PETITIONER OR ATTORNEY: Jaime Martin Navarro SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA, 725 Court Street Martinez, CA 94553 PE-
TITION OF: Jamie Martin Navarro CASE NUMBER: N25-1276 TO ALL INTEREST-
ED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner Jaime Martin Navarro filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:
Present Name:
a. James Martin Cisneros Navarro
b. AKA Jaime Martin Navarro
to Proposed Name: Jaime Martin Navarro
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: 10/20/2025 Time: 9:00 a.m. 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 Date: 6/30/2025 Judge of the Superior Court Brentwood Press No. 02-1273
95177 Publish Dates: July 18, 25, August 1, 8, 2025.
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME
PETITIONER OR ATTORNEY: Vanda El Victory SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA, 725 Court Street Martinez, CA 94553 PETI-
TION OF: Vanda El Victory CASE NUM-
BER: N25-1269 TO ALL INTERESTED
PERSONS: 1. Petitioner Vanda El Victory filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:
Present Name:
a. Vanda El Victory
b. AKA Vandael Victory Sr to Proposed Name: Vandael Victory Sr.
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: 10/17/2025 Time: 9:00 a.m. Dept.: 30 Room: 201 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:
PUBLIC NOTICE OF CLAIM AND INTEREST TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
Be it known by this public notice, and by lawful record, that the following property is lawfully held by the Ladybug Irrevocable Family Trust Enterprise under Divine Right, Natural Law, and United States Land Patent authority: Property Address: 7509 Sahara Avenue, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277 Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN): 0590232-04-0-000
Legal Description: N.E. ¼, SEC. 3, T.1S, R.9E, LOT 15 IN BLOCK 16, TRACT NO. 2504, TWENTYNINE PALMS DESERT HOMES SUBDIVISION NO. 1, County of San Bernardino, California
Patent Reference: United States Land Patent ACCESSION NUMBER: 169450 DOCUMENT 96 (BLM Serial CACCAAA072707)
Claimant: Tara L. Oberlander, in her official capacity as Managing Trustee, Authorized Representative, and Fiduciary Agent of the Ladybug Irrevocable Family Trust Enterprise
Any and all unauthorized claims, filings, liens, deeds, judgments, or encumbrances upon the above-referenced property by third parties, banks, private or public corporations, or government agencies shall be deemed fraudulent, null and void, and without lawful effect.
This public notice is issued and record in a newspaper of record or and electronic archive in accordance with constructive notice requirements Law and land rights publication standards.
This notice affirms the lawful, sovereign, and spiritual interest of the Trust, and is recorded to protect the sacred title and occupancy of said land.
Executed this 26 day of January, 2024.
By: Tara L. Oberlander
Managing Trustee, Authorized Representative, and Fiduciary Agent Ladybug Irrevocable Family Trust Enterprise Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 95213
Publish Dates: July 25, 2025.
SUMMONS (DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESTRAINING ORDER)
CITACIÓN (orden de restricción de violencia en el hogar)
Case Number: Número de caso: 25FL00972
1. Person asking for protection: La persona que solicita protección: Joshua Glovier
2. Notice to, Aviso a: Georgia Claibourne
The person in 1 is asking for a Domestic Violence Restraining Order against you. La persona en 1 está pidiendo una orden de restricción de violencia en el hogar contra usted.
3. You have a court date Tiene una audiencia en la corte Date Fecha: August 26, 2025
Time Hora: 1:30 pm
Dept. Depto: 22
Name and address of court, if different from above: Nombre y dirección de la corte, si no es la misma de arriba: SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SONOMA 3055 CLEVELAND AVE., SANTA ROSA, CA 95403
What if don’t go to my court date?
limits your contact with the person in 1. If you have a child with the person in 1, the court could make orders that limit your time with your child. Having a restraining order against you may impact your life in other ways, including preventing you from having guns and ammunition. If you do not go to your court date, the judge could grant everything that the person in 1 asked the judge to order.
¿Qué Pasa si no voy a la audiencia?
Si no va a la audiencia, el juez puede dictar una orden de restricción que limita su contacto con la persona en 1. Si tiene un hijo con la persona en 1, la corte puede dictar órdenes que limitan su tiempo con su hijo. Una orden de restricción en su contra puede tener otras consecuencias, como prohibirle tener armas de fuego y municiones. Si no va a la audiencia, el juez puede ordenar todo lo que pide la persona en 1. How do I find out what the person in 1 is asking for?
To find out what the person in 1 is asking the judge to order, go to the courthouse listed at the top of page 1. Ask the court clerk to let you see the case file. You will need to give the court clerk your case number, which is listed above and on page 1. The request for restraining order will be on form DV-100, Request for Domestic Violence Restraining Order.
¿Cómo puedo entender lo que pide la persona en 1?
Para entender lo que pide la persona en 1, vaya al tribunal en la dirección indicada en la parte superior de la página 1. Pida al secretario de la corte permiso para ver el expediente de su caso. Tendrá que darle al secretario el número de su caso, que aparece arriba y en la página 1. La solicitud de una orden de restricción se hace en el formulario DV-100, Solicitud de orden de restriccion de violencia en el hogar.
Where can get help?
Free legal information is available at your local court’s self-help center. Go to www. courts.ca.gov/selfhelp to find your local center.
¿Donde puedo obtener ayuda?
Puede obtener información legal gratis en el centro de ayuda de su corte. Vea https://www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelpselfhelpcenters.htm?rdeLocaleAttr=es para encontrar el centro de ayuda en su condado.
Do I need a lawyer?
You are not required to have a lawyer, but you may want legal advice before your court hearing. For help finding a lawyer, you can visit: www.lawhelpca.org or contact your local bar association.
¿Necesito un abogado?
No es obligatorio tener un abogado, pero es possible que quiera consejos legales antes de la audiencia en la corte. Para ayuda a encontrar un abogado, visite https://www.lawhelpca.org/es/homepage o contacte al Colegio de Abogados local.
File No. F-2025-0003240 The name of the business(es): Shugga’s Coffee Company Located at: 1503 Yosemite Cir In: Oakley, CA 94561, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): 1. Jessica Felicia Berendsen 2. Steve John Berendsen. This business is conducted by: A Married Couple. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. Signature of registrant:
Jessica Berendsen, Party of Marriage. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: June 13, 2025 by Deputy Clerk Expires 6/12/2030 Oakley Press No. 03-0477 95224 Publish dates: July 25, August 1, 8, 15, 2025.
NOTICE OF LIEN SALE
Live Oak Storage,1315 Main Street Oakley, CA 94561, has possessory lien on all of the goods stored in the prospective units below. #213 Alicia Johnson, #224 Karen Canizales, #229 Morissa A. Clark, #895 Angela Lee, #1012 & #387 Johnny Osborne, #2044 Angel Santiago, #3051 Amber Saitta, #55 David Cottle Jr., #109 Sunny Jacobson, #339 Robert Reynolds, #722 Wilson Berry, #812 Heidi Werner, #900 & #913 Cassie Cavanaugh, #951 Lowell Gresham, #966 Gerardo Hernandez, #3025 Jacy Cortez, #8A Faustino Morales. The goods are described as furniture, tools and miscellaneous personal property items being sold pursuant to the assertion of the lien on August 7th, 2025 at 10:00am. In order to collect the amounts due from you. The sale will take place at 1315 Main Street, Oakley, CA 94561 County of Contra Costa state of California. This lien sale is pursuant to Chapter 10 Section 21700-21716 of the California Self Service Storage Facility Act. Auction is to be held by Jason Whitt ms#199016. Owner reserves the right to bid at the sale. Purchase must be in cash only paid at the time of the sale. Sale is subject to prior cancellation, in the event of settlement between owner and obligated party. Oakley Press No. 03-0477 95212 Publish Dates: July 25, August 1, 2025.
NOTICE OF LIEN SALE
The following persons are in lien at Oakley Gateway Self Storage, 2101 Laurel Rd. Oakley, CA 94561: Debra Prentice
Tametha Hawkins
John Palmieri
Brian Perry
Vanessa Vaughn Lashea Rivers
Nicole Nagy
Jaime Salgado
All bids must be placed prior to Auction Sale Date 8/06/25 @ 12 pm. The sale location is online: www.storagetreasures.com
Oakley Press No. 03-0477 95220 Publish Date: July 25, 2025.
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT
File No. F-2025-0003570 The name of the business(es): COMUNIDAD DE FE DE ANTIOQUIA, INC. Located at: 423 West 6th St In: Antioch, CA 94509, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): COMUNIDAD DE FE DE ANTIOQUIA, 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: Luisa Quintero, VicePresident. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 07/02/2025 by Deputy Clerk Expires 07/01/2030
Publish Dates: July 25, August 1, 8, 15, 2025
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT
File No. F-2025-0003319 The name of the business(es): COLLEY PI Located at: 3126 Kodiak Street In: Antioch, CA
94531, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): James Michael Colley. 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: James Colley, Individual. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 06/20/2025 by Deputy Clerk Expires 06/19/2030
Publish Dates: July 4, 11, 18, 25, 2025
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT
File No. F-2025-0003652 The name of the business(es): BAYSIDE MARKET Located at: 641 EASTWOOD CT, In: BRENTWOOD, CA 94513, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): BAYSIDE HEALTHCARE SERVICES 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: KUNLE MAJOWOGBE, COO. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 07/08/2025 by Deputy Clerk Expires 07/07/2030
Brentwood Press No. 02-1273
Publish Dates: July 25, August 1, 8, 15, 2025
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT
File No. F-2025-0003830 The name of the business(es): Sycamore Valley Chiropractic Located at: 401 Sycamore Valley Rd West In: Danville, CA 94526, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): 1. Gregory E Call 2. Kirsten M Call. This business is conducted by: A General Partnership. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 01/01/2025. Signature of registrant: Gregory Call, General Partner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 07/17/2025 by Deputy Clerk Expires 07/16/2030
Brentwood Press No. 02-1273
Publish Dates: July 25, August 1, 8, 15, 2025
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT
File No. F-2025-0003745 The name of the business(es): Stem Guys Tire Supplies Located at: 364 Fremont Peak Drive In: Brentwood, CA 94513, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Clayton Tire Supply 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: Richard Leland, President. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 07/11/2025 by Deputy Clerk Expires 07/10/2030 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273
Brentwood Press No. 02-1273
Publish Dates: July 18, 25, August 1, 8, 2025
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT
File No. F-2025-0003650 The name of the business(es): PARADISE CONSTRUCTION Located at: 1145 2ND ST. #255 In: BRENTWOOD, CA 94513, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Paradise Incorporated. 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: JAVIER GOMEZ, CEO. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 07/08/2025 by Deputy Clerk Expires
07/07/2030
Brentwood Press No. 02-1273
Publish Dates: July 18, 25, August 1, 8, 2025
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. F-2025-0003608 The name of the business(es): More-ish Cookies Located at: 3037 Carey Lane In: Brentwood, CA 94513, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Kris Baker. 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: Kris Baker, Individual. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 07/03/2025 by Deputy Clerk Expires 07/02/2030
Brentwood Press No. 02-1273
Publish Dates: July 11, 18, 25, August 1, 2025
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. F-2025-0003538 The name of the business(es): Kozo Candles Located at: 2197 Wayne Drive In: Brentwood, CA 94513, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Kozocas Productions 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: L. Graham, Deputy Clerk. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 07/01/2025 by Deputy Clerk Expires 06/30/2030 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273
Publish Dates: July 11, 18, 25, August 1, 2025
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. F-2025-0003295 The name of the business(es): 1. Pilipili Moto 2. Just Bee Cause Located at: 26075 Marsh Creek Rd In: Brentwood, CA 94513, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Chesumot Shamba Limited 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 09/15/2016. Signature of registrant: Michael K Roberts, Managing Member. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 06/18/2025 by Deputy Clerk Expires 06/17/2030 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273
Publish Dates: July 4, 11, 18, 25, 2025
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT
File No. F-2025-0003371 The name of the business(es): 1. Bugs Be Gone Pest Control 2. Apple Tree Pest Control Located at: 420 Beatrice Ct., Ste. E In: Brentwood, CA 94513, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Pepper Investments, 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: Deane Sheppard, President. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 06/24/2025 by Deputy Clerk Expires 06/23/2030 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 Publish Dates: July 4, 11, 18, 25, 2025
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. F-2025-0003491 The name of the business(es): 1. Teacherville 2. Danielle Pennewell Coaching Located at: 89 Longview Ct In: Danville, CA 94526, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Pennewell Ventures 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: Danielle Pennewell, CEO. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 06/27/2025 by Deputy Clerk Expires 06/26/2030 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 Publish Dates: July 4, 11, 18, 25, 2025
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
STATEMENT
No. F-2025-0003436
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. F-2025-0000834 The name of the business(es): LUXURYA REALTY INVESTMENT GROUP Located at: 2603 Camino Ramon, Suite 200 In: San Ramon, CA, 94583, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Mahdi Alimi. This business is conducted by: an Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 02/06/2025. Signature of registrant: Mahdi Alimi, Individual. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 02/14/2025 by Deputy Clerk Expires 02/13/2030 Publish Dates: July 18, 25, August 1, 8, 2025
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. F-2025-0003612 The name of the business(es): Second Chance Sanctuary Located at: 37
Local nonprofit to host first NovaCon X
Brentwood’s first Pop Culture Cosplay and Fandom festival
By Nicole Becchina Staff Writer
NovaCon X, a Pop Culture Cosplay and Fandom Festival, is the first event of its kind in Brentwood, and it will be at City Park from 3-9 p.m. on Aug. 2.
NovaCon X 2025 brings together anime, comics, cosplay, live entertainment, vendors, artists, live panels, children’s crafts, slime making, intergalactic activities made just for little ones, and family-friendly fun. The free event will feature special celebrity guests, fan-favorite characters and cosplay guests.
Cosplay is when people dress up as fictional characters from movies, television shows, comics and books and attend events such as NovaCon X to celebrate their interests.
Celebrity guests will be DC Douglas (Transformers Rescue Bots, Hunter x Hunter, Albert Wesker Resident Evil video game), Justin Rupple (How to Train Your Dragon, Spider-Man Homecoming and The Fate of the Furious), Renoly Santiago (Dangerous Minds. Strange Days and Con Air), and Janeshia Adams-Ginyard (Marvel’s Winter Soldier, Black Panther and South Park).
There will be featured cosplay guests including Team Inferno, Pepperjaq, Lovi.D, NateSf, Cosbunny Cosplay, Starwind Cosplay, Kristi Cosplay, Sunflower Cosplay, and Thy Devil Hunter.
The event will also feature special effects makeup artist Margaret Caragan (Holly accredited special effects makeup artist best known for her work in Sorry to Bother You, Meet the Blacks, and Bokeh) and Silvia Williams.
There will be a live-action demonstration by Belial Peaks Larp Group, as well as live performances by Celine the Voice and
Androcefalo.
Guest cosplayers including Astro, Delong Family Cosplay, 916 Ghostbusters and voice actor guests Ogie Banks, Selah Victor, Chris Niosi, Paul St. Peter, Kimberly Ann Campbell, and Jon Allen are no longer attending the event due to ‘unforeseen circumstances,’ according to the event’s Facebook page.
The event is being put on by Lovely Nova Arts, a family nonprofit created by Charitie Bolling-Tosuner and her family, including her daughter Layla Maribeth Bolling-Tosuner. The nonprofit began in March of this year.
“Having my family included in this means a lot to me,” Layla said.
Lovely Nova Arts also teaches pop-up classes on special effects makeup, costumes, and theatre. NovaCon X is the first event put on by the nonprofit.
“We wanted to make sure that we were all-inclusive,” Charitie said. “We wanted to have something for everyone at every age. People that are seasoned cosplayers to people who don’t know anything about cosplay or anything about the anime realm. With that being said, we have a children’s area, which is really cool.”
Children can feel more included and feel like they have a place there, Charitie said, which she added is something that makes NovaCon X unique. The event is also
fan-based, which makes it stand out among other Cons.
“We thought of a lot of things that we can add into our event for the community,” Charitie said.
One special thing Novacon X will feature to make the fans feel welcome is a Cosplay Cosmic Exchange, organizers said. For seasoned cosplayers who want to help newcomers to cosplay, they can donate their old cosplays, Charitie said, describing it as similar to a Goodwill where ‘you give something, you take something’ kind of thing.
Charitie has been the primary planner for NovaCon, while Layla is the artist. Charitie described the planning process as “challenging.”
“It has really brought me in a different position mentally because I went above my limits,” Charitie said. “I can see myself doing things that I didn’t think I could do. I think that is really exciting.”
Layla said she is most looking forward to seeing people connect with each other at NovaCon X.
“Sometimes seeing others happy makes me happy,” Layla said. “I was like I want to do something that could bring everybody together and we could celebrate each other.”
“I’m looking forward to the day of the event,” Charitie said. “I’m looking forward to people smiling at the event. I’m looking forward to people talking about how great
the event was. I’m hoping for it to be a great time. I know it will be awesome the way we’ve planned it.”
“I like to see people smile,” Charitie said. “When you see people smile, no matter how bad your day is, if you just give someone a witty compliment, that could just change everybody’s life. You never know, some things are life-changing. The smallest things are big. Being able to make people feel welcome and make people feel like they have a place. Just getting people to smile would be really cool.”
“It’s a great time to bring the community together,” Charitie added. “It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from, sharing what you love with others brings a smile to your face,” Layla added.
Lovely Nova Arts received a reimbursement grant of $3,000 for NovaCon X from the City of Brentwood. All of the money going into the Con, aside from what was received by vendors, is coming out of their pocket, Charitie said.
“This is literally from our family to theirs,” Charitie said. “So we are not about money. We’re about the community, we’re about fans, we’re about bringing artists together. I’m an artist, she’s [Layla] an artist. It’s about connecting. It’s about networking. I think that is what separates us from the mainstream cons is that we are on a different level when it comes to who we’re here to serve.”
Lovely Nova Arts has plans to host more events soon.
“Even if you don’t have, you can still give,” Charitie said. “We’re all about giving. I think that’s why we chose to make it an outdoor event, a community event and a free event and just try to get as many people as we can to enjoy the day. That’s what it’s all about, it’s about enjoying the day. At the end of the day what I’m really looking forward to is people saying ‘hey that was a cool event, that was really fun, I hope they have it next year.’”
To register for NovaCon X, visit www. eventbrite.com/e/novacon-2025-tickets1275833906559?aff=oddtdtcreator. For more information on Lovely Nova Arts, visit lovelynovaarts.com.
Oakley celebrates Portuguese festival with parade
By Isaac Arriaga Correspondent
Since 1927, the Flor do Oakley Holy Ghost Society has hosted the Portuguese celebration of the Festa do Espirito Santo (Holy Ghost Feast). The Flor do Oakley’s 98th consecutive celebration of the feast came on July 20.
Festivities began with a Mass at the Flor do Oakley hall, which were then followed by a parade made up of more than a dozen Portuguese heritage clubs from across the Bay Area marching down 2nd Street with girls in long dresses to resemble Queen Isabel of Aragon.
After the parade, an estimated more than 100 people who participated in the celebration were invited back to the Flor do Oakley hall to a free traditional Portuguese sopa, a soup made of beef and cabbage.
“We’re here feeding the community,” said Dan Duarte, President of the Holy Ghost Festival. “We have parties all year long to gather money to have this party today. We invite everybody from the community.”
The feast included music and folkloric dancing performed by Rancho Folclórico.
Oakley’s Holy Ghost Festival has been able to remain
said Sharon Paz, festival treasurer. “The Holy Spirit Festa happens every year. Clubs throughout California and the nation, celebrate the feast of the holy spirit and gather people together. The big part of the Festa is to serve people a free meal.”
The importance of feeding people a free meal during the Holy Ghost Feast is to honor the generosity of Queen Isabel of Aragon who ruled Portugal from 1282 to 1325 with her husband King Dinis.
free
“This club has been continuously active since 1927,”
According to the Sunday Mass and the Flor do Oakley event program, at the time of Queen Isabel’s reign, Portugal had been struck by drought and famine. With her deep faith in Catholicism and her compassion to her people, she began to steal bread from the royal palace to give to starving peasants by sneaking the bread under her apron. When King Dinis was suspicious of her generosity, he opened her apron where it is believed that the bread had miraculously turned to a bed of roses. For her devotions to the needy and the church, Queen Isabel was canonized into sainthood in 1625 by Pope Urban VIII. The Holy Ghost Feast honors Queen Isabel’s devotion to helping those in need, especially the hungry.
To view a video and a slideshow, visit www.thepress.
net/multimedia
to the public from other events the Flor do Oakley hosts such as dinners, fundraisers, and raffles.
Flor Do Oakley members hold club banner along with US and Portugal flags during the Holy Ghost Festival parade.
Photo by Isaac Arriaga
Image by Brad Bethel
Shepherd’s Gate cuts ribbon on cottage expansion
By Isaac Arriga Correspondent
Shepherd’s Gate, Shea Homes and homeaid hosted a ribbon cutting for two cottage additions to their Brentwood campus on July 18.
Shepherd’s Gate is a Christian program that helps women and children suffering from homelessness, addiction, or domestic violence, and trafficking by providing them with 12-16 months of housing and meals.
“Women come here for a year to heal, to get the resources they need, and transform their lives,” said Carol Patterson, CEO of Shepherd’s Gate. “These cottages are for our graduates and they stay another six to eight months while they are working and saving money so they can live in our community.”
Shea Homes designed and planned the construction of the cottages to extend the Shepherd’s Gate
Drive-throughs
from page 1A
area, got degraded because they kept adding drive-throughs.”
Mendoza acknowledged that more drive-throughs will continue to come to the city but said that none of them should come to Brentwood Boulevard. To that end, city staff is working on an ordinance that would effectively prohibit this by requiring future proposed fast-food restaurants with drivethroughs to be set back a certain distance from Brentwood Boulevard. The distance has not yet been determined and will be brought to the council by staff at a future meeting.
While Councilmember Tony Oerlemans was hesitant to add language to the ordinance that would keep potential businesses from entering the city because of an aversion to drive-throughs, Mayor Susannah Meyer explained her rationale for wanting fewer.
“Many companies have continued shifting to drive-through formats, which are often more profitable due to smaller footprints, reduced staffing needs and lower overhead costs,” she explained. “None of those things support the city’s economic development, nor do they support walkability or community, or, for that matter, jobs for kids if we’re looking at reduced staffing.”
During the discussion, the council
Celebrates from page 1A
ship. Freedom High School’s baseball and softball teams reached the semifinals and earned NCS scholarship pennants for outstanding team GPAs.”
Rugani noted that performing arts programs also thrived through spring concerts and musicals, including “Shrek,” “The Prom,” and “Grease,” showcasing student talent and community support. In STEM (science, technology, engineering, math), Heritage High School’s robotics team won first place in the East Bay Hills League.
“That robotics program has grown, survived COVID, and exploded in terms of participation, success and support,” said LUHSD board president Susan Wallace. “They were invited to a robotics festival in Indiana right after graduation in June, and a bunch of kids who will be leading it next year went, and how exciting is that.”
home on Sycamore Avenue.
“This is a very unique construction project since it’s an addition to an existing facility,” said David Best, Community Development Director of Shea Homes. “That took a lot of time and effort on both the part of the city staff, us, and our design consultants.”
“One of the best things about a community like this is it’s secure, it’s safe,” said Brentwood Mayor Susannah Meyer about the Shepherd’s Gate home. “You can feel it when you walk in the door or come to the site, that not only is it peaceful and welcoming, it’s also very safe. There’s enough staff on site, there’s protections in place so that anyone who does come here to live and is going through some sort of trauma can feel protected and can feel like their families or themselves are safe.”
To view a video and a slideshow, visit www.thepress. net/multimedia
made it clear that their interest was in limiting fast-food drive-throughs specifically, saying that other uses, such as banks and pharmacies, would still be okay. Coffee shops such as Starbucks and Dutch Bros would be lumped in with fast-food chains for the purpose of the ordinance. The motion to move ahead with the ordinance passed 3-1, with Vice Mayor Pa’tanisha Pierson exiting the meeting before this discussion and Oerlemans as the dissenting vote.
Councilmembers are not the only ones who have expressed concern about the number of fast- food restaurants on that corridor. A Popeyes restaurant that was up for discussion last year prompted concern from residents and local groups.
“We kind of just saw what we feel like isa
Wallace said another victory for the district was the trade fair hosted by Freedom High School in January, where a variety of careers, trades and skill-based job options – none of which require a college degree – were showcased.
“They had about 600 people come for one night, and that’s what we hoped would happen, and how fantastic is that,” Wallace said. “I’m excited about it because we as a board have put a lot of hope into that, because there are kids who don’t need to go to college to get fabulous jobs. That is the district’s goal, that you can pursue whatever future you have mapped out for yourself, and we would like to support you in that.”
Rugani said Liberty Union is nearing completion of its Measure U Bond projects, including the new Environmental Science Center at Heritage High, slated for completion this year. Measure U is a $122 million bond passed by East County
Wendy’s and Panda fastfood restaurants are at the corner of Sand Creek Road and Brentwood Boulevard.
slightly alarming number of fast-food restaurants in this corridor,” Amy Tilley, then-executive director of the Downtown Brentwood Coalition said during a Planning Commission meeting in April of last year. The DBC is a local organization of small business owners and other stakeholders that seeks to boost economic growth downtown. Tilley implored the Planning Commission to think more strategically about how to best use the area beyond approving fast-food options.
When the city was still deliberating on Popeyes, residents voiced their frustrations on social media, saying that Brentwood needed to stop approving fast-food chains on Brentwood Boulevard.
“So many fast-food places nearby, Brentwood doesn’t need any more. Driving
voters in 2016 and has paid for a variety of projects on all school sites, including the Heritage Culinary Center, the Liberty Aquatics Center and Freedom’s Performing Arts Center.
“These infrastructure investments reflect the district’s commitment to providing modern, engaging learning environments that support student success,” Rugani said.
As teachers and administrators prepare for the new school year that starts on Monday, July 28, Wallace said she hopes for the district to maintain steady enrollment and positive outcomes. One example: The district celebrated the reclassification of 65 English Learners to full English proficiency.
“We are fortunate that we aren’t facing the decreases a lot of school districts are in enrollment, because every time you lose students, you also lose programs,” Wallace said. “Students bring with them financing, and that’s what allows us to provide a lot
all the small businesses out of town with their BS,” one resident said on Facebook. Other topics of discussion included:
• The 5-0 approval of a change to the operating hours for Dolphin Park on Atterbury Lane to turn off the park’s water feature on holidays and weekends. The water feature has been a source of complaints for the city for years, with the council experimenting with changes to the operating hours as far back as 2022. Residents near the park have cited the water feature as bringing in unwanted parkgoers, sometimes from out of town, who often leave trash in their wake and disturb the peace with loud noises.
• The 5-0 approval of funds for the Economic Development Grant Program. The funds had previously been discussed by the Land Use and Development Committee (LUD) in May, which consists of Mendoza and Councilmember Faye Maloney as well as Planning Commission Chairperson Rod Flohr. The money was awarded to a number of applicants to put on events in the city, such as the Turkey Trot 5K and the Dia de los Muertos celebration. The only change from LUD’s recommendation was the removal of Brentwood on Ice from the list of awardees at the request of the owner, Tom Gregory. The full meeting can be watched at bit. ly/3TXSPdb
of programming for our students. In an era of budget cuts, it’s nice to have stable enrollment, it’s a blessing.”
Left to Right: David Best, Shea Homes Community Development Director, Shepherd’s Gate Staff, Carol Patterson, CEO Shepherd’s Gate, Brentwood Mayor Susannah Meyer, Layne Marceau, Shea Homes Division President cut ribbon on Shepherd’s Gate home cottages. Press photo
Photo by Jeff Weisinger
omeownership is often characterized as a fulfillment of a dream. Indeed, many homeowners feel their ability to buy a home is a reflection of their discipline and commitment to saving money. That discipline and dedication can set homeowners up for long-term financial health, providing a unique sense of security along the way.
First-time home buyers may not know what to expect upon buying a home, and since each home is unique, it’s impossible for even long-time homeowners to say with certainty exactly how things will unfold once those new to home ownership get the keys to their first house. Various expenses might be the only common variable when it comes to homeownership, and some of those expenses may surprise first-time buyers. With that in mind, the following are some expenses first-time buyers can expect once their offers are accepted.
♦ Down payment: Conventional wisdom long suggested home buyers should submit a down payment of at least 20 percent of the overall purchase price upon buying a home. Buyers who want to follow
Long-term costs, including homeowners’ insurance (which is separate from Primary mortgage insurance), property taxes, homeowners’ association fees, and maintenance are some additional expenses buyers can plan for as they try to determine their home buying budgets.
that advice would need a down payment of $80,000 when buying a $400,000 home. But many home buyers now submit down payments considerably less than 20 percent, particularly in the modern real estate market, which is characterized by high prices and low inventory. The lower the down payment, the higher your monthly mortgage payment will be, so it’s
best to save as much as possible toward a down payment.
♦ Primary mortgage insurance: Buyers who cannot come up with a down payment of 20 percent or more will have to pay for primary mortgage insurance, which is typically a set fee that is incorporated into the mortgage payment each month. Primary mortgage insurance fees are typically
waived once the balance on the mortgage reaches 79 percent or less of the purchase price, though some lenders may waive PMI prior to that if the value of the home increases considerably before the loan balance reaches the predetermined marker.
♦ Closing costs: The amount of closing costs varies widely depending on a host of variables, but Bankrate.com notes it’s not uncommon for these costs to come in at 2-5 percent of the loan principal. Closing costs must be paid no later than when the sale becomes official and buyers sign on the (many) dotted lines. Application and credit fees, title fees, underwriting fees, appraisal fees, and transfer tax are among the various fees that fall under the umbrella of closing costs.
♦ Moving: It’s also important that firsttime home buyers budget for moving costs. Moving costs vary and may depend on how much buyers already own and how far they’re moving. The home renovation experts at Angi.com estimate that local moves typically cost $883 to $2,568, while long-distance moves may run buyers $2,700 to $10,000 or more.
These costs are some of the upfront fees aspiring homeowners can expect when buying a home.
– Metro Creative
Photo from Adobe Stock
Current real estate market allows buyers to
Like anything in real estate, the current state of the market is all about location, location, location, according to East Bay Realtor Tracy Nelson, founder and Team Lead of Tracy Nelson Team. She brings over 20 years experience in the business.
The market in Brentwood has not changed drastically since last year other than a small uptick in inventory and time on the market, she said.
“Depending on the area in Brentwood that the home is in has made a big difference on whether or not you’re seeing it sell close to list price or you’re seeing a price reduction or a seller closing credit to buyers,” said Nelson, whose office is in downtown Brentwood. “I’ve seen more seller closing credits given recently, not always because buyers don’t have the closing funds per say, but to be able to use them towards a rate buy-down and drastically reduce their monthly payment.”
The interest rates right now are in the high 6% range, but they change every day, Nelson said.
The median price is still in the mid$800,000s in Brentwood, and the number of days on the market has increased.
“So we’ve had to get a little more creative on the buy side and a little more educated on both sides on how we can still make the purchase price the sellers need work but also create an offer that works for the buyer and their monthly payment comfortability factor.”
Some neighborhoods still show a slight sellers market, where others are more neutral, and then you see some homes sitting and that is where more opportunity exists for a buyer. “I’ve still had multiple offers on some houses, and I’ve had people offer over asking (price),” Nelson said. “It
really just depends on where exactly that house is at and how many boxes it checks for the majority of buyers, and buyers just are a little more picky because they can be.”
“Sellers are understanding they need to list more reasonably to get buyers in to look at their homes. Once we get the eyes inside, we can start negotiating,” she continued.
“Buying and selling real estate is one of the biggest financial decisions one makes in their lifetime. I take what I do to help people accomplish this very seriously. I think it’s more important now than ever to have an agent who knows what they’re doing when it comes to listing a home or helping you buy a home and getting creative and coming up with a plan whether it’s on the sell side or the buy side,” Nelson said.
She says home buyers may be surprised to find they can be creative with their offer to get a home they want despite the list price.
“There are so many ways to make it work for all parties,” she said. “Connecting with a professional lender on our team is always the first step.”.
Many people who are selling right now are doing so due to big life events, such as a death in the family, a divorce or moving out of state.
“People are moving either because they have to, which is emotional and hard, or they are recognizing rates aren’t dramatically changing any time soon and that itch to upgrade along with the incredible options they have right now as buyers is too hard to
resist,” Nelson said.
“I’m really passionate about helping people move on to their next chapter,” she added.
Nelson offers concierge listing packages to clients who are looking to sell and will take care of everything for them when they have too many other challenging things emotionally going on, she added. “If a client needs paint, carpet, cleaning, gardening, staging, etc. I offer listing options that can help. I really like helping people on that level when they feel like everything is just complete chaos and they need help sorting it out and pinpointing it and organizing it and just handing it all over to me, they have other things to worry about “ Nelson said.
Nelson said about 75% of her business is assisting sellers in listing and selling their home.
Nelson has seen everything the real estate market can do and has been through it personally.
“I think that is what helps me connect with people,” she said. “I love my job and I love being able to step in and relate to people and show them that there is a way to get done what they need done.”
For more information on the Google 5-Star Tracy Nelson Team, visit TracyNelsonTeam com, and connect on social media @EastBayAreaRealtor (www instagram com/eastbayarearealtor).
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NICOLE BECCHINA
NELSON
Getting top dollar for a house can be difficult. But sometimes, the little things can count. Brentwood Realtors Laura Nelson and Lori Abreu gave their recommendations on what to do to ensure that a prospective buyer gets a good impression of your home and decides to make it theirs.
Nelson’s “rule of thumb” is that a house needs to be made as neutral in appearance as possible; any personal, political, and religious items must be removed before any prospective buyers tour your home. In addition, if the house needs repainting, use neutral colors so “nothing bright and crazy,” Nelson said. This also applies to renovations--you don’t want to give the house a new feature unique to a single buyer, according to Abreu.
When taking down personal, political, and religious items, and any others you don’t use regularly, you should “pack like you’re moving,” Nelson said. Put personal effects in boxes in the garage, or get a storage unit in front of the house to hold your belongings.
Nelson also recommends going through the property with a buyer’s point of view. Fix things that you would want fixed if you were buying the house.
Clean the house thoroughly. Sweep and vacuum the floors, wipe down and clear off the countertops, ensure that showers are spotless and stain-free, and especially clean the windows as much as possible, since they let in natural light to brighten the house’s interior, Nelson said. She also recommended making sure that your bed is made whenever you’re not sleeping in it, to better prepare for a visit from a buyer.
Floor coverings, such as rugs, are one of “the cheapest things that will make the quickest amount of money,” Abreu said.
While bright colors aren’t recommended for a house’s interior, the exterior of a house does benefit from having bright and cheerful flowers around it to improve its appeal to someone looking at it from the curb, the experts said.
There are exceptions to the recommendations of clear countertops: staging items. These are objects that highlight an area of the house and fit in with the purpose and look of that area. Furniture is particularly
The exterior of a house benefits from having bright and cheerful flowers around it to improve its appeal to someone looking at it from
useful in this regard, as it helps a buyer determine the scale of a room when looking at a picture, according to Abreu.
Keep the average home price of your neighborhood in mind if you’re renovating – no $100,000 kitchen renovations that will drive up the price in a neighborhood full of $300,000 homes, Abreu recommends.
These tips will help you get the most out of your soon-to-be-sold home, and ensure that it’s ready for someone else to move in, experts said.
For a free evaluation call Joe Clark at 925-366-3345.
CONNOR ROBLES
Photo from Adobe Stock
the curb.
Renovating a house can take up valuable time and money, but can also boost a property’s value to well above what it once was. It can be a difficult choice, so Brentwood Realtor Laura Nelson
offered her perspective on the pros and cons of renovation.
Nelson strongly recommended renovating a house before sale, if possible.
“If you renovate, it will raise the market value,” Nelson said. “The three items I recommend are the kitchen, the bathrooms, and the flooring. They’re the three main focuses for buyers.”
An up-to-date kitchen with modern appliances, cabinets, and fixtures is a major selling point, according to Nelson. The same goes for bathrooms. Prospective buyers look for updated countertops, cabinets, and other fixtures that signify a well-maintained and modernized space. As for flooring, Nelson recommended that all
carpets should be replaced with “clean and neutral” hardwood floors, since “people are getting scared away from carpets.”
In this market, “sellers should do everything they can to increase the chance of getting an offer, including renovations,” Nelson recommended. “If the home is outdated, it will attract a different buyer
pool, mainly investors, and it would get the seller less than what they’d get if they put a little bit of time and money into the house.”
Part of the higher price range for a renovated home versus an unrenovated one comes from the fact that buyers are willing to compete over a home that is ready to move into without significant work,
Sellers should do everything they can to increase the chance of getting an offer, including renovation.
– Laura Nelson, Brentwood Realtor
whereas they are less likely to compete over a fixer-upper, according to Nelson.
She acknowledged that sometimes, a seller does not have the time or money to renovate their house, possibly because much of their money is tied up in the house itself. If you find yourself in this situation, her advice is to “price accordingly,” -significantly lower- “sometimes $100,000 or more lower,” than other houses in your neighborhood. There are other ways to improve the house before selling, however.
“If you want a quick sale, get junk out,” Nelson added. “Regardless of whether you renovate, if you have clutter and junk, that should be removed.”
CONNOR ROBLES
Adobe Stock photo
Experts debate the merits of renovating or not before selling your home.
Projects to consider before moving into a new home
The day homeowners move into a new home is a unique experience. First-time home buyers may see such a day as the culmination of years of hard work, while those who are not new to the experience may find their new home is where they’ll spend the rest of their lives.
Move-in day is indeed a notable milestone, but there’s much homeowners can do between closing on a home and backing the moving truck into the driveway. In fact, it may be best for homeowners to complete several home interior projects while the residence is still empty.
Painting
Painting home interiors is among the more logical projects to consider before moving into a home. Simply put, an empty home is far easier to paint than one filled with furniture and other items. Professional painters may even discount a project if they know they won’t have to cover and/
and effort.
or move any furniture before and after applying paint. Painting before anyone has moved in also saves residents the discomfort of living in a home overcome by the lingering aroma of drying paint. Simply open the windows and let the home air out throughout each painting session.
CONSTRUCTION
Bathroom and kitchen remodel? We can handle it from start to finish!
PLUMBING
Faucet, sink, toilet or drain problems? No problem!
ELECTRICAL
Need additional outlets, ceiling fans, sconces or recessed lighting? We do that, too!
PAINTING
Interior, exterior, fence or other structure that needs painting? We’ve got you covered!
Various renovation projects can be conducted prior to moving into a new home. Such an approach can save both money
Don’t let hot weather stop you from gardening
Hey gardeners! Growing plants in super hot weather (like 90–110° Fahrenheit) can be tough, but it’s totally doable with the right tricks.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help your garden rock despite the heat:
1. Improve soil with organic matter: Add compost and worm castings to make sure your soil holds water and
Projects from page 6B
Flooring
Flooring projects are another undertaking to consider before moving in. Whether you’re tearing up old carpet and replacing it with new carpet, refinishing wood floors, or installing a wholly new floor, each task is considerably easier if there is nothing on the floor. Flooring projects are best left to the professionals, and labor costs may drop considerably if contractors don’t have to pause to move furnishings or work around other items.
Deep cleaning
A professional cleaning service should be among the first calls homeowners make after closing on a new home. A deep cleaning when the home is empty and all lingering dust and debris is visible to the naked eye can ensure no spots are missed before move-in day. Request that the cleaning service clean the interior of kitchen drawers and cabinets, which have a tendency to accumulate grime over the years.
Electrical work
Modern homes are plugged in, so addressing electrical issues prior to move-in day can ensure there are no interruptions to internet connectivity when everyone begins to settle into the home. This is also a great time to install additional electrical outlets, and homeowners are urged to take the time to draw up plans for how each room will look once all of their furniture is in the house. Doing so can identify where additional outlets should be installed. Homeowners also can visit their new home at night and turn on the lights to see if existing fixtures provide ample illumination. If not, installing new fixtures prior to moving in makes cleanup easier and ensures there are no dark nights once everyone is in the home.
Ceilings
Replacing ceilings prior to moving in is another savvy move. If the ceilings are dated or unsightly, removing, repainting or replacing them before anything is beneath them is a great way to protect valuables from damage. And contractors may not need as much time to complete such a project in empty rooms as they would in spaces where they need to negotiate their way around furniture and other valuables.
your plants can handle the heat. You can also use biochar to make the soil even more stable and packed with nutrients.
2. Mulch heavily: Mulch acts like a blanket, keeping your roots cool and dry. Organic mulch (like straw or bark) breaks down over time and improves the soil.
3. Watch for signs of heat stress: If your leaves are wilting in the morning, or if your tomatoes or peppers are dropping their blossoms, it’s time to take action. Sunscald on fruit can also be a problem, so watch out for white or pale patches on the fruit.
Here are some things you can do to
combat heat stress:
♦ Water your plants more often, especially in the morning and evening.
♦ Prune your plants strategically to improve airflow, but make sure to keep some leaves for shade.
♦ Use shade or row cover to protect your plants from the sun.
4. Fertilize lightly: Heat can slow down how quickly your plants absorb nutrients, so fertilize them lightly.
You can use compost tea or diluted fish emulsion to give your plants a gentle boost. Avoid heavy nitrogen fertilizers
during extreme heat, because they can burn your plants.
5. Monitor pests and disease: Hot weather can bring out more pests like aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies. To keep your plants healthy, encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings. You can also use neem oil or insecticidal soap in the early morning or late evening to control pests.
With these tips, you can grow beautiful plants even in the hottest weather! Happy gardening! For more gardening tips do to www.deltaworms.com
