For more information on the club, visit www.discoverybaycorvetteclub.com.

Hello. It gives me great pleasure to write something about young music students again.

On May 16, The Last Concert was played by the Black Diamond middle school’s band and orchestra. The evening starts with a very smooth, airy, and exciting piece. This piece composed by Merle J. Issac is called The Apollo Suite; it is a tribute in honor of the Apollo space program. In 1969, the Apollo 11 spacecraft carried the first man (Neil Armstrong) to walk on the moon on July 20, 1969.

The suite consists of four parts and is written for string instruments:

• The Prelude has the strings giving you the feeling of what you might expect the darkness of space to sound like, if there is indeed a sound. It is expansive and airy in nature. And with the plucking of the strings on the instruments, just imagine the sound of the planets as they constantly rotate in their orbital path.

• The Waltz sound lets you imagine what it might feel like as the planets are in their constant circular motion. Just imagine couples on a dance floor emulating this motion.

• The Scherzo is a short composition that is fast in tempo and jovial. What you may envision in this piece is the excitement of the NASA engineers as they prepare for the countdown to launch.

• The Dance is finally the liftoff, and how everyone in Mission Control is reacting to the first rocket from the U.S. to be launched into space with a human aboard, and knowing what is about to happen could possibly change the concept of space travel (this took place July 16, 1969).

As you will notice, the next pieces in the program cover a wide variety of musical tones . They cover music from a PBS documentary, Mexican folk song, The Sound

Of Music movie, and the ever-popular tune Linus And Lucy (written in honor of the Charles Shulz characters) composed by Bay Area late great jazz piano player Vince Guaraldi (who composed all of the music for Charlie Brown), also the very popular pop tune Funkytown, which in 1979 sold 8 million copies, and was a constant play on major radio stations. Again, this night was exciting. However, space does not allow me the time to talk about every tune. Kudos to these young musicians. And as they walk away from the stage as the school year ends, I’ll be waiting for their encore next school year.

So, in closing, I ask that no matter what these students do for the summer, I hope they never neglect their interest in music.

I leave you with these lyrics to remember:

“Music is a world within itself with a language we all understand with an equal opportunity for all to sing, dance and clap their hands you can feel it all over.

Artist- Stevie Wonder Song- Sir Duke Album- Songs In The Key Of Life

‘A company that was different at its core’

Brentwood Teen Theater’s 20th year begins June 15

The beginning of Brentwood Teen Theater (BTT) started as a wrong turn. Founder Steve Kinsella, then living in Danville, had been contacted by a group of businesspeople to start a theater company for a town south of Brentwood. At that meeting, there were eight people who all had their own ideas that were all in contrast to each other about the direction the new company should take.

Kinsella left the meeting that evening, and when he arrived home, he did research and found results of a survey that had been done of 10,000 residents who all voiced a call for more performing arts in Brentwood.

Having already produced, conducted, and directed many shows for various organizations, Kinsella decided to venture out on his own, deciding to begin a company that was different at its core.

That company is the Brentwood Teen Theater, and its 20th season begins June 15

with preparations for the show Anastasia. It is not a junior-style version but the full twoact Broadway production. Most rehearsals are Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with some additional times for lead actors. Rehearsals are at Fabulous Feet Dance Studio, 80 Eagle Rock Way. The show opens Sept 6 at Edna Hill Theater.

Kinsella, who is the group’s artistic director and president, began his own stage career at the age of 12. His idea was to focus his new company on professional training as opposed to being production driven. The idea took off. Parents were telling each other about the new theater guy in town.

Kinsella’s approach to teaching was greatly influenced by a workshop he cocreated and co-facilitated for more than six years. The workshop was for adult survivors of childhood trauma.

“I enjoy changing lives one show at a time,” Kinsella said. “It’s all about the individual.”

Combining his technique of learning how to sing, with the “shame reduction” work of mental health therapist Bonnie Cameron, the workshop was successful in reshaping the lives of hundreds of partici-

pants through the years. Kinsella explained that the instruction at his theater is training-based rather than performance-based, meaning students are given the tools they need to perform before being challenged and then rewarded for their efforts.

Special exercises help the group bond, officials said. Cross support evolves and newcomers have a chance to earn leading roles. Many of the BTT shows have starred firsttime participants in the training sessions.

Participants learn singing, dance and acting techniques. All participants are cast in the show. They learn everything from confidence, audition skills to scene study and everything in between. There are no high school or college students teaching BTT kids. Instructors are professionals with college degrees.

“Some of the best feedback I’ve gotten was from a father years ago,” Kinsella said. “He told me, ‘I got dragged here kicking and screaming. I had no idea kids this age could work at that level.’ When the parents see that and say ‘I can’t believe that’s my kid,’ that’s a major compliment.”

Many former students have received college scholarships, toured in traveling productions, and been nominated for Tony awards. The three-month sessions have lasting impact on participants.

For details or to order tickets, visit www.BrentwoodTeenTheater.com or call 925-516-9009.

Oaks Apartments residents allowed back into units

Wastewater problem forced many to be relocated

By Hemananthani Sivanandam Correspondent

Some displaced residents from The Oaks Apartments in Oakley who were temporarily relocated due to a problem involving water from a clogged wastewater line have begun returning to their homes.

The incident during the Memorial Day weekend saw residents from 42 senior households being relocated after the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District had ordered power shut off to the apartment building following concerns that water from the clogged wastewater line could penetrate the electrical panel for the building’s elevator.

Oke Johnson, the Executive Vice President for Winn Properties, the property management company, said residents from 36 households were relocated to three area hotels on Sunday evening while the rest stayed with family and friends.

“The clog in the wastewater line on the first floor caused water to back up and overflow into a vacant second-floor apartment located adjacent to the elevator shaft above the elevator control room,” Johnson said.

“A property staff had been in the very same apartment on Friday, showing it to a prospective tenant, and at that time, there were no issues,” said Johnson, who provided a regularly scheduled update to the Oakley City Council meeting on Tuesday, May 28 about The Oaks Apartment.

He said the management had learned of the incident on Sunday morning after a concerned resident called an on-site technician. The technician could not reset the elevator but quickly checked if anyone was trapped and found no one.

The technician then contacted the property manager, who called the elevator company.

“The inspection of the elevator and electrical equipment found no evidence of the water coming into contact with the control panel or electrical service.

“Unless residents were in an unauthorized and restricted location within the building, they were not exposed to wastewater. No water entered occupied apartments or common areas, and the wastewater line was cleared on Sunday. All sewage lines in the building were hydro-jetted today (Tuesday),” Johnson said.

He said once the property was red tagged, property management staff had gathered residents in a nearby community room and by 4 p.m. on Sunday, residents were relocated to hotels, provided food, helped to retrieve personal items from their apartments and even helped to

care for the pet cats that refused to leave the building.

“Security services has been protecting the building and the apartments. We have called the residents impacted by the incident to see if they need any toiletries or medications and to make sure we meet their dietary restrictions whenever possible,” Johnson said.

These residents have also been provided a $300 gift card to each household for incidentals on the costs and will receive a partial credit in their June rent due to the incident.

“We will also help file claims for those with renters’ insurance,” Johnson added.

During the public comment at the meeting, Maxwell Akbar, a resident at The Oaks Apartments, hoped that the management company would develop an emergency preparedness plan for seniors so they would be aware of what to do when emergencies occur.

“I was in my apartment getting ready to take a shower and the Fire Department knocked on my door asking me to get out,” Akbar said. “I asked where I am going, no answer, just that I needed to get out. “I obeyed their instructions, went down, and waited. No one from the office asked where I was going, so I had to ask a church member to accommodate me. “On Monday, I received a call from the office asking me about my location. That’s not fair. That’s not the way we should be treated. “So I’m asking, ‘Is there any emergency preparedness the next time something like this transpires so we can take action?’”

Mayor Anissa Williams also questioned if an emergency preparedness plan. “What sort of plan is in place?” she asked.

Johnson said the incident “opened their eyes,” and the company has plans for properties in other parts of the state where there is more earthquake activities.

“They have a shakeout, and we are going to steal that mantra,” Johnson said. “We have a property manager who is fantastic at putting it together every year, and we will have her help us design a program for this community and all the different buildings. Every building is different. We do have emergency plans in place, but in an emergency, unless you practice it, it comes across as very clunky.”

KINSELLA

Residents from 42 senior households in The Oaks Apartments at 67 Carol Lane were evacuated from their homes over Memorial Day weekend following a problem with a clogged wastewater line.

Photo courtesy of Contra Costa County Fire Protection District

Jane Perry

October 3, 1930 - April 27, 2024

Long-time Discovery Bay resident Jane Perry passed away on April 27, 2024, with her daughters at her side.

While she always considered herself a native Californian, Jane was actually born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. When she was seven, her family moved to Burbank, California. She graduated from Burbank High School and attended Glendale Community College where she met the love of her life, Gene Perry. They married after graduation in 1950, and in 1959, moved to Cupertino where they raised their family.

OBITUARY

With her daughters grown and out of the house, she went to work at Tymshare, one of the early “high-tech” companies where she had a front-row seat in the growth of the Silicon Valley (the company was located across the street from a small startup – Apple) and she loved sharing stories of her observations of history in the making.

Gene and Jane were boaters on the Delta and active members in the Diablo Yacht Club. When Gene retired in 1985, they moved to Discovery Bay, where they moored their boat in their backyard dock and set off on many adventures.

When Gene passed away in 1990, Jane focused her energies on her local community by joining a local Lions club, a garden club, the women’s fellowship at St. Anne, a luncheon group and so many more.

Not content to just volunteer, she was a leader – she was a charter member of the Byron Delta Lions Club and rose through the ranks to ultimately be district governor in 2009. She had many passion projects with the Lions, including the Special Kid’s Day, Vision Screening in local schools and the student speaker contest as well as sitting on the board of the Lions Center for the Visually Impaired in Pittsburg.

She was a founding member of the Discovery Bay Garden Club, eventually serving as president. She was a longstanding member of the Women’s Fellowship at St. Anne Catholic Church in Byron (also serving as President), where she was active with Wine in the Bay, crab feed, and the food bank. In her spare time, she loved to read, garden, bake sugary treats,

Former Brentwood Marine Sgt. Fortner remembered

on Memorial Day

By Alex DeLuna Correspondent

Chris Zahnd of Brentwood honored fellow Brentwood resident Warren G. Fortner, a Marine Corps paratrooper, last Monday, Memorial Day with a few poster boards with documents and pictures displaying historical events in which Fortner participated.

Fortner, who was killed on March 9, 1945 at the battle of Iwo Jima, had been awarded with many medals before passing away in Japan during combat.

Zahnd said he honored Fortner’s military service for Memorial Day at Union Cemetery in Brentwood because “I am doing this in honor of what is referred to as the Greatest Generation and for the Fortner family since I have family members who served as well.”

Zahnd said he was walking around the cemetery one day, found Fortner’s gravestone and decided to research his life in the military and even outside the service.

Zahnd said he researched and honored Fortner’s service so he could help possible family members get to know all the things Fortner accomplished because they were scattered geographically, and most of his family didn’t have anything that illustrated Fortner’s past or even pictures of him during his military service.

and visit thrift stores from Livermore to Stockton.

She is survived by her daughters, Laura Perry and Martha Piazza, son-inlaw, Tony, granddaughters Adriana and Carina and rescue cat Pooky.

From a tribute by her Lions Club: She will be remembered for her unwavering passion, strong work ethic, exemplary leadership and steadfast faith.

Services to celebrate her life will be held July 12 at 11 a.m. at St. Anne Catholic Church at 2800 Camino Diablo Road in Byron, with a reception to follow.

Her legacy can be honored with a contribution to St. Anne Catholic Church, Byron Delta Lions Foundation (attention: Linda Barbara) or East Contra Costa Homeless Animals Lifeline Organization (HALO).

Trilogy Club Los Meganos memorializes veterans

More than 200 residents and veterans attended Memorial Day ceremonies at Trilogy’s Club Los Meganos. The Trilogy veterans color guard raised the American and POW flags, and then lowered them to half-mast, to remember and honor the many men and women who gave their lives to protect the U.S. The Trilogy at the Vineyards Veterans Association (TVVA) is a non-profit organization consisting of both veterans and nonveterans. In 2024, the TVVA raised more than $40,000 to support its mission of helping local veterans in need.

Photo by Alex DeLuna

Photo by Mike Sperling

Hometown SportS

Deer Valley football excited for new field

By Jeff Weisinger Staff Writer

Jaylan Bryant remembers Deer Valley’s football field vividly for the last two years – unmaintained, potholes and divots everywhere, nearly unusable after it rains. And to add the cherry on top, either no or faded, and uneven, lines.

“It was terrible,” the soon-to-be junior Bryant said. “When it rained, there would be secret potholes and stuff, so we’d be scared to step in (the potholes) in practice.”

From what looked to be worn out dried dirt and unmaintained grass, now sits a bright green FieldTurf field with new light brown sod. The “DV” logo is in the middle of the field and both end zones are teal with the Wolverines traditional black lettering with silver outline. The sidelines have both a teal players box and a black coaches box, and the new black scoreboard that fits the stadiums renewed color scheme.

The best, and most crucial part: no more potholes.

“It’s just a beautiful setting,” Wolverines head football coach and Deer Valley alum Matthew Mills said. “We’re very, very excited for this season and the opportunity for our kids.”

“It’s a little overwhelming just to see where the field was back in the day and just a couple of years ago and seeing it now as this beautiful field,” assistant coach and Deer Valley alum Brian Thomas said. “We’ve always had a beautiful stadium, always had great surroundings around the stadium, but it just never had the right field. Now it just feels complete.”

As the new FieldTurf field is finally in place with Deer Valley’s graduation set to be the first big event in the renovated stadium on Friday, June 7. The Wolverines open summer camp on June 10 and can practice in two ways they haven’t been able to in the recent past – fast, and safe.

“One of the biggest things (the new field) does for us is it gives us the ability to practice fast and at a different tempo than we were previously,” Mills explained. “We used to have different spots in our grass that we couldn’t even practice on because of the divots, the sand and dirt, and some of those sorts of things. So now we have a flat surface, which is something no Deer Valley football player has ever been able to play on before, we have the lines, the numbers, all of the things we need in order to execute at a high level.”

Deer Valley’s, however, has a few

newer updates to it compared to the other fields though. According to Mills, instead of the grounded black rubber tire that is used to sod the other fields, Deer Valley’s features a newer, light brown type of artificial sod that resembles more sand or wood than black tire. This new sod allows the field to handle weather a lot better – it is supposed to absorb water a lot better in rainy weather and stays relatively cooler in hotter weather – along with being a little softer, making it easier to deal with when it comes to contact.

The new artificial sod is also supposed to be easier on the knees and feet of the players.

“It’s supposed to be able to give a little bit more,” Mills explained. “One of the biggest complaints with turf they say is people’s cleats get stuck in it. This is designed to have more give to it more similar to grass.

The new turf brings Deer Valley in line with the rest of the schools in the BVAL, as the other five schools all have FieldTurf fields. It also breathes new life into a program looking to claw its way back from being an afterthought at the bottom of the league to a possible contender soon – both on the field and in the classroom.

“(The players) can’t seem more committed,” Thomas said. “The field, I feel, was just the icing on top. To see the changes in the kids and seeing how their academics is starting to change as they’re taking it more seriously now, it’s starting to match with the athletics. The effort we practice on the football field with is now going to the classroom, now creating more opportunities for the kids especially being on this field, and we’re gonna go ahead and show off.”

To view a video and a slideshow, visit www.thepress.net/multimedia

Falcons excited for fresh start entering summer camp

By Jeff Weisinger Staff Writer

As Freedom prepares for their upcoming summer training camp, they enter a new beginning with something they haven’t had in a long time – a full reset and an even cleaner slate.

“The kids have really bought into the program,” new head coach Steven Rodriguez said. “In resetting the culture, I thought that maybe there would be some pushback, but the kids really liked the structure and resetting that culture of it being an honor to play for Freedom.”

Rodriguez, an Oakley native and Freedom alumni who played for the program from 2009-11, enters his first season as the head coach of the very program he grew up with, let alone played for. He replaces Zach Sims, who coached the program since 2021 but was dismissed from his coaching duties midway through last season. Kevin Hartwig, who coached Rodriguez as a player, coached the team’s final four games of the 2023 season.

“It’s a pride thing for me,” Rodriguez added about resetting the program. “I want to make it bigger again.”

Sims led the program to just six wins in his more than two years as the head coach, and the program was marred with low numbers and a lack of structure, according to those around the program. Last season was the first time in the

program’s history that it carried no freshman team, according to Rodriguez.

Hartwig’s caretaking of the program through the final four games of last year and Rodriguez’s hire as the new head coach seemed to revive the program, at least in the early stages. Rodriguez said that he had around 45 players for the varsity team during spring camp, and nearly 40 for the junior varsity team. Freedom will also bring back the freshman team as well for 2024 and the foreseeable future.

“It’s amazing,” Rodriguez said. “It does feel good that I know we won’t be having a team of 22, we won’t have a team of 25 or even less. I’m already hearing a real buzz around Oakley, they want to come and they’re all ready to come play Freedom football. It’s going to be great to have those numbers again.”

The revived and refreshed Falcons are eager to clinch a playoff spot for the first time since 2018 when they lost that year to San Ramon Valley in the NCS Division I championship game. The team’s last winning record in the BVAL came a year later as Freedom finished 3-2 in league play.

However, as eager as the Falcons are to bring the program back to its previous level, Rodriguez is trusting the process and is teaching his team to take things one day at a time.

However, compared to last year, Rodriguez noted that there is a much more positive mindset compared to last year.

“I try to steer the kids away from talking too much about (league play) yet,” Rodriguez said. “I can’t stress enough how process-focused we are. Do I think we have a chance against everybody? Absolutely. I think that if we put it together, we’re gonna be a disciplined team.

“The kids are optimistic. They’re talking like ‘we’re gonna get them.’ They’re not thinking negatively. But I tell them all the time, I don’t want to hear anybody talking right now. We’re going to create that room to talk about, but right now, I want to do it in silence.”

Head coach Steven Rodriguez, left, talks to two of his players.

Photo courtesy of Steven Rodriguez

At left is an aerial photo of the new field turf at the Deer Valley High football stadium. At right is an aerial photo of the old field that was littered with potholes and dirt.

Photo by Andrew Rulloda and Press photo

Heritage’s Alvarez named BVAL MVP

Patriots baseball has nine chosen for All-BVAL team

By Jeff Weisinger Staff Writer

Heritage High baseball junior shortstop Alonzo Alvarez took home the Bay Valley Athletic League MVP honors on Tuesday as Heritage leading the way with nine players awarded with all-BVAL recognition.

Alonzo hit .325 with one home run and 28 RBI in 2024, including four doubles and five triples, according to MaxPreps.

“(Alonzo) is a gifted athlete and is an ultimate team player,” Heritage head baseball coach Kevin Brannan said.

Along with Alonzo earning MVP honors, Heritage had five named allBVAL first team – KC Karbowski, Ryan Williams, JJ Kinnaird, Elijah Ward, Gio Martini, and two earning honorable mentions – Jett Guevara and Aiden Rangel. Carter Lowell rounds out the list earning the all-BVAL sportsmanship award.

Pittsburg’s Diego Deluna was named

Most Valuable Pitcher after going 7-3 in 13 appearances with a 1.64 ERA and 62 strikeouts. His 59.2 innings pitched was the most innings pitched by a pitcher in the league this season, just two more of Kinnaird’s 57.2 innings pitched.

Heritage finished their 2024 campaign going 20-6-1 and 7-1 in the BVAL, their first 20-win season since 2019.

Liberty and Freedom each had six players earn all-BVAL honors with a few highlights.

Liberty freshmen Dylan Amaral and Stevie Wellens were the only freshmen to earn the honors, while Arizona State-bound David Roberts and Chico State-bound Joshua Rhodes were named first-team and honorable mention, respectively.

Amaral hit .341 with six RBI and three doubles in 22 games, and Wellens hit .275 with six RBI and a double in 21 games in 2024.

Freedom’s junior core of Landon Clenney, Caleb Emmons, and Gabriel Jost each earned first-team honors with USC-bound Adrian Boles earning honorable mention along with Devan Carmignani.

Liberty’s Mateo Reynoso and Freedom’s Niko Fesinmeyer each earned allBVAL sportsmanship awards.

Liberty dominates allBVAL softball awards

By Jeff Weisinger Staff Writer

Liberty softball is reaping the benefits of winning their first Bay Valley Athletic League title in nearly three decades as the Lions not only had 10 earn all-BVAL honors, but swept the Most Valuable Player and Pitcher awards as well.

Freshman Jewel Cooper won the MVP honors after hitting .500 in 23 games this season while leading the BVAL in both RBI (37) and home runs (10) while striking out just five times all year.

Sophomore Kate Skinner took home the league’s Most Valuable Pitcher award after improving on just about every key statistic from a year ago. She finished the season 11-3 in the circle with a 1.14 ERA in 19 appearances, while striking out 166 batters and allowing three home runs. Skinner also hit .242 in 23 games this season, with 14 RBI and a single home run and three doubles.

Taylor Jennings, Kelsey

Skaggs, Madison Tuttle, Kaitlyn Macias, and Paige Breitstein took home first-team all-BVAL honors, while Savannah Page and Isabella Rice earned honorable mention.

Senior Raquel Hare took the allBVAL sportsmanship award.

Heritage had seven players win all-BVAL honors while Freedom had six.

The Patriots senior trio of Mikaela Mortimer, Brooklyn Galloway and Hannah Hagen won first-team honors along with sophomore pitcher Kylie Garcia. Heritage sophomore Hailey Schultz and Sydney Ackermann were named honorable mention, and junior Amaya Gilmore won the all-BVAL sportsmanship award for her team.

Freedom’s senior trio of Madison Evers-Lyles, Maya Soto and Lauren Denny were named allBVAL first team along with junior Olivia Hurtado, and Yasmeen Sanchez and Ruby Cuen-Camacho earned all-BVAL honorable mention. Denny also won the league’s sportsmanship award for her team.

By Jake Menez Staff Writer

The construction of a Costco warehouse on Lone Tree Plaza Drive in Brentwood may soon get underway after the litigant in a lawsuit delaying construction filed for a dismissal.

The proposed Costco warehouse, to be built south of Lone Tree Plaza Drive near the Antioch/Brentwood border, was unanimously approved by both the Brentwood Planning Commission and the City Council last summer, but hit a roadblock in its construction after local developer West Coast Home Builders, LLC, filed a lawsuit alleging that the environmental impact study for the project was outdated, according to City Manager Tim Ogden.

West Coast Home Builders filed

a request for dismissal, according to a May 22 social media post by the city of Brentwood.

According to Ogden in a recent “Town Halls with Tim” meeting, the project has a 100-day timeline from start to finish. Construction is expected to begin this summer, with the city looking an early 2025 date for the store’s opening.

Although city staff has said the revenue Brentwood would earn from Costco’s sales tax was “highly confidential,” the revenue the city will earn would be roughly seven figures annually.

Mayor Joel Bryant spoke about the Costco project enthusiastically during his Feb. 20 State of the City address, saying it would aid the city in its future growth.

Throughout the process, residents have largely expressed interest in having a Costco closer to them. The closest one is on the far side of Antioch, past the Somersville Road exit on Highway 4.

REGIONAL & LOCAL

News iN Brief

Police seek help in solving gunpoint robbery of 2 fair employees after county fair on May 20

Police are seeking help from the public for two fair employees were robbed at the Contra Costa County Fair last weekend after the event had ended, according to a press release from Antioch police.

On May 20 at 2:18 a.m., the unnamed workers were making their night deposit at the BMO Bank at 2500 block of Somersville Road when they were approached by an unknown suspect.

The suspect robbed the victims of the undisclosed amount of money and personal belongings at gunpoint.

Police are asking for anyone with information regarding the incident to contact Antioch Police Department Investigations Bureau Det. Sgt. Palma at 925-779-6876 or by emailing kpalma@antiochca.gov. Anonymous tips or information about this – or any other incident –can be sent via text to 274637 (CRIMES) with the keyword ANTIOCH.

Parks district warns about tick season

Whether you’re hiking in East Bay Regional Parks, venturing into nearby open spaces, or simply relaxing in your own yard, it’s important to be wary of ticks, which are often present in tall grass, brush, and wooded areas. Visitors are encouraged to keep tick safety precautions in mind when visiting East Bay Regional Parks throughout the spring, summer, and fall seasons.

Ticks carry germs that can cause a number of diseases, including Lyme disease. Lyme disease is an infectious disease transmitted by the bite of a tick. It may be treated and cured with early diagnosis, but if not properly treated, it may persist in the body for years. Visit www.bayarealyme.org for more information.

What does a tick look like? In California, the western black-legged tick is the major carrier of Lyme disease. The adult female is reddish brown with black legs, about 1/8 inch long. Males are smaller and entirely brownish black. Both are teardrop shaped. Most ticks can’t fly or jump. They wait on the tips of grasses and in shrubs along well-used paths. With their front legs outstretched, they easily climb aboard unsuspecting hosts when they brush by.

Tick safety tips

• Wear long pants, long sleeves, and closed-toe shoes.

• Tuck shirt into pants, and pants into socks.

• Use insect repellent on shoes, socks, and pants.

• Check yourself, your children, and your pets for ticks thoroughly and frequently.

• Keep children and pets nearby. For

maximum safety, consider keeping your dog on a leash.

• Stay on trails. Avoid brush and grassy areas.

What to do If bitten by a tick

• Pull the tick gently from the skin using a tissue or tweezers (not with bare hands).

• Scrape to remove any mouthparts left behind. An item such as a credit card can be used.

• Wash hands and the tick bite with soap and water; apply antiseptic to the bite. Prompt removal of ticks may prevent disease transmission.

• See a physician immediately if you think you have found a tick attached to your skin and you have any of the above symptoms. Early symptoms may include a spreading rash accompanied by fever, aches, and/or fatigue.

Bill requiring selfdriving car companies to report accidents, traffic violations to DMV passes Assembly

Assemblymember Matt Haney’s (DSan Francisco) Assembly Bill 3061, the Self-Driving Cars Safety and Transparency Bill, addresses concerns about the lack of required reporting on autonomous vehicle collisions, accidents, and malfunctions, and enhances safety and transparency as autonomous vehicle companies prepare to deploy their services statewide. The bill passed out of the Assembly Floor 61-3. The bill i heading to the Senate with bipartisan support.

The DMV, responsible for autonomous vehicle permits and safety regulations, has not updated its regulations since 2018 but continues to authorize testing for over 40 companies. AB 3061 will align state reporting requirements with federal standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). AB 3061 mandates autonomous vehicle companies to disclose safety data to the DMV, which will then make this information publicly accessible.

The bill sponsored by the Consumer Federation of California, Consumer Attorneys of California, and the California Teamsters Public Affairs Council, will mandate the disclosure of essential safety data concerning autonomous vehicle collisions and other traffic violations to the DMV — the state agency tasked with regulating autonomous vehicles. The DMV will then be required to make this data available to the public.

Bill fast-tracking officeto-housing conversions passes state Assembly

Assemblymember Matt Haney’s (DSan Francisco) legislation that allows local California governments to expedite office-to-housing conversions has passed out of the Assembly with a 58-5 vote, and

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his heading to the Senate with bipartisan support.

As California is in the midst of a generational shift in work culture, offices in places like downtown Los Angeles and the Financial District in San Francisco are seeing the highest vacancy rates in 30 years. While local elected leaders want to repurpose vacant office buildings into residential ones, there are many technical and financial challenges to renovating an existing office building in California specifically. By mandating by-right approval processes for mixed-use housing conversion projects in city centers, AB 3068 will pave the way for the construction of several thousand new housing units.

Park district pilot program to expedite entry to Del Valle Regional Park on weekends, holidays

Beginning last weekend, the Park District launched a pilot project to streamline entry at Del Valle Regional Park, 7000 Del Valle Road, in Livermore on weekends and holidays. Under the pilot project, visitors will pay a single $10 flat fee to enter the park rather than individual fees based on park use. The $10 flat fee will cover parking, trailers, and dogs, according to a press release from the park district.

As part of the project, a limited number of advance park entry passes will also be available for purchase. Advance park entry passes can be purchased at http:// apm.activecommunities.com/ebparks/Activity_Search/52680.

Fishing and quagga inspection fees are not included in the $10 flat fee and will be available for purchase in the marina area.

Entering the park will look a little different with the pilot project. As vehicles approach the kiosk, there will be a separate line for pre-paid parking, visitors with camping reservations (not picnic reservations), Park District staff, and residents.

Regional Parks Foundation members can enter through the pre-paid line, as free park entry and parking is a membership benefit. Learn more at www.regionalparksfoundation.org/join.

The pilot project is testing potential ways to improve the visitor experience and reduce traffic congestion when entering the park on busy spring and summer weekends and holidays. The pilot project runs through Labor Day weekend, Monday, Sept. 2.

35% of kids age 9 read for fun, down from 57% last year, study shows

An alarming trend has profound consequences on educational development. But one nonprofit organization bucking this trend by make reading fun again.

Third- and fourth-grade kids aren’t reading for fun like they used to, studies show. The industry calls it “Decline by 9.” According to research by the children’s publishers Scholastic, 57% of 8-yearolds read for fun. At age 9, just 35% do. The implications of Decline by 9 have profound impacts on a child’s academic development and overall future success, setting in motion a downward trajectory that can plague a student as they grow, the company said in a press release.

For instance, the National Assessment of Educational Progress – the “Nation’s Report Card” – reported a sharp decline in reading scores since 2020.This compounds the steady decline for the past decade.

With summer break coming soon, as a military spouse and mother, Melanie Sheridan, director of marketing and communications for United Through Reading knows firsthand how crucial it is to keep today’s youth reading. She outlined why keeping reading fun is important, including:

• The role that parents can play in encouraging their children to read by making it fun.

• How a decline in a child’s reading habits can hurt their educational development and successes.

• The importance of creating a fun reading list that children will enjoy.

• The impact that United Through Reading has made for over three decades on instilling a love of reading.

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More than half of Delta’s plant life ‘invasive’

By Daniel Gruen Correspondent

“The quantity of non-native plants is mind boggling,” said Liz Elias, Secretary of the Sierra Club Delta Group. “This is the only planet we got, and we don’t want to ruin it any further than we already have.”

Elias helped organize the event, and was talking about the Delta’s ecosystem on May 26 when the Sierra Club Delta Group and East Bay Parks hosted a free presentation on invasive plants at the Big Break visitor center in Oakley. It was the

Brentwood

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latest in The Delta Group’s “Every Day is Earth Day” presentations that are held on the last Sunday of every month at the Big Break visitor center.

Miriam Klingler, a naturalist with the parks disrtict, was Sunday’s guest speaker. “From an ecological standpoint, invasive plants, especially ones that are not native from this ecology - from this habitat - they can threaten to throw that balance out of sync in a way that can have really widereaching consequences…,” she said.

Klingler took the Delta Group on a trail outside the visitor center and highlighted the fierce competition between the

• $41,265,768 is for water improvement projects

• $23,973,894 is for park and trail improvement projects

• $110,033,210 is for roadway improvement projects

• $106,609,648 is for community facility improvement projects

A breakdown of how the program is funded through these sources can be found on page 22 of the Capital Improvement Plan document at https://bit.ly/44xcQMa

Staff noted to the Council in the meeting that budget approvals of CIP projects made that night would apply only to projects that are part of the 2024/25 fiscal year or multi-year projects that are part of that fiscal year. Any projects further down the road for planning purposes

Oakley

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activity.

Last March, the City Council adopted an ordinance that allowed immediate administrative fines or penalties for unlicensed commercial cannabis activity – cultivation, manufacturing, processing, distribution, or any retail sale – through adoption of the ordinance and authorizes it to declare unlicensed cannabis activity a public nuisance.

It also allows for administrative fines not to exceed $1,000 per violation or $10,000 per day.

“The proposed ordinance would add a provision to that ordinance (approved in March) to address the process when a property owner receives the citation for such a violation,” Vreonis said.

native and invasive plants at Big Break. “We were able to look at the slides and then recognize the plants out here when we saw them,” Elias said.

The Delta Group’s free monthly presentations began last year, each covering a new environmental topic with a different guest speaker, according to Elias. Julie Bisch-Pollock of the Delta Group and participant of the monthly presentations, said she attended because of the “camaraderie with people that are like-minded.”

While on the trail, Klingler explained that more than half of the Delta’s plant live is invasive, a figure that surprised

rather than budgeting purposes.

The City Council is expected to have one more CIPrelated meeting in June when projects such as the proposed basketball courts will be brought back to council after staff has had more time to look into them, according to city staff. At this June meeting, the Council can choose to amend the CIP to include these projects once they have been given more information.

Other topics discussed as part of the meeting included:

• Reports from the four city interns who were part of a new pilot program about their accomplishments.

The six-month internship was first approved by the Council last October and allowed students to gain hands-on experience in several departments of local

many in the group.

“I want people to feel excited that even with a lot of plants that might take over the space that don’t come from here, there’s still a lot of beauty and life growing, whether it’s those invasive or the native plants that are still here,” Klingler said.

The free presentations hosted by the Sierra Club Delta Group take place at 2 p.m. on the last Sunday of every month at the Big Break Regional Shoreline visitor center, 69 Big Break Road, in Oakley. For details, call 510-544-3050 or visit https:// www ebparks org/parks/big-break

government, including human resources and waste management.

• A correction of a clerical error with the water utility rate schedule. A 6.5% increase in cost of water services for certain non-residential customers was not reflected in a document, which city staff said could cause confusion for the 35 or so affected customers.

• A presentation from Los Medanos College President Pamela Ralston about the college’s 50th anniversary. She also encourages local high school students to take advantage of the opportunity to take collegelevel courses at the school while still attending high school and get a head start on their college credits. The full meeting can be watched at https://bit.ly/3KpGvxz

Vreonis explained that the California Government Code states that property owners are given a reasonable period of time for the correction or remedy of the violation before the administrative fines are imposed, and a reasonable time to correct only when the property owner can substantiate three criteria. The criteria are:

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1. a tenant is in possession of the property that is the subject of the administrative action,

2. the rental property owner or agent can provide evidence that the rental or lease agreement prohibits commercial cannabis activity

3. the rental property owner or agent did not know the tenant was engaging in unlawful commercial cannabis activity, and no complaint, property inspection, or other information caused the rental property owner or agent to have actual notice of the unlawful commercial cannabis activity.

“If these three things are (presented) before an administrative hearing, then the immediate fine would not be imposed, (and) a reasonable period of time to remedy the violation will be provided,” Vreonis said.

Failure to meet any or all of the requirements would result in the administrative fine being upheld.

Councilmember George Fuller, who related his experience being in law enforcement, said he did not give landowners “much slack” for not knowing that their tenant was engaging in unlawful commercial cannabis activities.

“I think it’s the responsibility (of the property owner) to know,” Fuller said. “There are many indicators, such as increased electricity and water usage.”

“I don’t want to let them (property owners) off the hook. I don’t know what

a reasonable time is, but I’m not going to excuse a property owner just because they say ‘I didn’t know.’ If you’re going to rent a property, I expect you to come in (from where you are) or hire a property manager to ensure there is no cannabis being grown on the property.”

Vreonis said a notice of violation or administrative fine would be issued and mailed to the property owner at the address on the property tax roll.

“If it (the notice) is not returned, we assume the property owner has received it,” Vreonis said. “If it is returned, staff take additional steps, as a courtesy, to try and locate the property owner by either sending a second mail or, if they have a phone number, then by calling or emailing them.” Fuller then questioned what constitutes a reasonable time frame.

Councilmember Aaron Meadows commented that property owners do not monitor the utility charges of their rented properties because the tenants pay the bills.

“I can’t speak for all property managers, but if I get a code enforcement violation, I’m checking into what is going on (in that property), and I’m serving a three-day notice to quit,” Meadows said. “If they don’t (move out) then I’m filing an unlawful detainer (to have the tenant evicted). I turn it over to my attorney, and they file the unlawful detainer in court.

“I don’t control the courts in California, so it’s up to them to move it. It could be a couple of months, depending on how backed-up the calendar is.”

“These are somethings we cannot control, so I am glad that it’s with the hearing officer to determine what is reasonable time,” Meadows said.