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Area actor to star in Tyler Perry film

By Isaac Arriaga Correspondent

Jermaine Harris, a Pittsburg native and former resident of Antioch, will star in the upcoming Tyler Perry film, “Madea’s Destination Wedding,” which will be released on Netflix on July 11. Harris will play one of Tyler Perry’s character’s sons, Brian Jr. in the comedy.

Harris said he learned about the role when his agent got him an audition for the film. Harris said he thought the short excerpts from the script, which was sent to him as part of his audition, were hilarious. He shot his audition on video and his agent sent it to the film’s casting director, Kim Coleman. Harris then waited for his agent to provide any news on being cast.

“This is right after the strike ended,” Harris said about auditioning for the film. “I thought the character was hilarious…I sent (the audition) in and two days later, my agents called me like, ‘Tyler thought you were really funny… he’s offering you the role.’”

Harris spent three weeks in production filming in the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, and Atlanta, Georgia. The film’s production was quick with Harris working over 10 hours per day and sometimes feeling jet-lagged from the different time zones. However, Harris’s love of performing and experiencing new cultures and food made filming easier for him.

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“Adjusting to that can be a task within itself, but it’s fun,” Harris said about filming in different locations. “I very much enjoyed it. I would a hundred percent do it again.”

in many aspects of the film, Harris said he focused on his own work as an actor to never break character until the scene was over. He also said his goal was to make Perry laugh in every scene they were in together.

“It was a full circle moment for sure,” said Harris about starring in a Perry film. “I grew up watching Tyler Perry movies, and I remember the character I read for … seeing that character when I was younger…but now I’m playing the older version of him, like that’s really cool.”

good smile can open doors. A Sheffield Smile can change lives.

Having to play the son of Perry’ s character, Harris got to spend a lot of time with the actor-writer-director-producer. Working with him, Harris saw Perry take on many roles during the entirety of the production.

However, despite Perry being involved

Harris is a Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG - AFTRA) professional actor with nine acting credits on IMDb including the HBO series “Ballers” and the Amazon Prime film “The Map of Tiny Perfect Things”. However when he was younger, Harris wanted to be a dancer. It wasn’t until the fifth grade that Harris reluctantly auditioned for the school’s Christmas play. With

his teacher, Ms. Cyrus’s encouragement, Harris read in front of the class and earned a role in the play.

“I still live by these words today,” Harris said about Ms. Cyrus’s advice to him. “She said, ‘You should try it. If you don’t try it, you’ll never know if you like it or not. If you like it, you found something new. If you don’t try it, you’ll never know.’”

Harris loved movies as a kid, but after participating in the school’s play he decided to pursue a career in acting. After Harris’s family moved to Antioch, Harris attended Deer Valley High School and continued to do theater. However, Harris wanted to do film acting and decided to not finish his senior year of high school at Deer Valley but from home instead, focusing on acting in student or independent films.

“Up until the end of my senior year, my mom was like ‘Well, have you found anything?’” Harris said about the decision to finish school at home. “She’d always been the type of person to tell me, ‘Look as long as you have a plan, stick with it and do a 110 percent, but if you don’t have a plan, then we need something to work here.’”

With the help of his mother’s research on schools for film acting, Harris attended Columbia College Hollywood, but had the intention to leave as soon as he was able to get an agent. After classes, Harris would send his audition tapes and acting reels to agents and managers all over Los Angeles. Harris spoke to his acting teacher, Joan Mc-

Murtrey, about his intentions to drop out of college to focus on his career, seeking confirmation for his decision.

“I remember telling her, ‘I’m thinking about dropping out,’” Harris said about approaching McMurtrey about his plan. “I’m auditioning, I’m submitting to agencies, I’m doing all types of stuff. She was like, ‘Well, if you’re already doing that, then what do you need this stuff for?’”

Harris dropped out of Columbia College and returned home to Antioch, but shortly after that signed with an agency. The agency helped Harris get his professional acting job in the HBO series “Ballers”.

Harris continues to audition for film and television roles and has a few projects set to release later this year, but he can’t say what they are. However, Harris still returns home to Antioch occasionally to visit his family, but Harris hopes to return to the family to Pittsburg.

“My family has been in Pittsburg since the ‘30s,” Harris said about his family’s connection to the city. “Around the time of the Recession, 2008, was when financially stuff started getting a little rocky so we ended up losing the house…It’s still a goal of mine to buy the house back eventually.”

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JERMAINE HARRIS

Pride Month in the Bay Area: a strong legacy of resistance and celebration

Pride Month, celebrated each June, honors the LGBTQ+ community’s fight for equality and recognition. In the Bay Area, Pride has deep historical roots — its story marked by political resistance, cultural transformation, and community resilience.

Though Pride Month began in response to the Stonewall Riots of June 1969 in New York, the Bay Area was already home to pioneering LGBTQ+ activism. The Daughters of Bilitis, founded in San Francisco in 1955, was the first lesbian civil rights organization in the U.S. offering support groups and legal aid. Similarly, the Mattachine Society, one of the earliest gay rights organizations, held meetings in the Bay Area as early as the 1950s, quietly challenging the criminalization of homosexuality.

San Francisco held its first Pride parade in 1970, one year after Stonewall, as part of the nationwide Christopher Street Liberation Day events. Initially called “Gay Freedom Day,” the march grew into a yearly tradition. By 1977, the parade attracted over 250,000 people, reflecting the Castro District’s emergence as a center of queer life.

This rise coincided with the election of Harvey Milk, one of the first few openly gay officials in U.S. history. Milk’s 1977 victory to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and his later assassination galvanized the local LGBTQ+ community

The Pride flag is raised at Brentwood’s community center.

and drew international attention.

In the 1980s, the HIV/AIDS crisis deeply impacted the Bay Area. Between 1981 and 1989, more than 10,000 AIDS cases were reported in San Francisco. Activist groups like ACT UP and the San

Francisco AIDS Foundation used Pride events as platforms to demand research funding and protest government inaction. Pride marches during this era often included quilts, memorials, and moments of silence, blending celebration with mourning and advocacy.

Today, San Francisco Pride is one of the world’s largest Pride celebrations, drawing nearly 1 million people in 2019. The movement has expanded across the region with events like Oakland Pride, established in 2010 to highlight LGBTQ+ people of color, and Silicon Valley Pride.

This year, San Francisco will host its 55th annual Pride Celebration on Saturday, June 28, and Sunday, June 29; the Pride Parade will take place on June 29. Parade festivities traditionally proceed along Market Street, stretching from the Embarcadero to the Civic Center.

Through decades of organizing — from Milk’s speeches to AIDS protests — Pride Month in the Bay Area reflects a powerful legacy of resistance and inclusion. Its history is not just celebratory but grounded in the community’s long-standing fight for dignity and justice.

Rojan Mikael Habon 12th Grade, Heritage High School

Y outh W riter

Photo by Nicole Becchina

PJTF awards college engineering scholarships to area high school students

By Sean Tongson Correspondent

A local nonprofit organization has awarded college scholarships to a group of young adults, including three from local high schools.

The Byron-based Patriots Jet Team Foundation (PJTF) awarded seven college engineering scholarships to students from four high schools. Suyash Dash and Katharina Wallace of Heritage High, and Marcial Gavino of Liberty High joined Christian Belmar, Rebecca Dubie, and Tanusha Koll of Merrill West High in Tracy, and Gia Keiper of Dublin/Los Positas Middle Collegein receiving the scholarships. They include six $5,000 awards and one of $2,500.

Aerospace engineering was the most popular discipline among the award receipts this year, followed by mechanical engineering, according to Patriots Jet Team Foundation Executive Director Don Paiva.

“We take a holistic view in our finalist and award recipient selections,” he said. “Beyond academic and extracurricular achievements, we look for students who have a keen interest in engineering, a collaborative spirit, strong character, and enjoy giving back to the community. Scholarship candidates must submit an application

form, three short essays, a recommendations letter, and official transcripts.”

According to Paiva, the scholarship awards are named in honor of Philip E. Gannon, a former president of the San Francisco Bay Area Engineering Council, who during his lifetime wanted to attract and encourage Bay Area students to pursue Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)-related careers, specializing in engineering and construction disciplines.

In 1993, Gannon started a foundation that provided scholarships to Bay Area college-bound students interested pursuing engineering majors.

“Four are members of the high school Robotics Teams (Heritage and Merrill West), which receive support from STEM grants,” Paiva said. “Four have volunteered at the annual PJTF Annual Benefit Gala, while two are active PJTF student volunteers. All students were accepted to top engineering programs, including UC Berke-

ley, Cal Poly, Los Positas, Montana State, Purdue, Stanford, and UCLA, The recipients will pursue engineering disciplines including aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, molecular and cell biology and biomedical engineering, and robotics engineering and technology.”

The Patriots Jet Team Foundation is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit that has served the community for over a decade, enhancing the lives of 5,000 students annually from approximately 30 schools across the Bay Area and Central Valley offering them experiences that are both valuable and life changing, according to their website.

The success of the foundation, according to their website, is attributed to a supportive, culture, enabling collaboration with educators while involving parents and corporate educational partners.

“We are dedicated to getting students excited about aviation, space, and STEM subjects and careers through our school outreach programs, learning center activities, mentoring, and scholarships,” Paiva said. “Our innovative, hands-on programs are free of charge to students and also instill the importance of leadership, teamwork, commitment, and community service.”

For details, visit www.pjtf.org/

From left, Heritage’s Katharina Wallace and Suyash Dash, along with Liberty’s Marcial Gavino all received scholarships from the Patriots Jet Team Foundation.

Photos courtesy Patriots Jet Team Foundation

By Todd W. Moeller, Moeller Estate Law

Estate planning isn’t just for wealthy folks. Establishing a viable estate plan is a necessity for anyone who wants to ensure their assets are handled properly and their loved ones are cared for after they’re gone. Acting now can save your family time, money, and unnecessary stress.

Estate planning is the process of legally detailing how your assets will be distributed and to whom. It also includes decisions regarding who will manage your affairs if you become unable to do so.

Regardless of your financial situation, these documents, at a minimum, are critical:

A Trust. Specifies who inherits your assets and who will manage your estate and, when properly funded, avoids probate when you pass.

Pour-Over Will. Works in conjunction with your living trust. It provides for your trust to be the beneficiary of your Will should there be any assets held outside of your trust without a beneficiary designation.

Financial Power of Attorney. A financial power of attorney allows someone to make financial decisions for you when you’re unable to.

Advance Healthcare Directive. A health care directive ensures your medical wishes are followed when you’re unable to communicate them.

Beneficiary Designations. Determines who receives assets such as life insurance or retirement funds.

Taking the time to prepare an effective estate plan means your loved ones avoid legal concerns. You decide who receives your assets rather than the government. You ensure your medical and financial wishes are honored.

Working with an estate planning attorney can ensure your documents are properly prepared. We encourage you not to wait. The best time to start is now.

If you have questions concerning your existing estate plan or setting up an estate plan, please contact Todd W. Moeller at (925) 3018840 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.

Fourth graders at Marsh Creek Elementary learn about financial literacy from Heritage High School students.

High school, elementary students use program to explore financial literacy

By Nicole Becchina Staff Writer

Tenth and 11th graders who were enrolled in the Career Exploration class this past semester at Heritage High took advantage of an opportunity to teach fourth grade students at Marsh Creek Elementary about financial literacy.

Gianna Alexander, Education Specialtist and Club Advisor at Heritage High, asked Connie Torres, a fourthgrade teacher at Marsh Creek Elementary, if her students could teach a lesson to

her fourth-grade class. Torres’s response was “absolutely.”

“Her students came to my class and used the Program Jump$tart Teen Teach in which they teach about financial literacy,” Torres said. “Her students taught mine about different careers through a PowerPoint presentation, discussion, and worksheets. This was the first time for both of us. We hope to expand it next year.”

Heritage students and Marsh Creek students came together to participate

see Jumpstart page 8

Photo courtesy of Gianna Alexander

Prostate cancer and the men in your life

We all must have heard about the news of former President Joe Biden’s diagnosis of prostate cancer. Since we are celebrating Father’s Day this month, this is a time to reflect on the important men in your life. Maybe it’s your dad, brother, son, uncle or grandfather. If you have any of these male figures in your life, here is some potentially lifesaving information that you can tell them to keep them healthy for a long time.

The prostate is an important part of the male reproductive system. It is a gland about the size of a walnut that surrounds the urethra. It is located below the bladder and in front of the rectum. Its primary purpose is to produce a fluid that becomes a part of semen that transports sperm for reproduction. The prostate also plays a role in regulating urine flow and protects sperm.

Prostate cancer is a disease that usually affects men ages 50 and older. It is very rare for boys, teens or early 20s.

Prostate cancer tumors usually grow slowly, so there are initially no symptoms, accordiong to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As men age, the prostate gland tends to get bigger, therefore increasing the chance of developing abnormal cells in the prostate gland. These cells

can multiply and divide uncontrollably and potentially turn into tumors that can spread throughout the body.

Initially, urinary symptoms are what leads to seeking professional help. Symptoms include difficulty urinating due to the tumor putting pressure on the urethra (the tube your urine flows through) which causes the narrowing of the urethra. As the prostate continues to enlarge with abnormal cells other symptoms include difficulty starting urination, weak or interrupted flow, urinary frequency, frequent need to urinate at night, trouble emptying the

bladder, pain with urination, blood in urine, pain in back or hips and painful ejaculation, according to the CDC.

According to the American Cancer Society, 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, so that is why it is important to have screenings.

Early detection is key starting with a blood test called PSA (prostate specific antigen) starting at around age 50, younger if you are Black or have family history, according to the Mayo Clinic. Secondly, an exam called digital rectal exam (DRE) during which a

rectum to feel for anything concerning like texture, shape or size of the gland. Prostate cancer is serious, but most men diagnosed do not die from it due to early detection, according to cancer.org.

Also an enlarged prostate doesn’t mean cancer; it means further workup is necessary, which would include a biopsy.

This Father’s Day, let’s keep the important men in our lives healthy by giving them the information they need to advocate for themselves.

For more information, visit CDC.gov, Mayoclinic.org or Cancer.org.

By Nikki Lopez, Caring Haven

When memory begins to fade, the familiar becomes more precious than ever.

Research from the Alzheimer’s Association shows that familiar environments help anchor individuals with memory loss, reducing anxiety and behavioral challenges. Even as memories become fragmented, the muscle memory of navigating one’s own home remains, offering moments of confidence amid uncertainty.

The benefits of aging in place with memory support are profound:

Consistency and routine: Home environments allow for established patterns that reduce confusion. From the morning coffee ritual to the way sunlight filters through familiar windows, these constants provide comfort.

Personalized memory cues: Family photos, heirloom furniture, and even the layout of rooms serve as gentle reminders that can trigger positive memories and reinforce identity.

Reduced triggering: New environments often cause agitation and fear for those with memory loss. Home settings minimize these stress

triggers, resulting in fewer episodes of confusion or distress.

Family connection: Home-based care allows loved ones to remain actively involved, preserving important relationships that institutional settings might limit.

However, supporting memory loss at home requires thoughtful planning. Professional memory care specialists can help families create safe, supportive environments through:

• Strategic home modifications that enhance safety while preserving familiarity

• Specialized memory-focused care techniques

• Respite services that prevent caregiver burnout

• Technology solutions that monitor safety while respecting dignity

With the right support system, seniors with memory challenges can continue finding comfort in the spaces that hold their life’s stories — even as the narratives themselves begin to fade.

Call us today at 925-331-0590 or visit www.caringhavenhomecare.com

Jumpstart from page 6

in the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy program, a 501(c) (3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C. According to Alexander, the curriculum taught by the high school students is designed and customized to benefit the participating students by addressing the specific learning needs and interests of both groups.

“For instance, it focused on particular careers or topics that high school students found engaging,” Alexander said. “However, it was essential for this curriculum to align with the learning objectives of the elementary students.”

The high school students gain knowledge and experience in multiple areas by participating in the Career Exploration class and the Jump$tart program.

“Career exploration helps students bridge the gap between education and the workforce, showing how their interests, skills, and academic career align with potential career options,” Alexander said “It exposes individuals to different working environments and job functions, helping them understand the diverse landscape of the job market. Career exploration enables individuals to identify their professional interests, goals, and aspirations, ultimately leading to a more focused and purposeful approach to their career journey. It provides a framework for defining the next steps in one’s career, whether that means choosing a major, seeking an internship, or pursuing further education. The benefits of career exploration include

• Waste must be in the rear trunk, truck bed, rear hatchback, or rear compartment of a van

• No waste shall be removed from the cab of any vehicle

• When you arrive – stay in your car!

improved self-awareness, increased motivation, enhanced career planning, and a better understanding of the job market.”

The elementary students learned about various types of careers and were intrigued to learn from high school students.

“My students were super excited to be taught by their older peers,” Torres said. “They truly enjoyed interacting with them and listened intently as they shared their excitement of the different careers presented.”

With more than 100 national partner organizations from business, finance, education, academia, government, and other sectors, as well as a network of independent, affiliated state coalitions nationwide, they possess the expertise, resources, reach, and commitment to advance financial literacy through collective and collaborative endeavors, according to Jump$tart. As the original promoter of April as National Financial Literacy Month, Jump$tart raises awareness about the importance of financial literacy for everyone, with a particular focus on #FinancialSmartsForStudents. Bringing financial education to every public, private, and charter elementary, middle, and high school in the country is our goal; ensuring its effectiveness with reliable resources, relevant information, and unwavering support for educators is our north star. With our partners and affiliates, Jump$tart believes that financial education is a crucial component of financial empowerment. This is their contribution to the broader goal of a more equitable and inclusive world.”

REGIONAL & LOCAL

News iN Brief

Summer Reading program begins at Brentwood library

The 2025 summer literacy program is all about play. Through Aug. 2, the library will champion Summer Reading as the summer of having fun and learning while you do it.

Readers of all ages can visit the Summer Reading page for more gaming ideas and challenges. Every reader who completes a passport is eligible for a free book and a chance to win prizes, the library said in a press release.

To further the fun and learning, the Library will once again host four Exploration Stations. Look, touch, and explore to learn about the natural world.

Here are some reasons for adults to participate in Summer Reading, too.

• Setting a positive example by reading in front of your kids is important for helping to foster a love of reading and encourages them to read to themselves.

• Reading for pleasure is the best way to demonstrate to your kids that reading is fun and helps to exercise your imagination, librarian Alison McKee said in the release.

• Summer Reading is for everyone, not just kids, so your teenagers can participate with you. It helps to prevent summer slide (learning loss that happens when kids are out of school) and reduces the amount of time they spend in front of a screen. You can also encourage them to participate in an in-person event at your local branch where they can socialize with other teens and meet new people. For details, visit https://ccclib.org/news/ county-librarians-message-for-june-2025 County Fire

Protection District launches Nurse Navigation program

Residents and visitors who call 911 within the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District may receive expanded medical services through a new program,

Nurse Navigation.

The Nurse Navigation program is a healthcare solution, with proven success nationwide, provided through a partnership with Global Medical Response.

The program offers expanded medical options by connecting 911 callers with the most appropriate level of medical care at the right time and location, according to a press release from Contra Costa Fire, or ConFire.

This new program will integrate into Contra Costa Fire’s existing 911 dispatching services. If a condition is deemed to not require emergency care or transport, callers will be transferred to a Nurse Navigator to determine an appropriate path for treatment and assist in coordinating access to care. This program helps residents receive the right level of care for their needs, which may include a referral to an appropriate care resource.

The Nurse Navigator service does not require the caller to have medical insurance, and there is no cost when the program is used. Ambulances and fire district personnel will still be dispatched when calls are received for urgent, lifethreatening, or potentially life-threatening emergencies.

“By connecting callers with the right resources, it helps reduce pressure on emergency departments and allows our ambulances and first responders to focus on the most urgent cases. This program is an important step in providing exceptional care to the residents and visitors of Contra Costa County while ensuring our emergency services remain responsive and effective,” said Xon Burris, Jr., Assistant Fire Chief EMS Division.

DeSaulnier announces 2025 Congressional App Challenge

U.S. Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (CA10th District) announced he will host the 2025 Congressional App Challenge, a competition for middle and high school students to showcase their coding and computer science skills by designing original software applications.

Middle and high school students liv-

ing or attending school in California’s 10th Congressional District can submit an original software application for mobile, tablet, or other computing devices by 9 a.m. on Oct. 30.

“Highlighting the importance of STEM education is critical in our rapidly evolving world,” DeSaulnier said. “The Congressional App Challenge is a wonderful opportunity for young people to hone these skills and to demonstrate their ingenuity. I’m looking forward to once again seeing CA-10’s innovative spirit on full display during the 2025 competition.”

Created to encourage participation in computer science and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education, the challenge has inspired tens of thousands of students from all 50 states to use their creativity and technological skills to build new apps, DeSaulnier’s office said in a press release.

The winning app from the 10th District, which includes part of East County, will be selected by a panel of local expert judges, recognized by DeSaulnier, and featured on the House of Representatives website and on display in the U.S. Capitol. The winner will also be invited to the 2026 #HouseofCode celebration in Washington, D.C. with other student coders from across the country.

For more information or help submitting an app, call (925) 933-2660. To learn more about the challenge, register, and submit your app, visit www. congressionalappchallenge.us/students/ student-registration/.

Youth ride for free on Tri Delta Transit through July 31 this summer

Tri Delta Transit announced it is joining County Connection and WestCAT on the Youth Ride Free Pilot Program for Contra Costa County.

Tri Delta Transit is offering farefree rides on all fixed and express routes for young people up to 18 years of age through July 31, according to a press release from Supervisor Diane Burgis’s office.

Tri MyRide and Paratransit services

are not included. Riders must pay the fare when riding these services.

Young riders just need to hop on. No application, special card, or student ID is needed – just be 18 and under and let the driver know. Visit trideltatransit. com for details.

Tri Delta Transit wants your opinion on its new route system

Tri Delta Transit recently completed a comprehensive operational analysis, including a public outreach campaign, that will result in changes to its entire system. In order to make better serve its communities, the routes will be streamlined to be more efficient and come in a more timely manner.

These changes, effective Aug. 10, include significant changes to our routes, changes to the timetables with varying times during the day including 15-minute runs at peak times, and expansion of Tri MyRide with larger zones and a new Brentwood Tri MyRide zone, according to a press release from Supervisor Diane Burgis’s office.

As part of this change, Tri Delta Transit is considering changing the route numbers as well, and they want your input. They want riders to take this short survey at https://www.surveymonkey. com/r/numberingroutes.

County’s Aging council schedules informational forum for June 26

The county’s Area Agency on Aging invites residents to a focus group to bring their questions to the Aging & Adult Services’ Information & Assistance staff.

The focus group will be on Thursday, June 26 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Monument Crisis Center, 1990 Market St. in Concord.

The staff will listen to residents’ needs, are very knowledgeable about resources, and help provide information, referrals, and assistance with solving problems.

O pini O n

Editor:

EDITORIALS, LETTERS & COMMENTARY

‘A vital puzzle piece in ‘We the people….’

As we celebrated the promotion of the City of Oakley’s police trainees to police officers this month, some posed the question, ‘Why is this such a big deal?’

A selective few understood the effort it took, the planning, the approval, the vision, and the long months preparing. The same is true for Juneteenth and all the other national holidays I observe.

I celebrate Juneteenth to acknowledge, respect, and honor the unity in the collective vision and action for humankind. The best part of life is the unique possibility we all have to lift up one another when we have the courage to do so!

I believe Juneteenth is an invitation to join the celebration of freedom and community.

To me, Juneteenth is a vital puzzle piece in ‘We the people….’

La Sandra Sipp City of Oakley Human Resources Manager

What does Juneteenth mean to me?

Editor:

America has been at odds with itself from the day of its founding, with citizens of color bearing most of the weight behind it. Black culture is in a constant state of repair and recovery against common prejudices, and a state of reckoning against its own internal battles.

I was fortunate enough from a young age to have celebrated Juneteenth from an annual festival hosted in Buffalo, NY. My family has had the honor of participating in the festival multiple times throughout many years.

My father sold hand-woven straw baskets and handbags in the arts and crafts section to highlight the artistic talent that runs in the family. My mother

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Letters to the editor - Juneteenth

stood in parade floats representing her local sorority chapter’s rounds of community service. I marched in a parade through a former employer advocating for local architectural preservation.

The Juneteenth festival allowed us to meet new friends, tighten bonds with existing friends, and learn more about Buffalo’s history through its presence in Martin Luther King Park. It was one of many experiences where learning about Juneteenth instilled in me the sense of pride and purpose that comes from advocating for local communities.

Juneteenth is a holiday where each ending is a new beginning. Historically, it marked the epilogue to the Civil War, and marked the prologue to the Reconstruction era. It served as an epilogue to the civil rights era, and served as the prologue to its gradual recognition among state governments and the conception of the holiday flag. Recently, its ascent to federal recognition served as the epilogue to the height of the Black Lives Matter movement and is now serving as the prologue to ongoing economic and cultural hardships in the post-pandemic era.

Juneteenth is a holiday that does more than honor Black culture. It invites everyone to learn about our ancestors, our friends, our families, our neighbors, and our colleagues to embrace this cumulative knowledge as a guide towards the betterment of society. It represents how Black culture, like America itself, is a work in progress. It marks rebirth against death, hope against despair, resilience against stagnation, and growth against degradation. Now more than ever, Juneteenth serves as an important reminder of the free society we strive to be. We are human. We are valid. We are Juneteenth.

Bradley J. Bethel Jr. Graphic designer the Brentwood Press

A deeper look at the meaning of Juneteenth

Editor:

The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln on Jan. 1, 1863, putting an end to the enslavement of 3 million people of African descent (not African Americans because slaves were property, thus were not accepted in this country as people) in the Confederate states, making them free people.

But it would take two and a half years for the order to reach Texas, which played a significant role in the enslavement of Black individuals in the Confederate states. This delay was due, some say, to “slow communication.”

But I believe the slave owners in this state purposely withheld the information. It would be impossible for them not to have known, since it never took long for slave owners to communicate with one another if they were trying to locate a runaway slave.

So, on June 19, 1865, General Order No. 3 was delivered to Texas and read by U.S. Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger declaring that all the enslaved people in Texas were free.

I can only imagine what the spirit of these individuals was at the moment this was read to them on various plantations. This had to be a time for them to rejoice that after all these years of being in bondage that God had truly answered their prayers. Thus the “Freedom Day” that they had dreamed, and whispered about among themselves had finally come.

I look at Juneteenth as being somewhat of a double-edge sword. Even though the order says “all enslaved individuals are now “Free” you need to quote the entire order, and you will read where it says:

“The freed man are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not

be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.”

This is somewhat confusing to me. I don’t remember reading anywhere in the history books, where individuals on plantations were ever paid a wage for their work after slavery (please don’t bring up sharecropping because you never worked your way out of debt) going back to the plantation even though you were free you were still at the mercy of the plantation owner, thus you were in a state of “voluntary slavery.”

On Jan. 12, 1865 (two years, 11 days after Order no. 3 was issued in Texas) a question was posed to 20 Black pastors in Savannah, Georgia, as the Civil War neared its end (the Civil War didn’t end until April 1865). The question was “What do you want for your people?” The Black leaders explained that they didn’t want to live on white plantations any longer, as they feared it would take years for racial prejudice to dissipate in the South.

Instead, they wished to live on their own land. This, of course, would entail redistributing the land of Southern plantation owners. They felt that if this was done, they could best take care of themselves. They wanted to be placed on land until they were able to buy it from the government and make it their own (this, of course, was Order No. 5 the Promise of ‘40 acres’ and a mule’) but this never came about due to the assassination of Lincoln.

So, in conclusion, I totally support Juneteenth. But let us be clear – the “freedom” aspect of this celebration didn’t come about on that day completely. Our “Freedom Day” didn’t come until years later.

“Freedom is not something that anybody can be given; freedom is something people take, and people are as free as they want to be.” - James

Baldwin

Ted Turner Antioch

Congratulations Jason!

Continue conquering your dream goals of playing baseball at the next level and furthering your academic fire career at Butte!

We Love You!

Mom, Dad, and Ashleigh

Manuel Joe Gutierrez, Jr.

UC SAN DIEGO bound! We are so proud of you son for your many achievements. We are blessed to call you ours. May all of your dreams come true! Congratulations!

Congratulations Selena!

We are so proud of you and everything you’ve accomplished on your journey to becoming a teacher! Graduating from college is such a huge achievement, and now you’re stepping into a role that will make a real difference in the lives of so many. Your kindness, dedication, and passion for helping others will shine in the classroom.

We love you! Michael and Family

Congratulations!

We’re so very proud of you! Skies the limit bb.

Jordan, We are so proud of you and the hard work that you continue to put forth. We know that this journey has not been an easy one, but know that with each obstacle you may face, it is preparing you for a better adventure in life. Remember to stay true to yourself, walk in faith and know that we will always have your back.

Love, Mom, Dad, and Jaelyn

Jason Stevens Heritage High School

Jenna Garcia University of San Francisco

Jordan Kinnaird Heritage High School

Freedom High School

Selena Fairhurst California State University East Bay

The Class of 2025 celebrates

Seniors from throughout the Liberty Union High School District’s three high schools – Liberty, Heritage and Freedom – all tossed their caps last week during Commencement ceremonies in Brentwood and Oakley. Sky blue – Heritage; burgundy – Liberty; dark blue – Freedom. To view a slideshow of each school, visit www.thepress.net/multimedia/slideshows

Photos by Jeff Weisinger

2024-25’s top high school sports stories

The 2024-25 high school sports season in East County was filled with storylines, moments, celebrations, and some controversy. Here are our top storylines of the year:

8. Fogelstrom leads Heritage football back to NCS semifinals, then resigns By Jeff

Weisinger

For the second straight season, Dave Fogelstrom led Heritage football back to the North Coast Section semifinals. And then he left.

Heritage had an up and down season in 2024, going 4-1 in non-conference play before injuries, specifically to senior quarterback Phillip Babbitt, sent the team spiraling in Bay Valley Athletic League play to a 2-3 record with wins against Deer Valley and Freedom, the two teams at the bottom of the BVAL standings in 2024.

The Patriots bounced back in the playoffs though, defeating James Logan 34-0 before falling in a rainstorm in the semifinals at Acalanes 34-14 in Lafayette.

However, news about a month after the season shocked the Patriots community, as Fogelstrom announced that he was stepping down as head coach in December because his health concerns would hinder his ability to coach the program.

Fogelstrom went 27-23 as the Patriots’ head coach with the back-to-back NCS semifinals appearances in 2023 and 2024. Heritage’s 7-5 record in 2024 tied for the program’s second-best record, one win shy of the 8-4 record posted in 2016, according to MaxPreps.

7. Liberty football back to NCS playoffs By Juan Cebreiros

A 7-3, (4-1 league record) wasn’t good enough for Liberty football to qualify for North Coast Section playoffs in 2023. However, under the new playoff format for NCS, the same record got the Lions the top seed in NCS Division 2 playoffs.

Before the season started, head coach Mike Cable said they booked a difficult schedule to get the team prepared for playoffs. Ironically, two of Liberty’s opponents (Frontier and Amador Valley) would end up playing each other in the Division 3-AA state championship game.

Liberty’s Jaxon Bell rushed for 14 touchdowns and more than 1,800 yards as the Lions got back to the postseason and won a playoff game for the first time since 2022. While the Lions lost 23-15 to Bishop O’Dowd in the NCS semifinals, nine of the 11 defensive starters are returning for the upcoming 2025 season.

6. Heritage/Liberty girls flag football establishes the new Brentwood Bowl By Jeff Weisinger

When varsity girls flag football debuted back in 2023, Heritage embarrassed Liberty 25-6 at home in the first meeting between the teams, let alone both team’s first game in general.

Liberty returned the favor in the regular-season finale that year, winning the inaugural BVAL title 52-6 at Liberty, then did so in the 2024 regular season, defeating the Patriots a combined 69-13 in the two matchups.

Then came the playoffs.

Heritage was an underdog heading across town to take on the top-seeded Lady Lions, but the underdogs came out on top as the Patriots beat Liberty at home 18-13 in the NCS quarterfinals.

If the rivalry wasn’t there before, it’s there now.

”We just knew we could beat them,” then-head coach Jessica Banchieri said after the win. “They’re a really good team but so are we. (Heritage) believed in themselves, they executed the plays and had the discipline that we didn’t have in the other two games.”

As for Liberty, the loss put a sudden halt to what was a dominant season for the program in just its second year. The Lady Lions went 21-2 and won 19 in a row before the loss to Heritage, and were nationally ranked within the top-15 throughout a majority of the season.

5. Liberty baseball’s second-half run to win the league

By Juan Cebreiros

Liberty baseball started the season just 4-4 heading into their March 31 matchup against Campolindo. They were without head coach Andrew Lonsdale, but the 3-1 victory over the Cougars seemed to have been the turning point for the Lions’ season.

After the win, Liberty lost just three games while winning 12 over the stretch. The run propelled Liberty into contention for the BVAL title. And on the last day of the season, the Lions defeated Heritage to capture their second league title in three years.

Sophomore Chayce Formosa played a big role in the Lions’ season turnaround, and won BVAL MVP at season’s end. While the Lions were knocked out of NCS playoffs in the opening round, Lonsdale said after the season the future is bright and is excited for what next season brings.

4. Shedd becomes first Liberty female track athlete to reach State meet

By Jeff Weisinger

It was a year of first times to CIF State tournaments for Liberty athletics overall in the 2024-25 school year, more so after the calendar turned to 2025, and London Shedd made her debut at the State meet with a bit of school history.

The sophomore track star became the first female track athlete in the history of Liberty High School to qualify for the CIF State meet this year and was the only female track athlete to compete.

She earned her place at State by finishing second in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.90 in the NCS Meet of Champions, and a second-place finish with a time of 24.78 in the 200-meter dash as well.

She set a few school records as well this year after running an 11.84 in the NCS TriValley Area Championships back on May 17, and her 24.78 in the NCS Meet of Champions time is a new school record in the 200. She also holds the school record in the long jump at 18 feet, 3.25 inches.

At the CIF Track and Field Championships, Shedd finished in 18th in the 100-meters, running an 11.91, and 23rd in the 200-meters, running a 24.99

3. Liberty boys basketball’s first State bid By Juan Cebreiros

While the Liberty boys basketball team had become one of the most successful in the East Bay since Jon Heinz took over as coach in the 2007-08 season, they still hadn’t won the NCS or qualified for the State playoffs. However for the 2024-25 season, the Lions not only qualified for State playoffs, they won their first state playoff game, upending third-seeded Clovis North 71-67 in the opening round of after trailing 42-29 at halftime.

The Lions also finished league play 10-0, making it the fourth season in a row Liberty had an undefeated record against Bay Valley Athletic League opponents. It was also the last season Heinz would coach and he called the team’s playoff win against Clovis North “the biggest win in program history.”

2. Freedom baseball, softball go on improbable NCS runs By Jeff

Weisinger

When the baseball and softball season began, both Freedom baseball and softball didn’t look like teams that would make deep runs in the NCS postseason.

However, throughout the year, baseball head coach Ken Evanson and softball head coach Kenny Sposito preached about the teams getting hot at the right time.

Both teams did just that.

Freedom baseball’s up-and-down season culminated into a strong playoff run as the 12th-seeded Falcons grabbed a comefrom-behind win in extra innings at fifthseed James Logan, then shut out a 20-win, 4th-seeded El Cerrito team in the quarterfinals before heading straight to prom. The Falcons’ magic ran out in the semifinals at California High.

Freedom softball’s playoff run had the same amount of drama with more mileage. Following up on a strong BVAL run in which they finished 8-2 in league play, the 9th-seeded Falcons first drove up to American Canyon and blew out the Wolves 14-3 in the opening round, but it was the quarterfinal round that highlighted Freedom’s 2025 postseason.

Without their seniors, Freedom drove nearly seven hours up to Crescent City to take on top-seed Del Norte in the NCS quarterfinals. They defeated the Warriors 7-4 to advance to the program’s second semifinal in three years. They eventually fell in the semifinals to Alhambra in Martinez.

1. Liberty softball a step away from winning NorCal championship By Jeff Weisinger

Following the historic 2024 season, many wondered what Liberty softball had in store for an encore in 2025.

The encore outdid the previous show.

For the second-straight season, Liberty won the BVAL with a second-consecutive undefeated league season, then they went to work. The Lady Lions won the program’s first NCS title since 1997 after defeating Casa Grande in the NCS title game at St. Mary’s College back on May 30. They followed that with dominance in the CIF NorCal Regional playoffs, defeating Central Catholic 14-3 and Vanden in Fairfield 17-10 before falling in the title game at Salinas 4-1 on June 7 as the Lady Lions protested the pitching technique of Salinas’ senior Abi Jones. The CIF has yet to respond to Liberty’s request for a review.

Liberty finished the 2025 campaign 25-5, their best record in the MaxPreps era (since 2004) and their second-straight 20win season. They also are expected to return almost the entire roster minus two of their graduating seniors — Isabel Mercado and Savannah Page.

“You’re going to see a different team next year,” Liberty head softball coach Brandi Macias said. “They’re going to be stronger.”

Liberty softball celebrates their NCS championship with their new plaque after defeating Casa Grande in the NCS championship game at St. Mary’s College on May 30.

Photo by Jeff Weisinger

By Jeff Weisinger Staff Writer

The big question surrounding Liberty softball following their CIF NorCal playoff run in 2025 is simple: What do the Lady Lions have in store for an encore?

“You’re going to see a different team next year,” Liberty head softball coach Brandi Macias said. “They’re going to be stronger.”

Throughout the three years that Macias has been at the helm of Liberty’s softball program, the Lady Lions have found ways to outdo the season before, emphasizing the idea of progression within the program.

She did that immediately in her first year as head coach, guiding Liberty to a 1215 record and 7-3 in the Bay Valley Athletic League. She not only took the Lady Lions to the playoffs for the first time since 2017, but guiding them back to a double-digit win season after the team went 6-19 and 3-7 in league play in 2022, the year before she got there.

Liberty followed that with an explosive 2024 when they won 20 games for the first time in the MaxPreps era (since 2004), went undefeated in and won the BVAL title outright for the first time in program history and for the first time overall since the 1997 team split it with Pinole Valley, and they reached

the NCS semifinals for the first time since the 1997 NCS winning team did.

Then came this season: a 20-win regular season, 25 wins overall, including the postseason, another undefeated BVAL season and title, won NCS for the first time since the 1997 team did and not only won their first CIF NorCal regional playoff game for the first time in program history, but reached the NorCal championship for the first time in program history.

Now Liberty looks forward to the encore.

Liberty head softball coach

Brandi Macias looks on as assistant coach

Cindy Macias hugs pitcher Kate Skinner after the Lady Lions’ CIF NorCal regional championship game at Salinas last Saturday.

“They exceeded all of my expectations,” Brandi Macias said after the team’s NorCal championship loss at Salinas last weekend. “We lose two incredible seniors (Isabel Mercado and Savannah Page) that were a huge impact to us, but the majority of our starters are returning, and so the bar is set, and we will excel.”

As Mercado and Page have graduated, the Lady Lions are expected by Macias to return just about the entire roster, with 10 seniors, among them:

• Kaitlyn Macias and Kelsie Skaggs,

two of the team’s top three hitters this season (the team’s leading hitter, Taylor Jennings, will return as a junior)

• Isabella Rice who led the team in home runs this season with Jennings and Kaitlyn Macias right behind her as all three hit 10 or more homers

• Third baseman Madison Tuttle who was third on the team in on-base percentage.

• Two-time BVAL Pitcher of the Year Kate Skinner will also return for her senior season after going a career-best 17-5 in 24 appearances in 2025, recording a 2.16 ERA in 126 2/3 innings. She also allowed a careerhigh 39 runs and 70 walks in the increased workload in her junior season. But she also recorded 209 strikeouts in 2025, the first time she hit the 200-strikeout mark in her high school career.

As excited as Brandi Macias is for next season, especially with this particular senior class, she made it clear that she’s also not fully there yet.

”We’re not thinking about that right now,” Brandi Macias said. Next year is going to be a lot of celebrations and I’m just going to take in every practice, every single game, and I’m just going to embrace it because I’m not going to want it to end. I’m just looking forward to the beginning.”

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

Photo by Jeff Weisinger

Delta Valley Middle School League volleyball champions

The Edna Hill Middle School sixth grade girls volleyball team won the Delta Valley Middle School League with a record of 10 wins and 2 losses. Front row: Kimberly Mooreno, Mia Barker, Amelia Hamilton, Amelia Perez, SiMiyah Neff, Zoe Dolde. Back row: Coach Sam Retelas, Xyrielle Matira, Erika Chan, Malia Moore, Makalya Wills, Camila Alcalde, Ariana Mclaughlin, Allyson Barone. Not pictured: Nevaeh Seegmiller, Gianna Estrade

C lassifieds & l egals

LEGAL NOTICES

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: BRIAN D. NELSON, deceased CASE NUMBER P25-00943 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of: BRIAN D. NELSON, deceased. A Petition for Probate has been filed by: PAMELA J. NELSON in the Superior Court of California, County of: CONTRA COSTA The Petition for Probate requests that: PAMELA J. NELSON be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: a. Date: JULY 07 2025 Time: 9:00 A.M. Dept: 30. b. Address of court: 725 COURT STREET, MARTINEZ, CA 94533. If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters a general personal representative as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for Petitioner: Michael S. Shuttleworth 1515 Lincoln Way Auburn, CA 95603 (530) 823-7499

Brentwood Press No. 02-1273

Publish Dates: June 6, 13, 20, 2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

File No. F-2025-0002615 The name of the business(es): Walker Creek Ranch Located at: 1200 N Gate Rd In: Walnut Creek, CA 94598, is hereby registered by

the following owner(s): Joshua Robert Van Gompel. This business is conducted by: An Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. Signature of registrant: Joshua Van Gompel, Individual. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 05/13/2025 by Deputy Clerk Expires 05/12/2030 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 Publish Dates: June 13, 20, 27, July 4, 2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

File No. F-2025-0002520 The name of the business(es): Tonkin Talent Dynamics Located at: 9866 Key West Way In: Discovery Bay, CA 94505, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Tonkin Talent Dynamics LLC. This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company, State of Organization: CA. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. Signature of registrant: Susan Marlene Tonkin, CEO. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 05/07/2025 by Deputy Clerk Expires 05/06/2030 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 Publish Dates: May 23, 30, June 6, 13, 2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

File No. F-2025-0002921 The name of the business(es): G&B Partners Located at: 100 Metairie Place In: San Ramon, CA 94583, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Brittany Wright. This business is conducted by: an Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 11/11/2024. Signature of registrant: Brittany Wright, Individual. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 05/29/2025 by Deputy Clerk Expires 05/28/2030 Antioch Press No. 06-1617 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 Publish Dates: June 13, 20, 27, July 4, 2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT File No. F-2025-0002816 The name of the business(es): BPM REALTORS Located at: 200 Sand Creek Rd. Suite D In: Brentwood, CA 94513, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Best Property Management, Inc. This business is conducted by: A Corporation, State of Incorporation: CA. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. Signature of registrant: Ron Ventura, President. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 05/22/2025 by Deputy Clerk Expires 05/21/2030 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 Publish Dates: June 6, 13, 20, 27, 2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT File No. F-2025-0002838 The name of the business(es): Rootimentary Health Coaching Located at: 3306 Victoria Avenue In: Lafayette, CA 94549, is hereby

registered by the following owner(s): Alexis Elizabeth Bernstein. This business is conducted by: An Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. Signature of registrant: Alexis Bernstein, Individual. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 05/23/2025 by Deputy Clerk Expires 05/22/2030 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273

Publish Dates: June 6, 13, 20, 27, 2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

File No. F-2025-0002467 The name of the business(es): Benjamin Winn Construction/Hoist Located at: 2900 Delta Rd In: Brentwood, CA 94513, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Benjamin Winn. This business is conducted by: An Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 09/01/2021. Signature of registrant: Benjamin Winn, Individual. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 05/06/2025 by Deputy Clerk Expires 05/06/2030 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273

Publish Dates: May 30, June 6, 13, 20, 2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

File No. F-2025-0002198 The name of the business(es): Heritage Properties Located at: 2603 Camino Ramon, In: San Ramon, CA 94583, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): James Dye. This business is conducted by: An Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 07/01/2012. Signature of registrant: James Dye, Individual. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 04/23/2025 by Deputy Clerk Expires 04/22/2030 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273

Publish Dates: May 23, 30, June 6, 13, 2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

File No. F-2025-0002005 The name of the business(es): Bruja Botanica Located at: 101 Francisco Villa Dr. In: Oakley, CA 94561, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Atzimba Alvarez-Mires. This business is conducted by: an Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. Signature of registrant: Atzimba Alvarez-Mires. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 04/14/2025 by Deputy Clerk Expires 04/13/2030 Oakley Press No. 03-0477 Publish Dates: June 6, 13, 20, 27, 2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

File No. F-2025-0002708 The name of the business(es): MDC Pressure Washing, LLC Located at: 5131 Winchester Dr. In: Oakley, CA 94561, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): MDC Pressure

Washing, LLC. This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company, State of Organization: CA. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 05/01/2025. Signature of registrant: Matthew Dean Carmichael, Manager. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 05/19/2025 by Deputy Clerk Expires 05/18/2030 Oakley Press No. 03-0477

Publish Dates: June 6, 13, 20, 27, 2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

File No. F-2025-0002530 The name of the business(es): Byron Boat RV Storage And More Located at: 16141 Byron Hwy In: Byron, CA 94514, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Craig Matthew Sweeney. This business is conducted by: An Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 01/01/2025. Signature of registrant: Craig Sweeney, Individual. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 05/08/2025 by Deputy Clerk Expires 05/07/2030 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273

Publish Dates: May 23, 30, June 6, 13, 2025

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME

PETITIONER OR ATTORNEY: Nabil Taif

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA, 725 Court Street Martinez, CA 94553 PETITION OF: Nabil Taif CASE NUMBER: N25-0928 TO ALL INTERESTED

PERSONS: 1. Petitioner Nabil Taif, Nabil Taif filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present Name: a. Nabil Taif to Proposed Name: Archer Nabil Taif. 2. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING a. Date: 08/18/2025 Time: 9 AM Dept.: 30 b. The address of the court is same as noted above. 3. a. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Brentwood Press b. Need proof of residency.

Date: May 09 2025 Judge of the Superior Court Brentwood Press Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 Publish Dates: May 30, June 6, 13, 20, 2025

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GAMES & PUZZLES

NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE

T.S. No. 14-20498-SP-CA Title No. 1619853 A.P.N. 033-040-035 YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST DATED 10/07/2005. UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER. A public auction sale to the highest bidder for cash, (cashier’s check(s) must be made payable to National Default Servicing Corporation), drawn on a state or national bank, a check drawn by a state or federal credit union, or a check drawn by a state or federal savings and loan association, savings association, or savings bank specified in Section 5102 of the Financial Code and authorized to do business in this state; will be held by the duly appointed trustee as shown below, of all right, title, and interest conveyed to and now held by the trustee in the hereinafter described property under and pursuant to a Deed of Trust described below. The sale will be made in an “as is” condition, but without covenant or warranty, expressed or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to pay the remaining principal sum of the note(s) secured by the Deed of Trust, with interest and late charges thereon, as provided in the note(s), advances, under the terms of the Deed of Trust, interest thereon, fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee for the total amount (at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale) reasonably estimated to be set forth below. The amount may be greater on the day of sale. Trustor: Ruby Perez, An Unmarried Woman Duly Appointed Trustee: National Default Servicing Corporation Recorded 10/19/2005 as Instrument No. 2005-0400594-00 (or Book, Page) of the Official Records of CONTRA COSTA County, California. Date of Sale:: 07/02/2025 at 1:30 PM Place of Sale: At the north side of the Pittsburg Civic Center near the grass located at 65 Civic Avenue, Pittsburg, CA 94565 Estimated amount of unpaid balance and other charges: $958,214.78 Street Address or other common designation of real property: 220 RAYE AVENUE, OAKLEY, CA 94561 A.P.N.: 033-040-035 The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address or other common designation, if any, shown above. If no street address or other common des-

ignation is shown, directions to the location of the property may be obtained by sending a written request to the beneficiary within 10 days of the date of first publication of this Notice of Sale. If the Trustee is unable to convey title for any reason, the successful bidder’s sole and exclusive remedy shall be the return of monies paid to the Trustee, and the successful bidder shall have no further recourse. The requirements of California Civil Code Section 2923.5(b)/2923.55(c) were fulfilled when the Notice of Default was recorded. NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property. NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call 714-730-2727 or visit this internet website www.ndscorp. com/sales, using the file number assigned to this case 14-20498-SP-CA. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the internet website. The best way

to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. NOTICE TO TEN-

ANT*: You may have a right to purchase this property after the trustee auction pursuant to Section 2924m of the California Civil Code. If you are a “representative of all eligible tenant buyers” you may be able to purchase the property if you match the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. If you are an “eligible bidder,” you may be able to purchase the property if you exceed the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. There are three steps to exercising this right of purchase. First, 48 hours after the date of the trustee sale, you can call 888-264-4010, or visit this internet website www. ndscorp.com, using the file number assigned to this case 14-20498-SPCA to find the date on which the trustee’s sale was held, the amount of the last and highest bid, and the address of the trustee.

Second, you must send a written notice of intent to place a bid so that the trustee receives it no more than 15 days after the trustee’s sale. Third, you must submit a bid so that the trustee receives it no more than 45 days after the trustee’s sale. If you think you may qualify as a “representative of all eligible tenant buyers” or “eligible bidder,” you should consider contacting an attorney or appropriate real estate professional immediately for advice regarding this potential right to purchase. * Pursuant to Section 2924m of the California Civil Code, the potential rights described herein shall apply only to public auctions taking place on or after January 1, 2021, through December 31, 2025, unless later extended. Date: 05/22/2025 National Default Servicing Corporation c/o Tiffany & Bosco, P.A., its agent, 1455 Frazee Road, Suite 820 San Diego, CA 92108 Toll Free Phone: 888-2644010 Sales Line 714-730-2727; Sales Website: www.ndscorp.com Connie Hernandez, Trustee Sales Representative A-4842939 06/06/2025, 06/13/2025, 06/20/2025 Oakley Press No 03-0477 94967 Publish Dates: June 6, 13, 20, 2025.

NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE

T.S. No. 133295-CA APN: 032-201-019-0

NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE IMPORTANT NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST, DATED 1/17/2007. UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLA-

NATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER On 7/8/2025 at 9:00 AM, CLEAR RECON CORP, as duly appointed trustee under and pursuant to Deed of Trust recorded 1/30/2007 as Instrument No. 20070029249-00 of Official Records in the office of the County Recorder of Contra Costa County, State of CALIFORNIA executed by: LARRY SWIFT AN UNMARRIED MAN WILL SELL AT PUBLIC AUCTION TO HIGHEST BIDDER FOR CASH, CASHIER’S CHECK DRAWN ON A STATE OR NATIONAL BANK, A CHECK DRAWN BY A STATE OR FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, OR A CHECK DRAWN BY A STATE OR FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION, SAVINGS ASSOCIATION, OR SAVINGS BANK SPECIFIED IN SECTION 5102 OF THE FINANCIAL CODE AND AUTHORIZED TO DO BUSINESS IN THIS STATE; At the Auction. com Room, Pleasant Hill Community Center, 320 Civic Drive, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 all right, title and interest conveyed to and now held by it under said Deed of Trust in the property situated in said County and State described as: LOT 87, MAP OF SANDMOUND ACRES, IN THE COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, FILED JULY 22, 1949, MAP BOOK 38, PAGE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY RECORDS. EXCEPTING THEREFROM: RESERVATIONS FOR OIL, GAS AND OTHER HYDROCARBONS AND MINERALS, AS RESERVED IN THE DEED FROM BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST AND SAVINGS ASSOCIATION, RECORDED JULY 14, 1943, BOOK 740, OFFICIAL RECORDS, PAGE 254. The street address and other common designation, if any, of the real property described above is purported to be: 4944 SANDMOUND BLVD, OAKLEY, CA 94561 The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address and other common designation, if any, shown herein. Said sale will be held, but without covenant or warranty, express or implied, regarding title, possession, condition, or encumbrances, including fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee and of the trusts created by said Deed of Trust, to pay the remaining principal sums of the note(s) secured by said Deed of Trust. The total amount of the unpaid balance of the obligation secured by the property to be sold and reasonable estimated costs, expenses and advances at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale is: $380,924.99 If the Trustee is unable to con-

vey title for any reason, the successful bidder’s sole and exclusive remedy shall be the return of monies paid to the Trustee, and the successful bidder shall have no further recourse. The beneficiary under said Deed of Trust heretofore executed and delivered to the undersigned a written Declaration of Default and Demand for Sale, and a written Notice of Default and Election to Sell. The undersigned or its predecessor caused said Notice of Default and Election to Sell to be recorded in the county where the real property is located. NOTICE TO POTENTIAL

BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property. NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call (855) 313-3319 or visit this Internet website www.clearreconcorp.com, using the file number assigned to this case 133295-CA. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the Internet Web site. The best

way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. NOTICE TO TENANT: Effective January 1, 2021, you may have a right to purchase this property after the trustee auction pursuant to Section 2924m of the California Civil Code. If you are an “eligible tenant buyer,” you can purchase the property if you match the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. If you are an “eligible bidder,” you may be able to purchase the property if you exceed the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. There are three steps to exercising this right of purchase. First, 48 hours after the date of the trustee sale, you can call (855) 313-3319, or visit this internet website www.clearreconcorp.com, using the file number assigned to this case 133295CA to find the date on which the trustee’s sale was held, the amount of the last and highest bid, and the address of the trustee.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. F-2025-0002309 The name of the business(es): Planned Parenthood Northern California Located at: 3670 Delta Fair Blvd. In: Antioch, CA 945094006, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Planned Parenthood: ShastaDiablo, Inc. This business is conducted by: A Corporation, State of Incorporation: CA. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. Signature of registrant: Peter Kimani Kamau, Chief Financial Officer. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 04/29/2025 by Deputy Clerk Expires 04/28/2030 Antioch Press No. 06-1617 Publish Dates: May 30, June 6, 13, 20, 2025

Calendar

This Week’s Events

Friday, June 13

Caregiver OneCall Awareness Event

Caregiver OneCall is hosting an Awareness Event from 4:30–7 p.m. at TriVesta, 3950 Lone Tree Way in Antioch. Learn how they are changing the lives of caregivers, one call at a time. Meet the team, hear stories, enjoy refreshments, and enter a raffle sponsored by local businesses. Donations encouraged. Every dollar supports a caregiver in financial need. RSVP at www.zeffy. com/ticketing/awareness-launch. For more information on Caregiver OneCall, visit www. caregiveronecall.org.

Saturday, June 14

March for Equal Rights and Democracy Participants should meet at 4250 Lone Tree Way (old Regal Cinema parking lot). The march begins at 11 a.m. and participants will go to Williamson Ranch Park, 4969 Lone Tree Way. Everyone is encouraged to bring a flag, a sign and a friend. According to organizers, “Our freedom and liberty have been removed by the current regime and we should say “enough!” to the government takeover. We are all equal under the same sky.” For more information, contact Michael Selby at 213-222-3740 or michaelwecho@yahoo.com.

Juneteenth Celebration in Oakley Oakley is hosting a Juneteenth Celebration in Civic Center Plaza, 3231 Main St,, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. There will be music, food, and vendors. The community is invited to highlight Black voices. For more information, visit secure.rec1.com/CA/ oakley-ca/catalog.

Sunday, June 15

Father’s Day Car Show

The car show will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Riverfront in downtown Antioch on 2nd and G Street and is open to the public. This free event will feature live entertainment, food, beverages, vendors, arts and craft vendors. Awards for best in show, people’s choice, hotrod-sport, truck and classic will be presented at 2 p.m. For more information, visit celebrateantioch.org.

Thursday, June 19

Juneteenth Celebration in Brentwood

This free event presented by the City of Brentwood will take place from 4-8 p.m. at City Park downtown. There will be live music, food trucks, kids activities, craft vendors, educational booths, and musical guest Digital Underground. For more information, visit www.brentwoodca.gov.

Juneteenth: A Freedom Celebration in Antioch

Celebrate this Juneteenth with the City of Antioch from 4-8 p.m. at Williamson Ranch Park. This year marks the fourth annual city-sponsored Juneteenth Celebration, where the community comes together to honor freedom and culture and the richness of African-American heritage. This event features live performances, music, food, activities for kids and adults, and more.

On the Horizon

Friday, June 20

Brentwood Rotary 15th Annual Poker Tournament – No limit Texas Hold’Em

The tournament will take place at McCauley Estate Vineyards, 2525 Sunset Road in Brentwood. Doors open at 6 p.m. for dinner, and the tournament begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $75 per player and includes a buffet dinner, a drink ticket, and tournament play. There will be unlimited $20 re-buys the first hour and a onetime $40 add-on. Seating is limited. Buffet dinner will be provided by Brentwood Fine Meats. Poker will be provided by Blue Dog Events. There will be a grand raffle prize. For tickets, call Steve Gursky at 925-584-8708 or email egursky@

To have your event appear in the newspaper, email your events to calendar@brentwoodpress.com one week prior to publication. To have your event online, post your event for free on The Press Community Calendar www.thepress.net/calendar.

sbcglobal.net. The tournament supports the local Brentwood Rotary Community Fund and its charitable organizations.

Saturday, June 28

Oakley Summer Fest Parade

This year’s theme is “Past, Present and Unstoppable Future.” Everyone is invited to enjoy parade floats of businesses, neighborhoods, clubs, and community groups. The parade will take place from 9-10 a.m., and will start at 3650-3660 Main St. The parade, presented by the Oakley Chamber of Commerce, will be a journey through time, honoring Oakley’s roots, celebrating today’s heartbeat and dreaming big for tomorrow.

Oakley Summer Fest

Presented by Oakley Chamber of Commerce, Oakley Summer Fest will take place from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Civic Center Plaza. Each year, residents celebrate Oakley’s incorporation at Summer Fest. The event kicks off with a parade down Main Street and continues in Civic Center Plaza with live music, performances from local dance groups, craft vendors, food trucks, carnival games, face painting and more. For more information, visit www.oakleyca.gov/369/ Special-Events.

‘Cruisin’ Through History’ Car Show

The car show will take place from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at 3890 Sellers Ave. in Brentwood. The free event presented by the East Contra Costa Historical Society will feature raffles, food trucks, vendors and games. All proceeds will benefit the East Contra Costa Historical Society. For more information, visit www.eastcontracostahistory.org.

Uncorked-Wine, Dine and Dance the Night Away Fundraiser

Raise a glass and make a difference by joining Soroptimist International of the Delta from 5-9 p.m. at DeLuna Ranch, 7540 Balfour Road in Brentwood. Toast to an evening of wine, friends and purpose. Tickets are $75, and include wine tasting, dinner, dessert and entertainment. There will be raffle prizes and a silent auction. Proceeds support the mission of Soroptimist International of the Delta to raise scholarship money to improve the lives of local women and girls. Purchase tickets at http://siofthedelta.com. Immaculate Heart of Mary Italian Catholic Federation

Sock Hop Dinner Dance Fundraiser

All are invited to shake, rattle-n-roll at the ‘50s Sock Hop Dinner Dance. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church Hall, 500 Fairview Ave. in Brentwood. Dinner will be from 6-7 p.m. and will include hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries, and ice cream. There will be a DJ and a no-host cash bar with beer, wine and soda. Tickets are $40 per person (make checks payable to Italian Catholic Federation). Profits will go towards local kids’ scholarships and other Italian Catholic Federation charities. Attire with a ‘50s theme is encouraged, and there will be a prize for the best dressed. To purchase tickets, contact Michael Valenti (1mfv2@comcast.net, 925-212-6963), Laura Pierce (laurapierce7@ gmail.com, 408-219-4263), Ana Ellenberger (aellenberger@ihmbrentwood.com, 650-7046394), or Sandi Gamble (sanpilebousquet@ gmail.com, 925-550-3723).

Friday, July 4

Liberty Bell 4th of July 5K

Presented by Liberty Lions Band Boosters, the community is invited to the second annual run. The 3.1-mile run/walk, which benefits the marching band, jazz band, concert programs, winter percussion and winter guard programs, includes an in-person and/or a virtual run. For the in-person run, the race will begin at 7 a.m. at Veterans Park, 3841 Balfour in Brentwood, and participants will run towards Concord Avenue. For the virtual run, participants can run whenever and wherever they desire beginning Friday, July 4 through Sunday, July 14. All participants will receive an event T-shirt and

medal. Packet pick-up is Thursday, July 3 from 3-7 p.m. at Fleet Feet, 6061 Lone Tree Way in Brentwood. Virtual racers will need to pick up their shirt and medal at packet pickup. The race is open to all. Animals will not be allowed on the course. Strollers are welcome. To register, visit libertybell5kfunrun.itsyourrace.com/event. aspx?id=16236. For more information, visit www. libertylionsband.com.

Saturday, July 12

Peddlers in the Park Summer Shop and Show

This free family-friendly event will take place from 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at City Park in Brentwood. There will be vendors with a variety of products, jumbo games to play for the family, live music, various food vendors and mimosas. For more information, email chillLifeEvents3@ gmail.com or visit www.facebook.com/ ChillLifeEvents.

Wednesday, July 23

Casino Day Bus Trip from Oakley Oakley Senior Citizens presents a Casino Day Bus Trip to Black Oak Casino Resort. The bus will leave the Oakley Recreation Center parking lot, 1250 O’Hara Ave., at 8 a.m. sharp. The cost is $47 per person and includes the bus driver’s tip. There will be round trip motorcoach transportation, a bonus $10 cash on participant’s card, a $5 food credit, and a wheel to spin to get $5 up to $50 or more. There will also be raffle and bingo enroute to the casino. Participants will have five hours at Black Oak Casino to gamble and eat. The bus will arrive back at the parking lot around 6 p.m. To reserve a spot, call 925-626-7223 or Allan at 925-265-3417, or email oakleyseniors@gmail.com. Checks can be sent to P.O. Box 268, Oakley, CA 94561 or accepted via Zelle at oakleyseniors@gmail.com. Participants must have money paid by July 22 or their seat may be forfeited.

Ongoing Events

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.

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.eclubhouse.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://eclubhouse.org/sites/byron_delta/.

St. Anthony’s Church Food Distribution

Oakley Senior Center food distribution has moved out of their previous location. For the

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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. Call to confirm hours for special holiday distributions. 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.

Soroptimists

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. 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/. Delta Informal Gardeners

The group meets the fourth Monday of most months at the Brentwood Community Methodist Church at 809 Second St. at 7:30 p.m. For details, contact Roger Marman at 562-421-8036 or ramarman@gmail.com.

Business Profile

parapets on the exterior of the building. The motion also requires the fire district to ensure there will be three ADA-compliant parking spaces for the veterans as well as “sufficient storage space” for them.

A clash between the county and the veterans had been a recurring topic at meetings related to the potential fire station for several years because the proposed design would shift the lot lined between the two properties in such a way as to cost the veterans space that they have historically used for parking and storage.

Deputy Fire Chief Aaron McAlister characterized the space as 400 square feet of “undeveloped gravel” earlier in the year while the veterans have said it makes up 6.8% of their total lot. The veterans expressed concern that the noise from the fire station could trigger PTSD in some of the veterans, among other issues. Following a meeting of the Planning Commission in March in which the commissioners delayed their decision, Daniel Duran — a Brentwood Veterans Memorial Building board member — said the harm would continue to be felt after construction was completed. He cited the description of the fire station as a deterrent for those who would normally rent out the veteran building for events, leading to a direct loss in revenue for the Brentwood Veterans Memorial Building.

This feud led to the veterans and their

Climate from page 1

supporters adopting the slogan “yes to the station, no to the location” as they tried to persuade the city to uphold the decision by the Planning Commission and potentially moving the proposed station to a parcel on Sand Creek Road that had once been earmarked for a fire station. The signs with the slogan proclaimed “save our Brentwood Veterans Memorial Building,” which Councilmember Faye Maloney characterized as hyperbolic due to the 100-year-old building itself never being in danger of being destroyed by the project.

According to McAlister earlier this year, Con Fire had “inherited” the decision regarding the plot of land on Sand Creek, which had been ruled out before Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) annexed the East Contra Costa Fire

trical efficiency and reducing natural gas usage in buildings, as well as promoting renewable energy

• Transportation and Land Use, which deals with promoting active transportation such as bikes, public transportation such as buses, and a transition to electric vehicles

• Adaptation and Resilience, which deals with ways to improve the resilience of Oakley’s infrastructure, residents, historical sites, and ecology in the face of climate change’s direct effects, such as floods

These categories are divided into goals, which are further subdivided into targets, which have descriptions of the actions required to reach the target and the scope of those actions. For example, goal G-1, which aims to “implement carbon reduction and climate resilience practices across City operations and facilities,” is under the Governance and Leadership category. The goal is divided into Targets G-1.1 and G-1.2, which deal with prioritizing climate and sustainability in city operations and mobilizing resources to implement the Climate Action Plan, respectively.

The first of these, G-2.3, pertained to the city “partner[ing] with the Diablo Water District and local business groups” to implement better water and power use plans and sustainable policies. Mayor Shannon Shaw proposed adding the Ironhouse Sanitation District to the list of entities the city will partner with. Community Development Director Ken Strelo accepted the change, and said that it would be implemented.

The second, T-2.2, contained an action explicitly

Firework ban from page 1

fireworks is broad, and includes everything from handheld sparklers to large bursting shells launched from firework mortars, according to Roberts’ presentation. The penalty for using fireworks is a $1,000 fine, according to the municipal code.

Protection District in 2022. During the annexation process, all documents identified the First Street location as the planned home for Station 94, McAlister said, adding that during the annexation process, the county did not acquire the Sand Creek property, despite preparations that had been made by the city for a fire station, such as a cutout in the median. This was due, in part, to the previous fire district determining the Sand Creek location to not be viable partly because its placement would be near where Sand Creek Road dead ends just past Garin Parkway. The lack of a through street would slow response times to some areas as a result, he said.

At the June 10 meeting, Interim City Manager Darin Gale further explained that the lot on Sand Creek was not ready to be built upon and would require the county to do studies and go through a design re-

mandating that the city transition its fleet of gas-powered vehicles to zero-emissions vehicles by 2040. Shaw considered this transition difficult because manufacturers are not making any heavy utility zero-emissions vehicles, which would be necessary for the police and public works. As such, she suggested changing the wording to say that the city will make the transition “to the best of [its] ability” instead. Strelo also accepted this change.

The final contested target, A-4.2, deals with “protect[ing] significant historical and ecological sites to ensure resilience to climate impacts on an ongoing basis,” with an included action to “encourage preservation and protection of Delta ecosystems to foster ecological health and bolster climate resilience.” Vice Mayor Anissa Williams suggested that the action be strengthened to make clear Oakley’s opposition to the Delta tunnels project, which would significant harm the local ecosystem. Strelo accepted this change as well, though he mentioned that the staff would need to brainstorm a new wording in order to make it work.

During the discussion of the Climate Action Plan, an argument broke out between Fuller and Shaw, Williams, and Councilmember Aaron Meadows, after Meadows commented that he considered the plan’s provisions to safeguard Oakley’s agriculture to be unnecessary.

“All we have now are grapes, and they’re just placeholders until they’re gone,” Meadows said. “The grape industry is in bad shape. When you talk about farming, you lose credibility.”

Fuller disagreed, saying that agriculture was still a major business in California, and that Meadows himself is a fifth-generation vineyard owner, along with

“The concern I always hear about drones is about privacy,” Roberts said. “I understand that, and that’s really one of the reasons I want to do this...We’re not going to be watching inside [people’s] houses, we’re not going to be hovering over their houses.”

Despite this, Roberts also said that he

A rendering of the proposed Fire Station 94 on First Street in Brentwood. Press photo

view process. According to a statement by County Supervisor Diane Burgis ahead of the council meeting, developing the Sand Creek location would further delay expanding fire services to Brentwood.

While the public comments submitted ahead of the June 10 meeting were characterized by council as overwhelmingly in favor of reversing the Planning Commission’s decision and placing the fire station downtown, City Council also pointed out that many of the comments were made by bots and that some came from out of state as well and should be disregarded. The public comments given during the meeting -– more than 40 — were more evenly split between those supporting the Planning Commission’s decision and those who said it should be overturned.

The full meeting can be watched at https://bit.ly/3Zq7G3b

Williams. He also disagreed with Meadows saying that the community “doesn’t understand” the agricultural situation in Oakley. Meadows and Williams responded that they have had trouble getting contracts to sell their vineyards’ grapes for years, and as such were replacing them with other development. They additionally mentioned that agriculture, while important in California as a whole, was never the most important in Oakley, since Brentwood held the best local farm land.

“Our residents came here for the country feel, and they want to preserve it,” Williams said. “We need to focus on green spaces, but not force people to hold onto products that they can’t sell.”

Fuller also protested changing the plan without republishing it or getting public opinion on the changes made by the council. He said that because they owned agricultural land, the councilmembers who approved of making changes have a conflict of interest, although the targets that were changed do not pertain specifically to agriculture.

“I would like to see it written,” Fuller said. “I would like it to go out to the public. They should be alerted that councilmembers who own agricultural land have made changes … Otherwise, it’s a violation of public input. I want legal documents to be written before making arbitrary changes.”

This debate became so heated at one point that Shaw called a five-minute recess in the meeting.

The Oakley Planning Commission had previously recommended the plan for City Council approval at their May 6 meeting. The resolution to adopt the Climate Action Plan passed 4-0, with Fuller abstaining.

would be “watching people in their backyards lighting fireworks” with the drone in order to issue them citations. No attendees commented when he said this.

Police said fireworks sellers generally are outside of the county, so police have no control over them. If you know or suspect someone near you is using fire-

works, Roberts said, you can report them at OPD@ci.oakley.ca.us. According to Roberts’ presentation, this email address is best used before the night the fireworks are to be set off, specifically in order to catch repeat offenders who are known to have used fireworks in previous years.

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